From The Ashes We Will Rise

Training and Mother's

Hey! Here's the next chapter enjoy!

POV Alex

Just like the morning I woke up in Lexa's tent I again left before she woke. I mean she was in my... room, but I didn't know what to say. It would surely be awkward, so I got dressed and situated my weapons and walked out. I ended up just walking the quiet streets till the sun came up and the people started to wake. As I was contemplating going back to maybe eat since I think my stomach is eating itself now. I really need to start trusting people I think and snort at the thought. As I am walking back to the tower, I see the group of kids I saw yesterday walking towards the training pits. I smiled and before I could move on a little boy ran up to me startling me. "You're Alex, right?" He asks with so much hope that my cold heart melts a bit. "Um, yes that is me. uh, who are you?" I ask awkwardly not knowing how to interact with people apparently. "Aden" he says with a smile, and I nod not knowing what to do now. "Do you want to train with us?" He asks and I look over at the group of kids that were smiling at me. "Um, what about that old man that seems to always have a stick up his ass?" I ask and his eyes widen a bit before he laughs hard. I glance around not knowing what is happening, was that funny? or was it because I swore... Shit I swore in front of a child! I thought scolding myself. "You are funny, but no he won't be there he is in some meetings with Heda" he says and I nod letting him pull me towards the group. They all seemed to be happy and grabbed ahold of me somehow dragging me along with them. "Heda and Titus will join us after they are done. We are all training for the next commander" One boy says and I nod then look at them in shock when I process. "What? why is something wrong with Lexa? I ask worriedly and they shake their heads. "No but it's what we do. we are all night bloods" Aden says and I sigh realizing what he meant now. We get to the pits, and they all grab weapons and start to pair up I stand off to the side, but Aden comes over tugging on my sleeve. "Want to train with me?" He asks and I look at him skeptically, "Are you sure that's allowed?" I ask and he shrugs grabbing me. "Come on" he says and hands me a sword. "Not wooden?" I ask and he smiles getting in his stance. I sigh and twist the sword a few times getting used to it. "Ready?" He asks and I chuckle. "Never ask when one is ready, if they are not, they are dead" I say, and he nods seeming to take my words of advice. It feels weird I am literally teaching him what Azgeda taught me...What does that make me? I think but get shaken out when I see Aden strike. I block him easily and we spar for a bit, I have to admit he is good, but his foot work is... I sweep my feet kicking him making him fall with a thud and stand over him sword to his throat. "Your foot work is sloppy; you rely too much on your skill with the sword" I say letting up as he pushes himself up. He nods and attacks again. He took my advice but now he is exposing his left side. I dodge and hit his side making him fall. "Nice foot work but now your left side is exposed." I say and he gets back but brushing off the sand. We spar a couple more rounds me knocking him down and giving him tips. "You are going easy" he says, and I laugh. "If I went hard, you wouldn't stand a chance child" I tease, and he laughs. "Ok, then go against all of us" he says, and I tilt my head. They all gather nodding seeming to like that plan. "Please... Heda and Titus will be down soon let's have some fun!" He says and they all cheer. I sigh but nod my head. They all circle around me, "ok then let's make this even" I say and lips my shirt taring one of my bandages off and wrapping it around my head covering my eyes. "let's see what you night bloods got" I grin out. I hear two approaches from either side of me and I wait till they are close and dodge making them hit each other. "You make too much noise" I say and ready myself again. This time I hear a slight shuffle to my left and swipe my sword hearing the kids weapon fall to the ground. "You need to stay quiet the whole time" I say. I hear three more kids rush me and I engage with them but ultimately knocking them down. "If you are going to attack quick make sure you have a plan. Don't blindly run into it" I say and spin around only for me to feel a presents behind me making me dodge kicking them to the ground. "Good, but you were too slow" I say and spin again. It goes like this for a few more moments until I hear them all rush me, and I smile knocking one down quick taking their weapon then engaging with them two swarded. I knock most of them down and feel a blade at my gut. and back. "Got you" I hear Aden say but I smirk spinning letting the blade on my gut cut into me and sweep them both to the ground and whip of the blindfold. All the kids lay on the floor groaning and in shock. I look down at my gut and see a cut but shrug. "Nice work, you improved" I say and Aden gets up. "Why did you do that?" he asks, and I tilt my head "What do you mean?" I ask. "You could have given up but instead you choose to get hurt in order to win" he says, and I look at him. "You give up Aden you die. You never give up. See you thought you had me and when your enemies think they have you they drop their guard down. That is the best moment to strike. Would you rather be dead or alive with a small scratch?" I ask and he seems to think but slowly nods. "Thank you" he says, and I tilt my head. "What for? I didn't do anything" I say but he smiles, and the other kids gather around too. "You taught us a lot. Stuff that Titus hasn't even Heda. You fight differently" he says, and I nod not knowing what to say. "Natblida's!" I hear shouted and look to see Lexa and the man I now know as Titus standing at the other end of the pits. The kids look at me thanking me and rushing over all but Aden. "Go you will be late" I say but instead he hugs me making me stiffen slightly and raise my hands. "Thank you" He mumbles, and I pat it head awkwardly. He pulls back and smiles. "Can we train again?" He asks and I glance at the others seeing Titus and Lexa looking our way, but they can't hear us. "Um, Ya maybe I'll swing by to kick your ass" I say, and he laughs. "You are strange, but a good strange" he says hugging me again then running off. I raise my brow shaking my head slightly and then walking over to the opposite side walking out of the pits leaving the sword on a rack.