I was shaken awake as my instincts took over while I moved with blinding speed, slamming Urien into the couch all in a second. He groaned in pain as I released him and bowed," Sorry, Master Urien."
I was preparing myself for punishment as he chuckled," Ouch, well anyways, as my mate said, no need to call me master; think of me as an older brother in a sense."
I nodded understanding and stood up straight as he grinned," Training hall time. Also here."
He tossed me a weapon, my sword catching it by the hilt. I looked at it and noticed it was polished and sharpened as I spun it easily and stated," So you sharpened it and polished it. Thank you."
He grinned," Not a problem."
Following him as we moved towards a room on this floor, Urien opened it to reveal a massive training room. I gaped and took notice of an archery range, sword ring, and multiple other weapon training areas as Iona chuckled," About time, and love, why do you have a bruise on your face?"
Urien chuckled nervously," I woke Selena up and paid the price."
Iona laughed as the door opened to reveal Dante, Christine, and Matthew. As he shot a glare at me as he spoke in a challenging tone," Selena, do you mind sparring with me."
Looking at Iona, who had a dark smirk, she said," Go ahead, Selena."
I breathed outwards," What weapons?"
He smirked," Swords or any other melee weapons. No magic."
I breathed out," Very well. Iona, are injuries allowed?"
Iona responded," Yes, little brother, prepare to get your ass whooped. Selena, don't let his weapon cut you here."
She tossed me three sheaths, two holding two hunting knives against my knives as I fastened them to my hip. The last was for my sword, keeping my sword drawn as Matthew lunged at me with a sword in hand. Parrying the blow, I easily moved out of the way of each attack. He suddenly smirked before grabbing a spear that he was nearly throwing at me.
Breathing out while I stepped to the side, catching his sword swing with my hilt; the next moment, I delivered a painful kick to his ribs, sending him rolling. Spinning my blade, I disappeared on the offensive, and as he swung, I flicked my sword, throwing it at him, drawing both my knives. I had closed the gap when I held a knife in two spots, his jugular vein and his hip," Yield."
He growled as I looked at Iona and sighed," Selena wins, little brother. Urien, would you like to spar with her?"
Urien grinned," With pleasure! Selena, please do not hold back against me at all. For no reason, I am not a Second in Command of the entire army."
My eyes widened slightly as I tensed," Very well." Sheathing my knives, I drew my sword as he held a scythe in hand that radiated a dark energy. Weary, I breathed outwards," A shadow weapon."
Iona grinned," Yes, good luck Selena."
I looked at Urien," What are the rules?"
He shrugged," No rules for you, for me, no magic."
I shrugged," Alright."
Tearing from my spot near where I defeated Matthew, the ground cracked while I closed the distance in a second. My sword whistled towards his head while he blocked it with the blunt end. I knew I was in range, leaping up while his scythe moved to bisect me; placing my hand on the blade, I flipped off of it and, in mid-air, channeled some of my magic for a silver coat around me as he grinned," Getting serious, I must admit you are flexible to be able to dodge that attack at such close range."
Taking off the first concealer of my magic, I jumped as a silver aura intensified with flecks of gold while I stated," Prepare, Urien." When I shot towards him this time, I was nothing but a blur; the ground had shattered into chunks while Urien chuckled and moved towards me; sparks flew while we clashed. I was suddenly kicked in the ribs, or Urien though, while I ducked, delivering a kick to his ankle as he slipped, falling while I moved out of harm's way.
Panting slightly, Iona chuckled," That was well executed, Selena Urien. I love you, but if you lose to a child, I will never let you live that down."
Urien groaned," Joy. Sorry, Selena, I am stepping it up a tad."
He disappeared at speeds I could hardly track; performing a series of flips and spins, I gained distance out of arm's reach; sheathing my sword, I drew the most confident weapons in combat: hunting knives. Taking my sword off my back, I placed the sword on the ground and held both hunting blades in a reverse grip. I knew I would have a very small amount of extra speed without the sword. I sensed something was off while I spun around, blocking the scythe blade with both knives, skidding back as Christine yelled," Come on, Urien, a barely sixteen-year-old girl held off a scythe attack of yours!"
Disengaging, I kicked upwards, knocking the scythe blade away as Urien chuckled," Excellent reaction time, Selena."
I breathed out," If I hadn't removed the power concealer, I would have lost right then and there. Though the majority of my magic is still blocked."
He cursed," That damned bitch. Well, shall we continue?"
I nodded while he lunged at me, slashing at me while I bent backward, avoiding the attack before delivering a slash to his ribs while he evaded it, not completely."
Urien sighed," Well, I am never going to hear the end of it."
Iona asked," Why?"
Urien responded," She drew first blood against me."
Matthew yelled," No way she did that!"
Urien waved his hand," Shut up, Matthew. She did, and she is far more dangerous than any elf I have ever fought. Though I am finishing it."
He blitzed forward, slamming a powerful kick into my midsection as I was sent rolling into a wall. Wincing, I breathed out and recovered slightly when he tried to slash me with his scythe rolling out of the way; I cut the tendon in his left ankle before trying to knock him out with a hilt bash to the skull. He grabbed my wrist beforehand and winced," Damn, I see why you managed to beat my underling."
Urien held his scythe tip to my throat," Yield, Selena."
I tried to escape it, but his grip was stronger than steel fused with the Queen's magic."
I nodded as he winced," Damn, you aimed for the tendon in my ankle, the Achilles tendon. Clever."
Iona ran over," What happened?"
Urien responded," She landed a solid blow, severing my Achilles tendon."
All of them laughed as I sat down," What now?"
Christine shrugged," Take a sample of your hair; I want to run a DNA test on you."
Shrugging, I took a small piece of hair and handed her a strand with a flick of my knife as she disappeared into the shadows. Iona tossed me the magic concealer while I put it on and held my ribs slightly as Urien chuckled," You are strong enough to shrug off that kick. You used your magic around your body to soften the body. Usually, that strength of a kick can shatter an entire skeleton."
Iona growled," You didn't hold back."
He defended," Yes, I did; if I didn't hold back, not even her magic would have protected her."
Iona sighed," That is fair. You and I are still going to talk later."
Dante walked over, helping me as he spoke," Lady Iona, what do we do with little Selena here?"
I stated," You don't look much older than me."
He grinned," True, I am three years older than you, though, so either way, you are a little child. Also, smile."
He pinched my cheeks as I swatted his hands away," What is a smile?"
Iona groaned," Right, we will get you to show more emotion. I forgot that Lady Vossen will be coming here tomorrow afternoon to remove the last curses.