Chapter 31: Sparring

"Since I have shown you all that I know about Grimm, it's time for you to teach me some martial arts," Serena reminded Adam as they ate their breakfast. "I could show you more, like how to become able to feel them, but that takes a lot of time and I think you're good for now."

Adam raised a brow at her phrasing. "Feel them? What's that supposed to mean?"

Serena realized that her expression had been a little too vague and started to elaborate. "What I mean is that you become able to feel their emotions. It takes a lot of time, it took me three months, and I don't think that you would easily achieve it. It's good enough that you managed to get them to accept you. You should be fine the next time you face Grimm. But if you do want to learn it, then that means that you'd have to stay here for some more time."

Adam pondered this proposition; it surely intrigued him to know just what she was talking about, but he didn't want to stay away from the White Fang for another two months. If it took her three months, then it would take him much longer than that and he was quite happy with what he had. Shaking his head, he told her that he was good for now.

Serena nodded in understanding, a little saddened at the notion that she would soon be alone again but she respected his decision nevertheless. She could understand that he didn't want to stay away for longer than was necessary and it was possible that he would get in trouble if he did. She didn't know the White Fang but she presumed that they, too, had some rules that even the high-ranked members had to play by.

"Okay, so I guess we'll be doing martial arts today," she said, sipping some more herbal tea, something that they drank every morning when having breakfast.

"Before that, I need to see what you can already do. Like which moves you know and what style of fighting you prefer to go by. It will be easier to teach you something that can be adapted to your personal style of fighting. Just one thing though," he added, making her look up to him from her tea. "I don't suppose you have a semblance or aura?"

"Aura? Semblance? What's that? I've never heard of it before," she inquired, tilting her head in curiosity. In all the books that she had read until now she had never read those names so she was intrigued to know why he would ask if she possessed it.

"Aura is like…the manifestation of one's soul, to put it simply. It can be used by anything that has a soul, even animals, although Grimm cannot use it since they don't have a soul. Aura is something that gets unlocked by yourself, or with the help of someone else. It can act as a shield or to attack and some auras are rumored to be able to heal wounds if they are strong enough. Aura can also be used in combination with a weapon to act as conduit. I can use my sword, for example, to focus a lot of aura and then let it all out in one attack," he explained.

"What about semblance?"

"Semblance is something that represents you and your soul. Everyone has a unique semblance that gets influenced by their personality, though they sometimes resemble those of one's parents. It varies from person to person; some are able to control objects while others gain immense speed."

"So it's like a superpower," the young female stated, momentarily confusing Adam but he accepted the comparison if it helped her understand the concept of both Aura and Semblance better. "That sounds pretty cool. I wanna see your semblance."

"I don't have one, but I don't need it. I've got Wilt to help me out with my aura so there's no need for me to have a semblance," he stated cockily, a slight smirk playing at the edges of his mouth. Serena was a little confused at the name he used before realizing that he meant his sword. "Anyway, we should get started by now, don't you think?"

"Sure," the raven head replied, setting her plate and cup aside and standing up to put them away. Once that was done, she went outside where Adam was already waiting for her. "So, I should just show you what I can do?"

"I've come up with another idea. You and me will have a little sparring match, which makes it easier for me to see what you can and can't do."

She nodded in understanding and they both took a stance, Serena spreading her feet a little and putting her arms up while Adam just stood there completely relaxed. After a few moments in which nothing happened, Serena realized that he let her make the first move. Sighing, she ran at him and, when she was close enough, kicked out her right leg, aiming for his upper chest. Adam predicted this however and ducked under her leg, reappearing like a flash and aiming a fist at her face. Serena sucked in a breath, surprised by how fast he was, and avoided the hit just in time, bending her body backwards, hands landing on the ground before propelling herself into the air and landing back in position.

She has good reflexes, Adam noted. Not many people reacted so fast to his attacks and he had never fought with her before which meant that she did not know what he would most likely do. Yet she had avoided him and a small smirk appeared on his lips, happy to have found an opponent that could keep up with him.

She ran at him again but before attacking, she suddenly jumped up over him, using the tree branches to her advantage, using the momentum of the swing to land behind him, intent on catching him off-guard and swiftly aimed a roundhouse kick and a sidekick, but both of them were blocked. Grabbing her leg, Adam threw her off balance and to the side, but she recovered and, with the help of a somersault, landed back on her feet.

They continued this way, each dealing out blows to the other and blocking attacks, and by the time they were finished, Serena was lying on her back, Adam's fist in front of her face. He had caught her in a moment where she hadn't paid attention and used it to his advantage to knock her feet out from under her. Grabbing her by the collar, he had positioned his fist in front of her face, signaling that she had lost.

Serena was panting heavily, staring at the fist in front of her and trying to catch her breath. He had been so fast that she'd had a hard time keeping up with him and she was astounded herself that she had been able to dodge and attack him for so long.

He isn't one of the high-ranked members of the White Fang just for show. He's damn good, and fast.

Getting up, Adam reached down a hand and pulled the girl up when she grasped it, noting how light she was. He studied her briefly, noting that she was not that much out of breath and probably had a lot of stamina. Adding that to her fast reflexes and gymnastics, the girl had a lot of potential.

"You're not bad, though we still have to work on some things like your fighting stance or the way you attack. But I guess it won't take that long. Plus, you have good reflexes and are fast. You should use that more to your advantage," he told her.

"Got it," she replied confidently, wiping some sweat off her forehead.

"I suggest we rest fro the rest of the day. Tomorrow will be a day full of training so be sure to get enough sleep," he commended, already thinking about what he could teach her and how.

"Okay. I'm going to take a bath then."

At his nod she went inside the cool cave, retrieved a towel, some clothes and her shampoo before heading out. Once she was settled in the warm water, she let out a sigh and sunk down so that her head was underwater, mentally preparing herself for training tomorrow.

From the way his eyes had glowed with anticipation and what she made out to be mischief, she knew that it was going to be a long and tiring day.

A/N: I do not own RWBY or its characters. I do, however, own my OC Serena and any other OCs that appear in this story.

Thanks for the reviews fro the last chapters. Hope you liked them as much as I did.

So, I guess that after a few more chapters, it's time for Adam to go back to the White Fang. Oh, but don't worry, it won't end just there. There is much more to come so stay tuned for the next chapter. And don't forget to review!