She rushed me. The crazy ice queen rushed me. I planned for her to be on the defensive. I had a chance of winning if that were the case. Instead, she smashed into me at incredible speed, the blunt wooden sword digging into my ribs, sending me tumbling backwards off the ring, and several feet further.

I gasped for air; the wind completely knocked out of me. The pain in my side was intense. I tried to get up, but couldn’t. It hurt so much, like I was just hit by a truck. I squirmed on the ground in pain as Kurahara approached me.

“You made a fatal mistake. You have no battle experience, so you can be forgiven for making it. You failed to read your opponent. I played on the defensive, because I knew the vice president was strong, and that he was fairly decent at swordplay. I couldn’t afford trading blows with him, less he over power me, so instead I opted to wear him down, and strike him when he was weak.” She got up next to me. The pain was beginning to dull, but it still hurt to breath. “You, on the other hand, have no defensive capability. You told me yourself, you had no sword experience, so you left yourself wide open. All I had to do, was strike.”

“You arrogant bit…”

“If anything, you were arrogant. Arrogant for thinking you can stand against me when you couldn’t even gauge your abilities. That’s how Demon Hunters get killed. They hunt prey that’s far beyond them.”

“You…” I sucked in air.

“Don’t worry. They should only be cracked. I didn’t put that much force into my blow.”

Unbelievable. She sent me flying with a half-hearted strike? Is that really the power gap between a regular person and a 100?

“Don’t worry.” She said, reaching her hand down. “As class president, I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

I slapped her hand away, struggling to my feet. I almost fell back down in pain. My ears were ringing like crazy. I stumbled out of the gym, using the walls to support myself. Every breath felt like fire. I stumbled out into the schoolyard, and limped home.

I tore my uniform off, revealing the wound. A nasty purple bruise swelled where she had hit me. There were all kinds of other cuts and bruises from tumbling backwards. I looked awful. And it was all only one blow. One.

Night came. My groans echoed throughout. For the entire night, I thought about the two fights. The one with the vice president, and my fight. How could I have lost so easily? She was too strong. No, it wasn’t that she was too strong. I was too weak. I didn’t realize how much weaker I was. It’s hard to gauge your own ability if you never test it. Other than the qualifiers, that was the first time I’d ever sparred with anyone.

“Aidan! Aidan open up!” Koryn voice echoed from outside as she knocked on the door.

I struggled getting up, enduring the pain. I managed to reach the door, opening up to Koryn. She had a plastic bag filled with groceries.

“Oh my Anastrid, you look terrible.” She said. I was still only wearing boxers, so all my wounds were visible. “Here, let me help you back to bed.”

She took care of me, placing an ice pack on my bruise and helping make dinner.

“That was really stupid you know.” She called from the kitchen. “Fighting the president. You know she’s the daughter of the legendary hero, right?”

“Wait what?” I said, hissing in pain.

“Kurahara Haru. Anastrid’s champion. The hero that killed the Demon King ten years ago. No one’s seen him since, but he was the most powerful Demon Hunter in the world. It’s no surprise that the president is a cut above the rest.”

“I didn’t know they were related. I thought they just shared a last name.”

“Kurahara inherited the Hero’s divine Arm too as well. Powerful arms resonate with powerful people. The more powerful the weapon, the powerful the user, and vice versa.”

“Of course, she was born special.” I said.

“That’s a bad attitude you know. Even if she is the Hero’s daughter doesn’t mean she hasn’t been working hard.”

Koryn finished up, bringing me the soup she finished cooking.

“Feed me.” I said.

“You’re not that hurt.”

“But its uncomfortable.” I teased.

“Almost as uncomfortable as my idiot getting hit so hard he flew off the arena?”

I laughed awkwardly. 

“Hey, Koryn.” I said, lifting some soup into my mouth. “Do you think I’m weak?”

“Wrong question. Try again.” She said.

“Wrong? How is it wrong?”

“Try again.”

“But, try again.”

I thought for a moment.

“I give up.”

“That’s your problem. You give up too easily, and you look down on yourself. You act cocky, but you don’t have any confidence. You’ve resigned yourself to not even trying because you don’t believe you can make a difference.”

“I did try.” I said. “Look at what happens to those who try.”

“You’re an idiot. You tried something beyond your level. You can’t run a race without training for it first, even if you give it your all, you’ll just disappoint yourself. Kurahara was like running a marathon without even being able to run a kilometer. Ask your question again.”

I thought again for a moment.

“Do you think I can become stronger?” I said.

Koryn’s face brightened into a beaming smile. “Correct answer! And yes. The answer is yes. You may lack magic potential, but you can make up for it, starting with your grades, and picking up a sword.”

“You’re saying, I should…”

“Yes. You have to try. Don’t worry though. I’ll help you through it, starting first thing tomorrow. I’ll help find a sword teacher, and help you study as well.”

“Koryn… I… want to become stronger. I need more power. I want to become a Demon Hunter, and protect those closest to me. Like you.” I said.

Koryn’s face glowed red. “Oh. I… oh your soup is getting cold. Better eat it!” She said, taking my spoon and shoving it into my mouth.

I felt a lot better after that. Koryn with the weekend being tomorrow, Koryn agreed to meet me at the park in the afternoon. I thought a lot about what she had said. About trying, and training up to fight Kurahara. I needed to start small, learning the baby steps. I needed to learn how to fight, and I needed to dedicate myself. It was the first step to bettering myself. Starting thing tomorrow, I’ll start trying for real.