“You are so dead.”

“Who's this?” Cassie asked and the four of us turned to stare at her, “I’m sorry I don’t know every single minor noble in the empire.” she said exacerbated.

“All you got to know is that she’s never been beat in a tournament match,” I said and Sam groaned.

“Just my luck,” he said and stood up, Illia clung to him for a moment longer before letting go.

“This is going to be great,” I said and rubbed my hands together in anticipation. I wondered what she was going to look like. I had heard all about her exploits in the west and at the Colossus tournament but had never had the pleasure of meeting her. Sam thundered down the stairs, scowling as he shoved his helmet on. His glowing blue eyes burned with an intensity I had never seen before.

“And how do you know this girl?” Cassie asked, folding her arms.

“Who doesn’t?” Noah scoffed, “ she’s the greatest warrior of our generation, a girl from the common folk.”

“Hmmph!” she huffed, “well if I’ve never heard about her, then she can’t be all that good.”

A girl with flowing red hair and brilliant emerald green eyes walked down on the other side. She wore a bronze-colored western-style cuirass, greeves, and bracers. An A-line mini skirt studded with metal and a red ankle-length sash that wrapped around it. She held an ornate helmet under her arm, with a short sword at her side and a spear and round shield on her back.

“Damn she’s hot,” Noah muttered and I nodded in agreement. She wasn’t as much, cute or pretty as she was beautiful. She was like a statue, the living embodiment of the perfect woman.

Cassie cuffed me over the head, “quiet staring at her!”

___________________________________________________________________

“Oh my god, that’s gotta be the sexiest girl I have ever met,” Sam said to himself as he entered the arena.

“Hello there,” she said cheerfully, she had a slightly breathy accent.

“Hey there beautiful, you wanna exchange numbers after this is done?” Sam said with all the charm he could muster.

Sarah tilted her head at him, “that would depend.”

“Depend on what?”

“How long you last.” she flicked her hair laughing and strapped her shield to her arm. On the bench, Illia gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on its stone surface so hard it cracked. “She dares draw the attention of my Caesar?!”

“Alright, then you're on!” Sam said and his sword appeared in his hands. The blade glistened slightly with moisture and he pointed it at her. “I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Sarah gave him a sweet smile and wrapped her hands around her spear. “I’m sure you will make a commendable effort.”

“Fighters ready?” they nodded, “Three, two, one, Begin!”

Right off the bat, the inside of Sam’s helmet started to glow and the blue light grew in intensity. Sarah cocked her head again, then raised her shield slightly. Twin lines of blue shot out of his helmet. Just before they hit her Sarah raised her shield tilting it slightly and redirected the lasers. They hit the wall, melting its metal surface. She slowly got closer to him with her shield out in front of her and soon enough the fire died down.

Sam shook his head feeling slightly dizzy as he extended his shield. Picking up her speed, Sarah sprinted at him. His sword flicked out like a snake’s tongue and she dove under the blade, sliding on her knees. In the same motion, her sword shot upwards like a pit viper striking his less armored armpit. Sam grunted in pain quickly throwing a left hook with his shield that was perfectly blocked by her own shield. While the momentum of her dive still carried her, she landed three more hits in quick succession. One to the throat and two to the back off the knees.

He stumbled forwards as she leaped onto her feet behind him. Sam growled and ran at her, his sword gleaming in the light. He hammered down at her but Sarah’s shield met it with each blow. He tried to bash her with his shield but as it came towards her she raised a foot and kicked it, sending Sam flying for several feet before he landed.

“Oh, I’m going to kill you, you little bitch!” Sam roared and pounded his weapons together. Sarah tilted her head.

“That is no way to talk to a lady, shame on you. Didn’t your mother teach you better than that,” she said with hands on her hips.

Sam grunted and stomped towards her. Sarah laughed and raced towards him, he raised his shield covering his body. She leaped onto the shield, reached down, and twisted Sam’s helmet, unlatching it. Sam shoved his shield into the air, sending Sarah several feet into the air, his helmet between her feet.

She did a front flip and landed gracefully on the ground as Sam spun around in bewilderment. Ryze and Noah gawked from the sidelines, Sam’s helm was well over forty pounds and she had lifted it off his head using her feet.

“God, I want her to crush my head with those thighs,” Ryze muttered and Cassie’s eyes twitched and her hand went to the rapier at her hip.

Sam looked at the helmet by her feet, then put a hand up to his face and touched it. He shook his head, “I guess that’s why they call you the Invincible Girl.”

Sarah smiled at him and his eyes started glowing brighter. Lasers shot out of them and splashed against her shield. The metal started glowing but she stood still and braced herself against the shield. Sam gritted his teeth as the fire flickered once.

“Just a few seconds longer.” he thought and pushed himself even harder. But the lasers flickered again and died. Sam dropped his sword and fell to his knees. He put a hand on his eyes and shook his head, then caught the shield coming at his face like a frisbee. He tossed it to the ground and summoned his sword. Sarah ran at him, then threw her spear like a javelin. Sam raised his shield, obscuring his vision, and felt a thud as the spear embedded itself into his shield.

While Sam was blinded, Sarah dove between his legs and leaped up behind him. He tried to spin around but was too late to stop the short sword coming at him. It went straight through his throat, and out the other side. Sam went rigid and she pulled the sword out of him. He fell to the ground, still as a statue.

Ms. Mallory waved her wand and Sam gasped, putting both hands up to his throat. He blinked and looked down, no blood coated his hands. He felt at his neck and found no wound. He stood up on shaky legs and Sarah offered him a hand. He took it and she steadied him as they walked out of the ring and into the locker rooms.

“Man, you destroyed me.” Sam wheezed, shaking his head, she smiled at him.

“You did well, in fact, you almost managed to land a hit on me and if you had kept up with those eyes a little longer I would have been done for.” She said politely, though that wasn’t true. Sam hadn’t even gotten close to hitting her and even if the lasers had burned through her shield she still would have had her breastplate.

“I don’t think I should be proud of almost hitting you,” he said and sat down in the locker rooms. “Man, my first match of the year, and I got my ass handed to me. My team’s going to give me shit all week.”

Alex and Arya turned the corner and noticed them, Alex squeaked with excitement. “OH MY GOD, IT’S HER!”

“Huh?” Arya then noticed Sam and Sarah, “who’s that?”

“How do you not know who that is!” Alex exclaimed, “oh my God can I get a photo?”

“Oh, hello there.” Sarah said with a slightly pained but still polite smile, “of course you can.”

Alex almost jumped with excitement as he pulled out his pad. She leaned over and Alex took a photo of the two of them. Arya smoldered as she stared at the scene. Sam coughed and Alex looked down at him, he subtly nodded towards Arya. Alex shot back over to her and gave her a kiss. “Sorry about that, so what do you say about an early dinner, I’m starving.”

Stolen story; please report.

“Damn, I put all this on for nothing?” I grumbled and started unlatching straps.

“Quit whining.” Cassie snapped and sucked her breath in so she could get her chest plate off. “At least you don’t have to wear a metal corset.”

“Hey, you made that choice, not me.” I said, “why don’t you just wear a normal suit of armor like your brother?”

She huffed, “Those are not made to accustom a woman’s body.”

“What do you me-” I started then shut my mouth, smooth Ryze, smooth. I started to change into my school uniform, then gave my shoulder a sniff.

“Ehh, I think I’ll take a shower,” I muttered and grabbed a towel from my locker.

“Noah, you know where the showers are?” I asked and he pointed to one of the walls. I thanked him and walked over and found a door labeled, “Men’s Showers.”

I opened the door and sighed, it was an open communal shower. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Don’t drop the soap.” I jumped and whirled around to find Alex, he laughed and started undressing.

Why would you say that!” I yelled and pulled my shirt off, he glanced at the scar on my chest and nodded at it.

“How’d you get that?”

I turned around, that was not something I wanted to talk about, and grunted, “Cave Bear.”

Sam walked into the showers with a triumphant smile on his face. He hummed happily to himself.

“What’s got you so excited?” Alex asked and Sam looked over at him for a moment before quickly shifting his attention.

“Oh, I got her pad number!”

“Who?” I asked.

“Sarah!”

I winced slightly and thought, “Illia’s not going to be happy about that.”

“Good for you, maybe you could get some fighting lessons from her after you got creamed.”

“Like you could have done any better!”

“Why are you two arguing in the fucking shower?!”

After I showered, I got changed and stood outside waiting for them, Noah had already gone back with Cassie and her team. A few minutes later Alex walked out, still completely naked.

“Put some fucking clothes on Alex!” I snapped and he looked down.

“What? Don’t like what you see?”

“NO!” I shouted and he grinned at me. “What is wrong with you, do you have no concept of modesty?”

“Hey living with five brothers leaves you with very little sense of personal space.”

Sam walked out of the shower and shook his head, “Bro, put some clothes on.” Then he turned to me with a frown, “Don’t you have detention with Ms. Mallory?”

My eyes widened in shock, I had completely forgotten about that. “Oh no.”

“Oh no indeed, you might want to get going. You still have a few minutes left.”

I grabbed my bag, “See you guys later!” I shouted and shot out of the room. I sprinted out of the lockers and scanned the arena. Luckily for me Ms. Mallory was sitting on one of the benches with her pad out. I sighed with relief and walked down to her.

“Ms. Mallory?” I asked hesitantly and she peered up at me through her glasses.

“Yes?”

“You told me to be here,” I said lamely, “you know for detention.”

“That I did,” she said and sat up, “I also distinctly remember telling Mr. Tourel the same thing.”

“I’m right here ma’am,” Will said and stood on the opposite side of me. We glared at each other for a few moments before returning our attention back to Ms. Mallory.

“So, as consequence for unsanctioned dueling on school grounds, I will have the two of you assist me in teaching combat class to the third years.

“What?” I asked with surprise, Will echoed my statement and Ms. Mallory cuffed me over the head.

“Do not interrupt me while I talk.” she said and put a hand on her wand, “as I was saying, third-year students, take a course on fighting multiple skilled opponents at once. Today, you two will be those opponents however lacking your skills might be.”

“Professor, this information would have been nice to have before I took my armor off,” Will said with barely contained annoyance.

Mallory shook her head, “I do not believe I said anything about armor.”

“Are you telling us that you want us to fight third-year students, without armor?”

“That is correct,” she said with a thin-lipped smile, “it is clear to me that the two of you hold some form of a grudge. This way, both of you may suffer together and perhaps form a better relationship out of it.”

“Doubt it.” I snorted as the first few third years started entering the arena.

“Now go prepare yourselves and think about your decisions,” she said and walked down to greet her students. The moment she left earshot, Will and I whirled around on each other.

“This is your fault!” we hissed at each other, neither of us spoke for a moment. Then we both opened our mouths at the same time, “fuck you too asshole.”

I turned around on my heel and stalked into the locker rooms. Will mirrored my exact movements and stomped away from me. I muttered curses to myself as I pulled my sword out of my locker. I kicked it shut and walked out.

“I bet the rest of them are having fun,” I thought glumly as I sat down on the bench. “Too bad I couldn’t ‘cause some dumbass decided to get in a fight with me.”

Will looked around for other open seats before realizing he was going to have to sit next to me. He sighed and sat down heavily as far away from me as he could. We turned to look at each other, then noticing each other’s gaze, sneered and turned in the other direction.

“Hey William,” I said.

“What!”

“You know if I could go back in time. I’d do it again right?”

“Do what again? Embarrass me in front of the entirety of the south or cheat on my sister?”

“First of all, I didn’t cheat on Siena. In fact, there was nothing going on between us and second, you embarrassed yourself, I didn’t do shit.”

“Bah! Why do I even talk to you, every word that comes out of your mouth is a lie. Tell me, does your team know that the two of you were betrothed? That you were supposed to be the one to build the bond between our houses?”

“What are you on about?” I sputtered, “Arranged marriage? Building bonds? God, you sound like some shitty fantasy novel where they kill off protagonist like every other chapter.”

“What?”

“Forget about it, and you know your sister didn’t hold feelings for me so you can drop it, and furthermore, aren’t you dating Olivia Luna? Which is quite a catch, just saying.”

“That is none of your business.”

As the last students sat down, Ms. Mallory beckoned us forwards. “These two young men, who you may recognize as Varus and Tourel have volunteered to help me for today. They will be your sparring partners.”

“What do you mean volunte-” I started before she hit me.

“First up is Erica Rose.” I turned to Will and raised a brow, he shook his head.

“Never heard of her before,” he said and twirled his spear, seven feet of decorated green material tipped with a solid foot and a half of gleaming silver metal. When he spun the weapon, the blade changed into a twisted tri-edged point.

“Have I ever told you how much I hated getting stabbed with that?” I asked and he gave me a sick grin.

“Yes you have, many times in fact. I believe the latest was at the Spring Festival tourney last year where I swept the floor with you if I remember correctly.”

“Swept the floor with me? You barely beat me and I had just been stabbed in the chest!” I protested as the girl I assumed to be Erica entered the arena. She had ice blue eyes, raven black hair, perfect bone structure, and almost flawless skin. The only exception was a small scar that ran across her left eye. She wore a studded black leather jacket and black combat boots. Over one shoulder was slung a shield and a longsword strapped to her hip.

“What’s with the all-black?” I asked and unsheathed my sword. “Is the sword also all black, because that would be emo as hell.”

She glared at me before pulling out a hot pink sword.

“THAT’S EVEN BETTER!!” I wheezed and slapped my knee.

“Have I ever told you how much I hate Varus’?” she asked and her sword ignited on fire.

Will sighed, “you don’t have to tell me. I hate him just as much as you.”

“Oh come on, don’t be like that. I know you love me.” I grinned and made a heart with my hands. He gagged and pointed his spear at me.

“Do that again and I will castrate you.”

“Are you two together or something?” Erica asked annoyed, “Can we just fight already?”

“I’d rather not, seeing as I have no protection,” Will said with a sigh and took a defensive posture. “But it appears that this choice is not up to me.”

“Three, two, one, Fight!”

Erica’s sword started to change color, slowly shifting from hot pink to a bright red. I felt heat radiate off its blade as she swished her sword around in front of her.

“A heat trait?” I groaned and she gave me a sadistic grin, “I guess you could say, things are about to get hot in here.” I said with a wink and the corner of her eye twitched.

“I’m going to burn your cock off.”