The Strongest Princess ⚜ Ch. 2

The first day of classes was a whirlwind of activity, and Devna was especially looking forward to her last few classes, including Weapons and Combat Introduction.

As she went to the weapons room, someone brushed her shoulder.

"What are they doing letting little girls into the program anyway?" he muttered under his breath.

Devna took a breath and tried to push away the negativity. She had a place here as much as anyone. Entering the room, she saw swords everywhere and grinned.

Soon the professor entered the room. "Good afternoon. I am Professor Andris. We'll be working with weapons all throughout the year, including swords, bows, and a brief firearms unit. I'll give the obligatory safety speech, and then we'll begin a little strength and precision test."

Devna tried to listen as droned on about 'don't touch the blades, don't point them at anyone or anything you don't want to cut, etc.'. But the gleaming swords on the wall were thoroughly distracting.

"Alright. For this first exercise, you will take a sword and cut through one of these posts. You will have three swings to take off five inches or less. Remember, precision and strength are both required to be successful." Gesturing to the swords on the lower racks Andris said, "Who's first?"

The boys all clamored for the first try, while the three girls stayed back.

"Animals," a redhead muttered, and Devna chuckled.

The first to try was a cocky nobleman, and his first blow glanced right off the post. As did his second.

"Remember, precision," Andris reminded him.

With a snarl, he lobbed off far more than the alloted amount.

Andris shook his head. "Next."

The next failed as well. The third, however, managed to get it, as did the fourth.

After a while, the professor looked to the girls waiting patiently in the back. "Let's let one of the ladies have a go, gentlemen."

The tallest of the three stepped forward. But her blows were never quite precise enough. The redhead went next, and while her swings couldn't have been more precise, she just didn't have the strength to get through the dense wood.

She handed her sword off to Devna, who took the position up front. Behind her, the knight that had bumped into her scoffed.

"She's so tiny. She'll never be able to do it."

Trying to maintain a good mindset, she ignored him, focusing on the feel of the sword in her hands. The wood post looked imposing, dense and thick with sap. Taking a deep breath, she raised the sword.

The first swing glanced off.

The knight chuckled and crossed his arms. Alright, so she needed more power. She analyzed the angle of the nick in the wood and decided to try it again the same way.

Summoning all her strength, she brought the sword against the post.

It went through.

The girls cheered as the three inches of wood rolled on the ground. Devna couldn't help but pump a fist in excitement, and resisted the urge to jump in celebration.

"Well done. It seems we know who is the strongest princess here," Andris said, trying to fight a smirk.

She walked back with the other girls, handing off her sword to an openmouthed knight.

"How did you...?"

The princess just smiled.