Traditions

"Again! You're better than this!" Artemis yelled at Iya to get up after her attack on him failed. She quickly stood to her feet and got in the ready stance position to attack again. Her light golden brown skin made the sweat off her body glisten. The sparring match was intense and Iya was losing. She flung her head back to flip her braids out of her face. Pushing off the ground Iya dashed towards Artemis with the wooden training sword pointed at him. When Iya struck Artemis with the sword on his arm but he blocked the blow with his forearm armor. Grabbing Iya's forearm with his hand, Artemis pulled Iya closer to him forcing her to be closer than she expected. Artemis then swung and a nasty uppercut right in the center of Iya's stomach making her drop to the ground instantly from where she stood. Grasping for air Iya's swirled her face around in the sand, twisting and turning from the pain of getting the wind knocked out of her. Artemis had been training the young princess Iya since she was five and there wasn't a day that would go by that he went easy on her.

Iya knew she was to be the next Commander. She knew it was her destiny to become someone great. She also knew that in order to take her place as Commander she would have to go through Artemis first. Artemis turned to look at Iya still laying on the ground and said to her, "This is your last time, obviously you are not ready, I guess I was wrong thinking you were destined for something more. After all you are the only Commander in training to pass through all thirty training stages before the age of eighteen. Obviously, I had more confidence in you than you have for yourself," Artemis walked over to the princess and crouched down to where she was laying, "Ask yourself something for me princess, why are you holding back?.. Get up…" Artemis now a middle aged man in his forties was still one of the greatest trainers the Sagen army was blessed to have. Although the situation was non- traditional and bizarre to the Sagen army to have a third born leading them. Artemis definitely made up for the loss of two Commanders back to back in a short time period. He knew his destiny was the make sure Iya and her army were more elite than ever before. An army the universe has never seen or heard of. No enemy were no dare to face what Sage had to bring. Just like the fore fathers and the ancient army that saved the current Star Lord eons ago.

Iya stood up slowly as she was still catching her breath. She will not be defeated she told herself as she got into her stance once more. Iya was young, only eighteen, and very smart. Her beauty was well known all across Sage but her beauty wasn't going to save her now. Artemis had his back facing Iya as she stood up. He had his long black and gray locks were in a ponytail that went down his whole bare back. Iya didn't see the face Artemis made from being pleased with her. Iya never gave up, she wouldn't dare to disappoint her teacher or her family. Iya wanted to be Commander more than anything, more than life itself. As Iya got into her ready stance the dust flew off of her as she stood there thinking of her next move. Artemis is too smart and strong for a forward attack, she thought, so she would have to outsmart him in order to win. Next to Iya was a wooden spear with the metal sharp tip at the end. She picked it up and pointed at Artemis with one arm extended towards him. When Artemis turned around to face his opponent Iya was already starting her charge at him. At first he was a little disappointed in her choice since her last frontal attack got her floored, but he sensed was she learning her lesson. Iya ran straight towards Artemis with metal tip of the spear pointed up. When she got close enough to him Iya drove the spear into the ground pole vaulting in herself into the air right over Artemis' head. When Iya drove the spear into the ground she made sand kick up and it went straight into Artemis' face. He didn't even notice that Iya jumped right over him. As Iya landed to the ground, with her legged already bent, she jumped back into the air using the momentum. She kicked Artemis with both feet and with all her strength dead center of his back. The kick made Artemis fly forward at least five feet and when he landed, he slid at least two more feet. Artemis was defeated.

Once Iya realized she had hurt Artemis, she ran to him making sure the blow wasn't fatal. When she got to Artemis she turned his lifeless body around from him lying on his chest to his back. When she turned Artemis around he was laughing and coughing at the same time, "That's what I'm talking about Iya!" Artemis still coughing, "Help this old man up would ya?" Iya let out a huge sigh at Artemis playing around about being hurt. She extended her hand to help him up off the ground. Artemis still kneeling from the blow on his back, he looked up at her and gave her a big smile, "We should feast, come and sit with me." Artemis walked slowly to the resting quarters of the training arena and ran the bell for the servicemen to bring some food. Three servicemen came out carrying big trays of food which was filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and freshly made meat from the slaughter from earlier in the morning. Artemis and Iya sat down at a large table that seated many.

They had a moment together alone before the rest of the army would be joining them for dinner. Iya was happy to be finally sitting down with some food in front of her. After a hard day's work Iya felt like she deserved a feast. Artemis who was also eating, turned to Iya and asked, "You understand how important your role is as Commander… right?" Iya stopped eating and looked up at Artemis and nodding yes to his question. That wasn't satisfying to Artemis, he felt the need to explain to her again just how important it is, "I know you learned in school about our Fore Father King Methodius and how the Star Lord helped create the idea of all the fourth born including his fourth sibling, Princess Ezris, the Commander of the Sagen military and all members of the military. I feel like they don't really touch on the significance of how much Princess Esriz did for all of us," Artemis put his hands up and shaking his head from disappointment, "The school books don't give it justice to how everything changed for all the Sagen people."

As Iya sat there listening and watching Artemis tell his story, Kalvanius walked into the dining room and sat down next to Iya. Her attention was caught by Kalvanius' entrance and she watched him walk the whole way to the table. Kalvanius was Artemis' youngest son and was newly appointed to be Iya's second and her Captain.

Kalvanius was a handsome young man who had as much potential as his partner. He was one year older than Iya. Artemis practically raised them both together to be close and well connected. Day in and day out Iya and Kalvanius have spent almost every day together since they've started their training at the age of five. It also helped that he was a really good fighter and would make a perfect captain to anyone. Young Kalvanius, who also went by Kal, wore his hair with the bottom part his head shaved and shoulder length browns colored locks on top. He was a nice caramel chocolate tone with beautiful light brown eyes, tall and was medium build. When he sat down next to Iya he gave her a quick smile like he was happy to see her too. Iya and Kal wasn't just the Commander to be and Captain to be to each other. They were close and really good friends. Artemis made sure they knew how to work together, it was essential. It was important to the Sagen cause that everything ran smoothly, collectively and with unity. Iya and Kal's role in the Sagen army made them power figures and they had to maintain a good, professional relationship. However, secretly liking each other wasn't a part of the grand plan Artemis had.

Time to time Artemis would notice the little things like the way Iya and Kal would look at one another. The way they would laugh and smile at ever little thing one would say. The room lights up whenever one came their way. He had a feel deep down that it could be possible but would quickly shut the notion down. 'They know better', he thought, 'they wouldn't dare jeopardize who they are and all that they worked for to get here.'

Or so he thought…