The Youngling Quartet: book1 chp2 BISCTS

                                              Chapter two: BISCTS

“Hello” sounded a voice behind Xer

            He turned around and saw a young scrawny boy with light brown hair and blue eyes standing there.

The boy continued, “My name is Let Roval, and I have been assigned to show you to your dorms.”

Xer and Silver both gave him their names and followed him down to the dorms.

He couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on here?”

Let gazed back at him and smiled before answering, “Miss Lavaley runs a school to correct young criminals, or so they say. She takes us in. She feeds us, clothes us, educates us, protects us, trains us, shelters us, and all she requires is that we follow her rules and do what tasks she asks of us.”

Silver asked, “Do what she asks of you?”

Let shrugged “On a rare occasion she will ask us to do things for her, sometimes criminal sometimes not.”

She questioned again, “What about hurting and killing people? She seems to like that.”

Let gave her an impatient look, “She hardly ever has anyone go around “hurting” people, as for killing, only people that deserve it.”

Silver asked, “And who exactly deserves it?”

Let replied, “Criminals a lot worse than us. She had a violent street gang, the “Canorks”, completely “removed” as she said it that were in the neighborhood about a year ago. They went around killing random people to get a name for themselves. She had us, the older students that is, on them fast.”

Xer remarked, “You’re rather free with this information aren’t you?”

Let shrugged, “Your apart of this now, so why not?”

“What if we were to try to run?”

He laughed, “Well I suppose you might get somewhere. She’d be on you faster than you think she would though. I was around for the last idiot that tried it. He made it as far as the city walls before Miss Lavaley found him; she made him do all the chores, all of our work, and then made an example out of him.”

He questioned, “Example?”

Let shrugged again, “I think you could figure it out yourself, no one gets away from a debt that’s owed to Miss Lavaley unless she lets you, ah here we are, dorm thirteen.”

He opened a door and showed them into the room. Xer couldn’t help but think to himself that this isn’t what he had thought a dorm meant. Instead of separate rooms scattered throughout the dorm, it was just one big room, with eighteen bunk beds scattered throughout it.

Let led them to the last bunk bed in the back of the room, “Xer you get bottom bunk, Silver you get top. Your changes of clothing are already on the bed; shower up through that door over there on the right, bathroom is to the left. Clothing will be delivered and waiting for you by your bed every morning.”

He continued, “Wait here for Val; he’s going to test you on what you know and your physical skills, that sort of thing. He will assign you your classes when he’s done. He will probably give you an hour or so before he comes so you can get settled in. Well I have to get back to class; welcome to the family Xer and Silver, hope you enjoy it here.”

Xer collapsed on his bunk as soon as Let left the room. Thoughts raced through his mind, pausing momentarily as Silver reached up to her bunk and grabbed her clothing.

She made for the showers before he stopped her with a question, “What happened, on the mountain?”

She paused, quiet for a minute before she shook her head, “...”

She opened the door to the showers, pausing in the doorway as she looked inside. She shook her head and moved into the showers. A few moments later he heard the showers start up.

He muttered to himself, “She knows something… oh well I’ll find out eventually…”

His stomach rumbled as he waited for Silver to finish. Five minutes latter Silver walked out of the shower. His stomach fluttered and he knew it wasn’t because he was hungry.

Silver, clean of all the dirt and grime, was perhaps the most beautiful and yet scary girl he had even laid eyes on. Her eyes were narrowed and unfeeling, her mouth set in a slight frown. Her face gave her an aura of anger and discipline. She walked briskly over to the bunk bed and climbed up onto her bunk and laid there.

She muttered to him, “There is a basket for your clothing to your right as you enter the showers, just dump your clothing in there with the rest.”

He grabbed his clothing and entered the shower. He raised an eyebrow when he saw it was an open shower, the only thing separating everyone would be a few curtains. Towels were hung up on a rack with soap on a bar underneath each of them to the side of the room.

He shook his head, unclothed, and went over to the wall. There was a panel with levers one through thirty-six, he pulled number one and grabbed some soap. Surprisingly it was nice warm water; he stood in it for a minute, taking in its warmth before cleaning himself off. Several minutes later he shut the shower off and dried himself.

He looked over his new cloths, a black shirt and black pants, just like the cloths he had seen all the other students wear. He dressed himself and dumped off his old cloths and towel in an overly loaded basket of dirty clothing as he made his way out. Silver was still laying on her bunk staring at the ceiling.

He commented, “If she didn’t want people to “get any ideas” why does she have the showers open like that?”

She looked at him and said, “Don’t ask questions you know the answer to.”

He looked down at the ground for a moment and then rose his head and spoke, “I’d guess… to teach discipline, she obviously wants her “students” to learn restraint.”

She nodded her head and resumed staring at the ceiling. Xer strode over to the bottom bunk and laid down on it.

He asked, “What are you going to do?”

She was silent for a moment before replying, “Nothing for now, you?”

He thought for a moment before answering, “Milk it for what its worth. If what Let says is true, I have a chance to get an education here, not sure how good it will be, and some combat training it would seem. My mother would never have let me near a weapon; it will be a good chance to see if I can get the hang of it.”

He shed a tear when he thought about his mother.

He asked, “Do you think anyone else survived that…light?”

She hung her head over the bunk and asked, “What exactly do you remember?”

He replied, “Not much, well… everything seemed a little off, everyone seemed on edge, the wind was blowing the wrong way, and the sunrise was off, I can’t remember why. Then that light just… burst out and that was it…”

He choked on his words and began to sob. Silver brought her head back up and said no more. Besides the sobbing there was silence for awhile until the door opened and a rather tall looking man with black hair and slithering black eyes dressed completely in pitch-black clothing walked into the room.

He introduced himself as they dismounted the bunk bed. “I am Val Cofneray, I am this institute’s official student aptitude tester, and I am also the instructor of the stealth training class. I am led to believe that you have had a rough trip here. While it is quite a shame that you have not yet had a decent night’s sleep or a good meal, we must get moving. To start, I will select one of you and take you on a testing exercise. This test may or may not take several hours. The other will stay here and not leave the premises of this room unless told to by an instructor. Is this understood?”

Both of them nodded their heads. Val looked at both of them, sizing them up and gauging their reactions to what he had said. He pointed at Silver and they left the room just as a bell sounded. Xer wondered what the bell meant and figured he would probably find out later. Weariness was beginning to overcome him, forcing him back to his bunk. He laid there thinking about his home until exhaustion overtook him and he fell asleep.

He woke with a start as he felt someone gently shake him. He opened his eyes to see a pair of flickering yellow eyes staring straight at him. The eyes moved back to reveal a girl. She had long wavy brown hair and a determined face. She was dressed in the black clothing, what he had come to figure as the BISCT uniform, and had a strong body. She also had a long sword attached to her belt.

She held out her hand and said, “Gen Trix.”

He sat upright and shook her hand before replying, “Xer Nemfluenta.”

Gen asked, “So… I take it you are new around here?”

He replied, “Yeah, I’d guess that I would be.”

She quickly corrected him, “Yes I am is how you want to say it, trust me you want to have proper speech down before Val gets back with the other student. If you can avoid proper speech class it will make you life that much easier. I know from experience. It doesn’t matter when you’re in the dorm, but don’t let the teachers catch you too often talking in any form of weird lingo or slang you may have picked up off the streets, or they will put you in speech class. Professor Teare isn’t a bad teacher, but the class is such a drag.”

He laughed, “Thanks for the warning.”

She smiled, “Your welcome, now, if you don’t mind me asking. What did you do to end up here?”

He shrugged, “I’m not exactly sure, I think it’s a matter of what didn’t I do, die to be exact.”

She raised an eyebrow and commented, “That’s interesting, so you didn’t commit any crime whatsoever?”

“No, not that I am aware of, do you mind me asking what you did to end up here?”

Gen beamed before replying, “Not at all, after all I am proud of what I did. I set the Zarr embassy on fire.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Very impressive, now how did you get out of that?”

She explained, “As I was sneaking away I was caught, luckily I was caught by Reqwal and not a Zarr. She melted my shoes to the ground and went to put out the fire. She returned a little while latter and told me she would turn me over to the Zarr unless I agreed to owe her a debt and come to BISCTS. Naturally I came to BISCTS.”

He nodded and thought for a moment before telling Gen most of what had happened to him since he had woken slung over Gaarg’s shoulder to talking with her in the dorm room, leaving out a few key details here and there.

Her smile had faded and a serious look had overcome her by the time he finished, “Your story is…odd, I am not quite sure what to make of it. Your village, wiped out by a light? Reqwal doesn’t usually just directly impose her “debts” on people like that either. She usually at least gives them a horrendous alternative to force them into it. She didn’t even give you an option; that is not normal; well…I suppose getting caught by the Zarr was an alternative, although she didn’t let you choose it. She was also extremely brutal to both of you; she killed Zarr soldiers and fought with Ermonia as well.”

He interrupted, “Ermonia? Is that her sister’s name?” 

She nodded before continuing, “She also ran from her to, Reqwal usually likes to fight her sister. Maybe it was because she had you two with her...wait… did Ermonia see either of you?”

An alarm went off in his head that what they were talking about was a very dangerous subject.

He hesitated, prompting Gen to grip his shoulders hard before asking again in an icy voice, “Did she see either of you!”

He answered, “Yes she got a look at me and Silver before we lost them, now will you let go of me?”

She released him and bit her lip, thinking for a moment.

She told him, “Don’t repeat any of this or talk to anyone about this except for Reqwal, Gaarg, Nuval, Silver or me. This isn’t advice Xer, this is an order. This is a very serious matter, is that understood?”

He scowled, “I may only be thirteen but you don’t need to treat me like a little kid.”

Gen sighed before she spoke again, “I didn’t want it to come out like that, I’m only fifteen myself, but you have to understand what I mean, this is a very serious matter.”

He nodded before replying, “Okay I understand, not a word to anyone but those who already know about it.”

Gen began to walk towards the door before turning around and saying, “Try to make up a cover story in case anyone else really pesters you about it, especially Ev, he is such a nuisance. I’ll come back later and talk to you again. I’ve got to go tell Reqwal about Ermonia seeing you, if she doesn’t already know.”

After she left he massaged his shoulder and muttered to himself, “Dam that hurt, she’s got quite a grip.”

He laid back on his bunk and decided to go back to sleep until Silver and Val got back. He woke up with a start as he was dragged off his bunk and flung down to the floor. He rolled as he hit the ground and looked at his assailants.

A large boy stood looking down upon him with a wicked grin on his face; he had black hair, brown eyes, and was very muscular. To his right stood another boy smaller than the first, he had shiny blonde hair and blue eyes with a stupid grin on his face. To his left stood another boy as well, his face was a nervous one and he seemed a little uncomfortable. He had sharp green eyes accompanied with short black hair.

The big one spit on his hands and wiped them together before speaking, “I’m Ev Evondros, this little weasel to my right is Jackel Scry, and this maggot to my left is Tleck Zarr.”

Tleck nervously remarked, “Better a maggot than a fat ass.”

Ev hit him across his face and told him, “Shut it Zarr.”

Xer knew he was in trouble; he had dealt with bullies before in his village. Fortunately he knew exactly what to do, take out the head bully and the followers should fall away.

He charged Ev and landed a kick right between his legs and punched his nose hard. Ev toppled backwards with a yell as Jackel and Tleck tackled Xer. He tried to throw them off, but he wasn’t strong enough. Ev slowly got up just as Jackel and Tleck succeeded in pinning Xer to the ground.

Ev shouted angrily, “Dirty little maggot, I’ll teach you to take a cheap shot at me!”

He began to kick Xer; he kicked him in his stomach and his face multiple times before he walked around his pinned captive.

He said angrily, “Time to get you back for that.”

Silver charged through the open doorway and slammed into Ev as he raised his foot to deliver the kick, sending him crashing into a nearby bunk bed with such force that it toppled over.

She ripped Tleck off Xer and used him as a club to bat Jackel away. Xer was amazed at Silver’s strength and ferocity. He fought to bring himself upright as he clutched his stomach and gasped for breath.

The three bullies recovered and regrouped, charging Silver. To his amazement she met their charge head on. She flung herself to the floor and used her body to trip all three of them. They crashed to the floor as Val walked into the room. All activity ceased as he coughed.

He spoke calmly, “Ev, Jackel, and Tleck, you should know better than to start fights with new students. Report to the detention center immediately.”

They walked out of the room without a word.

Val sighed before commenting, “I don’t know how many times I have had to send them to detention, they just don’t seem to take the hint. Now, Xer are you alright?”

He had to think about it for a moment before he nodded his head and said, “Yes.”

Remembering Gen’s advice he put on a show, “I am quite alright, especially since Silver arrived just in time to stop the real beating Ev and his associates were about to give me. Thank you for your assistance Silver.”

Silver shook her head and looked at him for a moment before dryly saying, “I take it someone told you about the Proper Speech class?”

Val chuckled as well before adding in, “Most likely Gen or Terra, now come with me Xer. I’ll have you patched up and then get you started on the testing.”

Silver approached Xer as Val turned around and walked out the door, “What were you doing? Making enemies the first day here is not a good idea for you.”

Before he could explain himself she silenced him, “Go catch up with Val.”

He walked out of the room knowing he had been firmly ridiculed and dismissed. He

caught up with Val and they walked together in silence. They walked up the stairs to

the second floor and went to the left and walked into a room labeled infirmary.

An old woman with white hair and soft pale eyes looked up at them and remarked sarcastically, “Well what have you brought me this time Val?”

Val smiled at her and replied, “Oh just another one of Ev’s victims, Xer Nemfluenta this is the school’s nurse, Nieynia Blance.”

Xer smiled at her and said, “Hello.”

Nieynia replied, “Hello yourself, I hope you at least gave Ev some trouble for the beating he gave you.”

He decided it was best not to reply to that and sat down in a chair.

Val said to Nieynia, “Could I have you patch him up quickly, I’d like to have the tests done today and have his classes determined so he can start tomorrow.”

Nieynia wiggled her nose at him before muttering something and waving her hand at Xer. Instantly all of his fatigue faded away, as well as his aching stomach and pounding head.

He stared agape at her before Val informed him, “Nieynia is the best healer to ever grace our homely halls. Now come along Xer and be glad I am here to rescue you from her before she pesters you endlessly and graciously shares her own life lessons.”

Val ducked a flying shoe and swiftly exited the room. Xer thanked Nieynia and followed suit. He followed Val up more stairs until they reached a doorway leading to the roof, which turned out to be one great big courtyard on top of the school.

There was a large box in the middle of the courtyard and they sat down next to it.

Val asked him, “What do you know of this continents history?”

“Not much, the only type of schooling I have received was from my mother and from others in my village.”

Val nodded his head and said, “Then I can assume that your math and writing skills are the same as your history?”

“I know some of the unsophisticated math skills, but nothing beyond that. As for writing, my mother made me practice my writing constantly, I am unsure if my “skills” would qualify as perfect, but they are definitely up to par.”

Val chuckled, “Alright Xer you’re not going to have to take the proper speech class, just talk normally to me.”

He smiled and nodded.

Val shook his head slightly and continued, “Alright Xer I want you to run around this courtyard five times.”

He groaned inwardly, but complied with the request. He was out of breath by the second lap, and he barely made it to the fourth before slowing down. After making it around the fifth time he slowly made his way back to Val.

Val nodded his head and said, “Alright I’m going to assign you to the Physical Fitness Program. Next what do you know about laws?”

He shrugged, “Not too much, besides the basic common sense laws like don’t murder, steal and the like.”

Val nodded and said, “Alright Rules, Regulations, and Law it is if you want. Next, while I know your speech is good, what about your manners and people skills?”

He grimaced at the question, “My mother made me practice proper manners day in and day out, trust me, I know my manners.”

Val chuckled, “Good, now…patience, restraint, and tolerance, are you familiar with these terms?”

He nodded, “Yes, the first two my mother taught me, tolerance I had to learn on my own.”

Val continued, “Good, now what about basic survival skills?”

He replied, “If you mean how to start a fire and find food, I’m fine with that. I would need to practice hunting if I wanted meat though.”

Val tilted his head for a moment before speaking, “Good enough. Now what about you’re magical skills?

Xer’s smile faded from his face as he answered, “My magical skills are… they… well… let’s just say I can’t do a blasted thing with them, I can’t do anything magical.”

Val raised an eyebrow and asked, “Nothing?”

Xer confirmed his question with a nod of his head. Val was silent and looked at him, as if he was searching for something.

He stayed like this for a moment before continuing, “Well… you will definitely need the Magical Training course…now what about weaponry?”

Xer’s smile did not return, “I have seen weapons before, but the only weapons I have ever used are my fists and a kitchen knife if that counts.”

Val shrugged, “That’s fine, Weaponry Studies it is. We will go down to the armory after and find out what suits you best. Now would you be interested in a game of Tactician?”

He asked, “Tactician?”

Val pretended to be shocked, “Never heard of it? Then we must play a game.”

He opened the box and pulled out several large boards with miniaturized terrain crafted carefully and artfully onto them. He then pulled out bags of miniature figurines.

He explained, “In this game, you command a miniaturized army, and you must defeat the army of your opponent with what units you have using a strategy you yourself determine. For our first time around we will play on this board, and we will have equal armies, just basic infantry and archers. I will even let you pick were to set up first.”

He looked over the board, it was a small flat area with many trees scattered around it. There was however one hill on the board.

He said, “I’ll take the hill.”

Val nodded his head and said, “Alright, you get five archers and ten basic infantry with swords and shields.”

He took the pieces and thought about how to place them. He knew his archers should be as far away from a melee as possible, and since there was a hill they would be shooting down upon the enemies. He also realized he didn’t want to have his infantry right next to his archers; they wouldn’t be able to shoot without hitting the allied infantry. He set his archers at the top of the hill and his infantry at the base of his hill. Val nodded and set up his own units. His forces was scattered, but only enough so they were hidden behind trees. He realized that Val would use the trees to cover the advance of his forces.

Val looked over his set up one last time before he said, “Alright let us begin.”

He placed his hand on the edge of the board and to Xer’s great surprise everything sprang to life.

One of his infantry spoke to him, “Hello general, what are our orders?”

He was agape for several moments before he recovered from his surprise and informed the soldier, “For now I want you to keep his infantry off the archers, nothing is to get up the hill. Also have your shields raised; I doubt you want to take an arrow in the eye. Archers, pick off the enemy when you can.”

He looked up at Val and saw that his lips were moving, but no sound was coming out.

An archer saw his expression and asked, “First time General?”

He nodded, prompting the archer to smile sadly and say, “Great, a green general. No offense of course. Now you can’t hear him because you can’t normally hear what an enemy general is planning, that’s what spies are for, although we don’t have any in this battle. He can’t hear your orders and you can’t hear his. You have to try to outthink and outplay him in order to win. Although, this battle is a pretty basic one at that, good luck general.”

Suddenly, the board dimmed to a point where he could only see the hill and the immediate area in front of his infantry. He quickly summarized that the area he could see was his troops field of vision.

He spoke to them, “Alright get ready his army could come at us at anytime, Archers be ready to act once they do. Also infantry do not move from your positions, just stand your ground and keep them off the archers, remember to keep your shields raised to avoid the arrows.

One of his infantry sighed in relief, “Finally a patient general, some generals have had us rush out once the enemy shows themselves and we get ambushed and slaughtered, hurts a lot.”

Some time passed with nothing happening when suddenly the board turned from day to night. He bit his lip and guessed this would be when Val would make his move when it was hard to see. Sure enough only a few moments later there was a ping as an arrow bounced of a shield.

He reassured them quickly, “Steady, wait for him to make the first move.”

After several more arrows were fired, Val’s archers stopped.

One of Xer’s infantryman said, “Do you hear that general?”

He listened carefully and heard the sound of metal chopping into wood. He quickly realized what Val was doing.

He quickly ordered, “Move, they’re chopping down the tree to fall on you!”

His infantry quickly moved out as the chopping continued. Not even a second later the tree toppled down upon were his soldiers were and a hail of arrows began to pester the spot. He was confused, until he realized Val was basing his decisions off of where he had originally set up his army.

He quickly took advantage of the situations and told his troops, “Alright back up the hill and then leave the hill off to the right, were going to ambush Val’s army”

His forces complied and moved off as ordered.

They circled around to where the arrows were coming from and waited for their orders, “Charge!”

His soldiers swept in, only to find Val’s five archers. They were slain without incident.

He muttered to himself, “Where are his infantry?”

At that moment Val’s infantry charged down the hill Xer’s forces had previously occupied.

He ordered, “Alright engage them, shouldn’t be hard, it’s ten versus fifteen.”

He chuckled to himself as the forces engaged each other. Val must have circled around with his infantry; they would have snuck up the hill and killed his archers. Then they would have pinned his infantry between themselves and the archers.

Fortunately he had ordered his own ambush. He suddenly noticed two of Val’s infantry split of toward two partially cut down trees. He frowned for a moment before he figured out their intentions.

He ordered his archers, “Shoot those two going for the trees! They’ll topple them down on you!”

Unfortunately the archers only killed one. The other reached a tree and chopped three times before it toppled onto the battlefield. Several of Xer’s and Val’s soldiers were crushed underneath the trees.

Fortunately his forces still outnumbered Val’s. The battle ended a few minutes later with two infantry and all five archers still alive on his side, and nothing on Val’s. The soldiers returned to their inanimate positions, and the battlefield returned to its original state. Val was grinning like a wolf at him.

Val commented, “Not bad for your first game.”

He smiled and replied, “Thanks, you would have had me when your men were sneaking up on my troops if I hadn’t left to ambush your archers.”

Val chuckled, “Indeed, I have beaten many students that way. I question though, what made you go and ambush me? Surly it wasn’t on a whim?”

He answered, “When I realized you were chopping down trees I had my infantry move away. Then, when your archers targeted the same spot I realized you were basing your decisions on where I had originally set up my forces. So I decided to go around and hit you from behind. It worked pretty well since all of your infantry were away. I must admit, leaving those two half-chopped trees back there as a failsafe was a brilliant idea on your part.”

Val smiled before saying, “I was lucky your forces met my charge with their own, if they had stayed back behind the trees the strategy would have failed. Not only that, but if you had yourself noticed the partially chopped trees it could have gone much worse for me.”

He thought for a moment than agreed with Val, “Yes, if only I had noticed it.”

Val chimed in, “Not a problem though, you did superb on your first try. I am going to recommend you to the Tactical Training class taught by Vincen Warle.”

He was taken aback, “I thought I did superb?”

Val chuckled, “You did, and that’s why you’re getting into this class. This class is one of three specialized classes, Stealth Training and Master Magical Training being the others that you have to be somewhat decent at to get into.”

He sighed with relief and asked, “Okay, what’s next?”

Val replied, “We are going down to the armory.”

He asked Val as they walked, “How did Silver do during her match of Tactician?”

Val scowled, “She wasn’t particularly interested in the game but she played. When she heard my units chopping down the trees she charged me, I was taken by surprise. The six infantry chopping at the trees were slaughtered before they could even defend themselves. Her infantry and archers made short work of the rest of my forces.”

He laughed and said, “Nice.”

Val shrugged, “I have had worse defeats, ah here we are.”

They moved through a large door into a room filled with various armors and weapons.

Val spoke, “Take your time. There is no hurry; also before I forget to tell you, grab a weapon belt to hold what you choose. Alternatively you may choose a strap if you wish to have your choice strapped across your back.”

With that Val exited the room and closed the door behind him. He looked around the room and walked over to a table full of weapon belts and straps. He took a weapon belt and put it on before walking over to another table.

On it were various types of axes. He walked to the next table, maces. He continued to look around the room, cudgels, bows, knives, swords, slings, lances, shields, and more. He was silent as he appraised the various weapons.

There were so many choices… but why limit himself to just one? He decided to take multiple types of weapons. He selected two wrist knives, weapons that were hidden under his sleeves that would extend outward when he flicked his wrist a certain way.

He then selected two foot knives, which he fitted onto the underside of his shoe. He walked around and noted they didn’t even make a sound when he walked. He smiled and hit his shoes together and the knives extended out. He did a few kicks with his feet at imaginary targets before retracting his blades.

A large dagger was his next selection, attaching it to his belt with a hum escaping his lips. He also took a few throwing knives for good measure. He walked over to the sword tables and gave them a second look-over. He hummed to himself as he tried to decide between a long sword and a double-bladed sword.

He decided upon the double-bladed sword and held the weapon several different ways until he determined a comfortable position. He held his double-bladed sword behind him in his right hand, and extended his left hand out in front of him.

He stood there for several moments before moving to attach it to his belt. He frowned, it wouldn’t be proper, the ends would be sticking out no matter how he arranged it. He could accidently stab someone if he attached it to his belt.

Ah, the straps would be the answer to the problem. He walked back over to the table and put one on, attaching the sword to it behind his back. Satisfied, he walked to the door and opened it.

Val walked into the room and said, “Present weaponry.”

He hit his shoes together, flicked his wrists, and drew his sword and went into his stance to show his choices off.

Val raised an eyebrow as he appraised his selection, “Hmm wrist knives, foot knives, a double-bladed sword, throwing knives and a large dagger. Plenty of weaponry I see. Right, now if you will follow me we shall go see Headmaster Reqwal, she approves the class selection and weaponry of every student.”

He couldn’t help but ask, “If this is a school for criminally troubled students, why are you giving them… us, weapons?”

Val laughed, “In this city you better be armed if you leave these walls.

He laughed, “That’s a fair enough reason.”

Val continued, “Also, with the recent hostilities between the Zarr Empire and the Vanclead Federation you better know how to use a weapon incase war breaks out.”

He went silent before asking, “You really think there could be a war?”

Val nodded and said, “Yes, in fact I would be surprised if there wasn’t.”

He dwelled on Val’s words the rest of the way to Reqwal’s office. Val opened the door and they went inside. Reqwal sat at a desk looking over some paperwork. She ignored them for several minutes before sitting back in her chair and looking him over.

She asked Val, “Class Recommendations?”

Val answered, “Start with basic math, He should have all three history classes, Magical Training, Physical Fitness Program, Rules, Regulations, and Law, Weaponry Studies, and last, he should be put in Tactical Training.”

Reqwal smirked, “Tactical you say? You must have been impressed.”

Val smiled and answered, “Yes, he did quite well during his first game of Tactician, he beat me pretty soundly.”

She laughed, “I’ve noticed a lot of the students have beaten you lately Val, you must be losing your touch.”

Val replied, “Or you just keep picking out the best fish out the barrel for me to test.”

She sighed, “You know your little sayings tend to annoy me.”

Val shrugged in response.

She continued, “His weapon choice?”

Val answered, “He selected wrist-blades, foot knives, a double-bladed sword, throwing knives and a large dagger, a jack of all trades I say.”

Reqwal rolled her eyes and nodded her head before looking at Xer, “A variety of weapons, I hope you can acquire the skill that would be necessary to wield them all effectively in battle. I have no doubt that your combination of weaponry can be an effective one; I have had successful students who have had similar choices. The only difference in one case was a regular sword over a double-bladed one. Now Xer, do you have any problems you wish to make me aware of? Health issues? Issue’s with the classes Val has suggested for you?”

He hesitated for a moment and Reqwal quickly motioned Val out the door.

She asked, “What is it?”

He replied, “Well… I have no health issues.”

She interrupted, “Good.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “The only class I might have trouble with is math. I had a lot of trouble with it when my mother tried to teach me it.”

She raised an eyebrow and replied dryly, “Did you bring this up with Val?”

He fidgeted before answering, “No.”

Reqwal sighed and continued, “Math is a skill you can choose to have Xer, if you don’t want it, fine, just bring it up with Val yourself. Now I doubt those were the only questions you have. Ask what you will.”

He asked, “This “debt” you have everyone owe you, I wasn’t given a choice in the matter.”

Reqwal answered, “And?”

He frowned and repeated, “And?”

She leaned forward and explained, “This “debt” that everyone owes me is my way to keep everyone here, under my tutelage and protection. In all of the situations that I have “forced” students to come with me, they will tell you themselves that this has been the better option. Misery, pain, torment and death were what awaited many of the students here if I had left them where I found them. Especially if I had left them on the streets to be murdered, beaten, or raped.

She frowned, “In your and Silver’s case, you would have been found by the Zarr. Instead, I bring those I find here. I take them in, I educate them, to a degree. I help them reach their potential; I prepare them for life outside of here. All that I ask is that they follow my rules, stay here in BISCTS unless they have permission to leave, and do a little off to the side work for me here and there. Don’t ask about that yet though. When I feel they are ready to leave, I take back my debt.” 

He nodded thoughtfully before asking, “I was told by Let Roval that you once made an example of the last “idiot” as he put it that tried to escape. Did you really kill him?”

Reqwal couldn’t help but laugh, “Xer, Let Roval was the last “idiot” that tried to escape.”

He joined her laughter before sighing in relief, “I think I understand you’re reasoning behind this “debt”. I have to ask though, you called me valuable merchandise because I could survive whatever happened to my village. What exactly did you mean by that?”

She massaged her forehead, “While that may have came out a little harsh it is true, somehow you survived unharmed against something that left a deep scar in our continent, Uriono. That speaks volumes to me; it just yells to me that you have the potential to be great, and I want to help you reach it.”

He frowned, “Just because I could survive?”

Reqwal slowly shook her head, “One day you will realize exactly what I mean by what I have said. I have many obvious reasons for doing so as I do secret reasons. For now, you will have to trust in my judgment.”

It was his turn to shake his head, “I don’t understand you, first you are cruel to me, then you are nice and supportive, saying it is in my best interest to be here. Now you’re acting mysterious and answering elusively.”

She smirked, “Do you have any more questions?”

He sighed inwardly before remembering about Gen, “Did Gen come to see you?”

Her eyes glistened dangerously, “Yes she did. I have thought about it, from how Ermonia looked at you, would she recognize you on sight? Or would it be a vague guess?”

He fidgeted under her gaze before answering, “She would recognize me and Silver on sight.”

Reqwal held her head in her hand and tapped her desk in annoyance.

She was silent for a moment before saying, “Alright, you may go now Xer.”

Reqwal stopped him at the door, “Oh one more thing Xer, I have been made aware of an encounter you had with three of your fellow students. Care to explain what happened?”

He answered, “I was sleeping in my bunk when Ev dragged me off and threw me onto the floor. I kicked him and punched his nose. Then his two lackeys Tleck and Jackel tackled me to the ground. Ev got up and began to kick me. Silver came in while he was kicking me and drove him away. She then drove both Tleck and Jackel away from me until Val came in and sent them to detention.”

Reqwal smiled at him before commenting, “You left out a few minor unimportat details. At least you didn’t straight out lie to my face about it, which some students have the audacity to do so.”

She motioned for him to come closer and he did, not willingly though. His body slid towards Reqwal until he was in front of her desk. He couldn’t move, he couldn’t even avert his eyes from her fiery gaze.

Her words put fear into him as she warned, “Never lie to me, never hide details or facts from me. I will know if you do. I can sense lies and treachery Xer. I can sense guilt, and discomfort, half-truths, and deceit. Dishonesty does not go far in my book, not to me, not to my staff, and definitely not to your fellow students, well unless directed to. Never lie to me Xer; this is your only warning.”

She relaxed, letting him regain control of his body. She motioned to the door and he was out it in the blink of an eye. Val was waiting down the hallway for him.

Val stated as they walked back to the dorm, “You seem unnerved.”

“…”

Val continued, “Not to worry though, she has that effect on people. Now was the class schedule sufficient for you Xer?”

He tried to calm himself down before shakily answering “F…for the m…m…most part I l…l…like it. B…B…but the math I would be int…interested in dropping. I…I…If you don’t mind.”

Val stopped him and motioned for him to sit on the floor.

He sat down and looked up when Val put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a quick reassuring squeeze before saying, “When you have steadied yourself, return to your dorm. The classes should be done for the day; therefore it would be a good chance for you to get to know your dorm mates.”

Val sighed, “As for math, if you truly want to drop it, fine. I just hope you understand what you’re missing out on. Math is a valuable skill to have. If you’re still set on dropping it then so be it, after all, not all professions in life require math, just be prepared for the decision to come back and haunt you later.”

He sat on the floor for awhile feeling shaken from his encounter with Reqwal. Before long he felt confident enough to head back to the dorm. The sound of voices, a large amount of voices, echoed down the hallway as he walked toward the dorms. The sound was almost deafening as he walked past the various dorm rooms until he reached his dorm, number thirteen. He opened the door and walked in.