Chapter two:
A/N: I will begin to use more Japanese from now on.
Jadera woke up slowly, and found herself looking into Miguel's grinning face.
"Ohiyo, Jaden! You're up a little later than usual… or am I just early?" he asked grinning at her.
"Shut up," she said, sitting up, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Uhh… 7:30." He replied, "Were you supposed to do something?"
"What?" Jadera said, totally awake, "I'm supposed to… Ahh! I have to be down at the training field at 8! I'm going to be late!" She jumped past Miguel, and in a whirlwind grabbed clothes and flew to the washroom. A few minutes later, she opened the door, and raced downstairs for a quick breakfast.
Jaden arrived at the training field, just a little out of breath. He'd gotten there with 5 minutes to spare, so he'd settled down with some exercises. Dilandau and Sloviny were supposed to arrive, as Dilandau wanted to see Jaden's combat skills, not to mention his endurance and so on. This was a kind of… audition, or test. Jaden wasn't quite so sure, but he was ready to face whatever came. He was beginning some easy exercises when the generals arrived.
"So, Jaden, ready for your test?" Sloviny asked. Internally he hoped that the boy would pass, Jaden was advanced and very smart. Sloviny thought that Jaden would do best in a close circuit group like Dilandau's, and had told Dilandau so.
"Yes sir!" Jaden said confidently.
"We'll begin with a match between you and I," Dilandau said, "and after that, we'll see."
"Hai, Dilandau-sama. Shall we begin?" Jaden asked, unsheathing his sword. Dilandau did the same, and they both walked around a little and settled themselves, facing each other. Jaden tensed, anticipating a charge, but from Dilandau's body language, he could tell that he was waiting for him. Shifting his weight very slightly, Jaden drew his sword up, and charged. Dilandau swung his sword up, and the swords met with a clash, steel on steel. Leaning forward, then bouncing back off, Jaden turned and swung again, only to find that Dilandau had blocked it. However, Jaden never stayed in a position very long, and was always moving. Swinging again, the swords clashed again, and Jaden quickly drew away, surprising Dilandau a little bit, and turned around, and swung again, his target this time Dilandau's sword, except where it was very near to the hilt, and Dilandau's hand. Not anticipating this, Dilandau had very little time to prepare. However, he managed to move his arm, bringing up his sword, and steel bit steel once again. Separating, they stood, panting a little from the exertion.
"I must admit -you are better than I thought you were, Jaden." Dilandau said approvingly.
"Thank you sir," Jaden replied, "but I still have to beat you." Dilandau smiled, then charged again. Their swords clashed, and separated yet again. They were moving so quickly that they were blurs, and General Sloviny smiled to see Jaden performing so well. Also, the fight had begun to attract spectators, and several of the trainees gathered around to watch the fight. They could not, however really get a glimpse of the two fighting except when they paused every so often. Miguel caught his breath when he saw the people sparring. Internally, he hoped that Jaden would win, as that would most definitely prove him talented enough to join Dilandau. Silently rooting for his friend, he watched.
Jaden was tiring, and he knew Dilandau was too. However, he managed to keep his thoughts focused on the fight, and pressed on harder, renewing the fight with more vigor and energy.
Dilandau was very impressed, not that he would have told anyone, but the way that Jaden was fighting was very good, almost near his skill. Blocking another attack, he rushed forward, but his attack was blocked. When Jaden whisked away again, Dilandau tried to keep track of his movements, but cursed when he found that his trail of vision was falling behind a little. This boy was very good. Their swords met once again, but Jaden, instead of leaning forward into it as usual, he stepped back, and twirled, moving his sword. In what seemed like slow motion, Jaden saw the series of events that happened. He saw his sword moving, in a wide arc, and how it came across and made contact with Dilandau's. And, almost like a dream, he saw how Dilandau could not take the pressure, and his grip was weakened, and then lost. The sword was flung into the air, and Jaden moved his sword to rest it at Dilandau's throat. The crowd was silent, and then, it erupted into cheers. Sloviny stood, a little shocked, but very pleased that it was his pupils', and not anyone else's that had been the first to defeat Dilandau, and was probably going to be the only one. Grinning, he approached the duo in the middle of the cluster of the other trainees.
"So Dilandau, how do you feel?" he asked cheekily.
"Don't rub it in, Sloviny," Dilandau threatened. Then, turning his attention to Jaden, "You're much better than I first thought. You have trained well, good enough to be in my dragonslayers." He complimented Jaden.
"Thank you sir," Jaden said, a faint blush tinting his cheeks.
"Yeah! You were great!" said Miguel as he materialized at her side from the crowd.
"Thanks," Jaden said, "maybe you should try out too, Miguel." Turning to Dilandau, he asked for his friend.
"Dilandau-sama, would you accept my friend?"
Dilandau looked at Miguel, and said,
"It wouldn't hurt to try, but I'd have to rest and I also do have matters to attend. We'll see later." Crossing the field to reclaim his sword, Dilandau picked it up, and strode out of the training grounds.
"Well done! You have practiced and earned it." Sloviny praised Jaden.
"I knew you could do it."
"Thank you sir." Jaden said.
"Well, you should now go and pick up your uniform. Maybe if you see Dilandau in the halls you could ask, but the fitting room should have some designed for his team already. You can go check." Sloviny advised him. "The faster you get your uniform, the faster you get to move out of here, and maybe find yourself on a floating fortress, perhaps." Sloviny said. "Anyways, well met and done, Jaden."
"Sir!" Jaden, and turned to go, but was a little taken by the size of the crowd. Turning again to Sloviny, he asked, "Sir? Would it be possible to 'sneak' out with you? I don't exactly want to answer any questions right now."
Sloviny smiled.
"I'd be happy, Jaden. I'll even 'escort' you to the fitting rooms."
"Thank you sir. Hey, Miguel?" Jaden asked, turning his head.
"Yeah?"
"See you later."
Jadera walked down the halls with General Sloviny, slightly relishing her victory over Dilandau that gave her passage into his dragonslayers. General Sloviny turned to her and said,
"Jaden. I'm extremely pleased at your performance today. You were most definitely ready to move up, and actually start getting more involved. We need people like you in this war, Jaden. You have amazing talent, and it's good to see you taking it far."
Jadera thought about this, and contemplated the idea for the first time that she would have to leave the General to serve under Dilandau.
"Thinking deep thoughts?" asked Sloviny in an amused tone.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I was thinking about how I wouldn't really be around you anymore." Jadera replied. Sloviny smiled, then said,
"It's fine. Nothing will happen to me here. Besides, you have learnt all I know from me. I have nothing more to teach you. Yes, you may be skilled, but you need to get out in the world and get your training and experience out there." Jadera smiled back as the words sunk in.
"Thank you sir."
They walked on in silence, and Jadera thought about her training here. True it was hard enough, but now that she was in the Dragonslayers, it was probably going to be even harder. And with a name like "The Dragonslayers", they were probably going to have to take on some Dragons.
"Here we are! The fitting room. I'll see you tomorrow Jaden." Sloviny said, and walked off.
Jadera looked at the fitting rooms, and decided that with everything going on, she might as well do it tomorrow. She then turned and walked to her room.
A/N: I will begin to use more Japanese from now on.
Jadera woke up slowly, and found herself looking into Miguel's grinning face.
"Ohiyo, Jaden! You're up a little later than usual… or am I just early?" he asked grinning at her.
"Shut up," she said, sitting up, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Uhh… 7:30." He replied, "Were you supposed to do something?"
"What?" Jadera said, totally awake, "I'm supposed to… Ahh! I have to be down at the training field at 8! I'm going to be late!" She jumped past Miguel, and in a whirlwind grabbed clothes and flew to the washroom. A few minutes later, she opened the door, and raced downstairs for a quick breakfast.
Jaden arrived at the training field, just a little out of breath. He'd gotten there with 5 minutes to spare, so he'd settled down with some exercises. Dilandau and Sloviny were supposed to arrive, as Dilandau wanted to see Jaden's combat skills, not to mention his endurance and so on. This was a kind of… audition, or test. Jaden wasn't quite so sure, but he was ready to face whatever came. He was beginning some easy exercises when the generals arrived.
"So, Jaden, ready for your test?" Sloviny asked. Internally he hoped that the boy would pass, Jaden was advanced and very smart. Sloviny thought that Jaden would do best in a close circuit group like Dilandau's, and had told Dilandau so.
"Yes sir!" Jaden said confidently.
"We'll begin with a match between you and I," Dilandau said, "and after that, we'll see."
"Hai, Dilandau-sama. Shall we begin?" Jaden asked, unsheathing his sword. Dilandau did the same, and they both walked around a little and settled themselves, facing each other. Jaden tensed, anticipating a charge, but from Dilandau's body language, he could tell that he was waiting for him. Shifting his weight very slightly, Jaden drew his sword up, and charged. Dilandau swung his sword up, and the swords met with a clash, steel on steel. Leaning forward, then bouncing back off, Jaden turned and swung again, only to find that Dilandau had blocked it. However, Jaden never stayed in a position very long, and was always moving. Swinging again, the swords clashed again, and Jaden quickly drew away, surprising Dilandau a little bit, and turned around, and swung again, his target this time Dilandau's sword, except where it was very near to the hilt, and Dilandau's hand. Not anticipating this, Dilandau had very little time to prepare. However, he managed to move his arm, bringing up his sword, and steel bit steel once again. Separating, they stood, panting a little from the exertion.
"I must admit -you are better than I thought you were, Jaden." Dilandau said approvingly.
"Thank you sir," Jaden replied, "but I still have to beat you." Dilandau smiled, then charged again. Their swords clashed, and separated yet again. They were moving so quickly that they were blurs, and General Sloviny smiled to see Jaden performing so well. Also, the fight had begun to attract spectators, and several of the trainees gathered around to watch the fight. They could not, however really get a glimpse of the two fighting except when they paused every so often. Miguel caught his breath when he saw the people sparring. Internally, he hoped that Jaden would win, as that would most definitely prove him talented enough to join Dilandau. Silently rooting for his friend, he watched.
Jaden was tiring, and he knew Dilandau was too. However, he managed to keep his thoughts focused on the fight, and pressed on harder, renewing the fight with more vigor and energy.
Dilandau was very impressed, not that he would have told anyone, but the way that Jaden was fighting was very good, almost near his skill. Blocking another attack, he rushed forward, but his attack was blocked. When Jaden whisked away again, Dilandau tried to keep track of his movements, but cursed when he found that his trail of vision was falling behind a little. This boy was very good. Their swords met once again, but Jaden, instead of leaning forward into it as usual, he stepped back, and twirled, moving his sword. In what seemed like slow motion, Jaden saw the series of events that happened. He saw his sword moving, in a wide arc, and how it came across and made contact with Dilandau's. And, almost like a dream, he saw how Dilandau could not take the pressure, and his grip was weakened, and then lost. The sword was flung into the air, and Jaden moved his sword to rest it at Dilandau's throat. The crowd was silent, and then, it erupted into cheers. Sloviny stood, a little shocked, but very pleased that it was his pupils', and not anyone else's that had been the first to defeat Dilandau, and was probably going to be the only one. Grinning, he approached the duo in the middle of the cluster of the other trainees.
"So Dilandau, how do you feel?" he asked cheekily.
"Don't rub it in, Sloviny," Dilandau threatened. Then, turning his attention to Jaden, "You're much better than I first thought. You have trained well, good enough to be in my dragonslayers." He complimented Jaden.
"Thank you sir," Jaden said, a faint blush tinting his cheeks.
"Yeah! You were great!" said Miguel as he materialized at her side from the crowd.
"Thanks," Jaden said, "maybe you should try out too, Miguel." Turning to Dilandau, he asked for his friend.
"Dilandau-sama, would you accept my friend?"
Dilandau looked at Miguel, and said,
"It wouldn't hurt to try, but I'd have to rest and I also do have matters to attend. We'll see later." Crossing the field to reclaim his sword, Dilandau picked it up, and strode out of the training grounds.
"Well done! You have practiced and earned it." Sloviny praised Jaden.
"I knew you could do it."
"Thank you sir." Jaden said.
"Well, you should now go and pick up your uniform. Maybe if you see Dilandau in the halls you could ask, but the fitting room should have some designed for his team already. You can go check." Sloviny advised him. "The faster you get your uniform, the faster you get to move out of here, and maybe find yourself on a floating fortress, perhaps." Sloviny said. "Anyways, well met and done, Jaden."
"Sir!" Jaden, and turned to go, but was a little taken by the size of the crowd. Turning again to Sloviny, he asked, "Sir? Would it be possible to 'sneak' out with you? I don't exactly want to answer any questions right now."
Sloviny smiled.
"I'd be happy, Jaden. I'll even 'escort' you to the fitting rooms."
"Thank you sir. Hey, Miguel?" Jaden asked, turning his head.
"Yeah?"
"See you later."
Jadera walked down the halls with General Sloviny, slightly relishing her victory over Dilandau that gave her passage into his dragonslayers. General Sloviny turned to her and said,
"Jaden. I'm extremely pleased at your performance today. You were most definitely ready to move up, and actually start getting more involved. We need people like you in this war, Jaden. You have amazing talent, and it's good to see you taking it far."
Jadera thought about this, and contemplated the idea for the first time that she would have to leave the General to serve under Dilandau.
"Thinking deep thoughts?" asked Sloviny in an amused tone.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I was thinking about how I wouldn't really be around you anymore." Jadera replied. Sloviny smiled, then said,
"It's fine. Nothing will happen to me here. Besides, you have learnt all I know from me. I have nothing more to teach you. Yes, you may be skilled, but you need to get out in the world and get your training and experience out there." Jadera smiled back as the words sunk in.
"Thank you sir."
They walked on in silence, and Jadera thought about her training here. True it was hard enough, but now that she was in the Dragonslayers, it was probably going to be even harder. And with a name like "The Dragonslayers", they were probably going to have to take on some Dragons.
"Here we are! The fitting room. I'll see you tomorrow Jaden." Sloviny said, and walked off.
Jadera looked at the fitting rooms, and decided that with everything going on, she might as well do it tomorrow. She then turned and walked to her room.