Chapter 18.5

Sweat poured down Emily's face as she finished her spar against Maxim, her Itarian friend and military teammate. He was still lying on the floor, where she'd shoulder tossed him, panting heavily, his sweat covered hair looking golden instead of its usual bright blonde.

She offered out her hand and helped him to his feet, where he then placed his hands on his knees and continued to try and catch his breath.

They were in one of the many gymnasium's inside the Palgia coliseum. The room was a large box that could easily fit over one hundred people. Like most of the coliseum it was formed from an ancient white stone and had pillars and primeval carvings running along it walls. Thankfully the air inside the coliseum is constantly conditioned to be cool and comfortable. If they had to train the Thalassi's usual environment, training would a lot more miserable.

They wandered over to the side of gym where stone benches were carved into the wall and were they'd placed their water bottles and towels.

"Is that now ten Emily and naught Maxim" Amelie said with a smirk that she knew would get under Maxim's skin and a thick accent from her homeland Lasseran.

"I wouldn't smile too much. It's your turn next" Maxim stated trying to hide his irritation, clearly not wanting to give her any satisfaction.

"Oh I won't be sparing Emily" she told him.

"Why is that? Scared?" he provoked.

"No. I'm just not a … What's the right term. Not an idiot. If someone like Emily gets close enough to me on the battlefield to engage in close combat I lost a long time ago" she casually replied, a smirk forming on her face again after she realised Maxim had no retort. She then gestured towards her sniper layered carefully along the bench, Its varnished wooden body and gleaming golden scope and barrel as well kept as ever "I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses". Emily sighed and took a sip of water when suddenly the gymnasium shook, and they all turned to see Ike and Arthur sliding down the gymnasium wall and hitting the ground headfirst. They quickly got up rubbing the back of their heads, both looking slightly embarrassed. Eric stood a few feet away and instantly she had a good guess on what had happened. The fact that Lucina and Princess Sera were also clearly trying their best to hold back laughter only increased her confidence in her guess. Like they'd sensed her stare then looked over to her and she quickly diverted her gaze hoping her face wouldn't become bright red. She still hadn't got used to how the Princess of Elysia would just come casually train and interact with them.

The two boys got ready to engage Eric again however, the doors to the gymnasium opened and General Zeit and Kate Lock entered.

He shot a quick glance at them "Would you three please leave the gymnasium and go refresh yourselves. You're training today is complete".

"Just us?" Emily asked.

"I have been given news to share with everyone connected to the orphanage 'Athra' and no one else" he informed them before giving them a stern look that quickly had them grabbing their belongings and exiting the gymnasium. Whatever he had to share he clearly wasn't happy about. Once they left, Emily let Maxim and Amelie go ahead. She knew if she was caught she'd be in deep shit especially if her father found out she'd disobeyed a General's order, but curiosity took over her. She stopped the gymnasium door from closing completely leaving a thin slit.

Peaking in she saw everyone gathered in front of the General, she couldn't hear what he said or read his lips as his back was to her but whatever he said couldn't be good. Everyone's face dropped and dread filled their eyes. Emily quickly vanished before she could get caught.