Chapter 7: Prison Rules

After Alessa’s introduction, everyone else became a faceless mob character. Tori could hear them speaking, but nothing registered. Not their names. Not their faces. Not whatever random interests and hobbies they mentioned.

She was the last person to stand and introduce herself, and if Ilyana didn’t give her a nudge, she would’ve forgotten to do so. Tori’s chair scraped against the floor as she pushed it back and rose to her feet. There were curious looks her way with more than just a few sneers, but that didn’t shake her.

Tori went with the simplest introduction she could.

“Good afternoon, I am Victoria de Guevera. Please call me Tori.” She gave a small nod in the general direction of Instructor Rosemund, then sat back down. The classroom was quiet, as if waiting for her to continue.

Even Ilyana looked at her, waiting for more, but Tori said nothing else and remained seated. Instructor Rosemund let out a small cough.

“Well then. Now that we’ve all been acquainted, let’s do a review.” She turned back to the board and the attention on Tori was drawn away.

“Are you all right?” Ilyana whispered.

Tori nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” My ultimate death flag has appeared and she took my seat. I want to go home.

She swallowed hard and looked down at the blank page with just a doodle of the second prince being stabbed in the corner. She somewhat expected that she would be distracted the rest of the day.

“Was it too much for you?” Ilyana asked as the class concluded. The quiet scratches of students writing faded into full on conversations as the students rose from their seats. They had another break for lunch and then they would go to their elective classes elsewhere, so the people in the room gathered their things in preparation to leave. Ilyana seemed focused on Tori’s unsettled face. “If you’re overwhelmed, I will show my notes tonight. I always review them anyway and explaining them helps.”

Tori gave her a small, but appreciative smile. “Thanks, Ilyana. I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Ilyana’s concern relaxed into a smile. “Don’t be afraid to ask me. I also tutored other students when I was in primary school.”

“I’m lucky, then.”

Ilyana began to put her things into her book bag. “It’s just a shame we don’t have the same elective.”

“Don’t worry,” Tori said as she shoved her still blank notebook into her bag. “I’ll pay attention. I’m probably just hungry.”

“We can pick up something at one of the cafeterias. The west one is close to my next class, so it’s on the way.” The dorm commons were closed, as they were only open for breakfast and dinner. There were two large cafeterias on either side of the campus that were more like a food court and students could go to different counters to order different types of food. They used their dorm keycards to track their meals.

The two left the classroom and went to the closest cafeteria. Unsurprising to Tori, the looks and whispers continued. It seemed that it wasn’t just the first year students who were talking, but her glorious reputation had also spread to the older ones.

Any appetite she would’ve had was gone, but Tori still ordered a sandwich, scanned her keycard, and then quietly walked out to eat in the garden outside. The hour-long break ended and Tori walked Ilyana to her class before continuing down the covered pathway to get to her MetaCrystals class.

When she arrived, there were already a few students. They turned when she entered and the volume of their conversations lowered. Without making eye contact, Tori went straight to the desk in the far corner of the last row, took her things from her bag, and pointedly ignored the other students for the next two hours.

She ended the class with a sense of satisfaction. Despite Gideon entering by announcing that he would speak to the headmaster after class about expelling her, Tori took pleasure in the general discomfort her presence caused the rest of the class.

The subject matter was also very interesting. The crystals that were being introduced were all familiar to her, having had a rock collection growing up and then that phase where she was really into metaphysical stuff. As an adult, she still found minerals fascinating and even had a chunk of an amethyst geode as decoration in her cubicle.

Instructor Ignatius was a young instructor and very enthusiastic about crystals. He dove right into the subject, starting with the most common crystals and their uses. Tori wrote down everything and even noted questions in the margins of her notebook to look up when she went through the assigned readings.

Unlike her homeroom class, her elective course felt shorter and Tori was excited about what she’d just learned. Crystals in the game world weren’t just pretty and used for decoration; there were a myriad of things they could be used to power, depending on the type of crystal and the energy it contained.

Energized by the class, Tori put her things into her bag and headed out once more. Electives were the last class of the day and on normal days, she’d return to her dorm or attend an after class activity, but there were plenty of things happening during the first week for first years. During the break, upperclassmen were setting up tables and booths in the central courtyard for their various clubs and activities. It wasn’t mandatory for a student to join and Ilyana didn’t plan on joining any, as she’d rather focus on her studies, but Tori wanted to take a look.

They agreed to meet in the central courtyard after their electives. By the time Tori reached it, the scattered tables and frantic upperclassmen who were trying to get their tables, booths, and various exhibition areas up during the break were now in neat rows and hawking fliers to whoever passed. The scene was familiar.

This was very much like ‘welcome weeks’ at her university campus back in her original world. She’d even been on the other side, trying to coax new students into her club with colored pieces of paper and a prepared speech. It was exhausting, but like her club members, she was always passionate about it and didn’t mind.

She walked down the few steps into the courtyard and headed to the closest table to check out what they offered.

It took her three booths into the courtyard to notice that no one was offering her fliers. Tori glanced up from reading the signs on a table and watched as three people in front of her quickly turned their heads away. She narrowed her eyes and looked around.

Everyone else around her was being handed fliers. Upperclassmen were approaching them, chatting them up, and subtly guiding them to different tables. She was the only one being ignored.

“It’s her! The one who bought her way in!” Tori whirled around at the sound of the voice.

“Shhh! She’ll hear you!”

“Ugh....” Tori tilted her head back and let out a sigh. How did her reputation even get this far? Her entire first year class wasn’t made up of students from the south, so how did the rumors spread so quickly? I bet it was fucking Gideon. That douche.

She turned around and everywhere she looked, students averted their eyes. Even if they were gawking at her when she wasn’t looking, they would quickly pretend otherwise so as not to be caught. Tori frowned and marched forward, both upset and amused that the thin crowds seemed to part for her as she walked up and down the rows of tables and booths.

Although she was curious to see what activities and clubs a fantasy gaming sim school offered, she didn’t want to deal with the awkward attempts at avoidance. Instead, she scanned the rows for the Lycée du Soleil Sword Association, of which both her brothers and aunt had been a part of during their time at Lycée.

Her eyes landed on a corner booth with a large circular ring behind it corded off by some rope. There were two people within the ring wearing masked helmets and padded clothing while gripping wooden practice swords. The sign hanging above the booth was the seal of the school and ‘Sword Association’.

She perked up and quickened her speed.

The booth had a healthy amount of interested students. At least a half dozen boys and a few girls were crowded around the table while another dozen or so stood by the ring, watching the existing association members spar. Tori made her way to an empty spot at the edge of the table.

“We are one of the oldest associations on campus,” a tall and lean young man was talking to the group from the inside of the booth. With curly dark hair and what seemed like an attempt to grow a beard on his face, the young man spoke with a hint of pride as he told the first year students about the association. “We do competitive matches and work in conjunction with other sword associations and groups around the empire. Some of our notable alumni include....”

His voice trailed off as he turned his head and saw Tori standing there, looking interested. His silence was sudden and the students listening to him followed his gaze. Someone gasped and the small group took a collective step away from Tori. The young man in the booth seemed to swallow and forced a weak smile on his face.

“Can I help you, my lady?”

She didn’t pay attention to the obvious reluctance in his voice. “Yes, I’d like to join the Sword Association-”

“We’re full.”

Tori snapped her mouth closed and knit her brows together. She looked at the young man and then at the other students before looking back at him. “Aren’t you trying to recruit first years?”

The young man let out a little cough. “Our Sword Association is for serious fencers. We work together with La Garda and do training with them at the Imperial Military Academy.”

Tori nodded. “I know.” After all, her siblings were part of this association and so was Axton before he transferred to the military academy.

The young man shifted awkwardly. “Do you have prior training?”

“I’ve done a bit of sword work with my brothers-”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that!” He cut her off and gave her a regretful smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “But we’re only accepting experienced swordsmen.”

Tori stared at him for a moment before turning back to the other students. “Are you all first years?” They shrank back, as if she had yelled at them, but they nodded their heads. “All right. And do you have experience with swords?” She narrowed her eyes and the students tried to look away.

She almost didn’t hear the quiet ‘no’ and ‘not really’ from the small group.

Tori turned back to the young man with sharp, accusing eyes. “If you don’t want me to join, there is no need to make up such an obvious lie.” The young man tensed up and frowned. “But I haven’t broken any rules and I’m not on probation, so there is no reason to prohibit me from joining.”

The young man drew his head back and let out a laugh. “Not broken any rules?” he asked, incredulous. “Everyone knows you bought your way in!”

Oh my God, not this again. Tori frowned, not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice. “Prove it.”

The young man glared at her. “What?”

“Prove it,” she repeated. “If you want to accuse me and stop me from joining, show your proof. Prove that I bought my way in.” She lifted her chin and gave him a condescending look that seemed to come naturally with her body. “If you can’t prove it, shut your mouth and stop spouting lies.”

The atmosphere around the table went from awkward to tense. The young man’s face began to turn red as he bristled and sneered. “I am your senior. You should show some respect-”

“How can you be my senior if you won’t even let me into your association? What kind of person wants the privilege, but not the responsibility, huh?”

“Listen-”

“Hector.” Tori turned her head towards the sound of a low voice. Another young man wearing padded clothes walked towards the table from the sparring ring. He was a tall, burly student with his head shaved and a helmet under one arm. He wore a serious look on his square face as he reached them and moved in front of the youth she was arguing with. “Lady Guevera, I am afraid we cannot approve your joining the Sword Association.”

Tori frowned more so. “May I know the reason?”

“There are allegations that you bought your position into Lycée. While we can’t prove it, we can’t disprove it, either.”

Tori’s jaw dropped. After a moment of being stunned, she shook her head and threw her arms in the air. “Yes, you can! All you have to do is go ask for my test records in the administration hall and compare it with others to see where I ranked amongst the academic applicants! It’s. Not. That. Hard.”

“Bro!” Another person in padded clothes jogged up to the booth. His head was also shaved and he resembled the bigger guy. They had average faces; likely NPC. The newcomer glanced at Tori and then looked at the burly student. “Let her fight to join.”

This was an unexpected, but not unwelcome turn.

“Tori!” She heard her name and turned to see Ilyana rushing towards her. “There you are! I knew you’d be here! Did you join already?” Ilyana was a bit frazzled and out of breath as she reached Tori’s side, clutching her bag against her.

“No, not yet-”

“She’s not going to join.” The burly student looked at Tori and gave her a curt nod. “I’m sorry for troubling you, but-”

“Bro, let’s see what she can do,” the newcomer at the burly student’s side said. He smirked. “If she’s so eager to join, let her fight for it!”

The bigger man was about to reject him, but Tori spoke up before he had a chance to.

“I accept.” She lifted her chin and met their eyes. “If he wants to fight me, I’ll fight him.”

There were a few murmurs around them and Tori felt Ilyana tug her sleeve. “Tori....”

“It’s fine,” she said in a quiet, reassuring voice. “I can do this.”

“Ewan,” the burly student said, looking down at the one who was half a head shorter than him. “You just joined, as well. You don’t need to get involved like this.”

“All our brothers and sisters have joined this club and now some outsider wants to come in and taint its honorable reputation. I can’t let that happen,” Ewan said firmly. “Let her see that she doesn’t belong here.”

Tori barely contained her disdain. All his brothers and sisters? She had several generations in this stupid association.

The burly student still hesitated.

“Let’s make a deal,” Tori said. “Provide the gear and I’ll fight this guy in the ring. Best two out of three. If I lose, I’ll step away and won’t even think about joining. If I win, you have to not only let me in, but allow me to participate and not be restricted or excluded for arbitrary reasons.” She tilted her head. “Sounds fair?”

The younger student looked excited at the prospect of crossing swords with her and prodded the larger one to agree.

“Captain, it’s a done deal.” The first young man who initially rejected her glanced at Tori and sneered. “I mean, look at her. She’s so thin." Tori resisted the urge to lift her arms and cover her still flat chest, as if personally attacked. "She might not even be able to lift a sword.”

A few people chuckled around them and Tori glanced around. A whole crowd had gathered to see what was going on and once more, she was the accidental show.

The captain frowned. He looked at Tori, sizing her up. “She’s still a Guevera.”

She raised her brow. It almost sounded like at some level, he acknowledged her.

The first student, Hector, scoffed. “Everyone knows that the Guevera daughter is a dainty little lady who doesn’t like swords. She’s probably only joining because her brothers were part of the association. Besides.” He lifted his hand and slapped Ewan’s shoulder. “Your brother is the best first year so far. What’s the risk?”

Tori drew her head back and looked across the table at Ewan to silently assess him. If he was a first year, they were the same age. He was taller than her and if his brother was the captain, then he must’ve been training for a while. He looked more than confident that he could beat her.

The captain let out a heavy sigh. “Someone get her a helmet!”

“Yes!” Ewan pumped his fist and jumped back towards the ring.

“Tori, are you sure about this?” Ilyana asked as Tori rounded the table and followed the captain.

“You heard him. I’m a Guevera. I’ve watched my dad and brothers do this all the time.”

“That’s not the same thing!”

Tori held back a grin and lifted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, holding it out to Ilyana. “Do you mind holding my stuff? I need to put on the padded clothes.”

Ilyana remained helpless, but nodded her head and slung Tori’s bag on her shoulder before taking Tori’s blazer. She stood by the ring, clutching Tori’s blazer against her chest as she watched her disappear behind a small square changing stall. When she stepped out, she had on a canvas colored padded jacket that hit her around her mid thighs.

She still wore her skirt and it looked out of place. Her hair was down and quickly braided and tucked into her jacket. A female member of the sword association was standing by the entrance of the makeshift ring holding a battered helmet, some gloves, and a wooden sword.

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“Thanks,” Tori said as she took the items from her. The female student shook her head and stepped away.

Tori tucked the helmet under her arm and put on the borrowed gloves. She walked around the edge of the ring and was about to put on the helmet when she stopped. Disgust filled her face as she looked at the interior of the helmet and thrust it out at arm’s length.

“What’s wrong? Never worn a helmet before?” someone laughed from the crowd.

“It’s sweaty,” Tori said as she marched towards Ilyana. “Hand me my handkerchief. I need to wipe this.”

Ilyana shuffled through Tori’s bag and handed her a soft, white piece of cloth. Tori tried her best to get all the little crevices of the padded interior, but the look of disgust didn’t leave her face.

You would think they would at least clean any shared equipment between uses, but no. Let’s all be gross...ugh...I’m so glad Sebby bought me my own helmet.

When she was satisfied, she handed the soiled cloth back. Ilyana pinched the handkerchief with two fingers and held it away from their things. “We can wash it when we get back.”

“Just throw it away,” Tori said as she lifted the helmet and rested it on the top of her head. “I don’t think we’ll ever get that sweat off.”

In the center of the ring, the young man from the table was waiting with a smirk.

“I hope you’re ready, my lady,” he said with a small, mocking bow.

Tori weighed the sword in her hands. “Yeah, why not.”

He scoffed and lifted his arms. “The rules are as follows: best two out of three. They must hit the torso or the head to count. No time limit, but if they step outside the ring or they drop their weapon, it will count as a hit by the opponent. I am Hector Laskaris, the Vice-Captain of the Lycée du Soleil Sword Association. I will call the match.”

Tori lowered the helmet over her face and adjusted it to fit snuggly. “I trust you’ll call a fair match, Vice-Captain.”

He shot her a glare. “Don’t hold me to your standards.”

“You couldn’t meet them if you tried.” Tori turned to face her opponent: the first year named Ewan. They stood three paces apart. Ewan was taller than her, with longer arms for a longer reach and longer legs to close the distance between them faster. She let out a low breath.

It wouldn’t be the first time she’d gone up against a larger opponent. In her original world, she was petite and had faced men a good head taller and half a body heavier at tournaments and events. At first glance, she was an unassuming combatant. It was why her team liked to use her; she was constantly underestimated and that was her advantage.

“Are sure you want to do this, Lady Guevera” Ewan asked. He held his arms out at his side. “I’ll be generous and offer you a chance to back out.”

Tori tilted her head. “Are you sure you want to do this?” She lifted her waster and rested the middle of the wooden blade over her shoulder in a relaxed position. “I’ll be generous and offer you a chance to back out before I humiliate you.”

Ewan let out a cold laugh and shook his head. “Suit yourself.” He adjusted his helmet and looked towards the vice-captain. “Ready.”

“Lady Guevera?” The vice-captain looked her way.

Tori adjusted her footing and gripped the two-handed long sword. She lowered it, pointing it down as if she were just letting it hang in front of her. “Ready.” Her eyes stayed on Ewan.

His fingers adjusted on the grip and pommel. His knees were bent and his weight was on the balls of his feet; ready to launch himself at her.

“Fight!”

Ewan let out a yell and almost raced forward. He extended his sword, aiming for a cut down the top center of her head. Her eyes crinkled behind the metal face mask.

Seriously?

She took a half step to the right, taking her directly out of the sword’s trajectory. She lifted her hands, bringing the grip up, past her eyes, and put the wooden blade between her head and Ewan’s sword. As soon as the two wooden weapons made contact, she adjusted the angle of the grip and made one sharp step forward.

The rounded wooden pommel slammed into Ewan’s throat, which was protected by a metal plated leather gorget. She heard the choked gasp as the force of the hit knocked him off balance. He stumbled back and hit the ground, sending a small puff of dust around him.

His sword was at his side, no longer in his hand.

The crowd that gathered and jeered at her was silenced.

Tori kept her eyes on Ewan as she pulled back her sword and stepped three paces back, putting the same distance between them that they started with.

“Pommel to the throat,” she said, returning to her relaxed stance. “That’s one.”

“Yes!” Ilyana’s excited yell broke the stunned silence around the ring. “You got him, Tori! That was amazing! Whoo!” She clapped her hands together and Tori gave her a little salute with her hand.

“That...that doesn’t count!” Hector rushed forward and bent down to check on Ewan. Ewan waved him away and pushed himself back up.

“What do you mean?” Tori frowned. “I hit his throat.”

Hector scowled. “It has to be a hit on the head, above the neck, or the torso, below the neck and above the waist, to count.”

Tori looked at Ewan as he stood on his feet, rubbing his throat as he hunched forward. “Fine.” She conceded the technicality. Hector wasn’t wrong. She just needed to be more careful next time.

“Are you all right, Ewan?” the captain called from the side, where he had uncrossed his arms the moment she throat-slammed his brother.

“It’s nothing! Just surprised!” Ewan shook his body and rolled his shoulders to loosen up before returning to his side of the ring. He lifted his sword in front of him, arms bent and ready to extend in order to hit her when the distance was closed. It looked like he was taking their little wager more seriously. “Ready!”

Tori remained in her relaxed stance. Hips facing her opponent, knees even beneath, and her weight distributed, but appearing as if she were simply being lazy with her arms hanging and sword pointed down.

The kid in front of her seemed tense and full of pent up energy ready to explode into an attack. His own stance was offensive and Tori chuckled to herself. She’d encountered many opponents who started with an offensive stance. It was fairly common and looked aggressive. As soon as the signal was given, they’d storm ahead. The style was very ‘here I come’.

However, Tori’s school taught her preferred style. Rather than ‘here I come’, it was ‘come and get me’. "Ready."

“Fight!” The vice-captain raised his arm and the kid across from her took a step forward and paused, waiting for Tori to move. She didn’t. She wanted to let him come to her. When she didn’t move, Ewan’s shoulders tensed and he stepped forward.

Another thrust to the face? Really? And at that distance? Tori took another half step to the right, avoiding the point of Ewan’s sword as she raised her arms and used the cross guard to deflect the blade. Her movement didn’t stop with a block and she transitioned into a parry. Similar to her earlier move, she turned her pommel forward and slammed it into Ewan’s face mask.

It was a hard hit, carrying the force from her forward movement, and was enough to make him stumble back again. As he struggled to regain his footing, Tori opened distance between them, taking a step back, realigning herself, and whacking the back of his wrist with her sword. It wasn’t too hard a hit, but it was enough to make him release his sword.

It hit the ground and Tori stepped back, this time keeping her sword up and between them.

“I hit him on the head,” she said aloud. “That’s one!”

Ilyana yelled once more. “That must’ve counted this time! She hit him in the face!” She glared at the vice-captain, as if demanding he agree.

The vice-captain stood at the side, his mouth slightly agape as he looked at Tori with disbelief.

“Vice-Captain.” Tori didn’t lower her sword. “Aren’t you going to call it?”

The young man took a step forward and raised his arm. He wore a pained expression as he lowered his arm to point to Tori. “First hit: Victoria de Guevera....”

Ilyana’s clapping and excited yelling stood out from the murmuring crowd. “Why aren’t you clapping?” Tori heard her ask someone sharply. “That was a good, clear hit to the face!”

Tori chuckled beneath her mask and lowered her arms. She rolled her shoulders and relaxed her stance once more.

“Is defense all you can do?” she heard Ewan say in front of her. She looked ahead and shrugged.

“Why waste my energy when my opponent can come to me?”

“Heh...very well.” Ewan adjusted his stance once more. He held his sword on his right, in a slightly more relaxed position than when it was held center. “Vice-Captain! I’m ready!”

Tori returned to her position. “Ready.”

“Fight!”

The crowd held their breath. No one moved.

Ewan remained in his position with his intense eyes fixed on Tori. She kept her gaze on his head, watching for it to bob with a movement and hint at what direction he’d move. However, Ewan didn’t take a step.

She raised a brow beneath her mask. It seemed the young man wanted to play her game. That would’ve been acceptable. Tori didn’t mind playing a waiting game with him. Except, she barely had a sandwich for lunch and her stomach felt empty. She wondered if Ilyana was getting hungry, too.

“Okay, let’s end this quickly,” she said under her breath as she lifted her sword to her shoulder. Behind her, the spectators watched with unwavering gazes as she took small, even steps in a slight angle. Keeping her hips in line with her opponent, she moved her arms and brought her sword down.

She could’ve sworn she heard Ewan snort and criticize her move as he quickly raised his arms and used his sword to block and push the point of her sword to the ground. This time, Tori took a half step to the left and raised her arms, keeping her sword between her and him. Now, she faced his right side, which was left open.

It was a fast and smooth motion to rotate her sword from pointing to the ground, up and over her shoulder, before slamming it onto his right shoulder and dragging it over his chest and down his arm. She kept the pressure, as if wanting to cut off his flesh to get to his hand.

Ewan let out a hiss as Tori pushed her pommel down, lifting the point of the sword as she stepped forward, and pressed the tip against his chest, right beneath his breast bone.

“I got his torso,” she said, holding the sword against him firmly. “You know what that means.”

“Two out of three!” Ilyana nearly screamed and beneath her mask, Tori smiled. “Tori wins!”

“Stop.” A low voice cut through the tense air and Ewan turned his head. Tori’s eyes flickered to the side and watched as the captain approached, putting on a helmet. She narrowed her eyes and drew her sword back. “Ewan, stand down.”

“Hey...hey, wait!” Ilyana protested at once as everyone watched the captain usher aside his brother and put on his gloves. His sword was pinned under one arm as he stopped where Ewan had been standing. “That’s not fair! Tori was only supposed to fight one opponent!”

Tori frowned as well. She was getting hungry, was tired of being ostracized, and was wasting an unnecessary amount of energy for something that should’ve been as simple as filling out an application form.

“Captain, I do believe we had an agreement. You understand that I only made it for convenience. I don’t want to have to get the school involved to force you to accept me,” Tori said.

The Captain stood across from her, a good head taller with arms as thick as her legs. From afar, it looked like overkill to have him fight her.

“If you can get the sword out of my hand, you’re in,” he said in a calm voice. “No one will restrict you. You won’t be excluded from any activities and if someone retaliates against you for arbitrary reasons, they will face disciplinary actions.”

Tori narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure I won’t have to fight everyone in the association?”

“I give you my word,” he said. “My name is Patrick Connor. I am the Captain of the Lycée du Soleil Sword Association and ranked first within it.”

Oh, so we’re going by prison rules? Beat up the most powerful motherfucker in the yard and no one will mess with you? Got it.

Tori nodded. “All right.” She took a step back and rested her sword on her shoulder once more. “Whenever you’re ready, Captain.”

He took the invitation. The captain moved forward, closing the distance until they were just a pace and a half apart. He moved around her and unlike his younger brother, his steps were smoother and he took angles. Tori moved to keep him within her center line of vision, almost matching him as if dancing.

The sound of the crowd surrounding the ring, cheering and yelling for the captain to beat her, faded into a dull background noise as she focused.

The captain suddenly moved forward, extending his sword to cut her. Tori stepped to the side, avoiding being hit, but his cuts were tighter, cleaner, and more exact than Ewan’s. He was aggressive, but Tori just had to keep her sword between her body and his sword. She narrowed her eyes.

As the smaller person, she’d need to move in closer to actually hit him. His sword would normally hit her before she could touch him. That was what everyone thought whenever they watched the poor, short lady against the big, tall swordsman; she’d never be able to reach him.

But people who relied on their size and reach had a difficult time when their opponent was too close. Few people felt confident enough to get in closer, which hindered the opponent’s ability to strike.

Tori lived off of that tactic.

Her small body was fast and if she was quick and precise enough, she could get a blade against her opponent’s throat before they could wonder where she went. With that in mind, she targeted the captain’s dominant arm. Using her own sword as an extension of her arm, she slid it against him, purposely avoiding his sword and getting so close that they were touching.

She heard him gasp behind the mask as she wove her sword over his forearm and under his armpit and then stepped around him, lifting her sword and his arm that wound around it. The angle of his arm was awkward and enough pressure would dislocate it. It was a daring move and too risky to be used in combat, when she needed to keep moving, but since it was just the two of them and she didn’t need to worry about another attacker, she might as well use it.

“Ugh!” The captain groaned as he lurched forward, falling to his knee to relieve the pressure against his shoulder. His sword dropped as pain shot through his arm. Tori stepped around him, twisting his arm against his back as he hit the ground.

She stood behind the bigger student, her sword holding and pinning his arm awkwardly at his back as he hunched forward on his knees in front of her. The crowd was silent.

“We had an agreement, Captain,” Tori said, unmoving. “I trust you’re good on your word.”

She watched his shoulders heave up and down with deep breaths. “We had an agreement,” he said. “Welcome to the Lycée du Soleil Sword Association, Lady Guevera.”

Her eyes crinkled up as she stepped back and slid her sword out from behind him. The captain brought his arm against his chest and rubbed it as he rose to his feet. He turned around and Tori lifted her sword, bringing it to her head in a salute as she met his dark eyes.

“It’s Tori.”

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