Training started the next day after breakfast and I was pleased to find Marion was my group's teacher. None of the younger men were able to defeat him in sparring matches, too eager to prove themselves against an older opponent who looked merely tall and thin at first glance. Whenever he moved, I could tell there wasn't an ounce of fat on his body by the way he effortlessly turned their attacks against them and it was easy to see where Liam had gotten his strength and iron will. The girls like myself were a little more cautious about charging into battle, instead taking the defensive approach to see what they could learn before defeat. He told us most of the other teachers would merely have us fight each other, but he believed that students learned better when they were shown the tactics of someone with more experience first. The end goal was to be the best if we wanted to stay in Dauntless, so he warned us from this point on he wouldn't go easy on us. Dauntless had changed over the years and now only strength was allowed to remain.

I understood the hint of bitterness behind his familiar eyes, the same look Liam had during our last conversation when talking about Dauntless. He'd mentioned the motto stated a belief in freedom from fear, ordinary acts of bravery and defending the defenseless, which had become twisted to mean weakness was cast out or encouraged to become extinct.

"Emma."

I jumped a little as my thoughts were interrupted and found Marion in front of me. "Yes, sir?"

"Looks like we're odd numbered, so you will face off with me again."

"Yes, sir." I scolded myself for getting distracted. I couldn't afford to let anything get in my way if I wanted to stay in Dauntless.

"You looked a million miles away."

"It won't happen again."

He nodded and didn't press me for details. When it was our turn, he motioned to me to step on the platform first and followed as quietly as a cat. His face was unreadable when I turned to him and he clearly waited for me to make the first move.

I knew he was fast despite his age and very good at redirecting any move his opponent made, so it would be better to get in some quick jabs that would hurt me less if I didn't get past his guard. I proceeded to land a punch here and there, but refused to get cocky. I noticed as we moved around the ring he was watching my every move with great intent and was as surprised as me when I turned one of his own hits against him. I could have sworn I saw a smile, though I couldn't be sure and I kept aiming for places on the body that were quite painful if hit. The accumulation of sweat on our skin and my own exhaustion I kept at bay told me we'd been circling each other for quite a while now, though I couldn't say exactly how long. That was when I saw an opening and took it, knocking him off his feet only to find myself going down with him because I'd neglected to notice he had hooked a leg around mine in the split second I'd decided to move. We struggled on the ground and I got the breath knocked out of me when he socked my abdomen so hard I coughed up blood as he pinned me down till I made the gesture of surrender, unable to do anything else.

"Keep fighting like that and you'll be better than me." He said quietly so only I heard.

"You seem to forget the new rules are till the other one can't move any more, Marion." A familiar voice interrupted the silence.

Marion's muscles were taught like a predator ready to pounce. "I seem to recall you couldn't get out of this hold either, Eric. Perhaps I should refresh your memory."

I was sure Eric would shoot him, but he just smiled. "No need to get so worked up. I just heard a lengthy fight was going on in here and had to see who could hold out so long against you. Never expected it to be Liam's ex, but then again maybe I should have."

I resisted commenting on how he was obviously still Jenine's lapdog and watched him leave as casually as he'd come in. The rest of the lessons passed without anything unusual happening and I put in a request to work in the medwing after dinner while most of the others wanted the coveted tattoo apprentice or weapons inspector or security detail positions. I listed my qualifications and headed back to the dorm to get some sleep.