Sorry about the long wait, everyone (I hate final exams). Well, it's up now, and fairly long. I don't need any characters at the moment, maybe later.

Trials of a Pure

Chapter 4: New Friends, New Challenges

When 852145632589 came to, he was lying face-up in a small bed. His clothes and armor were replaced by a set of loose-fitting pink robes. Trying to sit up, he realized that his right arm was in a thick cast and his head was wrapped in bandages. He looked around sitting cross-legged on the bed. He was in a small, well lit cave. The walls of the cave had wooden torch holsters every 5 feet. A small wooden door was fitted in a hole in the wall fifteen feet away from his bed, surrounded by a metal fence. Immediately to his right was a small table. On the table was his sack of cash and clear ring. In front of the table, his armor appeared to be sitting in a lump with his sword right next to it. His helmet was full of small dents from the force of the maces, while his chest and leg armor were dented to a lesser extent. In front of him, three men in pink robes with long hoods that extended over their faces were seated around a fire playing a game of cards. 852145632589 made no noise as he slipped the clear ring onto his left ring finger. The ring immediately shone brightly and vibrated. Seconds later, a thin rectangular glow appeared over his hand, attracting the attention of the men.

A familiar voice sprung from the glow, "put your hand to your head!"

Doing so, placing the glow against his ear and cheek, 852145632589 responded, "hello?"

"I have to say, that was quite a show you put on back there," said Shorudaretsu through the glow with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "I guess the boss was right to give you that sword so early." Ignoring 852145632589's audible sigh, he continued, "all joking aside, you need some more training so you don't need to do that every time you get into a fight. The boss arranged for someone to teach you. He also says to get the hell out of that cavern."

"Why?" asked a confused 852145632589, "I don't see anything wrong."

Shorudaretsu only replied, "the boss has things against HAM, the organization that resides in that cave."

852145632589 asked, "why does he hate HAM? Is he Jewish?" His question was immediately followed by the laughter of the men in the room. One man poked his head out of the door and made a gesture outside.

Shorudaretsu ignored the joke and replied, "let's just say he is on bad terms with them. I'll meet you outside to heal your wounds. Get out of there as soon as possible, and leave your armor behind." With that being said, the glow vanished.

Following this, 852145632589 positioned himself so he was sitting on the side of the bed. As he was slipping on his boots, the door opened and a slender female figure in a set of pink robes came in. Her white hair cascaded onto her upper back. Her blue eyes shone softly with a friendly gaze. "Thank goodness you're awake," she said in a voice that could soothe a raging dragon. 852145632589 could only nod as she helped him to his feet. "I was so worried that you weren't going to make it when I found you. It's a good thing you were so close," she said.

"Thanks," said 852145632589, "my name's 852145632589." In response to her confused expression, he added, "I know, it's ridiculous. I don't know why it was given to me, or what my real name is. all I know is that number." reaching for his sword with his free hand, he inquired, "what's your name?"

"My name is Salchimel," she said, "but my friends usually call me 'Sal.' Could I call you 8?"

"Sure," replied 852145632589 as they both headed for the door, "I'll have to go soon, would you mind escorting me back to Lumbridge?"

"No problem," said Salchimel as they got to the door.

The room they entered was many times larger than the room they were in. In the center, rows of seats were filled with people in pink robes facing a stage. On the stage, a man in dark crimson robes and no hood rallied his audience for the cause of eliminating monsters. On either side of him were large pink banners that spelled "HAM" vertically in green and lighter pink. Behind the stage was large lettering in black tar reading "We shall prevail." Half a dozen goblins hung below the message, bricks embedded in various parts of their bodies. 852145632589 recognized the last three letters of "prevail" from the jail sign, the "J" torn off from the rest of the sign. Various tunnels branched off from the center cavern, more people in pink strolling in and out. Before the duo took five steps into the room, everything silenced and all eyes were on 852145632589. He felt a whooshing sensation in his head as he was given a standing ovation and pulled to the stage. The man previously rallying behind the podium stepped aside and motioned for 852145632589 to speak. The crowd began to chant "speech" repeatedly. After a few seconds of hesitation, 852145632589 proclaimed,quoting the wall behind him,"we shall prevail!"

Immediately following his words was another standing ovation. 852145632589 took this opportunity to move quickly off the stage and met with Salchimel, continuing to the exit ladder.

As they emerged from the trapdoor at the top of the ladder, they found themselves on a hill surrounded by piles of brick. Shorudaretsu was sitting on one of the piles, getting up when 852145632589 emerged. His gaze fixed on Salchimel as she followed. He moved toward her and held out his left fist. Salchimel held out hers and their hands moved quickly in an infallible way. After a second of this, they both removed their hands. "Nice to meet an ally out here," said Shorudaretsu, "how are things in the clan?"

Salchimel started removing her robes, revealing scaly red armor. "Well, the pigs are forming a branch in our underground," she said, tossing the robes onto the ground beside her. Reaching into a pocket of the armor, she took out a small, coiled scroll, and continued, "good thing I got the plans for their new cavern. All we have to do now is wait for the right moment." Turning to 852145632589, she added, "I'll leave you with him, you're in good hands." She ran off into the woods north of them, vanishing within seconds.

852145632589 looked from where Salchimel went to Shorudaretsu and back again before his shock forced him to ask, "what just happened here?"

Shorudaretsu only looked at him and replied, "What's wrong with a couple allies chewing the fat?"

"No, not that," said 852145632589 as he shook his head, "what was that talk? Things at the clan? Allies? Pigs?"

"In that order," started Shorudaretsu, taking a breath, "The two of us are from allied organizations. She belongs to a clan known as the Terada clan, whom we are allied with, as I already stated. 'Pigs' is a term we use to describe the pink nutjobs in that cave. Any other questions will be taken by your new teacher, Kurisu-san." He pointed to a figure by the trees not far from where they were standing. Shorudaretsu placed his hand on 852145632589's shoulder, a green light projecting from it, and threw a new set of gray armor at 852145632589 as he said, "get that pigskin off of you."

Kurisu-san walked out from the shade of the trees towards the two others. He was wearing black robes with a hood that covered most of his face. Around his neck he wore a white amulet with something glinting in the center of it. On his back was a large, deep crimson sword that seemed to have small parts of the edges taken out of it. Under his robes appeared to be a set of metal armor. He nodded an introduction, then said, "now the real training begins."

Shorudaretsu put his hand on 852145632589's shoulder, chuckled, and said, "good luck." Removing his hand, the orb on his staff showed a few streaks of light, then he vanished.

Kurisu-san drew his sword and put himself in a stance. "Are you ready?" He asked. 852145632589, having put his armor on, did the same with his sword and nodded. "All right," said Kurisu-san, "let's begin." With these words, they both advanced on each other, swords at the ready.

Well, there it is. Again, sorry about the long wait. I won't be able to write for two weeks because I'm going to camp, but that should give me time to think for the next chapter.

If I didn't include your character in this chapter, you can bet that they will appear soon.