Oh man, who am I fighting today? Who are the other two?
He walked on the same street—before the fruit stand and the turn that led toward the two impoverished demi-human boys.
"Man, I really don't want to go unconscious today. That way I can celebrate with the boys and walk back to my only home—the inn."
Before turning onto the street, he gave a courteous nod to the llama.
"There he is!"
The familiar voice made him look ahead at the two rapidly approaching figures. Oswald's eyes widened.
"Wait! You two!"
The fox-eared boy wore a cleric's outfit and the bear wore a farmer's. The two jumped around him, giggling.
"Look at us, sir! We are farmer and a cleric!"
Oswald blinked profusely before words finally escaped.
"Wow, uh… that's… that's amazing!" He pinched his chin. "A farmer and a cleric, huh."
The fox nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes. We did what you said, and we also gave back."
Their words pierced his heart, and Oswald inhaled deeply.
Oh my goodness, I'm gonna tear up.
After a deep breath, he chuckled, then laughed. "Then my job here… is done."
He walked past the puzzled boys with a wave. "See you two when you're in an even better circumstance."
Behind them, both bowed.
"Thank you, sir." His words paused his exit.
The fox nodded while bowing. "We are indebted to you."
Oswald looked ahead, a single tear glistening on his cheek. "If you feel that way… then I release you… from all debt." He inhaled deeply again. "I have to leave."
He strode away and vanished around the corner.
"He really left quickly."
The fox dipped his head. "Yeah, mama talked about this."
The bear gazed upward. "Oh, yeah… A good person can't stay where they've done their good."
* * *
"SHIT! I'm late!"
The student's corner door stood open, no one standing before it.
He skidded to a stop, then entered the armory hallway leading to the fighting ground.
"Damn it! The gear-making took all the time and—"
GROWL!
"I KNOW! I skipped breakfast on the equipment run. FUCK! I keep on giving but when do I take… food. Like bro, how are you gonna face a captain on an empty stomach?"
He rubbed his temple, pacing around the armory—a wide range of chipped melee weapons lined the wall.
"I'm screwed… I'm so screwe—"
"Ladies and gentlemen! With yesterday's display, who is ready for another ROUUUND!"
Muffled cheering and whistling sounded through the door.
"I'm not! I'm not!"
"Oh, the crowd answered. Student, what will you show us today—for your second-to-last fight. Come out OSWALD JAAAACK!"
The door creaked open, the cheering and whistling burst in.
Just like the Penguins, just smile and wave, but…
GROWL!
"Yep, on cue."
"In the other corner, the captain of the Royal Guard…"
THE ROYAL GUARD!
"…from a bloodline of assassins spanning generations…"
They're an ASSASSIN!
"Trained in the butlerian arts since childhood."
Wait what?!
"Ladies and gentlemen, THE MAID OF SOLARA PRIIIIIIME!"
Who—
"WHAAAAAAAT!"
From the captains corner, walking out toward the center—was the violet-haired maid, the very same taking care of him.
"Hu— Wha— I— What? Um—You…"
He pointed at her, his words dying. She dipped her head, a few meters away from him.
"Indeed, I am the Royal Captain."
"I—What the fu— How can a maid—" He rubbed his forehead. "The reveal… has fried my brain."
GROWL!
And my stomach as well. Thank you crowd for hiding that.
"Is it just my perception? Or have your muscles reduced around your neck and cheeks?"
WHAT?!
"Gulp. That uh. Psh, it's nothing." He waved his hand. "Happens all the time, don't make it hinder our duel."
Happens all the time, my ass.
"I see…"
DING!
The bell rang.
The very next moment, he saw a reflection of his eyes—and the sand behind him.
Sand? Behind me?
His body moved faster than his mind—he limboed under the maid's piercing attack.
WHOOSH!
After she passed him, skidding to a stop behind him.
He straightened himself.
"WAH!"
THUD!
The excessive momentum thrust him forward, burying his face in the sand.
GROWL!
YOU AREN'T HELPING!
He jumped to his feet, slapping sand off his face.
CLANK!
In one swoop, his sword's flat side blocked another piercing attack. His arms trembled as she pushed against his sword, his words coming through gritted teeth.
"I have… a question…"
He shoved her dagger back.
CLANK!
Another attack followed, which he blocked.
"Do I… still have sand… on my face?"
"No."
Wow, she actually replied! I thought wasn't gonna get—AN ANSWER!
He shoved her dagger away, and slashed his sword horizontally.
CLANK!
The maid parried his sword, kicking his waist.
WHOOSH!
He sidestepped one leg, then another, then another, then a dagger—all whooshing by. He ducked under her second leg from a roundhouse kick, then blocked the dagger.
Holy flurry of atta— Wait! Her eyes are pink!
He dashed away from her daggers swipe—leaving a plume of dust—pointing at her.
"Are you okay? Your eyes are pink."
She didn't answer.
I guess she—
CLANK!
He blocked again, both pushing their weapons against each other.
Holy speed bro!
She dropped the dagger, caught it with her other hand below.
Whoa!
CLAP!
He clasped her newly dagger-equipped hand.
She launched into a backflip kick.
WHOOSH!
Her foot whizzed past his nose, instinctively unhanding her.
She completed her flip, sharp eyes locked in for another attack.
WAIT! Her eyes are now red—
BOOM!
A shockwave geysered up the sand behind her. In a blink.
WHOOSH!
His eyes widened as a dagger's tip whizzed by the eyes, only a few meters away a second ago
Too close. So ver—
He jumped her leg sweep.
Close!
She twisted her body to deliver a kick to his torso.
He blocked her kick with his sword and swept at her legs, but she rolled away.
CLANK!
He blocked her piercing attack.
WHAT!? SHE WAS JUS—
CLANK!
ROLLING!
Then he noticed, her eyes had no iris, a full white orb instead of the fiery red iris.
What.
CLANK!
Kind.
CLANK!
Of.
CLANK!
Horror movie.
CLANK!
Ass.
CLANK!
Shit.
CLANK!
IS THIS!
CLANK!
The last hit, the maid's dagger slid off his sword to his right—a clean parry. He shoulder-checked her, putting her off-balance.
CLANK!
She regained her balance in a blink and blocked his thrust. Then he blinked again—gone.
What?! Where did she go?
The nape of his neck seared.
Behind me!
He skidded to look behind him.
Black ey—
BOOM!
She dashed toward him, a pillar of sand behind her. A vapor cone formed around her dagger as she approached at blinding speed. Her whole eyes nothing but black.
The world slowed down, her sonic speed akin to someone running normally.
What? What's happening?
He looked around him, everything moved at a snail's pace. He rotated his own hands, opening and closing his fists, moving at a normal pace.
Am I? Moving fast? Speed Force type… shit…
His gaze slowly shifted to the approaching freight train—that is the maid.
I can dodge her but…Haaah. I shouldn't.
He shook his head.
Too overpowered. I mean, I'm supposed to be a student, I'm not supposed to achieve feats like that, but… Haaah.
He sighed, closing his eyes.
This is gonna hurt.
As if this newfound power was an innate part of him, he turned it off.
The last thing his mind registered: sparks, red liquid spraying from his chainmail—then darkness.
* * *
ns216.73.216.216da2
and then Add to home screen.