Chapter 9: The Training

Yuki, after entering the door, walked into a rather fancy room. Despite the catacombs that came before, the area she was in at the moment was made of gleaming white marble, filled with ornate decorations of Avalice's past in gold. It was as if the Crimson King had so much money, he used it here despite having almost no reason to.

Suddenly, the Lavender Doctor approached from behind Yuki and placed a hand on her shoulder and exhaled there, the motion causing her to shudder.

"You are at unease, aren't you?" The Doctor asked. "After all, it's only your first day on the job. It's… Understandable why you are feeling this way."

"Well, maybe if you stopped being a creep about it, maybe I would feel a bit more at ease." Yuki pointed out, though she realized that it might have not been the best thing to say to an authority figure given the assignment to kill her if she disobeyed.

The Doctor only chuckled, despite the disrespect to his authority by the recruit. "It's funny, really." He mused. "All of you recruits think you're hot shit when you really aren't… Of course, it could be an age thing. I'm not one to judge on that front. After all, you are still a child."

Yuki sighed. "So, when are we going to start the training?" She asked the rat. "I mean… Wasn't that the original plan?"

The Doctor was strangely beaming. "So, you want to get straight to the point, huh?" He asked. "Well then, follow me… Uhh… What was your name, again?"

Yuki groaned. "It's Yuki. Yuki Bo."

The Lavender Doctor then motioned for Yuki to follow him towards the Training Room, a plain, open room with fluorescent lights hanging overhead. It had no advantages or disadvantages for either side, and was rather plain.

Yuki then walked to the middle of the arena. "So… What now?" She asked. "Do I fight you or something?"

A mannequin would appear in front of her. It was clear, and had a realistic blood and organ system flowing through it, as if it were a fancy biology model.

"Well, you said you could freeze things using your Affinity, right?" The Lavender Doctor asked. "So, why don't you try freezing the blood?"

Yuki was in thought. She hadn't really considered freezing the body itself before. Sure, she had Ice wrap around her opponents to keep them immobilized, but actually freezing their internal organs and blood? She might have done that three years ago to that recruiter, yet she was uncertain on that.

Yuki then took a deep breath and concentrated on freezing her target's insides. Soon afterwards, the blood stopped flowing, and large Ice Crystals started to block the flow of blood in the model. It also seemed to turn a clear blue…

"Excellent." The Lavender Doctor said, amused at his protégé's progress. "Though I want you to keep doing it until it feels natural. As if you were always able to do this."

Yuki sighed and kept concentrating on freezing the model's fluids. It went on, and on, and on… Eventually, she decided to try freezing the fluids with her eyes open, to which she did with success.

"Keep going." The Lavender Doctor spoke. "Your Affinity must feel as natural as walking. Complete mastery will result in complete power."

The training went on for what seemed like hours. Doing the same thing over and over again, the freezing process getting faster with each and every mannequin. Eventually, it reached the point where Yuki was freezing the bodily fluids almost instantly while also keeping her eyes open. Now, it was natural.

The Lavender Doctor seemed to be incredibly pleased with Yuki's performance, and approached the falcon, slowly clapping as he approached. "Well, I'm rather shocked, miss Bo." He spoke. "It seems as if you're a rather quick learner. Now, I assume you're famished, correct?"

"Well, to tell you the truth…" Yuki began. "I never really had much to eat anyways. Most of the time I just ate out of dumpsters."

The Lavender Doctor was shocked, and placed his hand on his chest. "My, Yuki!" He gasped. "You must be starving! No matter, allow me to show you some real food…"

The Lavender Doctor took Yuki out of the Training Room and into a dining hall. Other members of the Kakuchu were spread around the tables, as if it were some sort of prison cafeteria. However, the Lavender Doctor took Yuki to a side room. The side room was significantly grander, reserved for higher officers and a table specifically labelled "Court".

The Lavender Doctor took Yuki to that Court table, and there were only a few people sitting there, all of whom seemed to exude power and authority on their own. None of whom, however, exuded as much power as the Crimson King.

"…So, who is that?" One of the figures, a goat wearing marigold robes asked. "Does she happen to be the dinner that we'll eat?"

"Nonsense, Marigold Mandarin." The Lavender Doctor replied. "Rather… She is someone who I see fit for our ranks. Her name is Yuki Bo."

Yuki looked at the group The Lavender Doctor was speaking to. Outside of the Marigold Mandarin, there was a deep blue Ox wearing thick steel armor, and a Dog with beige fur wearing green robes, which seemed to be light clothing.

"Nonsense!" the Ox responded. "She's a kid! A fresh recruit! What the hell makes you think she'll be one of us, old man?!"

"Calm down, Cerulean Samurai." The Marigold Mandarin calmly replied. "Obviously Lavender Doctor has a very good reason as to why he believes the child can be one of us." He says as he sips some wine. "So, what is the reason?"

The rat only chuckled in response. "I was training her for a bit only a few hours beforehand." He explained. "The kid's a surprisingly quick learner, and rather inquisitive. Didn't ask any questions about the Kakuchu itself, rather, questions about her Affinity."

The Marigold Mandarin seemed to exhale. "So, she's had this Affinity… Recently?" He asked.

Yuki responded by shaking her head. "I've had my powers all my life. I'm just new to this whole concept." She replied.

"Well, it's understandable." The Lavender Doctor replied. "Knowledge of Affinities are very… Limited. Of course, unless you go out of your way to study ancient manuscripts and records regarding these powers."

"So…" Yuki began to speak, looking around. "Where's the food?"

The dog silently pointed towards a table containing multiple different types of food, ranging from seafood to several different fancy meats of varying doneness, and even several vegetarian options. Yuki then approached this table, picking up a plate with her.

While she was gone, the Court discussed amongst themselves. "So, what if this kid is a spy?" The Cerulean Samurai spoke. "After all, there's no guarantee she's absolutely loyal. Besides, didn't she literally just join?"

The Lavender Doctor only chuckled in response. "You're assuming I am not aware of this?" He asked the large Ox. "Besides, he gave me orders to closely watch her. If she betrays, then…" He says, a wild grin appearing on his face as he chortled to himself. "She's not going to make it out alive, not with my Affinity…"

"She is not aware of it, correct?" The Marigold Mandarin asked. "Such an Affinity, while powerful, is admittedly… Easily exploitable." He said. "After all, it's not necessarily… Precise."

The Lavender Doctor scoffed at the goat's comment regarding his Affinity. "So what if it is imprecise?" He asked. "It's not like she would live long after it hits her anyways…"

The dog then closed his eyes and began doing some hand signs. It was very apparent that his lack of communication came from the fact that he is, indeed, mute. However, the Court understood him saying that "There is no such thing as the most powerful Affinity. Every single one has strengths and weaknesses."

The Marigold Mandarin shrugged at the dog's speech. "So?" He asked. "Besides, Emerald Emissary, our Affinities were powerful enough to shut down several spy operations."

The Cerulean Samurai chortled. "Hell yeah!" He responded heartily. "I remember when some damn Red Scarves came here. Let's just say they didn't live long!"

The Emerald Emissary then spoke in sign language again in response. "What rank were they?" He signed.

The Cerulean Samurai grinned at the canine. "Crimson Rank, typical high-level shit they're trying to prevent." He spoke. "Though one of them was a Tea! A damn Tea! You know, that legendary green ninja cat family? I swear, the King crushed her!"

The Marigold Mandarin looked at him in disbelief. "A… Tea?" He spoke. "As in, the family absolutely notorious for singlehandedly collapsing large empires, stopping wars, and changing history itself?"

The Cerulean Samurai grinned wider. "Hell yeah!" He heartedly bellowed. "She had no chance, not against him!"

"Quiet, we're indoors." The Lavender Doctor spoke, rubbing his ears. "Besides, do you have any mere concept of manners?"

"What the hell are those?" The Cerulean Samurai genuinely asked.

The Emerald Emissary pinched his head in annoyance and signed with one hand "How the hell did the King promote you to this position?"

The Cerulean Samurai would have responded, though Yuki sat down at the table with a large plate of food. Steaks, Sushi, and various other meats scattered her plate.

"…You must be famished, kid." The Cerulean Samurai said, though he was interrupted by Yuki loudly chowing down on the steaks on her plate.

The Marigold Mandarin spat out his wine in surprise. "Kid, slow down!" He told Yuki, placing a hand on her back. "When was the last time you ate?!"

Yuki swallowed her food and blushed slightly. "Uhh… Yesterday? I don't exactly remember the last time I ate." She responded before continuing her meal.

The Lavender Doctor looked at her in shock. "Child, you mean you don't eat regularly?!" He asked in an obviously surprised manner. "Are… Are you homeless?!"

Yuki, continuing her meal, only nodded in response.

The Emerald Emissary signed "So, this child doesn't eat regularly, is homeless, doesn't know anything about her powers, and yet you still believe she deserves a place amongst us?"

The Lavender Doctor only exhaled. "To be quite honest, it was a hair-trigger move on my end." He explained. "She managed to make some Red Scarves flee her in terror when she landed in front of me."

The Cerulean Samurai exhaled in annoyance. "So you didn't use your Affinity?" He asked. "It would've killed the group all at once! You wouldn't have needed to hire the kid!"

"I did, you fool!" The Lavender Doctor sharply replied. "It's not my fault it doesn't work on gas masks and has such a long cooldown!"

Yuki swallowed her food. "Damn, this is… Delicious!" She says, moving onto the Sushi. She seemed to be even more pleased when she popped one of the rolls in her mouth. "What the hell is this?!"

The Emerald Emissary signed "Food." Though it was clear Yuki didn't understand the gestures.

The Marigold Mandarin sighed. "What he is saying is 'Food.'" He explained to Yuki. "He can't talk, so he speaks with sign language."

Yuki looked at the goat in confusion. "How hard is it to speak?" She asked. "I learned the Avalician Language within three years, yet this guy who is very clearly older than me didn't learn at all?"

The Emerald Emissary glared at her and began rapidly signing, going too fast for the other members of the Court to catch up.

"Woah, slow down!" The Cerulean Samurai exclaimed. "I know you still understand what she is saying despite everything, but you don't need to be mad about it!"

The Emerald Emissary sighed and kept eating his food, his eyes off of Yuki as he concentrated on consuming some poultry.

Later on, Yuki was finished with her food, content with everything she had ate. "Woah…" she groaned. "That… That was the best meal I have ever had…"

The Lavender Doctor chortled slightly. "Yuki, this is the Court of the Crimson King." He explained, his arm outstretched towards the rest of the Court. "If you prove yourself towards him, you can join us."

Yuki was then in thought, though not obviously. So, this might just be the only way I have to get close to the King… She thought. Thankfully I only have a week to prove myself. Lavender Doctor must be higher-ranked amongst these guys…

"Though proving yourself to him is not easy, kid." The Marigold Mandarin explained. "You have a week, and need to prove undying loyalty like we have. Fail to prove yourself in a week, you'll just be a regular Grunt. Disobey him, and you will be killed by him personally."

Yuki looked at the goat, her typical inquisitive nature showing through. "So, wait… If he keeps to the shadows, how can he kill me? He would need to reveal himself."

The Lavender Doctor chortled. "Child, his Affinity… He doesn't need to reveal himself before he kills you." He explains. "It's quick, sudden, painful death. We should know, he's killed traitors in front of our eyes!"

Yuki was sweating slightly, her nervousness apparent. How the hell was she going to kill a target if she couldn't see him?!

However, it seemed no one in the Court noticed her nervousness. "Now, come on, Yuki…" He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. The motion still caused her to shudder. "Allow me to show you your room…"


A few minutes later, the Lavender Doctor led Yuki to a cramped room. A nightstand with a digital alarm clock was to the side of a bed, alongside a lamp for light. Outside of those necessities, there wasn't much to say about the living quarters…

Yuki lied on the bed, turning off the lamp. "Good night, child…" The Lavender Doctor exhaled as he closed the door behind him. After Yuki was absolutely certain that the Lavender Doctor left, she began to sleep comfortably. She just didn't feel any sort of comfort around that rat…