Chapter 326 - Fighters Guild (1/2)
Stomps of feet against the gravel floor. The nostalgic sound of a marching army. Geared to the teeth, figures over six feet stood with swords, bows, spears, and any weapon known. Injured with proud battle scars, the smell of sweat and iron spread the warrior's spirit.
”Lady Serene,” a deep voice that sounded as if scraping the bottom of a bucket came from behind a counter. ”I didn't expect to have thee here so early,” cigar in mouth, an eye-patched wolf beastman.
”Jazl,” nodded the lady who took a strong step forward, ”-I'm here for the initiation of recruits.”
”Ay,” he puffed and stared the counter, ”-they the lasses of Claireville Academy?”
”Indeed,”
”Me lady has been waiting for them lot,” he turned with a clang, ”-get over here,” a gesture that led them to the back of the guild. Two arenas divided by a barrier, on one side trained adventurers and the other empty. Battle cries and the sound of the sword crashed against one another had the class lagging in their steps.
”Look at them,” pointed Simone, ”-that is what I call manliness.”
”Don't be an idiot,” a slap to the head, Tony had a sparkle in the eye, ”-manliness can't compare. This is what I've dreamt, to be trained by those who are strong.”
”You're not the only one,” smiled Fletcher after which Harold soon joined the group.
'Manliness they say,' frowned Eira who peered the trainees, '-I don't see that much grit. The swings are wasted energy, not efficient. The power is there, yet, I feel unrest as if compensating for fear.'
”So, you've made it,” stood in a line facing the Guild Leader, a greatsword rested on the ground beside her fully armored body. ”Class 2A,” giving a once over, ”-I see that we have her Highness in the bunch,” to that, a smile surfaced, ”-should be fun.” *Clap,* warriors sprawled from out of nowhere with weapons of various kind. ”Thou must have a favorite. Choose any and head to the battleground.”
”Wow,” said Fletcher, ”-I'm going to use the spear.”
”Daggers for me,” winked Harold.
”I think I'll take the long-sword,” reached Simone.
”Battle-axe,” yelled Tony who reached impatiently.
”Do be careful,” interjected Mieshre, ”-the weapons are fairly heavy.” Upon taking the handle, it dropped for the weight had caught many off guard.
”What do you think?” posed Tony, ”-they aren't that heavy,” he winked.
”Stop showing off,” laughed Simone.
Away from the boys' reckless chatter, Serene reached for the Guild Leader's ear, ”-are you not going to say something about the lack of discipline?” whispered, her ears moved in dismissal.
”What about you, Highness?” asked Mieshre.
”Give her the short-sword,” laughed Harold for they didn't enjoy the ice princess's presence. Birthed by how Staxius had voiced her superiority over the others, they were in a mindset to tease.
”I've heard that you're quite fearful with thy ice-element. Does surprise that thou didn't choose to partake with the mages,” resumed the leader.
”Probably because she was too scared to go against Ryul,” whispered Simone that had the others in laughter.
”Don't mind them,” sensing Mieshre's face turn in ire, ”-boys being boys, should not matter,” giving a disgusted side-glance, ”-thou did say any weapon,” reached, she pulled out the great-sword as if it were child's play. Almost as big as her, the weapon turned to have the end inches away from Tony's neck, to then be thrown as if a toy.
”You have guts highness,” laughed Mieshre, ”-I do have to ask for the sake of asking, are you sure about using my weapon. She's a little, how should I say, hot-headed.”
”I appreciate thy concern,” said with utmost grace, ”-if she's hot, then I'm cold,” on which a white-mist froze the handle.
”I like it,' she howled, ”-highness, thou exude as much guts as thy father.”
”Thank you,” curtsied, ”-he's the reason I've vowed to become strong. The first and only time he showed the true power wasn't even in a fight. Goes to show how much catching up I have to do.” Lined with the others, her glare had subdued the childish banter.
'Time to see what the first-princess is made of,' smiled Serene sat on a chair. The opposite half stopped to watch.
”Ay, is our princess hard?”
”Jazl, tis not hard, the word is tough. Language has never been your strong suit, has it?”
”Yer right, what do they ought to say faced with a knife. I slash to then dip in the casserole.”
”Sounds as if you're to make a meal,” she chuckled with one leg over the other, ”-still, I agree. What's the point of talking when one's opponent shall die?”
”Alright rookies,” stood firm, Mieshre held chains to differing cages brought over. The latter had gnarls and hisses coming through. ”Today's test will be different. I know that our guild is here to train into fighting monsters,” rolling her eyes, ”-I'll let you experience how powerful the things many take lightly are. First off, you with the seaweed hair. Why don't you have a go,” pulled on one of the chains, it revealed a snake.
”Listen closely,” she yelled, ”-that is a Naga. A drop of its venom inside thy blood and you die. For training purposes, that right there is Nelson, we named him because tis harder to kill something with a name. He or she, we know not, is about seven months old. Most vicious at that age, you can expect a lot of bite but no venom, I think anyway, I'm no specialist.”
*Clap,* another barrier closed around Nelson and Harold.
”Here we go,” cheered the other trainees. *Clang,* the locked undone, it sprawled at lightning speed. *SMACK,* ”-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,” the snake had its fangs dug into his legs.