Zaria was the next one to step within the square of the dagger coach. She held her short swords tightly and looked at the masked figure before her with a dark expression.
"I can do this," She mumbled under her breath, though her feet betrayed her as she unknowingly took a few steps back.
She turned her head to look at others locked in combat with the masked coaches. Afterwards, her gaze fell on the students who were watching her with examining and expectant eyes.
Their eyes reflected the expectations they held for her; she was the top student in theoretical studies, after all. However, none of them knew about her true combat strength.
"I-I c-can..." she mumbled with quivering lips, and the dagger coach, who was studying her, asked in the same monotonous voice, "Why did you pick up the dagger?"
Zaria turned towards her and fidgeted her fingers together as she lowered her head. Her voice trembling, "B-because it's easiest for me to use."
