I woke up gasping for a breath and drenched with sweat. I sat up in my bed grabbing some of the sheet and whipping my face. I walked over to the bathroom and turned the shower on. I stripped my clothes off, leaving them on the floor. I stepped into the shower, the warm water rushed over me. When I was done I snatched a towel from the shelf and wrapped it around me. I blow dried my hair and tied it in a high ponytail so it would be out of my face for training. Then I went to go get some clothes. I settled on a simple black t shirt and tight leather leggings. I wrapped black steel plated arm guards around my arms. I put on my black combat boots, stuck two daggers in them, one in each boot and threw on a black leather jacket. I stepped in front of the mirror in my room and did a quick once over. I looked decent, satisfied I turned away and walked over to the kitchen to get some food. I grabbed an apple from the center basket on the counter. Then over to the couch where Ezmia was lying. I scooped her into my arms. “Come on” I said to her. I opened the front door stepping out, the warm island breeze met my face and the sun shone on me warming my body. I was about to walk away but then I remembered Lucy had slept over. Ops. I went back inside Lucy was in the kitchen grabbing a muffin. “Come on before we are late” I said then took her arm and dragged her out the door. “Hey!” She said. “We are going to be late come on.” I said getting slightly annoyed, I was supposed to be queen or whatever I could not be late on the first day. We practically ran the rest of the way to the auditorium. As we entered the auditorium we took the same seats we had sat in yesterday Ash, Nico and Roman were in the same seats too, right in front of us. Nico looked back at us and smiled. “Hey girls.” “Hi Nico.” Lucy said batting her lashes and grinning. I smirked. “Hi.” I said. Ash turned around and gave me a breathtaking smile, revealing his cute dimples. “Hello everyone!” Ivanna boomed into the mic. Must she always do that it was really painful for my ears, geez. Also I got startled and almost dropped Ezmia. She gave a little yip. “Sorry.” I told her in my mind. “Today we will be starting some real training.” Ivanna announced. “This will help you all become prepared for life, the first thing we will start to work on is the physical part. Today and for the rest of the week we will be training you to fight. You will be paired randomly with one another and fight. Pay attention to your partners you might learn something. Follow me to the arena!” Ivanna declared then marched off the stage and out the doors. Everyone got up and followed her. Lucy sprang up from her chair and dashed out the door, her neria struggling to keep up. I dashed out after her carrying Ezmia. “You excited for this or what?” I said sarcastically. I had done combat training and sword fighting before my parents died but they soon stopped after I went into foster care. “Sure.” Lucy said rolling her eyes. We approached the arena. It was humongous, it resembled the colosseum in Rome but slightly smaller. Inside there was a boxing ring in the center. “Great” Lucy groaned. “Now everyone can watch us.” I shrugged, I didn’t really care, it would probably motivate me to do better. Lucy looked around, then walked over to the left side of the arena, she had spotted Nico, Ash and Roman. Nico grinned at us as we approached. Lucy sat down next to him and I sat down next to her. Ash stood up and came and sat next to me. “Hey.” He said. “Hi.” I said back, what did he want. “Latter can you come over to my hut, we need to talk.” He said. “Why, so you can pretend to drown again.” I said, I was still a little mad about that. Ash flinched as if hurt by my words. “No, it’s important.” He said quietly. “Fine.” I said trying to read his expression, he just remained expressionless, cold and distant, like usual. I spotted Ivanna walking up to the mic just outside the ring. “Now that everyone is here let me explain how this will work.” she said. “Two of you will go into the ring and have a fist fight or weapon fight, no magic allowed, and no shifting. Also no maiming or killing someone. I will be watching and so will the referee.” Ivanna said pointing at a guy with a obnoxious yellow shirt on. “When he blows the whistle the fight is over, so without further adieu the first two up are Nico and Maxon.” Nico made his way passed us. “Wish me good luck.” He said. On the other side of the arena a guy with golden blond hair and hazel eyes stood up and made his way down to where Ivanna and Nico were standing. He was about the same size as Nico so it would be a pretty fair fight. “You guys will do a fist fight go in and wait for the referee to count to three then you may start” Ivanna said to them. They slipped under the ring and went to opposite ends. The referee went up to the mic. “One! Two! Three!” The boys walked towards each other. Maxon took the first swing but Nico quickly dogged it with ease then twisted Maxons arm and punched him in the gut. Maxon doubled over wheezing. Nico took advantage of that and kicked him down. Maxon started falling backwards but caught himself, he stepped forward and lunged at Nico aiming his fist at Nico’s face. Nico ducked and slid his foot out, knocking Maxon off his feet, Maxon collapsed onto his knees, dropping hard to the ground. Then Nico pounced on Maxon's back crushing him flat on his stomach. Maxon squirmed and kicked but Nico didn’t budge. The referee blew a whistle signaling the end of the match. Nico climbed off Maxon’s back and waved to the crowd. Then he helped Maxon up. “Good fight guys!” Ivanna announced. “The next match will be Reyna and Sofya. It will be a weapons fight.” “Ugg” I groaned as I stood up. “Good luck.” Lucy said to me as I made my way to the stairs. I ran down and at the bottom ducked under the ring, Reyna was already inside waiting holding a spear. She had raven hair and dark murky green eyes. Her mouth was turned down in a grimace. I walked over to where the rest of the weapons laid, on a shelf. There was a katana and two twining daggers. I picked up the katana, it probably wouldn’t be wise to block a spear with daggers. I went back over to the opposite side of the ring and got into a fighting stance. “One! Two! Three!” the referee shouted over the microphone. Reyna started stalking towards me once she reached me she jabbed the spear at my face. I ducked then shot back up and kicked her in the stomach then slashed the katana at her arm. Blood gushed down Reyna’s arm dripping onto the ground, she spit on the ground then launched at me like a madwoman, shreetching as she did so. She tackled me and we both went down. My back hit the ground with a loud thunk. Ouch that hurt. Reyna landed on top of me. I got me legs under her stomach and threw her over my head and her spear fell out of the ring along with my katana. I sprang back up and turned to face her. As Reyna started to get back up I slammed her back down and jumped on her. I slammed my fist into her face and her head fell back and hit the floor with a sickening thud. Reyna’s eyes closed and she fell into unconsciousness. Ops. I stood up and backed away. “Well, um good job Sofya.” Ivanna said into the mic. I grimaced as a healer came and put Reyna into a stretcher. Then I walked back up to my seat next to Lucy. “Damn Sofya you knocked that girl out cold.” Nico said as I sat down. “Sofya I thought you said you didn’t know how to fight.” Lucy said. I looked over at her. “No I said that I hadn’t fought in a few years.” I said, but I didn’t think I had mentioned anything about fighting. “Well that is pretty good fighting for not practicing for a few years.” Lucy declared. “Who taught you how to fight?” Nico asked me. “My parents, ever since I could remember till they died.” I said. I felt a touch on my arm, it was Ash he provided a small ghost of a smile. I smiled back remembering I had done the same thing, we were both orphans. Then my eyes wandered back to the ring, the fight that had started after my fight with Reyna was finished and Ivanna walked back over to the mic. “Everyone can break for lunch now, be back in exactly two hours, the cafe’s are that way.” She said pointing towards the left. I stood up and stretched my back. It hurt really bad from when Reyna had tackled me, there was definitely going to be a bruise there tomorrow. “Ready for lunch?” Lucy asked excitedly. “Duh, I’m starved.” I said. “You guys want to come with us?” I asked Nico, Ash and Roman. “Of course, I’d go anywhere with two beautiful ladies.” Nico said grinning at me and Lucy. Lucy blushed madly, red was all over her cheeks. I rolled my eyes, it was clear Nico was player, he would probably break Lucy’s heart. Then I looked over at Ash. He nodded. “I’m meeting up with a few others, I’ll see you later guys.” Roman said then walked away. “Ok, lets go.” I said then started down the steps. About halfway down a jolt of pain shot through my skull. “Ahh!” I screeched out clutching my head, blackness edged my vision as I fell forward. At the last second, inches from the ground someone caught me. Then the blackness completely enclosed my eyes.