Ch.4 Daitoshi
They went on the same routine for the next week traveling across the great continent, to the west head guild in Daitoshi, which sat in the middle of a giant bowl of mountains. The night before they got there Shi told them to have there weapons at the ready at all times, challenges were common place there. "Daitoshi is not a playground, you younger ones should be fine, the adults you should be clutching your blades." Shi said, the torches of the city behind him glowing brightly. "Shi, whats going to happen when we get there?" An adult asked. "Excellent question, well first you will be given leather armor, free of charge, then a weapon would be bestowed to you but you already have one, so, after that in groups of four you will go against a monster."
"What kind of monster?"
"Anything, I've seen a Cephadrome in there before, nothing more dangerous than that though," seeing the worried looks on their faces he quickly added "there will be professionals standing by the entire time. Now get to bed the contest of sorts begins tommorow at noon." Shi quickly turned onto his side and fell asleep.
Early the next day Shi woke everyone up, they knew it was early because the sun was just peaking over the distant mountains. Shi was very excited to watch them all fight, ecspecially for his 'pupils' as the group called them. "So today is the day, that I see you all off. Each hunter is allowed to train one at a time." Worriedly the 'pupils' gathered in a circle, "So how do we stay together?" Gantoretto asked, "Well he did say allowed to train one at a time," the rest stared at Nakkura, she grinned, "he never said that he couldn't have more than one apprentice, only just train one at a time." The rest returned the grin.
When they entered the arena the hunters there gasped, Shi brought in twice as much as the max that was brought in at once. "Codename Shi, reporting, These new recruits from Suna Oni No Tochi would like to become hunters." He said, an elderly looking man walked up to him, he had white hair that was cornrowed down his head, a long white mustache and beard going along with it, he wore strange black armor that had medals pinned to it, "Shi, all this people want to become hunters?" Shi nodded his head. "Very well than, Gambit get them some armor." A man wearing a long brown trench coat and a wide brim hat walked off, on his back he had a silver staff as tall as him. Moments later he returned with two felynes pulling a cart filled with leather parts. "Thyme, Oregeno, these 14 people if you would." The two cats looked at each other and nodded in agreement grabbing a chunk of bullfango leather and running at Masayoshi, they swiftly put the leather around his torso, only to get some more leather and return to his legs, he couldn't tell what kind of leather this was though, it was brown on one side and a greenish color on the other. Finishing his legs up they pulled a string out and measured his head, bickering they pulled out two different styles of cloth and leather. "They want you to pick one." Gambit said.
"I guess that one he pointed to the tabby felyne who jumped onto his shoulder and started measuring and cutting while the black felyne went to start on someone else.
Once everyone was outfitted they gathered around Gambit and the old man, "My Codename is Geist, like the monster, today you will team up in groups of up to four to take on a pack leader type monster, there will be professionals lining the stage. You will pick your own groups, we will watch you fight and evaluate you, then depending on scores, you will be placed where you belong. Any questions?" No one said anything. "Good now then gather in your groups." The 14 people gathered together into two groups of three and two groups of four. "Very well, Gambit if you would be so kind as to hand out the cards." Gambit picked up small cards and started handing them out to people. They read:
Name:
Codename:
Birth:
Hunting group:
Then there was a small space for a picture next to it, "Now fill out your name, and birth, you should wait until later to pick a Codename, as for Hunting Group, that is something that you will have to wait for. Now on the back of the card you will see a number. That number is your official account number, so don't lose these cards, when you complete a request for the guild all parts will be put into this, 'bank' along with what zenny you would get after the hunt, this card is now your life." He paused for a moment to let it sink in, "Alright, lets get this show on the road, you group of four standing in the back, your first." The group standing in the back consisted of the other four kids; they had a sword and sheild user named Un, he had his shield strapped to his left arm, he had black shoulder length hair and a gold eye, an eyepatch over the other eye, where a scar was shown from underneath it, a gun lancer named Shirudo, he had light brown short hair, and green eyes, a lancer named Ken, who had blonde short hair and blue eyes and a light bowgun user named Enerugi, she had mid-back length brown hair and light blue eyes. They all placed their cloaks on their backs and walked into the arena. Cheering could be heard as the group battled an unknown monster, whelps could be heard, giving the insight that they had to face a raptor. Minutes passed then finally a bell rang out. One last whelp was heard before a loud thud shook the quite arena, Geist' voice came over some speaker like device, "Good job, you could all use work, Gambit next act if you would!"
The 'pupils' sat in silence waiting for there turn, they were last out of the thirty or so people that showed up. Gambit walked up to them, "You're up," He gestured for them to follow him, they got up and walked onto the arena floor, fresh blood spilt onto the sand, the crowd roared as they stepped onto the field, they all had their sand colored cloaks on and hoods up, "This is the last group for this season," Geist called out silencing the crowds, "Unfortunetly we ran out of pack leaders, so instead they get to fight a," a gate opened up and a Barroth was pulled onto the field. "The mighty Barroth!" The Barroth pulled on his chains, standing to his full height, making the Felynes holding him let go of the chains, Barroth lowered his head and charged at the group.