"For today's training segment, it'll be one-on-one combat,"
Erebus told the five of them.
"But, Master,"
Zephyr raised her hand.
"There are five of us."
"Yes, that's why we'll have Aura and Fey have a match and then Zephyr, Eugene and Maria will be in a group together."
"Wait, Master, can't I be with Zephyr?"
Fey asked, glaring at the girl.
"I agree. I want to beat the living hell out of him."
Zephyr returned the glare.
"No, you can't. There's a reason I put you two apart."
Erebus told them.
"Now, get to having one-on-one combat. I'll observe Eugene's group."
The other group moved to the other side and proceeded in having a match.
Zephyr, Eugene and Maria lined up, looking at Erebus as he began thinking.
"Ummm... Master?"
Eugene tilted his head.
"We'll have the first match be Zephyr and Maria."
"What?"
"Master, are you sure you want me to go against her? I mean, she is new."
She looked over at Maria, who appeared clueless.
Erebus ignored Zephyr and spoke to Maria.
"Maria. You're going to have to fight the kind senior to the left. This is so you know how to protect yourself in the future. The way to win will be to get five hits on the other person. Understand?"
Maria nodded her head frantically with an ambitious look on her face.
"Master..."
The black-haired girl called out to him but she sighed, giving up.
Zephyr and Maria got on the training mat and stood six feet or so from the other person.
(I won't have to be serious in this battle. I guess hitting her lightly five times will count. I don't want to hurt her since she's new.)
"Okay, I'll be the referee."
Eugene said.
"It's hand-to-hand combat, no magic allowed. The same goes for mana reinforcement. Five clean hits in order to win. Attacks that are blocked will not count. Now, begin!"
The match began.
Wanting to end it quickly, Zephyr dashed forward and threw a punch at Maria's gut.
However, that punch never connected.
As a means to protect herself, Maria pushed Zephyr's punch away with her arm and punched the girl in the face.
"!"
It came as a surprise for everyone. Especially Erebus, who thought she had no fighting experience.
Maria then grabbed her arm and tugged her forward, driving her knee in Zephyr's face, causing a nosebleed.
The girl stumbled backwards.
"Ha ha..."
She could not help but chuckle.
(I guess this is what I get for underestimating her. Of course, she would know how to fight, Master Erebus chose her. Look at that smile on Master's face, he knew this would happen. Though I am slightly sour about getting hit, I can't be happier with Master's choice.)
"I should take this more seriously."
Zephyr said, beginning to concentrate.
Meanwhile, behind the facade of Erebus' smile...
(Holy shit! I was not expecting that! I'm sure Zephyr was holding back but she caused one of my disciples to bleed... Now, that's rare. Hm?)
Erebus noticed the change in stance that the black-haired girl took.
The moment she assumed that stance, the air around her changed. It became eerie and stuffy.
She stood diagonally, with her left hand, extended, in front of her, open, and her right fist by her stomach.
It was such an airtight stance, it was focused on both defence and offence, maximising the use of both.
As a novice in battle, Maria did not realise that she was at a disadvantage. She had good instincts and movement, but not enough battle experience.
And so, Maria approached her, striking her with a roundhouse kick.
Fluid like water, Zephyr used her left hand to deflect Maria's kick; she unleashed a flurry of punches on Maria, making sure she would not hit her face.
"That's five hits! Match over!"
Almost as if she did not hear it, Zephyr gave her another lunch for good measure.
"O-oi, Zephyr, Eugene said that the match was--"
The god stopped midway as he saw why she hit Maria six times.
Maria blocked one of her punches in the heat of the moment. Though she went lighter, the speed of the punches was still fast for someone like Maria.
Zephyr smiled as she put her arm around Maria.
"You're good! You blocked my punch in the heat of it!"
She beamed.
Maria was far more invested in her arm. She felt a hazy sensation within her bones after she blocked one of her punches.
She was not fazed by the fact that she was hit in the stomach multiple times. After all, Maria has reached a tolerance level of some sort due to torture.
"You know, you're pretty tough for someone who has the looks. Your name is Maria right, I'll call you Mari."
Maria then turned to Zephyr confused.
"Hm?"
She shook her head.
Bewildered, Zephyr turned to Erebus.
"I think she's trying to say that that isn't her name."
Erebus concluded, also unsure.
"Ah, it's a nickname."
The blonde-haired girl tilted her head.
"A nickname is a name for someone you like or are close to. I like you, I'm gonna call you, Mari. You can call me, Zephy!"
She told Maria.
Maria's eyes widened.
"Ze...the?"
"No, Ze-e-ph-y! Zephy!"
"Zephy?"
"Kya! She said my name! She said my name!"
Zephyr danced around, celebrating Maria pronouncing her nickname.
Erebus stared quizzically.
(It's scary to see Zephyr all happy like that...)
Then, he sighed.
"Oh, well, I guess it's for the best. I never imagined Maria would fit into the dojo like this."
---
"Ah, Mistress, you're back."
A maid greeted a woman who entered the castle.
As soon as she entered, she stopped. The woman seemed to sense something.
"This stench... Say, maid, did my brother give a slave in?"
She asked her.
"Uh, yes--ah!"
The maid shrieked after seeing the woman enraged.
"Tell him to meet me in my quarters after he's finished with training his disciples. And tell him to bring the girl."
"Y-yes, Mistress Nyx!"