The Leo's Ruby

Chapter 3

I woke up to toast, eggs and apple juice.

"So you're awake." Mr. Thomas said. "Once your finished breakfast we'll start your training."

I finished and noticed a sleeping Leo on the ground. He had a painful expression and was groaning softly. I went over to wake him up. His eyes fluttered open. His gold eyes, pleading.

"Ruby, please be careful. And don't trust anyone except for me and two people with maple leaves." He said. But it made no sense. What had he seen?

"What's wrong?" I asked. He sighed.

"Never mind. This isn't the best place. Let's go." He said as he pushed himself up.

"Follow me." Mr. Thomas called out.

We walked until we stood on a patch of grass in the sunlight. I gripped my lance in my hand and my heart started racing. I didn't want to get hurt.

"Relax, Ruby. This is only training in fact, I will only be watch and observing. You will fight this training dummy." He snapped his fingers and sure enough a flesh colored human dummy appeared. It moved like a human but had no face. "It has no independent thought. It will respond defensively unless I command it otherwise. It will get faster as your attacks become swifter. You may start."

I ran at the dummy and began to thrust my lance at it. It was quick and dodged my attacks easily. I kept going but I got no where. Would I ever get good enough to actually be helpful? I then hit the dummy one last time and sweat poured down my forehead. I can imagine my size 6 pants now.

"That's enough for today. Good work. Leonardo you're next." Mr. Thomas said as me and Leo switched. "I want you to land a five hit combo on the dummy."

"Sounds easy." He gloated. He went over to the dummy and bowed. He then tried to jab it but the dummy was quick and ducked.

Leo just smirked and followed up with a round housekick that the dummy couldn't avoid. I wished I was a fighting genius.

"You're doing better than expected. Maybe that brain of yours is good for something." I said trying to break his concentration.

"It's good for a lot of things." He then elbowed the dummy, tripped it and threw a right and left hook. Four hits. But then the dummy grabbed his hand and pushed Leo to the ground.

"So close. You're a natural. You have speed, intelligence and tactics. One more time." Mr. Thomas said.

Leo was quick this time. He jabbed to which the dummy dodged but it was caught in a five hit combo of kicks and a finishing uppercut.

I was disturbed by his progress. Why was he so good at this and I wasn't? Is he really that much better than me at nearly everything? I hoped that I would catch up.

"Very well done. Now we can just work out. Go for a light jog around at the base of the mountain. Ten minutes and go." Mr. Thomas said.

I jogged lightly. Leo slowed so he wouldn't out run me.

"You did pretty well." He praised.

"Of course." I exaggerated. I did terribly. "You were okay."

"You have to admit, I was a beast." He boasted. Wow way to rub it in.

We came near a beehive which was thankfully silent. I really hated bees.

"Why do you think we have come here? I mean they could have chosen anyone." Leo contemplated.

"Who knows. What about my family. What was in that notebook?" I said.

"Perhaps we didn't know we were on drugs." He suggested.

I shot him a look.

"I don't do drugs unlike someone and I'm serious. Was it magical or something?" I said.

"Just be glad it wasn't a Death Note."

I prevented the laugh that was bubbling up. We stretched our legs and then turned back. I was surprised Leo didn't dash past me. He easily could have done it.

"I hope we can get better with our weapons soon." I said.

"Don't worry too much. It'll probably take a week."