The remaining duels and a conversation with Stephanie

The duel wasn't anything impressive. Both women were overly cautious, each time their blades meet they never pushed. It ended when twelve punched eleven in the face. It was shocking enough hit that eleven yielded. The two swapped their stone number and Stephanie walked over to them.

"Passiveness in combat can be an intelligent strategy. However, if you never capitalise on the advantages or if your opponent is as passive as you are, the fight won't end." She looked at the new number twelve and the small trickle of blood running out of her nose. "And in a fight your opponent won't accept a yield, they will kill you or take you prisoner and being at the mercy of another can be far worse than ****. Will you challenge anyone?"

The new number twelve looked at her stone then at the number thirteen sitting by herself. "No." She wiped her nose on her sleeve and walked to sit down.

"Number ten?" Stephanie walked to the viewing stand and stood before the woman she was talking to.

"We can challenge anyone?" She asked looking around.

"Yes." Stephanie asked.

Number ten stood and walked to Vatarie. "I challenge you."

Vatarie looked surprised but a smile quickly spread across her face. "Sure." Vatarie bounced up and hopped into the court, leaving the sword she had been using for the forms behind. Number ten looked at the sword then at Vatarie, suddenly less confident.

The two combatants took their places on the court, Vatarie grinning and constantly shooting glances at you to make sure you were paying attention. Stephanie said, "Begin," and Vatarie launched herself at number ten one fist slamming into her stomach before her knee collected the woman's nose.

Vatarie stood looking very proud of herself and smiled at you. Number ten groaned as she lifted herself off the ground and held up a hand when Vatarie turn back to her. "Yield, I yield." Despite the blood trickling down her nose it didn't look all that damaged. You'd seen how fast Vatarie could move so she was either holding back, or number ten had reinforced her body before fighting.

"It is important to not assume you opponent will fight on your terms." Stephanie said sending the two back to the stands. "Number Nine?"

"No."

"Number Eight?"

"No."

"Number Seven?"

Number Seven walked over to the new number twelve. "Do you accept?"

Number Twelve looked as confused as everyone else. "Do I get her stone no matter if I win or lose?"

"The rule are the stones are swapped." Stephanie said looking at the pair. "If you accept no matter what you will get number seven."

"Then yes." The excitement coming from the girl was palpable. You weren't sure why, number thirteen was being removed from the class no matter what.

The two took their places on the court. "Begin."

Number Twelve charged forward swinging her sword. You saw Seven move her foot to brace then shift it back. When Twelve reached her the bad footing made seven trip backwards. She didn't fall, which proved she had excellent control over her balance. Twelve's swing hadn't connected and it had left her open. But Seven didn't take advantage, her sword was in position to slash Twelve's stomach but it remained at her side.

Twelve pushed with another swing that seven dodged. Unlike the first swing this one was closer, but only enough to cut Seven's tunic. Seven jumped back to make space between the two of them and regain her balance. Twelve didn't let up charging forward again with a thrust. Given Seven's habit of dodging back the thrust was smart. Seven finally lifted her sword to batter Twelve's sword away from her chest.

The fight was looking one sided but Seven had avoiding every strike. Twelve's swinging was starting to slow down but Seven was still moving around freely. There blades only met when Seven blocked or deflected, the ranking difference between them was clear. While Twelve was the more active she was also exhausting herself. Seven was waiting for Twelve to tire herself out.

Then Twelve's fist came forward and landed on Seven's face. Seven stepped back not injured from the punch but surprised by it. Twelve swung her sword, Seven leaned back and the sword slashed from her waist to her neck. It didn't break skin just cutting her tunic open.

With her tunic cut in half her chest was exposed. Your focus on the fight was lessened as Seven's small chest was exposed. She lifted a hand to grab the two sides of her tunic to hold it close when Twelve's sword reached her neck. "Do you yield?" Twelve asked.

Seven's sword lifted for a moment as she considered then lowered it. "I yield." She held up her stone and Twelve eagerly grabbed it holding out twelve for the old Seven.

the new Seven was ecstatic as she ran back to the stand and took her new seat. The new Twelve looked perfectly happy with her new number and went to sit at the end. Stephanie didn't say anything after that fight instead calling everyone back to the court in order.

"Thirteen." Stephanie walked to the end and looked at the depressed woman. "Your stone." She held out her hand and thirteen put the stone into it. "If you want to improve you need to work everyday. Leave." Thirteen walked away but she turned to glare at you for a moment before leaving the training arena. "As for the rest of you. Every three weeks we will do this again and each time the rules will change and one person will be removed." The outlining made everyone but you shifted.

Now that the duels were over you rethinking what happened. You had some questions for Stephanie.

"Thank you Lady Stephanie." The students said as one then broke to return their swords. You followed after them and as you put the sword away you felt Lady Asune approach.

"You did well Christopher." She was looking uncomfortably proud of you.

"As I expected." Anastasia said appearing next to you. "Christopher I always knew you were talented. Come lets–"

"I haven't finished with Christopher yes your Highness." Stephanie said walking over. "I will be sure to send him to you once we are done." She bowed in deference.

Anastasia looked from her to you then back again. "Of course Lady Stephanie, I will speak with you soon Christopher just wait in your room for me." She said the last part loudly enough for everyone to hear and Lady Asune's look of pride flickered to annoyance as she looked at Anastasia.

"Until next time Christopher." Lady Asune said with a bow then walking away.

Anastasia walked her leave then turn to you with a smile. "See you soon." She walked off as well.

You felt like someone was missing from this departure. You looked around for Vatarie but couldn't see her anywhere. She must have left as soon Stephanie dismissed everyone. You hoped she was ok, after her victory you were expecting her to approach with her usually confidence renewed.

the rest of the student left quickly and soon enough you and Stephanie were alone. "The mistakes." Stephanie asked. You considered not answering her and demanding she explain what happened here, were you actually better than you thought or was everyone holding back?

You listed off the mistakes, starting with the forms then recounting the duels. You left your own out for obvious reasons.

"Good. You missed three major mistake." You felt her sword strike you hand but barely felt since you reinforced the skin before talking. "First Vatarie," her duel didn't have any mistakes you could think of, "she continued running forms tiring herself out to try and impress you." You opened your mouth to respond as a flattered blush comes to your cheeks. "After seeing how strong you are she will keep trying to impress you and put herself into dangerous situation." You closed your mouth not sure how you were at fault here. "Second, the last duel it ended because of modesty, a fight is uncontrollable losing clothing and armour is common and shouldn't stop you. Thirdly, your duel." She didn't say anything else looking at you expectantly.

"I backed out." You say.

"You had an advantage and you used it to politely move someone around. If you don't take the duels here seriously you'll learn habits that will get you killed." Stephanie said.

"Why did you invite me to your class?" You ask, it was the first of your several questions.

"Because the last time I spoke to Yeven Coas she told me about a boy she trained. She had been offer a large amount of gold to train the son of a Lord, she told me she accepted but expected her presence to used as a lure for a marriage. Then she met the boy with no aura." You flinch at the comment. "She told me that boy held more potential than any one she had ever met, yet his father insisted that she never say he anything more than average."

"What?" The comment hit you. "My dad wouldn't, why would he? What?" The questions are the ones that come out but a lot more are trying to form in your head.

"I didn't believe her. A man more capable than her. Then I saw you. In our sparing match I was holding back, but at the end I was going all out. I won because I had experience and you weren't going all out."

"What?" You repeated, your brain still lagging because of the new information.

"I invited you to my class for the same reason Yeven Coas told me about you. Because training someone to be your better is the purpose of every great fighter." Stephanie breathed in and put her hands behind her back. "I give you my word I will train you to the best of my ability. While you are my student I will anything necessary to help you achieve your potential." She bowed to you.

"Um, ok." You say as awkwardness overcame your brains lagging.

"However should you lose any fight I will have you removed from the academy regardless. Even if your opponent is Anastasia you are to win." Stephanie's words made you worried.

"But–"

"There are no exceptions." Stephanie stated. "I will see you at class tomorrow." She turned and left you.

When she was gone your brain managed to catch up. "Wait what?!" Your father had told everyone to call you average? More importantly you were better than average. Since when did that happen? Was it always true or did your father notice your improvement at some point then have people call you average?

You could go after Stephanie and ask her more about what she knew. Maybe your father did have a reason for telling people to call you average. Or Anastasia, did she know about this? Is that why she approached you for a sponsorship? What was happening.

As most of you childhood was brought into question a figure approached you. "You cheated." You looked up to see number thirteen approaching you. Her aura was bubbling in anger as she approached. "You don't deserve to be in Lady Stephanie's class."

You activated your magic and watched her slow down then deactivated your magic. "No I didn't." You answer seeing a way to practically test if you were in fact talented.

"Yes you did!" She shouted back. "A man could never beat me." After each word you activated your magic waiting to see if she would respond.

"Then hit me." You say. The only way to really test this was by risking a hit.

"You–" she ran at you with a closed fist and you felt it touch your cheek. You'd barely used any magic to reinforce your cheek but the punch did nothing. It felt like she was softly stroking your cheek. "Ah." She grabbed her hand.

"Huh." Maybe you weren't average. "Is that as hard as you can hit?"

She punched you with her other hand which had the exact same response. "How?!" She screamed it but there were tears forming, from the pain or the failure you weren't sure. Her aura was bubbling but less than it had been.

"No idea." You answer flatly. "But just because Stephanie isn't involving you in the class doesn't mean you can't watch and learn."

"What?" She asked as her anger was slightly mollified.

"Just sit in the stands and watch, or watch from over there," You point between the viewing stands, "and practice along with her. Unless there is a rule saying you can't." You finish realising you might be suggesting something against the rules.

"Why are you helping me?" She asked rubbing her tears. Her aura approached you with curiosity and you felt the tingles against you skin it grazed you.

"Why wouldn't I?" You ask feeling like the answer was obvious, she was a bit sexist but so was the culture, and apparently men were supposed to magically weaker than men so there was some bases for the sexism. "No hard feelings?" You ask her with a smile.

"Your, your, strange." It sounded like she was building up to something and the ending of 'strange' seemed a bit anticlimactic, yet consist from what everyone else had called you.

"I get that." You answered. "I need to go." You say. Talking to her had given your brain a bit of time to think. Stephanie didn't seem to know anything beyond what she had already told you which meant Anastasia was your best option.

"Oh um sure." She said. "Sorry about, you know."

"Punching me in the face twice?" You ask with a smile.

She rubbed her hand and winced, "Yeah that." Her aura reached up and stroked your cheeks. "Sorry."

"No harm done," literally in fact, you think, "see you around." You wave and walk to the dorms. Hopefully Anastasia was still there waiting for and you wouldn't be interrupted on the walk there.