Black Paladin
Chapter 2: Service, and Sentence
As I made it back to town, I saw Mr. Steel waiting for me. Along with 2 of the others in my class. I sighed, I was hoping to avoid them until tomorrow. As I got closer, Mr. Steel looked closely at me, and I waved, angry at the ridiculous assignment.
When I got close enough to be easily spoken to and heard, he demanded, "Where is your…"
I step to the side, and Canim can be seen, dragging a rope. On that rope is the beowulf head. Bouncing along the ground, larger than Canim by at last a foot. He cou really get small, that little monster. Mr. Steel looked shocked, "What didn't think I could do it?" I ask, further irritated.
"But...no one...Child tell me how you did this!" Mr. Steel demanded.
"I hit it in the neck. With my sword. The pointy part." I say, like I would a child.
"At five?" He demands.
"Six." I say irritated.
"No one has ever done that before." Mr. Steel says, "You get beaten by the grimm for a bit, then an adult trailing you saves you, showing you why you need more experience before hunting Grimm." He sits. "Jason's guard retreated when Jason got torn in half, and when your guard's signal went dead in the same area, we assumed he died with, or for you, and sent you back to town. After days passed, we assumed you were dead."
I look at the other 2 students, with shock on their faces. "What?" I demand, "If you can lure them into a position in which they can't maneuver, they are easily dispatchable."
Clarissa Steel, current top of the class, looked at me like I grew a second head. Fortunately, I have my new abilities under enough control now that it doesn't occur at the thought.
I toss the Beowulf head on a rope to Mr. Steel. "Then I want extra credit."
He laughs. "Sure."
This was a good day.
What was less good is that from an original class of 8, I could only beat Jason reliable, and now with him dead, I was back to the whipping pole daily, until I could beat someone else. Which took almost a month. If I didn't have my aura and armor plates below my tunic, I would be bleeding all hours of the day. After a month, I would regularly beat Hannah. And as I spent less time being whipped, and slightly less time training, I could begin working in the Blacksmith's shop. The best part, with my new abilities, I could get my hands on high density Grimm armor. I had designs for a set of daggers, a Rapier and a set of swords I was still deciding between, when a new Huntress came to town.
She stormed into town with a Nevermore chasing her. She was throwing bolts of lightning from her sword, and I decided I wanted to be able to do that. My job at the smithy turned into a goldmine of information, as I could talk shop with her as she got her sword repaired and refilled. She used a specialized dust core that allowed her to use it as essentially a cannon, for 1 type of dust. She used her semblance to control it, but I refused to be discouraged, and began redesigning my swords, under her and the blacksmiths helpful eyes.
My rapier, which I had decided to call Diva, has a little more thickness to her than is normal, and when I flicked a switch, morphed into a small hand cannon by folding into a barrel to one side of the handle, the handle then folded about 45 degrees, and inside the handguard, a trigger slid into place.
My others swords, they got a true retrofit. Flaros and Glacem, using the 2 kinds of dust I had always had some control of. These 2 swords had hollow chambers in the center, and in that chamber, would go a mixture of control powder, and the Nature's Wrath. On my first attempt to put it all together, it exploded. As did the second. For months, almost a year I fiddled with the formula, not understanding what was wrong. Then in class, I learned something interesting.
"Does anyone know why dust is so effective against Grimm?"
I looked around, and none of us knew.
"Because of it's high levels of destructive power?" I say.
"Wrong. Dust is effective against Grimm because of how their skin and armor absorb outside forms of power, in an attempt to grow stronger, this fails, due to the activation of the dust, and implodes, dealing more damage to the Grimm than a regular impact. While activated dust effects have…"
So, I looked into not increasing, but infusing, which meant scratching my already formed blades, which was sad, but was not going to stop me. I pondered how to get dust infused into the Grimm plates until I remembered, active dust was rejected, due to the different aura signature. My activated dust, and my armor have the same aura.
I created Grimm plates, and slowly as they were formed, I infused one with fire, and one with ice, creating my 2 glorious dust cannons. I also got the blacksmith to install some mecha-shift in them to allow them to be carried as a broadsword. That had some interesting effects.
As I combined the 2, a small glow ran through the sword, now looking like a broadsword, not 2 scimitars, but as designed. I swung the broadsword, still a bit large for me, but I would manage. I put a little aura to see if I could alternate fire and ice when using it. It began to hum with power, and when I pushed, like I do with Flaros or Galcem, a small bolt of lightning burst forth, charring the target. I was stunned, I looked down with a evil smile on my face, and decided. Balta. My lightning sword.
With my new weapons, and all the time freed up once they were done, I could spend my time training with my new blades, and rapidly, I rose in the class. Admittedly I cheated to get out of being last in the strength and endurance trainings, using my Grimm modifications, I could be faster, and stronger than others, only keeping myself to the middle of the class, to avoid any questions as to how I was doing it. In the sparring however, I was quickly rising to the top of the class. With my twin dust swords, my dagger set, and occasionally my rapier, I was untouchable. Occasionally, Mr. Steel would step in and trounce all of us together. Which kept me improving.
For the next year, not much changed. We trained, we fought, and occasionally we were teamed with the adults who were tasked with a specific Grimm, not far from the village.
Then we graduated.
Mr. Steel began, "We gather here today to show support for our graduating class. These fine young men and women have seen the dangers of the world, and are prepared to fight them. Today we wish them well on their first tour." he walks down and hand each of us a key. "The first 8 years of service are mandatory. During your active service, you will receive 6 ration packs a day, and access to the water and bathing huts, and all other standard privileges. For those of you who want some money to spend, each ration pack can be returned to the office for a steady form of income. Each is worth 20ቺ. Placement is available for a set price as well. Priority for inner city duties for a week are 100ቺ, serving the wall is 20ቺ, and volunteering for outside the wall, or field duty, gets you double price for ration packs during your stay, as well as 10ቺ per day. Some alternative privileges can be purchased with Lien from the office as well. Remember, just about anything can be purchased from the office ladies, if you have the cash.
And just like that, we were seen as adults. We had one week to do whatever we needed to do to prepare for our first tour. I went looking for what field duty entailed.
"Well deary." Came the irritatingly the voice of the ancient looking women behind information desk. "In the Field, you and sometimes a team of 2 or 3, camp a little while into the forest, and kill any Grimm you find near the wall. You are also our first line of defense against bandits."
I smiled. Lookout, and kill Grimm. Easy. Day one, I put myself down for a week outside the wall. You could see the shock and horror on the faces of my classmates, and the office. When asked, it was very simple. "What I want costs a load of Lien, this was the way to get it."
For 3 years I spent almost my entire life outside the walls, in my purchased tent, which I replaced with Beowulf fur, which caused quite a stir when it was seen in town. They would toss down my ration pack every day. Given 1 feeds a person for 3 square meals, I had the rest turned into Lein. Looking toward the goal. 100.000ቺ. A one way ticket to Vale.
I took bounties while I was outside the wall, packs of Beowulfs, some Deathstalkers, once even a Gheist. I also learned to grow Gheist 'hair' from my wrists, and could control my daggers, they couldn't do a hell of a lot, as I needed to hide them, but when I was alone, going after Grimm, they worked beautifully.
Three years into my term, an unexpected event, a bandit raid. For the first time I saw just what the men on the wall did, as large caliber guns came out of the slits, and lit up everyone trying to scale the walls. I was most impressed, until the gunships showed up. I was inside the wall this week, on a random roll, and I went out to help, but seeing as every citizen is armed, and has military training, we aren't short on hands in a situation like this. After the carnage settles, I didn't even get to the front before it was over. I walk through the devastation, houses and businesses destroyed, and people still missing. I head to the office as normal, where I get a true faceful.
"You want what?" The man behind the assignment counter demands.
"I would like a new assignment." I say.
"You don't want to check up on anyone, help rebuild, or contribute at all?" he demands, angry.
"The people commonly behind this desk, and occasionally the man in the CCM desk are the only people I ever speak to. My family is dead, it has been made very clear to me that I am expendable to the people in this town, at 5 I needed to enlist because no one wanted the extra mouth to feed, I have been shown from the fact that just about every child in my class hated me for the simple reason that I was exceptional. Why do you think I spend 9 weeks out of 10, outside the wall, and alone? The people in this town receive the exact same amount of care and emotional support I received. None." I rant.
He frowns. "I see, so why do you risk your life for a town you don't care for?"
"Money. The skill that necessity forges." I say, calloused, before walking to the gate, and leaving for the forest.
After that, you could see the dynamic between the townsfolk and I shifted. Some hated me even more, for seeming aloof, or uncaring of the devastation. Other realised I was right, and were willing to change. Still the larger group didn't care, I was an outsider, adopted by an outsider. I had no ties, and they were fine with my absence.
Almost 7 years into my term of service, a recall went out, and I knew if I didn't return, I would be in deep. I packed up, and returned to the city. Once I got there, I was directed to the pavilion. All but two of my year mates were there. I sat in the back, avoiding the withering stares I knew I would get from some. Then Mr. Steel walked on stage, a cast over his arm.
That threw all of us for a loop, even today, I can't lay more than one or two blows on him before I fell into the red, how did…
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the 163rd class of Spartum's defense academy. Today I answer some questions. Who here can tell us who is missing?"
"Jason and Clarissa, sir." Someone calls from the front.
"Indeed." Mr. Steel says coldly, and we all know something bad happened.
Mayor Morrison, a portly man, waddles on stage. "Today we will have one of the first military tribunals to be held in 3 years. To this effect we have invited everyone in her class, and lower to attend. Do make space now." He says, and my skin crawls at his tone.
We condense, and almost 300 kids, enter. The class below us, still older than me, the class my age, and everyone down to 7 years old, enter, and sit in their rows, fortunately I sat far enough back that I didn't need to move.
"Yesterday, Clarissa Steel committed a most heinous crime. She attacked her superior officer." Mr. Morrison says calmly.
That would explain the cast.
"She was most disgruntled to learn that she, nor any of you will be eligible to attend Beacon, or any other hunting academy at the age of 17. All of you are clear to apply at 18, but it would be most unfortunate to see you go." Mr Morrison continued. "She ranted as to the fairness of this decision, and then attempted to leave Spartum, by force."
Gasps were heard among the audience. Both of anger and of fear at the statement. No Beacon, that had been the dream of many here. I smirked, wondering how this would go.
"Today we show you why rebellion against tradition is not acceptable." Mr Morrison says, still sounding creepier than any person I have ever heard before.
"Today justice is served." He continues, and Clarissa is rolled out on stage, chained to a rack.
"She has been assigned 1000 lashes." Mr. Morrison says, "You will all, sit here and watch. We will show you today, how far rebellion gets you, and how it is dealt with. At the end of Clarissa or of her lashing, we will be recording the roles of everyone in attendance, and anyone who leaves will serve an additional year of service, mandatory field duty."
So there we sat. 784 lashes in Clarissa stops screaming. Some look, to see if that means what we all think it means. It does. We are all asked to leave. To return to service, and "To serve our proud city well."
Well. I wonder how many people intend to stay now.
I get a message on my scroll, confused by the sender, the Office only sends large purchase confirmation orders.
I open it and blanch.
We at the office regret to inform you that the item in your cart:
Airship ticket to Vale
Is no longer available for purchase.
Have a nice day.
No. No! How…? I turn toward the airpad, and begin walking. Once I get there I see Mr. Morrison and Mr. Steel talking to the airship driver.
I walk up and demand, "What right do you have to remove that from the store?"
All three of them pause, them Mr. Morrison turns toward me. "Well my boy…"
"I am not, nor will every be your boy." I say, scathing.
"Um..Well, then young man, what seems to be the problem?"
"You have no right to remove Airship tickets from the market." I say, my hand coming to rest on Balta.
Mr, Morrison and Mr, Steel step back, both not liking that gesture. "Now son…"
"I am not your son!" I demand getting firm grip on Balta.
"Now, young man." Mr, Steel says, as a dozen security forces surround him. "You will calm down."
I pause. Considering my chances. "Fine. Now as our elected leader, you are accountable for large changes, would you care to explain why the option to purchase a ticket out of town has been rescinded?"
"We felt in this present time of unrest, that we needed to closely monitor the incoming and departing passengers." He says. "You simply need to apply for a clearance pass, and after approval, you may board for a reduced rate."
I look at him, aggravated beyond measure. "Where?" I grate through.
"The mayoral offices." He says, haughtily.
"Fine." I say, turning away.
"Due to your aggressive tendencies, I am going to have to ask…" Mr Steel begins gesturing to Balta.
"I am an active member of the military, asking for my weapons will terminate my military service with merit to be decided." I say, "Demanding my weapons, do you really want to give my such an easy out, especially as I have no reason not to share how I slipped out of my required service with everyone in town?"
They both blanch, that could lose hundreds of members in a day if that news got out right now. They both knew that a dishonorable discharge verdict prevent future military service, and they both knew how many would want to leave after yesterday's events.
"No no. We will just give you a warning." Mr Morrison says, regaining some color.
"Good, then I will see you when you get back to your office Mayor." I wave goodbye.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was not the only person to discover that little loophole.
Everyone else in my year didn't make it through the week. Me? I spent less time inside the wall than before. I had submitted my application, and was only ever inside the wall when I was needed for 'hearings' as to my airship eligibility, or for the DHD/HD ceremonies of my fellows, years above and below me. I spent most of my time perfecting a backup plan, Nevermore wings, so far it wasn't going well.
I could last about 160 kilometers in a day. I would need 14 days to get to Vale, and that would be landing in their city, with wings out. I needed to land about 2 days out, and that put me about 17 days of travel. The most water I can carry is about 6 days worth, and the most food rations they will give out at any one time is 7 days, putting the above average needs for food and water, with roughly third portions of what I normally have. Overall I needed something to cave.
4 men sit about a small table.
"He finishes his tour in 4 months, meaning he is over the age. Beacon won't even take him!" One said.
"He started 2 years early." A second said. "He would be 16, almost 17, the enrolment age."
"We can't very well deny it, we have been granting passes to everyone who has been discharged, dishonorably or no, and the only criteria we put down for these passes is a lack of active military service." The third says.
The fourth hums, "We need to find a way to keep people here, could we have an emergency?"
The second demands, "Are you suggesting we forge an emergency, and draft people back by force!?"
The forth says softly, "Unmarried, and without children, he falls into those categories, and so we catch a few more in the net, we need people defending the city."
"What kind of emergency?" The first asks, "We can't very well kill the people we want staying, and repopulating."
"White Fang." The fourth says, "We bomb the gunship, and have some faunis with little skill 'confess'. Then there will be a year or so where we can't send anyone, and we can draft some for 8 more years. Keeping them here."
"You all seem to forget, he was willing to get a dishonorable discharge to leave before, you think tacking on 8 more years will fix that?"
"We will simply remove that loophole, from the charter." The Second says.
The fourth asks, "Can we really pull that off?"
The first says, "Make it an internal offence, we can prosecute inside the military. That will end any attempt down that path."
"So we agree?" The Second asks.
"Yes." Says the other 3 in tandem.
"For Spartum."