"This I guarantee you, will be the hardest most dangerous thing you will ever do, the Bellum Games are no laughing matter..." The instructor told us, as he paced the arena we were practicing in that day, "Today we will be working on sword drills."

"Again?" Oara whined.

"Yes, Oara... and for speaking out, when not called on, you will be going first," He said.

Oara groaned, but didn't argue, as she stepped up to the wall and retrieved a weapon of her choice. She then got onto one knee in front of our instructor, "Who will I be going against instructor Martinalli?"

"Hmm... Lynx... you're up," Instructor Martinalli called.

I wished Lynx luck as he walked up to the wall and grabbed a sword similar to Oara's. They greeted each other—clanging their swords together—and got into position.

"Now, quick question... when the announcer asks if you're ready, what do you say?" Instructor Martinalli asked.

Oara and Lynx at the same time yelled out, "Ready to Fight, stay fighting, and be fought," Instructor Martinalli gave an approving nod and walked over to me and the rest of the group.

"Ready... Fight!" Martinalli called.

Oara charged first, slashing her sword at Lynx. With a side-step, Lynx dodged her sword and blocked it with his. He then lunged his sword at her. The sound of metal clanging together rang in my ears. But neither of them were done fighting. Oara, got her sword and smacked his away, causing it to slide across the salt. Lynx then kicked her sword out of her hand, causing it to slide away in the opposite direction. They stared at each other, silently daring each other to make the first move.

"Psst," I heard Drake whisper in my ear, "Who do you think is gonna win?"

I smirked, "How much do you want to bet?"

"I got five silvers on Oara," He whispered.

"Alright then, if you want to lose that badly—" My sentence got cut short when Instructor Martinalli shushed me.

"Stop the fight," He called. I wasn't paying attention to the fight to realize, Oara, had blood on her hand and Lynx with blood seeping through his sleeve. "Cara and Drake, thank you for being the next volunteers. Choose your weapon and step into the ring of salt."

"Yes, instructor Martinalli," I said as me and Drake walked over to the wall of weapons and each selected a sword. I then stepped into the ring of salt, Drake close behind.

We clanged our swords together.

"Who do you think is gonna win?" He whispered as our swords stayed connected.

"Uh... who do you think?" I replied smirking.

"Me, obviously."

"Oh, you are so on..."

"Fighters ready?" Martinalli called out.

Me and Drake yelled together, "Ready to fight, stay fighting, and be fought!" Still smiling we pulled our swords away from each other as we walked over to our designated spots. You're dead. I mouthed. He put a hand to his ear and mouthed, I can't hear you.

Challenge accepted.

"Ready... Fight!"

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"You know you lost," I told Drake as me and him walked through the woods. Technically it was a tie... but of course I am not admitting that.

"I lost? Tell that to that scar on your forehead," He teased.

I pushed him into a puddle.

He laughed and got back up, "Someone's upset."

"I'm not upset... I am just frustrated you can't admit defeat."

"Sure..." He said as he hopped onto a fallen tree and sat down. He patted the spot next to him, gesturing me to sit. I climbed up and sat down beside him and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Are you nervous for the games?" I whispered. He turned his head slightly to look at my face as I stared off into the distance.

"Oh, please I was born ready for the games, why would I be nervous?" He said smirking. I glared at him, "Okay... being serious... I am a little bit... But you are going to do amazing, so no need to worry yourself, Cara," He said as he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I pulled my head off his shoulder, "You're right... I'm overreacting. Everyone knows if you're nervous, I'm definitely winning this," I said between giggles. He pushed me off the tree. I pulled him down with me. We landed on a patch of soft grass, "Someone's upset."

"I've taught you well young one," He claimed, while laughing I shoved a handful of grass in his mouth. He spit it out, "Seriously?"

"Hey, I'm helping you out... I heard grass makes your breath smell good," We laid on the grass laughing for what seemed like an eternity.

Hours past as we roamed through the forest going over fighting techniques, making jokes, and getting lost once or twice.

"We should probably head home," He said as he picked up the lantern. He glanced up at the sky, his short, messy brown hair blowing in the breeze.

We walked down the path and found our village. I hugged him and walked back to my cottage.

"Hello, mother," I said as I set the lantern on the table and blew out the little flame inside.

"Hello, my little apprentice," My mother said as she walked in. She placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, "How was training?"

"Good."

"Did you teach your teammates who's boss?" My father asked as he walked in.

"Hello to you to, father," I said as I gave him a hug.

"Hello dear," He said. "Did you learn anything new today?"

"I learned how to do a sneak attack, along with a better way to avoid a sword."

"That's progress... Nice scar," He replied as he walked over to the kitchen table and gestured to the food on the table.

"Thanks Father... but me and Drake caught some fish on our way home, so I'm not hungry," I said as I walked into my room. I pulled back the curtain blocking my room from the kitchen. I took off my armor and dressed into my lace nightgown. I sat on my wooden bench in the wall, and got my firefly jars and blew in the holes I poked in the lid—I poked the holes with my dagger—and grabbed the vine and strung the jars over my bench as I sat polishing my armor.

"You are so grown up," My mother said as she lifted up the curtain and came in my room.

"Mother... I'm fifteen turning sixteen in a month, competing in the Bellum Games soon... you don't have to remind me."

"I know you're nervous, my little apprentice... but I was referring to more than that," She had a teasing look on her face as she sat down on the bench next to me. "You caught fish with Drake? Is that where you've been all day?"

"Seriously? That's what you're focusing on?" I buried my head in my hands, my short hair slightly covering my face.

"Okay, fine I'll let it go. You have school tomorrow. Get some sleep, my little apprentice."

"Okay mother... goodnight," I walked over to my bedroom lantern and blew out the flame, then hopped in my bed and fell asleep.

That night my dreams were filled with training and blood. All the memories of all the scars I got from training ever since I was six years old. There was one chant going through my head for the rest of the night... one familiar one that's been with me since I can remember...

Fight, stay fighting, and be fought!