Knightress

Chapter 16

The Legionnaires ran laps round the flat grassy area on the hills. They woke up at 5am like the day they found Princess Jade almost dead on the hills, but unlike that day, they were able to finish the hike and reach the top flat area of the hill that extended as far as the eye could see.

The flat hilltop was a vast and varied training ground, its soil worn and compacted from countless drills and exercises. Weathered wooden posts marked the Jousting and Swords Arena, where the Legionnaires practiced their combat. Near the Arena was a sprawling network of trenches and earthworks formed the Training Grounds, dedicated to specifically war training where Legionnaires learned the art of defending and breaching fortifications. The hilltop was large and evenly divided into dedicated sections for various kinds of training.
At the hill's foot, a breathtaking waterfall tumbled over moss-covered rocks, into a serene and crystal-clear lake.

Commander told them their welcoming was over, the time for real training has begun. Some Legionnaires were on mats on the trimmed grass doing core strengthening exercises, others on beams and bars and others on the smallish field doing laps, running and dinamic stretches.

Laura was with those on the mats, balanced on her elbows and feet facing the side in a sort of plank, her body shook, beads of sweat literally dropped onto the mat as she sucked in breaths and heaved them out again.

Their instructors demonstrated  the exercises easily, according to them it was suppose to make them loose, enduring and flexible, most of the Legionnaires mirrored them without struggle.

"Strengthen your core and pelvis, sooner or later we'll be starting horse back training, if you master these exercises you'll be able to control your beast." Said one of the instructors who walked around to inspect.

The instructors effortlessly switched into a squat, everyone followed.

"Straight backs everyone, don't slouch."

Laura forced out breaths as she stabled her shaking legs. With time I'll get used to it.

She glanced at the bars where Andreas swung around skillfully, he tucked his legs, swinging into the small gap from his hands and swapping his position before landing gracefully on the foam and giving others a chance. Matthew was also at the bars, he had a heavy black band strapped around his waist as he swung his legs with pointed toes.

Two hours passed of their exercises with stretches in between each. The Legionnaires altered between the bars, laps, and mats but the instructor preferred to keep Laura at the mats as she apparently needed more work. One of the Legion helpers rung a huge bell from a high wooden cabin, he spoke through a mic, "Legionnaires, proceed to the lake! I repeat, proceed to the lake!" He announced.

Laura collapsed on her mat gasping for air, never had she EVER worked out for that long in her life. Her body ached and the heat of the sun wasn't helping. A brief shade covered her, she peeled opened one eye to see Matthew looking down at her with his sweat glazed arms on his waist.

"You okay?" He asked, chuckling.

"Yeah, I'm just going to lay here and burn. It's a solid life choice."

Matthew snorted. "You're going to regret that. You need to get some cold water or ice on those muscles, or you'll be aching for weeks."

He offered her his hands, and Laura struggled to lift her arms and take them. Matthew pulled her to her feet, and she swayed precariously. He swooped in, lifting her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

As they followed the others to the lake, Laura recoiled from the pungent aroma of Matthew's sweat. "Gosh, you reek!"

Matthew laughed. "You're not exactly a field of roses yourself. Want to walk?" He stopped mid-stride, and Laura hesitated.