Alice trains while Samantha is busy

After Alice left the queen Samantha was still busy. Alice ended up going to bed, but the next morning Samantha was still no where to be found. When Alice asked the Queen's servant she said that Samantha had gone with a delegation to discuss more terms with the Glotians. Frustrated Alice decided to go train. She felt more energetic than normal so might as well take advantage.

As Alice walked into the barracks one of the soldiers, a tall man with a stern expression, noticed her approach. He paused mid-swing, wiping sweat from his brow before calling to her. "You’re here to train, are you?"

Alice nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “Yes, I am.”

The trainer gave a nod, his eyes glinting with approval, or perhaps curiosity. “Very well, then. Show me what you’ve got.”

Alice grabbed a practice sword and took a stance. She felt more confident than usual.

The trainer circled her, watching closely. “You’re not here for a fancy fight, child. You’re here to learn to survive. A sword is a tool, but your mind is the weapon. Focus, and move with intent.”

Alice nodded, steeling herself. She took a deep breath, remembering the principles of focus she had practiced in her meditations. She raised the sword and, with a fluid motion, took a step forward. The trainer was quick, easily deflecting her first swing with a practiced flick of his own blade. But Alice didn’t stop. She adjusted and struck again, this time more decisively.

Something within her shifted as the sparring continued. Her movements felt smoother, more controlled, and faster than before. The trainer’s sword was a blur as it whistled through the air, but Alice found herself anticipating the blows, her reflexes sharp and quick, her footwork light and confident. She was no longer just reacting—she was thinking ahead, reading the rhythm of the fight.

With each strike, she felt stronger, her body moving as though it had always known how to fight. The muscles she had honed from long hours of practice responded to the challenge with a new kind of strength.

The trainer, surprised at her ability to keep pace, began to push her harder. He moved faster, more aggressively, testing her limits. Alice blocked his strikes, some with ease, others narrowly. She could feel the sweat trickling down her brow, her body growing tired, but she didn’t give up.

For a moment, she thought she might be able to hold her own. Then, the trainer feinted, making a quick, calculated strike. Alice tried to parry, but the blow hit her side, sending her stumbling backward.

She caught herself, panting, but with a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I lost."

The trainer lowered his sword, a rare smile on his weathered face. “You did better than most clerics. I’ve seen soldiers with years of experience who don’t move like that.” He eyed her with a new respect. “You’ve got something more than just determination. It’s as though your body knows how to fight... as if it was waiting for you to unlock it.”

Alice lowered her sword, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline. “I’ve been training my body in different ways for years, but it wasn’t until now that I felt the connection between mind, body, and spirit all come together. I don't know how I was able to do that.”

The trainer nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “There’s power in all of us, but sometimes it takes the right kind of pressure to bring it out. You have more in you than I expected. Keep up the training.

“I will,” she promised, her voice firm. “I’ll keep going.”

As Alice left the barracks the same servant from yesterday approached.

"Hello Alice. The Queen would like another word."

Alice sighed. Would she have to entertain this old woman again?

She turned and walked toward the Queen's chambers.