Crowns And Swords

Chapter Five

After everyone had gotten themselves a wooden sword to practice with, Levi began teaching us the basics. I tried my best to pay attention to every single little detail he mentioned, but I couldn't keep my eyes off his glowing face. His flawless, tan complexion just radiated in the sun; his eyes, they gave off an icy and sharp aura in contrast to his warm bronze-colored cheeks. The way his hair flowed in the gentle breeze set off a tingly sense in my chest. I couldn't stop staring; he was too charming to resist any temptation.
"Lady Hope? Are you alright?" A distant voice called out.
I snapped out of my trance-like state and looked up at Levi, who was looking back down at me. He wasn't mad, maybe just curious. I blushed hard and said, "I'm fine, sir. Just, uh... Spacing out, that's all."
"Okay then." He then looked over the rest of the group and asked, "Did everyone get that?"
They nodded. I looked down at the dirt, embarrassed. Why in the world am I acting like this? This isn't like me! I'm not falling head over heels over some guy who so happens to be my trainer. That's ridiculous!
The group then stood up and were paired up in partners. I quickly came to the conclusion that there wasn't enough pupils for us to be paired up equally. Levi must've come to that same conclusion too, so he had us stand in a line and picked out who would be with who. I secretly wanted to be paired up with Mavis, but she was already paired off with Bailey.
I watched as each pair went off to practice some of the basic skills together. Kaylyn was paired with Roy, and Derrek was paired with Jon. I felt as if I was neglected before Levi walked to me and said quietly, "Let's get to practicing, partner." I blushed a bit and followed him to the middle of the triangle the other pairs formed.
Levi began to tell me the basics... Again. He probably figured out that I wasn't listening and got too distracted by his face. He took his "sword" and held it to his side. He instructed me to do the same, and so I did. Levi then showed me how to withdraw the sword from an imaginary sheath and had me do the same. He let me know when I did it right and went on to the next skill. After learning a new skill, we practiced it for a while until we became comfortable with the motions. I became Levi's test dummy for the day, as he paused multiple times to get the rest of the group's attention to show them a new move he displayed by using it on me.

We went on for a few hours, perfecting each other's form and learning how to defend ourselves from basic attacks. It wasn't much, but I ended up exhausted by the end of the day. Little did I know, this was how life would be like for the next year.
"Giada!" Mavis shouted as she ran up to me from behind. She was panting too, sweat dripped from her face down to her neck and chest. It sparkled in the setting sun's rays.
"Oh, hey. I was looking for you, I didn't want to head into the hall alone," I said with a chuckle. I put my arm around her shoulder and brought her close to my body. She giggled a bit and put her arm around mine. We sang little ditties and marched together happily to the hall, as some of the older men were doing with their friends. Mavis cracked a few jokes (which got me clenching my sides) while waiting in line for food, and I told her a story about how Sebastian fell off of a horse and into a river when we were ten at the dinner table. We couldn't stop talking and having fun; my new friend was probably one of the closest ones I've ever made before.
We played a few rounds of chess in my dorm room before we were interrupted by some knocking on my door. I got up and found Levi standing tall and proud.
"Hello, Lady Hope. May I have a word?" He asked.
"Yes, Sir," I replied. Mavis looks at me with a look that said "I'll be outside." She stepped out the door and leaned against the railing, watching the men out on the field play their games. Levi shut the door behind her and sat down in the seat Mavis sat in prior.
"Sit, I want to talk to you about something."
I nodded and sat back down in my seat. What does he want? I didn't do anything wrong... Did I? I hope I didn't.
"Lady Hope, I-"
"Before you say anything, I'd just like to say that you don't need to call me that. You can just address me by my first name. I'm not comfortable with formalities..."
"Oh, uh, sorry, Lady H- Giada. My father always told me to address acquaintances by their last name until my relationship with them got closer, so I apologize."
"It's alright. Continue what you were saying."
He nodded. "I wanted to talk to you about your training."
"My... training?" Good, he doesn't want to talk about me staring him down like a hawk this morning.
"Mhmm. While we trained, I couldn't help but notice that, by the way you swung your sword and blocked my attacks, it looked like you've had practice before. Is this true?"
"Uh, y-yes! I've always wanted to become a guard since I was a little kid," I say. Levi leaned in and focused his attention at me so he could hear every word. I leaned in a bit too. "My parents would read fairytales about knights in shining armor who went off on adventures to save a damsel in distress back when I was young and couldn't fall asleep. It's been a dream of mine since then to come to a place like this to train, but in times when my mother disagreed with the idea of a lady becoming a knight, I'd pick up a rusty old sword and fight with my twin brother. We both got pretty good at fencing after multiple years of practice in private," I said excitedly.
"Oh, so you have a brother? Is he here with you?" Levi asked.
"No, sadly..."
"Aw, that's too bad. How come he wasn't able to come?"
Shoot.
"Well, uhh... H-he was needed at home... Our father died back when I was seven, and Sebastian had to become the father figure for our other two brothers. He's the one supporting our family now, Mother can't do much on her own..."
Please believe me story. Please believe me story.
"Oh, wow.... How did your father die?"
"He was a... A, um... I believe he was a soldier who fought in the war between Deprimere and Misia ten years ago. That's it."
"Huh... To think, I get to train a soldier's daughter so she can carry on her father's legacy... Amazing."
I nodded and smiled a bit. Levi seemed a bit giddy, as if he just got a chance to prove himself he could do anything. "Okay, Lady Giada. I want to see your best out there on the fields. From what you say, I trust that you can better yourself under hard work and lots of practice with me. I can't wait to be working with you," he exclaimed happily.
I blushed. "Thank you, Sir. I look forward to be under your wing for as long as I am here."
"No need to call me Sir. Even though I'm your trainer, I think we can be more than just that. As you've allowed me to call you by your first name, I'm allowing you to call me by mine."
"Alright... Sir Levi," I said with a smile.
Levi stood from his seat and pushed it in. He walked to the door, gently opened it, and before he left, he said directly at me, "You know, you don't look like the kind that talks much... I like you."
I blushed extremely hard when he left. I could hear him chuckling quietly as his boots hit the floor, one klop at a time. Mavis came in and giggled as soon as she could get a look at my beet-red cheeks. She slammed the door shut and sat back down with a cheeky grin. "So, what did you two talk about? Tell me EVERYTHING," Mavis asked.
"Wha- No! Mavis!"
"You're blushing!!"
"I am NOT!"
I crossed my arms and muttered gibberish in frustration. Mavis couldn't help but laugh and tease me. "Giada and Levi, sittin' in a tree... You two would look so cute together! I wonder what your children would look like..."
"MAVIS MIDDLE NAME WOOD!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I stood and slammed my hands on the table. The chess pieces fell over and rolled to the floor. Mavis continued to laugh; she was now clutching at her sides. I left her in my room and stormed off to the stables to see Jean as fast as I could, and fortunately, she wasn't fast enough to catch me.
Jean's head greeted me at the stall. I rubbed my hand over his snout a few times before I unlocked the stall door, took him by the reigns, and led him outside. I tied him to one of the posts outside the stables and rushed back in for a blanket and saddle, then rushed back out and hurriedly plopped the gear on his back. I hoisted myself up after untying him and rode off, out into the forest late at night.

"So, what happened this time?"
"Jean."
"I'm curious. You were real angry lookin' when you took me out the stables."
"Nnnghh...."
"Go on. I'm waiting."
It took a while, but after I cooled my head, I let Jean hear my little story about how Levi "complimented" me and Mavis making a fool of herself by teasing me. Jean replied with some snarky remarks, but then quieted down as soon as I got serious. I asked him for advice on guys, and he said little. All I could remember him saying before we headed back for the Academy was "They'll do anything to get to you, whether it be through flirting, physical or sexual harassment, or terrible jokes."