PICK UP THE SWORD
1118 Words
Kaia
The girls and I changed into our training outfits and followed Lady Everly as she leads us to the opening hall. There were already four female trainers waiting. They were dressed in an all-white attire.
“Now girls, I’ll be leaving you in the hands of these skilled trainers but I’ll be watching you from there” Lady Everly says, pointing at a small camera close to the ceiling. “So, make sure to impress me.”
Lady Everly and the female trainers exchange pleasantries before she takes her leave.
“Now, shall we begin” One of the trainers with blonde hair packed in a bun command, with her hands behind her. “My name is instructor Anna. These are my colleagues; Haylee, Mavis, Zoey and Joye. Now, we’re supposed to be individually assigned to you but we’ve decided to assess your skills collectively for a start. Afterwards, the instructor who believes she can polish your skills would choose you and there, your real training begins. Is that understood?”
“Yes ma’am!” We harmonized.
“In that case, who would like to show what they’ve got first?”
Sheena threw her hands up in the air. “I’d like to go first, instructor Anna”
“Very well. Step forward, tell us your name and show us what you’ve got”
Sheena steps forward. “My name is Sheena”
“Nice to meet you, Sheena. Would you like to tell us your strength or rather show us?” Instructor Anna asks
“I’d like to show you”
“Then you may proceed at your convenience”
“Thank you” Turning to face Phreta, Sheena says, calmly. “Phreta, jump out the window”
I furrowed my brow, confused. Why had Sheena said something so awkward? Phreta wouldn’t actually jump out the window just because she said so, right?
But I couldn’t be more wrong as Phreta began to walk towards the window of her own accord.
“Phreta” I called out to her. “What are you doing? Stop” But she didn’t budge. As if under control, she kept on walking.
Just as she was about to jump over the window, Sheena commands. “Phreta, stop. Go back to where you stood before”
Immediately, Phreta walked backed to where she stood before, beside me. “Phreta, are you alright?”
She gazed at me, confused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You don’t remember? Just now, you almost jumped out the window”
Phreta laughed. “Why would I do something as stupid as that, Kaia?”
She didn’t remember. What just happened?
“Impressive” Instructor Anna says to Sheena. “Mind manipulation and memory wiping. Very impressive of you, Sheena”
“The memory wiping skill isn’t mine, Inspector Anna”
“Then whose?”
“It’s Raina’s” Sheena admits, pointing back at Raina. “We always work hand in hand”
Memory wiping and mind manipulation. Those were Raina and Sheena’s powers. Did I have what it takes to defeat them? Could the hybrid district still prevail?
“A very impressive teamwork. Keep it up Sheena and Raina” Instructor Anna commends “Who is next?”
Phreta steps forward. “I’d like to go next”
“Your name?”
“My name is Phreta” She says with a smile. “I’ll make sure you remember it”
Phreta’s confidence was intimidating enough but it made me wonder what kind of skill she had. Phreta drew out a sword I didn’t know she had on her. She took on Instructor Joye as her opponent. I had expected her to lose against a skilled instructor but she’d defeated Joye within minutes.
I stared at these three strong girls in disbelief. These were my rivals? I didn’t stand a chance against any of them.
“Kaia?” Instructor Anna calls out to me. “It’s your turn”
I couldn’t step forward and disgrace myself when I knew I had nothing to show for myself. “I’m sorry but I have nothing to show you?”
“What do you mean, Kaia?”
“I don’t have any special skills like Raina and Sheena. Neither do I know how to use a sword like Phreta” I admit. “I’m just an omega” An omega who was lucky enough to have her life changed overnight.
Coming to terms that there was nothing special about me nearly made me cry but I held back my tears.
“It’s alright, Kaia” Instructor Anna says, placing her hands on my shoulders; consoling me. “We’ll figure out your strength together”
I blinked, confused “Together as in... you’ll be my trainer?”
“Only if you’d let me”
“I do” I agreed, wholeheartedly. “Thank you”
The rest of the trainers choose the representatives they had interest with and left the opening hall with them; leaving Anna and I all alone in the hall.
“I have one question to ask you, Kaia” Anna says. “What did you have in mind when you were coming here?”
Nothing. Even after Pliar had explained that it wasn’t actual school, I still didn’t know what I was expecting here in Kade. “I…”
“You didn’t know what you were coming here to do, did you?”
I stilled. “How did you know?”
“Because you nearly cried on your first day and made your weakness known. That’s the first sign of defeat, Kaia. Even if you can’t fight and have zero chance of winning the battle, don’t show it. The whole fate of Sturgeon pack is resting on your shoulder, you shouldn’t have time for tears”
Anna moves aside, draws a sword and throws it down at my feet. “You saw how amazing Phreta was back there, didn’t you? If you decide to take up the sword, it means you have what it takes to defeat Phreta. Do you think so as well?”
I don’t think so. “Yes, I do”
“Are you certain that you’d be able to cause maximum damage to her on the day of the final exam?”
I wasn’t. Phreta drew her sword like a skilled assassin. She’d defeated Joye in the blink of an eye. It was obvious she was a pro at swordsmanship. I didn’t even come close. I didn’t have what it takes to defeat her. Not even the slightest. “I’m certain”
“Good” Instructor Anna says, impressed at my strong will. “Then pick up the sword”
- Writer
