The three reached the training grounds, it was muddy from the previous rain, which had now stopped. The grounds were large but still a fairly stereotypical training area, fit with mainly training dummies and targets to shoot.
Thorn gave them instructions and a drill they were to do until they felt like they were to collapse, and worst of all they still had the extra to do, was this really how strict Thorn was?
The drill the three were to do was hand to hand training, no one understood why this was necessary as everyone was too full of themselves to ever believe they'd be disarmed in combat. Since there were three of them and this was a 2 person activity, Taryn went to train with Lyra, leaving Kael and Silas to spar each other.
As the two got into a stance ready for combat, Silas began to speak.
"Honestly it's surprising that this is the first time we've really gotten to speak to each other one on one since the introductions."
Kael spoke with his usual, overly calm demeanor.
"You're right."
The two spoke whilst practicing different drills, somewhat making it hard to communicate but they didn't really mind.
"So how do you think things have gone, Kael?"
"Worse than I'd hoped, I didn't think anyone was gonna bring up my brother, but I'm glad Taryn is on my side."
"Yeah, I didn't really expect that either, and everyone seems to like me. To be honest I expected everyone to be all over you after hearing you placed first in our squad."
"I kind of hoped that too, but oh well, it's not my choice whether they believe me or not, i'll just have to prove that he's not dead."
"I'll support you the whole way, and who knows, maybe me and Taryn being friends with you might make others friendlier towards you too."
Kael gives a soft smile whilst he slams Silas into the floor as one of the drills.
"I hope so."
Everyone on the training grounds was doing different partner-based drills, as Kael looked around he could see that Lyra certainly didn't let Taryn off lightly, considering he was in a devastating headlock. Kael couldn't help but notice the way Lyra moved was so rough, and yet so elegant too, the way her hair moved in the wind it was almost like a tree in a soft breeze.
During the training, They watched. Kael didn't know who They was, but he felt as if he was being watched, like a puppet master with his puppets the way the gaze looked down on them, it was odd.
This sense of being watched was always cast aside as being Tallis Wren. Everyone knew he liked to take notes on people so he could make jokes about them, Taryn informed them of this during their lunch break and, sure enough, Tallis could be seen taking notes on Kael, it was kind of an unusual thing but Kael didn't mind.
Except the gaze he felt was from above.
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The time flew, drills were done and it was time for the five minute break before round two, albeit this session had now been two hours long, they had another three sessions left, usually it would only be one left but they were doing extra.
Kael and Silas were sat under a tree drinking water when a very beat up looking Taryn slumped down between them.
"One of you, swap with me please, she's ruthless!"
The once proper Taryn was suddenly on his knees begging for a partner swap, now usually Kael would think this is pathetic but after seeing what she did to Taryn and how beat up the poor boy looked, he could understand his wishes.
"I'll swap"
Kael spoke fast, not giving Silas any time to react, which honestly shocked him, and on top of that, Kael did have a score to settle with her.
"Really?? Thank you!!"
Taryn was acting as if Kael had just cured his blindness.
Silas chose to remain silent in this moment, but he smiled softly as Kael turned to look across the field at Lyra.
Once again, she was sat alone, the grass around her rustled with the wind as the sun shined across the blades of grass. The clouds and rain had cleared up, and despite his dislike of the girl, he couldn't deny she had skills when it came to fighting.
Why was she always alone?
The break ended a few minutes later, Kael got up and and gave a slight farewell to Taryn and Silas as they left. Reluctantly, Kael turned around and began to walk toward Lyra, who hadn't moved from where she was slumped against the wall.
Her hair was limp, like a lifeless body, as it fell straight down, she had bangs that were cut above her eyes but the rest of her hair reached her waist.
"Lyra."
Kael reached her and tried to sound somewhat intimidating, but his deadpan tone didn't alter.
"What do you want?"
Lyra was unwelcoming of Kael's appearance before her, likely still mad about Kael allegedly killing Dren.
"You'll be my sparring partner, Taryn requested to switch with me, and I accepted."
Lyra's mood changed, she now had the opportunity to hurt Kael, to knock some sense into him, she slightly smirked.
"Alright then, let's do it."
She stands up and they move to the center of the field, the positioned themself into a fighting arrangement, there wasn't any drills this time, it was just spars, you're not going to be able to know what a Withered will do in combat after all.
Taryn and Silas looked over at the two, everyone else also had their gazes fixed on them. Unknown to Kael, Lyra also placed first in her group, the only other member of the 73rd who did so.
Kael waited in anticipation, as did Lyra, both going in for defence to start.
They stared, standing still.
Kael realised her plan, and he began the combat, He swung a simple right hook towards Lyra who reacted almost instantly, hitting his arm out of the way as she spun and attempted to drop him with a spinning low kick.
She underestimated him.
As she did this, he simply hopped over her leg.
Seeing this, she adjusts herself and uses her momentum to jump and aim for a tornado kick, Which is swiftly blocked by Kael who goes for a gut punch as she's falling.
She can't react, his fist plunges into her gut as she gets winded and drops to the floor.
Lyra severely underestimated him in her wish to "teach him a lesson" that didn't need teaching.
Tallis could be seen taking notes again, quickly jotting down tons of notes.
Lyra got back up, still winded terribly, she was off balance and would be severely hurt if she tried to fight again.
"That's enough Lyra."
Kael spoke, cold but somewhat comforting, atleast he tried to be, he had settled his beef.
"I want you to realise, I didn't kill Dren."
Lyra didn't take lightly to this, her usual quiet demeanor lost in a fit of slight rage, Kael didn't understand why she was so worked up about his brother.
"Shut up, SHUT UP!! You filthy murderer.."
Kael had given up on trying to prove anything right now, she was far too naive to reason with.
"Take a break, you'll hurt yourself if you keep going."
"I don't need your advice."
Silas bursts in, knowing she won't listen to Kael.
"He's right Lyra, you're completely off balance and winded, go rest."
"Fine."
She begrudgingly walks to a tree and sits under it, holding her gut where she'd been hit.
Kael can't help but think he may have gone too hard, been too harsh.
Kael sits at a tree nearby but not near her, waiting so that they can continue training. The people who watched the interaction were shocked, Lyra had never been beaten before, and so easily at that, they clearly had also underestimated Kael and his drive to find his brother.