Chapter 2: The Second Trial
Squad Quinque & Their Training
The following month was, basically, a living hell for the recruits. Hirotsuka wasn't kidding when she said she was going to go medieval in their asses.
To enhance Tybalt's defense, she would put him in jousting matches against Cavaliers of the highest order in the castle. Every time he fell from his force was counted as a loss, and he'd have to start over again until he couldn't move anymore.
She had Pauline jumping from one tree to another, constantly trying to hit targets she had set up in the forest. Every missed target meant less food for the ninja. If she missed enough targets, then she'd probably have to go out and hunt something herself, because she would be getting none of Hirotsuka's (handmade) food.
She trained Hiro personally. The archer's objective was way less complicated than the other's. To avoid being hit by Hirotsuka. Sadly, she didn't make it any easier by constantly shortening the distance between the two with her astonishing speed and not letting the archer use his bow.
Diana was more of a tricky one at first, but Hirotsuka eventually came up with a good way to train her. She put her up against an ungodly quantity of axe fighters. In hopes of training both her skill and defense, all of them used the superiority their weapons gave them to frustrate the lance fighter. Certainly, even with training weapons, it shouldn't have been easy for her.
Hyakuya, the manakete Hyakuya with years of experience behind him. How could she train him and actually expect some results? Well, the answer was simple, actually. Ordering him to turn into a dragon and take flight, before a flurry of arrows tried to stab him would probably do the trick. Probably.
Joan was the most difficult one, because, to start with, she had not been in the first trial with her. She was equal to the challenge, however, and put the troubadour on healing duty for her hurt comrades after their own training. Given that she was insistant about training physically herself as well, Hirotsuka made her hit a dummy with her staff to better her strength. Though her flimsy arms made for a pitiful sight and instead she handed her a tome.
Certainly, she was better at slinging spells than hitting things with a staff, but the fact that one other horse was burnt with a fire tome made Hirotsuka take the tome away from Joan's hands. Never before had someone seen a woman of noble birth bowing her head so many times while looking for an apology.
In any case, and regardless of whether her training methods were a success or not, Hirotsuka gave the recruits their orders once the time for the next trial came.
"You are to head to an old stronghold past the mountains of Jotenvarr. From there, you shall fetch a sword that was found there not too long ago. Reports seem to indicate that it is the legendary sword, Gram. If it is, then your mission is to retrieve it and present it to your king. If it is not, well, you need only return with it and present it to me." The woman explained as she slammed her hand on the board behind her.
There was a rather basic map of Jotenvarr's layout. It was a rocky, mountainous path, as it should be expected. It seemed steep at time and at others it seemed way more forgiving to those who dared venture in there.
"Beware for a group of bandits that has been sighted in the ruins, though. They are known for being brutal and for only taking," She turned to Diana, Joan and Pauline,
"Female prisoners. Everybody else is slaughtered upon sighting. You will rendezvous with squad Septem at the front of the ruins. Their own objective is different from your own, so fear not for having to reach the sword before them. They are there so you can sort out the bandits." She explained.
"Well? What are ya waiting for? C'mon, scramble! Get going!" She urged them.
Squad Trignita & Their Training
Illian's own training was, well if not more cruel quite a lot more excessive.
She chained together two people so that they should go about their business as pairs. The first week, she constantly rotated partners to see who got along the worst with whom. Eventually, the pairings became as follows:
Mikhail & Scott, despite the happy disposition of Scott towards Mikhail, Mikhail seemed to get even greener the more time he spent with the Red Cavalier.
Aika & Claude, since the mercenary often commented on how Aika should take care of not breaking a nail while fighting, which should've gotten on the nerves of Aika by the time the first week was over.
Azi & Fredrick, while not entirely antagonistic, their personalities did seem to be a much more convincing contrast. Azi's and Claude's personality did seem like more total opposites, but the fact that the mercenary often picked on Aika made her think this was actually for the best.
So, while paired like this, they had to go about their personal business (yes, even the bathroom) in an effort to further strengthen their teamwork. Or not. Illian hoped it would, but one could never know.
As for their trial....
The Mountains Of Jotenvarr, The Perilous Path To Success
The Dragon's Back
Squad Quinque found themselves in a rocky path, not that far away from their objective, and were then face by the enormous mountain.
This place was known as the Dragon's Back. It was capricious as it was deadly. More than one adventurer had died while climbing over these rocky mountains. There was a safe path in which you had to go around the mountains, but it certainly took more time than what some thought it was worth for.
The sudden changes of weather that happened constantly around him made more than one warrior cautious about the place, save for the reckless who thought climbing the mountain was a good idea, and faster too.
It was in squad Quinque's hands to decide whether to climb it or go by the safer route. A decision better taken with a cool head.
However, they had just come across the bloody remnants of what used to be squad Septem. They had been brutally killed and their corpses were left to rot in the roadside.
Yet, and as rumor had it, squad Septem was made up of six men, and yet one was not there. Five corpses in total, one of them lacking. Had they been taken as a prisoner? that seemed impossible, however, as everyone knew that Septem was made up of only men, and that the bandits did not take prisoners aside from women.
Then....?
There was a sudden shout. It seemed like the cries of a woman. She asked for help, and also warned the other recruits of some bandits!
@Redstring@Snagglepuss89@NeutralNexus@Lauder@Polaris North@Eklispe
P.S.[Please wait until Snagglepuss89 to post. More info on the bandits to come] Checked
P.S.2[Sorry squad Trignita, but Light is in charge of your trial. like I said, lynch him] Checked too. We just need to lynch him now.
