As Alaric's car approached the school gate, I ran to it with the exciting news I wanted to tell him. When Alaric saw me running to him, he smiled.

"Someone is happy," he commented playfully.

"Yeah," I replied after closing the car's door. Alaric started the vehicle, still smiling.

"So, how was your day?" he asked as we drove off.

"It was awesome," I exclaimed joyfully. "I entered the flag race, got a nickname—something about a deer or Bambi—and oh, I heard Nolan and Silas talking about having a cousin, or maybe Nolan's nickname is Cousin? And Silas was giving out nicknames to—"

"Whoa, slow down," Alaric chuckled. "You lost me after you said something about flag race. Start over again and tell me calmly."

Nodding eagerly, I reorganized my thoughts. "Right, so I'm officially in the flag race!"

Alaric nodded to me approvingly. "That means you will be in the games, good. It will also give you more chance to interact with others; just go easy on them."

"Me, going easy on them?" I asked in surprise. "Shouldn't I do my best? I mean, I'll be competing against higher ranks!"

Alaric smiled at my reaction." Here's the thing—the other students start combat training at fourteen. Before that, it was all academics. You've been training in combat since you were six, remember? They won't be at your level in a couple of months."

"So, they are weaker than me?" I questioned, finding it hard to believe.

"Yes, and you could seriously hurt someone if you're not careful," he cautioned.

I nodded, but I still couldn't believe his words.

"What else happened?" Alaric inquired.

"Well, before I continue, I am missing something called 'no common sense.' Can we buy it on the way?"Alaric burst a laugh when I said that. His sudden reaction surprised me.

Did I understand the word wrong? Wasn't it something I could buy? I thought.

"Oh, Bumble, I think we need to continue flash cards. Common sense isn't something you can buy; it's a phrase we use to describe the ability to think about things in a practical way and make good decisions. It's like... having an instinct about things that most people agree are sensible without needing to be taught explicitly."

He paused to make sure I was following. "For example, when you know not to touch something hot without being told because you understand it will hurt you—that's common sense."

"Oh, I see!" I nodded. "So, it's kind of using what I know to make quick, good decisions?"

"Exactly," Alaric affirmed, smiling warmly. "And the more you interact with others and observe, the more your common sense will develop. It's not just about book learning; it's about understanding the world around you."

"So when they said 'no common sense,' it meant I did something wrong," I concluded.

"Probably, what did you do?" Alaric asked. I tried to remember the reason Nolan called me that.

"I called out to Naomi—well, I actually yelled at her."

"Yelling at someone is not good," Alaric noted, not pressing further.

"What else?"

"Well, is cousin a nickname?"

"I don't think 'cousin' is a nickname," he sighed. "We definitely need to cover family relationships soon."

"Is it something about family?" I asked. Alaric nodded again.

"Yes, let me explain what a cousin is. Suppose your parents had siblings," he started, then paused.

"Did I ever explain what a sibling is?"

"You did," I reassured him. "You explained when I was seven or eight while we were reading a book. So, I know about mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers—and that siblings mean having a brother or a sister. You even said you and dad were like brothers."

Alaric smiled, but his smile was full of grief.

"Let's continue the example. Imagine that your mother or father had siblings, and these siblings had their own children. In that case, these children would be your cousin."

"Ah!" I exclaimed as understanding hit. "So my parent's siblings' children are my cousins!"

"Correct, but there are many more terms to learn. We'll tackle them on the weekends," he said strictly.

"Okay," I agreed. After Alaric parked the car and went to our house's front door, he queried another question.

"So, anything else? I don't think you joining the flag race is the only exciting thing?"

"Yes!"I said as we walked into the house. "There was a guy named Silas who gave some of us nicknames. I also learned what a nickname is from them. At first, I was angry thinking that Silas tried to change my name but it turned out he wasn't! He gave me a nickname 'Bambi', which was also meant deer? What is a deer anyway?" I asked to Alaric.

"A deer is four-legged animal which can be found in the forest," he explained as we entered the kitchen, where he leaned against the counter with a playful grin.

"Actually," he continued, "why don't you ask your device? It can probably give you a better explanation than I can."

"Mai?" I frowned, reluctant. "Do I really have to use it? I don't really like it."

"It'll help you blend in better. From now on, whenever you come across a new word, ask AI instead of me," he suggested a bit more firmly.

I accepted his offer unhappily. Alaric only smiled at my reaction.

"Go change and start your homework. We'll continue our chat at dinner," he directed.

I sighed and nodded to his request. Like yesterday, I walked up from the stairs while stomping my feet. After changing a more comfortable attire, I started my homework. This time, I had history homework about the second and first wave. At some point, I started to feel bored and looked at my bag-pack. The headphones and glasses were inside of it. I took them out and looked at them carefully, then putted them on.

"Mai?" I called out, and instantly, a wave happened in front of my eyes, materializing an orange-yellow orb before me.

"Hello, how can I assist you today?" the AI greeted in a neutral tone. I took a deep breath and asked my question.

"What is a deer?"

"A deer is a mammal commonly found in various regions around the world. They are known for their graceful forms, slender legs, and distinctive antlers that most male deer, or bucks, develop. Deer are herbivores and primarily feed on a variety of vegetation, including grasses, leaves, and shoots. They are often found in forests, grasslands, and other natural habitats."

I nodded, absorbing the information.

"Okay, then what's its relationship with 'Bambi'?" I followed up, intrigued by the connection.

"Bambi is a character from a classic animated film. In the story, Bambi is a young deer who grows up in the forest with his friends and learns about life's challenges and beauties. The film follows Bambi from his early days as a fawn, through the loss of his mother, to his eventual role as the Prince of the Forest. It is a tale that explores themes of growth, friendship, and resilience."

"Then, what is a film and animated film?" I asked this time. Our conversation continued each time AI used a new word I was not familiar with till Alaric called me for dinner.

"I'm coming!" I responded and took off my devices. As I got up, my gaze stuck on my textbook; I didn't even get halfway through it.

"Well, that's a problem," I muttered, then went to the kitchen after Alaric's second call.

"Today's menu is spaghetti with tomato sauce," Alaric said with a proud voice. It smelled delicious.

"Thank you for the dinner!" I said as I sat the wooden chair. Alaric sat in front of me as well and we started our meal. As I took the first bite, I frowned. I realized that the tastes were very different since we moved in here. I thought it was something temporary but I decided to ask this to Alaric.

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"Alaric, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Bumble, what is it?"

"The tastes are different. Why are they different?"

Alaric frowned. "What do you mean the tastes are different?" He asked.

"I mean, they are tastier. It was not like that when we were living in the forest. Why?"

"Oh," Alaric said, a warm smile appeared on his face. "Because of the salt."

"Salt?" I asked.

"Well, I am going to explain you this one. Let me just grab it," Alaric said as he got up and moved toward the cupboards. He opened one of them too,k out something white, ant putted it on the table.

"This is salt. It makes food taste even better with its unique flavor. When we were living in the forest, I didn't buy any salt, and believe me, it was hard for me to eat meals without salt. I tried my best with onions, which we grew up in the forest, but they can never replace the salt. But now, we can buy them since we are now living in the town."

"So if I put it more, will it taste better?" I questioned, and Alaric shook his head.

"No, it will raise the chance that you might go blind."

"Blind?" I asked again.

"Ask this one to AI. So, we were left with the nickname 'Bambi,'" Alaric said. I nodded.

"Yeah, I talked with Mai about that, and she answered my questions." Alaric smiled at my answer. "Good. What else did you do?"

"Well, not much happened after that, I think. We exchanged our ID numbers to keep in touch. We are going to train early in the morning."

"Early morning?" Alaric questioned. "The time I told you we were going to do training?"

I paused with the spagetti on my fork, mid air. I didn't count the lessons when I suggested training in the morning. I slowly put down the fork and clenched my hands.

"Well," I gulped as I averted my eyes, "What are the odds?"

"Bumble?" he said with a stiff tone.

"I am sorry, it's just they suggested working on it after school, but we thought we wouldn't have the energy for that, so we decided to work early in the morning, and I'm sorry! Please don't be mad."

Alaric sighed and took a deep breath.

"Well then, this means we are going to train after school and as for punishment for doing it, we will train before you get to do your homework and eat dinner."

"But that's when—"

"No buts!" he cut me off firmly. "We are going to start training after school from now on till the event is finished. This is a lesson for you. When a plan is done, you can't add another plan at the same time and break it, no matter what!"

"Okay," I muttered, yet angry. As we continued to eat our spaghetti, we didn't talk.

The next morning, I donned my sportswear, feeling the tension from the previous evening. Alaric was in the living room, his expression serious.

"Good morning," he said with a strict tone. I nodded to him only.

"I'm off to training," I said as I left the house. Before I closed the door, I heard Alaric's voice.

"We are going to talk about your behavior when you return home."

As I walked to Freya's house, my steps quickened with the agitation swirling inside me. "He didn't even give me a chance to explain," I muttered under my breath, kicking at small stones along the path. My thoughts were a mix of rehearsed arguments and the remnants of last night's disagreement with Alaric. It wasn't fair, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt a stubborn pout settling on my lips.

The streets were quiet, the early morning offering a cool, gentle breeze that did little to soothe my mood. I had hoped to start the day on a positive note, but the weight of the unresolved conflict with Alaric was like a shadow following me.

When I arrived at Freya's house, the team was already there, stretching and laughing, their spirits high. It contrasted sharply with my own, and I felt a pang of envy at their carefree attitudes.

"Hey, Bambi! We started to think that you wouldn't come," Silas greeted me with his usual wide grin. I forced a smile, trying to shake off my irritation.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let's go," Freya said with a smile.

"Lead the way, lovebug," Silas teased, earning a sharp look from Freya.

"I am warning you, use 'lovebug' one more time, and I'll-"

"Hey hey hey, calm down." Silas laughed, covering my ears playfully. "There are kids here."

"Cut it all, you two," Nolan interjected. "Let's just go to the forest now and get started already."

Freya mumbled something, then started to walk. She was holding some kind of metal disc.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a portable flag arena my brother got as a gift. He's letting us use it."

"Is it a kind of hologram?" I asked.

"Yep, but this hologram is one of the cheap ones. It projects images but can't physically interact."

"Is that even possible?" I asked, confused. It was the first time I heard something like this.

"I mean, it's an old technology, but yes," Freya said with a smile.

As we entered the forest, the morning light filtered through the trees, casting playful shadows on the ground. The forest seemed to come alive, a stark contrast to the quiet streets we'd just left behind. Freya led us to a clearing where she set up the metal disc on the ground. With a few clicks, the disc activated, and a shimmering holographic arena sprang up around us, the lines and boundaries glowing softly in the morning light.

"Wow, this is impressive," I couldn't help but exclaim, looking around in awe.

"Right? My brother told me that he used this a lot for practicing," Freya explained as she adjusted a few settings on the small device. Silas, bouncing on his toes, couldn't contain his excitement.

"I am so ready for this! Who's up for a little spar before we dive into serious training?" Silas exclaimed. Rhys smirked and in front of him.

"I'm always ready to kick your butt, charlatan," he said mockingly.

"Charlatan? I'm honored," Silas said as he bowed.

"Stop, all of you!" Nolan said, frustrated. "We need to do some warmup first."

"Yes, Sarge!" Silas barked in a tone that was half-mocking and half-serious. "Ready to warm up, sir! Let's make sure we're battle-ready for the flag race, sir!"

"What about you ran twenty laps around the arena?" Nolan suggested, only half-joking.

"Oh, come on, sarge, be gentle to your comrades!"

"He is right, though," Naomi said the first time. "Without doing proper warmups, we might injure ourselves."

"Thanks, Naomi!" Nolan acknowledged, visibly pleased. "Finally, someone is on my side."

"Let's start with a few laps then!" Rhys said as he started to run.

We ran together, completing several circuits of the arena. By the seventh lap, fatigue was visible on many faces.

"Let's give it a break," Silas said as he took a big sip from his water cup. Others were lying down as they tried to catch their breath. I looked at Naomi, her cheeks were not red, but she was sweaty like everyone else.

"Feeling okay?" I asked. She shrugged.

"I am used to it; my uncle always made me run a few laps. How about you?" she questioned.

"Same, Alaric always made me run."

Naomi nodded. After a brief rest, Silas initiated the next phase. "How should we pair up for sparring?"

"Do we have to? I mean, shouldn't we concentrate on the game plan?" I asked.

"Yes, but we still need to spare." Nolan stopped Silas from talking by interrupting him.

"Bumble never went to school, so I doubt she knew how to play the game," Nolan said, as always, with a straight tone. He turned his gaze to Silas and started explaining.

"At the flag race, each participant gets a role randomly. One holds the flag and does not have any weapons. You can think of them as the king in chess. Two hold guns and three hold simple weapons, such as knives and thick sticks. The job was to contain the flag from another team and give it to the flag. Of course, taking a flag gives you disadvantages, such as you're slowed down as a buff. Plus, the entire enemy team will see you on a map for a few seconds and target you specifically." Nolan said, his tone serious and instructive, "The key strategy is not just aggression but coordination and defense. You need to protect your flag holder while disrupting the opponent's strategies."

I nodded, absorbing the complexity of the game. I still didn't understand how they would they saw us from the map but I noted them to myself to ask Mai later.

"So, the sparring is for the flag carrier role specifically."

"Exactly," Nolan affirmed. "The flag carrier is always at a disadvantage. All of us have to be ready for this duty."

Silas clapped his hands, ready to lighten the mood again. "Alright then, who wants to spar first? I vote for Bambi since she's the newbie!"

Rhys chuckled, "That's a quick way to throw her into the deep end, Silas."

"Well, I doubt she ever had any training. It would be good for her," Silas responded.

"That might be a good idea, to make weaker to stronger," Freya approved.

"Well, you see, I'm actually-" I tried to explain but was interrupted by Nolan.

"Okay then, since Rhys was the best fighter in class E, I think Bumble and Rhys should spar," Nolan said.

"Fine by me, come on, let's go, Bumble," Rhys said. I sighed and followed him.

"Okay, then, let's get started. Hey Romeo, make sure to go easy on Bambi!" Silas yelled.

"Romeo?" Rhys asked as he half smiled. "I am happy that I've been promoted from 'Sparky' to 'Romeo'."

Rhys then turned his gaze to me and got into the fighting position. I did the same.

"Ready, go!" Freya shouted, and Rhys made the first move. He advanced quickly, his movements a bit unrefined but eager. I could see the determination in his stance as he tried to size me up, looking for an opening.

I shifted my weight, ready to dodge. Rhys threw a quick jab, which I sidestepped effortlessly. He was fast, but not fast enough to catch me off guard. My training with Alaric wasn't just about reacting; it was about predicting and understanding the flow of movement before it even happened.

Rhys tried a combination next, a one-two punch followed by a sweeping kick aimed low. I danced back, feeling the air brush against my shins where his foot passed. It was clear he was getting frustrated, his moves growing more forceful but less controlled.

I decided it was time to take the initiative. As he retracted his leg, slightly off balance, I closed the distance between us. I feinted to his left, drawing his guard up, then ducked low and swept at his ankles with a precise, controlled leg sweep.

Rhys wasn't prepared for the sudden change in tactics. His reaction was a split second too slow, and he stumbled, trying to regain his balance. I stood back up, stepping away to give him space. It wasn't about defeating him completely; it was about showing that I could.

Rhys caught himself before he fell, a flush of embarrassment mixed with surprise coloring his cheeks. He straightened up, eyeing me with a new wariness, now fully aware that the gap in our combat skills was wider than he'd anticipated.

"Okay, okay," he said, holding up his hands in a pause gesture. "I think I underestimated you." He said as he got up.

I nodded, feeling a mix of satisfaction and sympathy. "It's not just about strength or speed," I said, echoing Alaric's lessons. "It's about understanding your opponent and the environment."

Rhys rubbed the back of his neck, a grin slowly forming. "I didn't think you knew how to fight. Impressive."

"That was epic!" Silas jumped suddenly, which made me scared. "Damn, you might be the luck we needed! I was so confused when you joined us, Bambi, but wow! You were like a.. like a bee! Get it? Because your name is Bumble, but you are nothing but Bumble! From now on, you are Bambi the bee!"

"Isn't Bambi a deer?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter. You are Bumble the bee now, but I will still call you Bambi for short!"

"Thanks, I guess," I said as I scratched my hair. Everyone looked at us with shock.

"You should have told us you were trained before Bumble," Naomi said as she smiled. I shrugged.

"I didn't think it was important."

"Let's focus now! Who wants to spar with Bambi next? I volunteer!" Silas said and quickly pushed away Rhys.

"Okay, let me drink water first," I said, and while I was going to my water bottle, I tripped on my feet and fell. Silas came to help me while he was laughing.

"She can kick butt but can't win against her leg! You might still have a Bumble in you!" Silas said playfully. As he helped me get up, I saw a strange expression on Naomi's face, which shifted to a smile in a split second that made me think I saw wrong. She looked angry and frustrated at me.

"Naomi?" I asked. "Is something wrong?"

"What do you mean?" she asked. I thought for a second, then shook my head.

"No, it's nothing."

Naomi smiled again. As I drank my water, I went back in front of Silas.

"I have an idea. Let's all spar with Bambi the bee at least once, then start the flag race training." Silas suggested.

"It's a good idea I think," Naomi said as she shrugged. Her voice went back to timid.

"It's good for me, too," Freya and Nolan said at the same time. Then they looked at each other and said, "Jinx!" this time. Then they laughed. Rhys looked at them badly in the meantime. Then, he turned his gaze to me.

"I already sparred, so I won't do that again!" Rhys said with a playful tone.

"Alright, then, Bumble!" Silas said, getting my attention on him. "Show me what you got!"