"Good morning," Nanette greets Marya as she descends the stairs. Noting her haggard appearance, she asks, "How did you sleep?" Marya shrugs in reply. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," she pushes the door open, "I think so."
"You are not sounding very enthusiastic," Nanette takes the door handle.
"Have a good day," the elderly man calls from behind the counter.
"Thanks so much," Nanette waves as the door closes. Noting the tense silence as they walk, "Want to talk about it?"
"About what?"
"Whatever is bothering you?"
Marya's head shakes, "not really."
"Okay, well, would you like to talk about the assessment?"
"Yeah," Marya glances her way, "I think I would."
"It will take about two days to complete. Your first day will be primarily academic: math, communication, science, technology, that sort of thing. Day two, there will be a health assessment and an evaluation of your combat skills." Marya acknowledges with a nod. "Once the assessment is complete, we will meet and determine your curriculum and training regimen. Understand?"
"I think so."
"Have any questions?"
"If I end up staying, where would I live?"
A corner of Nanette's mouth lifts, "You will move into the dorms, where you will share a room with one of the other trainees."
"Oh," Marya perks up, "I would have a roommate?"
"Is that a problem?"
Stroking the side of her neck. "No, it's just that I have never lived with anyone other than my father."
Nanette places an encouraging arm around her, "I am sure you will adjust. You might even like it."
Crossing the library's threshold, Nanette escorts her to a cubicle with a computer and stationery. She explains how to access the test and how breaks are administered. When it is time to stop for lunch, she makes her first lone journey to the dining hall.
Standing with her food, she notices an empty booth. Doing her best to be invisible, she slinks through the clusters of people. "Yo, like, why don't you come sit with us?" Bianca sneaks up beside her.
Startled, "Oh, um, okay." She follows her to the table with Emmet, Charlie, Zola and Natalie.
Straightening his back, Charlie adjusts his glasses, "good day to you."
Taking her seat, "Hi."
Charlie smiles, "you decided to stay, then?"
"Um," Marya glances around the table as expectant eyes stare back. "I am still trying to decide. I am just doing the assessment right now."
"Oh, like, you are so in if you want it?" Bianca bites into her sandwich.
"Yeah…." Marya's focus turns to the tabletop.
Bianca swallows, "Like, do you want it?"
"Um," Marya's eye shifted to her, "I don't know. It's just been me and my dad for forever. What if things don't …."
"The likelihood of you struggling is very low," Zola interjects with a finger pointed in the air. "Both your parents thrived here at one time."
"Yeah," Marya swallows, "but they left."
"Do you know why they left?" Natalie sips her drink. Marya shakes her head. "Do you want to know?" Marya shrugs.
Charlie clears his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "If you are truly genuine about learning more about your mother, as you stated yesterday, then the most effective way to do so would be by interjecting yourself in her way of living."
"Like, what he is trying to say," Bianca flips her hand, "is trying walking in her shoes and stuff," Marya smirks. "Anyway, how is the assessment going?"
"Um, well, the math and communication parts are pretty easy. I know a lot of the technology stuff too. I don't know all the science and history stuff it asks about," Marya sips her drink.
"Well, like that's no big deal. If you have critical thinking and problem-solving skills, then you are good," Bianca returns her attention to her sandwich.
Marya looks around the table, realizing, "Hey, where is everyone else?"
"We are academics," Emmet bites into a frenched fry. "The others are guardians in training. They have a different lunch schedule than us."
"Yes," Charlie wipes his hands, "but we all have the same dinner time, so we usually eat together then." An alarm buzzed in his pocket, "Well, we have to return now." They all start standing, "will we see you later?"
"Yeah, okay, I will look for you all at dinner," Marya also gathered her food items to return.
*****
"We found her boat," Knox shifts in his seat at the end of the conference room table. "If that is what you want to call it. It was more like a raft."
"A raft?" Nanette taps her temple.
"Yeah," Knox leans in, interlacing his fingers. "It's hard to believe she made it on that thing. I don't know how Mihawk taught her to navigate on that, but he did."
Master Gaius groans, "How is she doing with assessment so far?"
"We won't have the results until later today. She doesn't seem bothered about how long it takes, though," Nanette says, resting her hands in her lap.
"There is no surprise there. I am confident her father made sure she could focus," Master Gaius taps the arm of his chair. Nanette is about to say something else when the conference room door opens, and people file in.
*****
The next day, Marya spent the first hour with Doctor Evelyn for a medical exam. After, she found herself in the Dojo with Master Gaius and some of the familiar faces she was starting to become accustomed to. She noted a rather large mirror that felt out of place but dismissed it.
"Okay, Celest," Master Gaius called out with arms crossed, "you are up." Celest jumps to her feet, bowing respectfully, and retrieves a bamboo sword. Watching Celest take her stance, Marya cocks her head to the side, looking confused. "Is there a problem?"
"Um," Marya points, "what is that?"
Master Gaius's eyes narrow, "what is what?"
"What is she holding?"
Celest interjects, "Um," her shoulders drop, "I am sorry, but this is just practice."
Master Gaius sighs, "Let me guess," rubbing the back of his neck, "you were taught with a blunt blade, not bamboo swords." Marya shrugs. Master Gaius retrieves a bamboo sword for her. "We will assess you with this. You can put your sword on the wall rack while training." Marya nods, taking the bamboo blade from him. Returning to his place of observation, "Okay, let's try this again."
Both of them take their stance, locking in on each other. The floor creaks, announcing any subtle changes in posture or movements in their feet. Marya takes a calm breath, closing her eyes, and Celeste lunges. Marya steps aside, feeling the breeze of her flying past. She ducks and dodges while Celeste stabs and swipes. As if tap dancing around her, she feels her opponent's frustration. Opening her eyes, she flicks her bamboo sword, whacking Celeste in the wrist, causing the sword to fling through the air, toppling to the ground. Celeste stands stunned since it happened faster than should have been possible.
Marya's posture is relaxed and focused as she holds her gaze. The spectators begin to hum in excitement about what they just witnessed. "Well," Master Gaius breaks her focus, "that was impressive." Marya turns to him. "Celeste is our top student, and you just disarmed her in a matter of minutes." Marya stood dumbfounded, not sure what to do or how to react.
"Um," Celeste bows nervously, "I am sorry I was not a better opponent. Thank you so much." She rushes to return to her previous seated position.
Rubbing the back of his neck, "Well, that is all I needed to see."
"So, are we done, then?"
"For today, yes." He takes the bamboo sword from her. "Take the rest of the day and meet me here tomorrow morning."
"Here?"
Master Gaius nods, "is there a problem with that?"
"No, I just thought it would be in the library."
"Would you prefer the library?" Feeling eyes on her, she turns her attention to the mirror. "Marya?" Master Gaius interrupts the long pause.
Returning her attention to him. "Not really. It's just I have spent most of my time there."
"Oh, well, tomorrow, come straight here. We will go over your assessment then." Turning to the rest of the class, "class dismissed."
Riggs, Jax, and Celeste rush to her. "That was amazing!" Riggs announces. "You are so fast. I didn't even see you move!"
"How are you able to move like that without looking?" Jax asks.
"Um," Celeste whispers while pushing her index fingers together, "can you show me your stance?"
Overwhelmed by all the enthusiasm, Marya blinks. "Are you hungry?" Riggs reaches for her. "We should all go eat!"
The next morning, Marya meets Master Gaius at the dojo. Following him to his office, she pauses since his office is a small, efficient kitchen. Knox and Nanette sit at a round table, sipping hot beverages and eating breakfast. "Oh, good morning," Nanette stands, gesturing for her to sit. Marya pulls out the chair.
Adjusting the stove's heat, Master Gaius asks, "Do you want some eggs?"
Awkwardly, Marya replies, "Um, sure."
"So," Nanette sips from her cup, "what do you think?"
"Um, I don't know. I am not sure what to think. I mean, everyone has been nice, but…"
"All the attention," Knox leans back, stroking his beard. "It makes you uncomfortable."
A plate of eggs slides in front of her. "Yeah, maybe that is it."
"The attention will eventually lessen," Master Gaius pulls out a chair next to her. "Once everyone gets to know you and become more accustomed." Cutting into her eggs, Marya chews the side of her cheek.
Nanette, looking over the rim of her cup, "Let's go over the results." All eyes moved to her. "You tested well in math, communication, and technology. There are some gaps in science and history, which can be easily corrected."
Master Gaius interjects, "You are above average for your age in combat skill and agility."
"No surprise, there," Knox interjects.
Tapping her cup, Nanette says, "It is up to you. What would you like to do?"
"If I decide to stay. What would I be training to do?"
"Your strongest aptitude is in combat, so your focus would be as a guardian," Knox rests his elbow on the table. "But all guardians are required to have certain levels of expertise with several skills outside of combat."
Marya meets their eyes, "And I can leave if I want?"
After sharing a telling look with each other, Nanette replies, "Of course."
"Okay," Marya nods, "I think I would like to try it."
Smiling in relief, they stand. "I will go with you to check out of the hotel," Nanette walks her cup to the sink, "and we can get you settled in the dorms."