His Other Woman

Chapter 6: First Fight

Some how I managed to endure and ultimately survive the stamina training. Despite lagging behind and looking extremely weak among other candidates, I was alright. However, there were many candidates from different groups who had found it too difficult and had left.

Whilst one could leave of their own accord if training was too intense, to help in narrowing the slection pool for potential knights to be chosen from, screening would take place. After the first month of training there was going to be the first screening which entailed one on one battles.

As we moved onto the 2nd week of trials we finally began learning to fight. We started with hand to hand combat, then moved on to sword fighting. I already knew most of what we were taught as a result of uncle Jo's training so I didn't struggle too much. I'm sure there were many others that like me had been trained by someone else prior to coming here and so this was just recap. For example thise of nobility probably had had personal trainer who taught them. The supervisors were probably aware of this but just wanted everyone to start on the same page.

I also continued not to draw too much attention to myself. I didn't speak unless otherwise necessary using my fake 'deep' voice then. I also bathed and changed when others weren't around . I didn't think anyone suspected anything so far.

We continued to train for the rest of the month and it was soon time for the screening tests. Essentially after the screening each group was supposed to be cut down to 25 people. Half of the people each group initially started with. Regardless of the people that had dropped out in the weeks prior. Each candidate would partake in 5 battles; 2 would be hand to hand combat and 3 would be sword fights. The point was for the candidate to showcase if they had truly grasped the training of the past month. If you lost 3 fights you would be immediately disqualified

On the day of the start of the screening tests multiple tests were taking place simultaneously. That way it was faster to go through as many tests as possible each day for all 40 groups.

Our group superior announced to us our matches for the first day and in my first battle I was paired up with none other than the jerk who had picked on me on the first day. I let out a dissapointed sigh, why did it have to be him? It's like there was no avoiding him.

I had learned his name was Michael Smet he came from a middle class family in the town I lived in.

I'm surprised you made it this far." he said to me as we waited for the fight currently taking place to finish. "You struggled so much during the first week I was sure you wouldve chickened out by now." He taunted as he looked down at me. He was clearly trying to get a rise out of me or to scare me before our match.

"You probably only came here for some food looking at the state you were in before you got here barely any meat on you." I just continued to ignore him as we watched as one of the fighters pinned the other to the ground. The supervisor of the match began counting from 1 to 10. If the other didn't get up in 10 seconds the match would be over.

"But we both know this is truly where it ends for you now." Michael finished saying as the fighter that was pinned to the ground struggled to get out the others' grip and the supervisor reached 10, their match was now over.

"Goodluck." Michael then mockingly said as he went to take his position at the end of the other side of the fighting space.

The supervisor then gave us the permission to enter the space and get ready to fight.

Micheal and I slowly approached the center and we placed our arms in the ready position in front of our faces. Michael was right, in terms of strength I was definitely weaker than him he could defeat me...if the method of fighting I was going to use relied on strength that is.

The supervisor lifted his arm indicating out match could begin. Michael had a sadistic smirk on his face no doubt imagining how he to beat me up. After briefly circling around each other waiting on the other to make a move first. He then went on the offensive. As I watched his movements I took note of his legs. He was fast. I dodged his first strike; a punch to the head and moved back. However Michael continued his attacks, he was extremely fast, it was honestly hard dodging all of them , I jumped and then he got me. A blow to the side just under my ribcage. I winced in pain that punch was insane I clutched at my stomach. I knew if I hadn't changed my bodys position in time he would have got my ribs or worse punched my breasts and felt them. Granpa Jo taught me that if you cant entirely dodge an attack the best you can do is lessen the damage by diverting where the opponent will hit. Still in pain I then quickly went back into my fighting stance as I looked at Michael who was ready to continue.

"Are you just gonna keep on trying to dodge all day?" he asked me.

I stared him right in the eye and simply smiled. I was first trying to get a read of his movements before I made my move. "What are you smiling about?" he asked me.

'Uncle Jo's advice came to mind. 'I had just come back to his home beaten up after finishing the errands he'd given me to do but I'd run into my neighborhood bullies on the way. The strongest one among them had beaten me up. I cried about it to Gandpa Jo who asked me "Why do you think you lost?"

"Because I wasn't as strong as him." I answered him.

"Wrong." He answered me to which I gave him a confused look. "Strength isn't the only way you can win a fight."

Michael leapt at me again watching his movements once more, I was now sure I knew the best way to counter his attacks.

It's all about anchoring, Granpa Jo had told me during one one of the many lessons we'd had. "How does one balance themself as they fight? Where are they putting all their weight ? Once you figure all of that then it'll be easier to figure out where their weak spots are. Everyone has a weak spot after all. Then you can knock them off their balance becaue once they've lost their balance the fight is over.

As Michael was about to strike at me once again I watched carefully as he changed his form to hit me waiting for the right moment...there. I quickly moved forward and stretched out my leg to the side before hooking it towards the opposite direction and making making it connect with Michaels back leg and puching hard. Michael lost his balance and fell backwards the look on his face in the moment was one of shock. He fell on his back and I quickly grabbed hold of one of his arms and twitsted it, locking it in an uncomfortable position. Michael groaned in pain, I then locked my legs around one of his so he couldn' t move around.

Micheal tried to break free but it was futile. Grandpa Jo had taught me this move, this specific position was one where as long as the opponents arms locked in this way no matter how strong you were it was hard to get out of. The supervisor began to count. "1,2,3

All the other candidates that were watching had looks of shock. "What was that? He moved so fast." One said

" Thats an insane lock he's got him in." another chimed in

"Is that little guy actually going to win?"

"I was so sure he was gonna lose is but he completly turned the tables."

Michael contiued to groan and writhe but I managed to maintain my hold on him. "..6,7,8.."

"Don't tell me you're actually going to win." He said to me. "I-I can't lose, not to you."

"...9,10." The supervisor reached the end of the count. " Match over," he announced "the winner is Myron."

I released Micheal as I stood up. I had won, I had actually won! I smiled to myself as I relished the moment. The entire crowd was looking at me in both surprise and shock. Probably wondering how I'd defeated someone who was both taller and stronger than me.

"So you were pretending to be weak this whole time?!" Micheal yelled at he managed to get up holding his arm which I'd hurt. Hid face was red fuming with rage. "Or maybe it was just a fluke!" He said as he started charging

"Stop Michael." His friend who constantly moved around with said