《Discontinued-Legends of Vale Academy》


 Prolouge Part 1-1

    As morning came to the small town or Roan with the sun slowy rising up in the sky in a little house on the edge of town a girl with short black hair was peacefully sleeping in her bed she groaned a bit and turned over and hugged her pillow to her head "Ran! Time to get up!" called an older womens voice from downstairs the girl didn''t move "Ran!" called the voice a second time this time a bit louder the girl stirred a bit in her bed "Ran, listen to your mother it''s time to get up!" called a male voice this time this made the girl squirm a bit tossing the covers off her body. She sighed as she layed in the bed with her eyes still closed "Ran-neechan!'' called a younger male voice instantly the girl shot up from her bed upon hearing the young boys voice "Ran-neechan! It''s morining!" called the young boy the girls eye shot open revealing dark brown eye she rubbed them for a second "Ran!" called the young boy "I''m coming!" she yelled sleepily. The girl slowly etched off her bed she stood up and stretched she was a bit on the short side but only because she was thirteen years old her name was Ran Ashbell she lived in the city of Roan with her mother and father and her younger brother Lan who she had a deep bond with like all siblings should Ran reached for the hem of her pajama shirt and sluggishly pulled it over her head which she then threw to the floor. She then so easily stepped out of her pajama pants and it joined the shirt that was in a crumpled mess on the floor in fornt of her bed she thenmade her way over to her clothes drawer yanwed and looked at herelf in the mirrior that was placed ontop of it "Huu.." She sighed looking at her chest "Still small.." she groaned it''s not like Ran wanted big boobs she just wanted at least something that would stop people from mistaking her as a boy. Ran groaned at the thought and opened the top drawer inside was a white and grey collared zipper jacket with no sleeves she pulled it out and placed it on the drawer she closed it and opened the second one which contained a black short where the legs would stop at her knees she put it with the jacket she had just pulled out and closed the drawer she then unzipped the jacket and passed her arms through the holes for her arms and she zipped it back up all the way she then slipped into the pair of black shorts she buttoned the front and she took a belt out form the thrid drawer and looped it around after that she pulled out a dark grey arm band and she slid it onto her right arm and then a pair of soft black leather gloves which she quickly slid over her hands.


    Ran was starting to wake up she looked at her hair and groaned in annoyance her hair was spiking all over she took a brush that was on he drawer and proceeded to bursh her hair "Huu.. when will you start to get longer.." she grumbled again it''s not like she wanted long hair just for it to be long enough so she can be seen as a girl if there was one word to describe Ran it was that she was a tomboy at first she wasn''t worried about breast size of the length of her hair but after so many of her brothers friends called her Lan''s older brother she decided that they were important. "Ran-neechan?You up?" came the young boys voice "Yeah, I''m up" Ran called as she put her brush down and looked herself over in the mirrior she struck a few stupid posses and smiled "Alright lets start the day shall we!" she said and she walked over the the door of her room she pulled open the door and she was greeted by a boy who was a bit shorter and younger then her "Morining onee-chan" the boy said with a smile "Morning!" she replied rubbing the boys head which made him laugh the boy was her younger brother Lan Ashbell he was five years old like her he had short black hair and dark brown eyes which made people think the two were twins even though Ran clarifyed they were born on different days. "So,what do you think?" she asked presenting herself "Hmm, you look good onee-chan" Lan said with a smile "Honestly, tell me what you really think Lan!" Ran said "Okay, you look cute onee-chan" Lan said "Really!?" Ran said excited Lan nodded "Thank you Lan! You know how to make you sister happy!" Ran said Lan smiled "Oh yeah Dad told me to tell you he''ll be waiting" Lan said "Waiting...?"Ran said she then quickly realized what her brother ment "Oh crap! He''ll be much harder on me if I''m late!" Ran exclamied as she bolted to the stairs "Be careful onee-chan you could-" Lan''s words were cut off when he heard a loud crash down the stairs "Ow!" Ran groaned "Trip and fall..." Lan sighed "You okay?" Lan called "Yeah, I''m okay" Ran called with a groan of pain at the bottom of the stairs Ran was on the floor rubbing her head she had slipped on the third to last step as she was running down "Honsetly Ran, how many times have I told you not to run down the stairs like that?" came the older womens voice Ran looked up and saw her mother standing infront of her with her arms crossed "Sorry Mom"Ran apologized "Alright, just don''t do it again you know what happened last time" her mother said Ran remebered clearly she was also late to meet her father and she foolishly raced down the stairs which she fell down and knocked her self out for the rest of the day "Yeah, I remeber.." she said shuddering "Dad made training harder even though I had been knocked out a whole day" she added.


    Ran got up and dusted herself off she then went to the front door where a wooden sword sheated into a wooden sheath was waiting for her as well as her boots she sat down and pushed them on her feet and she grabbed the wooden sword and hopped back up "I''m heading out!" she called "Alright, you two take it easy!" her mother called "I don''t want you two coming home covered in bruises and welts again" she said "Bye onee-chan!" Lan called as he passed into the kitchen "See ya!" she waved and she headed out sword in hand. Ran ran through the streets or Roan panting some people casually waved to her which she just smiled and nodded to "Dads going to kill me!" she said and she picked up her pace she rounded a croner and then a open grassless field came into view and a man with medium length black hair stood in the center of the field holding a wooden sword in his hands "Dad! I''m here!" Ran called with a wave the man looked up and put up his hand as Ran grew closer "Huh..Sorry I''m late Dad.." Ran huffed as she stopped in front of him catching her breath she then straightened up and looked at her father who was a very tall man "Oh don''t worry about it" her father said turning his back "Really!?" Ran said excited she wouldn''t be punished for being late but then her father then turned around with a sadistic smirk on his face "I''ll just work you harder then" her father said Ran sighed she hadn''t gotten out of it "Now, that you were so kind as to join me lets begin shall we" her father said raising the wooden sword in his hand "Yes sir" Ran said bowing she then unsheated her wooden sword and threw the empty sheath to the ground. Ran stood still watching her father who wasn''t moving either Ran had to be careful her father was a very skilled swordsman back in his prime she watched for the slightest hint of movement then in a split second she saw her father''s foot move slightly Ran immediatley jumped into action she rushed at her father she raised the wooden sword above her head and she quickly brought it down her father smirked and held up his sword and blocked her strike "Going for the first move this time eh?" her father said and pushed her back Ran struggled to keep her balance she was able to keep herself from falling then she gripped the handel of her sword tightly with both hands she then circled around her father who smiled as he fallowed her with his eyes not turning his body  she then rushed his back swinging her sword to the right but again she was blocked and almost thrown off balance "All most had me" her father jostled. Ran gritted her teeth she jumped back a few feet then she started running around her father in a circle her father tracked her movements she then started swinging her sword as she continued to run around her father he blocked each an every attempt to land a hit then she twisted around the sixth time she circled around her father who held up his sword "Gotcha!" Ran said smiling as she quickly changed her sword from her right hand to her left and she quickly spun around again this was it she would finally land a hit but she was disappointed as she her the wood on wood contact she looked and saw her father had blocked her "Close one you almost got me" he said and he shoved her back causing Ran to fall on her butt "Ow.." Ran groaned as she rubbed her butt she was also dizzy from the running in circles and spinning so quickly "Why do we have to do this again?" Ran asked rubbing her spinning head "Because you choose to use a sword" her father said "Oh yeah, can I change my mind?" Ran asked jokingly "Ran" her father said in his serious tone "I''m kidding, it''s to late anyway I already got the materials to make a sword" Ran said with a sorryful smile.


    "So do you have any idea what your going to make?" her father asked "Ugh..I have no idea..." Ran said getting off the ground what she and her father were referring to was the Vale Academy enterance exam, Vale Academy was a school in Roan that trained boys and girls to be warriors and adventurers plus the school would send them on missions that if they''d be sucessful they''d be paid for it which is why most kids went to Vale plus it was the place Ran was applying to get into and why she was out training with her father each and every day "Well you only have a few more days to make your weapon" her father said the enterance exam for Vale was to make your own weapon "I know dad its just I''ve never made a weapon before" Ran said "You want me to help you then?" her father asked "You know you can''t dad I have to make it myself!" Ran shouted "I know, I know it''s just I don''t see how a thirteen year old girl like you can make your own weapon" her father said "I''ll just have to try my best dad" Ran said "Alright then" he said "Now, who said training was over?" her father said "Hugh.." Ran groaned and she picked up her sword and rushed at her father. It was later in the evening when Ran and her father got home her mother came walking out the kicthen hearing the front door open "Welcome back how was.." she stopped seeing her daughter covered with black and purple bruises and her husband with a red mark on his face "Training.." she finshed with a sigh "I said not to get covered in brusies" she said looking at Ran "Sorry honey I took it a little to far" her father said scratching the back of his head  "Oh, whats that?" she asked seeing the red mark on her husbands face "I finally got a hit in mom!" Ran said with a grin "It wasn''t a hit it was a graze it didn''t count" her father said "Yeah right! That was clearly a clean hit!" Ran argued "Yeah right, it''ll be at least 10 years until you land a clean hit on me" her father argued back Ran gritted her teeth and glared at her father. "Okay you two break it up" her mother said "Okay mom" Ran said as she walked off leaving her sword and boots at the door "You should start working on your weapon Ran" her father said "Alright dad I will" Ran said as she made her way to the backyard as she stepped out she heard her brothers voice "Welcome home nee-chan" Lan said upon seeing her "Looks like dad was hard on you for being late" Lan said seeing the fading brusies on his sister "Yeah, he kinda did" Ran laughed rubbing the painful brusies "So,what are you doing now?" Lan asked "Well, I was going to start making my weapon for the academy" Ran said "Oh, have any idea what your going to make?" Lan asked "Well,I know it has to be a sword" Ran said thinking to herself "What about a curved sword?" Lan said "Curved?" Ran asked confused "Yeah, a curved sword would suit your fighting style best" Lan said "Really?" Ran said astounded at her younger brothers words "Well then a curved sword it is" Ran said "Hey, thanks bro you really cut down my work" Ran said patting Lan on the held "Anything for you onee-chan" Lan said "I''ll go inside now and let you get to work" Lan said as he ran inside the house "Okay then, curved sword, lets get this started" Ran said psyking herself up.


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    It was later in the evening Ran was still in the backyard she was standing up with her arms on her side looking down with a dissatified look on her face "Ah, man.." she said looking down at the poor excuse for a curved sword "It isn''t curved at all.." Ran sighed "Maybe I should give up for now.." she said looking up at the sky she saw the sun had started to go down "I''ll try again tommrow.." she said and she turned and walked back inside the house when she walked in her dad was sitting in the kitchen at the table while her mother was hard at work cooking she walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table and groaned "So,I take it you had a hard time?" her dad asked Ran nodded "Well, just try your best dear you''ll get it" her dad said trying to incourage her "I don''t think I can do it dad.." Ran said "Oh  come on now Ran this was just your first try not all first tries are sucessful" her mother piped in "I know mom.." Ran said "You can try again tommorow, now go upstairs and take your bath and get changed for dinner" her mother said "Alright mom" Ran said and she got up from the table and walked upstairs. Ran walked up the stairs and started towards her room as she passed Lans room she could here Lan running around his room "What is he doing in there?" she asked herself as she slowly got closer to the door she could hear her brother shouting and yelling Ran was curious what was her brother doing "I guess it wouldn''t hurt to take a peak.." she giggled to herself she slowly creaked the door open a smige to where she could see inside what she saw left her without words what she saw was her five year old brother running around swinging a wooden sword sweating fiercly she watched as he grunted and shouted as he swung the wooden sword in his hands "How long has he been doing this?" she whispered to herself as she continued to watch Lan she then got a good look at the sword he had in his hands the wooden sword was curved "A curved sword.." Ran gasped "So that''s were he got the idea for me to make a curved sword" Ran said "When did he make that?" she wondered her father had only made a wooden sword for her and himself when Lan asked for one his father had said he was still to young to train with a sword so how was it he had one in his hands Ran was deep in thought and she didn''t notice Lan had stopped swinging his sword he panted as he caught his breath "I think that should be enough for today.." Lan said Ran immediatly snapped back to reality as she watched Lan put away the wooden sword Lan then withdrew a wooden chest from under his bed and put the wooden sword in and slipped it back under the bed "You sneaky little" Ran said as she cracked a smile Lan wiped his forehead as he then made his way out of his room Ran had no time to run off and when Lan pulled his door open he shouted and fell back at the sight of his sister standing in the doorway "You okay?" Ran asked "Oh, nee-chan hey, yeah I''m fine" Lan said quickly hoping to his feet "Uhm, you didn''t see or hear anything did you?" Lan asked "Ah, well" Ran scracthed her cheek nervously "You did didn''t you?" Lan asked seeing through his sister.


    "Ye..yeah..." Ran admitted "Please don''t tell mom and dad" Lan pleaded "I won''t if you tell me where you got that wooden sword" Ran said "Oh, you saw that.." Lan said rubbing the back of his head "Uhm..I kinda made it.." Lan said "You made it?" Ran said not believing him "Yeah, I secretly watched dad as he made the two for him and you" Lan said "And I just studied the steps over and over until I decided to make my own" Lan added Ran stood still she couldn''t believe what she was hearing her brother who was 8 years younger then her had made his own weapon "Your not mad at me onee-chan?" Lan asked "Are you?" Lan said with a sad face "No, I''m not mad I''m actually astounded you were able to make your own sword" Ran said "Really nee-chan!" Lan said with a big smile "Yep, and I guess thats why you got the idea for me making a curved sword" Ran said "Yeah, how did making it go?" Lan asked Ran groaned in disgust "I failed.." Ran said "I couldn''t make it the right way" Ran sulked "Oh, sorry onee-chan it must be difficult to make a curved sword for the first time.." Lan said "You don''t have to go with my idea you can make what''s easier for you" Lan said "No, no! I''m going to stick with your idea! Not all first attempts come out right!" Ran said trying to cheer her brother up "Really nee-chan?" he asked "You bet! Just watch I''ll make my sword that came from your idea!" Ran said. "Good luck nee-chan! I have a feeling you''ll do it!" Lan said "Ran! did you take your bath yet?" her mother called "Crap, I forgot about that!" Ran said "I''m on my way there mom!" Ran called down "Alright!" her mother replied "I''m going to go take my bath and change clothes you should head downstairs mom''s making dinner" Ran said as she started walking off "Alright nee-chan" Lan said and he stepped out his room and closed the door behind him and headed down the stairs while Ran made her way to her room she got inside and she went to the clothes drawer and she pulled the top drawer open she slipped the arm band off and dropped it in and she quickly threw the cloves on her hands in with it she closed the drawer and opened the second drawer and she pulled out a clean white sleeved shirt and a cotton black pants and a fresh pair if underware then she made her way to the bathroom she placed her change of clothes on the sink and she turned on the water on and let it fill the tub she then started to strip she unzipped her jacket and threw it in a basket that was under the sink she then slid out of her shorts and they joined the jacket she had thrown off she slipped off her underwear she looked at the tub and saw it was filled u enough she got in and layed down into the water.


    Ran let out a sigh of relief as she layed in the water she streched and a twinge of pain came from her side "Ow.." she groaned she looked over her body at each blue bruise that had formed on her from the many hits she took from her father "Why can''t father ever hold himself back.." Ran said her mind then wander to Lan and watching him run around his room "I can''t believe what I saw" Ran said "He was really into it" she went on "I wonder how long he''s been practicing in secret like that?" Ran wondered "He''s going to be a really good warrior" Ran said she soaked in the water for a while letting it ease her pain "Ah, this feels so nice" Ran sighed after a lon day of traning it was good to just soak in a bathtub full of water "I can''t believe I actually got a hit in on dad" Ran laughed remebering what happened her father didn''t see it coming Ran had rushed at him and started spinning he went to block thinking thats all she was going to do but she surprised him with a quick up-cut he reacted and stepped back and the wooden point grazed his cheek and left a red mark on his face Ran was so excited she had finally gotten a hit in after so many traning sessions she couldn''t belive she had progressed so far "Can''t beleive dad dosn''t want to count that as a hit" Ran pouted "Although I think a saw a smile on his face when I caught him off gaurd like that" Ran smiled "I hope I can make my weapon and put all his traning to use" Ran said. "And get into Vale Academy" Ran said Vale Academy was her goal she wanted to get into the school that trained so many amazing warriors she was going to work hard and make sure she''s get in Ran soaked a while longer in the tub then she got out she let herself dry off she then got dressed and headed downstairs as she entered the kitchen she saw he mom and dad sitting at the table along with Lan "Ah, your finally down" her mom said noticing her "Sit down I''ll serve dinner" she said "Alright mom" Ran said and she took her seat next to Lan and her mother took no time in putting plates of food in front of each of them "Eat up" she said and Ran started eating minuets passed and everyone had finished eating her mother had taken each of their plates and started cleaning them "I think you two should get to bed" her mother said Ran nodded Lan just yawned "Come on Lan, it''s bed time" Ran said "Hm..Alright nee-chan" Lan said he got up from his chair and startes walking towards the stairs Ran fallowed suit and walked to the stairs "Goodnight nee-chan" Lan said as he entered his room as Ran got to the top of the stairs "Night." Ran said as she passed Lan''s room watching the door close she made her way to her room and stepped in she closed the door behind her and went over to her bed she got in and layed there for a bit "I just have to make this weapon..I just have to" she said Vale Academy was her dream and she wanted to fufill that dream. [END OF PART 1]

 Prolouge Part 1-2

    The next morning Ran woke up early so she wouldn''t be late for her traning session with her father she quickly got undressed and put on her usual attire for the day and she headed out her room she met a half asleep Lan in the hallway "Morning nee-chan" he greeted with a yawn "Morning" Ran shouted back as she raced down the stairs nearly slipping and falling like she did yeasterday she was met by her father who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs he still had the red mark she had put on his face in yesterdays taining session. "Ah, on time this time I see" he jerked "Yep, I''m ready to go!" Ran said "Alright then lets head out" her father said and the two of them went off to their usual spot and they quickly got to work training Ran rushed at her father and she randolmy swung her sword in order to keep her dad from attacking seeing that it wasn''t working after her father knocked her on her butt with a light shoulder tackle she quickly hopped up and she ran around him and she rush in and swing when her strike was blocked she''d jump back and run around again "Hm, you seem to be on top of things today" her father said with a smile as he blocked one of her attacks. "I want to get another hit in today" Ran said smiling back "Hey, that was a graze not a hit" her father rebutted "Well, I''m going to make sure I make a clean hit and that I''m the only one covered in brusies" Ran said as she rushed her fathers back and again being blocked "So?" her father said as he kept blocking her attacks "What''s the progress on your weapon?" he asked making conversation while watching her movements "Oh, well I decided on a curved sword" Ran said as she was again blocked "A curved sword eh?" her father said raising an eyebrow "I didn''t think you''d figure out a curved sword would suit you" her father said."Oh,really" Ran said nervously her father knocked her back while her mind was distracted she got back up and went on the attack "Still, making a curved sword isn''t as easy as a normal sword" his father said evading her attack "I know but I have to make it!" Ran said relentlessly going after her father who simply moved out of the way of her swings "I know it''s your dream to go to Vale isn''t it" her father said Ran said nothing and continued her assault she then suddenly saw an open and thrusted her sword up her father pulled his head back but she chipped him on the chin Ran smiled "Good" her father said softly and he wheeled around Ran was knocked to the side as she blocked the attack she rolled to her feet and attacked back "I know your going to do good Ran" he father said "You always seemed to have a fasination with being a hero or an adveturerer" her father said as he evaded another relentless barraged of swings.


    "Thanks dad I''ll make you proud" she said "You don''t have to make me proud Ran" he said Ran took a quick jab at him almost stabbing into his side which he narrowly evaded "You just do the best you can alright" her dad said "Just remember that and you''ll be fine" he added and without warning Ran swung her sword and cleanly hit him in the side pure excitement spread across her face her dad answered with a swing in response and she was able to dodge she saw a smile spread on his face the two of them continued their practice for a while and suddenly her father said  "Hey why don''t we call it quits for today?" her father said making her stop mid-swing "What? why? I''m doing really good today" Ran said "I know, I know, It''s just you need to focus on making that weapon of yours" her father said "Really? I want to beat you butt some more" Ran said raring to go "Cool it down, you have to make that weapon the enterance exam is a few days away you can''t be putting it off like that" her father said "Oh.." Ran said lowering her sword "Besides, your already good with combat you don''t need to train any longer" her father said "Really?" Ran said grinning "Yep, after you finally landed that blow on me I knew your as good as you''ll ever be" her father said "Now, go home and work on that weapon alright" he said "Yes dad" Ran said and she put her sword away and strapped it to her side she bowed to her father and quickly ran off. Ran made it home and she threw her wooden sword by the door and headed for the backyard she spotted her materials laying on the ground "Huh? what''s all my stuff doing out here? I know I picked everything up yesterday?" Ran said puzzled she then heard a banging sound coming from behind a big tree in the backyard "Hello? she called as she neared the tree she got no response yet the banging continued "Who or what is that?" she wondered to herself she then crept slowly around the tree as to not startle the person or thing behind the tree she peered around and she saw the back of her brother head "Lan?" she said lowly in surprise seeing her brother she looked in is hand and she saw her poor excuse for a curved sword and it looked completly different "This''ll help nee-chan for sure" Lan said not knowing Ran was standing behind him watching he held up the blade and unlike what Ran had it was actually curved she saw Lan smile as he looked at the balde he held in his hand Ran couldn''t help herself so she dipped her head to his shoulder and she said "Wow, that looks really good but isn''t that mine?" Ran said Lan jumped and nearly jabbed himself with the blade he held "Ah watch it you almost cut your hand open" Ran laughed "Nee-chan!? What are you doing here?" Lan said trying to hide the blade when he knew it was hopeless "Well, dad ended our training session early" Ran said with a smile "Oh, I see" Lan said chuckling nervously "So?" Ran started walking around infront of Lan she lowered herself to his face and gave a smile "What are you doing with my stuff?" she asked looking down at the materials at his feet "Uhm, well I.." Lan said "Lan?" Ran said putting her hands on her hips Lan pouted and sighed "I kinda looked at this" he said holding up the blade in his hand.


    "And?" Ran said "Well, I kinda saw what was wrong with it and I''d thought I''d..." Lan stopped and a bit of blush appeared on his face "Fix it for you while you were gone so you''d have less work" Lan said avoiding eye contact with his sister "Oh,I see" Ran said turning her back to him "Are you mad nee-chan? I know your suppose to make it by yourself but.." Lan whimpered "I just really wanted to help you.." Lan said "Hmm..." Ran said not turning around "I know your dream is to be able to enter Vale Academy" Lan started "And I just.." Lan hesitated "Just want you to be happy" Lan said blushing harder "And if getting into Vale will make you happy.." Lan said "I want to make it happen" Lan said Ran said nothing nor did she turn around she didn''t want Lan to see the smile she had on her face. "Nee-chan?" Lan said "Are you..." Lan stopped "No, I''m not mad" Ran said and she finally turned around and faced him showing him the smile on his face "I''m actually happy that you would work so hard for my happiness and ignore your own" Ran said "Oh, but I''m happy when your happy nee-chan" Lan said Ran smiled and she hugged her brother "Nee-chan?" Lan said "Thank you" Ran said letting him go "So, let me see that" Ran said extending her hand towards the balde for her sword Lan let her take it and she looked it over "Wow, this looks really good Lan! How''d you get it like this?" Ran asked "Uhm, I watched the blacksmith in town for a while" Lan said "You watched the blacksmith for just a little while and you came out with this?" Ran said in surprise "Yeah, I went to town for mom and I saw the blacksmith making a sword so I kinda watched him" Lan said Ran couldn''t belive it not only was her brother traning in secret now he was making weapons in secret "How long did it take you to get this shape?" Ran asked "Uhm, not that long about 2 minutes" Lan said "2 minutes" Ran said to herself "He got this far in two minutes it took me all day yestarday just to get it to look like a sword" Ran said astonded "So, uh what were you doing before I disturbed you?" Ran asked "Oh, I was flattening the blade to make it thin" Lan said "Making it thin?" Ran asked "Yeah, It''ll glide through the air when swung unlike a thick blade which will be slower" Lan said a while had passed as Ran and her brother talked about her weapon and what he had done to it pretty soon Ran was working on the blade while Lan told her what to do after a bit more time they had made a handel and a guard and no sooner they made that they had pieced it together and let the metal cool off as it sat in a vat of water Ran slowly took the sword out with tongs and held it up letting the excess water drip back into the vat Lan handed her a towle and she dried it off "It looks incredible!" Ran said looking at the full made sword "Yep, it does" Lan said "It''s thanks to you it looks this good if I did it by myself it looked weird" Ran said "But nee-chan you did make it by yourself" Lan said "What? No, you told me what to do the whole time!" Ran said "But, nee-chan you have to say you made it yourself" Lan said.


    "What? Why?" Ran said "If you say you made it yourself you''ll get into Vale" Lan said "But Lan you helped me so much I can''t lie and say I made this by myself" Ran said holding the sword up "Nee-chan if you don''t say you made it yourself you won''t get in" Lan said "Lan I.." Ran started "Please nee-chan, it''ll make me happy if you can get in" Lan said "Like I said your happiness is mine" he added with a smile "O..Okay" Ran said silence formed between the two "Hey, let me see the sword for a bit" Lan said extending his hand "Huh? Sure" Ran said handing him the tongs Lan dropped the sword on a rock and he started pulling it back and forth against the stone he did that on one side for a while he then flipped it over and did it to the other side he did it a second time and then as he did it a third time it started getting dark and when he lifted into the air the light of the moon hit the blade and it shone brightly like the moon "Wow, that''s so beautiful!" Ran said marveling at the shine of the sword "Don''t you have to name this weapon?" Lan asked "Wha?" Ran said captivated by the shine of the blade "A name, aren''t you suppose to name it?" Lan asked "Oh yeah! Crap! I didn''t think of a name for it at all!" Ran panicked that was part of the exam a name. "Ah geez.." Ran said scratching her head as she thought she strained her brain trying to think up a name then suddenly the shine from the blade hit her in the eyes "Agh!" she shouted sheilding her eyes "Lan point that thing down your blinding me!" Ran shouted "Oh, sorry nee-chan" Lan said lowering the sword thats when an idea popped into her head "Blinding Moon.." Ran said outloud "What?" Lan said arching an eyebrow "Blinding Moon..." Ran repeated "Blinding Moon?" Lan said confused "The name of the sword" Ran said "Blinding Moon!" Ran added with a smile Lan nodded "That sounds like a good name this blade really does shine blindingly in the moonlight" Lan said admiring the blade he and his sister created together "Blinding Moon, the sword you and I put together!" Ran smiled brightly "You mean you made" Lan corrected "Oh yeah, Right I made" Ran said with a sad tone "Ran!" called her father coming into the backyard "Nee-chan! Here!" Lan said passing the sword to Ran who almost dropped it "Whoa!" she gasped griping the tongs then her father appeared from around the tree "Hows the weapon crafting coming?" he asked "Oh!" he said seeing the sword held in the tongs "You finsihed it!" her father said with a smile "Ye-yeah I did" Ran chuckled "It looks really well done" her father said "Let me see it" he said putting his hand out "Oh yeah, sure" Ran said handing the sword to him he took it in his hands and looked at it "Oh wow, it''s beautiful!" her father said "Who knew we had such a craftsmen in the family!" her father said shooting her a smile "Yeah, who knew" Ran said smiling weakly "Amazing" her father said holding the sword up seeing the shine of the moonlight on the blade "Have you named it yet?" her father asked.


    "Uhm, yeah" Ran said "I.." Ran started she looked at Lan who shook his head "I called it Blinding Moon" Ran said "A beautiful name to match" her father said "Your sure to pass the exam if you present this!" her father said marveling over the sword he then handed it over to Ran who took it back "You''ve done really well Ran" her father said "Th..Thanks dad" Ran said "Isn''t nee-chan''s sword amazing dad!" Lan said "Sure is Lan" her father replied Ran felt a saddness in her heart "Hm? whats the matter Ran?" her father asked noticing her silence "Oh, I''m just pretty wiped from working so long" Ran said with a half-smile "Oh, then I guess you should head off to bed" he father said "Yeah, I think I will" Ran said "Night" she said as she walked off "Make sure you put that in a safe place in your room!" her father called "I will!" Ran said she then waved and before she turned around she looked at Lan who smiled and waved "Night nee-chan" he said "Night" Ran said with a grin and she headed inside. She went up to her room she closed the door behind her and the sword she held in her hand dropped to the ground with a thud and she slide to the floor with her back to her door she tucked her head in her knees "Why?" she said to herself "Why did he help me like that?" Ran said "Why does he help me make this?" she said peeking at the sword beside her "The credit should be his.." Ran said "I did what he told me to do.." she cried "Why dosen''t he get that it would make me happy if he took the credit!" she shouted slamming her fist into the floor gritting her teeth "That little idiot.." Ran said wiping her eyes she touched the sword at her side "I''ll use you..not just for me.." Ran said "For me and Lan" Ran said smiling she then picked herself up off the floor and she put the sword away in the chest that was under her bed that her father had gotten her and slipped it back under the bed Ran streched as she stood up "Ugh, I don''t feel like changing.." she said she went turn her light off and she walked back over to the bed and she flopped down onto it not bothering to cover herself "I''ll fight and study for the both of us" Ran said she yawned and soon she drifted off to sleep.


    Days had passed since Ran with the help of her brother Lan had created her weapon for the Vale Academy enterance exam and now it was the day of the exam Ran stood outside of the enterance of Vale with her father "Well, here we are" her father said "Vale Acadmey" he said "Yeah, It''s really massive" Ran said looking at all the buldings built up to the sky "Ran, It''s time" her father said Ran gulped clucthing the sword in her hand "Don''t worry your sword is flawless you''ll get in" her father said Ran said nothing if her father only knew it wasn''t just her sword "Go, I''ll wait for you here" he said "Okay dad" Ran said and she walked through the enterance she walked around fallowing the map drawn on the back of the application form and soon she came to a big brown double door she took a breath "Here it goes" Ran said and she slowly pushed the big doors open "Hello?" she called as she stepped inside suddenly a gruff voice answered her "Yes?" Ran looked and she saw a table with a man sitting at it he looked middle-aged he had a scruff on his chin his hair was dak brown with a smig of grey mixed in his pale blue eyes hid behind a pair of glasses and he wore a white collared shirt with a black suit coat over it with a pair of black slacks Ran was silent in the presence of the man she could feel that he was strong just by standing a few feet from him "I said yes?" the man said "What?" Ran said the man sighed "This always happens.." he looked up at Ran "Can I help you young lady?" he asked "Oh! Yes! Uhm.." she said flustered "Calm down" the man said "Yes sir" she said and she calmed herself "My name is Ran Ashbell" she said "And I''ve come to apply to Vale Academy" Ran said holding up the application "I knew that young lady or you wouldn''t be here" the man chuckled he stood up and Ran could see the man was really tall "My name is Rouk Netlen, I''m the headmaster of Vale" he said with a smile Ran gasped "Surprised?" the headmaster said "Kinda, I wasn''t.." Ran started "Expecing to be examined by the headmaster himself?" he said "No" Ran said bluntly.


    The headmaster chuckled "Now, you have come to apply to Vale" the headmaster said "Yes sir" Ran replied standing stiff "Relax, you don''t have to be so offical with me" the headmaster said "Oh, okay" Ran said and she loosed up "What''s you reasoning for applying to Vale?" he asked "Oh, I''ve really admired all the stories about the great warriors and adventurers that came out of Vale" Ran said "So, you want to be famous just like them?" he asked "No, that''s not it I just dreamed of being like them I don''t really care for being famous" Ran said "Oh, your in it for the fun then?" he asked "Well, I guess you can say that" Ran said the headmaster nodded  "Okay, your intentions don''t seem to have any alterior motive behind it" he said then beckoned her to come closer and slowly Ran approched the table he stood at "Now, if you are accepted into Vale will you work hard and prove that you belong here?" he asked as he sat back down "Yes, I can assure you that I will prove myself" Ran said "This is my biggest dream, to attend Vale" Ran added "I see" the headmaster said with a smile he sat back in his chair and folded his left leg over is right and clasped his hand together he then took a moment of slience and Ran could feal he was looking her over but not just her body but her sould as well "Hmm, you have a very stong spirit" he said "That''s good those with high spirits will thrive here easily" he said "Thank you sir" Ran said bowing "But, they''re the easiest to break" he said Ran felt a coldness wash over her Ran nodded she couldn''t say a word "Now, enough of the interigation" the headmaster said "Let''s get to the next part of the exam" he said Ran nodded "Now, the exam requires that you bring a weapon you made yourself" the headmaster said Ran nodded and she held up the sword in her hand so that he could see it "Oh, it''s quiet beautiful" the headmaster said "Thank you" Ran said she watched as the headmaster looked over every inch of her weapon "Now, does this weapon have a name?" the headmaster asked "Yes, Blinding Moon" Ran said "Oh? Care to explain why?" the headmaster asked "Oh, the blade is really shiny and when the moon reflects on it it makes a blinding light" Ran explained.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Oh, that must be a sight to behold" the headmaster said "Yes" Ran said with a smile "May I see it?" the headmaster said sitting up in his chair and extending his hand "Sure" Ran said and she let him take it "Hmm, yes I can feel alo of care and love went into making the weapon" the headmaster said "I can also feel that this sword even though it''s just been made has a very stong bond with you" the headmaster said "B..Bond?" Ran asked confused "Yes, this sword''s bond is with you it won''t work hard for anyone other then you" the headmaster said Ran just nodded she knew what the headmaster was talking about "This sword will never betray you" the headmaster said "Ren Ashbell, keep this weapon close to you make sure you never let anything happen to it" he continued "This sword will not let you down it will work as hard as you will" he said he closed his eyes and passed his hand slowly over the blade "I never felt such a strong bond between human and weapon" the headmaster said to himself Ran just waited as the headmaster kept passing his hand back and fowrth on the blade his eyes shot open and his hand stopped moving "Here you go" he said handing it back to Ran who bowe and took it "Now, your passing the examination very well" the headmaster said Ran eyes light up "But, one more thing Ms.Ashbell" the headmaster said Ran focused on the headmaster "I have asked every applicant to this school the very same question" the headmaster said Ran took a deep breathe she could feel what was coming "Did you have any help making this weapon?" he asked Ran swallowed hard she knew the truth her brother Lan had helped her make her weapon she didn''t do it alone "Nee-chan" Lan''s voice came into her head "You have to tell them you made it yourself" Lan said Ran looked down to the ground "Your happiness is mine nee-chan" came Lan''s voice again.


    Ran''s grip tightened on the handel of her sword Lan''s voice echoed in her mind "I vowed I''d work hard for the both of us" Ran thought to heself she could here Lan''s words from that day they made her weapon together she felt her heart tighten she wanted to say the truth that she did have help but if she did she wouldn''t be accepted into Vale and if Lan found out he me mad at her and sad at the same time for her Ran swallowed hard a second time she didn''t know what to do suddenly she felt a pulse run through her body "What is that?" she wondered to herself the pulse came again in traveled all throughout her body she looked around to see if she could tell where it was coming from that''s when she realized it was coming from the sword she had gripped tightly in her right hand "Are you trying to tell me something?" Ran said communicating with her sword and as if it was talking back to her she felt another pulse go through her Ran couldn''t belive it her sword was talking to her the headmaster said that it had a stong bond with her was this what he meant Ran thought she could feel the pulses get stronger and somehow she knew what her sword was trying to tell her "Okay, I know, I''ll do it" she said to it and just as quick as the pulse started it vanished Ran took another breath and gathered herself she looked at the headmaster "Yes?" he said with a grin "Headmaster Rouk" Ran said "Yes?" he said looking at her intently "I have to tell you the truth" Ran said "Oh, and that thruth would be?" he asked "I didn''t make this by myself" she said looking at the sword in her hand "Oh?" he said "I had help" Ran said she could feel a pressure leave her "My brother Lan helped me make it" she said "Your brother?" the headmaster asked "Yes, he''s my younger brother" Ran said the headmaster arched an eyebrow "My brother Lan, he''s the one who allowed me to make this if I did it by myself it wouldn''t look this good" she said the headmaster stayed silent as he listened to Ran.


    "He''s really smart, he studied a blacksmith and town and then he replicated what he saw with my weapon" Ran explained "He did it for my happiness, and" Ran stopped "He told me not to say he helped me" Ran said "But, it would make me happy to atleast let people know that he had a hand in making this" Ran said holding up the sword in the headmasters line of sight "And I don''t care if you don''t let me into Vale" she said with a serious look on her face "I just wanted to let that be know" Ran said she then lowered the sword and went silent she watched the headmaster to see his reaction to what she had just told him the headmaster had a big smile across his face "Wha?" Ran gasped and suddenly he started clapping which confused her more "Good, Good!" the headmaster cheered he then stopped clapping "I don''t understand sir?" Ran said "Young lady" he started Ran flinched"Do you know how long I''ve waited for someone to admit they had help?" he said "What?'' Ran said she was still lost "Every applicant that came before you they all had help making their weapons but they never told the truth" he said "Wha? How do you know that sir?" Ran asked "Well, I can tell after touching the weapon he said then it all clicked in her head she remebered he had passed his hand over the blade of her sword and she knew that ever since then he knew that she had help making her weapon the headmaster chuckled "It was really mature and brave of you to admit that you had help" he said "And I am proud to say that Ran Ashbell, you are accepted into Vale Acadmey" he said with a smirk Ran couldn''t believe what the headmaster had just said "I don''t understand sir it was against the rules to have help" Ran said "That was a test" the headmaster said "What?" Ran asked "That was a test I added to see if you indeed had help you would come clean about it" he said "And you have" he smiled "It was to see if you were able to admit the truth in front of me the headmaster" he said "And you passed with flying colors" he said Ran started to smile "Gongratulations, you as of this day are a Vale student" he said Ran jumped up "YES!!" she shouted "I did it Lan!" she shouted to the ceiling "Thank you sir!" Ran said bowing multiple times to him "You''re quite welcome Ms.Ashbell, now you may go" the headmaster said "Yes sir! Thank you again sir!" Ran said bowing once more and she happily ran out the big room "That girl is going to do great things I can feel it, and this brother of hers" he said as he watched Ran vanish out of sight.


    Ran rushed to were her father waited he had his arms crossed and he looked like he had been pacing back and forth for hours "Dad!" she called as she got closer her father looked at her "Hey!" he said the Ran jumped and hugged him "I guess it went well" her dad chuckled hugging her back Ran hopped of her father and looked up at him "I got in!" Ran said wasting no time "What?" her father said with a big grin spreading across his face "I''m going to be a Vale student!" she said jumping up and down "That''s great Ran!" her father said "You''ve achived your dream of getting into Vale!" he cheered "That was just part one of my dream" Ran said "Oh? What comes after this part then?" he asked "To be a great warrior and adventurer"  Ran said "I know you''ll be able to achive your dream Ran, I just know it" her father said Ran nodded she was still estatic from being accepted in "Well, lets get back home and tell everyone the good news" her father said "Yeah" she nodded again and her and her father made their way back home when the got in her mother and Lan were sitting in the kitchen when the heard the front door open the both came out and greeted them "Hey mom!" Ran said and she hugged her mother allmost knocking her down "Oh, you seem happy" her mother said Ran gave a nod "Well, lets get into the kitchen" her mother said and they all went into the kitchen and sat at the table "Well dear, tell us what happened" her mother said "Well," Ran started she told them how she walked into the examination room and that the examiner was the headmaster of Vale himself and how he said she had a very stong spirit and a strong bond with her sword but she left out the part were she told him that Lan had helped her make her weapon "I see, that must have been something" her mother said "To think the headmaster of Vale himself would be the examiner" her father said "Yeah, I was surprised as well when he told me" Ran said.


    "That''s so great nee-chan!" Lan said "Not only did you meet the headmaster but you got into Vale!" Lan added "Yep, I still can''t believe it I''m still estatic" Ran said smiling and patting Lan on the head "Now, I''ll get to learn all the stuff I need to be an adventurer" Ran said "Well were all happy for you dear!'' her mother said "I can''t wait until I can go to Vale" Lan said "Well, you have while to wait for that Lan" her father said "You''ll be able to get in I know you can" Ran said and she patted Lan on the head again "You should go put your sword in it''s place so it''s ready for your first day" her mother said "Sure mom" Ran said and she got up from the table and went to her room and put it in it''s chest under her bed "Nee-chan?" came Lan''s voice she turned her head and saw Lan in her doorway she stood up and turned to face him "Yeah, what is it?" Ran asked walking over to him "Did..Did you tell them you made it yourself?" Lan asked "What?" Ran said fidgeting a bit "Did you tell the headmaster you made it yourself?" Lan asked again "Oh, uh.." Ran said she stuttered a bit she looked at Lan but she didn''t know what to tell him she had told him he had helped her make her sword but would he be mad at her for breaking their promise then suddenly she felt the same pulse she felt in the exanimation room her sword even though it wasn''t in her hand was communicating with her "I get it.." she told it she took a breath "Come in Lan close the door" she said and he walked to the center of her room Lan did what he was told and joined her "Now, before I tell you this you must promise me you''ll let me explain okay?" Ran said "Sure, but nee-chan what-" Lan was stopped "Lan promise me" Ran said "Yes nee-chan I promise" Lan said "I told him the truth" Ran said "What?" Lan said in shock "I told him the truth Lan" Ran said again. "You what!?" Lan shouted "Lan you promised you hear me out" Ran said with a sad face Lan nodded he still had an angry look on his face "Look he already found out I had help" Ran said "How?" Lan asked "I don''t know he''s the headmaster of Vale so I guess magic" Ran said "Anyway, he asked me if I had help" Ran said "I didn''t know what to say at first all I could think about was weather to tell the truth or not" Ran continued "But then I felt a pulse go through me" Ran said Lan was listening intently "And I found it was the sword we made together someohow it was telling me to tell the truth so.." Ran paused "I did" Ran said "Then how did you get accepted if you told the truth?" Lan asked "Well, he said it was a test" Ran said "A test?" Lan asked "Yeah, to see if a applicant would tell the truth if they had help" Ran said "So, because you told the truth you were excepted" Lan said "Yeah, he seemed very pleased with me for telling the truth" Ran said "Nee-chan you were lucky" Lan said "Lan?" Ran said "You were lucky it was a test, what if it wasn''t you wouldn''t have gotten accepted" Lan said "Lan, you remeber when you said your happines was mine?" Ran asked "Yeah, why?"Lan asked "Well, it made me happy to at least let someone know that my genius little brother had a hand in making my sword" Ran said Lan said nothing "I don''t know if your mad but" Ran said Lan grabbed her in a hug "I''m sorry nee-chan" Lan said "I told you to lie and that didn''t make you happy" Lan said "It''s alright Lan" Ran said patting his head.


    After that months had passed since Ran''s admitence into Vale and she had started attending classes on the first day she and all the students were introduced to all the teachers and the headmaster introduced himself again althought he had met them all on the examination day "Boys and Girls" he said each students stood at attention and focsed on him "You have made the big decision of coming to Vale" he went on "You all have a dream or reason to be here" he walked through the students "But know this, if you want to achive whatever goal you have" he stopped dry "You must work hard and never slack with you learning and traning" he turned and walked to the front of the massive group "I have high hopes that each and every one of you will do great here" he smiled and looked over the crowd of kids that would be attending his school "I pray that each and every one of you finds success in everything that you do here" he cleared his throat "Now, as the headmaster of Vale Acadmey, I''d like to again presonally welcome you to Vale Acadmey!" he said throwing his hands up the sea of students erupted into applause Ran smiled "I will" she said to herself after the eterance ceramony several weeks had passed and Vale Acadmey started it rigurous training Ran found it a bit diffcult the first time around combat training was a bit tougher then training with her father since her opponent was someone she never met before then learning about the history of the world and how each and every continent and town and city came to be in the present it was so much information Ran couldn''t remember half of what she had learned the first three days but pretty soon she got the hang of everything and through her hard work and determonation she had become the top students among the first years which gained her all kind of recognition amongst the other first year students but were there is happiness there are those who wish to snuff it out.


    Ran was sitting in her classrom at her desk she was writing down some combat notes in a journal she had gotten "So, if I duck here I can slip under the gaurd and.." she mumbled to herself "Hey you" called a female voice "Hm?" Ran said not even looking up she continued writing in her journal "I said hey!" shouted the voice Ran was in another world she was focused on what she was working on thats when she felt someone kick her desk which snapped her to attention "Who did that?" she said looking around "Hey! Right here!" shouted a girl Ran fallowed the voice and at her side was a group of girls "Yes?" Ran asked a girl with long blonde hair had her arms crossed and she was scowling at Ran at her side was a short girl with shoulder length black hair and glasses and a girl who was the same height as the blonde with silver grey hair "Can I help you girls?" Ran asked looking them over "Yes, you can help us" the blonde said her hands went to her hips "You must think your something special huh?" the blonde said "What are you talking about?" Ran asked wanting to get back to what she was doing "Your the top student in among the first years" the blonde said "Uhm, I guess but I don''t really care for that" Ran said "You must think that your better then all of us don''t you?" the blonde said "Oh look" the silver grey haired one said pointing to her desk "She''s already studying" she chuckled "Oh, isn''t that cute you say you don''t care but here you are studying" the blonde laughed "You must think if your the top student you''ll be popular with everyone don''t you?" the blonde said "No, I don''t have any motive as stupid as that to be working my hardest each and every day" Ran said the blonde scoffed "I don''t care about being popular that is the farthest thought for my mind" Ran said "You, you think your too good don''t you!" the blonde yelled "No, I don''t if your going to put so much energy into being stupid then you could put it into studying or training" Ran said "Instead of wasting it ranting your head off about nothing" Ran said and she glared at the blonde.


    "Why you! No one calls me stupid!" the blonde shouted she grabbed Ran''s arm and pulled her up from her desk her penicil hit the table top of her desk "Let go of me" Ran said giving the girl an angry glare "You little bitch you think I''m going to let you get away with insulting me like that!" the blonde said "Hey! Karla! Don''t start a fight!" the silver haired said trying to release the blondes grip on Ran''s arm "Shut up Leana! This girl is going to get hurt for talking like that to me!" the blonde shouted and shoved the silver haired girls hand of her arm "You should really listen to your friends, you don''t want to start a fight the teachers aren''t forgiving for fighting during class" Ran said "I don''t give a damn about any teachers! You insulted me and you''ll pay the price!" the blonde shouted "Karla! please she''s right the punishment for fighting during class is harsh!" the black haired girl said trying to get the blonde to stop "I don''t care Melani" the blonde said "I''m telling you, you should let me go or I''ll have to force you to and I don''t care about the punishment either" Ran said looking the blonde in the eyes "Not if I take your weapon away" the blonde laughed eyeing the sword strapped to her side "Don''t you dare touch that" Ran said angrily "Oh, you attached to this silly little thing?" the blonde laughed "Did you just laugh at my sword" Ran said growing even angrier "Yeah, that''s such a poor excuse for a sword it dosen''t look like anything special" the blonde mocked "You better shut your mouth right now" Ran warned.


    "Oh, I''m so scared you have no way to draw your silly little sword" the blonde said "So, I''ll just take it off you for a bit while I beat the crap out of you" the blonde said and she pulled Ran''s sword and held it in her hands "You little..." Ran growled "Hey Leana hold this" the blonde said "Karla don''t do this!" the silver haired girl said taking the sword "Give that back right now" Ran growled "I don''t think so" the blonde smiled "First, I''m going to beat the every loving crap out of you and after I might break your little sword" the blonde laughed "Wouldn''t that be nice" the blonde said with  smirk suddenly Ran grabbed the blondes arm and gripped it tightly "Ah!" the blonde said wincing from the pressure "You better give that back right now bitch" Ran said she was livid "Why are you so attached to some stupid sword it''s just a hunk of steel" the blonde said trough gritted teeth Ran said nothing and she let the blondes arm go who smiled but then Ran pulled back her free arm and let it fly into the blondes face casuing her to fall back and letting her arm go the blonde hit the ground "Agh, you bitch!" the blonde said she looked up and Ran was looking down at her with the most anrgy look possible "You are going to pay" Ran said.[END OF PART I-PART 2]

 Prolouge Part 1-3

    "You are going to pay" Ran said angrily looking down at the blonde girl who was on the floor a red fist mark started to appear where Ran had hit her the blonde noticed it "How dare you damage my beautiful face!" the blonde yelled jumping up "Do you have any idea who I am!" the blonde shouted again "No, and I don''t care" Ran said "You should I am Karla Aventur!" the blonde yelled "Never heard of you" Ran said spitefully. "I am the daughter of Vaughn Aventur! He is a very famous and strong adventurer!" Karla shouted Ran scoffed "She''s using her fathers name to make her seem better then every one" she thouht to herself "Oh, you scared now that you know who I am?" Karla smirked "Well, if you say your sorry, I''ll forgive you and probably won''t break your stupid sword" Karla said as she took the sword from the silver haired girl holding it in Ran''s face "You better give that back now" Ran warned steping right in front of Karla and they stared eye to eye. Karla smirked and simingly out of nowhere a sword appeared in her free hand and she raised it up over Ran''s making Ran''s eyes widen and then contort with anger "You better not do that" Ran said and she slammed her fist into her desk causing a thud to echo in the classroom.


    "If you apologize for being such a bitch I might give it back to you" Karla laughed "No way, you''ll get no apology from me" Ran said "Now, I suggest you hand me my sword, or I''ll have to make you" Ran said extending her hand "Give it now and save yourself some pain" Ran threatened "That doesn''t sound like an apology" Karla smirked and her arm holding her sword started to drop Ran jumped at Karla knocking her down and causing her blade and hers to hit the floor the made several desk move with their fall the two rolled around on the ground Ran was ontop of Karla and she was landing blows on each side of her face making deep red brusies to appear.


    "You!" Karla shouted and she was able to push Ran off of her knocking over more desks Ran jumped back up quickly and rushed at Karla she spun and swung her leg Karla blocked her leg and threw a punch which caught Ran in the chin knocking her back stunning her a bit Ran shook and again she went at Karla she ran around her and kneed her in the back making her stumble forward and fall face first to the floor she shot back up and she had a red mark from were he head hit the floor "Rah!" she growled rushing at Ran who rushed at her Karla made it look like she was going to throw another punch making Ran gaurd herself but what Karla did was dive to the side and she grabed her sword and Ran''s "You!" Ran shouted as she ran over and before Karla could get up from off the floor landed a kick square in her face making her drop the swords and fly back into some desk with a loud bang Karla groaned and the she gritted her teeth as she looked up at Ran and stood up she had a small trickle of blood flowing from her mouth and a dirt print from were Ran''s boot hit her face.


    Karal dove for the two swords again but Ran was one step ahead and she quickly grabbed both "Bitch!" Karla shouted furiously and ran at Ran some students gasped Ran smirked and she raised her sword over Karla''s making her stop dry "Wait, don''t!" Karla shouted "Don''t what?" Ran grinned "Don''t break my sword please!" Karla begged "Oh, then maybe if you apologize I''ll consider it" Ran said Karla faced turned from worry to anger "No way!" Karla shouted Ran made as if she was going to break Karla''s sword "No wait!" Karla shouted Ran stopped mid-motion "Yes?" Ran said "Alright, I''m sorry I threatened to break your sword!" Karla said "Now give me mine back please if anything happens to it my father will kill me!" Karla said "Fine, apology accepted" Ran said and she lowered her sword and handed Karla hers the moment Karla got her hand or her sword she went back on the attack she swung and tried to hit Ran''s sword out her hand but Ran spun and she struck Karla in the back with the butt of her sword knocking the wind out of her.


    Karla collapsed to the ground gasping for breath "You little" Ran said as she walked towards the gasping Karla who couldn''t get up she was able to pick her head up and look at Ran who was stalking towards her "Please I''m sorry! I give up!" Karla said "I gave you a chance to bow out but you screwed it up" Ran said and she kicked Karla in the side "Agh!" Karla shouted reaching for her side "Please I''m really sorry!" Karla said Ran kicked her side again while her hand still held it Karla gasped in pain "Please stop!" the black haired girl shouted stepping in "Melani?" Karla said seeing the black haired girl step in "Please Karla''s sorry!" Melani said "Move!" Ran shouted and she swung her fist and knocked Melani to the ground she crashed to the ground hard and her body shook with pain. "Melani!" Karla shouted "You bitch!" Karla shouted trying to get up Ran stomped on her back and held her down Karla shouted in pain "You bitch!" the silver haired girl shouted rushing at Ran "Selena! Help me!" Karla shouted seeing the silver haired girl rush over "Leave Karla alone!" Selena shouted jumping with a fist held up.


    Ran glanced at her and in one swift motion she jumped up and spun and landed a kick in Selena''s gut with the foot she stomped on Karla''s back and sent her sailing to the floor clutching her stomach "Selena!" Karla shouted Ran then slammed the heel of her foot into the back of Karla''s head making her gasp in pain "Someone help me!" Karla shouted then suddenly Ran felt a strange presence around her she then felt like she was being squeezed then slowly felt it become tighter she shook she couldn''t move "What is going on?" Ran shouted stuggling to move "That''s quiet enough young lady" said a male voice Ran looked and saw a man with short blonde hair standing in the doorway wearing a black set of clothes "You are being stopped by my binding magic" the man said "Who the heck are you!" Ran shouted "D..Daddy?" Karla said looking up from the floor "Dad?" Ran repeated then suddenly she felt a pulse come from her sword and suddenly all the anger that built up in her vanished and she came to her senses that''s when she saw Karla laying on the ground plus Melani and Selena laying on the ground groaning in pain "What the heck happned?" Ran asked looking at all three girls "You beat the crap out of us!" Karla shouted slowly getting up from the floor she stumbled a bit as her legs were weak.


    "


    You okay Karla?" her father asked "No Dad! I just had crap beaten out of me!" Karla shouted "You weakling how could you be beaten so badly you''re a Aventur!" her father shouted Karla shrank back "Sorry Dad" Karla said "You and I are going to have a talk at home" he said eyeing Karla "Yes Sir" she replied "As for you young lady" her father said looking at Ran "What is your name?" he asked "Ran Ashbell sir" she answered "Ashbell? you must be Gerret''s daughter" he said with a laugh "How do you know my father?" Ran asked "Me and him were traveling partners a long time ago" he said "No wonder you were able to beat my daughter so easily" he smirked "Your just like your father" he said "Thank you sir" Ran said "But, even though you''re the daughter of an old friend as a teacher of Vale I must inforce the rules" he said "I''ll accept any punishment sir" Ran said bowing her head "Well then, you may know that fighting amongst each other is a very serious offence here" he said Ran nodded.


    "The rules state you must be expelled " he said Ran''s eyes widened "But, since it''s your first offense you can spend the rest of the day in detention" he said "Do you accept this punishment?"he asked "Ye..Yes sir I accept" Ran said "Good, now I''m going to unbind you and you will go to the detention room for the rest of the day" he said Ran nodded and she felt the binding on her release "I''m so sorry sir, I let myself be consumed by my anger" Ran said bowing to Karla''s father he bowed back "Apology accepted, Ms.Ashbell" he said "Karla" he said "You and your friends head to the infimary" he said looking at Ran "Daddy! Why were you so easy on her!" Karla shouted "She beat me and my friends up!" Karla fussed "You started it all Karla I could hear from the hallway" her father said Karla face grew angry "She should be expelled!" Karla shouted looking at Ran angrily "Know your place Karla!" her father shouted "At home I am your father, but here I am a teacher!" he said "And when a teacher of Vale makes a ruling there is no going back on it!" he said "But father!" Karla pleaded "That''s enough Karla! Now I order you and your friends to go to the infimary now get to it!" he raised his voice "Yes sir" Karla said.


    "Come on guys lets go to the infimary" Karla said her father walked off and Ran was heading out to go to the detention room "Hey you!" Karla shouted Ran turned and faced her "Yes?" Ran asked "This isn''t over I don''t care what my father said I''ll make you pay for this!" Karla shouted Ran said nothing and walked out the room and she headed for the detention room she went in and a women was sitting at the desk by the door "Yes?" she asked seeing Ran walk in "How can I help you?" the women asked "Oh, I''m suppose to stay here for the rest of the day" Ran replied "Oh yes, Ms.Ashbell I presume?" she asked "Yes" Ran said "Mister Aventur just let me know you''d be coming" she said and she walked out from behind the desk "Fallow me" she said and Ran fallowed her to a door where she stopped "Now, you must hand over your weapon and you will stay here until your time of release" she said "Yes Mam'' " Ran said and she handed over her sword "You will refrain from making noise and you will stay in this room" she said "If you have any need for something important you may call on me" the lady said walking into the room Ran fallowed behind her a single chair was centered in the room.


    "Now I''ll leave you to yourself" the lady said and she walked off with Ran''s sword Ran walked over and sat in the chair and watched as the women closed the door behind her and locked it leaving Ran all by herself in a silent room Ran hung her head and covered her eyes with her hands "Why did I do something like that?" Ran asked herself "What made me beat those girls like that?" Ran said she remembered Karla and her friends had came to her desk and started picking at her while she was taking down some notes then she remembers Karla taking her sword Ran felt a bit of anger rise up in her just like earlier then she remebered Karla belittling her sword.


    "How dare she! She has no idea what makes that sword special!" Ran shouted hitting her leg with a fist then she remebered Karla holding up her sword and threatening to break hers and the rage inside her rose up "How dare she do that!" Ran shouted loudly she heard a knock on the door "Ms.Ashbell please refrain form shouting!" the lady yelled Ran calmed herself down and took in a breath "Sorry Mam" Ran apologized her rage subsideding "I can''t belive I lost myself so easily like that" Ran said after Karla had threatened to break her sword and saw her actually try to break it she completlly lost it and attacked her "I..I.." Ran stuttered "I took it to far" Ran said "Dad and Mom aren''t going to like this.." Ran said her father and mother had told her never to resort to violence because you would have it come back on you.


    Ran sat in the silent room what seemed like for hours she couldn''t tell what time it was as there was no clock in the room Ran was starting to fall asleep being by herself in the silent room for so long that''s when the door to her room opened and in stepped Karla''s father Ran stood up "You can stay seated" he said with a chuckle Ran sat back down "Sir, I''m sorry I injured your daughter so badly" Ran said "Oh, don''t you worry she''s not badly hurt just some cuts and brusies" he smiled "Still, I am sorry for hurting her" Ran said "You don''t have to be so sorry, my daughter is the one who started it all you were defending yourself" he said "But I took it too far!" Ran said "Yes, but I feel there is a reason you took it that far" he said Ran just gave a nod "I won''t ask you the details" he said "So, Garret''s daughter huh?" he said with a smile.


    "How has old Garret been eh?" he asked "He''s well, he trained me before I came to Vale" Ran said "Ah, that''s why your so skilled, leave it to Garret to train his daughter to be strong like him" he laughed "Sir, how long did you know my father?" Ran asked "I knew him for 3 years" he said "Me and him were in a group together back in the day" he went on "Me and Garret were a team me and him fought many monsters and men together" he droned on "To think after this whole time of not seeing him in so long I meet his daughter!" he said "It''s nice to meet a friend of my fathers" Ran said "My father never tells us about when he was a adventurer" Ran said "Oh, I could tell you alot about old Garret" he said "That will have to wait Vaughn" came Ran''s fathers voice "Dad!" Ran gasped in surpise "Oh hello Garret long time no see" Karla''s father said walking over to Ran''s father "You to Vaughn" her father said shaking Karla''s fathers hand "I''m sorry my daughter gave you trouble I''ll make sure she gets an earfull at home" her father said looking at her Ran avoided his gaze "Now, now Garret, my daughter started the whole thing so I''m equally sorry" Karla''s father said.


    "Yes Vaughn, I know but Ran knows what we think of resorting to violence" Ran''s father said looking at her she nodded "I see, well nice seeing you again Garret" Karla''s father said going to walk out the room he stopped right beside Ran''s dad and said "Your daughters strong like her old man" he then walked off Ran still didn''t look her father in the eyes as he stood a few inches away from her "Ran" he said Ran groaned "Ran look at me" her father said Ran didn''t disobey she locked her eyes on her father "What were you thinking having a fight in school?" her father asked "I..I wasn''t thinking at all.." Ran said "And why was that?" he asked "Karla did something that made me really angry and I couldn''t control myself" Ran said "And what might that be?" he asked Ran hesitated should she tell her father that she got made over her weapon being taken he wouldn''t understand if she told him and there''s be further quiestion and Lan would get in trouble "Ran, answer me" her father said Ran still said nothing "Well, then you can think on weither you''ll tell or not while your locked in your room for the rest of the day" her father said "Yes sir" Ran said "Now come on lets go home" her father said walking out the room Ran fallowed behind him quietly and closed the room door.


    As she and her father made their way home from the academy the was no words spoken between them Ran knew there was no point in talking to he father when she was in trouble then suddenly he father sighed as the exited the front gate "You remind me alot of me when I was your age" he said "Why?" Ran asked "I did something just like you too, some kid had taken something special to me" her father said "And he wasn''t giving it back to me and, that got me angry" her father chuckled "I layed into him hard, and beat the crap out of him until he had blood cushing from his nose" her father said "Geez, was what he took that important?" Ran asked "Yes, It was the sword my father made for me before he passed away" her father said Ran flinched what happened to her father in the past happened to her.


    "What made you get so angry you beat him so badly?" Ran asked "Oh, he belittled the sword my father took days to make just for me" he father said "Then he said he was going to throw it in a river and I''d never see it again" he father went on "Then the shit ran off with it, and headed for the river he mentioned" he father paused "I chased him down and with the anger surging in me, I caught up with him" he father finished "And then you beat him up?" Ran asked "Yeah, even when he apologized I still wailed on him" he said "When my mother found out.." he shivered.


    "She beat the hell out of me" he said "I''d never seen my mother so angry before" he said "Then she told me, my father would be disappointed in me that I let myself get consumed by anger over something like that" he smiled "Is that why you told me and Lan never to resort to violence?" Ran asked "Kinda, It''s also I don''t want you two to make a mistake you''ll regret" he said Ran looked down at the ground and took a breath "Dad" she said "Yes Ran?" he asked "I think I can tell you why I got so angry" she said her father stopped in his tracks and Ran stopped as well "Okay, I''m all ears" he said "Now, before I tell you, promise me you''ll belive what I''m about to tell you" Ran said "Okay, I promise" her father said placing his hand over his heart Ran took another breath.


    "What happened was Karla had said some bad things about my sword" Ran said her father stood stll listening "Then, she took it from me" Ran said "She..She threatened to break my sword" Ran said "Now, I''ll tell you why I got so angry over a sword" Ran said "Remember your promise" Ran said her father nodded "It''s because Lan..helped me to make it.." Ran said "He helped me make Blinding Moon..he told me what to do and I did it.." Ran went on "He''s smart Dad..he watched a blacksmith in town and somehow he remebered everything.." Ran rambled on "Please, belive me, I''m not lying Lan did help me make my sword..without him my sword wouldn''t be how it is" Ran said "And..And...And..And" Ran stuttered she wanted her father to belive her he laughed "Ran, I belive you.." her father said.


    "What?" Ran asked surprised "Why?" she asked "Well, I knew from the start Lan was smart for his age I saw him studying our movements when we trained at home" he said "Now, your telling me he helped you make your sword" her father looked up to the sky "How is it that the gods graced me with two talented and special kids?" he said "Dad?" Ran said her father looked at her "Yes?" he asked "Are you mad, I let Lan help me make my weapon?" Ran asked "A little" he said with a grin "Just one more thing did you tell the headmaster you had help?" he asked "Yes" she said she smiled when she saw the look on her fathers face "He said it was a test to see if we would tell the truth for doing something were told not to" Ran said "And he said I was the only one who admitted I had help" Ran said "I''m proud of you" he said Ran hugged her father "Thanks dad" Ran said "Your still getting punished young lady" he said Ran groaned and her father laughed and then they continued on their way home. The next day came around and Ran was sitting in class the yelling voice of her mother wormed through her head "Geez, never seen mom so angry before" she shuddered Lan had asked her if she was alright after being in the fight she never told him the reason why the fight started though then, she heard a low voice come from her side "R..Ran?" said a female voice "Ran Ashbell" the female voice grew louder Ran looked and she saw the black haired girl with glasses who was with Karla and the silver haired girl.


    "Oh, uhm.." Ran racked her brain trying to remeber the girls name "I''m Melani" the girl said seeing Ran was having difficulty remebering her name "Oh yeah, hi Melani, what''s up?" Ran asked nervously "Uhm, I wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday" she said bowing "Oh no! I''m the one who should be sorry I hit you when you were trying to stop me" Ran said "No, I tried telling Karla before she even started picking a fight with you not to" Melani said "But, I just became friends with Karla so she hardly listens to me like she does Serena" Melani said "I see, then why are you friends with her?" Ran asked "Karla''s not that bad you just have to get used to her ways" Melani said silence fell between the two girls "So, how are you doing?" Ran asked Melani smiled "I''m fine you don''t have to worry" Melani said "All I needed was an ice pack to reduce the swelling" Melani said "I''m still sorry" Ran said Melani nodded "So, how are you doing?" Melani asked "Me? Oh well.." Ran paused "Ever since yesterday other students have been avoiding me" Ran said she looked towards the front of the room and caught a girl looking back at her and she quickly turned her head scared Ran sighed.


    "See, no one will make eye contact with me" Ran said "That''s really horrible" Melani said "Yeah, but I did kinda brutally beat a girl in this very classroom yesterday so, I don''t blame them" Ran said "But, aren''t you worried you won''t be able to make friends?" Melani asked "I''m not really here to make friends I came her to study hard and learn all that I can" Ran said with a smile Melani smiled "I like how your so determined" Melani said "The other students in or year don''t even know what they want to do" Melani said "Yet you, you have everything planned out" Melani said "Th..Thanks Melani" Ran said blushing a bit this was the first time someone other then Lan or her parents had praised her. "Well, I just wanted to see how you were doing so I-" Melani''s words were cut off by Karla''s shouting.


    "Melani?! What the heck do you think your doing talking to her!" Karla shouted coming over to her "K..Karla I was just.." Melani stuttered "I told you yesterday not to talk to her!" Karla shouted Melani shrank back "Ye..Yes Karla..Sorry" Melani said Karla then looked over at Ran "And you!" she said pointing at her "Karla, just go away, look I''m sorry about yesterday" Ran said avoiding eye contact with Karla who gritted her teeth in anger "How dare you! I told you yesterday that things weren''t over between the two of us!" Karla shouted "Just go away!" Ran shouted she shot up her desk and slammed her fist into it without holding back and it collapsed in a pile to the ground other students in the classroom turned and looked while some started running out fearing another fight was going to break out "Karla.." Melani pleaded "Serena had some broken ribs" Karla said "Wh..What?" Ran asked her eyes widening "Serena, the girl you kicked so hard in the stomach yesterday!" Karla shouted "She had 3 broken ribs!" Karla added "She has to stay home until they heal!" Karla shouted "I..I had no idea...I''m so sorry.." Ran said with a sad look on her face "I won''t accept that apology! Only when you lay beaten at my feet will I accept it!" Karla said Ran stayed silent "In fact" Karla smirked "You and I should settle our fight from yesterday" she went on "What do you mean?" Ran asked "Simple, tommorow, me and you will go at it again" Karla explained.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "We won''t hold anything back, it''ll be over when either one doesn''t have the strength to move" Karla said "Do you accept Ran Ashbell?" Karla said Ran thought should she accept Karla''s challange "If I don''t she''ll keep coming after me if I say no" Ran thought she took a breath "I''m sorry father, mother, I''m going to use violence again" Ran apologized mentally to her parents "Yes, I accept Karla" Ran said Karla smirked "Good, I''ll make you feel as much pain as Serena is right now" Karla laughed "I''m going to make sure you regret getting involved with me" Karla said "So, were is this going to happen?" Ran asked "Hmm, how about in the afternoon tommorow after school'' Karla said "There''s a little open area I know of that we won''t be disturbed" Karla said "I''ll have Melani deliver the directions to you later today'' Karla said "Be preared" Karla said and she walked off laughing Ran sighed why did she just agree to Karla''s challange "Sorry about that" Melani said "If I hadn''t talked to you, you wouldn''t have been challanged to a fight" Melani said.


    "It''s alright, Its a good idea to get this over with early then avoid it" Ran said she then went to sit down forgetting she had destroyed her desk and she fell to the floor "I gotta learn how to control my strength when I get angry" Ran said through a groan Melani laughed "Are you okay Ran?" Melani asked "Yeah" Ran said then a teacher came in and saw Ran''s detroyed desk "What happened in here? I was told a fight was happening in here" she asked "Oh, there was no fight Mam'' " Melani said the lady teacher put her hand to her hip "Then explain the broken desk" she said pointing to Ran who was still on the floor "I broke it" Ran said standing up "Excuse me?" the teacher asked looking at Ran hard "I kinda slammed my fist into it and it broke" Ran said with an apologetic look Melani stiffeled a giggle the lady teacher sighed "I told the headmaster we needed new desks for the first years" she said.


    "Sorry" Ran said with a bow "That''s alright now when I tell the headmaster he might actually listen to me" the teacher said "Just move the broken pieces outside the classroom and the jainitor will pick it up" the teacher said "Yes mam'' " Ran said with a bow and the lady teacher walked off Ran let out a sigh of relief "Well, I better move this" Ran said "I''ll talk to you later Melani" Ran said "Oh, Okay" Melani said and she walked off leaving Ran to move the broken pieces of her desk outside the classroom for the rest of the day Ran had to stand while she took notes until she was given another desk to sit in later on in the day it was almost time for everyone to head home Ran was putting away her books and notebook when Melani''s voice came from beside her "Uhm, Ran?" she said Ran looked and saw Melani had a piece of folded paper in her hand and she was holding it out to her "I guess that''s the directions Karla mentioned I''d recieve?" Ran asked "Yep" Melani said "Thanks" Ran said taking the folded paper from Melani "I hope you don''t get hurt to badly" Melani said "What about Karla?" Ran asked "Well, I more worried for you to say the least" Melani said "Oh, why?" Ran asked but that''s when the bell signaling the end of the day went off and Melani wasn''t able to answer "Bye Ran" Melani said and she ran off "Hey! Wait, Melani!?" Ran called after her but Melani ran off out the classroom door Ran sighed then she looked down at the folded paper in her hand "Tommorow.." she muttered and she then left the classroom she had to get home and have a quick sparring session with her dad.


    It was late in the afternoon of the next day the day of Ran and Karla''s fight after the academy let out Ran immediatly headed to the spot drawn out on the folded paper she had been given as she wander through Roan she then came to a place that was a ways from the town she fallowed the dirt path and she saw a hill come into view as she climbed the hill at the top Karla came into view Ran also spotted Melani standing a few inches behind Karla when Ran reached the hilltop she heard Karla shout "Looks like you didn''t wimp out" Karla said smiling Ran said nothing and walked in front of Karla "So, I hope your ready to get beaten into the dirt!" Karla said grinning Ran said nothing she then pulled out Blinding Moon and pointed it at Karla with a serious look on her face "Oh, all business are we?" Karla said and out of thin air her sword appeared in her hand and she pointed it at Ran.


    It was the same one she used when she threatened to break Ran''s sword it was thick blade sword and the blade itself was long "My sword is called Longclaw" Karla said "It rips through anything like the claws of a lion" Karla said "And it will do it to you" Karla said and without a single wasted motion she swung her sword Ran jumped back and then rushed around Karla who fallowed after her Ran narely got slashed by Karla''s sword as she swung it down but she was able to move away Ran then rushed Karla''s left and spun Karla turned and blocked Ran''s attack seeing no opening Ran jumped back she studied Karla while Karla did the same Ran took a small breath and she then started running at Karla whole smiled and raised her sword  she when Ran got close she raised her sword and quickly brought it down but she was caught off gaurd when Ran turned  her sword missing her completly and started running circles around her.


    Karla tracked Ran''s movements the best she could "Would you stop messing around!" Karla shouted irritated Ran the came from behind her Karla turned to block but Ran wasn''t there then Ran was behind her again making her turn and again Ran somehow was behind her then unexpectedly Ran came from her blindspot and Karla was knocked to the ground with a kick to her side Karla stood up and went at Ran slashing wildly back to back Ran just moved out of the way of each swing effortlessly making Karla more irritated which caused her to not notice Ran swinging her leg up and Karla got a kick to the chin causing her to flip back and her sword to go flying out her hand Karla crashed to the ground and shuddered from the blow and didn''t get up right quick Ran let out a sigh of relief and she put her sword away and turned and started walking away thinking the fight was over but then she her Karla groaning she turned and saw her sturggling to get up using her sword for stability Ran turned a look of disbelief on her face Karla looked at her.


    "This isn''t over yet" Karla said a small trickel of blood coming down from her mouth she wiped it off and held her sword up "There''s no way.." Ran said to herself but then she took her sword back out and walked over towards Karla who was barely standing up but when Ran got close she surprised Ran by rushing straight at her sword in mid-swing Ran didn''t have enough time to move back so she held her sword up and somehow she was able to block Karla''s masive sword swing but the force knocked her to the ground and Karla fallowed up with a downward slash Ran rolled out of the way as Karla''s sword cut into the ground Ran hopped up off the ground "I won''t go down as easy as last time, I''m not holding anything back!" Karla shouted and rushed at Ran swinging more measuredly Ran''s jacket had a tear in it her arm recieved a small cut some of her hair was snipped off and the point of the blade almost got her in the face but she was able to pull her head back just enough to avoid it.


    Ran had no way to stop Karla''s assault she was dodging swings left and right then in a spilt second Ran risked it all she waited for Karla''s swing to come really close and before it hit her she ducked and then as the force of Karla''s swing made it take a while for her to swing it back Ran brought her fist up and got Karla in the chin making her stumble back her legs shook again but she still stood she gritted her teeth "It''ll take more then that to make me go down!" Karla shouted and again she was on the attack this time she added spins to her swing occasianlly making it even more difficult for her to aoid her attacks Ran got several more scratches on her arms and rips in her jacket she jumped back to avoid the long blade of Karla''s sword and after she had dodged so many swings for so long she started to get fatigued she was breathing hard and she fell back as her left leg gave out Karla took advantage of Ran''s misfortune and swung her sword down quickly Ran narrowly avoided the blade but she didn''t escape unscatehed as her left leg recieved a cut she grabbed her leg in pain "Aww, does it hurt?" Karla jostled with a smile.


    Ran stood up she took in a deep breath and remebered what her father had told her he had said when you were getting tired from dodging attacks the best thing to do was take a deep breath and stand completly still and breath through your nose and try and tap into the extra source of energy that your body never lets you use Karla watched as Ran stood still not moving a single inch "What are you doing!?" Karla shouted "Come on! We''re not through here!" she said irritated Ran ignored her and continued with what she was doing then suddenly she felt a surge of energy spread throughout her body she closed her eyes and exhaled before she even moved she remebered her fathers warning "Ran when you use this technique make sure you don''t use it for too long if you do" her father paused.


    "Your body will give out on you and you will die" her father said with a serious tone Ran nodded "Okay dad, I''ll try not to" she said lowly to herself "Come on! Stop wasting time!" Karla shouted in anger then Ran rushed at Karla Ran could feal that she was faster when she got close Karla raised her sword and swung it down before it hit the ground Ran was already behind Karla and Ran fallowed with a knee to Karla''s back and sent her to the ground Karla lifted herself off the ground and turned to face Ran but she was gone suddenly Karla felt a leg hit her in the side and when she looked she saw Ran to her left and she had connected with a kick and sent her crashing to the ground again Karla staggered to her feet "What''s going on?" she said to herself she looked at Ran "How is it she''s so fast she should be exsaughsted from dodging all my swings!"she said.


    Ran felt incredible the energy swimming through her was incredible "Ran you mustn let great power control you" her fathers words echoed in her head Ran shook her head she suddenly felt her muscles strain she knew she had to somehow make Karla stay down so Ran began her final attack she rushed quickly at Karla and Karla weakly tried swinging her sword she brought it down but Ran was able to get under it and get up close to Karla Ran dropped her sword and she threw a punch and hit Karla in the abdomen Karla''s body shuddered but she didn''t go down Ran threw a second punch an hit Karla in the ribs which made her drop her sword but still Karla didn''t go down but Ran knew one last blow would finish it she swung her foot back and felt the muscles in it scream in pain she fought through it and with a bit of strength behind her kick she hit Karla in the chin and Karla sailed backwards to the ground with a groan Ran felt the energy that was coursing through her vanish and she soon began panting hard.


    Karla didn''t get up this time she stayed on the ground Melani came running over she knelt down beside Karla and checked her over she looked at Ran "She''s out cold" Melani said "Phew" Ran said she could feal her muscles screaming at her and her body felt heavy her vision became blurry and she stumbled Melani rushed over to her and held her up "Are you okay Ran?" Melani asked "Yeah, just that last move took alot out of me" Ran said with a grin "Your were really amazing Ran" Melani said "Thanks" Ran said "I never seen someone go toe to toe with Karla like that" Melani said "Usually others don''t last to long" Melani added "She almost had me" Ran mumbled "But, what was that at the end?" Melani asked "What do you mean?" Ran said faning ignorance "You stood still for a while and then suddenly it looked like you recieved a burst of energy" Melani said "Oh, uh I geuss that was just a last spurt of energy I was able to draw out" Ran said with a smile "No way! You were so fast it was more then a last spurt of energy!" Melani said "Uhm.." Ran stuttered nerously then they heard a groan come from Karla she slowly sat up from the ground and held her head "Agh, my head is killing me.." Karla said she looked up and saw Ran and Melani looking at her she went to get up Melani came over and helped her "Ugh, what happened?" Karla asked grogily "You lost Karla" Melani said "Wha? I lost" Karla said devestated "No, I can still.." Karla started "Enough Karla!" Ran shouted Melani turned her head and looked at Ran and Karla went silent.


    "It''s over you lost! You were knocked out cold!" Ran shouted "You should accept the results and stop!" Ran said "You no longer have the ability to fight me" she said "If you continue with the state your in you''ll die" Ran said blatantly Karla''s eyes widened "Please, stop it''s all over" Ran said she then walked over to Karla "Now, I hope after this everything between us is over" Ran said extending her hand Karla pushed Melani away from her "Karla don''t!" Melani said worriedly Karla extened her hand and grabbed Ran''s "Ye..Yeah, It does, it''s over" Karla said "You beat me fairly" she added "As a Aventur I must honor the rule I gave" she said with a smile "But, next time I won''t let you win" Karla said Ran smiled "I''ll be happy to fight you again Karla" Ran said "As friends" she added Karla blushed "Don''t get the wrong idea! We''re not friends we''re rivals!" Karla shouted "Okay Karla" Ran smiled Karla groaned angryly "Come on Melani lets go" she said "Okay Karla" Melani smiled and she fallowed behind Karla and picked up her sword she waved to Ran but as Ran raised her hand her vison went black and she heard Melani shout her name. It was a few hours later and Ran was lying in bed she was changed into her pajamas and her wounds were bandaged up a cold towel fell from her head onto her lap "What happened?" Ran said groggy she looked around her dark room she then heard a groan from her bedside she looked and Lan was asleep with his head laying on her bed.


    "Lan?" Ran said outloud hearing his sisters voice Lan opened his eyes when he saw Ran was awake he shot up "Onee-chan!!" Lan shouted and hugged her "Ow!" Ran groaned "Sorry!" Lan said releasing her quickly "What happened Lan?" Ran asked "You were brought home by some girls" Lan said "I was?" Ran asked "Yeah, they said that you were training with them and suddenly you fainted after it was all over" Lan said "Training?"Ran said confused then she realized Karla and Melani must have lied to cover up that she and Karla weren''t training but fighting "Oh yeah, training that''s right!" Ran said with a smile "You must have pushed yourself too hard" Lan said "You were out cold and dad had to bring you up to your room" Lan explained "Have you been here long?" Ran asked "I''ve been here ever since mom bandaged you and changed your clothes" Lan said "When was that? How long was I out?" Ran asked "Your were out for hours onee-chan" Lan said "Man, I really pushed myself hard" Ran said "And I know you weren''t training" Lan said "What?" Ran said surprised "You and that blonde haired girl fought each other didn''t you?" Lan said with a smile Ran''s mouth dropped "I could tell the black haired girl didn''t have a scratch of speck of dirt on her" Lan said Ran sat there flabbergasted "I''ll go let mom and dad know your up onee-chan" Lan said and he left the room. "That brother of mine" she mumbled "Nothing escapse him.." Ran said she then smiled she had finally ended things with Karla now she could focus on recovering and on her studies at Vale.


    It was a few days before Ran was able to get back to the academy and when she got back she quickly got back into things Ran had been able to get back to being the top student and she occasianlly had some heated words with Karla but it didn''t result in a fight like it did before Karla still denied that she and Ran were friends when people asked "It''s good to see your back in action" Melani said walking up to Ran in class "Yeah, sure is I was lost staying at home for so long"Ran smiled "Still, I can''t belive you were able to get back to how you were so quickly" Melani said "I know I thought after being layed out in bed for so long would make me get a bit soft but, I''ve seemed to bounce back" Ran said "You really had us scared when you passed out like that" Melani said "Karla was scared?" Ran asked "Yeah, she thought it was her fault you passed out" Melani said "No, I did it to myself" Ran said "So,.." Melani started Ran arched an eyebrow "What?" she asked "Can you finally tell me what that was?" Melani asked "I..I have no idea what your talking about Melani" Ran said fidgeting "You said that when I asked you that time!" Melani shouted "You have to tell me!" she added Ran sighed ever since she came back Melani pestered her each and every minute wanting to know what the technique she had used to finish her fight with Karla she had ignored her for a while but it soon got on her nerves and so she faltered and decided to finally tell her.


    "Okay, I''ll tell you but promise me you''ll never use it" Ran said "Sure" Melani said with a smile "Seriously Melani, if you use it the wrong way you''ll die" Ran said with a serious tone Melani''s smile faded and she nodded firmly "Okay, what I used was a little ability my Dad told me about that you can used to draw out the reserves of you energy" Ran started "You stand completly still, you take in a deep breath and breath through your nose" Ran went on "You then search inside youself, you find your energy reserve inside your body.." Ran said she remembered the feeling she had when she did it when she fought with Karla "When you feal a power suriging through your very being you know you''ve tapped into it" Ran said "Th..That''s amazing!" Melani said "And your dad taught you this ability!" Melani went on "He must want you tone really strong!" she added "But.." Ran interjected Melani went silent "My dad warned me, if you draw too much of your reserve energy.." Ran paused "You can deplet it..and your body will shut down and you''ll die" Ran said Melani stayed silent "See, every great ablilty has a consequence" Ran said looking at Melani hard "That''s why I didn''t want to tell you about it" Ran said.


    "When I used it, the sudden power surge almost tool control of me" Ran said with a sad look on her face "If I hadn''t remembered my father saying not to let great power control you" Ran paused "I wouldn''t have just passed out I could have died" Ran said "Why would you use such a ability?" Melani asked "Well, I had no other choice.." Ran said "If I didn''t pull out every stop fighting Karla she wouldn''t have left me alone" Ran said "So that''s how you became so fast?" came Karla''s voice Ran and Melani looked and Karla was standing infront of them "Oh, hey Karla!" Melani said Ran avoided eye contact because right behind Karla was Serena the girl whom she had broken two ribs when she kicked her the first time she  and Karla fought "Ran what''s the matter?" Melani asked "Is it me?"Serena asked Ran turned stll avoiding eye contact with Serena and she nodded  "You don''t have to be like that" Serena said "But, I hurt you very badly.." Ran said "I know but, I''m fine now" Serena said "But.." Ran said "Don''t worry about it Karla filled me in after it all happened" Serena said "Wha?" Ran said "She told me about how you two went toe to toe with each other" Serena said "And how you somehow came out with the win" Serena said "Oh! I wish you guys would have come get me! I would have killed to see that!" Serena said "Serena.." Ran said she smiled "Thanks" she added "I should be thanking you, finally Karla has someone other then me to train with" Serena said "And it''s someone on her level" Serena added.


    "Serena!" Karla shouted blushing "Don''t get the wrong idea! She''s my rival not my friend!" Karla said and she turned and crossed her arms "Sure Karla, whatever you say" Serena said then in walked a teacher he looked around like he was looking for someone "Hey, I wonder who that teacher is looking for?" Melani said Ran and the others looked and suddenly he opened his mouth "Ran" he called Ran jumped a bit "Did he just call my name?" Ran asked outloud "Did you do something wrong?" Melani asked "No" Ran said "Then it must be something else" Karla said "Ran Ashbell?" he called Ran was nervous what could a teacher want with her she clearly knew she wasn''t in trouble so what could it be "Over here!" Serena called with a wave "Serena!" Ran shouted the teacher looked and he smiled when he saw Ran he walked over and stood in front of her desk "Ran Ashbell?" he asked "Ye..Yes, that''s me " Ran replied nervously "Am I in trouble for something?" Ran asked "No, no, your not in trouble, I''m here for something really important" the teacher said "And what would that be sir?" Ran asked "You have been selected to go on a mission" he said Ran''s brain stopped for a bit "Come again.." she said "You, Ran Ashbell, have been choosen by the headmaster of Vale Academy to go on a mission" he said Karla, Serena, and Melani looked at Ran who sat still not moving "Ran!?" Melani asked concerned "You okay?" she asked she waved her hand in fornt of Ran''s face but she didn''t respond "Is she okay?" Serena asked "RAN!!" Karla shouted Ran snapped back and her eyes sparkeled "A mission.." she mumbled "A mission.." she said louder a wide smile appeared on her face "Yes! I get to go  on my very first mission!" Ran cheered as she shot up from her desk pumping her fists into the air.  [End of Part 3]