Chapter 3: Girls With Knives

	Dali woke with the morning sun on her face. She got up to dress. It was an off day so she let Pel sleep. She changed into leather pants and a free shirt, what girls wear when they get weapon training. She walked to the door and stopped. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She had her hair up so it wouldn't get in the way. I wonder what I'm really doing here. I wonder why it's me? She always had the thought in the back of her mind these days. It had been a month since that moon had shone full. I can't go back to those days. Those easy days. Dali had been getting some weapons training from Master Kalothei since that time. She turned from the mirror and went to the Boys Academy.
She crossed the grounds. She looked at the familiar buildings, still reminiscing of the romance a year ago. Something that couldn't be? That should never have been? She still couldn't get over what had happened. Dali walked into the Boys Academy training hall.
The hall was on the first level, she would never be allowed upstairs. The inside was the same layout as the Girls Academy, she knew what it would look like, rows of rooms. She lost herself thinking what Yukii's room might have been like. Certainly not like hers, after all, Pel decorated everything in their room. She could imagine Vey's room. She could always imagine them both.
"Dalia? Dalia?" 
Dali's attention was turned elsewhere. "Master Kalothei." Dali smiled.
"Time for your lesson already? I haven't set up yet. Come in and wait."
She just smiled and followed him. Kalothei was a very young looking man. He had green hair and purple eyes. She didn't have to think why he was married to Wisteria. He was something. He became a full weapons master of Umoleth at a very young age. Every time Dali looked into Master Kalothei's eyes, the same pretty purple eyes, as Vey... Vey. She shook her head. He was gone. She sat in the corner of the room waiting for Kalothei to set everything up. There were every sort of weapon ever made in that room. Swords and bows, scythes, spears and staffs. Dali liked the knives. They were easy to use, but she also liked the nagata. The long staff with the curved razor sharp blade on the top. She was getting pretty good at using it. 
"Dalia. Weapon?"
She looked up. "Knives."
He handed her two. They had a handle to hold onto and had blades that ran to the elbow.
She loved using the knives. 
"Dalia, remember, magic might get you far, but this will get you farther. Come on." 

	Dali took the knives and stood waiting for Kalothei.
"Dalia, I must admit that you are one of the best students I've ever had. Most of the students have had to have had 5 years of training to be at this level. They've had the most extensive training. One month and you're already this good. Only two have ever won against me. Your brother was one of them. He excelled at the sword."
"Who was the other?"
Kalothei shook his head. "When you beat me, I'll tell you."
Dali sighed.
"Your younger brother is quite good too. I shouldn't be so surprised that you're up there in this class too."
She smiled. "You're surprised 'cause I'm a girl?"
"I've never seen a girl have so much talent. Well none that have fought me. You won't fall or give up easy." 
"I promised myself and Pel and Rumi and everyone else that I would never give up. I certainly don't plan on it."
He took a stance in front of her. "Well, with my training, you'll go far. Now, attack."

They battled for twenty minutes. Thrust for thrust. Throw for throw. The blades clashed loudly against one another. Some curious boys passing in the hall peeked in. None of them had seen Kalothei fight like this, and against...
"A GIRL!" A startled boy cried.
"A girl is fighting against Master Kalothei!" Another boy yelled.
The news spread quickly. More and more boys crowded into the doorway. They were all trying to see. Dali realized there were whispers and cries. There were a thousand pairs of eyes. She stopped and turned her head toward the boys. Kalothei stopped as well. Dali hadn't noticed right away, the fight was exhilarating.
Kalothei stood close to her. "Looks like we have an audience."
She blushed. She hadn't expected anyone to watch. "I can't believe this." She kept starring at the boys crammed in the doorway. 
Kalothei smiled. "Say Dalia, let's give them a real show huh?"
She nodded. "Yes, let's."
Kalothei walked up to the door. He opened it wide. Half the boys spilled into the room. Some gave him a half smile. "Come on. Tournament style." The boys sat around the outer edge of the ring. All of them sat quietly watching Kalothei.
He looked at them sternly. "I want NO yelling, talking, whistling, name-calling. No anything that requires opening your mouth except breathing. Just watching. You may speak at intermissions, or you can leave." The boys all nodded in unison.
Dali and Kalothei took up position in the middle of the ring. An ornate dragon ring painted on the floor defined the boundaries of the fight. The two bowed to begin the fight.
"We begin."
	
	It started. Kalothei took the first swing and Dali countered. The steel blades made an almost melodic sound as they clashed. She lunged and parried. The two on the floor looked as if they were involved in a most complicated dance. The flowing movement was perfect. Neither could get the upper hand, both equally matched. The boys watching were so mesmerized they couldn't even blink. Back and forth the two went. A sea of heads swaying one way then the other. Kicks were countered. Throws were countered. Both sides were seamless. Dali almost had the blade an inch from Kalothei, he dropped and kicked, she jumped before the blow landed. The air was full of intensity.  He grabbed her arm and she went back . Her arm went to his back and the blade almost had him. The boys all held their breath. Kalothei let go of her other arm and turned to block the blade. The steel sound rang through the school. Dali needed to breathe. The two were locked in an intense embrace. The blades against each other. Neither side yielding. They both dropped the blades and bowed. 
"Draw." Kalothei looked at the boys. "Intermission."
Two of the boys watching stood. 
"Intense! Wow! Have you ever seen a girl do that?" 
The other boy sighed. "What is this world coming to? I mean, girls with knives?"
Dali put the weapons down. She caught her breath.
Kalothei took the knives and placed them in their storage case. He came and sat next to Dali. "What next?"
"That." She pointed. She walked over to the nagata and picked it up. 
The first boy patted the second. "No Tumu, it's more like girls with weapons."
"She can't..." The other boy's mouth was agape.
Dali's eyes flashed and she turned to the boy. "Oh yes I can."
The boys were speechless.  
Kalothei smirked. "She's better than you boys. I'm a little disappointed."
"How long has she been training?"
"Not as long as you."
The boys sighed. It was true. They watched her. She was good.
Rumi ran up to the doorway. "What's going on?"
Tumu turned to him. "Master Kalothei is fighting a girl."
Girl? Rumi looked. "That's no girl! That's my sister!"
The crowd of boys turned. "Sister?!" They all screamed in unison.
Tumu looked at Rumi. "Sister huh? She's good."
Kalothei whistled. The boys all turned back to him. "Intermission is over. Round two will begin."
Dali looked at Rumi. "Are you going to watch?"
Rumi nodded. "I wouldn't miss this."
She cocked her head and extended her arm. "Then sit over there. Front row seats." She smiled. Rumi sat where Dali pointed.
"Round two."

	They bowed to each other. The nagata was smooth. It cut the air without hesitation. Again both were matched evenly. Every match was a draw. Something no boy at the academy could do. After the training sessions were over and all the boys left, Kalothei pulled Dali into his office. 
"Dalia, I have nothing further to teach you. You have mastered every weapon I have. Only two others have ever been able to match me so well. 
Dalia's eyes misted. "You said you'd tell me the other if I beat you. It's a draw every time. How will I ever find out?" 
Kalothei looked at her. "Dalia, do you honestly have no idea? Can think of no one?"
She unconsciously spoke his name. "Vey."
He looked down. "To think such men of their caliber are out there and  practicing magic."
Dalia trembled. "Is it truly so wrong for men to use it?" Tears fell from her blue eyes.
Kalothei hugged her. "I know it's hard to lose people to magic." He stopped. "I also think it's a little unfair for the council to never recant and let men use it."
Dalia still cried. She missed them terribly and never shared her true feelings. She was sure Pel would disown her, but the thoughts and emotions flowed freely from her lips to Kalothei's ears. He listened to her concerns, her heartbreaking loss for the brother who raised her. Everything he listened to with openness, never judging. When she had finished her long confession, he hugged her and told her things would work out like they were meant to. Her tears dried and he presented her with a present. He gave her a set of knives. "I'm sure these are meant for you." 
She bowed and thanked him. "I'm leaving tomorrow. I have nothing left to learn here. I shall go south. To Alsgard."
"Be careful." He bowed and she left.