Delia

Shaky breath in
Shaky breath out
Shaky breath in
Don't panic
Relax
It'll be fine
Easy
Relax
Her fingers tightened on her sword hilt
Shaky breath out
Keep calm
Remember what Leo said
It'll be fine
Easy
Relax
Calm...

Delia stood with sweaty palms outside the arena. It seemed so easy, all she had to do was go in... but if going in meant winning and winning meant- no. She couldn't afford to think like that.

Deep breath in
One step
Another step
Deep breath out
Easy
Keep moving forward
Simple.

She entered the arena where crowds were already milling in the stands, gathered to watch the campers hacking at practice dummies.
She stood in front of an unoccupied one and began to swing her sword in gentle motions, smooth, easy, simple. Her arm flowed unconsciously with the movement. Fluid.
"Brace your wrist." A gruff voice said behind her. She turned to find Clarisse la Rue, daughter of Ares.
"Thanks," Delia smiled.
Clarisse placed a hand on Delia's shoulder.
"Just... don't get yourself killed, kid. You're not half bad, you know." Clarisse said before walking away.
Delia smiled after her, knowing that that would be the best compliment she would ever get from the girl. Clarisse had despised her after she had won a sword match between them, at least now Clarisse seemed to forgive her.
She began swinging at the dummy again, making her movements steadily more accurate and finite. She impaled the dummy just as the speakers boomed.
"Competitors, please join your friends in the stands while the arena is being set up." Kat's shaky voice announced. Delia's nerves were getting to her.
Delia pulled her sword out of the dummy and went to stand next to Kerri.
"Hi," Kerri said, her voice terse with nerves.
"Hi," Delia couldn't keep the nerves out of her voice either.
"Good luck out there." Kerri said.
"You too." Delia managed a smile and they both stood there in nervous silence as the audience buzzed around them.
The dummies were dragged off by volunteers and the arena was left bare.
"First up, Monica Bine and Kerri Davis." Kat said.
Delia wished Kerri some not-really-needed luck as her friend entered the arena.
The match was over within seconds, poor Monica never really stood a chance.
"Next is Fran Edward and Maria Gore."
Delia realised Kat was going in alphabetical order, but what happened to Ambrosia?
She watched three more sets fight before Kat finally called her name.
"Lastly, Tabitha Wu and Delia Ambrosia."
It must have been to do with matching up Greeks and Romans, Delia decided.
She entered the arena.
Tabitha was a tiny asian girl who wore the symbol of crossed spears above her SPQR, a daughter of Mars. She was not to be taken lightly.
They both hefted their swords and lunged at each other. Swords crashed, metal rang, Delia found herself lost in her own movement.
Block
Lunge
Block
Cut
They parried stokes, occasionally getting in lucky hits, but never anything but nicks and grazes.
Block
Stab
Block
Swipe
A line of blood appeared across the tiny girl's forehead, for a moment Tabitha was blinded by blood. Delia saw her opening and took it, disarming the girl and holding the point to her throat to get a surrender.
When the match was over, she ran to the Apollo station and grabbed a wad of gauze and a bandage for the small girl before running back to where Tabitha was still kneeling in the dirt. Delia wiped away the blood with the gauze before wrapping the bandage tightly around the small head. She wrapped Tabitha's arm around her shoulders and lifted the both to their feet so they could stumble off the field together.
"Thank you." Tabitha croaked.
"My pleasure." Delia helped the girl sit down before turning back to the semi-finals that had started raging as soon as they left the arena.
Kerri was trying her skill against Clarisse, and neither seemed to be getting the upper hand. As Delia kept watching, Clarisse flicked Kerri's sword into the dirt, but Kerri dodged the follow up blow to pick up her sword again and disarm Clarisse. The match was over and Kerri had won. Kerri would fight tomorrow, she might die. Delia might have to kill her.
Delia's name was called to fight a son of Spes named Aiden.
Delia sized him up as they entered the arena. He was tall and his black hair flopped into his eyes, in a fight this would make him awkward and half-blind. This would be easy.
She made the first move, closing in on him with her sword. Her blade was too quick for even her to follow, before she knew what had happened, his sword was on the floor and hers was at his throat.
Delia would compete the next day.
She might get killed.
Kerri might kill her.
She might have go kill Kerri.
Hopefully Nico would arrive on time.
But anything could happen.

Notes

One or two more proper chapters before a few 'happily ever after' ones :)
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