"I wish to challenge for my place in the elite core."
All motion in the training yard stopped.
Grogek pulled his axe. "What is your name newcomer?"
"My name is Stephen, and I don't want to challenge you, I wish to challenge her." He pointed to Elunara.
"Why?" Elunara dropped off of the platform and grabbed the tossed staff out of the air.
"Because I know that all positions are closed for the year and I'm tired of waiting. If I can bring you down, I can earn my place quicker."
"Really now? What makes you so confident?"
"Six years I've been on the waiting list, and six times I've been denied. My form may not be perfect, but I have studied you and your moves for years, I think taking on the toughest challenge directly is the fastest way to prove myself capable."
"Studied me have you?" She twirled her staff in her hand. "Guess I have to bring something new to the table."
"Try me. Even Grogek bows to your superior skill. I wish to try my sword against your dagger."
"Dagger? No my dear, until you can best my skill with the staff, you won't see my dagger."
"Very well."
"I accept your challenge requirements." Elunara gave a courtly bow.
"If you can best my wife in combat, you can join my core." Grogek nodded and sheathed his axe. "Begin."
Stephen launched at Elunara and gave a few testing swings. She dodged effortlessly. Comfortable with her movements, she dodged him several more before whacking him a couple of times with her staff. Each time she dodged, he shifted stances; he dodged her next few blows before going on a hardened offensive.
When he landed his first hit, she was startled. Soon all she could do was dodge and block. He changed stances again and caught her in the arm.
"Oh, now it's time to play." She purred.
Quickly, they both escalated in skill and ability. She swung, he dodged, he swung, and she dodged. When she jumped over him, he was prepared and shoved his sword upwards, catching her in the inner thigh. She landed and hopped sideways; he swung again and caught her hip. She leapt again, but used her staff to block his attack on her left side. The staff snapped in half at the force of the blow.
He went in for the kill, but she summoned her dagger and blocked him again with the short blade. Pressing his advantage, he swung the sword several times, but was blocked each time by the dagger. She drove him backwards with her speed and skill.
Without warning, his armor fell off. He froze and looked around. "What?"
"The match is called, on account of the opponent losing his dignity." Elunara dismissed her dagger.
Stephen yanked his pants up. "How the hell did you do that?"
"Skill." She shrugged. "I wouldn't have gone for the pants, but you broke my staff. I liked that staff."
"Noted."
Grogek broke into laughter as he clapped. "That's my wife. Alright, you have proven your skill is above par. You may join my core."
"Thank you, sir." Stephen held out a hand.
Grogek took it. "You're out of uniform, soldier, get dressed."
"Right away." Still holding on to his pants, he looked around.
"Don't worry. I didn't break or cut anything. I merely unhooked it all." Elunara shrugged.
Stephen buttoned his pants and gathered his gear.
Picking up the pieces of her staff, Elunara sighed. "I guess it was only a matter of time. I never took care of the thing. Now I need a new one."
"You could always do to it, what you did to mine and make it into two parts." Lydia took the staff bits from Elunara.
"Nah, I want a new one." Elunara shrugged. "Twenty six years I've had this thing. I just grabbed one off the rack one day. I never bothered to take care of it."
"I did though." Jordan sighed. "I had it taken care of for you. I knew it was yours and wouldn't let any of the trainees use it."
"Aw, you're so sweet." She kissed his cheek. "That's my Sugar."
"He's sloppy, but he proved his skill." Grogek ran a hand down her back. "To even put you at a disadvantage was proof enough, but to force your dagger... impressive."
"Use him, he wants it, he can have it."
