The training center is loud. Today, we won’t be training with our main trainers. For the older trainees, we’ll be practicing on demonstrating to the younger students how certain things are done. In the group, there are kids around Evita’s age. They've sparred with each other, but it's very different when you add a weapon. You have to know how to fight with and without one. You have to be aware of when you don't have an advantage anymore. In these last few years, they'll learn a lot.

Or at least that was the plan before we knew that they were going to kill us. Still, it's best that they learn as much as possible while they still can.

Ty and I have been paired up together since we’re in the same age group. We’re preferable because soon we’ll be shipped off for our last few months of training. We have to give a brief overview of how things will be for them. It's hard to come up with a way that will summarize everything. Maybe their trainers will help us with that later.

“Hey,” He nudges my arm with his elbow. “I still haven’t seen Yve.”

“I know,” I frown. “I have no idea where she could be.”

“Well, it isn’t like she can leave the property again.”

“No, but they could have caught her on security cameras when we got home.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“You’d be in trouble too. It would lead a trail straight back to us.” I sigh.

“I guess you’re right.”

As we talk about where she could be, a large group of kids walks in with a couple of trainers. I see Evita in the crowd, and when she spots us, a grin spreads across her face. She didn't know who would be talking to her group. I'm sure it's interesting for her to see what we really do when she isn't around. While they chat with each other, I become aware that they’ve made the room twice as loud as it usually is. How annoying.

“Remember when we had to do this?” Ty leans against the balance beam we’re standing in front of.

“Yeah,” I manage a smile. “I bet at least one of those kids are going to give us a hard time.”

“How should we deal with that? The girls we worked with just rolled their eyes and ignored us.”

“We’ll see I guess.” I point to a boy that doesn’t have his jacket on. His jet black hair is smoothed back, and he carries himself slightly too proudly. “I bet you that one will cause an issue.” He bristles.

“You shouldn't assume stuff like that. What makes you think that?”

“I can just tell. I’ve seen him around other kids. He talks down on them. It's annoying. That wouldn’t be surprising.”

“Are you going to ignore him?” I laugh.

“I don’t think so,” I start. “Let me deal with him if it comes down to it.”

When the group reaches us, they sit in a semicircle around us. There are a couple girls to my right that keep talking to each other. I already know by how they’re acting who will be an issue. The two girls are talking to the boy with the black hair. Handling one might make the others behave.

Evita observes both of us carefully. I watch her for a few seconds. I notice that the girl she’s next to has put her hand over Evita’s. I smile at her and nod. It's cute, really. She's not exactly a people person, but when she finds someone she likes being around... well. I believe she knows how we’ll deal with anyone who causes problems. The sly grin on her face doesn’t tell me otherwise.

“I suppose all of you know why you’re here,” Ty says. “But I’ll clarify once more. You’ve practiced self-defense the whole time you’ve been here, but now we want to show you how those tricks will be used during the rest of your time here.”

“We’re going to show you a few things,” I explain. “First, we’ll demonstrate how your skills fighting will develop. Next, we’ll show you how a few of the places and training weapons in this room are used, and finally, we will show you the mixture of all these skills.” A girl on the far left raises her hand, and Ty gestures to her.

“Are we going to do any of this stuff today?” I smile.

“Maybe you’ll get to try some of the less difficult stuff in the coming days, but for now I don’t think that we’ll have you try any of this out. There are a few things your trainers will have to teach you beforehand.” She nods and smiles back. It's refreshing to see someone who's enthusiastic about this kind of thing. I look to Ty, and both of us stand up straight and face each other. Waiting to demonstrate. Even after practicing multiple times, it still makes me a little nervous.

“The basic skills you have learned so far are blocking hits,” He raises his arm and throws it toward my face. I catch his wrist and pull it down towards my hip.

“Secondary attack,” I pretend to elbow him in the chest while still holding his arm down.

“The many ways to gain an advantage,” He pretends to swipe his feet under mine, and I let myself fall to the ground. I keep my grip on his wrist. A couple of kids laugh softly, but I don’t care. It’s just setting examples. This isn’t real.

“And continuing to guard yourself even while you believe you’ve lost your advantage.” I look at him to make sure he’s ready, and he gives me a small nod. I pretend to flip him over me. In reality, he’s only jumped over me and done a somersault, but to the kids, it seems as if I have actually defended myself against Ty. Both of us stand back up.

“Simple enough, right?” Ty questions them. “It isn’t enough on the field, though. Sometimes you'll have to get out of the situation and—”

“What you mean?” The boy with the hair speaks up. I look at Ty. As a joke, I roll my eyes. “I could do that to defend myself all day.”

“You may think that, but—”

“No,” He smirks. “I know that.” I walk over and crouch in front of him.

“What’s your name?”

“Ross.”

“Well, Ross,” I begin. “We just simulated what it looks like. The bad guys out there aren’t going to spar with you. They will try to kill or subdue you. They’re pretty good at it too. You have to be better out there than you ever train to be.”

“I could beat you any day.” I look up at the woman who brought them to us. She stifles a laugh.

“Alright, kid," I look back at him. "Try beating me today. If you win, go back to your quarters and take the day off. If you lose, sit back down and be quiet?" He hesitates. "Should I really spar with him, or go easy on him?” I ask her.

“If he wants to truly spar with you, let him. They get bruised up all the time.” She gives Ross a wry smile. He must always be like this frequently. I don’t plan on hurting him, but I do want to see what he’s got. I wonder why he thinks he's so amazing.

A cocky soldier is not a soldier that survives. I'll show him that.

I stand up and walk back to where I was. Ty smirks and hoists himself up onto the balance beam and stares down at everyone. I gesture for Ross to come up to me and start. He quickly goes to the place where Ty previously was.

“Would you like training weapons, since you’re so great?” I cross my arms. “Or do you just want a training session like the ones you normally have.” I see his jaw drop slightly. He didn’t think about that part. I’m significantly larger than he is. Perhaps he thought we’d be almost eye level when he stood up.

He wasn’t listening earlier. I hear a small laugh come from some of the boys he was sitting next to. Ross whips his head toward the noise and glares at the giggling boys. He can’t back down now.

“I—I…” He sputters. “I’ll spar will weapons.”

“Pick your poison, then. What kind?”

“I want a gun.” I laugh in his face.

“If we’re sparring you don’t pick a long range weapon. That, and I can’t let you have any of those. They can leave more than bruises. They’re meant for people over sixteen who are at a certain level.”

“What kind are you gonna use?” His eyebrows wrinkle. He’s scared. Ross expected me to just let him get away with it. I guess he gets away with a lot usually. I walk over to a rack nearby and pick up something that vaguely resembles a pole. He looks amused. That is until I toss it to him. I grab one myself. While he turns it around in his hands, I slide a faux dagger into a slot on the inside of my jacket. The only person looking at me is Evita, and I see her trying not to smile.

It’s not cheating. I never told him that he could have more than one. We do it all the time. The exercise is that you have to expect anything. It’s what they’ll learn soon. If he thinks he’s superior, I have to show him that he isn’t. Not yet.