Becoming Master

Chapter 4

“Okay class, time to get started for the day!” Clair clapped loudly, and all of her kids turned to face her almost immediately.

They smiled at her. There were fifty of them, and they were all the most adorable kids in the world.

After waiting for complete silence among them, Clair picked up many wooden poles, five of which were red. “You better hurry and get your bar, I wouldn’t like to be the one with the red…” she commented with a smile.

All of the kids eyes widened and they began to push up to the poles, shoving each other and screaming. No one got injured of course, they were careful about that, but that never stopped them from being rough to each other. When everyone had stepped back, only the red ones remained.

“Whoever didn’t get one better step up,” said Clair.

It was a slow process but eventual three kids came up, fidgeting. Then Clair someone moving towards her in the corner of her eye. She turned and found Noble walking towards them yawning. “Good morning,” he grumbled when he was close enough to be heard. Then he leaned down and picked up a red pole before joining the large group.

Clair stared in slight amusement, “You’re going to join today?”

He yawned again and cocked an eyebrow, “Of course I am.”

“Alright,” she said after a few moments, “Hannah, you can take turns with the other two,” she pointed at Vero and Jonathan. They all looked slightly relieved, but that caused them all to turn to Noble and Claire in question. Before someone could ask Clair cut in, “Trust me, he won’t need the relief.”

“The goal of this practice is to learn to fight even though you have discomfort, we’ll start with three at a time and work our way up until you all have the red poles. Everyone find a partner and we’ll go from there, no exceptions.”

When everyone was together she lined them up. Noble had partnered up with one of the girls, she was a shy little thing named Janae, despite her fiery red hair and bright green eyes. She messed with her hands as she stood next to Noble, throwing nervous glances at him, all of which he returned with soft smiles.

“For those of you who have a partner with a red pole, your job will be to help him in his handicap. Their attacks will be slower and weaker because the poles will be shocking them. Don’t let anyone touch them, and for the three unlucky ones,” she gave them a pointed stare, “don’t let go of the poles and do your best to ward anyone close enough off.”

Clair could see the older kids grumbling in the distance, remembering when they had done that training. And unable to restrain herself, she laughed.

“Ready?” she paused for a moment, “start!”

The two boys, Vero and Jon, cried out and almost dropped their poles before anyone moved. The other children had already gone back to back with their partners while occasionally separating to hit anyone that got too close to them.

Noble and Janae were side by side, and when Clair looked closer, Noble didn’t even mind that his hand was getting shocked. Now everyone was splitting up to attack the weaker groups- what they assumed would be the ones with the red poles, but whoever got close to Noble ended up with a nice whack in at least three different areas. Janae was holding her own, but her shy demeanor kept her from hitting someone very hard. The other boys were partnered with their friends and they held their own, but it was clear that holding the pole took most of their strength away, leaving very little for defense and offence.

She let the training continue for a few more minutes before making Hannah jump in for Vero who had fallen and was unable to stand now. Carrying him with ease, Clair took him to the grass to rest and they both watched the fight continue, with her shouting out commands at times.