We had used the portal again and arrived in front of a coliseum of a sort. All of us entered and inside and we were told to stand before a podium inside the coliseum.
A man in illustrious and decorated feathered armor was standing in front of us on a podium. For some reason, soldiers don’t introduce themselves.
“Eoum is a wonderful and a bountiful world but it has its mysteries and dangers. Athryshiayl Hegemony is always in a state of constant war with the creatures of the dark recesses of Eoum Negativity. All the generation of summoned had been the Guardians protecting Athryshiayl Hegemony and the Inheritors from those creatures. As tradition dictated, all 18 of you will be divided into three groups of six. You may begin to choose.”
The man made a such speech.
It seems everyone had already decided. The red and green group had about three human, one dragon guy and two of the monstrous being. The monstrous being was something like a living tree and a basilisk of a sort.
The other group was the four elves with the Manticore and the Uhzelak.
Lastly the group Erganisu and I were with the dwarf, the African guy, and the twin elves.
If I have to say, most of us here looked reluctant in grouping up with each other.
The Heirs on the hand was already been grouped and apparently they have their own exclusive training. I guess there’s a clear difference in terms of treatment.
“Guardians are made, not born. So for four years, you will train in the way of Eomancy, the conducts and way of life in Eoum and the art of combat. Also, I will inform to all of you on how to use the Weapon Pill.”
Ah, the other pill that was part of the blessing we got last night. Ah, I forgot to bring it with me and left it on the table.
Looking at my group, the male of the twin took out his. The dwarf also brought along and Erganisu was the same. The female of the twin had an aloof expression as the African looked slightly embarrassed like me.
“In order to utilize the pill, you need to wait until the effect of the Specialization Pill to settle in. After that, swallow the Weapon Pill in order to make a Soul Weapon that you can call upon that synchronized with your special ability.”
This is quite an intriguing prospect. The fantasy level had up a notch with this.
Everyone looked at the pill with interest.
“But first, everyone here will need guidance in learning everything about Eoum, its history and our way of life. Thus, we have selected the teachers and instructors for the three groups.”
After he said that, lines of people in feathered robes gradually formed behind him. From the look of it, there was about nine of them. Most of them looked old and venerable, straight from some textbook example of an elder. There were exceptions like those obviously muscled individuals who are probably combat instructors.
And also there was a very exceptional individual among them. If I’m not mistaken, the body figure was of a chubby child. A female too judging by her braided green hair. She looks quite cute although her face was in a constant pout.
They also formed three groups and one of the groups went towards our direction. The child was in that group.
“Greeting my name is Keh Tauzad, I was a teacher before this and I will be teaching the General Education.”
An elderly robed man with black hair introduced himself.
“Salutation, my name is Gavrau, I will be the combat instructor.”
The man or rather a wolf-eared man gave something akin to a military salute. The salute was like any normal salute that I see in my world but after that the right hand in an open palm would smack the upper part of the left hand closed fist and then a slight bow.
“Good morning, my name is Dehkine Folcruza, First of all, just because I am a child doesn’t mean you should treat me as such. I am a genius who had mastered Eomancy or Circles System at the age of 10! So be honoured that you all will learn under this genius!”
She smugly boasted while keeping her pouting face intact.
......
As a man this would have been an affront to every proper adult out there but... She’s hundred percent adorable!!
The inner desire to give her a head pet had intensified!
“Hey! What are you doing?!”
Unfortunately, I was late for the head pat party. The African and the initially aloof female elf now she was all smile, had already cornered her and were already petting her head. I should have acted on my inner desire if I knew these two would do it.
“The hair is so fluffy!”
“Yup.”
You people are too honest with your desire. I envy them.
“Tauzad and Gavrau, unhand these fools from me!!”
“You remind me of my cute grandchild, let them pet you.”
“… Nah, I’ll be a hypocrite if I do that. I mean the first time I met you, I did the same thing.”
Tauzad smiled brightly at the attic while Gavrau rejected to send help. Dekhine seems to be agonizing from the two sided head pet assault. Maybe I should make it a three sided. But before I could, Dekhine ran and hid behind Gavrau.
The important-looking guy on the podium deliberately coughed once.
“Teachers and instructors, you may discuss among yourselves on the scheduling and methods.”
With that, the important-looking man left the podium and the stadium.
“I have to prepare my lesson at the library looking for suitable books. So I can’t teach them now.”
“I’m humiliated by such atrocity by that man and that woman! I need to mentally stabilize myself first!”
Tauzad calmly said as such and Dekhine had a flustered expression bordering on trauma as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Gavrau nodded.
“Then I proposed that in the early morning, morning combat training for an hour, after that one hour breakfast, then General Education for three hours, then lunchbreak, then Eomancy for three hours, then afternoon supper, then evening combat training for an hour. Is that good?”
“Yes that is a sound schedule.”
“I don’t mind as long as it doesn’t interrupt with my personal schedule.”
“Okay then, although we're a little behind on the proposed schedule, so follow me, group Egazov!”
Gavrau enthusiastically beckoned us.
“Group what?”
I muttered that. I swear we had been given an outlandish group name.
--
We arrives a place that was outside of the coliseum. It was a like a badminton field without the net. It seems we’re the only group here.
“I think some of you are already well-versed in the art of combat, do lift up your hand if you are.”
The elves twin and Erganisu lifted their while the African, the dwarf and me didn’t.
Gavrau slightly nodded as he stood in front of us.
“First of all, let us all formally introduce ourselves here. Let’s start with the twin.”
The twin both stepped forward and turned towards us.
“My name is kiefy Striden, A knight of Atras.”
“… Vefal Striden, A royal archer of Atras.”
The male twin was Kiefy and the female was Vefal. Looking at them, the similarity only ended because of the difference in hair style but they have the same auburn colour. Both of them can be considered slim and their faces were handsome or beautiful, depend on your interpretation.
They were still wearing full body leather armour of sort with a green cape from last night.
For Kiefy, on his right waist, he had a sword and for Vefal, she had a dagger strapped on her left thigh.
“Thank you two, next.”
The dwarf got up as he sat on the ground or rather, his height had a slight difference.
“Ahem, the name is Akujin, a Master Blacksmith, err, nice to meet you all.”
He hesitantly greeted us all.
Gavrau nodded and gestured at the African guy.
“My name is Augustus Hamilton. You can call me August, I was an athlete.”
He had a bitter expression when he said the latter part.
Erganisu who was also sitting on the ground, got up.
“My name is Erganisu of Sky Slayer Clan. It is an honour.”
He regally bowed down. Contrary to his brutish and rugged appearance, he has a noble and honourable bearing.
After he bowed, I got up from the ground.
“My name is Ruigne.”
Short and simple, the least amount of impression. I got back to sitting as soon as I said that.
Mr. August was looking at me with a skeptical expression. He’d probably had thought that I was an earthling which is by the way correct but I thought it further that perhaps both of us are actually different as he may be from a different earth than mine.
“Well, we all had acquainted ourselves, so let’s get to the point. Kiefy and Erganisu, please come in front. We shall have a demonstration.”
Both of them silently went and stood beside Gavrau. Erganisu on his right while Kiefy on the left.
“It is quite simple. Just demonstrate your combat capability by having a friendly match. Take these two wooden practice swords. I’ll be the mediator.”
He went to the table that was prepared beforehand and took two wooden swords. He gave one to Erganisu and one to Kiefy. He then stood a few meters away from the two.
“You can start now!”