Editing Fides Army (section)

== Present: Coleen ==
"Alright Coleen, are you ready?"

Taking my sword, I moved to the center of our practice arena. I started taking my battle stance, when I remembered I needed to bend my knees. I hadn't gotten used to that yet, so it was slightly awkward. 

I was in my element. 

"Yes, Captain. I am ready." I replied. 

"Then, you may commence." 

Without another word, I charged towards the target dummy and swung my sword toward its lower leg area. Swiftly, I spun around now targeting its upper body. My sword stuck. 

"That was good", I heard the Captain comment dryly. 

Slightly out of breath, I asked her, "Am I going to do the rest of the tests too or not right now?"

I don't quite understand why I was already out of breath. Normally, it took a lot more. I've been attacked so many times in my life.... 

"Ugh...", I groaned quietly as my head started spinning. I briefly forgot where I was. 

Shaking my head, I focused back onto the present. I needed to get rid of the memory before everything returned...

Point is, I've had enough training to fight back for a long amount of time. 

"Well, we aren't done yet," I heard Captain's voice suddenly replying to my question, "Come here."

"Here, ma'am." I saluted, quickly switching my grim face to its usual smile. 

"Raise your sword and get into battle stance." she said. I followed as instructed. "I am going to go into offense, and I would like you to defend yourself as best as you can." 

I was ready. 

Taking a step back, she swung the sword at my right side. I was able to divert it in time. Captain was swift, and a good fighter. She knew what she was doing when she used her momentum from my deflect to spin and return at my left shoulder. Again, I was able to avoid her blow. This time I tried to push back on her. 

She saw it coming, and deflected hard. I took a step back, annoyed. I needed to change strategies. I held my stance with my sword ready. As expected, she came at me immediately. 

She swung at my left again, but in the last minute dropped low and kicked me off of my legs. 

''Stop.'' 

In that fleeting second, where I lay on the ground, I was a little girl again. 

A little, helpless girl.

''Stop. Don't do it.'' 

I couldn't breathe.

It was her. She was standing over me. 

''No.... no. Not again.'' 

I saw the flash of a sword in front of me. The moment was over. 

I rolled back and got on my feet as fast as I could, to avoid Captain's blow. Everything I did now, counted towards my passing or failing of the test. 

I could not slip up like that again. 

This test was important to me. I had nowhere else to go. I was proud to be the first trainee, but that meant nothing if I failed any of these tests. Captain was harsh and she knew who she wanted on her team. I had to be good, great even, because anything less would get me kicked out. 

I focused back into the scene when I saw Captain standing straight up and grinning. 

"You are showing promise, soldier.", she commented. "Are you ready to try another round?"

I nodded, bringing out my usual bright smile, "I was born ready."