Phoenix: The Rebirth

Mountains To Mole Hills

He who fails to plan is planning to fail- Winston Churchill

“Father” Davina smiled at her father.

“Davina, sit here” He ushered her to sit by his side “I would be going to see a friend today. He owns a sword combat academy. I would talk to him about you coming over to his place. It might be quite difficult to convince him to let you stay because he does not accept children less than ten years of age and you are just six years of age. Also, the difficult part of it is he does not accept female children. He has been my friend for a while now so I hope I would be able to convince him” He gently stroked her hair.

“Thanks, father, you are the best in the whole world” She stood up and hugged her father.

“You are the best daughter in the world” He smiled too.

“Hmm hmm,” Sara cleared her throat, alerting them of her presence.

“Mother” She ran to hug her mother who in turn held her and placed a kiss on her daughter’s cheek.

“I would be going to the market today, I have some goods to trade today” She informed.

A supportive wife indeed. Sara was hell-bent on supporting her husband and so, she got a space in the market where she sells wares.

“Mother, can I come with you?”

“Of course, you are coming with me. I can’t leave you all by yourself. Go and prepare” She ordered and watched Davina go in.

“That’s fine.” Jeremy stood up.

“Where are you going?” Sara questioned.

“To see a friend. He has a sword training academy. I believe he would be able to train Davina” He placed his arms behind him.

“Oh! You never mentioned that to me. The only sword training friend of yours you mentioned to me is Xander” She answered, surprised.

“Yes,” He replied calmly.

“You said he tutors children not lesser than ten years of age, is that so?” She folded her arms across her shoulders.

“Yes”

“You also said he tutors male children alone, is that so?” She questioned again.

“Yes,” As usual, he was calm.

“Am I missing out on something here?” She raised her brows.

“Like?”

“Davina is just six years of age! Also, she is a female”

“Of course, I know that” He smiled.

“What’s your plan, Jeremy?”

“No plans” He smiled “I’m just going to tell him about Davina, that’s all”

“Jeremy, don’t you think this is not right?”

“What is not right?” He focused on her.

“Davina is barely six years of age. She is also a female. Peradventure she gets accepted which I know cannot be possible, she would have to compete with boys older and stronger than she is. Is this not risky?” She lamented.

“You know Davina is a strong girl, she can fight anyone, all she needs is training which she would get at Xander's place. Let your mind be at peace” He placed his hand on her shoulder and gently patted it.

“Jeremy please, let her grow older” Sara pleaded.

“You should know Davina has limited time, it is our responsibility to prepare her for the battle ahead”

“Jeremy..”

“Mother, shall we leave now?” Davina suddenly arrived.

“No, I..” She stared at her husband.

“Yes, you both can” He stared at Sara too before diverting his gaze to his daughter. He walked out of the house and headed to Xander's place.

Sara took Davina's hand in hers and they proceeded to the market. She thought of what to do as they walked to the market. She has to stop Jeremy at all costs. She could not afford to lose her daughter.

“Mother, if I die today, what would you do?” Davina questioned her mother.

“What!” Anger and fear were mixed in her voice.

“If I die this very minute, what would you do?”

“Stop it” She rebuked her daughter “Where did you hear that from?” She yelled angrily.

“Well, no reason and nowhere in particular, just wanted to know”

“Come here” Sara pulled Davina into a warm embrace.

“Mother” Davina was surprised as she heard her mother’s sobs.

“Mother” She called again and Sara gently loosened her daughter from her embrace.

“Mother, is anything the matter?” She questioned her mother.

“Of course not” Sara gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “Let’s go” She held Davina’s hand and they continued their journey.

“Wow, what a surprise!” Xander exclaimed upon seeing Jeremy. He was sitting in his academy watching the children take a break.

“A surprise indeed” Jeremy chuckled.

“You have all had enough time to rest” Xander clapped, alerting his students. “It’s time to proceed with the training. Nathan, Rhett, over to you” He instructed. The two children stood up, obeying their master's instruction.

“So to what do I owe this sudden visit of yours" Xander smiled, proudly watching the children fight.

“He is your son, isn't he?” Jeremy pointed at Nathan.

“Of course, he is. How about Davina and Sara?”

“They are both well and fine" Jeremy concentrated on the children who were fighting. Nathan was winning the battle. “How old are they? “ Jeremy questioned.

“My son, Nathan is ten years of age, Rhett is thirteen years of age” He smiled, watching his son defeat his opponent.

“Davina wants to learn sword fighting” He turned to Xander.

“That’s wonderful. Where do you intend to enroll her?” Xander questioned, focusing on the kids.

“With you”

“You know I don’t train female children, they are too fragile” He turned to Jeremy

“Davina is not a fragile type, you know that” Jeremy defended.

“Of course, I know that but I’m sorry, I can’t train Davina” Xander pleaded.

“May I know your reason?” Jeremy questioned.

“Davina is not fragile does not change the fact that she is a girl. I am sorry” He pleaded again.

“I won!” Nathan announced happily; interrupting Jeremy and Xander's conversation.

“Nice one” Xander smiled. “Jason and John, over to you” He instructed. The duo stood up and began to fight too.

“Not only is Davina a girl, but she is also just six years of age. She is very young for me to tutor, I’m sorry”

“A trial will convince you, Xander. She has already begun training before now. It is not like she is new to sword fighting. She is up to the task” Jeremy tried to convince him.

“I'm sorry, I can not take the risk. I'm sorry”

“It's fine” Jeremy smiled and stood up to leave. He shook Xander's hand and left.

“Your daughter is so beautiful” A woman commended.

“Thank you, ma'am” Sara smiled and bowed.

“Thank you, ma'am” Davina imitated her mother. The woman laughed heartily at Davina's gesture.

“Not only is she beautiful, but she is also smart. What is your name?” She turned to Davina.

“Davina” She answered and smiled.

“You have a beautiful name, a beautiful face as well as a beautiful attitude. I have a gift for you” The woman smiled at Davina and brought out a beautiful butterfly necklace.

“A beautiful girl with a beautiful name as well as a beautiful attitude deserves a beautiful gift” She gently fixed the necklace on Davina's neck.

“So beautiful!” Davina’s mother commended the necklace.

“Beautiful, right?” Davina questioned her mother.

“Of course!” She turned to the woman “ Thank you so much, ma'am, it must have cost you a fortune”

“Anything for mine” She smiled and left.

“Mine?” Sara wondered. What did the woman mean by ‘hers’? Sara was thrown into a state of confusion.

“Father!” Davina announced and smiled. Sara turned to the left and saw her husband coming. She smiled too. She could tell from his expression that his request wasn’t granted. The joy in her at that moment was unfathomable but she decided to feign ignorance.

“Father” Davina ran to hug her father as he got closer.

“My princess” He carried her up and placed a light kiss on her cheeks.

“What did he say?” She asked as he gently dropped her.

“I’m sorry, Davina. He declined” He pleaded.

“Oh!” Sara exclaimed. Deep within, she was happy but it wouldn’t speak well of her to stand as an obstacle to her daughter’s dream. What could she do? After all, every woman would want to protect her child's life. Only she understood fully well how difficult childbearing is.

“Davina, I'm sorry” Her father pleaded once again. She remained silent and stood on a spot.

“Davina” Her mother called. All of a sudden, she began to run.

“Davina!” Her mother called, shocked by her sudden action.

“Davina! Wait” Her father shouted but no, she didn’t stop. She was determined to achieve her goal which was in this case, to get enrolled into a sword academy. She ran with all her might and finally arrived at Xander's place.

“Davina! You've grown so big and tall!” Xavier commented as he ate the apple plated before him. She stood there, right in front of him, quietly watching him.

“Well, your father just left” He added.

“I did not come for my father. I came to see you.” She quietly answered.

“Me? Here I am then. How can I help you?” He smiled at her.

“ I want to learn sword fighting”

“Oh! About that.” He smiled. “Your father left here just a moment ago. I explained everything to him” He added.

“He told me you said you won’t teach me” She frowned.

“I did not say I will not teach you my dear” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “You are not of age. Also, you are a girl. Don’t twist my words”

“I don’t need to. You are more twisted than your words are. You won’t teach me because I am a girl. That is nice. You believe a woman is weak yet as weak as she is, she birthed a full human. Childbearing is one of the most difficult things ever yet a woman goes through it. It has become a habit for them. She takes care of the family. How do age and gender affect sword fighting? What role does it play?” She questioned angrily.

“Enough!” He yelled. “What role do gender and age play? I'll show you. Your father said you've been practicing, no?” He scoffed. “Let's see what you can do” His lips curved into a smile.

“Nathan” He called, still smiling at her cunningly.

“Yes, father” Nathan appeared in his father’s presence.

” Show her the role age and gender plays in sword fighting” He picked up his apple and resumed eating it.

“Yes, father” He bowed. Xander threw a sword at Nathan which he skillfully caught. He threw a sword at Davina which threw her to the floor instead. She could not handle it well as it was heavier than she thought. She had never held a real sword before. Xander laughed snarkily.

The duo began to fight. It was so difficult for her and before she knew it, Nathan threw her to the floor, with a weird smile, just like his father.

“That's so nice” Xander rubbed his son’s head and gave the ‘I told you' kind of smile to Davina.

“What just happened made it clear. I hope you understand?” Xander crossed his arms.

“Understand what?” She dusted off the dust from her body.

“Aaaaah! Davina. You still have not learned your lesson? Fine. I'll explain to you. Nathan was able to defeat you because he is a boy. Also, he is older than you. You could not handle the sword because you are still young, so you see?” He gestured.

“That’s a lie. Nathan was able to defeat me because he has been training for a long time. He was able to handle the sword because he had been practicing for a long. I, on the other hand, have never held a real sword. Also, I have been practicing with James only. It’s fine if you don’t want to teach me because I am a girl and also because I am young. I'll find someone to teach me. No, I won’t stop searching. I won’t stop wanting to learn, I won’t stop the warrior in me no matter what. Goodbye,” She spat and gently strode to the market. Her parents had gone home already. She hurriedly walked back home.

“Davina, what is the matter? You look so sad.” Her father welcomed her.

“You! Where were you? Where did you go?” Sara squeezed Davina's ear angrily.

“Aaah!” Davina winced in pain.

“Sara, stop!” Jeremy yelled at Sara and quickly saved the young girl from her mother’s hold.

“Where were you?” Her father questioned again.

“I visited your friend. Nathan's father”

“What! How did you know his place?”

“Simple. Since he has a sword training academy, I asked for the sword training academy close by and I was directed to his place”

“Guess he said no, right?” Sara folded her arms. Amused by her daughter’s rejection.

“Of course he did. He isn’t worth it” She shrugged.

Sara guessed this was an opportunity. Since Davina was at her melting point, she decided to take advantage of the situation.

“Maybe, you should just keep practicing with James or practice just alone till you are of age. Besides, as a woman, there are other things you need to learn like how to cook, how to……”

She was cut short by a knock. She wondered who it could be. Again, they heard a knock.

Davina stood up to get the door but Sara held her back. She decided to get it herself. Lo and behold! The least expected visitor was at the door.

“You!” Sara exclaimed in shock.