Joedan stood at the ready.
The other matches had come and gone.
Across from him stood Lionus.
Part of him knew it was going to come down to the both of them. They had been rivals since day one. Mostly because Lionus always tried to start something with Joedan, but Joedan wasn't willing to just roll over either, so that left them on opposing sides. They were both the most talented recruits out of their group. Lionus couldn't stand that he was on the same level as a commoner so he sought every opportunity to try and remind Joedan where he belonged. Most of those attempts backfired however, which only stood to deepen the contempt that Lionus had for Joedan.
The two recruits locked eyes with one another, approaching the weapons rack. Joedan grabbed his longsword again and a boot knife, preparing to face off against whatever trick Lionus might have up his sleeve.
Lionus opted for a spear and a shield. Unbeknownst to Joedan, Lionus shifted something into his pocket while his back was turned. Both contenders entered the octagon. The instructor raised his arms to quiet the crowd and then lowered them to commence the fight.
Lionus lunged forward with his spear, his shoulder behind his shield. He had almost a 4 foot reach with his spear. Joedan stayed back.
It would be tough to get in close with that kind of reach, and Lionus knew it.
Joedan circled his opponent, grabbing his boot knife with one hand, he held his longsword in the other. Recently he had been training to use both weapons at the same time. Initially wielding the longsword one handed had taken some getting used to, but the extra strength training he had been doing helped to bridge the gap.
Holding out his knife hand in front, Joedan held the longsword back watching for an opening in Lionus' guard. Joedan spun bringing his longsword around and took a strike, followed by his knife hand as he completed the spin.
The sword struck the shield and held it in place, his knife hand came around the shield and pressed hard into Lionus' shoulder.
Lionus snarled, "How dare you try to best me," he shouted.
As he pushed off Joedan's sword and brought his spear around, he wasn't able to get the contact he wanted because Joedan was too close.
Joedan caught the shaft of Lionus' spear under his left arm, holding it tight. Lionus tried to jerk it, but it didn't budge. Joedan brought his right knee up and into Lionus' side under his shield.
Lionus gasped from the impact.
Dropping his spear, Lionus cocked his hand back and swung a wide hook aiming for Joedan's head. Joedan leaned back to get out of the way of the incoming strike, but Lionus wrapped up Joedan taking him to the ground.
Joedan screamed when he hit the octagon.
Lionus stayed on top of Joedan and brought his knees around Joedan's waist holding him in place. Joedan was still groaning in pain, Lionus raised his shield in the air high, ready to bring it down across Joedan's chest.
All of a sudden the instructor stood next to the pair.
"That's enough, Lionus."
Lionus wasn't listening, he was seeing red. He hated this stupid farmer. He was the reason people weren't looking his way. They weren't interested in his accomplishments because a lowly farmer was somehow keeping up with a noble.
Lionus tried to bring down the shield anyway.
Before he could, Brad stood above him, a human boulder.
"The battle is over. I will give you one chance to get off of him, or I will make you."
Jeff had come over to the octagon as well and was looking down at Joedan.
Lionus paled. Brad was a mammoth. A real life berserker if he had wanted to be. Dropping the shield, Lionus stood to his feet.
Brad looked down at Joedan who was holding his side. Lifting away Joedan's hand, Brad saw blood leaking through his shirt. Looking over at Lionus, Brad charged for him. Holding Lionus up off the ground,
"Where is it? Where's the knife?"
Lionus was struggling to breathe.
The instructor grabbed Brad's arm, "Set him down, Brad."
Brad lowered Lionus and the instructor called some more help over.
They carted Lionus off the stage and out of the arena.
Commander Griff, Trevor, Caleb and Amelia stood over Joedan. Amelia lowered to the ground and held his arm, looking over his wound.
"Willis, we need to take him to the healer." Commander Griff said.
"Aye, commander. Brad and Jeff will help you. We can deal with everything else after he's stabilized."
Commander Griff, Amelia and the others raised Joedan to his feet and carried him off the stage headed for the exit to the arena.
Amelia was pale. She had just told him how she felt.
Today was supposed to be a great day. It was supposed to be their first day as a real couple and now she wasn't sure if Joedan was going to be okay.
*****
"What were you thinking, Lionus?" Instructor Willis asked. "You missed the point of this final exam entirely."
Lionus stood before the instructor, chains around his wrists. The knife from his pocket tossed on the table beside them.
"I think it goes without saying that you might be one of the first recruits we've had in a long time who did actually fail his final test. There is no place in our army for a person like you."
"There are few grievances worse than friendly fire and if this is the character you choose to display before you've even really begun, then it's only indicative of the kind of person you will be if we continue wasting any more resources on you." The instructor continued.
Lionus stood like a statue, so angry, he couldn't trust himself to speak even a word to defend himself, worried what might slip out, he bit his tongue.
"So what is going to happen to me now?" Lionus asked, defiantly.
"That's no longer my concern, Lionus. Even nobles get no special privileges in this situation."
"Guards!" the instructor commanded. "Take him away."
Two guards approached Lionus on either side, grabbing him by the underside of his arms, they led him away from the instructor.
The instructor turned towards his desk, taking a seat. Running his hands through his hair, the instructor shook his head as he thought over the finale to their final exam. He knew Lionus had always had a problem with Joedan, but he never thought Lionus would take things this far.