Five weeks of nonstop hand to hand training, and not a single soul was still able to take down Khalia Metamin. The only person who came close to completing the challenge was Gregorei Astone who tried to out power Khalia but was outwitted by sheer technique.

However, every day that came and went, Khalia was out in the mustering field with her initiates teaching them techniques she learned during her missions. The initiates got so good at hand to hand combat that volunteers from last year's graduation stepped in to spar them and even teach them some things they knew. Khalia wanted to make sure her students knew everything there was to know about fighting without a weapon, she wanted to refine their techniques to near perfection

In the sixth week, word got around the Citadel that the initiates were completely beating last year graduates. Wardens that returned from missions or even had some down time came to the mustering field to test the initiates out. Word got so popular that groups of veteran Wardens came to the field in small crowds to watch their friends get their asses beaten by the initiates. Even Alexios, Exemplar of the Wardens, found time from his duty as the head of the Citadel to come and watch the spectacle.

Arneth was one particular initiate who had gotten so good at beating veteran Wardens that people began to bet on fights. The secret to his success was nightly training with Akaro or Wigyur but the training mostly always ended up in a one sided beating for Wigyur or Akaro. The two had to go at Arneth together to even make it fair.

All this training Arneth was doing wasn’t for show. He wanted to prepare himself to fight Khalia. Everytime someone challenged Khalia, he watched the fight closely to examine Khalia’s weaknesses, strengths, and even technique.

He wanted to make sure he had a chance of winning against her and today was the day he would challenge her.

The morning was warm and humid just like any other day of the summer. Men and women crowded around the wet mustering field, coming to watch the fight everyone wanted to see. Arneth versus Khalia.

“YOU GOT THIS ARNETH!” cheered Wigyur from the crowd that formed around the two.

“You can do it!” shouted another, but Arneth paid no attention to anyone other than Khalia.

“Arneth Sloane, son of Balden Sloane. I’m surprised you didn’t challenge me sooner,” Khalia said, parting her boots firmly into the wet ground. Khalia wore her usual leather vested tunic with clasps at its center to hold together. Under her vested tunic was a short sleeved white shirt that was honestly too tight at her biceps. Along with her tunic she wore black trousers with a blue cloth crudely wrapped around her waist. One could say she was comfortable enough for a good fight.

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While everyone’s hair had grown longer during the training, Arneth seemed to be untouched by time. He was particular about the length of his hair and even kept the sides of his head well shaved. The discipline of a warrior was shown through his hygiene despite the constant training and sweating. “I had to get myself prepared before I challenged you. I am no fool,” Arneth exclaimed.

“I know you are not. I met your father long ago, I know you come from a long line of warriors,” Khalia explained, keeping her eyes and ears focused.

“Then you know, I have not come to lose,” Arneth proclaimed confidently.

“We will see about that..” Khalia grinned.

Arneth held his breath for a moment. He could feel and hear his heart pounding loudly in his chest. He untensed his muscles and took a deep breath, calming the intense pounding in his chest. He exhaled a shaky breathing and honed in on his focus once more. He was ready.

Arneth lowered himself to a half crouch and made the first move, approaching Khalia cautiously. Khalia on the other hand lowered herself into a similar half crouch but didn’t move from her position. She simply let Arneth come to her.

A dead silence blanketed the crowd, every man and woman practically held their breath. Suddenly like caged lions, the two clashed. Arneth went for a grapple under Khalia’s arm but she proved to be too fast and sidestepped the northern warrior leaving him open for a counter, which she did.

Khalia seeing the opportunity pushed the weight of her body forward, but she knew Arneth was too big and heavy to simply push over. This was a way for her to gain the upperhand by taking his balance. Just like she planned, Arneth tensed the opposite side of his body and dug the heel of his right foot into the dirt anchoring himself so he wasn’t pushed.

Khalia suddenly shifted the weight of her body, wrapping her arms into a tight grip around Arneth’s torso. Simultaneously, she planted her foot in front of Arneth’s unanchored leg and pulled him so that he would trip forward and roll past her.

Arneth tumbled forward, keeping his balance was impossible. As a last ditch effort he reached his arm around the back of her neck and tucked her face against his chest. Both fighters dropped to the ground, the onlookers bit their lips and gasped…what was the result?

“YEEEAAAHH!!!” screamed the initiates. Wigyur was one of the first to reach Arneth, jumping on his back.

Arneth miraculously landed on top of Khalia having her back planted against the ground. The warrior-like focus he held on his face softened as he heard the cheering. His fellow initiates surrounded him and raised his arm in victory. While the Warden’s that came to spectate clapped for the class. It was truly a triumph to best Khalia, who was arguably one of the best takedown artists amongst all the Wardens.

Arneth stood proudly pumping his fist in the air. Everyone wanted to congratulate him for finally putting the six week challenge to a rest. However, the cheering and celebrating was cut short by a sudden and sharp voice shouting out, “EVERYONE LISTEN UP!”

It was Khalia patting dirt off the sleeve of her tunic. Yet, she had a smile resting on her lips. “You have all made me proud, and are one step closer to becoming Wardens yourselves.” She paused and glanced over to Scar who watched silently in the crowd. “For your efforts there will be no class nor training tomorrow. You can all rest. You are dismissed.”