When I finally finish, I return my sword to its scabbard and bow. I am exhausted from the demonstration, and sweat covers my brow. I gave it everything I've got. The only thing I can do is wait for their response.
"You're not bad," Dilandau says after a moment.
"Thank you, Lord Dilandau," I reply.
He rises from his throne, "Of course, you must know that being a Dragon Slayer requires more than simple skill." He begins walking towards me, "We are fast becoming one of the most elite military groups in all Zaibach. I cannot accept weaklings." His eyes narrow, and he goes on, "You must be willing to fight and die for the sake of your country and your leader. You must accept the position of honor and respect that you may... and WILL... receive as part of being a Dragon Slayer." He is now circling me, and as he comes around my right side, he raises a hand as if to strike me, but it is only a threat. A test. I stand my ground.
Dilandau heads back towards his throne. "If you accept all these terms," he goes on, sitting down, "You will be bestowed with a uniform, and a guymelef once the group is complete. Do you understand?"
I bow, "Yes, my lord. Is that all?
"Yes," he says, "You are dismissed to return to the healing ward. You will receive my decision tomorrow."
As the door closes behind me, I can hear Lord Dilandau and Lord Folken talking. I hope with all my heart that they decide to recruit me. This is my chance, the only chance I've ever had, to do something with my life.
And if I'm forced to return to my family, it may be the only chance I'll ever get...
As I turn to walk down the hall, I see a Dragon Slayer that I haven't met before. It's a tall girl with curly, light purple hair, pulled back in a ponytail.
"Well, looks like you just got recruited," she says.
"I'm not recruited yet," I reply.
"Oh, sure you are." She shrugs, "You've probably heard that conditions between Zaibach and Fanelia are getting pretty tense. Lord Dilandau's trying to get the Dragon Slayers finished quickly in case we have to fight. You'll be recruited just as long as you have the skill. And the nerve." She holds out a hand. "By the way, I don't think we've been properly introduced. Name's Viole Stratten."
"Cherandle Zarain." I say, shaking her hand.
"So I guess you've already met Malenla and Julie," she says, referring to the other two girls. Malenla is a rather short girl with violet eyes and long, golden hair held back in a braid. Julie is a taller, more heavyset girl with short, brown hair and blue eyes.
"How do you know that?" I ask.
"They told me," she says. We begin walking down the hall together.
"So what's there to do around here?" I ask, looking around.
"Eat, sleep, and train." Viole shrugs, "That's pretty much it... Besides listening to whatever Lord Dilandau or Lord Folken say."
"So what were you doing hunting a dragon?"
"Part of our training. Teaches us to approach silently; sometimes we practice attack formations, too. Also, having the extra Energists doesn't hurt... And you've gotta admit that going out in rain like that takes some endurance."
"Mm." I say in agreement.
Suddenly, Viole waves to someone coming down the corridor, "Hey! Dalet!"
A boy with longish light brown hair joins us.
"What are you doing out here?" Viole asks.
"Taking a break." Dalet wipes his brow, "It's so humid today."
"Yeah, well." Viole lowers her eyelids, 'I'd betcha this fortress that Gatti and Migel won't quit till mealtime. Those guys are like machines."
"Tell me about it," Dalet grins. Suddenly, he seems to notice me, "Hey, I know you. Cherandle, right?" He came to visit me once before, in the healing ward.
"Right," I say.
He shakes my hand, "I heard from Chesta that you were going to see Lord Dilandau."
"She's number fourteen," Viole pipes up.
"Really?" Dalet raises his eyebrows at her. He still hasn't let go of my hand. He shakes it again, "So I guess that only leaves one. Welcome aboard."
I smile.
*
I've been a Dragon Slayer for about a week and a half now. Everyone has seemed to warm to me- that is, as warm as anyone can get in a military group.
Currently, we're all sitting around a long, rectangular table, having dinner.
Guimel takes a sip from his cup, "Hey, didja hear? We might get number fifteen in a few days!"
"Mm-hm." Rafael nods. He's taller than me, with blonde hair- his hair's a bit long for a boy. And he's a little conceited. But very serious about being a Dragon Slayer. "You know what that means."
"Guymelefs!" Migel raises his cup in the air.
"Amen!" Viole shouts, repeating the gesture.
None of the Dragon Slayers- myself included- have ever actually operated a guymelef. We've had simulation training programs... But I wonder how close they are to the real thing.
I'm also, for the first time in two and a half years, beginning to really miss my parents. Well, it's not so much missing them as wondering how they are. Dilandau said they tried to get a search party sent out for me. How long did it take before they gave up...?
I suddenly feel very lonely and empty inside. I stand up.
"Where you going?" asks Dalet, who is sitting next to me.
"Just going for a walk," I say, and leave.
*
It sometimes seems to me that the many corridors of the Floating Fortress were made for long walks. Or at least the ones that go around the outer rim. They're vast, and the windows give you a spectacular view of the world outside. Perfect for reflecting on things.
I somehow find myself in the training room. It's empty. I stand in the center and draw my sword, pretending to face off an invisible enemy. I thrust and parry as if it were a real fight, only in slow motion.
This goes on for a bit until I suddenly feel someone watching me. I turn. Lord Dilandau is leaning against the doorframe. His face has that almost expressionless, half-amused look it seems to doff most of the time. I stand there, embarrassed and confused. Embarrassed because I hadn't noticed him watching in the first place. Confused because I don't know what to do. Should I keep fighting my invisible opponent?
He answers my question without a word, slowly drawing his sword and pointing it at me.
Oh, I think, taking a ready stance.
We stand in silence for a moment. He seems to be waiting for something. Perhaps I'm supposed to make the first move?...
Finally I do. Gathering my courage and strength, I charge him, and our swords catch each other. Mine slips upward and his comes down to my side. I take two steps in the opposite direction to avoid it. He attacks. I block it. His sword swings around again and hits mine, forcing me backwards. Now it's my turn to attack. I thrust my sword forward and it is dodged. His sword knocks mine upwards, I swing horizontally and am blocked. I then barely dodge a downwards thrust and block a horizontal swing.
This is crazy, I think, He's either really good or he's really trying to kill me.
For a few moments I'm lost in thought, and in the process I'm being forced back into a wall. I get my bearings again and try to move forward or maybe around him, but it's too late. He's got me trapped.
I spin around to block a wild thrust, and as I turn to face him again, our swords meet once again, blade to blade. They stay in place, both of us struggling. My back is to the wall.
We're still for a time. Our faces are inches away from each other.
Then Dilandau smiles and takes two steps backwards.
"Not bad at all," he says, sheathing his sword. He then turns and leaves.
I stand against the wall, almost in a daze. It hasn't been my first swordfight- I've fought the other Dragon Slayers during combat training.
But I've never seen Lord Dilandau fight. He's always either been commanding us or meeting somewhere with Lord Folken. He was so... aggressive.
Why am I shivering?
I try to put my mind off it. I sheath my sword and start on my way back to the barracks...
*
Suddenly I'm back in the training room.
In a distant corner of my mind, I know that I am dreaming.
I hear a noise. I turn. Dilandau stands in front of me with his sword drawn.
We begin to fight, stepping around the room in the graceful dance of mortal sword combat. I don't look down, but I could almost swear that we're both floating slightly above the floor.
Finally it ends, our sword locked against each other. He is standing behind me, his free arm around my waist, his head resting against mine.
His sword is moving down. Mine follows it and both blades end up resting in the spot between my shoulder and neck. Dilandau now has two choices... They first, move his face an inch and a half forward, and let our lips meet. The second, move his blade an inch and a half to the side, and slice my throat.
It is not my decision to make.
The arm around my waist tightens, and a sly smile takes its place on Dilandau's face.
As he moves forward to kiss me, he is also moving his arms to embrace me, and I can feel the icy touch of sharp steel on my neck...
I awake less than a second before the final decision is made, staring up towards the ceiling from my bunk below Gatti and above an empty bed, reserved for number fifteen.
I have soon slowed my breathing and loosened my grip on the sheets. But my mind is going a mile a minute. How could something be so pleasant and so terrifying all at once? To feel such closeness to both love and death... I could smell the sweat on his skin...
Woah, hey, woah, just HOLD UP a minute, Cherandle ol' girl. Remember who you're talking about here. This is DILANDAU. This is the same guy who, when you first met him, slapped one of your new best friends across the face. This is the guy who wanted to abandon you! Remember?!
You DO remember, do you...?
Oh, crap.
I roll onto my side, scolding myself for these emotions. It makes absolutely no sense, I think. How could something like this spring up so fast? It has to be something that will eventually pass, or something that I'll be able to stop myself from feeling. It's too impetuous. It's not like me.
Or maybe... Maybe things like this are things that are all too true, that can't be denied, and must be acted upon quickly before you lose the chance forever...
But how? It seems utterly impossible that he should return my feelings. I mean, even if he was to "go for" anyone, it would probably be someone like Malenla... She's a lot more aggressive than I am, and prettier, too.
Or maybe he does prefer the vulnerable kind, I think, blood rushing to my cheeks. Maybe he likes things like that, where he can take control...
No, no, no, no, no, I think, shaking my head and sighing, love is the last thing on his mind, if it's even there at all. What happened this evening was simply a test of my skill. What else could it have been, coming from someone like Dilandau?
Eventually, I'm so lost in thought that I fall asleep again.
*
"It's official," says Viole, "Number fifteen's arriving sometime today."
"Wonder who it'll be," Chesta muses.
Rafael smirks, "Place your bets... boy or girl?"
We are not far from one of the landing docks, and suddenly we hear a noise. A soldier emerges from the hallway leading to the dock. He seems to be in a bit of a frenzy.
"Hey," I call to him, "What's going on?"
"A former general is paying a surprise visit," he says, and runs on.
"Wow!" I exclaim. I signal to the others, "Let's go."
"Wait." Rafael catches my arm, "We should report back to Dilandau. He'll probably want us to greet this guy as a unit."
"Oh. Right." I say, and switch directions, "Let's go, then."
*
All fourteen Dragon Slayers stand at attention in Dilandau's throne room. He and Lord Folken stand talking to the former general. I can't quite make out what they're saying, but when Dilandau turns away from the man for a few seconds, I gasp at what I see.
