Training and Informants

You wake up early, just like any other normal day and give another kiss on the top of the head to both Ashe and Lexie who are still softly snoring in your arms. With a smile on your face you very carefully maneuver yourself out of the bed and as you do, you look over your shoulder and see both the girls slowly crawl into each others arms, their sleeping bodies still want something to hold onto, something to cuddle and you couldn't help but grin and release a puff of air through your nostrils as they look so adorable in bed together.

Because you were heading to war in another two days, it wasn't going to change up your daily ritual and like always, you get yourself dressed in some basic clothes and make your way to the Training Grounds to get a few good hours of practice in. You pass by a few passed out Sunriders and Warriors in the cavern, some are still partying hard, some even fucking off in the distance but you can only laugh as you pass by them. They are doing what you assumed many of your warriors would be doing, enjoying life as much as they can with their loved ones or friends until they all head off to war.

The morning goes by as normal as you attack into a training dummy with a standard wooden short sword and dagger combination, spinning around, slicing, stabbing and thrusting into that immobile object. Also, today, just like the other day, no Zoe in sight. Now, honestly if she wants to enjoy herself for these final few nights and party hard, stay up late and get intoxicated, you wouldn't blame her for not waking up early and training but if she's doing that other thing, the other drug you told her not to do, the addicting drug she told you she wasn't going to do, that would be the issue.

"Care to train against something that actually fights back?" a feminine voice asks from behind your back, "Or do you like fighting that dummy because you know you'll never lose."

With a chuckle escaping your mouth you turn around with a grin on your face and you notice someone you didn't expect to see, her medium sized bosom, well formed ass, almost platinum bleach blonde hair tied back in a pony tail and quite gorgeous sky blue eyes made her look fantastic. "Leandra?" you smirk, "Good to see you again."

"Well?" she shrugs, holding up a wooden short sword and a wooden shield, "I don't believe I'll give you much of a challenge but I'll do what I can." she gives a toothy smile.

"Guess we'll find out." you nod your approval back at her before stepping forward, bending your knees slightly and going into your normal assault stance.

What she said was correct as the two of you did battle with one another for a good half an hour. She never really gave you too much of a challenge but she was still a lot better than the training dummy. It was extremely fun to banter back and forth with the girl and get to know her better and it didn't hurt that she was extremely easy on the eyes as well.

"So, first war or...?" you ask, side stepping her thrust as you slash into her shield somewhat carelessly.

"Second one, I was with you when we first went to Rathkin! Ahhh!" she slashes again, "It was fun to go to battle then, ugh!" she lunges forward which you easily spin to dodge, "And now I'm hooked on that adrenaline!"

"I see." you dodge past her slash and use your sword to slash across her arm which lucky for her is only made of wood because if it was real, her arm would be useless at the moment, "So what'd you do before joining the Sunriders?"

"Ahhh!" she grimaces, "Farmer." she replies, giving another slash, "I grew fruits and vegetables as well as raised livestock here in the Syndicate."

That caught you by surprise, "No shit?!" you exclaim out. "I was a farmer in my younger years as well!"

"Yup!" she thrusts in again, which you parry her attack and slash your short sword into her other arm, which would cut her deep again if only it was a real weapon, "Ugh!" she groans out, "You're so good! It's amazing to watch you attack and do battle." she connects with your eyes.

"Ahh, so you've been watching me eh?" another pivot in your step, a twirl around her shield and you slash your sword across her back, causing her to fall forward and landing on her hands and knees with a grunt.

She rolls around on the ground before she's on her butt, looking back up at you, breathing heavy from the battle, "Of course I've been watching you, you're magnificent, truly quite the spectacle to witness."

"Come on," you reach your hand down, offering to help to get back up but she refuses, pushing herself up with her shield and taking a few steps back, "Okay, I see how it is." you grin back, "Well, come on then..." you smirk at her, enticing her to attack.

"Ahhh!" she steps forward, going extremely aggressive now, swinging her blade almost carelessly and trying to bash you with the shield in the process. With a dodge, a pivot, a block and a parry you evade all her attacks but she keeps going strong.

But then, the voice of your good friend Felix causes you to falter, "Hey Darien!" he exclaims and as you look to the side to nod at the warrior, a certain Sunrider's wooden buckler smashes you directly into the side of the face.

"Ugh!" she clocks you hard as you immediately drop your short sword and bring your hand up to your jaw, rubbing it softly.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!!!" she wails out, "Darien, oh my God!" she drops both her weapons and moves in close to you, "I got carried away, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"Haha, chick got you good!" Felix laughs, stepping up and throwing a hand on his shoulder, "But please little girl, don't ruin such a pretty face."

You continue to rub your jaw, "Ahh...nice hit." you look back at Lea, "God damn that hurt..." you grumble out.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry! Please forgiv..."

"No need to apologize." you groan out, "We're training and that was a smart move by you. If your opponent gets distracted, take advantage of that, use every little piece of leverage you can. It just so happens this piece of shit..." you throw your arm around Felix's head, wrapping him up in a headlock, "Knew I was waiting to hear from him!" you squeeze hard, having fun with the Warrior.

"Haha, Darien, stop stop!" Felix concedes, "I have news for you!"

"Yeah yeah yeah," you release your grip before turning back to Leandra, "Great training, Lea! It's been a pleasure, we'll have to do it again sometime."

"Y-You'd do that? You'd continue to train with me?" she asks curiously.

"Well, I mean we leave in two days so not very much, but after we crush Rathkin, if you continue to want to be a Sunrider, if you continue to want to train, find me anytime, we can be sparring partners." you say with a gigantic smile.

"Oh my God, I'd love that!!" Lea exclaims out, "And...Sorry again for the cheap shot."

"Don't apologize for that." you step forward, resting a hand on her shoulder, "Do that in war too if you can. Here, we're only practicing but when it comes to versus Rathkin, any bit of help you can give yourself in the field of battle, you do it, cheap shot or not, got it?"

"Got it!" she nods, "Thanks Darien."

"Anytime." you step forward closer, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping back and turning towards Felix, "Alright Felix, fill me in on all the news!"

Felix and yourself walk side by side back towards the mountain, "She's a cutie." he nudges you, "Gonna tap that before war?" he chuckles causing you to groan out. Shortly after the two of you exit the Training Grounds and make your way towards the steps which lead back into the Syndicate. All along the way, he tells you what Sylvius and himself found out last night, everything they saw Zoe do, every person she was talking with and everyplace the Sunrider went. "She still in her room?" you question him after hearing all the news.

"Should be, at least that was the last place she went to last night and damn was it a late night." he chuckles out, "So, did we do good?" he asks as the two of you come to the top of the steps, finally entering the main area of Sicilian.

"You guys did wonderful, I appreciate it." you turn to face him, looking into his eyes as you bring a hand up and rest it on his shoulder, "I'm glad I have guys like you that I can count on. You have no idea how important you and Sylvius are to me, I hope you understand that." your voice reeks with sincerity.

Felix looks at you, not saying a word as his eyes roam across your face. You are looking back at him, giving him a grin as you're truly happy to have such great friends but when his tongue pokes out and he wets his lips and begins to lean forward, you bring your hand up to stop him, "Felix..." you grumble out.

"Damn!!" He steps back with a huge grin on his face, "Couldn't hurt for trying, eh?" he releases a few hearty laughs from his body, "I was hoping maybe this was the time you wouldn't have to be drunk for that to happen!"

"W-Wait, what?!"

"Ahh, Darien, at least I'll always have that first time to remember..." he smacks the side of your arm before he turns around and heads off down a street, leaving you standing there slightly stunned and in shock.

Still having no clue what he meant by that even though you can only assume something must have happened on one of those two nights you blacked out. Not really caring at the moment, you shrug it off, take a few deep breaths and turn towards the Sunrider Villa, ready to go find Zoe, to talk with her and see what exactly your little blacked haired high commander is up to.