Knowledge is Deadly: Book 1: The Azuran Series

Chapter 3

     Katelyn had just finished her homework for school when she realized that the dreaded fighting class was going to start in a few minutes. She pulled her hair up and changed into more appropriate clothing.
     "Ready Kilin?" She asked while primping her hair in the mirror.
     "Not in the slightest." Kilin groaned and pulled her hair into a high pony.
      "Are you worried?" She asked, turning around to look at her.
     "For Blake's safety, yes." Kilin said with a smirk. Katelyn rolled her eyes and smiled.
     "I mean about the whole secrets thing. You were pretty distressed after yesterday."
     "I'll be fine. It's not normal for me to over react like that." She said looking down.
     "I know. That's why I was worried yesterday." She said.
     "Let's just go." Kilin said walking towards the door.
     "Just don't bring it up." She said. Katelyn made a sour face and reluctantly followed Kilin.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•

     Back at the field Master Samoa was waiting for them.
     Katelyn limped up onto the brick floor and stood beside Kilin, wondering what was in store for them today.
     Master Samoa gave them both identical swords.
     "Fundamentals today. Miss Garo you should know most of it based on what I saw yesterday, but I'm just making sure everything's clear. Lets begin with the basic fighting stance." She instructed.
     Katelyn spread her legs and angled her sword downwards, but it didn't feel right. She waited anxiously for Master Samoa to correct her.
     Kilin bit her lip and looked up trying to remember. She never had to be this formal before. They just sort for chased each with sword and tried not to get killed. She set up in, what she thought, was the fighting stance, or at least the one she was taught.
     Master Samoa studied them. "Kilin, straighter back. Hold your arm a little higher too. Great. Katelyn... quit squatting as if you're using the bathroom. Angle the sword up, not down. And keep the other arm ready."
     Katelyn blushed, embarrassed, and fixed herself.
     Kilin fixed herself but felt odd. Her lower body was to open and without another dagger could easily be cut. Luckily Katelyn didn't know how to swing a sword.
     "Better.. let's practice with our lunges and swings. The first is a simple downward slash. Good for threatening an opponent, but don't count on it as a main attack."
     Katelyn held her sword out and up, and let the tip drop down quickly.
     "Not horrendous." Master Samoa mumbled.  
     Kilin swung her sword down picking it up before it could touch the ground.
     "Really. What's the point of practicing with swords when I like daggers?" Kilin asked glancing over at Master Samoa. She blinked and studied Kilin.
     "I can only teach one thing at a time. Mr. Pierce has asked me to teach you how to use a sword." She said.
     Katelyn just sighed. Kilin sighed and got back into the fighting stance reluctantly.
     "Let's try a forward lunge. Step with your dominant foot and thrust forward quickly."
     Katelyn stepped with her right foot and ran the sword through the air in front of her quickly. Master Samoa nodded tersely.
     "No jump." Kilin muttered and lunged forward bring the sword out and then back in quickly. Master Samoa nodded.
     "Your mother must have been talented." She remarked.
     "Is. She is still very talented" Kilin corrected defensively.
     Master Samoa raised an eyebrow. She instructed them to do several more simple swings and decided to finish for the day.
     "Nice job today. Be ready for tomorrow." Master Samoa said simply before walking out of the courtyard.
     Katelyn stayed where she was. Kilin stuck the sword in ground, which she knew you shouldn't do, and crossed her arm.
     "What?" Katelyn asked, looking over at her. "Why should you be frustrated? I can't even hold the thing right!"
     "I do better with daggers." She said. "And I never trained like this. I guess that happens when you're a-" she cut herself off and sighed.
     Katelyn sat cross-legged on the ground and ignored her friend, knowing she wouldn't get any answers.
     "Let's head inside." Kilin suggested.
     "Fine." Katelyn said, standing back up. "I hate these lessons."
     "Me too." Kilin said walking towards the doors.
     Blake stood up from his spot on the ground a little ways away. Katelyn glanced at him and looked away with an eye roll. She entered the building with Kilin.
The two guards walked behind them talking amongst themselves. Kilin looked at Katelyn.
"I wonder how long we have too keep this up."
     She nodded. "Me too. It's annoying." She said, glancing back at the guys.
     "Well at least you'll know how."
      "I normally learn quickly, Kilin, but this is different. I just can't get the hang of it." Katelyn confessed.
     "You just started! It took Kile years." Kilin said dropping her head.
     "I guess.." Katelyn looked over at Kilin. "Wait who's Kile?"
     "Just a friend back home. Haven't seen him in a few years." She said acting calm but Katelyn could hear the sadness in her voice.
     "Oh... ok." She said quietly.
     "How come he never visits if you're close friends?" She asked.
     "He- I- well. It's not like it's an hour walk from here. Plus he has work to do." Kilin said simply. "And.. I didn't leave on very good terms. He wasn't very excited about the fact I was leaving for years."
     "Oh. I wouldn't be either, if you decided to go back." Katelyn said.
     "He overreacted." She said looking at the walls. "Like he always does"
     Katelyn was quiet and kept her eyes up at the end of the hallway. Kilin was quite and she just walked beside her. Katelyn got to their door and stopped, opening it for Kilin. She walked in after her and closed the door behind her.
     Kilin walked to her bed and laid down on it. She stared at the ceiling, out of it.
     "I don't like feeling restrained." Katelyn said randomly.
     "Hu?" Kilin asked looking over at her confused. "What did you say?"
     Katelyn looked over at her from where she was sitting on her bed.
     "I said I don't like feeling restrained. We have no freedom whatsoever."
     Kilin looked at the window and sighed remembering it had been secured it in place.
     "Yeah. But I can't stay like this forever." She said
     "Well my dad won't let up. What if the terrorists aren't even real? All of this nonsense for nothing." She said with a shake of her head.
     "There are always truth to threats. However they may not be terrorist maybe just... people.." she said calmly, like she had been told that before.
     Katelyn sighed and fell back on her pillow.
     "Oh trust me, I know they are real threats." She said quietly. "But I think my dad could be over exaggerating."
      "Possibly." Kilin said pulling the covers over her. "Blake! Turn off the lights!" She called from across the room.
      The door opened, a hand felt for the light switch, and the lights turned off plunging them into darkness.
      Katelyn chuckled quietly. "Hey, maybe there are other ways they can be useful." She joked in a mischievous tone.
     Kilin laughed and rolled onto her side facing the wall. Katelyn lay flat on her back and looked up at the ceiling.
     "Good night, Kilin."
     "Night Katelyn."