Jia entered Roy`s room with a frown marring her beautiful face, "Whatever you need better be worth it, I had to miss out on my friends having a bake off. They`re making Angel Cake with Vanilla frosting!"
Roy chuckled and turned in his chair to watch his cousin drop down onto his bed before yelping and jumping up. She scowled at the bed before sitting on it slowly. She keeps on forgetting that he likes his bed with less foam unlike her; bouncy and comfy.
The other boys in his room snickered. Tristan sat on his bed sharpening his sword, Chase was studying at his desk and Dylan was sitting on the window sill, reading a Weapons magazine.
"Your friends are baking? "Mike asked as he walked in with a bowl of what looked like chili in his hand.
Jia pouted," Yeah and I`m missing out it!"
"Cheer up, I`ll buy you a cookie later," Roy consoled her as she huffed," Anyway, I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
Roy reached up and ran a hand over his neck, "Well, it`s less me and more with my teammates needing help."
Jia blinked and turned to address the room, "Really?"
Chase pointed at Tristan and Dylan, who both shot him death glares, "Those two need help doing the Haladie sword demonstration and sword dance."
"It`s for Ashton Knights Exhibition next month. "Roy added.
Jia`s face lit up, "Sure, I'd be happy to help."
"I don`t get it, how do you know about those weapons? "Mike asked, taking a seat on his bed.
Jia turned to him face him, tucking her legs underneath her, "I grew up with an uncle who taught me everything there was to know about weapons, including swords."
"Huh. I thought you were a Duchess? Isn`t that out of your daily lesson plans?"
"Yes," Jia answered slowly," But I live with my papa so how I spend my free time is up to me and I chose to spend it with my uncles and him."
"What do they do? "Dylan asked.
"They`re…soldiers."
"What kind of soldiers?" Tristan asked with a sidelong glance.
Jia folded her arms, "The usual kind."
Tristan stopped his ministrations and his eyes narrowed slightly with a raised eyebrow.
"Did they go here?" Mike asked with a mouthful of food, distracting Tristan from further analysing her.
"No. Are we done here?"
The boys nodded reluctantly before Jia dragged Dylan and Tristan out of their room before going down to their Arena. There were no words to describe the place. All Jia could say was the word 'Big.' It was so big that she wondered why no could seem to realize that something this big fit into the Knights fortress. Tristan caught her look of awe and explained that the Headmaster used magic to fit the arena into the school. Enough space for everyone to sit and enjoy plus it was in the centre of the school so everyone had a central meeting place, other than the Year Common Rooms. The one other place she wasn`t allowed into. The other places were the bathrooms but hey, who was she to complain?
When she started the lesson, she quickly realized that both boys were natural fast learners. Their swords were given to them by one of their professors. They were long and very sharp, just the way Uncle Nikolai liked his swords so it was fine to work with them. First she started them off with the way the swords should be held and handled before moving not to basic attacks.
Once she saw that they had excelled in that, she decided to show them the first and simplest demonstration and they caught on very easily until Tristan urged her to give them a hard one for them to demonstrate during the exhibition.
"Why?" asked Jia as she spun her Haladie in the air effortlessly.
"Because an Elite Rep is going to be there," Dylan answered.
Jia stopped the sword spinning and titled her head," You want to join the Elites Core?"
Tristan nodded," We want to make a good impression so that when they do recruitment during our final year, we`ll have a better chance."
"Not that you needed to know that," Dylan scoffed.
"Which one of us is teaching you a cool sword dance?" Jia asked.
Tristan shook his head and moved away from the arguing pair to get his water bottle. Taking a huge gulp as Jia proceeded to spin the sword in her hand, "You know Elites hardly get away from their training to see their significant others or family?"
She watched Tristan and Dylan exchange glances before answering in unison, "Not a problem."
She frowned at them before shaking her head. It wasn`t any of her business what they did with their lives, she had her own life to deal with already.
"Alright then, I'll make sure you two get noticed by the scout," Jia promised as she turned to Dylan. "Step up for me, I need to see if you`re the same height as Tristan."
"Why?"
"There is an advanced technique that I`ve learned that I performed with Roy but it only worked when both of us were younger. Back when we were the same height."
"Okay."
After they both stood next to each other, Jia nodded before she instructed them on how to stand before leading them further into the technique. It took them three hours but Jia kept making them repeat themselves every time someone made even the smallest mistake. Reminding them both that Elites couldn`t afford to make mistakes or lives would be lost.
Dylan, Jia could see was determined and even tolerated her whenever she moved closer to him to teach him the quick wrist movements. He seemed to have issues with people getting close to him. Tristan was focused but he tended to get distracted whenever another group of students came into the Arena to use. He`d always make Jia move them away from the groups until they were at the furthest corner of the Arena.
When they were done, she gave them a hasty bye before leaving. She was hungry, tired and sweaty but hopefully that would be solved when she returned back to her room. She was running down the hall and around the corner when she ran into something solid and muscular.
Quick hands shot out to her waist to steady here. She blinked and started up at the amused face of Thomas.
"Well, this is a surprise, "the blue eyed boy remarked.
He released Jia and she chuckled," Sorry again. I seem to have a knack for running into you."
"No worries, "Thomas said with a shrug," So what are you doing here?"
Jia jerked a thumb behind her, "I came to visit my cousin."
She didn`t feel the need to explain to him that she spent the leftover hours teaching Dylan and Tristan.
"Oh, cool."
"And you?"
Thomas arched a brow, "I go to school here."
"I know that Thomas," Jia pointed out a she folded her arms over her chest," I meant, what are you doing now?"
"On my way to the Dragon Stables but I left my Mace in my room so I was going back for it."
Jia`s jaw dropped, "You fight with a mace?"
Thomas laughed, "Don't look too surprised, I know I might not look scary but I can handle my weapon of choice."
Jia stuttered, "No, I…I didn`t mean any…That is so cool!"
"Thanks."
"Anyway, I`ve got to go. Jia said as she walked around him and kept walking backwards while talking," I smell like sweat and I desperately need a shower."
Thomas nodded before his eyes lit up, "Hey, wait!"
Jia stopped walking and stared at him "Yes, Thomas?"
"Will you go out with me tomorrow?"