Strange Waters

The test for strength

Ibinabo stands out amongst the rest, as she sets out to their midst for a training session. The look on the newbies faces reeked of surprise and uncertainty as she could not possibly train them all alone. The training was usually handled and headed by she and the prince ofcourse the greatest of all swordsman in the Atlantic.

 "The prince is hooked up with affairs of top tier, and wouldn't be joining us today,  today the training rounsa will be in a different format. let's begin!". Ibinabo took off her veil and called for swords and shields. As terrifying as she looked holding up her sword and with her blazing eyes, she looked like an Angel, the kind that gods sends for vengeance and chaos.

All the trainees and incumbent warriors were all gathered outside in an assembly and in circular formation, Waiting for instructions from Ibinabo while Sandy ran in and fixed herself in-between the girl with the red hair and one other guy. She was a bit excited to be learning a new skill as she wanted to handle a sword back home but Old Mardock wouldnt let her even look at it for long before she develops lust for it. Funny how she is now in a place where the sword will keep her safe and she needed to yield it for survival.

"As we all know, we have 157days before the Eclipse and the scroll has arrived. We do not have enough time but the prophesy has always been that we shall be saved by the hands of an innocent blood and the trails of a fearful warrior, One of us may be the one, but till the day of reckon comes we all need to work hard to keep our empire safe. The forces of Queen Goriel has grown stronger and she has been going to the seashores to summon power and harness the energy of the blood sun. We might not stand a chance against her forces if this is true but the one who is ordained to save us all will. Let's hope she isn't just another coward". She said that with a Stern look on her face and imediately turned to Sandy's direction and then put her face away.

 A diversion was created to keep the cycle rotating, the training was to teach each one how to handle a sword and how to perfect a swing and also how to defend and block a strike with a shield. So each person was tagged, a newbie and a former warrior, one to yield a sword and the older to defend with a shield. Ofcourse Sandy was tagged with someone familiar as fate would have it. He was a bit taller and older than Sandy but he was not a hard nut to c***k as Sandy found it easy to trip him over with a swing of the sword aggressively. "Easy"... Ibinabo yelled, as Sandra was spotted swinging too hard at Desmond Garrick. Desmond knew she was still mad over the joke he made earlier on about her dress so he tried not to react to her anger but instead taunted her the more. Sandy was almost about to loose her temper and jump on him, then Ibinabo strikes her staff on the ground bringing everyone to a halt... "this is a training session not an opportunity to let your anger on each other, you will have the chance for that in a couple of days. Focus". Switch!. Swords to the other side and shields the other way, let's get this over with"... Desmond picks up a smirk as he takes the sword from Sandy's grip and lets the shield rest on her arms as the switch stance. "Make sure you, you don't trip. Hold on to the handle properly so it doesn't slip from your grip as I strike..... You ready?".... Sandy gave a sigh and got into a stance as she saw Ibinabo did earlier. She felt the sword bang against the shield and it vibrated all the way up to her arms and gave her a quick shock. The shield fell for her grip and the second swing of the sword was about to hit her shoulder as Desmond was in a motion that couldn't be stopped, the essence of the training was to be able to swing a sword as fast as you could and the shield to defend and take as many hit as possible. Ibinabo always kept an eye for Sandy through out the training, she saw the moment the sword went towards her and all she did was raise her staff and everything was running late in time, she walked towards Sandy and took her from the floor while the rest of the people were stuck in time, moving slowly, only Sandy could see was what was going on. Ibinabo slowed down time to save Sandy, and Sandy realized how powerful her magic must be. She held on to her as she dropped her in the chambers room where Sandy changed and told her to get in her custom clothes and wait for Lady Mildred to come tend to her Arm. "You might have strained a muscle, the healer will come and look after you. Stay here".... "Thank you". Sandy sighed a breathe of relief as she sat back and held her arm in pain.

Ibinabo walked out and picked up the Shield from where Sandy stood, close her eyes to undo her spell and let Time take it's normal course. Desmond was startled to see that sandy was no where to be found and it was Ibinabo with the shield. "Come one, lets go"... Ibinabo said as Desmond was still in shock searching around for Sandy and unable to raise his sword against Ibinabo. She charged him and tussled him off to he ground in a split second. The whole camp watched as they were suprised to see Her stand against a minor swordsman. Sandy watched from the hole in the chambers room and was appeased to see how Desmond was treated. She gave another sigh of relief. Soon after the training, the camp warriors tropped in and were settling.  Lady Mildred arrived, an elderly lady who was so nice to Sandy during her stay at the castle room and Ibinabo's only friend in the Empire. "Sweet heart I heard you strained a vein?, Here let me see that arm up in my qauters"... She picked Sandy up and they both left the training camp up towards the castle where the Healers quater was, she got there and offered Sandy a cup of warm water and put her to bed. Sandy slowly drifted off to sleep as the healer lighted up some candles and placed her hands on Sandy's arm in chanting some words but Sandy was long gone to hear her. The drink must have had something in it. Hopefully Sandy might wake up ready to train again. This world was still a myth to her and she must do as she was told.