Hey Guys, College is going pretty hard right now so i may not be able to update with the speed I've had up until now. Sorry ):

But this chapter is pretty important. try to pay attention to small details :)

I'd like to thank Ares The Bond for being the first and only real positive reviewer of mine since I started this story back up. Dunno if I'd still be writing if not for that review.

Disclaimer: Is this really necessary?

Song Of The Day: Hiroyuki Swano - Krone

Chapter 11: A Storm Is Coming

Gregor grasped the sword firmly in his hand as he thought about what Justin just said.

"You know Justin. I almost wish you had been an evil villain, one that I could reveal to the people of Regalia and use to take Luxa from you. I could kill you and live happily ever after" thought Gregor.

"But you're not."

"Oh? What was that Gregor?" asked Justin inquisitively. His dark violet eyes revealed his confusion. Once more genuine.

"Uh nothing. Let's go practice. Anna!" he said calling over to the girl hurriedly. As she walked over he asked her "Have you found yourself some swords yet?"

She pointed to two swords on her left and right side in a sheath. "Yeup! Sally even helped me put them on" she said joyously.

"Dual wielding blades? Do you think youre ready for that?" Justin asked suspiciously. Gregor had to agree. She hadn't even held a single sword yet.

"I hope so!" she laughed as she scratched the back of her head. Her green eyes were shown with uncertainty. "Apparently these aren't regular blades. They're thin and fast, so it's a good idea to have two. Sally told me they're good for people who prefer agility over strength" Gregor looked at the thin sweeping blades. Swords of the Middle East.

Gregor thought back to the tri tipped thin blade that Luxa would use as her blade of preference. It did make sense.

"It seems like interesting that you chose those blades." Justin pointed out. "If I'm correct those blades originated in a part of the Overland that is very hostile and conditionally exhausting. It is called the desert if I'm correct? It seems appropriate for such a long and dangerous journey" Justin finished.

"Well great. At least I made a sentimentally sound choice" said Anya sarcastically. "So let's go learn how to use these things!" Anna started walking out of the arena armory and into the training area. Gregor and Justin followed shortly.

"Well at least Anya seems to be enjoying herself" said Gregor with confusion.

Justin led us into another small building that had recently been built along the side of the arena. He ordered for the torches to be lit.

"I wanted to start off today with an advanced form of training. I call it the Blood Chamber"

Gregor cringed at the name. It sounded so gruesome, right out of a Halloween horror flick.

"Blood Chamber?" Anya didn't seem to like the name much either.

"Yes. I had this chamber specifically designed to test two things. A person's ability to hit Blood Balls, 15 on lowest settings and 45 on highest settings, as well as a person's ability to do so in the dark."

"In the dark?" Gregor asked inquisitively. Did Justin know that Gregor knew echolocation?

"Yes. I know it's weird but the idea's was Ripred for unknown reasons."

"That explained it" thought Gregor.

"Regardless today we will be practicing with torches, since we are all humans. I'm assuming Ripred wanted this room as training for some rat allies who will soon be colonizing in Regalia."

"Woah woah woah hold up. Rat's are going to colonize in Regalia?" Gregor looked shocked. Never had he thought that the terms would reach such positive heights between the rats and humans.

Justin simply smiled. "Luxa's been working hard Gregor". He had a look of extreme admiration for the queen and Gregor knew that he was going to experience a great deal of pain on this trip.

"Can I really stay down here without Luxa?"

"without Luxa?" His heart felt like it was on fire.

"Justin let me try the chamber first. Give me the highest setting" Justin didn't let the thought slip from his mind as he unsheathed his sword and walked into a middle of a chamber. The walls were fitted with cannons and scoped the entirety of the chamber, until the cannons were directly above his head itself. The spherical shape of the dome made sure blood balls came at him from every single side and angle.

"Are you ready Gregor?" Anya was looking on confused, not entirely sure what Justin was asking Gregor. What was he getting ready for?

"Fire away Justin" with those words Gregor closed his eyes and started his echolocation.

The sounds of crackling fuses behind the wall filled Gregor's eyes with enough sound to see everything that was going on. The fuse split into 45 paths, and the energetic charge filled Gregor's eyes with outlines of everything as it traveled along each fuse. It allowed him to see which canon would fire and when. Similar to a rat's face or motion before it charged.

Gregor could see anything. Anyone.

The interest that Anya was experiencing as she saw Gregor get into a fighting stance and move his arms and legs as if they were items made for war.

Justin's shock was registered in the fact that Gregor's eyes were closed.

And the canon's all fired in rapid succession. Gregor started his spin attack.

He was struggling to stay in control, his legs were constantly pivoting to try and cover all sides. His arms were rapidly moving around his center trying to cover not only his back but his aerial side as well.

"16 blood balls…." Gregor pivoted his legs and hit a blood ball that had just nearly reached his neck.

"Twist" Gregor was struggling to stay in control. "36" Gregor was struggling to keep his balance in check and pushed his biceps and calves to work harder than they had for 3 years.

"41…42" Gregor groaned as his blade made contact with the 43rd blood ball above his head.

But he didn't have time to swing his blade to hit the ball that was coming at him head on. He kicked his leg out and the blood ball shattered against his boot.

Gregor sighed with relief as the 44th ball fell to the ground, and just as the 45th blood ball hit his left hand side, his abdomen.

The machines stopped. He fell on the floor. And Justin ran up to help him up to his feet.

"That was amazing Gregor! 44! That is the highest score anyone has received on this as of yet!"

"It wasn't 45." Gregor's head was spinning from the movement he had just gone under. He thought of the little boy he had given his dagger to. That dagger would've protected his left side. He would've had 45.

"My kindness will be the death of me Justin" said Gregor with a dizzy head. He leaned against Justin for support as they walked to the entrance of the room. Three years later and Solovet's words were still haunting him. He hadn't covered his left side as he should have.

"Gregor where the hell did you learn to do all that!" said Anya as she ran up to him. "That was amazing!"

Gregor closed his eyes to compose himself but he could hear the Guards who had been watching in the room whispering slowly. He guessed this was far more impressive than his 15 balls four years ago.

"I'll tell you everything tonight Anya" Gregor stopped leaning on Justin. He was starting to see clearly again and stood up on his own. He was still struggling to keep his lunch down but it would have to do. He hated being dependant on the young king.

"I hope so. I feel that you've left me in the dark long enough" Anya sounded slightly irritated. He didn't blame her really.

"I will. I promise." He meant it too. "Do we have anymore training to do today Justin?"

"Nothing much really. Not after that display of skill!" He said laughing. "Some calisthenics and running exercises should be sufficient. I'll take Anya to the side and show her the basic working of her swords. You can do 15 laps around the arena."

Gregor didn't need to be told twice. He started his laps immediately. No matter what happened in his life running would always be a passion of his. The wind flowing in his hair and hot tense feeling that would build up in his calves was all amazing. It was almost an obsession.

At the end of his 15th lap Gregor was started to breathe heavily but he was much better off than most of the other trainees. His breathing slowed down and his parched lips begged for a trickle of cool crystal water. But that would have to wait until he got back to the castle.

He looked over to Anya and Justin and saw that she was swinging the two swords around rather elegantly. Almost as if she was dancing. It was artistic to watch almost. It reminded him of rhythmic gymnastics he had seen in the Overland. It was rather nice to watch. Justin seemed to be a good teacher.

She reminded him of Luxa. Of course.

When they got back to the castle they had all washed up and settled down for dinner.

Shrimp and Cream Sauce. Ripred's favorite. He wondered where the rat had been recently. He hadn't seen the rat for a while. He had assumed he would come along for training, taking every chance he could to make fun of the underage warrior.

As if on cue the big rat walked in and smashed his face into a bowl of his favorite dish as Lizzie, and Anya burst out laughing.

Gregor sighed in relief and smiled. He remembered the time he had almost lost the big rat, looking at his grotesque overgrown teeth that had threatened to puncture his very brain.

Losing Ripred would almost be as bad as losing Luxa. Gregor didn't know if he'd even feel safe without the big rat on his side.

As Gregor got up to head back up to his chambers he passed Ripred.

And instead he hugged the rat.

"What in sandwich's name was that for" asked Ripred with bared teeth. Lizzie was smiling and Howard and Mareth almost looked shocked. They were surprised to see someone get so close to Ripred and live to tell the tale.

"I don't really know Ripred."

With that Gregor decided to walk out of the dining hall and head up to his chambers. He missed Boots. He knew Ripred and him had come to an understanding. The rat was smart.

A storm was coming. These days must not be in vain.

Well there it is my readers. I hope you enjoyed. The next update will either come out this weekend or next weekend. If i get reviews, which i sadly haven't been getting many of, I may write faster. I don't like disappointing my readers lol.

Hope you enjoyed. :)

-Glacierstrike