"Personally," Akeelah returned from the washrooms at the conversations from others, the ones that had been sent to Nisroc's office with them when they had been caught fighting in the Armory by a passing trainee who had run to get the Captain, infighting was not tolerated by any Power within their training squad, and they all took similar approach when reaffirming that rule on those who decided to test it, they clearly hadn't learned, hence the reason for the insult she was sure to come, "I don't think girls should be allowed to be warriors." She took a deep breath, choosing to ignore them and sit next to Sasha on their bunk, lacing her boots up as the other flipped the page in the book he had taken from the Captains room to read during these moment's of downtime "They're better suited as healers and messengers. There's no real place for them on the battlefield. They're just not as strong as we are. It's a disadvantage, honestly."

It was true, a sad fact, most females chose between the Healer' and Messenger's flock, sometimes the Choir, but rarely did they pick the Warriors. It's far and in between, and they have to work twice as hard, to prove ones like him wrong and that they could stand just as strong as anyone else could.

Kokabiel was an example, the lieutenant of the Grigori, right under the Captain, Semyaza, she was short, just like Akeelah was, and lithe. She could take anyone on, being twice her size or shorter, it made no difference. When the Grigori and Powers trained together, is was Nisroc that she always chose to train with, the two of them were good friends, Nisroc was well liked by most, and they stood on equal footing in regard to an opponent.

Then, there was Akriel, she served under the Principalities, and was just as deadly as they came. She was efficient and agile, as messengers were, easily keeping up with the others in battle.

And, Flagstaff, in the Virtues, she was a force to reckon with. She was like the raw fury of a hurricane in full swing. She could move through the enemy with ease and precision, the close eye of a healer only adding to her advantage, she could pinpoint weakness from a mile away and exploit it to her advantage in battle.

Akeelah swore to be just like them, it was her goal to become an official Power, the first female Power there had ever been. She knew that they would never see her as anything but the warrior she was, they were equal in their practices, and if she was worthy of the title and position, they would allow her in the trials.

She knew that Sasha felt the same way. He wanted to be like Nisroc, and she knew her friend could do it, he had determination like no one else she knew, and he wanted to help those who weren't strong enough to help themselves, so they didn't have to live through what he did.

Sasha squeezed her leg tightly, when he felt her stiffen, and she turned quickly to look at him. They were close friends, of course Zaves would always be the first and best friend, but her and Sasha were a close second in relationship.

"Don't."

"I wasn't."

"Sure." He squeezed her leg a second time and flipped the page in his book, "He was lenient the last time, do you want to test that leniency with another brawl, I can promise it would hold the same."

She grimaced at the thought of it, she knew he wouldn't be, after seeing what infighting could do firsthand, Nisroc absolutely had zero tolerance for it in his squad, the others were of the same sentiment, and dealt with it with the firmest of hands. Though he had sworn to her, when she had grown older and had gotten into a bit of trouble, that he would never strip her bare over his desk, he would hold her to the same punishment of everyone else, with that being the only stipulation.

They believed in equality among all of them, even when it came to disciplining an infraction to the rules that had been made clear from the very start of their squad but were not indecent, nor cruel, on the matter. There was certain extenuating circumstances that would cause minor changes in the way comeuppance was delivered; such as one being female, or having the past that Sasha did, among various other things.

"He's just so—"

She punched her fist into her other hand, and her friend needed in agreement, without looking up from the book he had been reading.

"Trust me, I get it." And then on a more amusing note "Did you see Samael's face when Nis told him what would happen if he destroyed anyone else's things?"

"He looked like he was going to wet himself and cry at the same time!"

They both shared a small giggle at the memory of it, Nisroc had been furious to know that someone in his training squad had taken to destroying others belongings and had been very vivid and firm in his promise on what would come to pass should it happen again. The Captain had gotten him a new book, the next time he'd gone to the vendors, and had gifted it to him on the anniversary of their becoming official guardian and charge.

He kept it in his trunk, and knew that Samael would never dare touch it again, everyone knew that the Captain's threats were to be taken with the utmost sincerity.

He may have learned that lesson, but nothing more had changed, he was still just as cruel as before.

They had just learned to ignore him, he was jealous, they knew he was, that his guardian had been a simple Guardian of Earth while they had grown with archangels and Powers as theirs. There was no shame in being a Guardian of Earth, honestly, in their opinion, they were just as brave as any warrior was.

"Besides." He marked his page as he too reached down to lace his boots, training to begin at half passed five, and it being fifteen minutes till, "You can show him on the training field. Just don't make it obvious and you'll fly under the radar."

Their Captain appeared in the entrance to their barrack, rousing them up for one on one training. There was two different sorts, group training, when they all joined each other and every stage and class of warrior, to train among them. And then there was one on one training, where it was the Mentor that instructed them, and they mock fought with each other.

…

"Akeelah, Samael, partner, show us what you've been taught in todays lesson."

Nisroc watched the two of them step forward, he knew of the animosity between them, and thus they were watched with careful and close attention. The others stood at his sides, watching the two of them square off and fall into their stances, Sasha smirked, standing directly at his left shoulder, and he turned to look at the expression with a raised eyebrow. The young angel merely shrugged, but he knew better, and turned back to watch them with closer attention.

Akeelah used her height to her advantage, bending low, resting on her toes to enable her to spring about with ease. He dark curls braided tightly down her head in one massive dark braid, little golden beads and rings braided among it, and he took notice of the golden ring around the upper helix of her ear that had not been there just the week previous, her eyes already focused on the opponent at hand. She held her two daggers backwards, it was a rare form, few used it, but it was one that she excelled with, especially with ones who stood taller then her.

Meanwhile, Samael stood straight, on the balls of his feet and shoulders stiff. His stance was a bit on the sloppy side, and would most certainly hold him back in training if not corrected sooner, and he held his sword's hilt with both hands, his primary form of attack being swings and hacks with it. He was taller then the one he face, at least a head and a half, and seemed by under the impression it gave him the advantage even before the spar had begun, the Power could see it in his eyes.

"Make ready."

They stared off, waiting for his command to begin.

Samael smirked at the short angel, whispering "I promise to go easy on you, honey."

"I won't." she smiled back at him, it was a biting smile, and she bounced as she waited for the call to be given.

"Go."

He swung first, a heavy handed blow, that would have caused quite the injury had she not ducked down when she had, easily allowing the sword to glide over her head as she darted forward and swept his legs out from under him. He fell on his back with a thud, and a wheeze, and she was immediately there, dagger under his chin, and she dug it in a bit for emphasis, "Don't ever call me 'honey'."

"Reset."

They returned to their previous stances.

"Go."

This time she made the first move, he saw her going for his legs this time and dodged her sweep, managing to drive his sword lower and catch her in the shoulder. Pause was called when blood dripped down the slash, and she shook her head when a healer was called for in inquiry, rubbing the blood away with her hand.

Nisroc narrowed his eyes, something was happening, something that the two before him were in on, something his nearly grown charge was knowledgeable of, from the smirk he had when his friend brought Samael to his back. But he couldn't place what it was for the life of him.

Watching them with the eyes of one who had raised two rambunctious boys, cared for a rambunctious troublesome fledgling, he looked between the two carefully.

"Are you well, Akeelah?"

She nodded, wiping the blood on her tight-fitting leather tunic, and fell back into her stance.

"Very well, you will get it looked over at evenings end, understood?"

After the last time, he was not willing to take the chance that she wouldn't get herself taken care of. It had been late into the evening before he had allowed her to return to the barrack, and quite an extensive talk, he knew the reason she had not said anything was because she had wanted to prove that she was as tough as the others were and hadn't just been given this chance because she was raised by the Commander and was close friends with the Captain. He had assured her that there was no shame in seeking help when wounded.

Still, she went red in the face, the tips of her ears turning a deep amber, "Understood."

"Good. Reset."

Again, they fell into their stance, and this time she again made the first move, dodging under his swing, she glided around his side and kicked the back of his knee out, he toppled over at the blow and she pulled him back against her as he fell, bracing her arm around his forehead and her dagger under his chin.

The Captain called time, but she ignored him for a moment, digging the blade in until a dot of blood appeared, "And I'm not a girl, I'm a motherfucking