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Sonia had been listening to some music from Two Steps From Hell while cleaning the gear used by some of the students from her last class. While it was encouraged for everyone to bring their own equipment, they did offer one class a week for true beginners who were still trying to figure out if this was the sport, or hobby, for them. After the third class usually 2-4 people dropped the course but most continued on through the season.

Once the helmets had been sanitized she began to work on the epee swords. Each hilt needed to be cleaned and the blades had to be inspected. While beginners weren’t necessarily intentionally careless, it wasn’t all that uncommon for them to get damaged or bent which is why they used the older more worn swords which were good for practicing rather than competitions.

The next class wasn’t set to start for another forty-five minutes which is why Sonia wasn’t listening for the bell and hadn’t heard when someone approached her from behind. There was no hiding her immediate surprise by the way she jumped away, or how tightly she held onto the hilt as if she were about to take a swing at the young woman.

“I’m sorry, I-” Sonia set the sword down and wiped her palms off on her pants. “I didn’t hear you come in, I honestly thought I locked the door.” Normally if she wasn’t at the front monitoring the desk then the door would remain locked, especially if she had to work in the backroom doing inventory.

Old habits apparently die hard and the paranoia of Zinkenite, or another Sovereign, sending someone to collect her was always a fear that lingered in the back of her mind. She was well aware the Captains, Generals, and corrupts of equal rank, could teleport places and move around unnoticed, which is why she was so jumpy when anyone snuck up on her even if it was unintentional or a joke.

“I’m actually one of the instructors, Sonia De La Cruz,” She reached out by way of a formal greeting. “I teach ages 10 through 14; however, I will be assisting Senior Galeno today since it seems like your class is short one student.” Whenever there was an odd number of students, Sonia often filled so that everyone would have a pair.

Sonia eyed the girl warily then soon calmed down when she determined that pulled a Houdini and didn’t just appear out of nowhere. “I think you’ll be surprised how powerful muscle memory can be.” Not exactly the same as riding a bike because with fencing your body has to be in shape otherwise an overextended lunge could have her pulling a muscle.

“Depending on how quickly you pick it back up, Senior Galeno may recommend that you move up to the intermediate class if your schedule allows.” While it’s nice to be top of the class, it was important to make sure each student was placed in their appropriate skill bracket. It encourages them to focus on their technique and gives them a challenging opponent to eventually overcome.

“Did you bring your own equipment or will you need to be fitted to a set of ours?” It didn’t appear that Kayden had brought anything with her but she may have just left them in her vehicle until class began. “The first day doesn’t usually have any actual sparing but we do want students to get comfortable moving in the jacket and breeches since they are a heavier material.

"Ah yeah..." Sonia grimaced.

"My family is from Spain so I definitely know the cost associated with shipping large packages internationally." As Kayden pointed out, it would have been cheaper to just buy new gear. However, there was sentimental value to at least the swords she had requested be sent.

Sonia was pretty well versed in pairing people with equipment, and so, without needing a second glance, she gathered the sword she had been cleaning. "Wait here, I'll be right back." She instructed before disappearing into the equipment room.

It took only a few minutes, but when she returned there was a white pair of breeches, a chest protector, jacket and glove for Kayden to try on. "Here, see if these fit." They would find a helmet once she knew the rest of the gear fit first.

Sonia looked at the clock and considered the time.

"I suppose I could do one match before class," she'd have to put her equipment on anyway if she was still going to fill in. "We'll use foil rules; torso, neck, groin and back." A quick reminder of the target areas allowed for scoring a point.

"Let me go get my gear on and I'll bring you out a helmet." Once more she disappeared into the back room; this time a bit longer since she had to get dressed as well.

When Sonia returned she held two swords in one hand and a helmet in the other with her own helmet tucked under her arm. "Make sure this one fits," she handed the last piece of gear over and set the weapons on the floor beside them. Each blade was an epee-style practice weapon with a plastic nub on the end of both swords to keep students from accidentally jabbing a hole into someone's pant leg and cutting a gash across their leg.

Only happened once when she was young and still learning, but that's all it took to remind her from then on to check how secure each of the end pieces was. If any were loose then they needed to be reaffixed or replace.

Sonia made a few small adjustments to her own gear then picked up her sword and stood several paces away from Kayden.

The sword was held in front of her, tip pointed up towards the ceiling then swing down in a swooshing swipe; a formal salute as per the rules of engagement. "I am ready," she said.

She stood on the en-garde line with her right foot forward, toe pointed towards her opponent, while her back foot was turned perpendicular in a 'L'shaped position. Her feet kept shoulder-width apart. Her dominant arm, bent at the elbow, held the sword pointed at her intended target while her dominant hand was raised, upper arm parallel with the ground, mimicking a scorpion tail.

Sonia waited for Kayden to make the first move, waited to parry the attack and demand right of way with a repost and lunge for an easy point. But students were unpredictable; wild cards because they did some of the most unexpected things in a bout.

Sonia was used to sparing with students that felt they had something to prove. Saw her as a threat for some reason when she was only an instructor; here for demonstration purposes while offering advice on form and strategy when facing an opponent in an actual match.

More often than not they tried to overcome her by charging. Steps too long, knees not bent, soles of their shoes catching on the flooring so they stutter or trip. Other times it was a lunge that was not extended to its fullest; when out of practice it could be hard on the knees especially if they hadn't properly stretched beforehand.

Kayden, however, seemed to be taking a less aggressive, more cautious approach. No fancy twist of the wrist or feint attack. Perhaps just testing the waters.

Either way, Sonia didn't flinch, she simply rotated her hand so her knuckles were pointed upward and countered with a parry four.

The familiar sound of metal against metal cut through the air as she fluidly moved her front foot forward and brought her backhand down in a smooth, fully extended lunge; the tip of her sword pointed at Kayden's shoulder for the first point.

Sonia walked over to set her sword down on the bench then removed her helmet and set it beside the hilt. She then took a seat in the open space beside them. Not a bead of sweat on her brow, however, she'd been on her feet for the last three hours; preparing, teaching, then cleaning up after her own class. For now, she just needed a moment to rest before she was up and moving, offering demonstrations for the next hour to an hour and a half.

"The class you signed up for is actually intermediate. It's a stepping stone towards advanced classes but caters more towards students like yourself who have had prior training. Today and your next class are more of a brush up or review of things you'd already know." Not always appealing but like a musician who stopped playing their instrument for years. It was important to not pick up on old bad habits and hurt yourself or damage the equipment due to a simple mistake.

"We'll be focusing on form for most of today; you'll be surprised how many people are not as flexible as they used to be, or response time is slower than they remember." Most common mistake was forgetting to bend the knees or fully extending a lunge, a novice move but there would be few who would only extend an arm and forget to take that full step forward. Center of gravity being off some will stumble or fall to the side but those were small lessons that were quickly learned.

"We do offer private lessons." Mr. Galleno taught most of them since he was the senior instructor. "Usually it's students looking to focus on competitions instead of pursuing this as a afterschool activity or hobby. But if that's something you're interested in we would gladly discuss this with you and see what options might be available."

Sonia inwardly grimaced remembering that General Benitoite had broke her own saber a few years ago and while it had been repaired, she'd need to buy a new one. It felt too taboo to hold that blade again after it had been used to actually hurt someone instead of in a competition.

"If you brought a water bottle with you I'd suggest rehydrating; there's also a water fountain in the locker room area. If you brought snacks, all we ask is that it's eaten in the waiting area that way we can keep the sparing area clean." The younger kids often came immediately after school let out and brought with them some energy bars. Little bits of chocolate chip and honey-covered oats were not fun to have to clean up after so they tried to keep the mess confined to a smaller area.

"Might also do you some good to stretch," Kayden had some impressive lunges and Sonia worried that she may have over-pulled something on accident. "I need to finish putting some equipment away; you're welcome to look around, familiarize yourself with the studio."

Reluctantly Sonia rose to her feet and gathered the gear she had been using. "Hollar if you need anything," she glanced over her shoulder then disappeared into the backroom once more; music off this time in case someone else showed up early.