FIGHT

Layla, Harry, Nova and Robert stood in the field discussing how to improve Layla's combat skills. The other students were in the field - they were in class, but only Nova and Harry offered to help.

She had been using practice swords until this point, but with her new sword, Layla could practice better in combat training. It was more advantageous to practice with a sword that was permanently yours.

"Since you've gotten your sword, you should start training with it. Since you have the basics down, it should be a bit easier. Now we just have to find what works for you. ", Robert informed Layla.

"What about one-on-one combat?", Harry offered.

"She can't do that with real swords though.", Nova replied.

"It doesn't matter, our aim is to improve her combat skills regardless. She can use her real sword to practice something else. ", Robert replied.

She would use wooden swords for one-on-one combat while her real swords would be used to practice swings and the likes. Nova was picked as her combat partner. Robert eliminated Harry as a combat partner as their skill difference was too far apart. It was reasonable, Harry was a prince, and unlike she who had halfheartedly practiced swordsmanship, he had probably been bred in it.

Layla picked the wooden sword she was given and made to fight Nova. She studied the girl to figure how to go about the fight. There were many factors that determined the one with the upper hand in a fight. Strength was one, and Layla was confident she was stronger than her. Layla wasn't exactly large in size but she was larger than Nova. The girl was so petite that Layla wasn't even sure she was nineteen.

The fight began and as Layla predicted, she was stronger than Nova. But even without any strength, Nova was fast. Her small body allowed her to be nimble and fast thus making up for her lack of strength. She had unique reflexes that made it hard for Layla to even get a hit in. Her advantage in strength didn't matter in this situation if she couldn't even hit her.

It wasn't long before Nova won the duel. Layla was impressed, the girl had realized her disadvantage in strength, but increased her speed to supplement her skills.

With their first fight finished, Layla now knew how to fight her. Be at least almost as fast as she was and overwhelm her with strength.

But it was easier said than done. Every fight ended in Nova's victory. It was like the girl was matching her speed. If Layla got a bit faster, she would become even faster.

Days passed without Layla ever winning.

***

"Today, we'll be doing something different."

Nova pointed in the direction of the others. They all would be participating in 1v1 fights.

"With Layla joining us and our numbers becoming even, it'll be much easier to perform one-on-one combat training." Robert said as he walked in. With was a large scroll with everyone's name and who they were going to be dueling with.

Amber versus Nova, Thomas versus Neon, Claudine versus Layla, and Harry versus Claud.

Layla shuddered as she saw who she was supposed to fight, Claudine. She had been having trouble fighting Nova but Claudine who had been training longer than Nova must be stronger.

"Watch carefully." Harry told her as they took their practice swords.

The first duel was Amber versus Nova. She knew Nova's fighting style but she knew nothing of Amber's and well everyone else's.

The first one to attack was Nova, it was very much like her, attack before you were attacked.

Despite the speed of Nova's attack, Amber dodged, barely. She attacked Nova and she dodged too. As the fight continued, Layla began to understand how Amber fought. Her fighting style was very different from Nova's. Unlike Nova who used fast and precise attacks, Amber's was, well less precise.

It wasn't due to a lack of skill, it was intentional. It was a good counter to Nova's. Throw multiple, and powerful attacks in different directions and throw Nova off her mark. Fighting like that would deplete her stamina, but that was why she did it, she had more stamina than Nova.

After more attacks, Nova was declared winner. It wasn't an easy victory but was still impressive nonetheless.

The next fight was between Thomas and Neon. As she observed from the fight, both boys were mostly evenly matched. And their fighting styles were similar to Layla's.

Layla raised a question.

"Thomas and Neon fight more like me, wouldn't it be better if I dueled with them instead of Nova."

"It's precisely the reason why you don't train with them. Fighting with someone who fights in a different way will help you... adapt to different styles. You can't be too rigid in your style." Harry replied her.

That's actually true.

The fight between Neon and Thomas ended with Neon as the winner.

It was now her turn. Shaking off her hesitance, she walked to the small ring where they would fight. If she couldn't at least win, she should be able to get a hit in.

The fight began with Claudine attacking first. Layla knew she couldn't apply the same technique she used with Nova.

Her training with Nova had increased her speed, so she managed to dodge Claudine's attack. Claudine wasn't as fast as Nova, but she was stronger than her. And Layla.

Contrary to her assumptions, Claudine's fighting style was pretty similar to Nova's. They both used fast and precise attacks. It still didn't help Layla though, as she lost. Her only consolation was that she could at least get a hit in.

Harry and Claud were last. Unlike her fight with Claudine, Harry and Claud were probably evenly matched.

Her assumption was right, they were evenly matched, but their styles different. Harry used fast and precise attacks like Claudine, although his also relied on strength. In contrast, Claud fought like Amber, using multiple and powerful attacks. And like Amber and Nova's fight, Harry won.

All fights were over and by then, Layla had started to understand the fighting styles a little. She grouped them into three:she, Neon and Thomas had simple styles that equally emphasized speed and strength. Claudine, Harry and Nova used precise and swift attacks. While Amber and Claud used attacks that relied purely on strength.

Now, she had the least experience and skill, but hopefully, she would become stronger.

Breaking out of her train of thoughts, she headed to the class. It was spell studies, but it wasn't the usual teacher. It was Lucas, one of the men who accompanied Sheila. His presence brought about a deadly silence and it hadn't even been noisy.

Layla gulped.

Scary.