Ghiri walked with purpose back into the room Enix had originally burst into, the boy following in tow. His metallic friends scuttled to him as he returned, bumping against his leg as Ingot looked up to him. He leaned down to rustle the small creature as it hummed, Vice wrapping itself around the boy’s arm.

“Okay what did he mean by that?”

I am sure my master will inform you when the time comes.

“But I need to know now!”

My master did not deem it so.

“Then why did he just give me the name?!” The boy groaned in frustration.

Perhaps he believes you are ready only to hear the cause, not understand it. He wishes for you to be aware but likely felt you unprepared to grasp the full situation.

Enix was quiet at that, but still sulked. His journey had a purpose that continued to be obscured to him.

While you were with my maker, he ordered me to analyze your capabilities in order to procure a plan for your training. Tell me, are you accustomed to armed combat?

“Uhm, not really? I tend to avoid conflict in general.”

While a safe measure, it is wise to prepare yourself, and be able to defend yourself at the very least. From what I have observed, you utilize your environment to your advantage. A good strategy, but one born from your lack of abilities. Tell me, have you explored your ability at all?

“My ability?”

The screens you have noted, how the skills you have gathered are displayed to you, and your statistics. You have quite a unique ability. We will explore its lengths and limitations throughout your stay here. For now, however…

They were back in the main room, standing before the altar as the multi-limbed humanoid waved his hands around it, forming strange symbols and tracing them in the air. Almost instantly, the wall behind the altar began to tremble. The thick layer of ivy that had covered the wall retracted, and behind it sat a massive mural depicting three individuals mid-air, embracing the rays of a light beaming from above. Below sat several strange structures of various sizes, one similar in geometric shape to the Foundry in the bottom center. As the ivy began to move away a trail of dust fell from the top of the mural, forming a line down the middle as the two halves slid away from each other, revealing a massive chamber within.

The ceiling of the chamber was open in a kite shape, offering sunlight to the grass floor below it. Pillars followed the shape of the ceiling along the walls, with steps leading to higher elevated passageways. A small stone pedestal, in the same shape as the open ceiling, sat in the center of the grass floor. The boy’s eyes were immediately drawn to the far end, a massive statue poised kneeling at the end, an impressively long weapon in one thick hand, ending with two pronged semicircular heads. The statue was that of some armored figure, with tower-like structures for shoulders and forearms. Two curved structures rose from its back, similar in sight to the top of its weapon, like pieces of a half circle that did not meet. It was a hulking figure that stood out, as its sheen appeared metallic instead of stone.

This is where your training will take place. We will analyze your capabilities here, and hone your skills until my master deems you fit and proper. Now, have you had any experience with weaponry?

“Well, I’m used to shortswords, I guess I don’t really have a preference.”

Then you will be made accustomed to blades. I see you can recover rather quickly, so we will be splitting your time between honing your physical as well as your mental capabilities. Tell me of your abilities.

“Hmm. I can meditate, it helps me recover better. I can sort of attack, but it didn’t do much against those statues outside.”

Likely due to the material you were using.

“Uhh I was using Vice over there.”

Ah, the Aberration. An odd case to be sure.

“What do you mean?”

This specific species excel at mimicking objects, and waiting in ambush. However this one seems to not just mimic the appearance, but the very material. It can be as sturdy as stone or rigid as iron, and manipulate its own biological body to fit a suitable shape. At the very least, from what I have seen of your display.”

The boy looked to Ingot’s neck to see the still moving metallic shape of Vice. “So I could use him as a weapon?”

If that is your decision. It could offer you versatility in how you fight, should you choose to.

Enix thought about it. He wasn’t sure whether he could even fight without a weapon, but he wasn’t sure he could place that role on such a creature, to be a weapon he would wield against whatever threat he would have to face in this dangerous endeavor he had fallen into.

“I think… I want to try without a weapon.” Ghiri’s head tilted at that.

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Interesting. Very well, we will begin without weapons. Are you ready to begin?

“I guess? Which of those statues am I fighting?” He said while gesturing to the entrance.

Statues? You think you will fight the guardians?

“Well I mean, I don’t think I’m ready to tackle that monstrosity.” Enix pointed to the massive statue towards the back of the space. “It might be for decoration now that I think about it, but considering the record of statues that move here I-“

Ah, you are misguided. You see, your only opponent at this moment will be me. The faceless figure moved one foot behind the other, taking a relaxed pose, three of his arms tucked behind his back, a single arm held loosely outward.

“Are you sure?”

Positive.

Without another warning, Ghiri was on the boy in the blink of an eye. With a single hand they shoved the boy back. Enix lost his footing, falling backwards. He barely had time to roll away before Ghiri brought a fist down onto the ground, just where Enix had been. The boy sat up in a crouch.

You cannot win by just avoiding me.

“Will you please slo-'' Enix was interrupted as a single fist collided to his face, and he saw stars before he saw the open sky above him. At least the grass is sof-how did I end up on the ground?

Your Endurance has increased by 1.

Duly noted, Enix thought as he groaned

Too slow a reaction. You need to stay vigilant, keep on your toes. Shall we start again? Enix stood up as Ghiri turned around, taking a few steps away from the boy. Ingot tapped at the boy’s leg, and Enix noticed that his health had drained by a quarter.

Enix exhaled slowly, concentrating as he activated his Agility. This time, he was ready when Ghiri came again. He deftly dodged a hook, keeping his knees bent and his footing loose. This time he struck, managing to land a fist against Ghiri’s cold shoulder. It felt rough as stone, yet still shone like metal. Ghiri did not react, in fact Enix was sure he had done no damage whatsoever.

It was in that split second of observation that he saw the blur that was Ghiri’s arm swat his head, and the world spun until he was face down onto the ground.

To properly disable an opponent, you should aim for the face, stomach or ears. Targeting anyplace else will only injure them slightly. Again.

“Alright, fine!” Enix rolled back onto his feet, taking another ready stance. Ghiri looked over the stance, at the stiff footing and simply tripped the boy.

Your footing should be steadier. Maintain a light yet balanced footing. Again.

So it went on for several hours. Enix was knocked down as soon as they began, and each time Ghiri pointed out a flaw. The boy sat on the grass panting, glaring at his now depleted stamina. He stood back up, faced Ghiri and took a ready stance.

Enough. The boy looked up, surprised. You need rest. Recuperate, and we will commence once more.

Enix frowned, swaying on his feet as if caught in a decision before he plopped onto the ground. He let himself catch his breath before he crossed his legs, laying one hand over the other. He steadied his breathing and closed his eyes, his surroundings fading away from his perception. He breathed, held his breath and then slowly exhaled.

The wind that had been blowing through the ruins stopped, and Ingots clanking footsteps eventually faded out. With enough time the boy felt himself in a vacant space, before a strange echo began to prod into his mind.

Ghiri, though normally unquestioning in his actions, observed the boy. He had no experience in training such a young creature, in training anything at all for that matter. Yet this child held back in his one attack, and it didn’t seem capable of even taking a life, if the need arose.

Tell me, child. Have you ever taken a life? Enix started at the question, flinching at the sudden intrusion. He scowled at Ghiri.

“What?”

Have you ever killed? Hunted prey, defended yourself by any means?

“I’ve hunted before, yes.” Enix tried to meditate while speaking, but found he could not. “What does that have to do with anything?”

You seem to lack the drive needed to fight, so I wondered whether you had the drive to even survive.

“I do. Despite what you’ve seen, I can fight.”

Perhaps.Ghiri looked away, staring at the statue. While I will continue to train you in hand-to-hand, I will have you learn with a weapon regardless.

Enix thought for a second, scratching Ingot behind its armored head as the creature hummed happily. “Why?”

Using a weapon grants you-

“No, I get needing a weapon,” Enix interrupted, “I mean why are you and Ankh making such an effort for me? I’m just here because I dreamed of some disaster that hasn’t happened yet.”

Ghiri was silent for some time. The dreams you have had were a test engineered by my master. A test designed to seek only those who are worthy, those who have not just talent, but the merit to rise and meet the Day of Blackened Sky. The more intense, the more present the visions within your mind, the more eligible one would be.

“Then that means there are others who will come?” Enix sat up, chewing the thought. “Others that I’ll meet, maybe even work alongside?”

Child, many have answered the call. Many have come. Many have fallen.

“... Oh.”

You have promise. For that, we will do whatever is necessary to ensure you grow into what this world needs.

Enix felt his chest tighten, an ever growing weight pressing down on him. He closed his eyes, wishing the thoughts away

But more importantly, Enix felt a hand on his shoulder, I would hate for you to fail. I trust my master and his decisions, and I trust that you will need this training no matter what comes next. You have potential boy, and I would hate to see it wasted.

Despite Ghiri’s cool skin, the boy felt a warmth he had not known before.

“Thank you Ghiri. I hope you’re right.”

This is why I must do this. Enix was about to question what he meant before he saw a hand cover his vision, and his consciousness fell away.