09 FIGHT KNIGHT

The rest of Claude's day at the C.S Academy went as every day did. Only now he had a hulking knight waving at him whenever they crossed paths in the halls.

If his mind wasn't elsewhere for most of the day, he would've paid more attention to the butterflies fluttering in his stomach every-time class neared it's end and he found himself back in the halls.

But that was a topic for another time. One he pushed to the back of his mind as he hopped up onto The Platform and warmed up.

For nothing. Apparently, Mr. Raizen decided to have another class spar. The chances of it being him didn't feel very high.

His wrist was still broken, but standing still wasn't his strong suit. Or how he processed anxiety.

With that being said, he approached the squat rack and got under the bar, feeling its ribbed metal grooves dig into his upper back muscles like miniature claws of steel.

The other students climbed the ladder and joined in warming up after him.

"Good fight yesterday, Claude. Seriously. Maybe we can do better once you're healed….. in three months." Emma poked as she passed him and threw a dagger across the course, sinking it into a training dummies face a hundred feet away.

"Three months my ass." Claude grunted as he lifted the barbell off the rack. One-hundred and eighty pounds/eighty-one kilograms felt a lot more difficult to move when he only had one hand to support the bar. Especially when he was mentally preoccupied on top of that. "Where is Samuel?" He thought.

"Statistically speaking…. Mr. Raizen could have you up on the chopping block again. But hey, better you than me. The real challenge is in the redwoods. I'm sorry you'll miss it." Xander said from behind Claude as he squatted.

"Go warm up just in case it's you and me in today's spar." Claude said after rep six. Sweat beads collected on his brow, tickling like gnats in a summer forest.

Xander sighed, "If he's not awkwardly stumbling over his words, he's fiery as a dragon. You truly are a lesson in polarities."

"Uh…. Sure." Rep eight. His impatience was building. So was his pain. Blood pumped to his wrist and made the swell feel like an explosion.

By rep twelve, he wasn't feeling any less quiet in the mind, so he pressed on.

Which wasn't a good idea since his legs were beginning to shake— and the bar on his back was playing a game of mimicry.

"Come on…." He thought on the way up. His legs thought otherwise. The bar felt like a sword cleaving through his upper back with a searing damage that trickled down his legs and glutes like lava. He was sin—

"Fifteen reps and no spotter? You seem more insane by the day."

Thick calloused hands fastened around the bar and lifted it off his shoulders.

Claude fell to one knee. He turned his head just in time to see Ursula lifting the weight up with an effortless bicep curl to set it back on the metal rack.

Immediately his answers as to who the heroic princess' parent was slimmed. But something else broadened internally as he stood up on wobbly legs and faced Ursula.

"Thank you… again."

"Sure—"

"... — Is this a joke?" Claude spouted randomly.

Ursula turned her head in confusion.

"Well…. You're saying hi to me every time you see me in the halls. You were cheering me on during my spar with Samuel, and this morning you gave me more coin than I've ever touched in my life. Is this some long winded bullying scheme? Did Tai put you up to this because I kicked his nuts?"

Ursula took off her knights helm. Somebody jokingly made a puking sound. Ursula laughed on her own anyway, "Wait— you kicked Tai in the…. HAHA! Damn, he really got his ass handed to him yesterday."

Claude stared with a straight face.

Ursula's auburn hair blew in the wind as she looked down at him. "Dude, no. I am not the Leon families avenger. They have the Detection Corps for that."

"Then why are you being so nice to me? What is this?….. I mean— don't get me wrong, I appreciate it. But I don't do good with people….. I don't really…. Like what impression did I make to warrant this?" He'd spoken more words in a week at the C.S Academy so far than he usually did in a month.

Ursula shrugged. She seemed to like doing that. It made her traps look like mountains pushing into her neck, "You didn't. I do what I want."

Claude blinked twice, "Oh…."

"Well, that's not entirely true." Ursula corrected, "You're kind of like a puppy…."

Claude pinched the bridge of his nose in defeat, "Please, man…"

Ursula laughed. It was a husky bellowing sound that drew attention with a magnetic force. "Puppies grow into wolves, Claude."

Claude looked up at her.

"They can also be eaten by lizard-men in a desert."

Claude fought off a shiver.

"You're fighting— you're clawing— no pun intended…. you're growing. Right now it's all potential. I don't get to see that a lot where I'm from. It's all talent and birthright or else. This is a lot more fun….. it's inspiring sort of."

Claude hesitated, trying to ignore the warm fuzziness collecting in his chest, "That was…. Very nice."

"Yes. I'm a nice person, don't let the biceps fool you."

Claude nodded, "I'll try not to."

Ursula put her hands on her hips then while carrying her helmet, "Now, can you stop being skittish so we can be friends?"

She held her hand out.

"Oh— sure." Claude shook up with her.

"Good. Because I need someone to cheer for me this time. I'm sparring today." Ursula gave a predatory smile that made her freckles dance on her cheeks.

"You are? Who?" Claude questioned.

Ursula put an arm around Claude and walked him over to the edge of the weight lifting section of the platform. With her freehand— still carrying her helmet, she pointed off to the weapons training section.

"Mr.Bubbleguts over here in the blue." She said.

Claude's eyes settled on the boy in heavy armor hacking away at a training dummy. He was as tall as Ursula and far wider. His blue armor made him appear hard and stainless but beneath it was a mess-hall addiction and long familial line of bakers. Not to say he was weak though. Every swing on the dummy spit out magical glowing numbers rating his damage output at the highest in the class.

Forty seven.

The average was twenty.

Samual hit for eighty once.

The only thing stopping Duke was his lack of discipline. Or more accurately, his love for pastries.

"Willing to share any info?" Ursula inquired.

Her arm had to weigh fifteen pounds alone. Her breath smelled like berries. If he continued to focus on their proximity and the students pointing their way, he wouldn't have an answer.

"I'm assuming Mr. Raizen put you against our only real heavyweight. His name is Duke. Despite his size, he's pretty fast. His stamina's just awful. That's how I beat him." Claude replied.

"My stamina's not good either…." Ursula commented.

"That makes sense. Pitwolves are also very muscular, so much so that they can't practice the same hunting strategy as other canine breeds. Muscles cost a lot of energy." Claude realized. But then, he was at a loss.

"Ursula."

"Yea?"

"What are you good at?"

Ursula shrugged again, "People say I have a temper….?"

Duke swung his war-hammer and the training dummy's head flew off. The students shouted in celebration. As the head rolled in the grass below the platform, it hissed a magical red plume of smoke into the shape of numbers….

One-hundred and twelve.

Claude and Ursula turned to look at each-other.

"How angry can you get?"

Ursula smiled.

********

"ARRRRGG!"

Metal clashed like never before. Sparks flew under raw sunlight, blending with the rays cast down at them as they surrounded the cracked sparring ring.

Ursula danced around the ring between exchanges. She didn't move like a knight despite her knightly leather and metal armor.

She moved like a mage, hitting quick and linear movements in short dashes. If she could call to the winds it would've looked better and probably took less energy.

Not that any of that mattered.

"So she really chose the iron-chunk?" Lucas questioned from beside Claude.

"Yep. I know she's strong, but that just seems kind of dumb. Nobody touches the academy weapons supply since Xander…. Did whatever he did." Warren replied from behind Claude.

"I poured liquid nitrogen on them. Mr. Raizen didn't say that was against the rules. Culling the weak through backhanded means is an effective hunting strategy. We learned that when we read about the displacer-felines last month." Xander replied.

"Oh hell no…." Warren shivered at the memory, "When I'm Reborn, I'm never touching an elven Tangent. Too much invisibility and mind games and jump scares."

"Don't worry." Emma suddenly said from beside him. Under the sun her platinum blonde hair almost looked silver as it swayed around her sharp jawline, "I think you're the only bowmen here that won't be Reborn. Me on the other hand—"

"Girl, shut up. I'm more accurate than you." Warren spat as Ursula and Duke sized eachother up.

"I'm faster. And smarter. And more brave. An—"

Metal clashed again.

Duke stumbled. Surprise was clear as day as his eyes widened behind his knights helm.

Ursula went on the offensive again. She seemed to like offense. Even if it meant taking some in return.

Duke swung his war-hammer's backend, fit with a curved dagger. The movement allowed him to leave his heavy hammer end on the ground and conserve energy.

Ursula held a hand out to stop the blade from hitting her face. The dagger ripped through her palm. At the same time she lunged and head butted Duke so hard, the bottom half of his helmet broke off.

"Are those…. Cake crumbs on his face?" Lucas questioned as Duke stumbled backward and fell on his backside.

Ursula pressed him— uncaring of how he fought and fled.

All the while, she dragged along her chosen weapon.

The iron-chunk. It was a joke weapon Mr. Raizen brought on his first day. He said he used to use it as punishment for students who couldn't sit still or shut up in class. That way, the next day they'd be so sore and tired they had no choice.

It wasn't a sword. It was too big and dull to be considered a blade. A much more accurate description was already applied.

It was nothing more than a six foot long hunk of heavy black metal. A chunk of iron given a handle.

Ursula used it as a shield as Duke swung his war-hammer from the floor in a panic.

Portions of the chunk of metal shattered like dirty black glass, leaving serrated metal edges on both sides.

Suddenly the weapon was capable of ripping. With its heavy weight the damage would've been serious to say the least.

Ms. Callisto stepped forward from the other side of the ring, healing magics spinning off her dainty fingers like stardust.

"Relax." Ursula groaned as she reached down and lifted Duke to his feet before front kicking him out of the circle.

"One point!" Mr. Raizen yelled.

"I don't know if I should thank you or curse you." Duke stomped back into the circle.

"Do both." Ursula replied.

With nothing left to say the two got back into it. Ursula kept the pressure on Duke, swinging around her hunk of metal like it was an average sword as she charged and shoved him around the ring. Duke's thick armor and mass application kept him inside the ring, though. Which was almost more impressive.

"She's not bad…." Warren replied.

"How do you think she'd fair against Samuel?" Lucas asked as he partially slid his kettle-hat off his head in the July heat.

"She'd end up like Claude probably…" Warren replied.

Claude side eyed Warren. Warren threw his hands up. "What?"

"I'd argue she'd do worse." Xander replied, standing as arrogantly as ever.

"Oh here he goes." Warren rolled his eyes.

"When you talk, I get migraines." Lucas blew a bubble from the gum he was chewing.

Xander reached over and popped it in his face, "Get some pain relievers then."

"Dickhead."

"It's quite obvious. Ursula is a physical fighter. She's big and powerful but it's got to be that for a quick win or else it's a drawn out loss. No in between. Like right now." Xander pointed to Duke and Ursula.

Claude's eyes never left the stage. She was slowing. Duke was starting to land hits— which was only making Ursula angry. Which in turn was causing her to lash out and burn even more energy.

"Claude got so close with Samuel because he's crafty, spontaneous and he could run down a buck if he ate right. Ursula is a block of muscle with breasts." Xander concluded.

It was then that Duke dropped his hammer and hit Ursula with an uppercut so strong her helmet flew off.

"Ohhh!!!! Secret weapon time." Lucas cheered.

Claude spun around. Everyone behind him backed up as if he had the plague on his face. He still hadn't looked in a mirror…

"What are you talking about?"

Lucas' kettle hat fell over his eyes. Warren reached over and fixed it as he spoke. "Duke went on a vacation to Camaco last year to meet his uncles, remember? He's been obsessed with the OldWorld art of boxing ever since. He's actually pretty good."

Claude felt himself cringe internally. If he was more social he would've known Duke had a secret skill— which would've helped Ursula.

"Any chances muscle-girl also boxes?" Someone else questioned.

"No. She lives where my mom works. Apparently all she does is lift weights, shadow-spar and sleep." Emma randomly added.

Everyone looked at her. Her brown leather cuirass and shoulder pauldron ruffled against her beige poncho, "My mother is a house maid."

"Oh yea…." The students mumbled.

"Where does your mother work?" Claude questioned as Mr. Raizen barked orders and combative commands at Ursula.

Emma raised a golden eyebrow at him, "Yea, I'd totally tell you, baldy. You look like you're about to start foaming at the mouth."

Claude turned around at the sound of Ursula spitting out a tooth.

He couldn't help but feel something.

Something in his gut. Something that made his skin itch and his shoulders slump.

"She gave me the money to keep fighting….. and what am I doing?"

Duke slithered into the pocket. So close that Ursula couldn't even use her massive blade.

He unleashed a combo on her midsection before sidestepping a headbut and rocking her jaw with a left handed jab.

Ursula stumbled.

Ms. Callisto spoke to Mr. Raizen— who abruptly waved her off as Ursula gave him a thumbs up.

"Sweet man, she's copying you!" Lucas giggled.

Claude stood on his tiptoes and puffed out his chest.

"LETS GO URSULA! You got this! Drop your weapon and play the game on his terms!"

To his— and everyone else's surprise, Ursula dropped her weapon.

Xander nodded like he agreed with the sentiment.

"Only one problem….."

Claude listened as Xander spoke, but kept his eyes on the fight.

"You told Ursula to drop her weapon for speed sake. But she's just about gassed."

"So is Duke." Claude replied.

"Who's taken more damage?" Xander smiled ruefully.

"I can take his damage." Claude replied.

"Oh I didn't know you experienced a Rebirth wrestling feral dogs last night." Xander jokingly replied.

"Go for his legs, Ursula! Boxing is all about the legs—"

"Shut up, half-pint!" Duke yelled just as Ursula sent a low kick to his knee.

Duke spun from the impact and reassumed his boxing stance.

"Come on, dookie! You had to know that was coming!" Lucas whined.

"I'm tired, man. Leave me alone!" Duke huffed before coming in for a one-two combo. Stomach jiggling the whole way.

Ursula blocked the left hook with her massive forearm and front kicked his knee, causing it to hyperextend backwards.

He yelped like a hit dog.

Ursula hit the same leg again.

Duke went on his back foot.

Ursula pressed on, raising her leg again only for it to be a feint, then she punched him in the mouth.

Duke recovered and swung a wild haymaker aimed for Ursula's head.

Claude instantly remembered Duke breaking the training dummy.

Ursula seemed to forget as she leaned into the attack.

Everyone flinched as metal connected with face.

Ursula remained standing. Unmoved by the fist pushing into her face.

Claude could almost see….

"Is she smiling—"

Ursula returned Duke's uppercut and sent him out of the ring.

He didn't get up that time.

Xander scoffed.

"Well done, Ursula." Mr. Raizen complimented as Ursula threw her hands up like she just won a world title.

Mr. Raizen pointed to the rest of the class, "I hope you all by now fully notice the benefit of teamwork. We can't afford that selfish ego rubbish at this weeks event in the redwoods. We're not hunting dire-rats in SkyHaven sewers. This is a big deal. Everyone understand?"

"Yes, sir!" The class responded.

Claude would've replied with them but Ursula had him held in a bear hug. She smelled like blood and sweat and flowers and clean sheets. Her hair was sticky from the sweat, clinging to her eyebrows and rosy cheeks as she laughed before setting him down.

"That was some damn good advice! After that third leg kick, his punches felt like pillow hits. That's hilarious, how did you know that?"

Claude shifted uncomfortably as the students left the sparring area to train on their own. "The Dominator….. erhm…. She was a prison guard in the Halls of the Basilisk before awakening her Specialized Class System. She used to fist-fight unruly prisoners. It's all in her biography."

"You read those?" Ursula questioned before pressing her left nostril closed to force blood out of the right.

"Every night." Claude replied, "Why?"

Ursula shook her head, "Nevermind." Then she smiled, teeth pinked by blood, "Wanna go lift?"

"Yea…. Sure."