A Prologue Part Two ~ Growing Up(sample)

Chapter Four ~ Everything Changed Part II:

Zaül started to bring Deytria over for sparring every other day from then on; each day that they spent together, the fight became more fierce and lasted longer too. They always got to spend a little time alone together afterwards and their bond increased in strength as they did. Things stayed the same over the next four months.

At the end of that period of time, Reine had become an elite small craft pilot and a skilled fighter with hand-to-hand combat techniques, as she grew an inch taller. She woke up earlier than she used to, while she found she had more energy and slept less - since she started training. Things started to change once again...

She did all her exercises before breakfast, then walked to the cupboard where found her favorite breakfast waiting; which was usually a good omen. She quickly scarfed it down, before she replaced the tray and sent it up to Mrs. Roslyn. It had been a little over a year and four months since she started training and she loved it.

She did not bother getting dressed on days she did not see Deytria, so she went straight to the simulator and started the advanced combat mission. An hour later, she had finished and achieved a perfect score for the first time. Her father had taught her how to send him her results, and she did so now; though, she was bored with the simulator and moved on.

She picked up the user manual and put it in the book case, which she had finished reading a few times now; before she looked through the titles in the bookcase. She pulled The Xavior Family History Volume 24 by Tabatha Xavior and started to read. Until, her father could be heard coming down the stairs.

She missed the outside a lot now; however, when she mentioned it to her father, he told her that it was part of her training. Since it felt like her training was the best thing to happen to her, she decided to leave it alone. Reine spoke with cheer, as her father appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hello, Daddy - did you see my score?"

"Yeah - I did. Good job, pipsqueak. We'll be doing some things a little differently now - first off, you'll be studying some new material. Since you've mastered what I've given you so far."

Zaül was nervous about something, as he went to the bookcase. He started pulling several books from the case, as he filled his arms. Once his arms were full, he walked over and stacked them on the table, before he started to speak again.

"Also, you will be going outside twice a week. Once a week you will be flying a real small class fighter. The other day will be for you, along with my crew's gits as your team, to practice for or play in the Games as a team."

Her eyebrows raised and she watched her father closely, as she had never seen him like this before. He looked a little jittery even. Reine paid careful attention, as he hesitated before finishing.

"Also, I will be introducing you to small arms combat."

"So you want me to quit the simulator to make time for all this studying and I'm going to get to fly, for real?"

Her father nodded in response and smiled. She had one more question, and it looked like her father was waiting for her to ask it. She started to speak slowly and feigned boredom.

"Cool...," she paused and pretended to be finished briefly, before she continued nonchalantly, "So what are the Games then?"

"A sport for gits in training. Basically, they form teams of pirates-in-training and give them practice weapons. Each team takes turns attacking or defending an objective. Everyone involved wears special suits that lock up when struck with the practice weapons. Teams earn points by disabling opponents and by capturing or defending said objective within a set time period."