Book One- Teacher and Worse Enemy

The two combatants rushed at each other and swung their swords as hard and fast as they could. The impact of their blades striking each other was so powerful that sparks were launched into the air.

Both combatants were girls. One had jet black hair that fell to her shoulder blades. She had dark brown eyes, and ample breasts. The girl was garbed in bronze armor, with matching gloves and boots on her feet. Around her waist she had a green gem dangling from a chain around her neck.

The other combatant had short, blond hair that fell to her small rounded shoulders. She had bright blue eyes and perky breasts. She wore a white chest plate, matching shorts, red fingerless gloves on her hands and white boots strapped tightly to her feet. The boots rose to her ankles. Her name was Amber.

Amber swung her sword twice, but the black haired girl was faster and easily parried every attack. Jumping backwards the girl swung her sword hard. Amber ducked underneath the attack and swung her sword, but the black haired girl blocked the attack.

The two girls glared at one another fiercely. Their hands shook and sparks exploded from their blades every time their blades moved.

Amber pushed the black haired girl backwards. Not missing a beat the black haired girl leapt forwards and began swinging her blade. Amber dodged left and right, missing each swing by mere inches.

After the third dodge the girl swung her sword and knocked the sword out of the black haired girl's hand. The sword slammed into the ground several yards away. The hilt was pointed towards the sky.

"Do you surrender?" Amber asked.

The black haired girl took several deep breaths. Then a smile creased her lips. "Yes. Of course I surrender." She said.

Amber lowered her sword. "Thank you... For everything." She said, a smile creased her lips as well.

The black haired girl and Amber took their gyms in their hands and pressed them close together. "Princess Amber... My beloved princess. I surrender my gym to you." She said. With a flash of white light the black haired girl's gem vanished and Amber felt a surge of power coursing through her body.

"Thank you." Amber said, smiling warmly at her friend.

The black haired girl bowed. When she stood erect the girl turned and headed out of the coliseum. Amber didn't move until her friend vanished. "Alright..." The girl breathed, turning to her swords master.

Her master was an elderly man who had deep wrinkles etched into his face. He had light blue eyes, broad shoulders and a long white beard that fell over his chest. "You did very well." The man said, smiling at the girl.

"Thank you master." Amber said. "I'm ready to start my journey." The girl said.

The old man laughed. "Are you now? Even you, the princess, can't leave whenever she wants to..."

"But master." Amber began.

"Calm yourself child. First... Tell me about the gems." The old man said.

Amber nodded. "The gems are born only with girls. The gems are a physical manifestation of their fighting spirit. When one combatant surrenders her gem to another combatant that combatant becomes stronger while the other becomes much weaker."

"Can someone reclaim their gems?" The old man asked.

"No." Amber said, shaking her head. "Once it's gone it's gone."

"And what if someone refused to surrender their gems?" The old man asked.

"Because girls are born into this world with incredibly sensitive skin, torture is sometimes necessary. Torture that involves pain is usually avoided because it leads to fainting or death. Tickling or some other form of torture is usually used." Amber answered.

"That's correct." The old man said, nodding. The man stroked his beard for a moment. "As your master I'm proud to say you're ready to start your journey, but as someone who's looked after you for so long... I would say you'd never be ready."

Amber smiled weakly at the old man. He was certainly more to her then just her sword master. Bowing low to her master. "Thank you master." She said, and with that she headed out of the coliseum to start her journey.