Cecilia fell as a the heavy shield knocked her back. This was the seventeenth time she lost. Her sparring partner knew no mercy, punishing her for every and any mistake. The tip of a sword appeared at her neck. "Get up Cecilia, you've been dead for the past hour." Akron Stormbringer took a step back. He had been training his cousin for some time now. She was weak. He had to hammer that out of her. But she was also compassionate, it was different than all the cruelty here. Just like Nikki... Akron looked Cecilia. The moment she got up they began their next battle. They both sat down in the shade of an ancient tree. Both were tired, one showing physical exhaustion and one concealing emotional pain. Cecilia looked at the sky. "Does it get lonely here? Just fighting all the time?" Akron laughed lightly and looked to the distance "I had company. It was very short and sweet. It's the kind that you never forget." He looked to his cousin, student, and friend. In an inaudible whisper "you're just like her." He hoped Nikki was doing all right. He wasn't (Closed)