^
Emut's longsword.

                      °°°°°°°♧°°°°°°

"So, this is a longsword. I use this one, most of the time." Emut said holding the longsword out to me and I held it, inspecting it closely. Emut moved closer, touching the sword with a finger, his gaze on me.

"The part you hold is called a grip and the sharp part is called the blade. The part at the top here is called the point. It's joined by a cross-guard and rain-guard, that's the basics of it and all you need to know about the anatomy. The place where the sword rests in, on the belt, is called a scabbard, understand?" He explained and I looked to each part he pointed at, nodding as I processed his words. He took the sword from me before picking another. I remember it as the curved one that Emut and Demir were looking at the day before. He handed it to me and I inspected it.

"This is a khopesh. It's a really popular choice of weapon, that's why I'm showing it to you. Otherwise, I don't really think it would be to your liking." He explained and I looked at him curiously.

"And why not?" I challenged, holding to the handle tightly and Emut smiled, playing around with the longsword in his hands.

"It's commonly used for slashing through people; I just didn't think you would want it, but it's ok-" I interrupted him by handing over the weapon quickly and taking the longsword out of his hands. He laughed at this before clearing his throat and stepping back, his arms folded.

"Good, now show me how you would use it." He instructed, urging me to do something and I gulped nervously, the sword evidently wobbling around in my shaky hands. Still, when Emut continued to look at me expectantly, I cleared my throat before attempting to stab an imaginary person in front of me, the sword meekly slashing at the air. I heated up, looking at Emut, embarrassed, but he didn't laugh. Rather, he nodded at my actions before moving forward. I coughed awkwardly when he moved behind me, moving closer. I stilled when I felt his front pressed up against my back, his musky scent invading my senses. He raised his hands, encasing mine with his. I turned to look at him, but his sunlit eyes were on the sword and he moved our hands together, the sword making a slashing motion. An action that was much quicker and harsher than my own.

"Don't be scared to try. Widen your stance and hold your arms closer to your body." He explained, his words tickling my ear and I nodded, doing as he said. Emut moved his hand against my own before caressing my fingers.

"Your grip is too tight. You're in control, Hanna, not the sword." He said gently and I nodded yet again, loosening my grip. He put his hand back on the hilt over my own and repeated the slashing motion, this time much faster. Emut smiled before letting go and moving back.

"Now, try it without me." He instructed and I panicked slightly before nodding and moving into the stance he had showed. I pulled my arms closer to my body and loosened my grip on the hilt before performing a slashing motion. It most definitely wasn't as fast or as brutal as when Emut helped me, but it was so much better than my original try and I smiled wide, feeling proud of myself. Emut brushed his hair back before smiling.

"See, you're better already." He praised and I smiled at his words, glad to think I wasn't the only one who thought so. I jumped slightly on the spot, the sword flailing around.

"What next?"

                      °°°°°°°♧°°°°°°

2 hours. It had been about two hours of Emut teaching me and, safe to say, he was a pretty good teacher . Of course, I wasn't a pro, not even close. But, I knew quite enough about the basics and I was very proud of myself of even having got that far.

"Stop!" I protested through laughs, but Emut continued laughing and I nudged him with my arm. This didn't stop him in the slightest. Currently, Emut was laughing over the fact that, whilst using the sword to fight, I had loosened my grip on it and it had gone flying across the room. I nudged him again, but to no avail.

"You're the one that told me to loosen my grip!" I said mock-seriously, but there was a smile on my face and Emut stopped laughing his arms folded, an eyebrow raised.

"Oh, so this is my fault then?" He responded, his tone challenging and I shrugged my shoulders, a teasing smile on my face.

"Hey, you said it, not me." I said simply to which Emut smiled. He opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of boots stomping across the floor came close and he looked up. I pursed my lips. The sounds of those boots could only be from one person and one person only.

"Mind if I join you?" Maya's voice was full of spite; she didn't even try to conceal it as she looked at me, a glare on her face. Before I could answer, she gestured towards the sword in my hand.

"Is that your weapon of choice?" She but almost demanded and I nodded, my hands instinctively gripping tighter on the hilt. Maya scoffed before dusting her hands off. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay, it's settled. You'll use the sword and I'll use my hands. Let's do this." She finalised, getting into a fighting stance, but thankfully Emut interrupted, his voice firm.

"She's not fighting against you, Maya." He finalised, a stern look on his face, but Maya rolled her eyes at his words. She moved closer to me and I edged away in caution. She smirked at this before clearing her throat.

"Oh, I didn't know she couldn't speak. It's fine, anyways. She probably can't do anything." She mocked and I clenched my fists at her words. I knew I wasn't strong enough, but it didn't have to be something she constantly mocked me for. I didn't ask to be in this situation; I was brought here. But, sucking it up, I had accepted that this was how it was going to be. I couldn't go back home right now and I had accepted that fact. It must have been easier for her. She hadn't lost her home, her education and career all in one go. Still, she mocked me and I felt the seething anger pulsing through me,

I knew it was stupid, but I couldn't help it. I stepped forward and Emut looked at me questioningly. Nodding my head, I turned to her, glowering as hard as I could. She responded in the same heated manner.

"Okay, I accept." I said simply and, as soon as I did, I regretted my words. Why did I have to let my anger get the better of me? I knew that she was doing this to mock me and rile me up and I also knew what the outcome of all this would be, but still I couldn't help but let my anger take the wheel. Emut shook his head at my words, moving in between us. He looked at me as he spoke.

"No, Hanna, you're not doing this." He finalised, but Maya moved forward, so we were looking at each other again. She looked at Emut, scowling.

"There's no need to defend her, Emut. She's The One from the prophecy, right? What good would it be to constantly protect her as though she was a newborn baby?" She challenged and Emut looked at me questioningly. I nodded at him to show him I was fine with it and moved forward. Truthfully, I was scared to death. Maya smiled at this and Emut moved to the side of the court, his eyes on me. She looked at me with fiery eyes, flipping her hair back.

"No powers." She promised and I nodded my head, but her words did nothing to quell the fear in me. I believe, we both knew she didn't have to use her abilities to win this one. I shakily got into the stance that Emut had taught me and pulled my arms closer to my body. It was silent for a minute and all I could hear was the racing of my own heart as we got ready to fight. Then, Maya was racing towards me and I knew- she wasn't going to hold back, not one bit. I felt my instinct to run push in, but I resisted it, staying rooted to the spot, my sword at the ready. As soon as she was a few feet away, she jumped and I internally marvelled at the grace in her movements. It was only when she kicked the sword out of my hand that I was brought out of my daze. She moved to hit me, but I dived to the floor, scrambling to grab the sword. I heard her mocking laughter as I grabbed it, hurriedly getting up and looking in her direction. I looked around and now everyone's eyes were on us. Ayla was stood near Emut, a worried look in her eyes. Both Abrax and Demir gazed over from where they were stood, one looking curious and the other extremely bored. I looked to Maya now and she was right in front of me as she walked leisurely up to me. I held the sword at a point towards her, but she walked daringly towards it. The point touched her abdomen and she moved closer and I gasped, thinking it was going through her. Only then, did I realise that my hands were moving back as she walked towards me. With every step she took towards me, my sword moved back. My hands were near my chest at the point where she stood face-to-face with me, a malicious look on her face.

"What good is The One, if she can't even hurt someone to defend herself?" She mocked and then she slammed the back of her hand against my cheek and I felt myself slide for what felt like hours. I came to a sudden stop and that's when I felt the searing pain against my cheek. It throbbed and I felt the heat rush to my cheek. Tears left my eyes and I regretted that they did as, when they ran down on the wound, they only increased the pain. I whimpered at the intensity and suddenly there was warmth by my side.

"Are you serious, Maya?!" I heard the sound of Emut's voice and silence followed it as though no one dared to speak in the midst of his anger. He helped me off the ground and I felt him pulling me somewhere, but I couldn't see properly through tear-filled eyes. He pulled me into a side room, pushing me down to sit- finally- and I did, the heat of my cheek making my hands clench into fists. Suddenly, the heat was gone and I looked to see the pack of ice he put on my cheek. He looked towards me, kneeling down beside my chair, his warm eyes filled with anger.

"Are you okay?" He asked and I attempted to nod my head, but instead recoiled when my own finger grazed against the wound. Emut tutted quietly before taking the ice pack from my hands and placing it on my cheek. I smiled in thanks, placing my hands in my lap.

"I shouldn't have let that happen." He murmured; more to himself than me, but I heard him.

"It wasn't your fault; it was mine. You told me not to fight and I didn't listen. It's not Maya's fault either. If I accepted to fight then I can't blame her for hitting me." I said quietly, making sure not to make too much cheek movement. Emut scoffed loudly before going through a box on the side.

Opening up the tube in his hand, he moved the ice pack before applying some of it gently on my face. I knotted my hands together on my lap, trying to tolerate the pain and Emut used his other hand to place over mine, stopping my movements.

"I can't believe she hurt you." He let out again. his hazel eyes filled deep with concern. I shook my head at his words, opening my mouth to speak, but he spoke before I could.

"You're the prophecy. We're supposed to defend you. I shouldn't ha-"

"Oh, is that the reason I shouldn't get hurt?" I blurted out, interrupting him and he tilted his head, in response, his eyes curious. I shook my head. I shouldn't have said that, but I couldn't help but let it come out. That was all I was to everyone here- a key to the door of success. And, when that door was open, there would be no need for me. I was essentially just that. Ayla had said before that Demir and Maya did not hate me, but they hated the prophecy. That was the case for Emut and Ayla and Negus: they didn't care for me, they cared for the prophecy and this revelation hit me like a ton of bricks.

"I didn't mean it like that." He comforted and I cleared my throat, turning my gaze to the left.

"I know, it's true. You're just doing your 'job'." I said, putting emphasis on the last word. Emut turned his gaze away and shook his head.

"I think you should wash up; that's probably enough for today." He told me and I stood up, a blank look on my face.I backed away before making my way towards the door, making sure not to make eye contact with anyone.

And, that was only day one.