The Vytal Festival was vast approaching, so the training especially in Sparring Class was increased.  Oni, Rion and Ki watched with their classmates as Daku was in the sparring ring with Sanir from team POSN.  Sanir had been keeping Daku cornered as they fired arrows at her.  Daku ran quickly to dodge them and using her chains to block the ones she couldn't.  Despite not liking battle Daku was fairly agile.  She quickly got up close enough to wrap a chain around Sanir's ankle, throwing them into the air.  Daku then launched her chains at Sanir to push them into the ceiling to finish off their aura.  However Daku hesitated afraid of the harm she was about to do. Sanir smirked, realizing the opportunity, they quickly fired a red dust infused arrow at Daku's feet.  The explosion knocked her back into the ground depleting her aura.  Sanir landed then fired another arrow at her, but the arrow was stopped by Glynda.
"What's the big idea?  I had her!" growled Sanir.
"Miss Misami's aura has been depleted," explained Glynda, "Young Jamison, you must remember we aren't here to harm your fellow Huntsman.  That being said the results from the match Young Jamison is the victor.  Miss Misami, you hesitated in your attack, giving your opponent a chance to strike.  You must learn to commit to your strikes."
"Yes, ma'am" said Daku as she pulled herself off the ground.  The two cleared the platform for the next sparring match, Daku sulks as she sits next to her team.  Oni and Ki are quick comfort her.
"Don't worry about it too much Daku," smiled Oni.
"You're improving, we just have to keep working on it," nodded Ki.
"Stop coddling her you two," grumbled Rion, "She's never going to learn anything if you two keep acting like this."
"I'm not going to beat her down either, Jerk!" snapped Oni.
"When she's out there in the real world, no one will be there to save her," growled Rion, "If she can't commit to attacking then she's dead."
Rion's words seemed to reach Daku as she slumped further in her seat.  As they watched more matches a single thought kept running through Daku's mind, "Am I not good enough?"
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After classes had finished for the day, Oni, Ki and Rion were eating their dinner in the dining hall, but Daku wasn't there.  Ki kept stopping her meal, in order to look around to see if Daku was coming.
"Has anyone seen Daku?" asked Ki, "I haven't seen her since Ms. Glynda's class."
"Me either," said Oni, "I'm worried, she seemed more quiet than usual after sparring."
"Maybe she quit," said Rion as he ate his food without a worry in the world, "Daku's too gentle for this job."
"That's not for you to decide Rion," growled Oni.
"She was looking unwell since that class," said Ki, not concerned with their bickering, "Maybe she's resting in the dorm."
"Whatever," sighed Rion, as he stood up to leave, "I'm going to the training yard before curfew."
Rion's few moments of peace from his team, were spent at the outside training field.  He enjoyed this one because it was one of the few training areas that had physical targets.  It still had the holograms to practise with, but nothing made him feel better than releasing his frustrations out on a wooden mannequin.  When he arrived, Rion was surprised that he was not alone, Daku was there breathing heavily as she faced off against the holograms.
Daku was dodging the attacks from the holograms, as well using her chains to block any attacks that she couldn't dodge.  While they were still holograms, the attack that would come from them will still make contact enough for you to feel it in the morning.  Upon further inspection, Rion noticed all the scrapes and bruises covered her body, as she had thrown her poncho off.
"How long has she been at this?" wondered Rion, "Is this where she's been all day?"
Daku blocked another attack but this time she had been able to knock the hologram back, this was her chance to strike.  She threw her chains, but then stopped them, hesitating like before.  The hologram recovered, and knocked Daku to the floor.  Daku flinched expecting the final blow, but it never came.  Rion had jumped in, slicing the hologram in two with his sword.
"What are you doing here, Daku?" asked Rion with a stern look.
"I...I wanted to get b-better," said Daku, on the verge of tears, "I don't want to let everyone down, because of my short comings."
"You're not going to get anywhere if you don't strike back," sighed Rion.
"But what if I hurt them?" questioned Daku, "Grimm are easier but, I'm not sure if I could harm another person."
Rion sighed again, before helping Daku off the ground, "Why don't you try again, but this time try to attacking me."
"What?!" Daku shouted, "I couldn't do that!"
"Trust me, there's nothing you can do that I haven't already felt before," reassured Rion, "I've been doing training like this my whole life."
"But--" Daku didn't get a chance to finish, as she heard laughter from behind.
It was Orion and Sanir from team POSN, Orion smirked, while Sanir laughed, while holding an apple they took from the dining hall.
"Well, look who it is, its the guard dog and his pet sheep," smiled Sanir as they took a bite out of their apple, "What are you doing out here little sheep?  I thought I finally made you see that your out of your league here.  You couldn't even land a scratch on me if you tried, oh wait you did!"
"You have a point Sanir," smirked Orion, "Weaklings like you are better off quitting.  No amount of training will help you here."
Rion then stood in front of Daku, shielding her from Orion and Sanir's view, "Are you two here just to cause trouble, or are you looking to fight?  If you want a fight then, I will gladly oblige."
"What do you care anyway?" growled Orion as she came up to Rion's face, "Your nothing more than a selfish dog, that only cares about the rich and powerful."
Daku suddenly pushed Orion away from Rion and yelled, "You take that back!  You have no right to talk about Rion that way!"
Rion was startled for a moment from Daku's outburst, he's never heard her yell back at anyone before.
"Little bug, I'll kill you!" growled Orion, before Sanir grabbed her by the arm.
"Let's safe this spat for another time," said Sanir, "Remember what Pararoh said if he hears we started trouble again.
Orion seemed to listen as she pulled her arm away from them, "You two get off easy this time, but I won't be as forgiving next time.  Let's go Sanir."
After they left, Daku then spoke out loud to herself, "Should I just quit?  Save the professors the trouble?"
Rion paused for a moment, before grabbing one of the wooden swords from the rack, and tossing one at her.  Daku was startled by the sword, as she attempted to juggle it before dropping the sword entirely.
"Only if you don't continue to practise," said Rion, "After dinner, meet me out here and we will work on this fear.  We'll use these wooden swords until you feel confident enough to use you weapon on me.  Sound good?"
As Rion looked toward his teammate for an answer, he noticed her crying and panicked.  The last time he made Daku cry, Ki gave him quite the earful.
"Th-thank you!" she smiled as the tears of relief flooded down her face.
"Don't mention it," said Rion looking away out of embarrassment.
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