Training
Clover led me to a large field with training dummies. "Where Are We?" I asked, looking around.
Clover: "The Training grounds. I'm going to teach you how to fight."
I nod and she gives me a wooden sword.
Clover: "Hit the target."
I look at one of the targets and run towards it, swinging my sword and slicing it in half.
Clover: "Not bad Ly, Get all of them, or as many as you can."
I look around seeing all of the targets and start running towards them, swinging my sword and slicing all of them. This went on for about 3 hours before she walked up to me.
Clover: "You can hit the targets just fine, but you're swinging too late, it's causing the force of your sword hitting the wooden support beams of the targets to knock you back, in other words your timing is off, try again."
I try again, timing the swinging of my sword and clearing more targets a lot faster.
I trained like that, day after day after day. Training. and only training. Learning how to fight and learning how to defend. Clover started teaching me how to use the bow and arrow and also taught me how to get out of certain situations with a pocket knife. My training went on for about 2 months. Then one day River showed up.
River: "Ready for your test to see if you're ready?"
“...Ready-? - for what-?"
River: "For your test of fighting in battle? Clover is training you to be the best warrior you can be. If you aren't ready for your test, you’ll have to work harder. And that won't be fun- trust me."
"...I'll be ready."
River: "Good- though be done with training in 20 minutes. We're having dinner early today."
I nodded and she turned and left, I looked over at Clover. "Am I ready?" She smiled and laughed slightly.
Clover: 'Oh sweet Trainee!!- Of course not."
I look at her with an unamused and dramatically hurt face.
Clover: "What-? The truth hurts. And I'm not going to lie. I'd be sending you into a fire pit blindfolded if I did-"
I sigh and continue training. Once I'm done for the day I get cleaned up and meet the others for dinner in a cottage where all of the guards ate dinner. Emerald walked in and sat down next to me, I gave her a bread roll while no one was looking and she wagged her tail, hiding under the table to eat it. I smile and start eating. After dinner all of the guards go to bed, except for me- I want to train more so I decide to go outside to do just that. I train nonstop for probably 8 hours- I see the moon slowly start to set beyond the mountains and sigh. getting cleaned up and going inside. I lay on my bed and Emerald walks in, she’s been sleeping at the end of my bed for a few weeks now. I lay down and she curls up next to me. Pretty soon we both fall asleep. I woke up exactly at 12:30. I stood up and got ready for the day. Emerald follows me but mainly gets left behind every 15 minutes since she is trying to clean her fur. I walk out onto the training fields where Clover is waiting for me.
