I veered at the dummy. It appeared more of an effigy, crude in the shape of a person.

I steered my thoughts, there was no time for doubts. The training hall was full of operatives, yet Donovan focused on me. He had some expectations for me. My lackluster strike changed his perception of me.

“You need to strike with more fever this time,” my mentor called out.

What do you think I'm doing?

My eyes narrowed at the metal dummy. I was tackling my next strike at a different angle, and I meant that literally.

My legs spaced apart as I took a deep breath — and exhaled. I grabbed the palm of my sword. The handle’s size made the sword awkward to grip.

I slashed the sword sideways, the weight brought the blade down.

The dummy had the same effect from before. I leveraged the blade instead of almost falling flat. I wavered all the same. Another lusterless strike by me.

“I've seen enough,” Donovan said. “Mekiko come here,” his tone was neither of disappointment, nor approval.

Donovan scrawled on his notebook. His writing was the most manic he ever was. Each line lingered in no way. Each stroke had a purpose. A work of inspiration, yet confusing. He was writing about my actions, they elicited less.

“Here, use this for the time being. You find this more serviceable.” He held out a short sword.

He flicked the small blade in his hand. The handle faced me while he held onto the metal part. He wasn't belittling my skill, yet the gesture felt the same. What he said was unspoken; I couldn’t handle a weapon of normal size.

I took the short sword. I studied Donovan’s reaction and my own. His face was unreadable while my tail and ears drooped.

The silver-haired man was about to speak, yet was interrupted.

“So, you are reigning in the new 3rd class, huh?” A woman’s voice coughed my attention.

She wore the same armor as my mentor. Nothing resembled the bulky armor like that of Thousand Cuts. Unmistakably 1st class, the same as Donovan. Her green hair made me believe that odd hair and eye colors are a feature for Imperial. How the only effect was that my eyes glowed was a mystery to me.

“He’s unranked, but I don't have to say; because you know that,” Donovan retorted.

“You should have a little faith in your operatives,” The woman said. “He’s going to great heights. Nice to meet you.” she extended her hand. “I'm Dolores, but everyone calls me Lorry,”

“You probably know who I am,” I shook her hand.

“An apt mind this one. You’re the catboy that everyone is talking about.”

“So I heard,” I replied bitterly.

“The amount of effort to squash the curiosity of others. It's not everyday that we get, uh…” She trailed off.

“Beastkin? I'm aware,” I looked around to see normal humans, Imperial and guards alike.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Having to get the other operatives off your tail is a handful, but that’s worth it to see you here. You are much cuter in person than anticipated… Hey, Mekiko, you’re doing alright?”

“I'm not cute,” I crossed my arms.

“Mekiko and I should resume our practice,” Donovan chimed in. “Time is limited, maybe discuss this with tea some other time?”

“Don't be hasty now. I do have time on my hands after handling that 2nd class after her little stunt. Speaking of her, did she hurt you; be honest.”

“You’re talking about Thousand Cuts?” I asked. “No one else fits the description like her. No, she didn't hurt me in any way.”

“Thousand Cuts, is it now?” She sounded surprised. “Must be a new development. Haven't expected her to change her alias so soon.”

“Out of all the names, my personal favorite is Dark Sword Master,” Donovan responded.

“Hahaha! don't remind me,” she laughed. “I am here to get my mind off that woman, not indulge in her fantasies.

Is that what people think of Thousand Cuts? To think of her as ridiculous is unsurprising, but Lorry dismissing her seems cruel.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“What are you proposing?* He asked.

“Onto the real question? You know the latest IMPERIAL recruit?”

“Lyle was it?”

“What if he and the catboy were to have a little bout?”

“You are suggesting a sparring match?”

“In a way, yes. Some back and forth, here and there. See where they are at in terms of skill. What do you say?”

Donovan planted his eyes at Lorry, “No. I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m not having any of it.”

“I will owe you a favor if you do this one thing for me. One spar. That's all I ask. Besides, don't you want to see him in action?”

“No, like I said before.”

“Don’t I have a say in this?” I interject.

“Mekiko?” Donovan turned his head.

“I said that I should have a choice,” my heart beats rapidly.

“You don’t have a choice in this,” he looks back at me.

“I am capable of making my decision, Donovan. Don’t I have a right to speak my mind? You guys can’t talk to me like I'm in the background,” I tighten my hands. “I am a person, what right do you have to decide for me?”

“Mekiko, you are out-skilled, out-powered, and out-geared. Your choice was over before it began.”

“No, this is my choice that I must make.”

Donovan paused before losing the luster in his eyes.

“This was never your decision. To let yourself be at the mercy of fate. Mekiko, you are making a mistake. I can only hope that you recognize your folly when it’s not too late.”

That's what he had to say.

Although I stood by what I said, it felt like I only dug my own grave.

— — —

–Donovan’s POV~

Donovan sat next to the bleachers. Mind clear as his silver eyes, blood cold as ice. He lost his temper yesterday, now he was steady; he had to be.

Today was the sparring match.

Dolores drank a Fresh Cola, “So, how do you feel about Mekiko’s chances?”

“He’s going to lose,” there was no doubt in his mind. He didn't factor in their abilities that deeply for such a conclusion.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Don’t you want to see the catboy win.”

“We both know the reason why you are here,” he raised his voice to make a point. “You wanted to see the nyancan’s potential for yourself. So you poke and prodded him then resorted to manipulation to get your way.”

“Manipulation? He came out of his own volition,” she took a sip out of her can.

He thought if he should tell her his opinion, but decided against it.

What Mekiko did was shortsighted, but such was the nature of beastkin.

Mekiko being irrational? So as all beastkin. The intense emotional and mental problems was what Mekiko shared with his race.

Mekiko was going to lose, there was no doubt within Donovan’s mind.

The opponent sparring with the nyancan was Lyle. While Lyle may be inexperienced and reckless for Donovan's liking, he still had respectable skill. Mekiko, on the other hand, began swinging a sword yesterday.

There’s no doubt.

Mekiko would never learn unless he saw his mistake. The best Donovan hoped was in minimizing the damage.

And after the match, Donovan planned on pulling him out early and lecturing Mekiko about duty and fate.

Nobody got hurt from sparring, not in the physical sense at least, yet the mentor sensed like he’s missing one key detail.

“Donovan,” Dolores snapped her finger, “you are spacing out again.”

“My apologies, we should start soon,” he woke up from his daze.

My worries are probably baseless, he thought. I have to protect Mekiko and keep my mind clear as water.

— — —

–Mekiko’s POV~

Donovan and Lorry sat on the bleachers to watch the spar.

Yes, I was already second guessing myself, yet some slights were never worth ignoring.

So, I stood firm.

Over there was the opponent that I was supposed to be sparring. Lyle, an Imperial third class. He looked young, the same age as myself, yet I wasn’t sure how old I was.

I knew the sensations in the body however. More of a half-sense, a shiver. Lyle was radiating such a sense. He didn't act outright hostile. He sat there, eyes to the clouds, mumbling in his breath. He would rather be anywhere else.

My mind froze, yet I steered my body.

“Hi, uh, I'm Mekiko,” I took out my hand to greet him.

He was a head taller than me with hair that is a passionate red. He stood up to meet me eye to eye.

“I know who you are,” he denied the handshake.

“So does all Imperial apparently,” I said.

“I'm not here to make conversation. The faster I'm done the quicker I can get this over with.”

“Huh? What did I do to you? I haven met you,”

“I don’t care about you. I only want to get this over with. Why don't you hide behind that 1st class? You seem to have that going for you,” the distain is clearly evident.

“We are starting soon,” Donovan said. “Are you two ready?”

I nodded, Lyle grunted.

“Mekiko, a moment of your time,” my mentor led me away from the area. “I can tell when you’re nervous. You can draw out now and we can put this mess behind us,” he said in a gentle voice.

I considered telling him about my discomfort, I wanted to tell the truth.

No, that would be proving everyone right. Besides, going now would ruin the point of why I'm here.

“I'd rather stay,” I shook my head.

“… I understand, keep your head up high, remember that,” he remained soft.

Out of all the responses that I imagine Donovan, this is the least expected. Knowing how I’m behaving burns a hole through my stomach.