The Chosen Phoenix II

Chapter 4- The Training

' Alright, when you are a warrior, you just be tough! Skilled! Fierce! Intelligent! ' Ben said strictly.

Ben took Jyn into the Training Grounds to train her the next day in the afternoon.

' From now on, when we train, just call me sir. ' Ben turned to Jyn. Jyn gulped.

' I'm going to have to be hard on you, Jyn. I can't be soft anymore when it comes to warrior training. '

' Anything that would make me be able to stop this upcoming chaos, sir! ' Jyn said fiercely, straightening. Ben nodded, looking determined. He was proud that Jyn understood easily.

' Right. ' he said. ' Now let's begin... '

' Archery! '

Jyn picked up a bow and an arrow, she aimed it at the target, but the arrow slowly tilted out of position. Jyn firmly put it back and tried pulling backwards, but the string was too tight, so Jyn's ended up tripping into mud.

' Sword Fighting! ' Ben yelled. He held up a silver well- made sword and with one simple move, Jyn went flying backwards with her sword and ended back onto the ground... in the mud.

' Defence! ' Ben yelled.

One arrow hit Jyn on the waist. Jyn grunted as she winced, holding the place that had got her tightly. Ben sighed and shook his head.

Jyn had to do all this again and again...

Her arrow missed and flew into Elliot Forest.

' Again! '

Jyn's sword was pushed firmly into the ground and Jyn couldn't pull it out.

' Again! '

An arrow had hit the shield but it went through and scratched Jyn on the arm. Jyn let out a yell of pain.

' Again! '

Jyn sighed impatiently and plopped into bed.

' I'm never going to be a warrior! ' she said, a few tears prickling as they rolled silently down her cheeks. Leckeo climbed up and licked her gently with his warm, wet tongue. Jyn smiled and stroked Leckeo behind the ears. Leckeo leaned back a bit, enjoying the comfortable scratching.

' But I have to keep going, for me. For us. ' Jyn looked at Axel. Axel tilted his head up and down, seeming to agree.

As weeks of training stretched into months, Jyn had been going to the Training Grounds day and night to train. Every time, she got better and better...

When she did archery, first attempt, she got the target.

When she did Sword Fighting, she dodged from Ben's swipes and knocked his sword off his hand with one mighty blow. Ben tripped and landed on his stomach with a loud grunt. He looked up, smiling proudly at Jyn. But Jyn didn't smile back, she was improving so much that she suddenly took training really seriously. But she still was the same Jyn you know.

' I'm proud of you. ' Ben smiled Jyn as they were clearing the Training Grounds.

' Thanks, ' Jyn said happily, ' glad to hear it. '

' I'm pretty sure you'll be able to defeat this upcoming enemy of ours. '