Evia watched as Naro pulled the dagger from her throat. He stood up, looking down at me. I scowl at him and stand. Even so, he is more than a head taller than me. I slouch against the wall and eye the assassin.

“ Your strength is decent.” He says.

“ You technique is interesting. I see that many of your movements are directed to cause the most pain. At first, it may appear you are just throwing punches and hoping they land, but that's not it. Is it. “

Actually, that was exactly what she had been doing. Evia had always been able to kill with just a wave of her hand. She’d never truly needed to learn any fighting techniques. Evia tried to remember what the other gods had taught her about fighting.

“ Your defense is horrid and your stamina is poor at best.” Naro continues.

Evia had purposefully chosen to end it quickly. Letting him feel like he had the upper hand. In fact, she could probably win just by her ability to continue fighting for days on end. As for the other thing…..

Defence...defense..hmmm.

What were Areas always blabbing about? Something about defense….Oh right!!!

Areas said and I quote.

“ Defence is for whipping cowards to wet behind the ear to know a true fight if it killed them.”

There that sounded right. Evia wasn’t completely sure what this “defense” is. But Areas is the GOD of war, he would know best. Naro is staring at her dumbfounded.

“What?” She asked.

Quick as a whip, he smacks her across the head. Evia saw the hit coming and her immediate instinct was to throw up a wall of fire. She fought the urge and during her internal struggle the blow landed and she held her head.

“ What was THAT for?!?!” She shouted.

“ With an attitude like that you won't survive long,” Naro said. He crouched and left onto a broken pole hanging from the wall Evia had been previously leaning on.

“ I’ll see you tonight for your first lesson! Meet me at the hill over there-” He points to where she had previously met with Arculous. When Evia looks back Naro has already disappeared.

-------------------

Hanna, sat quietly as her pawns, danced before her. Louis stared at Serina like a lost puppy. Serina pretends not to notice as she read her book. Claire and Jessie held each other's hands under the table. Such childish fascination was beneath her. The four of them were settled down in the study room, in the City's library. Students wandered around, reviewing what they had learned the previous year.

Jessie let out a long sigh. “ I don’t remember any of this!” Claire gave a consoling smile. And Serina leaned over.

“ It’s not that hard if you break it down. Focus your mana were you want to become invisible…”

Jessie closed her eyes, constituting.

“ And then envision its despairing. Let your mana wash over it and disappear.”

After a minute Jessie's hand turned invisible. Claire cheered and Jessie whooped when she saw her hand.

Claire turned to Serena, “ Thanks Sera, you really deserve your title as best in our year. “

Serina smiled which turned into a yelp of surprise when Louis hugged her from behind. He kissed the top of her head.

“And she's my girlfriend.” He said smugly. Proud of his lover. Serina blushed and mumbled, “ I’m only the best at tests, there are tons of people stronger than me.”

“Oh, Hush!” Jessie exclaimed.

The door slid open and Hanna’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart began working overtime. As the sweet smell of pine picked her nose. She sucked in a breath. He slid into the seat next to her. She watched him carefully.

He ran a hand through his black hair, his blues eyes looked around the room lazily. A smile tugged at the corner of his perfect lips.

Hanna wanted him. She had wanted him since the day she had met him. She had been waiting her whole life for her prince charming. The one that would take her away from this dreadfully boring life.

Eric Devanston.

He was her prince. And she would stop at nothing, to have him.