A Single Black Rose (An Ikemen Revolution Fanfiction)

Chapter 3. And So It Begins

I once again stepped out onto the field. Mid swing, Skylar glanced over his shoulder towards me - his long dark hair flying with the turn. With fluid movements, he finished the swing then rested his sword by his side. He turned to face me fully and he smirked. It wasn't a condescending smirk by any means, it was rather smug as though he was expecting company to join him eventually. 'Gosh, he seems full of himself' I thought as I contemplated turning back around and leaving. Much to my surprise, the first words that left Skylar's mouth were not bellowing flaunts and self-praises. "You here to practice too?" he asked when I was close enough to hear. I gave him a nod and unsheathed my sword. "You're the daughter of the 9 of Hearts, Alina, right? I've heard about your combat endeavours."

"Not many people know that about me," I replied with an unusually timid demeanour.

"That's quite surprising considering your capabilities."

"You know how it is - misogyny is alive and rampant here," I sighed. "Enough about me! You're quite the character, you know? Not exactly Red Army material, are you?" I emphasised my statement with a glance at his dark, edgy clothing.

He chuckled while running a hand through his hair, "as long as I show enough potential, I'm sure they can overlook a little personality." He laughed once more before bringing his attention back. "Wanna spar? I'd love to see what you're made of."

Matching his energy, I shifted into a combat ready stance. We both stared into each other's eyes with a lust for steel to meet steel. Once more, Skylar smirked, exuding confidence before lunging towards me. With quick reflexes, I stepped out of the way. I was about to swing toward his vulnerable figure, but it had already moved past as he continued to use his momentum to circle around me. Pivoting with less elegance and efficiency than I would've preferred, I turned to face him just in time to catch his sword with my own; my braided hair flew wildly through the air past my face. After pushing him back, it took me a moment to recenter myself, though I was fortunate the push left Skylar doing the same. My recovery was quicker, so I took the opportunity to finally be on the offensive. I moved to strike him on the arm. Not to be outdone, Skylar parried my oncoming attack. Despite his more slender looks, he was still muscular. We exchanged more blows and I felt fatigue begin to set in quicker than usual. He really was more talented than I gave credit for. Realising that brute force wasn't my best option, I opted to utilise more than just my sword. I dashed towards him once again with my sword at the ready. This time however, I aimed a kick at his legs. There was a split second where Skylar's composure dropped slightly, but he dodged just before my boot made contact with his shin. His posture was utterly thrown off from the unanticipated manoeuvre, so I swiftly delivered a shoulder charge to his torso, sending him to the ground. I pointed the tip of my sword at his chest and he tapped the ground twice, signalling the end of the fight. An invigorated smile had plastered itself on Skylar's face.

I sheathed my sword then offered Skylar a hand. Sudden clapping immediately gained our attention. We both turned our heads in the direction of the sound and spotted Edgar calmly strolling towards us. "That was quite the show! The two of you use such uncommon techniques; it was very interesting to watch," he mused. Though he was my superior, him sneaking up on us put me on guard. I gripped the hilt of my sword lightly. Seemingly as though he sensed my discomfort, Edgar spoke again with a charming smile on his face. "I promise there was no malintent in me watching you. I simply arrived to prepare for this afternoon's training session and happened upon your sparing."

"I've charmed you with my talents already?" Skylar joked with no trace of discomfort.

"Aren't you a presumptuous one! I must admit, you both have caught my attention," Edgar confirmed then directed his sight behind us. "Ah, here comes Zero with the rest of those partaking in the trial." Many eager faces who were ready to show off their skills were being escorted by a less energetic looking Zero. "Well, now that we're all here, we probably should get started! Shall we?" Edgar proclaimed. "Today's training session will mostly be an opportunity for me and Zero to determine your current level. You can practice alone or with a partner, whichever showcases your abilities best. Use as much space here as you need." During his last sentence, he motioned around the field to then signal for us to begin. We saluted our superior and the other participants - some alone, most in pairs - all rushed to different places, enthusiastic flaunt their capabilities. I was ready to find my own spot to refine my strategies after sparring with Skylar when someone's gloved hand rested itself on my shoulder. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Jack?" I grunted.