When the time came to go to train with the city guards, Yvonne and Arvia came to get me and be my guides through the streets of the city. Since I now knew how to introduce myself properly, I tried to do so with Yvonne. She went along with it, although her expression somehow reminded me of a terrified cat.

Unlike Yvonne, it seemed that the cityfolk had already started to change their mind on me. Where only a few days before my sight invoked fear in those I passed, now people looked at me with simple curiosity, sometimes whispering something at each other as they looked at me.

"It seems like you're already famous," Arvia said.

I nodded. "Looks like it. Now I just have to make them love me too."

Arvia laughed. "Love, huh?"

"Yes. Things tend to be a little bit easier when you have a whole city cheering for you."

"Can't say you're wrong there," she conceded.

Our little talk ended there as, for the rest of our walk, she made me repeat the lesson of the morning, making me go over everything I had learned. This got a few chuckles by a few passersby, but I decided to ignore, taking their reaction to mean that at least what I was saying was understandable to them.

We finally reached the barracks of the city guard after over twenty minutes of walking. Arvia told me how there were other, smaller stations in various strategic points of the city, but they didn't have any training grounds, serving as little more than a resting point for the guards close to where they were supposed to have their shift.

When we entered the yard that served as training ground on the side of the large building, a man in chainmail with a helmet that left his face open came to meet us. He said something, that I couldn't understand, and Arvia translated for me, going over the sentence a few times to make me learn the language too.

The man was a captain of the guard assigned to supervise the training of the recruits and guards that had signed up for the special training session, and his name was Caleb.

I introduced myself with my simple, "I am Anya," and shook his hand.

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Going once again through Arvia, he asked me when we could begin, and if I had a weapon of choice.

When i told Arvia my answer, which was that I could start whenever and I preferred large axes, instead of translating for the captain, she told me the translation and made me say it word for word, which I often butchered, slowing down our conversation even more.

The captain was evidently annoyed by this, but didn't press us to hurry, waiting for me to get the sentence right instead. He finally nodded when I managed to do it and, through Arvia, told me to wait at the benches that sat on a side of the yard so that they could fetch a weapon for me and get the recruits ready.

He soon returned carrying what for him was a large battle axe, or rather, a replica made of wood with the head covered in a layer of leather and padded with hay. Because of the modification it was a bit light for my tastes, but it was probably the best thing I would get, and it was still just a training exercise.

With some difficulty, I then asked him how far I could go and if they had a way to heal the injured.

He told me that if someone ended up with a broken bone or two it was no issue, but to please refrain from injuring the recruits in a more severe way.

I accepted and followed him to the center of the yard. Once there, he shouted something at his men, who had gathered in four ordered lines of five. Arvia helpfully shouted at me that he had told the first line they were to go first.

The first five men came towards me, while the other fifteen went to rest at the borders of the yard while observing how their companions fared. The captain then said something at me, which Arvia once again translated, saying that he had told me I could start whenever I wanted.

I let them leave the field, then moved. I dashed into their disorganized formation, and swung my axe, sending the first two flying across the yard. Before their companions could even react, I rotated on one foot, kicking a guard with the other, sending him flying too.

I then planted my elbow on the one who had tried to stab into my side with his makeshift wooden sword before he could do so, stunning him for a moment. I then grabbed him and threw him on his companion.

The whole thing had lasted only a few seconds, leaving the remaining recruits wide-eyed with their mouths hanging open.

The five I had my first little bout with quickly rose back to their feet, showing only a few bruises from sliding on the sand and dust that covered the yard, and a light headache in the case of the one I had elbowed.

I turned to Arvia and said, "tell him to send them all against me at the same time."

I heard her mutter, "show-off," before translating for the captain, who nodded before giving the order to his men.

They quickly fell into a makeshift formation, obviously not yet used to fight alongside so many men, nervousness now visibly showing on their faces.

I smiled at them, and started my show.