The food was spectacular. With each bite Mia's taste buds exploded. Some of the food had spice, and some had sweetness. You'd think that the variety of flavors would be problematic, but for some reason, it all went perfectly together.
Each bite caused mouths to water. Mia sat at the center of the dining table, with Captain Yakusuke to her left and Hikaru sitting on her right. Across from her was Atchi and Suzatchi slowly eating their meals. Finally near the end of the right side of the table was Alli, who was staring at Mia with a face of curiosity. In eight hours she'd put Mia through training and see what she's truly made of... Or, if she's made of nothing.
"Girl".
Mia looked to the end of the table, Alli sitting cross legged holding a piece of meat in her left hand.
The room was quiet, gas lamps flickered in the background, and now the wooden chairs they sat in seemed rather uncomfortable.
"Tell me, why did you come here? You can't just have the desire to be strong for no reason". Alli continued staring, you could barely see her expression but it was obvious her eyes were piercing through Mia.
"Revenge". Mia took a breath, "I want to get strong for revenge, after that my reasons may change, but for now, just revenge". Mia balled her fist, a droplet of sweat ran down her forehead. She remembered before that Captain Yakusuke said that revenge is an invalid reason but she didn't agree. Mia was planning to go to any length for her revenge, even if she were to be turned away now then she'd still find a way.
The room became silent. Captain Yakusuke and Hikaru didn't speak a word during the entire conversation, partly due to how Alli would react to their intrusive impertinence.
A second came, Atchi put down her fork and wiped her mouth, "I think that's a good reason". Everyone's eyes turned to her. Usually in the head-household Atchi was always the upbeat and loud extrovert, but if a serious discussion was happening she'd keep clear from the conversation.
Alli placed down her food, "how so Atchi? Tell me, why would revenge be a good enough reason to be strong?"
"Well, personally, I think that any reason is good enough to want to be strong". Atchi looked at Mia, "from what I can observe just from looking at her, she's had a tough life. Raggedy clothes, evident bruising, even from the way she walks it shows her past". Atchi stood to her feet, nearly knocking into the table, "no matter what the reason, I would never turn away someone who wanted to grow". Suzatchi slowly stood up and grasped her sister, holding her tightly, "I-I agree with Atchi".
"Ahh, well... I wasn't planning on rejecting her anyways, I don't know why you're making such a fuss". Alli had a creepy smile and looked at Mia, "I'm gonna remake you into the perfect huntsman, You'll be able to get your revenge and then-some". She then looked over to Hikaru, "Afterall, I can't turn down someone who my precious Hikaru brought with him".
"Well actu-" WAAM! A plate came hurtling towards Captain Yakusuke's head, it shattered on impact.
"Now then, once you all finish eating it's straight to sleep, there's a lot to be done tomorrow".
A while passed and gradually everyone finished eating. The twins began to haul large quantities of dirtied dishes to another room through the back of the dining area.
Mia sat there, rubbing her stomach. She's never felt this full before, full enough to burst at any moment.
"Ahaha! Perfect as always Hikaru!" Captain Yakusuke Laughed as he picked his teeth with a toothpick. His mood hadn't changed even with shards of glass mixed in with his hair and trails of blood running down his face. "Now, just as Alli said, both of you better get some rest". He turned to Mia, "especially you".
"Wait... Why would I need lots of rest, I'm not training??" Hikaru looked confused but soon his face went white.
"Oh I guess I did forget to mention this, but you'll be helping her with her training. Good luck!" Hikaru got up and angrily walked out of the room, murmuring curses to his Captain. Mia followed him, assuming he was going to where they'd be sleeping.
"Ah, I better get some rest too, can't be outdone by my subordinates-"
"Gurren".
Captain Yakusuke turned around, "hm?" He asked.
Alli looked at him, but not out of questionable anger but out of concern. "Tell me Gurren, how is the covenant?" She crossed her arms, something was up...
"They've made their move, for a while now there's been some internal issues with the primary divisions. My investigation has shown that the secret divisions have been controlling Court 9". The Captain paced around the table, the divulged information eating away at his psyche. "The secret divisions have always been more on the obvious secretive side but they never would push their own agenda", he stopped and turned to Alli.
"It may seem reckless but I want to utilize Mia's innate abilities. Ever since I met her I could sense something, how else would she have survived a horde of beasts?" The Captain had questionable intentions, that much was clear by just his tone of voice.
Alli stepped forward and placed her hand on the table, it's a gut feeling. You know, as soon as I saw her I could sense it, there's something inside that girl, and not only because of her hair... Though that is a definite hint". Alli looked up and crossed her arms again, "Tomorrow we'll find out, we'll see what she's made of. Gurren, by doing this you're being incredibly selfish".
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"I know, but... It's something that has to be done". He cracked a smile, "Once she gets a hold of whatever power she has I plan on taking her to Seiren(the huntsman covenants HQ), there she'll get introduced to the rest of the division and the plan can be set in motion".
"You're as reckless as always, even back when you were a little shit you were like this. I guess you being who you are made me feel sorry for you".
"Alli, because of your pity I was able to become someone strong, I'm grateful for that. I plan on making Mia strong, even if it's unethical" The secret conversation halted, "with the serious talk out of the way, let's begin preparing for tomorrow".
The night went on as Captain Yakusuke and Alli prepared for Mia's training the next day, they had much to do and about only eight hours to do it.
Eight hours later
6:00am
Mia woke up to a rather odd silence, the silence held her in a cold grasp tightly around her throat. She knew this would happen, she'd wake up, alone, not with Aira, not in their little wooden house. Mia stared at the ceiling with an uninterested look, completely ignoring any negative thoughts.
She slowly got to her feet and reached for her tattered kimono, but it was gone. In its place was a uniform, a huntsman's uniform. She brushed her hand against it, soft and warm, the fabric felt like nothing else she'd ever touched. Her fingers surfed across the waves of fabric, bouncing off what only she thought were bronze buttons.
"Put it on".
Startled, Mia looked over to the door. Alli stood leaning against the wall, "you're gonna be a huntsman aren't you? You'll need those clothes". She smiled and walked out of the room.
Mia paused and looked at the stack of clothes. "Hm... I'm not sure how to put these on...".
After a considerably long time of frustration trying to get her uniform on, she finally did it. As she walked down the hallway it felt strange... The clothes seemed rather large.
Nearby Mia could hear the rattling of plates and the clashing of forks, as well as a wondrous scent. She walked in, into the same room where they dined last night. Sitting at the table were all the same people. Gurren looked exhausted as he drank a glass filled with possibly juice, Alli sat at the end of the table chowing down on a piece of glistening meat. She walked over and sat down, Hikaru sat beside her as well and was elegantly sipping on tea. Across from her were the twins, Suzatchi casually cutting up an egg with her utensils while Atchi ate with her hands.
"It took you forever to get ready, we decided to start eating without you", Alli chuckled as she spoke, a few droplets of fluid from the meat laid stagnant on her cheek.
Hikaru looked up from his tea, "of course it'd take time to put all that on, after all she's not accustomed to anything more than a kimono and sandals. Having such a complicated uniform would seem like an impossible task to put on.
Everyone continued eating, conversation rose, food was consumed, and their morning mood was good.
Now the time has come...
In the Large training room with an oddly long name
7:00am
Everyone gathered In the training room preparing for Mia's training.
Mia looked around, the room was as empty as before. She assumed that there would be weights or something similar, but it contained nothing. She looked around and both twins were walking to each side of the room.
"What are they doing?" She asked, looking at Alli.
Alli looked down to Mia, "They're getting it ready". She crossed her arms, "Notice how Gurren looks exhausted? Him and I were up all night preparing the ultimate training for you. Now you may wonder why nothing is here and that makes sense. Traditional training is not enough for a huntsman, do you really think a thick bodybuilder can take on a ten-foot beast with giant teeth and claws? Hell no!"
Mia thought of what she'd look like as a disproportionately large bodybuilder but immediately shook her head in disgust.
"Just watch, I'm sure you'll be surprised".
The twins both stopped about halfway to the end of the room and turned to each other. They put one arm up and bent over, placing their hand on a floor tile, or rather a pressure plate. WRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGH! With each plate down a rumbling noise arose from underneath them.
CRIIIIIISSSHHHH! Suddenly the center of the room blasted open, tiles and small bits of debris fell to the ground. Now, in the center was a cubic shaped elevation, It was about two meters taller than the rest of the ground, with a staircase on each side.
"Mia, It's time".
She looked over to Captain Yakusuke who showed a calm disposition, "to become a huntsman you must undergo only one trial, if you underestimate it, then you will die, if there is any hesitation or doubt in your heart you will die, and if you aren't capable enough well, you'll die". He looked to her, "Go and sit on that stage".
Gulp.
Mia swallowed all her nervousness and began walking forward, slowly getting near the stage, once she walked up the stairs she noticed a small box. It looked like a black chest that was shoddily wrapped in white cloth.
Prrp! She turned her head, Alli was holding a large cone in her hand.
"Mia! Can you hear me?"
Mia nodded.
"Good. I'll begin by telling you what your training will be, you better listen well, inside that box is a special item that will awaken inside your body. From what Gurren has told me then you should know that a huntsman's blutklinge is formed by the addition of beasts blood mixed with our own. In order to do that we use a special item called a "beast blood effigy". The effigy is made containing the blood of a beast, and each blutklinge made from it is completely unique. Right now you're going to come into contact with the effigy that's inside that box and use it to awaken your huntsman powers".
She took a breath before continuing, Once you come in contact with it you'll be forced to fight it, if you win then it'll become a part of you, but if you lose then you'll die. Now usually this would be accompanied by years of training but you're lucky, you have me." Alli confidently rubbed her chin, "My blutklinge is rather special, when it comes in contact with someone other than me their time is shifted. Your mind will be able to function at an incredibly faster speed allowing you to train much faster, but, your body will age rapidly as well. Mia, if you take too long to defeat and absorb the effigy, then your body will turn to dust".
Alli paused, "Well with all the explanation and that crap aside let's begin".