(See the end of the chapter for notes .)

Lysithea's adventure to become the all-around soldier continues in a sword sparring session with Petra

Chapter Text

The noontime sun casts a bright gaze across the halls of Garreg Mach Monastery. Across its many corridors and courtyards, groups of students chat amongst themselves as other train against each other in combat. As the Officer’s Academy’s pinnacle event, the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, approaches, the campus finds itself alive with a vigorous energy that seems to spread from one student to the next.

In a secluded corner of the Northern Courtyard, near the entrance to the Training Hall, the clacking of wood striking against wood rings through the air. Two young girls find themselves engaged in fierce training with one another. The taller of the two takes the offensive as her purple ponytail bounces with each strike

“You will have to be doing better than that, Lysithea.”

With each crack of the two girl’s wooden swords, she forces the other girl a step further back. The shorter of the two grips her sword with both hands, trying to defend herself from the other’s attack. Her flowing white hair shakes with each blocked strike as she tries to maintain her footing.

“Grh...This...this seems like way too much, Petra!”

Petra continues her offensive as she repeatedly clashes wooden blades with Lysithea. Her face is painted with a vigorous, excited expression.

“If you want to learn the sword in time for the Battle, you have to be making every second count.”

Lysithea digs her feet into the ground beneath her, trying with all her might to hold her ground against Petra’s unrelenting attack. Trying to hold her own against the swordfighting prowess on display, a memory of the Professor’s teachings flashes in her mind..

“Remember, Lysithea, using the sword isn’t all about strength. You can always beat someone physically stronger than you, you just have to outsmart them.”

Taking the Professor’s words to heart, Lysithea focuses only on not being downed. As Petra continues her swings, Lysithea begins to take note of her fighting style. Swift, strong strikes without relenting seem to weaken her stance with Lysithea noticing Petra’s feet shift into an awkward position.

“Alright, I think I can do this!”

With a quick swing, Lysithea counters Petra’s next strike. Her swing strikes near the tip of the sword, causing it to swing in a different way than Petra was prepared for. Petra seems to stumble backwards, caught off-balance by Lysithea’s counter-attack as she goes in for more.

“I think I’ve figured it out. It’s all about where I position my strikes!”

Lysithea continues to swing with careful, calculated blows, beginning to push Petra back. As Petra shifts to the defensive, a slight smile grows on her face.

“See! This is what I was talking about, Lysithea. You have learned much from the training.”

As Lysithea goes in for her final attack, a slight magical energy emanates from her sword as she strikes, causing Petra to lose her grip on the wooden sword. The sword tumbles to the ground with a crack as Lysithea raises her sword to Petra. Bending down to pick up her disarmed weapon, Petra gives a clap at Lysithea’s efforts.

“You have done much of the learning, Lysithea! What was that last attack?”

“The Professor taught it to me. He taught me that swordfighters who use magic can channel some of their magical energy through their weapon.”

An excited look grows on Petra’s face as she looks on at Lysithea with gleaming eyes.

“You must teach me how to use the magic!”

Lysithea chuckles at Petra’s shift in demeanor. Smiling, she extends her hand to Petra, offering a handshake. As Petra reaches for Lysithea’s hand, the noise of a rumbling stomach reverberates through the air.

“...But, let us be eating the lunch first.”

~Fin~