Triton grinned and spoke up, “we're still asking about the Bokken though as it doesn't do you much good if you aren't permitted to draw it.” Morgane nods and adjusts the rapier for left handed draw so the Bokken can be a right handed draw being that she is right hand dominant.

The two of them leave the Smith's workshops after hugging both John and Destin in thanks, and start walking up the walkway towards the Arena. The Arena was an imposing building made from hewen granite a white granite with some grey striations. The carvers went all out on this structure as it was a site most people did attend, there were images of sea life carved into the walls as well as images of people fighting in pitched battles. The structure itself was four stories tall, much larger than currently needed for the population of the city. The Weaver family, another cloth maker; had discovered a way to turn kelp into a breathable waterproof fabric. So all seating in the arena was upholstered in this new fabric.

The entrances to the Arena were four large arches rising up two stories and thirty feet wide, a green granite was used here to distinguish the entrances from the rest of the structure. The entry arch they were headed towards had a side door in the hallway leading towards the fighting floor, this side door lead to the training areas which were contained on the first floor of the Arena. The on site hospital was here as well and anyone choosing to work any kind of medical field was required to spend time working during matches so that they had a broad expanse of experience.

They approached the pine wood door admiring the carving in the wood of Greek athletes, the Arena was also used for things like foot races as well as equestrian events. The farmers in Oceana were very proud of the horse lines. So once a month there was a horse show displaying everything that their horses are capable of, starting from races and pulling contests to Dressage.

They open the beautifully carved door and start heading down the plain white halls, plain white as sometimes people needed to lean on the walls after being injured during training or a match; so it was easier to clean. Just in this series of hallways did they use wood, an expensive item for walls; covered in white wash as drops of blood can be hard to see on a granite surface.

After walking about ten feet down the hallway they come into one of the training rooms where the trainers themselves were waiting for them. Triton before she could even think to ask says, “Yu recommends you issue her a Bokken for everyday use.” One of the trainers an older man who on a good day was four foot even and could take anyone down to his size without drawing a weapon looked poleaxed. “That was something we never considered due to her skill, even Miyamoto Musashi used one instead of an edged weapon. Sorry there Morgane we really did you a disservice by not thinking of it.”

While the trainer was addressing her a voice with a slight french accent comes from behind her. “Who is this girl, and why does she have the sword that the foolish blacksmith refused to sell to me; I am still waiting for your expert swords person to arrive.” Morgane turns around to see a twenty-ish year old in full chain mail and a group of (she had seen a few surface TV shows about bands and their followers)'groupies' clustered behind him. The man himself seemed to stand about five foot nine when not wearing the silly boots he had on, was blonde haired and blue eyed.

One of the hangers on did a double take looking at Morgane and quickly poked the walking tin can, “Francois; I think she is the one in the videos.” 'Francois' waves his hand, “that cannot be right; as I have told you all before while watching the video. Women are just not that good at sword fighting.” The voice of the old trainer sounding amused comes up from behind her, “boy if you think that you are in for a world of hurt. This young lady is our best, while I might get lucky enough once in a great while down here she is the best.”

Francois huffs, “fine; if you wish to pursue this I shall challenge her. Then I expect the real top fighter to show up.” Triton speaks then, “alright if you don't believe us fine; you will find out. What are your terms of challenge?” Francois grins and responds, “well it'll be to the first blood of course isn't that how it's done here?” He waves a hand in a flimsy manner, “I also expect when I win to receive that sword as it rightfully should go to me being I am the best swordsman in the world.” Triton turns toward Morgane and says, “seems simple enough you get a hit he draws blood-” Francois interrupts Triton, “ah no; I said first blood. Meaning both of us draws first blood, what can't she even manage to cut someone?”

Everyone from Oceana in the room gasp at the same time and Triton thinking quickly on his feet says. “That can only be agreed to if you find a surface lawyer willing to draw up a contract stating that if she harms you, the city and all it's people are not responsible up to and including your death.” At least Francois looked surprised, though probably not for the proper reason. Triton continues, “that is the only way you are getting a challenge here with anyone; so I suggest you go back to where you are staying and find a lawyer. Make sure Morgane's full name is listed, which is Morgane Anraith. The document must have it listed any harm done to you will have no repercussions up to and including death, the lawyer must be willing to come here with a third party witness to have all parties sign it. Which will include me as Morgane's legal representative.”

Francois starts stuttering incoherently, Triton waves his hand behind his back at the trainers who took the hint and called the guard; the city really didn't have a 'police' force. However since Oceana was autonomous they had a military and squads rotated into 'policing' the city, which generally amounted to maneuvering some of the drunks from the older generation.

Francois started shouting legibly now, “I WILL HAVE MY FIGHT HERE DAMNIT. I DID NOT SPEND THE REDICOULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO COME TO THIS GOD FORSAKEN HELLHOLE TO BE TOLD I CANNOT DO AS I WISH.” Triton steps in front of Morgane with his arms crossed then the trainers do the same with him all staring at Francois. Destin comes in behind the group with the current batch of smithing students and says. “What ever you were told I suggest you listen to before I call my da who is waiting outside with all the adult men in my family. According to my da he can bench press a car, so I really do suggest you curb your attitude and do whatever you were told in a polite fashion. You are a guest in this city and if you should remain so you need to remember we can just toss you in a sub and send ya back quickly enough you'll be in hospital for weeks recovering.”

Francois pauses whatever he was going to do next when Destin says that, and the guard walk up behind Destin's group. Francois states, “you wouldn't dare.” Triton with a big smile on his face speaks up with authority, “actually he is correct; do you remember a paper you had to sign before coming to this quote 'god forsaken hellhole'? In it was a clause that states if you unduly harass citizens you will be expelled from the city post haste even if it risks your health. Learn to read what you sign before signing, if you are capable of reading that is.” Triton looks over to the guard, “I told this polite gentleman.” Morgane coughs and Triton elbows her, “that to do what he wanted to do we need a legal paper I outlined to him verbally. I also wrote down what I told him while he, 'debated' us; I will give that to you so that he must come to you with the document before contacting the Arena again. He wishes Morgane to fight to the first blood not first hit.” The guard captain gasped and shook his head at the idiocy, Triton continues. “He also tried to order John Smith to sell him Morgane's new rapier that is Mr. Smith's Masterwork.”

The guard captain looks over Francois, and from the look the captain gives him mentally dismisses the man as a dimwit. The captain walks up to Morgane and bends over to admire the rapier on her side then claps her on the shoulder, “congratulations young lady I heard word about that lovely weapon he was working on for you. You honor us all when you wear it proudly.” The captain then turns to Francois, “you boy are an idiot; you will do just what that young man said for you to do. You will come to whom so ever is captain at the time you have it done, and we are going to assign a rotating guard on you for the remainder of your stay in our city. You boy have just pissed off the wrong people here.” The guard captain then starts speaking in what Morgane could only describe as rapid fire french at the man who first looked offended then sheepish. Then Francois and his group turn around with the guard group following them out.

Destin chuckles after they were out of ear shot, “whoa boy; that guard captain really laid into him. He even questioned the guy's parentage at the beginning. Suggesting that maybe his father was the ass end of a goat, then said no as it would be an insult to a goat. Well now that he has been dealt with we can all go back to what we were doing.” Destin then rounds up the gaggle of students who were all trying to see the rapier at this point and leads them out of the training room.

Morgane and Triton both turn back to the trainers the old one speaking again, “well now what were we discussing. Oh yes, a Bokken for you Morgane; I think the wood workers had the idea in mind as well.” He walks out of the room and walks back in with a wooden sword with a very pretty grain in it, he continues. “This one is the only one we have ever acquired that is made from a fruit wood, typically they are made from pine; I believe this came from that apple tree that was knocked over a few months ago by an over zealous student farmer using a tractor the first time.”

Morgane took it from Pietor and carefully attached it to her belt opposite the rapier, noticing wearing both will slow her down slightly which will be advantageous to anyone battling her. Pietor notices her movements as she put it on and gave her what she considers and evil smile. “Alright Morgane, because we really want you to clean his clock; you will run the ring for the next hour with what you have on plus a set of chain mail. Oh, we will be shooting target arrows at you so I suggest you move quickly.”

Morgane groans at the thought of wearing any kind of metal armor, granted chain did offer more range of movement than plate did; but it was still heavier than she'd like. She walks to the armor room which is right off of the ring and spends ten minutes properly putting on the mail and adjusting the swords for best comfort while running. The old guy literally meant run, because while the target arrows were padded they still hurt. They would also be shot at you if they thought you were too slow, and they would come from anywhere in the Arena. She had experienced this 'lesson' before as the older trainers have the same belief, that pain teaches; which logically it does.

Morgane jogs out the door of the armor room onto the ring, which is the central location of the Arena and it is covered in sand; which she had to admit was a softer landing than the dirt on the farms. The farm she had worked at with Triton had a billy goat that hated her and had butted her numerous times to the ground. The sandy ground here was softer, she gets hit in the shoulder with an arrow. “Come on girl those feet ain't moving.” She couldn't even tell where the voice was coming from, they were that good at hiding themselves.

She starts running around the ring, starting at a slow jog, which earned her three arrows; to the backside of all places. So she sped up, she never liked weight training; which is what the trainers considered this to be. They said it was akin to what military people on the surface had to due during training. If you get use to the weight you will be faster without it, because the biggest issue with running while weighed down is how fast you can run and maneuver.

While spending her hour running she figures that she'll be drilled relentlessly tomorrow while wearing the mail, then if there is another day a least another day of running. This was going to be an exhausting week.

After the requisite hour a voice wafted down to her, “alright go take care of yer armor young lady; if'n you forget to clean it we will tan your hide tomorrow.” Morgane inwardly chuckled as that was a familiar threat in the Arena, mishandle armor and the trainers will hurt you. It's so nice when things are normal.

Morgane goes back into the armor room and carefully removes the mail from her body, then retrieves a dry towel and painstakingly drys it off. Then she finds the bin of oil cloth and slowly oils each individual chain until she was sure the mail was properly treated. Then she grimaced as she left like she was ready to fall asleep on the spot from being worn out. Triton pokes his head into the room, “so ready to head home and a shower for you? I had a chance to have one here.” Morgane just nods at him, to which he just chuckles at and waves her out of the room.

Outside the Arena was Ara, daughter of Yu who has one of her rickshaws; “so I heard through the grapevine that you might be tired Morgane.” Morgane just groans and Ara chuckles and waves the two of them towards the rickshaw. “Well come on, it'll only take a few minutes to get you back to the dorm; where you can relax.” She notes the Bokken on Morgane's hip, “oh good da said if you hadn't gotten one I was to quote 'wack you with a broom' till you marched back inside to get one.” Triton laughed and nodded, “oh I figured if your father wanted her to have one it was a 'get it or else'. We probably have a few days of quiet till the ensuing 'big event' happens here.” Ara looks worried, “yeah I had to explain in detail how it was going to work and the man was indignant about it. Well he'll learn when he has to fight you.” Ara then started them towards the Dormitory at a fair speed, and all Morgane could think of at that moment was how much she wanted the shower. More than the wonderful meal Triton promised her.