Chapter 124 (2/2)

“Ah! But first,” Shal said with a wide grin. “You must obtain your Tassle.”

*****

A Tassle, Randidly realized, were those strange banners hanging from the Gauntlet. It also seemed like they corresponded to the sails above the boats. There was a sort of pride in one’s Tassle, so when they showed up at the store, the building constructed of bamboo with thick bolts of cloth everywhere, they were greeted warmly.

And when the attendant saw the color of Shal’s skin, his eyes twitched, and then he brought at an older man with a thick beard, whose skins was a dusky green color.

“Welcome, welcome,” The man said with a smile. “How may this one serve you on this day?”

“My disciple shall enter the Gauntlet for the first time tomorrow. He needs his first Tassle.”

“Ah, such a talented youth.” The man said, but his gaze was greedily running over Shal’s skin. “I don’t suppose he has learned any of the core Skill Sets-”

“Unfortunately not,” Shal said, his expression turning stony. “He does not yet have a Skill Set.”

“Oh, I see. All in good time, I suppose. Then sir, please follow me, you can choose from any of the middle tier colors-”

Randidly blinked, speaking up. “...I actually have one.”

Shal and the bearded man looked at him, turning back from the area they were heading towards, which was filled with red banners.

Shal said nothing, but the man smiled kindly. “Ah, you have a basic skill set? Unfortunately, if it’s of common rarity, you won’t be able to do better than-”

“It’s runic,” Randidly said. Then he added. “But I only know the first movement, so I guess it isn’t complete.”

The two just looked at him. Shal’s face had become inscrutable. The man’s eyes were bulging.

“Then… then…” He said, finally managing to speak. “Let us proceed below for a test.”

The man led the way into a back room, down the stairs, passed several employees who were talking to each other in whispers and looking excitedly at Shal and Randidly. Slightly bemused, Randidly just followed.

At the lower floor, there was another room, one with two women, sitting in meditation. This room was much larger than the one Shal was staying at. It was about as large as a basketball court. The bearded man hurried over to one and whispered in her ear, and her eyes slowly opened, her gaze focusing on Randidly.

Shal stood next to Randidly, gazing meaningfully at him.

“...What?” Randidly finally asked.

“...I…. Don’t know what to say. I cannot decide. So I shall wait until I see your move.” Then Shal shook his head ruefully. “Perhaps it is fate that you became my student. We both attract far too much attention to ourselves.”

The woman stood, and spoke. “I will receive your spear move, to determine its strength. Do not hold back, your strength is not at the level that it can hurt me. Come whenever you are prepared.”

Shal stepped back away, standing next to the bearded man. Randidly found himself standing there, with the woman slowly leveling her spear at him, waiting calmly. After a brief hesitation, he removed his bone spear from his ring. It was slender and thin, but it was a spear, and Randidly felt like it fit very well in his hands.

He lowered his own spear at the woman, preparing.