After the breakfast with the royal family and their guests was over Laura was led to a training ground for the knights by Sigrid, Vivian and an entourage of some of the nobles that were having breakfast with them.
"Now Laura," Sigrid addresses her. "Many of the nobles here today were not present at the fights yesterday and despite you putting on a good show when you faced Eleonora a majority of the nobles were dissatisfied with your overall performance as well. So they've asked for you to show them how you match up against some of the knights under the castles employ."
Laura gulps nervously.
"They want to see a demonstration of your abilities."
Laura looks back at the gaggle of nobles, some looking at her with distain others with interest.
"I certainly can do that."
Sigrid nods in approval and points to a group of men wearing knights armor standing at the edge of the training field.
"Go ahead Laura."
Laura takes a step forward and begins to walk towards the group of knights. Laura can tell what this is, it's basically a hazing exercise. She figures these knights are here to teach her that she's at the bottom of the pecking order, but she doesn't let that bother her. She keeps walking and once she reaches them she bows politely.
"My name is Laura, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The group of six knights each turn to look at her with disdain. They're probably all looking at her horns and claws with disdain.
"You speak like a common peasant girl."
"With all due respect, I am a common peasant girl."
One of the knights steps forward and shakes his head.
"We had to take time out of our day in order to gauge your abilities for our employer so you'd better be grateful."
Laura lifts her head up.
"Grateful? For what exactly?"
The knight who stepped forward scowls at Laura.
"Seems like this little demon needs to be taught some manners. We can't have her running around the palace causing trouble now."
"What makes you think I'm going to cause any trouble?"
"Your kind always causes trouble."
"By "your kind" do you mean commoners or demons?"
The knight scoffs.
"Doesn't matter, you know what I mean."
"I'm sorry but as a common peasant I fail to understand."
Laura's sarcastic tone makes the knights blood boil. One of them takes a step closer to Laura.
"Listen here you little demon," He growls menacingly. "You may be the princesses new pet but don't let that get to your head."
"Enough!" Sigrid interrupts the situation before it gets violent. "Please refrain from fighting before the sparring begins. We're here to test how she holds up against you lot, now stop making a scene in front of the nobles and royal family."
"But..." The knight seems reluctant to comply.
"No buts, now choose one of you to spar with Laura."
The knights grumble amongst themselves and finally come to a consensus.
A young man with blond hair and blue eyes steps forward. His demeanor seems to say that he doesn't have much experience in combat.
The other five knights off to the side start snickering.
"This will be easy for him, she's just a tiny little girl anyway."
Laura approaches the knight and bows deeply.
"My name is Laura, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The blonde knight seems to take a pompous attitude with her as he doesn't even give his name in return and simply scowls at her.
"What's the matter?" Sigrid says. "Aren't you going to give her your name in return?"
The blonde knight scoffs while the other 5 behind him try to not laugh.
"My name is wasted on the ears of someone like this. I'd like for you to not make jokes like that Sigrid."
Sigrid glares daggers at the knight, who takes it in stride.
"Alright then, shall we begin?"
Laura nods as the knight draws his sword.
"Yes, let's begin."
The two take fighting stances while the spectators watch on. Sigrid raises her hand into the air and swings it down.
"Begin!"
The blonde knight charges forward and swings his sword but Laura dodges with ease.
"It's slow." She smirks at the knight, as he slashes at her again, but she evades his attack effortlessly.
"She's too fast." One of the other knights comments.
"I can't believe how agile she is." Another knight says.
Another hits the nail on the head.
"She's like a cat."
The knight with the blond hair sneers as Laura continues to evade his attacks with little effort. After swinging at nothing but air his breathing becomes labored.
"Tch, she's good at dodging at least."
"Aren't you going to use any magic? I trained for months against a woman who would use her lightning magic to increase her speed so you're slow slashes are child's play to dodge."
Laura smiles as she evades another swipe from the knight.
The knight starts to sweat profusely and breathes heavily.
"I'll admit, you're not half bad at this. But if dodging is all you can do then you're borderline useless."
Laura shrugs.
"Then I won't dodge your next attack."
The knight stops his sword mid-swing and looks at Laura.
"Are you really sure about that?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
The knight smirks.
He lunges forward and strikes at Laura with his sword, it's the perfect thrust aimed at her heart. His intent to kill is obvious.
However, right before it strikes her Laura kicks the blade out of his hands sending it flying. In the next moment an elbow is thrust right into the knights unprotected nose.
The knight falls back on the ground clutching his face as blood gushes from it. Sigrid immediately calls the match and a small round of applause comes from the spectating nobles.
Laura bows her head toward her opponent.
"Thank you very much."
"For what?"
The knight asks between gasping breaths.
"For an easy sparring match."
Laura grins at the knight as the knights off to the side start to laugh at him.
"HAHAHA, losing in such a humiliating fashion is unbecoming of a knight." One of the knights laughs.
"Hey you lot refrain from..."
Sigrid begins to chastise the knights but Laura holds out a hand to stop her. She smiles at Sigrid and motions for the knights to enter the ring with her.
"H-hey Laura, you only needed to fight one you know. The nobles are satisfied."
Laura continues to smile at Sigrid but it doesn't seem genuine.
"That's alright Sigrid, I want to get a good grasp of my fellow working companions strength. So please allow me to fight them."
Sigrid has only known Laura for a little less than 24 hours and already she sees that pissing her off is not a good idea.
"Very well, but please try to go easy on them. It may not look like it but those knights are some of the higher ranked ones we employ."
Laura nods and looks at the remaining knights. She motions for them to enter and fight her. They all enter the ring with swords drawn ready for battle.
"Hold on you lot. This is supposed to be multiple one on one battles."
"It's fine Sigrid. Compared to Eleonora these guys don't hold a candle to her. Especially when they don't use magic."
"Oh you wanna see magic, you little brat?!"
A knight shouts loudly as he steps forward.
"I'll show you magic!"
The loudmouth knight imbues his sword in water and brings it forward like a whip.
"Wait captain what about the nobles!? They could get caught up in that."
The captain loudmouth knight ignores his fellow knight and flings his water whip at Laura who snaps her finger causing a wall of fire to appear in front of her, evaporating the water. In the ensuing haze Laura gives the captain loudmouth knight an uppercut with her fist causing him to be instantly knocked unconscious.
A couple seconds later the haze is blasted away. Looking back towards the nobles Laura sees Sigrid in front of the princess, one hand thrust forward and one holding a sword in a defensive stance.
"Please refrain from using magic without the proper safeguards. You could have injured the princess or some of the nobles."
Sigrid speaks evenly while maintaining her defensive stance. Seeing the princess safe Laura turns to her other three opponents.
"So... are you three just gonna stand there or are you gonna do something?"
One of the knights takes a step forward and is immediately kicked in the stomach by Laura causing him to fall forward on his face. The other two knights drops their swords and surrender to Laura.
"Amazing. She took out Alder's squad." One of the nobles says.
"They were just too overconfident. I'm sure if you put them up against her again she won't stand a chance." Another nobles replies.
Sigrid sheathes her sword and give Princess Vivian and side long glance.
"So what do you think Princess?"
"Well I certainly don't have buyers remorse right now."
Sigrid smiles widely hearing the princess' response. She starts to walk back to Laura.
"Alright Laura it seems that you pass this little test."
"Thank you."
"Now come along, we have much to do."
About 10 minutes later Laura is sitting across from Sigrid eating breakfast.
"That was an impressive display Laura."
"Thanks... Though honestly I wasn't expecting to win so easily."
"Neither were the nobles I bet."
Sigrid chuckles to herself.
"Alder had been getting too full of himself lately so you putting him in his place came at just the right time."
"I mean yeah, I guess so."
"But still, I'm impressed with your fighting ability. From what I heard you got your ass handed to you before you arrived."
Laura starts to look embarrassed.
"Though I'm kinda ashamed to admit it. I thought that if I lost on purpose then Princess Vivian would have second thoughts about buying me."
"Is that right?"
Sigrid leans forward intently.
"I would think being taken out of the colosseum and put into the Princess' employ would be a dream come true for anyone."
"Yes, but... I made friends there that accepted me as a demon so I didn't want to leave them."
Sigrid nods her head in understanding.
"I understand how you feel. Being forced to leave a place that you've grown attached to is difficult indeed. But you're here now, and I'm certain everything will work out."
Laura smiles.
"You sound like you know what you're talking about."
Sigrid chuckles again and shrugs.
"Who can say?"
The two return to eating their breakfast.
After the breakfast with the royal family and their guests was over Laura was led to a training ground for the knights by Sigrid, Vivian and an entourage of some of the nobles that were having breakfast with them.
"Now Laura," Sigrid addresses her. "Many of the nobles here today were not present at the fights yesterday and despite you putting on a good show when you faced Eleonora a majority of the nobles were dissatisfied with your overall performance as well. So they've asked for you to show them how you match up against some of the knights under the castles employ."
Laura gulps nervously.
"They want to see a demonstration of your abilities."
Laura looks back at the gaggle of nobles, some looking at her with distain others with interest.
"I certainly can do that."
Sigrid nods in approval and points to a group of men wearing knights armor standing at the edge of the training field.
"Go ahead Laura."
Laura takes a step forward and begins to walk towards the group of knights. Laura can tell what this is, it's basically a hazing exercise. She figures these knights are here to teach her that she's at the bottom of the pecking order, but she doesn't let that bother her. She keeps walking and once she reaches them she bows politely.
"My name is Laura, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The group of six knights each turn to look at her with disdain. They're probably all looking at her horns and claws with disdain.
"You speak like a common peasant girl."
"With all due respect, I am a common peasant girl."
One of the knights steps forward and shakes his head.
"We had to take time out of our day in order to gauge your abilities for our employer so you'd better be grateful."
Laura lifts her head up.
"Grateful? For what exactly?"
The knight who stepped forward scowls at Laura.
"Seems like this little demon needs to be taught some manners. We can't have her running around the palace causing trouble now."
"What makes you think I'm going to cause any trouble?"
"Your kind always causes trouble."
"By "your kind" do you mean commoners or demons?"
The knight scoffs.
"Doesn't matter, you know what I mean."
"I'm sorry but as a common peasant I fail to understand."
Laura's sarcastic tone makes the knights blood boil. One of them takes a step closer to Laura.
"Listen here you little demon," He growls menacingly. "You may be the princesses new pet but don't let that get to your head."
"Enough!" Sigrid interrupts the situation before it gets violent. "Please refrain from fighting before the sparring begins. We're here to test how she holds up against you lot, now stop making a scene in front of the nobles and royal family."
"But..." The knight seems reluctant to comply.
"No buts, now choose one of you to spar with Laura."
The knights grumble amongst themselves and finally come to a consensus.
A young man with blond hair and blue eyes steps forward. His demeanor seems to say that he doesn't have much experience in combat.
The other five knights off to the side start snickering.
"This will be easy for him, she's just a tiny little girl anyway."
Laura approaches the knight and bows deeply.
"My name is Laura, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The blonde knight seems to take a pompous attitude with her as he doesn't even give his name in return and simply scowls at her.
"What's the matter?" Sigrid says. "Aren't you going to give her your name in return?"
The blonde knight scoffs while the other 5 behind him try to not laugh.
"My name is wasted on the ears of someone like this. I'd like for you to not make jokes like that Sigrid."
Sigrid glares daggers at the knight, who takes it in stride.
"Alright then, shall we begin?"
Laura nods as the knight draws his sword.
"Yes, let's begin."
The two take fighting stances while the spectators watch on. Sigrid raises her hand into the air and swings it down.
"Begin!"
The blonde knight charges forward and swings his sword but Laura dodges with ease.
"It's slow." She smirks at the knight, as he slashes at her again, but she evades his attack effortlessly.
"She's too fast." One of the other knights comments.
"I can't believe how agile she is." Another knight says.
Another hits the nail on the head.
"She's like a cat."
The knight with the blond hair sneers as Laura continues to evade his attacks with little effort. After swinging at nothing but air his breathing becomes labored.
"Tch, she's good at dodging at least."
"Aren't you going to use any magic? I trained for months against a woman who would use her lightning magic to increase her speed so you're slow slashes are child's play to dodge."
Laura smiles as she evades another swipe from the knight.
The knight starts to sweat profusely and breathes heavily.
"I'll admit, you're not half bad at this. But if dodging is all you can do then you're borderline useless."
Laura shrugs.
"Then I won't dodge your next attack."
The knight stops his sword mid-swing and looks at Laura.
"Are you really sure about that?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
The knight smirks.
He lunges forward and strikes at Laura with his sword, it's the perfect thrust aimed at her heart. His intent to kill is obvious.
However, right before it strikes her Laura kicks the blade out of his hands sending it flying. In the next moment an elbow is thrust right into the knights unprotected nose.
The knight falls back on the ground clutching his face as blood gushes from it. Sigrid immediately calls the match and a small round of applause comes from the spectating nobles.
Laura bows her head toward her opponent.
"Thank you very much."
"For what?"
The knight asks between gasping breaths.
"For an easy sparring match."
Laura grins at the knight as the knights off to the side start to laugh at him.
"HAHAHA, losing in such a humiliating fashion is unbecoming of a knight." One of the knights laughs.
"Hey you lot refrain from..."
Sigrid begins to chastise the knights but Laura holds out a hand to stop her. She smiles at Sigrid and motions for the knights to enter the ring with her.
"H-hey Laura, you only needed to fight one you know. The nobles are satisfied."
Laura continues to smile at Sigrid but it doesn't seem genuine.
"That's alright Sigrid, I want to get a good grasp of my fellow working companions strength. So please allow me to fight them."
Sigrid has only known Laura for a little less than 24 hours and already she sees that pissing her off is not a good idea.
"Very well, but please try to go easy on them. It may not look like it but those knights are some of the higher ranked ones we employ."
Laura nods and looks at the remaining knights. She motions for them to enter and fight her. They all enter the ring with swords drawn ready for battle.
"Hold on you lot. This is supposed to be multiple one on one battles."
"It's fine Sigrid. Compared to Eleonora these guys don't hold a candle to her. Especially when they don't use magic."
"Oh you wanna see magic, you little brat?!"
A knight shouts loudly as he steps forward.
"I'll show you magic!"
The loudmouth knight imbues his sword in water and brings it forward like a whip.
"Wait captain what about the nobles!? They could get caught up in that."
The captain loudmouth knight ignores his fellow knight and flings his water whip at Laura who snaps her finger causing a wall of fire to appear in front of her, evaporating the water. In the ensuing haze Laura gives the captain loudmouth knight an uppercut with her fist causing him to be instantly knocked unconscious.
A couple seconds later the haze is blasted away. Looking back towards the nobles Laura sees Sigrid in front of the princess, one hand thrust forward and one holding a sword in a defensive stance.
"Please refrain from using magic without the proper safeguards. You could have injured the princess or some of the nobles."
Sigrid speaks evenly while maintaining her defensive stance. Seeing the princess safe Laura turns to her other three opponents.
"So... are you three just gonna stand there or are you gonna do something?"
One of the knights takes a step forward and is immediately kicked in the stomach by Laura causing him to fall forward on his face. The other two knights drops their swords and surrender to Laura.
"Amazing. She took out Alder's squad." One of the nobles says.
"They were just too overconfident. I'm sure if you put them up against her again she won't stand a chance." Another nobles replies.
Sigrid sheathes her sword and give Princess Vivian and side long glance.
"So what do you think Princess?"
"Well I certainly don't have buyers remorse right now."
Sigrid smiles widely hearing the princess' response. She starts to walk back to Laura.
"Alright Laura it seems that you pass this little test."
"Thank you."
"Now come along, we have much to do."
About 10 minutes later Laura is sitting across from Sigrid eating breakfast.
"That was an impressive display Laura."
"Thanks... Though honestly I wasn't expecting to win so easily."
"Neither were the nobles I bet."
Sigrid chuckles to herself.
"Alder had been getting too full of himself lately so you putting him in his place came at just the right time."
"I mean yeah, I guess so."
"But still, I'm impressed with your fighting ability. From what I heard you got your ass handed to you before you arrived."
Laura starts to look embarrassed.
"Though I'm kinda ashamed to admit it. I thought that if I lost on purpose then Princess Vivian would have second thoughts about buying me."
"Is that right?"
Sigrid leans forward intently.
"I would think being taken out of the colosseum and put into the Princess' employ would be a dream come true for anyone."
"Yes, but... I made friends there that accepted me as a demon so I didn't want to leave them."
Sigrid nods her head in understanding.
"I understand how you feel. Being forced to leave a place that you've grown attached to is difficult indeed. But you're here now, and I'm certain everything will work out."
Laura smiles.
"You sound like you know what you're talking about."
Sigrid chuckles again and shrugs.
"Who can say?"
The two return to eating their breakfast.
