Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

❄️ Permafrost [2/3] ❄️

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Author's Note 7/8/24:

Yay, 100 reads on the story! :D

Thank you all so much for your support, it means a lot to me as an author. ^^

- TuxedoTia

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Tia's POV:

"Feint at the opponent! There you go, now jab with your right arm to distract them. Faster, c'mon! I know you can hit quicker than that."

King Arthur was barking commands me in the combat room, sparring with me and testing out my abilities.

He could tell I needed to blow off some steam, so we were practicing some mixed hand-to-hand drills.

This was a test of my focus, stamina, and endurance.

"Quit being slow and hit faster!" My mentor ordered, effectively blocking a swing from my tail. "I told you not to use that, do I have to tie it to your back to keep you from slapping me?"

"Sorry!" I squeaked, dodging one of his blows. "I'm not used to fighting without it."

"Don't apologize on the battlefield," Arthur reminded me, jabbing at my shoulder. "You won't live long enough to see if your opponent accepts it or not."

Talk about wise.

I pummeled at his chest, only for him to swat my arm aside and get a blow on my belly.

Reeling back, I reformulated a plan, steadying myself with my tail.

"Don't just sit there, charge at me!" The king barked, gesturing for me to come at him. "We don't have all night to stall."

"It's only been a split second!" I protested, feinting a kick at his side.

"That's a split second too long," He frowned, grabbing me by the boot and yanking me into the air. "You see, this is exactly what can happen in a split second. How much more when they have more than that?"

I was practically dangling above the ground, struggling to get down. "Hey, no fair! Let me go!"

"Not all the time the enemy will be polite to someone as menacing as you." Arthur scoffed, dropping me on the ground. "Let's take a five minute break. Sit down and tell me what you've learned."

Once I got a hold of myself, I sat crisscross on the floor beside him, breathless and trying to recover.

Even though I knew he was testing my physical condition, he was also testing my patience.

"Three things, go." He said, taking a sip of his water. "What did you learn from me, Tia? And it better be something good, not any lazy things you already know."

His voice was hard and firm, which clearly got to me.

"One, feint from the opposite direction you're going to hit your opponent." I began, staring down at the training mat we sat on. "Two, don't break your punching streak midway. And three... Uhh..."

"Don't stall," The king looked down at me, watching me think. "Gotta be quick. Three, two..."

"Don't stall, yeah!" I repeated, awkwardly averting my gaze from his.

"Another thing." He sighed, tapping me on the shoulder. "Look at me when I talk, kiddo."

I silently swiveled my head around, eyeing him up and down. "Yes, sir."