I know this chapter is super short, and it took for freaking ever to upload. I was planning on this being longer and having it uploaded sooner, but between school starting back up and my stepmom being in the hospital for a week, all sorts of stuff has been keeping me away from my fanfictions. Stuff is still really hectic, so I don't know when the next chapter will be up. Sorry and try to enjoy this one yeah?
I tried to sleep that night, I truly did. But it was a restless sleep and I felt that every few minutes I was aware again. Eventually I decided it was a useless endeavor to sleep and bathed and dressed. I spent some time meditating with my tome, allowing the strange letters to wash over my consciousness. When I felt I mediated enough I gathered my belongings and went into the dining hall. There was no one in the dining hall yet, no even those in charge of preparing the food.
'I guess it's just too early?'
I wasn't hungry. I've found in my short time in Ylisse my appetite has changed. Normally the first thing I'd do in the morning would be eat a big breakfast and take a nap. The first few days in Ylisse I did the same, but after that I just couldn't. Anymore I either eat something light or wait until lunch time before seriously considering food. I aimlessly walked around, waiting for others to wake up.
'Maybe they can sleep all they want. It's not like I'm eager to kill Gangrel, even if he is a bastard.'
I never would've thought I'd be so upset over someone who was such a bad person having to die.
'I mean, I hear about people getting the death sentence all the time, I've never felt bad for them.'
I took a deep breath.
'But I've never been one of the people handing out the punishment...'
My wandering took me to a training area, quite a ways from anything else. Not surprisingly, Lon'qu was there practicing his technique.
'Are we the only two awake?'
I watched Lon'qu practice for a while before picking up a practice sword and walking over to him.
"Good morning." I said calmly.
He paid me no attention and continued swinging his sword.
"You're up awfully early." I commented.
He glanced my way briefly.
"No earlier than usual." He said stiffly.
I noticed he wasn't wearing his usual coat and instead wore a basic black shirt. It was long sleeved and looked warm.
"How long have you been training?"
I knew Lon'qu wasn't a social butterfly by any means, but his cold nature was off putting.
"Since I woke up."
I sighed.
"And how long have you been up?"
"Early."
'Really Lon'qu?'
He went back to his training, swinging his sword at a training dummy and parrying imaginary strikes.
"Would you like to train together?"
His answer was quick and cold.
"No."
I frowned.
"Why not?"
"I've no interest in training with a woman."
Lon'qu went back to striking the training dummy. I reached into my bag and took out my tome.
"Please Lon'qu? I need to work on my swordsmanship and you're one of the best with a blade..?"
"No."
He had no idea that I was plotting against him. I created a shell of magic around the dummy and waited for the moment Lon'qu struck. His sword hit the shell and bounced off with enough force to unbalance him.
"What the!"
He turned to me with a fierce glare.
"What was the meaning of that?"
I smiled.
"If you won't help me with my swordsmanship, you can just help me with my magic."
He glared at me.
"Fine, you want to train with me? Don't cry when you're out matched."
He came at me sword raised. It's was only a practice sword, bit when I parried with my own the impact still staggered me.
"Woah!"
I quickly realized that training with Lon'qu maybe wasn't a great idea. He swung his sword too fast for me to keep up. More than once I felt his sword hit me in the arm or side.
'He couldn't fight against Sully because she's a woman, but it doesn't seem to stop him from beating me!'
"Your stance is too wide, you're unbalancing yourself."
'Woah... Did he just give me advice?'
"I'm perfectly balanced!"
I said without thinking. The next thing I realize I'm falling through the air and land on my back with a sword pressed into my neck.
"You were unbalanced. I could've killed you ten times at least if this were a real fight."
'This reminds me of the beginning if a Japanese cartoon...'
He held the sword there, not letting me get up.
"I went out if my way to train with you, and you didn't even have the decency to listen to me."
"..."
"What? No witty remark?"
'I don't think you'd appreciate half the names I'd call you.'
He moved his sword away.
"Next time we train, you better not waste my time."
'Did you just say next time?'
I sat up and watched Lon'qu walk away. I noticed he was walking slightly different than usual. I got to my feet and adopted a fighting stance.
'My stance isn't too wide, this is almost exactly how Chrom stands...'
I looked at the dummy. It seemed to be almost mocking me.
"What are you looking at?"
I snapped. The dummy had no reply. I decided I was going to beat a reply out of it and swung with my sword. I tried to make my swings lighter so I could get more his in at a time. Several times I did feel like swinging was off balancing me, but I paid it no mind.
'It's just because I need practice.'
The sun was breaking and others were beginning to amble into the training area when I finally stopped. My swings were great, in my opinion, but it still seemed like I didn't have the grace my companions did.
'I'm just being over critical. I'm fine.'
I put my practice sword away and made my way to the dining hall. I didn't stay long enough to socialize, I just took some bread and an apple before going to the convoy. Chrom was there, and no doubt he'd wanted to talk to me.
"Good morning Chrom."
"Good morning Sane, sleep well?"
'No, I was plagued by dreams of murder.'
I smiled. "Of course."
He smiled back, unaware of my unease.
"Glad to hear it, I'll need you to be at one hundred percent today."
"I'm always at one hundred percent."
Chrom chuckled. "Maybe."
He left to converse with Frederick and I rolled my eyes.
'Maybe for you murder is a walk in the park, but if Gangrel isn't a threat to me, don't expect me to kill him.'