The War Of Crystaliam Book One: Preparing for Battle

Chapter 5: Crystaliam School for Talented Warriors pt. 3

Most school's curriculum starts off as introducing yourself to the class with the classic 'your name and one fun fact about you', but this school was way different. This school threw you straight in to learning, no 'if's, 'and's, or 'but's. They did role call and then started right then and there and they did not start easy. Right off the bat, they start with complicated techniques no matter how inexperienced you were and if you failed to meet expectations by the end of a month you were out of the school.

Classes were over for the day that Monday, so the group was hanging around the school, besides Jessica. Jessica insisted her time should be used for eating, sleeping, training, and nothing else. Thomas and Ashlie managed to convince her to take a break every now and then to socialize and things like that. It took a few weeks of meeting her on the training ground, begging from Ashlie and Shelby (who share a room with her), and a couple hundred notes passed in class to get her to cave in, but she did.

Today, she chose to train, but she knew she would have to hang out with them the next afternoon. They were talking over lunch about light topics like, "how's class going?" or, "who's your favorite teacher?".

"Where's Jess?"

"She's training again, I think."

"That's all she'd ever do if we weren't here. It's always 'work! work! work!' with her!"

"Hey, cut her some slack! She's taking it more serious than us."

"I mean, you have to have some fun sometimes or you'll push yourself too hard."

The talk continued from there, discussing idle things. Jessica, on the other hand, was sparring with a teacher. She was the same teacher in the introduction ceremony and the testing assembly. The lady was the girls favorite teacher, and she was like a mother for Ashlie and Shelby. She claimed she treated all her students equally, but it's clear she has subtle bias for Ashlie and Shelby.

"You've shown significantly more improvement than any other student here." Mrs. Stars compliments as she swings her practice sword at Jessica.

"Well, I train much more than any other student in this school." Jessica stated. It wasn't a boast, just her stating facts. She was factually the student showing the most drive and the one who is most commonly found on the sparring grounds. She took things very seriously when she wanted to.

The teacher gave her curious look. "Can I ask, why is that?" She swung at Jessica from above her, only to be swiftly blocked.

"What do you mean?" Jessica questioned.

"Like, what makes you want to fight this bad?" She clarifies whilst dodging Jessica's sword, "Is there something, maybe someone, you're fighting so hard for?" Jessica thought for a moment, slightly relaxing her muscles. She never took a moment to think about whether or not she might have anything or anyone to fight for.

Her teacher thought this was an opportunity to get her, so she swung at her side with enough to knock her over in vulnerable the state she was in, but she quickly snapped back and blocked the swing.

"You were trying to get my guard down!" Jessica accused, swinging a little harder than she would normally. It was a bit harder for Mrs. Stars to dodge, but she managed just barely.

She giggles a bit. "That was just a bonus, but I am genuinely curious! I've never seen a child fight with such drive since my youth!" Jessica once again took a moment to think.

"I guess I can say, I have close friends to fight for." Jessica answers.

"Close group? How close exactly?" Mrs. Stars pries.

"My very first friends. I wasn't very social as a child." Jessica elucidated.

"Now, let me ask you something else," Mrs. Stars says, "Why your friend group?" Jessica arched a brow. "I don't mean to offend, it's just, most kids say something cliche and halfhearted like they're fighting for their land or dismissing it by saying their parents or family. Not that saying your family is stupid, but I've heard it so many times."

"Well, for one, I don't exactly have much family left. My father divorced and then my mother committed suicide. Then my dad followed her. The rest of my family thinks I'm bad luck and won't take me in. Those guys are all I have left." Jessica wasn't really fond of talking about what happened to her family. When people ask her why she's so reclusive she brushes it off and just says it's trust issues.

"Woah," Mrs. Stars only says, taken aback by the information, "You must really love them, huh?"

Jessica's expression changed to a soft and loving one. "They're like family to me." Her  focus goes back to the match. "Anyway, what about you? What are you fighting for." Mrs. Stars was shocked. She'd never been asked that by anyone, let alone a student. "I imagine for love. You are a 'Misses', not 'Miss'." Jessica continued bluntly.

Mrs. Stars blushed a dark pink hue. "As a matter of fact, that is the reason." She stated, "I have a husband and two beautiful little girls back in my hometown. I love them with my whole heart! By now they should be around your age! I'm sure you would love to meet them." She allowed herself to become too consumed by memories, leaving her vulnerable enough for an attack. Jessica swung and knocked her over. "You sneaky little girl!" She giggles, and Jessica smirks above her.

"You let yourself get distracted," Jessica states factually, "You're a very skilled fighter, possibly the most talented here, but you become distracted at the mention of certain things." She holds her hand out and Mrs. Stars takes it.

"I'm supposed to be the one giving you feedback!" Mrs. Stars points out. Jessica laughs and so does Mrs. Stars. The laughter dies down quickly. "Alright, that's enough training for today. You need to sleep sometime."

"It's still early though," Jessica observed, "We don't normally end this early. It's only about 4PM. No one sleeps this early!"

"Ah, I see," Mrs. Stars says, "Well, I'm sure you wouldn't mind spending time with your group, right? I mean they are your family after all." Jessica almost felt as if her friends sent her today to guilt her. She decided that's just what she would do. She said goodbye to her teacher and headed off to wherever her friends might be.

She was lucky to find them at the first place she looked. There was a small park near a cafe. She found them sitting on a bench, just talking to each other. She walked up slowly and just stood awkwardly for a few seconds.

Soon enough, someone noticed she was there and she began to fade into the conversation. Moment like these are the ones they all cherish, and the ones they take for granted. They may not have the time for moments like these soon enough.