"Can't seem to work on those landings, eh

"Can't seem to work on those landings, eh?" Yamato's amused voice said.

"Shut up," the woman's cross voice said and there was the sound of loud smack and Yamato's yelp of pain. Davis saw both of them standing nearby, beaming at him (though Yamato had a slightly red hand shaped mark on his cheek).

"You did it!" the woman said proudly. "I see you have much courage and friendship within you now. Come with me." She turned around, along with Yamato, and walked briskly toward the lake. Davis quickly gathered his possessions and followed them. They soon came to a large mound and the woman clapped twice. It convulsed, and then opened into a doorway. Yamato and the woman stepped inside, Davis hurriedly following them. It was a dark passage, with several torches on the walls. After some time, they reached a courtyard. A group of students were sparring underneath the starry sky. They all stopped and bowed to the woman as she approached.

"Carry on," she said and they did. The small group came to another building and went inside.

"Sora!" a voice called out. A tall man with messy brown hair and kind brown eyes ran up to them. He was wearing a simple green tunic and cloak. A pair of round goggles was on his head.

"Where were you?" he said a bit sharply. "I thought that you and Yamato were going on a short scouting mission."

"We were," Sora said. "But I found a new student."

She gently clapped Davis on the shoulder. The man looked Davis over with searching eyes. But then his face broke into a smile.

"Hello," he said, offering a hand. "My name is Taichi."

"Nice to meet you," Davis said, shaking the hand. He was mostly in awe of the goggles.

"Another goggle head like you, Tai," Yamato grinned. Taichi just groaned and threw a half-hearted punch, which Yamato ducked.

"The first thing to do is to get you properly outfitted," Sora said, looking at Davis.

"Yes, sir-ma'am- whatever," Davis said.

"Just call her sensei," Yamato whispered to him.

"Oh, yes, sensei," Davis said. Sora just smiled at him, and beckoned to follow her. He followed her through a number of passages as she instructed him. "You will be taught hand-to-hand fighting, archery, fencing, meditation, scouting, military tactics, weaponry, chivalry, philosophy, academics, and magic."

"Magic?" Davis said.

"Yes."

"But I thought only mages could use magic."

"True, but the magic taught here can be used by anyone, mostly battle and healing magic."

"Oh."

"You will be trained for several years, depending on how fast you learn. As you learn, you will be upgraded into different levels. Finally after your training is finished, you will have a year to do a special mission to prove that you are capable of being a warrior."

"What kind of mission?"

"That will be revealed to you later."

They soon reached a door, on which Sora knocked.