She is and you have a new approach

Three notes your arrival by getting up from her seat and walking over with a sword in either hand. She offers you one and you accept it not sure where she is going with this. "Disarm me without any magic." She sounded markedly bored and took position opposite you.

When she is in position you take a step towards her. She launches a fireball at your face. On instinct you activate your magic and step out of the way then deactivate your magic. The fireball dissipates just before where your head had been and Three looks at your new position.

"You're easy to predict." She sighs, not disappointed that you used magic more unsurprisingly bored.

It takes you a second before you notice that she is taller than she should be. You look down and see you have sunk halfway up your shins into the sand. Lifting a foot a bit you find no difficulty in escaping. Three doesn't move but her look of boredom remains. Climbing out of the sand pit you give her an impressed nod. "How long dig you spend digging that?" There was no magic in use for the trap it was just a hole in the arena sand you hadn't noticed.

"Longer than it would have taken to push you over and cut your throat after you fell in." She answered.

"Well, that was graphic." You comment prepared to striking again.

"Whatever." She answered preparing herself.

You took a step and she threw another fireball. This time you didn't dodge out of the way and it dissipated just before your face. She seemed surprised you didn't fall for it again and raised her sword to block

Your swords meet and she snaps the fingers on her left hand, a fire ball shoots up from it but you ignore it and feel a bit of heat as it also dissipates before touching you. "So why don't you want to work with anyone else?" You ask it causally as you make some causal slashes that she easily blocks.

"I already told you." She answers.

If don't respond as you think for a moment you are about to succeed in disarming her. You **** the hand holding her sword to an awkward angle with brute strength. However instead of letting go of her sword she fires off another fireball. You don't move and are very surprised when your face catches fire. "FUCK!" You shout jumping back and patting your face. There isn't any damage to your skin but the smell of burnt hair is hard to miss.

"You aren't a fighter." She says advancing towards you with a freshly imbued sword.

You have to keep ducking backwards, you are well aware that if your swords meet she'll cut through yours like it isn't even there. She keeps advancing pushing you backwards.

When you realise where she is pushing you too it's too late, your foot falls into the sand trap and you stumble backwards. She jumps on you grabbing your hair with one hand and pressing her now unimbued sword against your throat. "See much faster." She said with a slight smile that she stifles as soon as it had appeared.

"I can see that." You reached up with magic in your hand and grabbed her sword pulling it away from your throat easily. She doesn't seem upset about you using magic and gets off you looking her sword up and down. "You know why Stephanie wanted you to train me right?"

"You're a terrible fighter and she wants to punish me." She answers walk away from you. "Be less predictable."

That is the que for you to try your new approach. You activated your magic and walked over to her, grabbed her sword from her hand and threw it away, placing your blade on her shoulder then deactivated your magic. "She saw how you took charge of the class and wants you to be a leader not just a fighter." She didn't act to your changed position but did to your words, though that was only a swirl of interest in her aura. "She wanted me to prove that you can't be the best fighter but that I suck at strategy. If you wanted she could probably train you to be a very competent commander and I doubt anyone would turn down a commander she trains for any role in any military or as a mercenary if that is what you want."

She stared at you a moment. "I'd rather you put that sword to use." She quirked and eyebrow waiting for your response.

You lowered your sword and looked at her. "Is there a reason you don't want to beyond you don't want to."

"How about you stick with all the women you already have and stop trying to get another suitor."

"I - What?" You are so confused by that you let her walk away from you. "Hey wait I'm not trying to, I'm just doing this becasue Stephanie asked and I think she's right."

"And I am sure Anastasia would just love to have a replacement for her sister but I'm not interested."

"I - What, again?" You said feeling like you are two steps behind here.

"See you at Stephanie's next lesson." Three said waving her hand at you dismissively.

"Wait." You hurried after her and grabbed her hand to stop her. She looked at you hand and glared at you. "Sorry, can you at least tell me your name." She shakes her head and turns. "Unless you want me to say how Three beat me in fight without working that hard for it." She pauses for a moment.

"Nika." She said pulling her hand free of yours and finishing her walk off.

You don't think this went as well as you thought it would have. Hopefully Stephanie won't be angry at you for giving away her goal. Oh well nothing to do now but have a bath. You make sure to give Nika a bit more time to get ahead of you before you set off to the baths, crossing your fingers you'll be alone for this. Fending off horny women right now doesn't seem fun.

At the baths you are thankfully alone and after a quick bath you head up to your room to put on your uniform. Edin isn't present which you a bit sad about, but maybe he'll be in the dinning hall.

He wasn't but nor way Vatarie or Asune. Auria and Oriana are and immediately colonise your presence and pointedly do not ask about why you weren't at church. Cynthia sits down opposite you avoiding eye contact with you as her aura radiates embarrassment. "Sorry for not being there." You say to her. "I had to run out but promise I'll try to be available next time. Might be able to do it some time with week if you want."

Cynthia looks at you and sees your earnest face. She looks less embarrassed and nods. "I might drop by sometime then."

Auria looks between the two of your for less than a second. "Can I join?" Cynthia blushes at the surprising perceptiveness of the sister when it comes to sex as Oriana looks a bit confused by the exchange.

You are about to say that is up to Cynthia when you see Lucia walk into the room. You watch her and wave when she looks at you but she doesn't acknowledge your presence in any way. You need to talk with her but with class about to start and since you aren't sure how long any talk will be it will have to wait.