"Please, no, no, no—" A man begged.
Squelch!
Silence followed, then a soft thud caused by a head falling to the ground.
Slurp!
"I like it when they are scared, haha. Makes the blood more savoury." A male voice said as he slurped the blood running down his claws.
He turned to a corner.
"But I heard it tastes better when you scare children."
He slowly approached a woman with two children.
"Hi kiddo. Hi—"
He suddenly lunged forward.
"Boo!"
The child screamed and clung to his mom.
This person laughed.
Then.
A female voice interrupted.
"All that power, just to prey on a village of farmers?"
She stepped forward.
"How far have you fallen, Seven?" She said, her voice low.
Seven stopped. He growled, as he slowly turned his head to face who just interrupted him.
His eyes, blood shot.
"Ah, the elusive one appears.. how quaint." He mocked.
"Atleast, I'm more than just a disposable puppet." She laughed.
"grrrrr. You should have stayed hidden. Fourteen." He snapped.
Then.
He appeared in front of her in an instant. Stopping right before he strikes.
The moonlight gleamed on him, and he was a being of nightmares. His body was sheathed in a rigid exo-skeleton, bone-white and jagged, as if the bones had grown outward into an armour.
He floated gracefully in front of her, his wings flung wide, as he stretched out his blood stained hand.
"Fourteen, you are one of the best creations of Mother. It would be sad if things end like this. Take my hand and let's go."
Fourteen grinned "Tsk. fuck you."
She spat on his hand.
"Ah..." He grimaced.
Then his exo-skeleton arm elongated, forming a long sharp point at the end, replacing his fist.
"Stubborn until the end. How naive."
He attacked.
Only to be pushed back by a massive cat like beast. Sending him flying into the bush.
He recovered immediately and flew straight at her.
Suddenly.
He froze mid air. He strained, but his body wouldn't move.
He stared straight at Fourteen.
"What did you do!!!?" He barked.
Fourteen approached him slowly.
"You don't even know who or what I am capable of, yet you spoke like someone who did." She said.
A black orb manifested at her side, and out of it she pulled out a massive scythe with a chain attached to the handle.
"I'll tell you."
She moved closer, raising the scythe.
"I am Fourteen."
She brought the scythe down.
"The Night bringer."
Whoosh.
Then a soft thud.
----
It was morning, and I had already returned to my dorm room before the weapon selection event.
Eimira dropped me off at the entrance, then went on to focus on her duties.
She hadn't fully healed from our spar last night, and would first visit a healer Writer, before her training. To minimize the pain.
It started raining shortly after I entered my room, and it instantly put me in a mood to sleep. Shook off the feeling and grabbed my arcstone to check up on Zahir and Wryo.
Never really told them what I was up to after I left them, and they were also invited but I didn't have the chance to take them with me, since Eimira snuck me out.
Sent a message to them through the arcstone, telling them that I am back in my room, and they replied that they'd arrive soon.
I sighed.
"Well, since that's settled, let me lay down a bit." I muttered, feeling drowsy.
Couldn't get enough sleep at Eimira's house, because Aurivelle kept thrashing around. I just wanted this day to be over, so I can finally sleep.
Was about to lay down when I noticed the books I had borrowed from the library were still on the table near the window. I made my way to it and saw that the birds outside my window were drenched in the rain.
"Oh no..." I said, as I hurriedly opened the window and brought them in.
I took a fur coat and wrapped it around them, and placing them near the fire place.
I smiled. "Phew, that was close."
I checked outside and the rain had picked up a bit.
"I wonder if those two are still gonna make it." I whispered.
Just then.
A knock then a familiar voice.
"Zandren open up its me, Zahir. Wryo's here too." Zahir yelled, his voice trembling.
"It's cold." Wryo added.
I opened the door.
They wasted no time and rushed in.
They both took a sit near my fireplace right beside the birds.
Zahir pointed at them.
"You left your pets in the rain?" He asked.
"What? They aren't my pet. They just live right outside my window." I answered, handing them a blanket each.
"So where were you yesterday? You suddenly vanished after speaking with Captain Aurelle." Wryo asked.
"Well... Uh."
I tried to hide where I went but they probably already know.
"I spent the night at Eimira's." I said.
Zahir jumped up.
"Whaatt!!?"
He ran to me and held me by the collar, shaking me.
"I thought you were joking about that when you told us..."
I groaned. "Stop shaking me. I'm tired."
"Tired? What'd you do overnight?" Wryo teased.
Zahir fell on his knees. "N-No way."
I chuckled softly. "Get up dude, Nothing happened, I just couldn't sleep."
Wryo smirked. "Hmm hmm. Is that so?"
Zahir cried.
"Stop it Wryo. You're breaking Zahir's heart." I said, almost laughing.
Zahir lunged at me, holding my collar and shaking me again.
"Ow."
"You did this to me." He snapped. "You!!!"
I patted him. "There, there. It's all going to be alright."
Wryo turned.
"So Zandren, do you have an idea of what weapon you'd like to pick?" He asked.
"What?" I blinked.
Zahir sniffled. "Yeah, for the weapon selection event today. I'll be going for a catalyst."
"And I already have my weapon, so there's no need for me to pick another." Wryo added.
"Lucky you." Zahir sneered, then turned to me.
"So what type of weapon do you want? I can help you pick If you have no idea"
"Actually..."
I walked over to my bed.
"...I have a weapon already." I muttered.
I held the case up to show them.
They rushed over.
"Are those daggers?" Zahir asked.
"The case looks a bit expensive, so enhanced daggers?" Wryo said, trying to pry off the case from my fingers.
I Yanked it back.
"What? No."
"Then what?" They both asked.
"Gauntlets." I smiled, opening the case and bringing the gauntlets out.
They were in awe at how well made and premium the gauntlets looked, but their expression shifted to skepticism.
"Gauntlets though?" Zahir frowned.
Wryo collected one and inspected it.
"What a waste of money. Barely anyone uses gauntlets due to its high offence and low defence, except for one bastard on Captain Yunok's Vanguard." He explained.
I chuckled. "I didn't actually buy it..."
"So where? You didn't just see it on the side of the road." Zahir folded his arms.
"Should I tell them, or na? Fuck it. I'll let them humour me." I thought.
I smiled. "Eimira's mom. She handed it over to me.
They stared at me.
"Eimira's mom?" Wryo blinked.
"Y-you met Yor Aevorah?" Zahir stuttered.
"Any problem?" I asked.
Suddenly Zahir lunged at me, trying to hit me with the case, but Wryo held him back.
"Wryo, unhand me!" He yelled.
"N-No stop."
"This lucky bastard doesn't even know who Yor is..." He said with tears in his eyes.
"I-Is there anything I'm missing?" I asked, frowning.
"Y-Yor Aevorah used to be the strongest female captain, and was also the strongest Terra holder, reaching divine envoy." Wryo said, still holding Zahir back.
"Oh, she did seem kinda strong."
Zahir fell on his knees. "Why not me..."
Wryo pointed to the window. "It's still raining heavily, and there hasn't been any notice of a postponement."
"Yeah... I'm hungry." He stood up. "Zandren, you got anything I can eat?"
"Oh yeah, I brought some food, Yor asked me to pass them on since you guys couldn't make it."
I reached for a bag I had brought with me. Then I pulled out two boxed lunches and handed it to them.
Zahir drooled. "Home made food..."
Wryo and I laughed.
"So, why gauntlets?" Wryo asked.
I remained silent for a moment, then answered.
"I don't know, it just felt right for me."
"Yeah, Zandren is good with his hands. But a gauntlet without a blessing though, that's gonna be tough. Don't be sad if a Vanguard doesn't scout you." Zahir added.
"Scout?" I blinked.
"Yeah, haven't you been paying attention this whole time?" He asked
I replied with a blank stare.
They both sighed.
"Ok, so after the weapon selection, there's gonna be a tournament, after a few days or weeks of training." Zahir said.
"Everyone is gonna be drafted to face one another, up until a final winner. The captain of all Ten vanguards would be present. The winner gets to choose the vanguard of their choice, but anyone besides that would either be scouted or placed in a vanguard by the academy." Wryo explained.
"Ah, I see. That makes sense." I nodded.
"But there's going to be a qualifier match after the weapon selection. It's the first test." Wryo added.
Zahir continued. "Hmm hmm. It's to check how well you fight even when unprepared."
"So what happens to those that didn't qualify?" I asked.
"They automatically get placed into a random vanguard." Wryo answered.
"I see."
We talked more about the tournament, and the gauntlets. Moving from topic to topic until the rain finally stopped at past noon.
We immediately got a notice from Xilohe to come to the general training ground for the weapon selection event.
Since we were in my room, I got ready first, and followed Wryo and Zahir to their dorm, so they could also get ready.
After, we left for the weapon selection event.
----
We got to the venue in a bit and it was already packed. The air was still cold, and the ground, still wet.
Xilohe stood at the front and behind her were multiple shelves of different types of weapons. They were well arranged in sections, making them easy to find and access.
"Thanks for making it despite the heavy rain everyone." Xilohe announced. "So as we all know, today's the weapon selection. Where you choose the weapon you fight with. An extension of yourself."
She paced around then gestured to the shelves.
"These here are well crafted weapons made by various renowned craftsmen across the three nations. They are built to resonate with you. And if they don't feel free to file for a personally made weapon."
She stepped forward. "After I'm done here, feel free to pick and test them."
"For those who already have their weapon, please proceed to the open training ground for your qualifying matches. It is a single match knock out so be sure to take it seriously. Those who will be picking their weapons today would be given two days to get used to it before their qualifying match."
She clapped her hands.
"Alright, that's all for now. If you have your weapon, let's go."
"So guys, I'll see you soon. I hope I find the best catalyst for me, hehe." Zahir smiled, and left to find his weapon.
Wryo and I already had ours, so we didn't have to wait for our qualifying match.
It was a short walk to the training ground. On our way there I could tell how nervous people were. Some trembled, while some oozed with confidence.
I remained neutral, same with Wryo.
Come to think of it, I never once questioned Wryo's combat prowess. He always carried his staff, so maybe he's been training. I turned to him, and he looked entirely calm.
He faced me. "Any problem?"
"Oh uh-" I turned away. "You just look so calm, and not nervous."
He chuckled dryly. "What's there to be nervous about?"
"I mean, we didn't get to train before this match." I said.
"It's a qualifier to check how prepared you are even though you aren't. Vanguards require highly alerted people, not weak people. It's because of their strength and commitment, and that is why we only have to worry about petty thieves and the growing number of occults."
"Hmm?" I groaned softly.
"It's an endless battle at the borders of all nations. Usually Ardor was the one to help take care of most of the attacks but since Ardor is no more, we have to be able to defend ourselves, as well as Nymirel." Wryo explained.
"Endless battles?" I asked.
"Yeah, Dark Forest monsters come every time to attack, but they are held back by the Terraka's Battalion soldiers, the ones with no blessings."
He grunted. "I'd prefer to explain this to you somewhere more quiet, so maybe after the match."
"Ah, ok..." I answered, knowing that he only wanted to remain focused on the qualifying match.
We finally got to the training grounds. It was a really wide patch of land, more than enough for those that are about to battle it out.
There was a pavilion above the entrance we came out of.
I turned to admire the beautiful pavilion and noticed someone waving at me. I squinted my eyes and saw that it was Aurelle.
"What? What's she doing here?" I sighed.
"Alright everyone!"
A male voice echoed, grabbing all the attention of the students present on the training ground.
I turned to look. It was a large man in a simple yet fashionable tunic, with Xilohe standing by his side and one other person. There was one more behind them, but I couldn't really tell.
"You all have your weapons hereby you all start your qualifiers here. Failure to win results in you being asked to leave or accepting whatever vanguard you are placed in." He added.
His voice was stern, harsh, and carried weight.
He gestured to the pavilion. "The top two Vanguard Captains are here to scout you right from the qualifiers, make sure to impress them. They aren't supposed to be captains in their sixth year, but yet there they stand watching over you."
He stepped back. "Let the qualifiers begin."
After he said that, Xilohe and the other person stepped forward. One of their eyes glowed gold while the other remained close, as the area began to tremble. The ground broke into squares and each was moved individually like a shuffle, this lasted for a bit till I was placed with the person I would be fighting against. A short wall was built around each square to prevent entering into another box.
After that, the one who was behind all three earlier stepped forward. He had a blindfold on which was taken off by the giant man.
He was a Writer.
A staff was handed to him, and he stepped forward.
Both his eyes had symbols written on them, showing he was a high level writer.
He started chanting some sort of spells, the words began to manifest in writing on plain air. After he was done, he tapped the words with his staff and they spread over the training ground.
Then the man came up. "This is advanced healing that eliminates any wound or injury. But it doesn't eliminate the pain. So go all out, fight like your lives depend on it. Afterall, you won't die."
I finally got a good look at my opponent, a large dude, who came prepared in his armour and helmet. He wielded a spiked mace and a shield.
He slammed his mace on his shield. "Go all out. Smash. Smash. Kill."
Shivers ran down my spine.
"Smash, smash, kill?" I thought.
But I couldn't back down.
I equipped my gauntlets and they roared to life once more. I don't know why, but anytime I put on these gauntlets, it always felt like I could win anything. Like it's a part of me.
The man continued. "Now that everyone's ready..."
"Let the battle begin."
I charged.
"Let's win this!"