Chapter 30: The Knight’s Trial
**Thelma Zane’s Perspective**
“Heavens above! Pinch me–am I seeing things, or is that really Sir Aldrich?” Mara exclaimed,
grabbing my arm with such fervor I thought she might faint on the spot.
“What’s he doing here? Has he come to save us from the clutches of our sadistic coach? Thelma, you must know something!”
My friends crowded around me, their voices bubbling with excitement and curiosity. I shook my head, feeling as puzzled as they were. Aldrich hadn’t said a word to me about this, and yet there he was–standing tall and authoritative on the training grounds, his presence drawing everyone’s attention like a magnet.
Was
Still, I had my suspicions. During my time helping my parents sort through documents, I had overheard discussions about the military’s plans to recruit new members. The army searching for promising candidates from among us, and Aldrich, with his expertise, was the natural choice to oversee the selection process.
Our coach soon called the group together, confirming my guess. “Students,” he began, his tone brisk and commanding, “this is Sir Aldrich. He will be working with us over the next few weeks.”
A boy raised his hand, curiosity written all over his face. “Why is he here?”
“There are a limited number of spots available in the army,” the coach explained. “I know many of you aspire to join, but not everyone will qualify. Sir Aldrich will be evaluating your abilities to determine who is fit to serve.”
The coach’s words caused a ripple of excitement Aldrich’s presence wasn’t just for show- this was an opportunity of a lifetime. But beneath my own excitement, there was a twinge of irritation. Aldrich hadn’t thought to mention this to me beforehand.
“And let me make one thing clear,” the coach added, his voice stern, “whether or not you plan to join the army, this training is mandatory. Anyone late or absent will face strict face–strict
consequences.”
11
The announcement of the grueling sessions didn’t seem to bother anyone–most of the young women were too busy whispering about Aldrich, their cheeks flushed with admiration. I couldn’t blame them. Standing there with his silver hair gleaming in the sun and his commanding presence, he looked every bit the part of a knight in shining armor.
Aldrich’s gaze met mine briefly, but instead of the warm, familiar smile I was used to, his expression was distant and professional. It was as though he had put on a mask, one that hid the playful friend I had come to know. He gave the group a curt nod and addressed us with a calm yet authoritative tone..
“All right, everyone. Let’s start with a warm–up fifty laps around the training ground.”
Groans erupted from the group. Even Aldrich’s charm couldn’t make fifty laps sound appealing. For me, however, it wasn’t a challenge. Thanks to the personal training Aldrich had already given me, I could handle the exercise with ease. Mara, on the other hand, looked as though she might collapse just from hearing the number.
By the time we finished, most of the group was struggling to catch their breath. Mara leaned heavily on me, her legs wobbling like jelly. “I take back everything I said about Aldrich,” she gasped dramatically. “He’s not a knight–he’s a monster!”
Her exaggerated complaint sent Avril and me into fits of laughter, though I had to admit that Aldrich was being much harsher than I had anticipated. Even our usual coach, who was infamous for his strictness, would have given us a longer break.
Before we could fully recover, Aldrich called us back into formation. He began demonstrating combat techniques, his movements fluid and precise. The crowd watched in awe, hanging on his every word. Once he finished the demonstration, he scanned the group, searching for a volunteer to spar with him.
I raised my hand immediately, eager to test my skills against him. But Aldrich’s eyes slid past me, his expression unreadable, and he chose someone else instead.
My chest tightened with frustration. Why was he ignoring me? I had trained with him before- I knew I could hold my own. Yet, it seemed he was deliberately avoiding me.
After ensuring everyone understood the techniques, Aldrich divided us into pairs for sparring practice. “You learn best through experience,” he said, “and real combat will show you where you need to improve.”
To my dismay, he didn’t assign me a partner. Instead, I was left to sit on the sidelines,
watching as my classmates engaged in spirited matches. watching as my
Dorothy, a quiet girl in our class, caught my attention as she faced off against a much larger opponent. Despite the significant size difference, Dorothy used her agility to her advantage, dodging her opponent’s heavy strikes and wearing her down. Eventually, Dorothy seized an opening, delivering a decisive kick that sent her opponent tumbling to the ground.
A rare smile lit up Dorothy’s face, and for a moment, she looked like a completely different person–confident and proud. Her usual shyness fell away, revealing a glimpse of the spirited individual hidden beneath.
I admired her resilience. Dorothy’s past was a mystery, but it was clear she carried heavy burdens. Yet, she was here, pushing forward with quiet determination. Watching her only strengthened my resolve to be there for her, to help her uncover her true potential.
However, my admiration for Dorothy didn’t du my growing irritation with Aldrich. Match after match went by, and still, he didn’t call on me. It felt like a deliberate slight, as though he
Chapter 30. The Knight’s Tal
didn’t think I was capable.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I raised my hand, my frustration boiling over. “Sir Aldrich,” I called out, my voice steady despite my anger, “I’d like to participate.”
The group fell silent, all eyes turning to me. Aldrich’s expression remained unreadable as he met my gaze. Whatever game he was playing, I was determined to prove myself.
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