Reminiscing

"That's a wrap people... good work everyone."

Tracey supervised another class, having recently taken over from her own master, who sat in the corner, possibly having drifted off to sleep, until she'd called the session off.

She remained professional, as a couple of the newer arrivals came forward for a few pointers, while she wore the comfortable, warm and thick training clothes, that everyone else wore, mostly to keep away the cold when they weren't actively training or working out.

Given the 'Lead Supervising Master' title, many came to her, since she clearly had the most impressive skills, and wanted to learn from the best, since she was the most proficient at the varied ways of disabling an opponent.

With the extra words giving them their answers, Tracey set about packing up, which usually was left for the newer students - but she was putting something off for as long as possible.

"You seem anxious young one."

Ty spoke, still sitting in his watchful corner, where he remained to provide guidance and stability.

"Oh... uh, it's nothing..."

She tried to look busy, but with not much to do, she wasn't fooling anyone, especially him.

"It isn't your lessons, since they are conducted well, so what else is on your mind?"

They were the last two remaining in the big wooden room then.

"Nothing important, really I promise."

She came near, but kept her eyes averted, since his gaze could break through to the truth, if he chose to look that deep with his light-blue eyes.

He groaned, just a little, as he got up, but pretended not to see her slight fidgeting.

"Just remember the book-work, or at least make sure it's done on time."

"Yes I will... this time for sure."

He tottered out, and let Tracey go for the much smaller room up the stairs behind the building.

"Hey Tracey, I've sorted everything out for you today... so all you need do is sign the right documents, okay..."

Amanda had already gotten on top of the papers in the little office, and had gone beyond what she normally did to assist, since Tracey was obviously often distracted in recent days.

"I really appreciate it, I do..."

"Well I can't do any more - so I'm getting some food in..."

She watched with her own light-blue eyes as the teen sat down behind the desk with the sorted papers.

"But I'll be back okay."

She waved briefly, before stepping out herself, and then spoke to the next arrival.

"Oh hey, you caught her today."

"That's great..."

A familiar young man's voice replied, before the figure stepped to the doorway.

It was a fit, and fairly attractive, blonde guy, with friendly dark-eyes and an equally kind attitude named Russel Comet.

She suddenly felt her heart flutter a little, just by his entrance to the room.

"Hey... uh... hi."

He continued in and dropped the small box on the short table beside her, while she couldn't seem to take her eyes off him.

"Afternoon... Tracey."

Russel grinned at her, with his warming smile, making her heart skip a beat, as her body grew warm.

"Thanks."

Something weird had been happening to Tracey, and she couldn't put her finger on it at all. She couldn't stop thinking about the recently arrived guy, who was a little older, and seemed to have quite a bit in common with her; being fairly talented with the sword, kind hearted, gentle and honest, and coming from a little village nearby too.

His mere presence did something to her, while his smile and glances did more, and sometimes made it difficult to even think or stay on topic.

At first the little flushes, and looks were fine, and a small distraction, but they'd gradually got more intense, and she wondered if something was wrong with her.

Unable to discuss the personal problem, even with Amanda, who she'd know for a little while, Tracey just tried pushing through it herself, but as it got worse, she was about to spill, when by chance she overheard something.

A couple of students, a little older had been discussing something she'd never considered before, about having romantic feelings with someone and feeling love.

Tracey had hid against the near wall, and listened in carefully, as their discussion sounded so similar and completely made sense, but that then meant something now obvious for her.

All the feelings fit - her having falling in love with Russel!

Their discussion had started getting more in-depth about what was apparently a possibility, until Amanda suddenly interrupted, catching sight of, then calling out to her and making the other two stop to respectfully bow at her, half hidden by the open window.

Slightly more aware of what was going on and partly about what to keep an eye out for, if Russel was receptive too, it calmed Tracey, a little. As things slowly progressed, the two talked more and about more, as they learned about the other, and even some incidental toughing stated to become lingering contact.

Then came a request to stop a organised group of bandits, that was attacking travellers and traders nearby, and Tracey and a small group from the school went to do something about it.

Keeping away from the local authorities, since by the information they had gotten, they might have been directly involved, Tracey led a more experienced group to surprise them, and hopefully catch them all in one swoop.

The team had separated out among the small convoy they'd organised to leave town, meant to replace a usual one that carried taxes, collected for the capital, and Tracey had found herself alone with Russel in one such covered wagon.

"So... you like blue bird songs too, that's amazing..."

His warm hand had rested on her own, after she'd commented once they'd heard one along the road, as they waited under the cover at the rear of the moving wagon.

"It's not really..."

They smiled at one another for a while.

"We should go... have a nice meal together when we get to the capital..."

He, out of the blue, preposed.

"Sure that sounds... nice."

"Then we can do something else... as a proper date... maybe?"

Tracey had nodded, feeling all warm and fuzzy in that moment, that didn't last.

Suddenly the wagon creaked to a stop, and a commotion and yelling alerted them that a waited for incident was happening, and the two went into professional mode.

Leaping out, they all surprised the bigger group of bandits, who believing they had the upper hand still tried to take the convoy, for the presumed riches, but they were outmatched and out classed. Tracey and her group quickly gained the upper-hand, with the spread out and undisciplined gang, knocking out or subjugating many in the first few minutes, before the rest tried to band together, but soon surrounded and then outnumbered, as they kept dropping, until the last finally surrounded.

Tracey had personally taken down at least seventeen, knocking them out in quick succession, and as the trapped leader gave up, she looked about the battle scene, and then realised Russel had disappeared somewhere, and urgently sort him out.

Hearing a few unnatural noises in the near forest, she hurried to get to them, and once she rounded a few close trees, she found Russel, with a couple of downed figures, and another two, who were tied up Beastmen, by another tree.

Relieved and just about to call out to him to give him the good news, she stopped still and watched on with horror as he abruptly angled his already darkened sword, and stabbed it into one of the bound slaves.