— After - Six Months Prior —

“Six months, Aster. Six months. And there has been barely any improvement.” My instructor Bora berated me for my less than dazzling performance. It had been six months since we started battle training, three months since I was the last one practicing the forms. We had long since moved from the large open gymnasium to a small classroom, with all the desks and chairs removed, except for the teacher's desk. There wasn't much difference when working on the smooth tiles, versus the wooden gym floor, except how cold it was. They liked to blast the air conditioning for the rooms with more people in them, causing this room to be even colder.

I am stuck here because...Apparently, I can’t get the angles right, but she makes me move at a snail's pace. Thanks to that little problem all my punches and kicks tended to be...wild, never hitting straight in front of me. It was to the point they wouldn’t let me spar with anyone for fear of hurting them. Everything was just formed; a day in, and day out. Months of punching and kicking nothing but air, and finding myself tripping or tangling over myself.

I was just so frustrated at the whole thing, after six months I was starting to wonder if I could even do it. Supposedly, I’ve improved...but who knows. The mind-numbing news of it all just blurred together. “You lack focus Aster. We know you can do this." She paused for a second, almost hesitatingly adding. "We are going to test you again at the end of the week.” Bora was probably the instructor assigned to me and was very adamant about her style. Learning to move slow, it how you truly build muscle memory. She was stubborn, not willing to listen to me, and let me move faster.

Bora was a very supportive instructor, if stubborn, and not one to be trifled with, despite her 5’4 height, short black hair, and petite build. She had some strength hidden in that build, that could punch me across the room. It happened once when I accidentally snuck up on her. Apparently, my normal walk is too quiet, and she punches when she is scared.

I had been through this every week since the third week. At first, it wasn’t so bad, only a couple people passed the first time. It was expected. The next week was much more rigorous in the training, more than half the class passed. Then another week, and another, and another...until I was left all by myself. I would fail to do the forms being messy or being too slow, or being out of control. Everything felt like a lost cause. “Aster do you understand?” Hearing my name pulled me out of my self-deprecation.

I had completely missed what she said, “Yes?”

Bora rolled her eyes. “This is what we mean, no focus. I’ll repeat it. This is the last test. If you don’t pass, we may need to put off your graduation till next year. Even if you pass, you’re so far behind we will have to keep you separated to move you forward.”

I hyper-focused on what was being said. “I see you finally see the seriousness of it now...Just be ready.” I sat there stunned, as Bora led me out of the office.

I drifted through the halls of the school, my eyes not focusing on anything, thinking back on my one day of competence. I only ever had one good day during her training and she wasn’t even there that day.

“Hello, I am Noir Thorn I will be covering for Bora while she is out.” Thorn Held out his hand to shake.

This was odd. This was the first time anyone other than Bora had ever tried to train me. “It’s nice to meet you. Is this going to be the same training as with Bora”

“Possibly. First I’m going to need a baseline for where you are at.” Thorn got into a fighting stance.

“Uhhh...So we are going to spar?” I had only ever done form, and not even had the chance too far.

“How else would I get a baseline?” He asked me confused.

“Showing the forms?” Well, I’m not gonna correct him. This is better than just doing forms all day.

Thorn appeared annoyed all the while waiting for me in a fighting stance. “Those show me nothing of your fighting ability. Those are good for dance though. Get ready.”

Letting out a long sigh I moved into a ready stance. Thorn lunged at me with a straight punch to the face. Without thought, I sidestepped and using my momentum moved to twist into a kick. Thorn ducked under lunging at my side while I was moving. Instinctively I moved just barely out of the way. I felt his hand grazing my side. I thought I saw an opening, moving to sweep the legs under him. He did a jump over into a kick coming down at my head. I rolled around trying to move into position. I had no time to think. Only to react, everything was pure instinct. The only thought I really had was, “Move Faster”.

This little spare lasted what felt for an eternity, neither of us really hitting one another but just barely missing. Thorn's expression never changed; he just kept coming striking, faster and faster. Until I wasn’t even seeing his strikes. I was just following pure instincts to move.

Inevitably he moved too fast and struck me in the gut, launching me across the room. Rolling away.

Thorn Expression finally changed. “Don’t know why you're still here. I mean your strikes weren’t too bad, but your dodging was amazing. I was using some of my real speed there. You might make a decent rogue or shadow.”

I knew it, If I was just allowed to move faster, then I realized what he said, “Rogue, I was thinking warrior. I mean this is my first fight.” Thorn just kinda stared at me flatly, tilting his head to the side.

“Doesn’t matter. This one spar has shown me you got some great movement. Warrior uses that too but you’ll have to keep working on your strikes. That is going to be it for the day.” Thorn started to make his way out.

Looking up to the clock. “But it's only been 10 minutes.” A very long spar but a short class.

“Yes. And from what I can see you should pass fine, so you can leave early.” I was in a daze for the rest of the day, confused by what Thorn had said, and the fact that I was competent after being told otherwise for so long. It all felt like a dream.

I had really begun to question whether or not it the day happened when I told Bora. Of course, she didn’t believe me and told me to prove it. He started much slower than Thorn, moving again at a snail's pace. I moved fine out of the way of the first punch but tripped over my own feet countering. This happened over and over. “It’s not good to exaggerate whatever small success you had yesterday. You're still not very good.” Any and all confidence I had from yesterday was gone after that.

I even began to doubt what I had ever experienced.

My mind jumped back to the present when I almost stumbled into James at the exit, where he was waiting for me. “So another couple weeks huh?”

His words popped me out of my stupor. I attempted to smile, but I wasn't sure it made it to my face. “Nah, I actually only have a week left. Then I’m done.” That wasn’t really a lie, but I didn’t want him to know I might not join at graduation.

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“Then why do you look like someone stole your lunch.” James inquired.

Why did you pick today to be observant? “Ah. That's because…” the consequences of failing. “Even when I’m done I’m so far behind I’m still stuck on my own.”

Silence filled the hall broken by James. “That sucks.”

I agreed, attempting to change the subject. “Hey, do you mind helping me with my forms? Maybe having someone do them next to me will help.”

James's face scrunched up. “Would if I could. Got my own test coming up I got to prepare for, and honestly, I don’t remember the forms enough to help.”

Deflated. “Ok. Well, I got this anyway.”

My mind passed through the rest of the memory on fast forward, remembering only the small details, and the feelings of isolation and disappointment. For the rest of that week, I had trained harder than ever before. It was so hard to focus on anything, my mind kept trying to pull me to other things, but I couldn’t be the only one to not graduate.

Sadly, No one I asked to help with my forms was able to help. They all were busy with their own training. That is...except for Bay, who was able to come by and help. She wasn’t able to stay sad, but she made a point to at least critique me once a day and try to give pointers. The rest of the time I was on my own, or training with Bora. Her expressions during training did not bode well for my results. The night before I practiced all night until the sun came up. I was dazed, confused, and not one-hundred percent sure where I was going that day.

My mind slowed from fast forward back to play.

I entered the school barely awake. My body was hot and sore from lack of sleep. I’m sure I had bags under my eyes, as I trudged over to my friends hanging out in the school hall.

Bay was the first to notice me. She looked me up and down. “You look like shit.”

James hearing her comment looked over. “What's different about that?”

Bay, annoyed, pushed James. “Wow, you're an ass.”

James smiled, snickering. “You can’t just define me by one characteristic, no matter how good it is.”

“...” Bay just stayed silent.

James stood in a dumb sexy pose. “See, the truth is in your silence.”

Violet rolled her eyes at the two. “No, you're just an idiot.” Violet moved her attention over to me. “She is right, you do look like shit. What gives?”

It took some time for my brain to catch up with what they all were saying. Then I began to tick off things on my fingers. “First, I feel like shit. Second...Really James? Really? Third...I have my last test today.”

Rowan's ears seemed to prick up at this. “Wait. What do you mean by ‘last’ test?”

James answered for me. “It’s the last one he has to take, then he will start the next step.”

I was looking down trying not to look at the group. “Yes, tth...that's it exactly.”

“Bullshit!” Violet caused me to flinch. “See how he jumped? There is something he’s not telling us.”

I didn’t look up but heard James ask. “OK...I’ll bite since you're being quiet. Aster?” I focused all my will on my nonexistent psychic connection with James. Please. Please, don’t ask. He continued on anyway. “Aster, what aren’t you telling us?”

I stood there, looking anywhere but at the group. “...”

“Aster?” James drew out my name into a question.

This was just enough for me to spill the beans. “I can’t fail this test.”

“What do you mean, can’t fail? This hasn’t stopped you before.” Violets offhand comment stung. I tried to ignore it and answer.

“If I fail this time, I can’t...I can’t graduate.”

Everyone was silent until Bay punched me in the arm. “Blight and Decay! Why did you not tell us?” Everyone else nodded at Bay's statement.

“You guys were busy, and had your own stuff to deal with.” Taking a step to the left I dodged Bay’s second swing.

“WE STILL WOULD HAVE HELPED.” She was staring angrily at me.

“S.Sorry.” I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. I looked over to see Roland. “Not cool, we are all going to be a team. We need to know stuff like this. Teams work together.”

“Yeah, just cause you’re stuck on your own down there doesn’t mean we won’t help,” James added.

Now I felt even worse, I could have had help the whole time if I only let them know what was going on. Why didn’t I tell them? Just so I wasn’t embarrassed? I can be dumb sometimes.

“Thanks, Guys, but it's a little too late the test is in…” The bell began to ring “Now.”

I heard shouts of “Good Luck” as I practically ran to the testing room.

Inside the testing room, which was just the classroom I had been moved to, three people sat. The teacher's desk was pushed to the side. A folding table had been placed at the front, and a blue circle had been taped to the floor in the middle of the room. Bora, Noame, and someone I didn’t recognize, sat behind the table. This is odd, as the third man really stood out. He was short, had a potbelly and grey hair. I had never seen someone like him before. I found I was staring when he spoke. “This him?”

Noame answered in an even tone. “Yes, this is Aster.”

“Well, let's get on with this.” Bora had started to get up but was stopped by the strange man. “We will begin immediately. Aster, place your stuff down over there.” He gestured to a corner of the room. “I’m sure I don’t have to explain what is at risk. When you are ready, all you need to do is go through the forms in any order. You will continue to go through them until we say you're done. If we announce a form you will finish your current action and move into the one we announce. When you are ready, step into the circle and begin.”

I looked over to Noame and Bora. Bora looked nervous, but Noame just gave me a smile and nod. Not knowing what else to do, I put my bag down and made my way to the circle. I was so tired, that when I moved into the first form, my mind went elsewhere. My body must have moved on autopilot because I don’t remember anything from the test. I just know I came back out of it when I heard. “That's enough Aster.” From Noame.

It took me a few seconds to remember where I was. When I finally did, I looked over to the three for my verdict. They were talking in hushed tones seemingly arguing with the potbelly man. I couldn’t tell if this is going good for me or not.

It was a tense few moments before the three came to a consensus, turning back toward me. Noame and Bora were smiling. The balding man was neither smiling nor sneering. I could not read his expression at all. Then he spoke. “Aster Datura, we have evaluated your forms and understanding. Your balance is non-existent, and many of your angles are...off...not quite there. If we were evaluating training for the past 6 months you would not have passed. This was an abysmal performance for someone training so long. However...we are only evaluating as if it was the first test, because of this you have passed...Barely.”

I know more was said, but my mind was completely somewhere else just hearing I had passed. I was just filled with relief. Basking in that feeling until Noame got up and handed me a sheet of paper with a new schedule for sparring practice. With a note at the bottom stating I barely passed, and could only further train with an instructor, due to lack of control.

The memories moved fast forward once more. I knew where this was going and was trying to brace myself for the pain.

The next couple of months were not much better for me. Even when they finally did let me spar, it was only with the teacher. The woman moved at a snail's pace thinking it would help me...it did not. She would have me dodge punches and throw kicks so slow I barely kept my balance.

Honestly, I wouldn’t even call this a spar. It was a dumb, slow choreographed dance...that I hated. To make matters worse, everyone else was in more advanced classes, learning the basics of weapon combat.

All my friends had expressed their displeasure at how I kept my, almost not graduating, to myself. They didn’t let me off until I agreed to let them know if I ever needed help. Sadly, due to everyone's hectic schedule, I didn’t get to see them much during the rest of the year. I was essentially on my own the whole time. This was not a good year for me.

It wasn’t till the last week that I actually got to fight someone other than the teacher. The teacher didn’t think I was ready, but it was required, so her hands were tied. The flight itself wasn’t bad, it was the aftermath that was the issue.

Everything happened so fast. I didn’t even learn the guy's name. I entered the training room with another teen about my height, medium build, standing there with a cocky smile, and a teacher. Neither of them looked familiar to me. I was about to introduce myself when I was cut off by the other guy. “This is who I have to spar?” The other teacher I didn't know nodded. “Good. Get ready.” The guy flew toward me, not giving me time to think. Panic hit me, as I ducked his first strike. Instinctively spinning myself, I brought my foot right into his temple knocking him out. This was my only fight with another student. The only fight I won. My only fight where I got in trouble for hitting too hard.

They were convinced I meant to harm him since I didn’t pull the kick when I saw it was going to contact his head. They didn’t even take into account I had zero experience in fighting.

The year ended with me in disgrace, but still somehow making it through. Finally done. I passed and nothing left but graduation...and a party. My mind flickered forward to the final night before everything changed.