Emma stood before a rather simple and unimpressive door. Her heart was pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, knowing that beyond that door were the Guild's trials.

Cedric stood beside her, his expression unreadable. "Are you ready, Emma?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

Emma took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "As ready as I'll ever be," she said, trying to inject a note of confidence into her voice.

Cedric nodded, pushing open the doors. "Then let's begin."

The training grounds were a big, open space, filled with various obstacles and challenges. Wooden dummies stood in neat rows, their painted faces grinning blankly. A large sparring ring dominated the center of the room, its sand-covered floor already scuffed with the marks of countless battles.

But it was the people that caught Emma's attention. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes milled about, some practicing their swordplay, others engaged in heated discussions. In contrast to the crowd at the entrance hall, these folks were all well armed and armored, and each person or group seemed to be minding their own business.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Cedric said, noting her wide-eyed gaze. "The Guild takes the training of its members very seriously. We believe that every adventurer should be prepared for the challenges they may face in the field."

Emma nodded, her eyes still drinking in the sights and sounds of the training grounds. She felt intimidated, but that only made her even more determined to succeed.

"So, what's first?" she asked, turning to face Cedric.

The Guild Master smiled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "First, we test your combat abilities," he said, gesturing towards the sparring ring. "You'll be facing off against one of our seasoned adventurers. The goal is not necessarily to win, but to demonstrate your skills and potential."

Emma felt a rush of fear run through her. If it were a mere test of strength, she would feel pretty confident. But she had no fighting experience whatsoever, and she guessed that strength alone wouldn't be enough against a good fighter.

"Who will I be fighting?" she asked, trying to keep the nervousness out of her voice.

Cedric's smile widened. "Ah, that would be telling," he said, a teasing note in his voice. "Suffice it to say, they are an experienced adventurer, with many successful quests under their belt. They will not go easy on you, Emma."

Emma nodded, her jaw set with determination. "I wouldn't want them to," she said, her voice ringing with conviction.

Cedric clapped her on the shoulder, his grip firm. "That's the spirit," he said, leading her towards the sparring ring. "Now, remember, this is not a fight to the death. You may harm your opponent, and they will very likely harm you, possibly a lot. But no killing blows, nothing incapacitating, and no lasting injuries. Understood?"

Emma nodded, her heart racing with nerves and a small bit of excitement. She stepped into the ring, the sand shifting beneath her feet. As she did, her opponent was entering from the other side, a tall, muscular man with a shock of red hair and a beard to match. He wore a pair of breeches and had his torso bare, the big muscles in his chest and arms crisscrossed with scars.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Emma, meet Gunnar," Cedric said, gesturing to the man. "He will be your opponent for this trial."

Gunnar looked Emma up and down, his expression unimpressed, but not overly hostile. "So, you're the new recruit," he said, his voice a low growl. "I hope you're ready to eat sand, girl."

Emma felt a flare of anger at his dismissive tone, but she forced it down, reminding herself that all she had to do was beat that attitude out of him. She settled into what might have passed for a fighting stance, her feet apart and her fists raised. She flexed her barely existent muscles, and felt the amazing power in them, gaining a bit more confidence.

"Let's do this," she said, her voice steady in spite of her fear.

Cedric stepped back, his hand raised. "Remember, no killing, no crippling," he said, his voice ringing out across the training grounds. "Begin!"

Gunnar moved with a speed that belied his size, his fist flashing towards Emma's face. She moved back and barely dodged, twisting to the side a bit, but his other hand was already moving, aiming for her ribs.

Emma managed to block the blow with her forearm, surprising herself when she didn't feel the shock of the impact as much as she should have. Gunnar was strong, probably stronger than anyone she had ever met on Earth. But her MAX strength was something well beyond normal, even for this place.

She pushed back, using a bit of her strength to shove Gunnar off balance. He stumbled, his eyes widening in surprise, but he recovered quickly, his feet shifting into a more stable stance.

"Not bad," he grunted, a grudging note of respect in his voice. "But let's see how you handle this."

He came at her again, his fists flying in a flurry of blows. Emma tried to dodge, but did a terrible job at it. Still, even the blows that landed squarely were barely an inconvenience. She could feel the eyes of the other adventurers on her, watching her every move, judging her poor performance.

She knew she could end this fight with a single blow, could send Gunnar flying across the training grounds with a flick of her wrist. But she held back, afraid of the attention that would bring.

So she took Gunnar's beating and tried to act like it hurt. She also landed a few hits of her own, careful to pull her punches, to make it seem as though she was giving it all she had.

Gunnar's face was flushed with exertion and pain, his breathing heavy. He came at her again, his fist aimed at her jaw. Emma saw the blow coming, saw the opening it left in his defenses. She took the blow head on and took the chance to counterattack, her own fist connecting with his stomach.

Gunnar grunted, doubling over, his eyes wide with shock. Emma stepped back, her fists raised, ready for the blows that would surely keep coming.

But none came. Gunnar straightened, his hand rubbing his stomach, a rueful grin on his face. "Well fought, girl," he said, his voice grudgingly respectful. "You've got some strength, I'll give you that. Awful fighting skills, but that can be learned. Can't wait to see how hard you hit once you learn how to throw a proper punch."

Emma felt a flush of pride at his words, but she kept her expression neutral. "Thank you," she said, bowing her head in acknowledgment. "You fought well."

Cedric stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "An impressive display, Emma," he said, his voice carrying across the training grounds. "But this is only the first of your trials. There are still more challenges ahead."

Emma nodded, her heart still racing with the thrill of the fight. She knew she had held back, had hidden the true extent of her strength. But she also knew that she had proven herself, had shown that she was more than just a raw recruit.

"I'm ready," she said, her voice ringing with determination. "Bring on the next challenge."