The Burmecian rain continued to batter down on the city at a steady rate, which was very similar to the work pattern of the Dragon Knights for the months after the exam. The Mist Continent was at peace for the time being, so the main duties for the Dragon Knights was to simply stand guard around the city and to prevent the savage monsters roaming outside the city from entering the rainy metropolis.
This did not please Frato at all; he hated having to stand around the city doing next to nothing. He only found pleasure in standing outside the gates and finding any excuse he could to kill the monsters he saw inhabiting the land.
Freya had expected what work as a Dragon Knight would be like and she had not been disappointed. She had been split apart from Frato during the months much to her relief, which made the job much easier.
Fratley had been making quite a name for himself, after managing to scare off Redwind with the other guards he had been assigned to guard with some of the tougher Dragon Knights. These Dragon Knights were often assigned to guard and keep order in the rougher parts of the city.
Another day of work had come to an end for the three Dragon Knights and as such they began making their own way towards the castle. A few other Knights and guards were making their way there as the daily patrol had finished. Soon, more Knights would leave their homes and take their posts for the night patrol, which offered more pay but was slightly more dangerous and very dull at times.
Frato was making his way towards the castle to receive his wages for the day. He didn't receive any stares on his way to the castle, mainly because quite a lot of the Burmecians knew him now, and they didn't bother paying him much attention. He just walked casually with a slight smile on his face, as another working day had come to an end.
He reached the castle entrance, and was permitted to enter the front courtyard where several Dragon Knights were gathered talking to each other. Fratley then came rushing up to Frato with a smile across his face.
"Sir Frato, have you heard? His majesty is going to hold this year's tournament for the Dragon Knights very soon!" Fratley asked.
"A tournament?" Frato's eyes widened with excitement as he repeated the words.
"Yes, there is a poster for it over there, along with a sign up sheet." Fratley said pointing over to the corner of the castle's front courtyard where several of the warriors were queuing up and signing up for the contest. "I already signed up. It should be very interesting. Are you going to sign up, Sir Frato?"
"Are you mad?! Of course I am going to sign up!" Frato replied, still with the air of joy filling his voice. "It's about time something exciting happened!"
Frato quickly joined the queue, and his air of excitement quickly left him as he gradually became agitated at the long wait. He then began to tap his foot and he was slowly but surely getting towards the sign up sheet.
"You really are impatient aren't you?" Frato heard a voice from behind him. He turned around to be met by the nonchalant eyes of Freya Crescent.
"So what? I just can't stand long waits." Frato replied with a slight scowl. "You're entering the tournament too?"
"Of course, I want to see if all of my training has paid off." Freya answered, looking very serious.
"To humiliate yourself, more likely." Frato added with a slight smirk.
Freya just snorted and gave no reply. With luck their short conversation had took up their time in the queue and Frato was already signing the sheet in his rather messy handwriting. He finished quickly so as to not spend too long with Freya standing behind him, which was something Frato would never feel comfortable with.
He turned around to leave the queue completely, and deliberately barged into Freya's left side as he passed. Freya managed to resist the barge, although Frato had nearly shoved her into the Knight standing behind her. She scowled slightly before going straight up to the sign up sheet and wrote her name with her impeccably neat handwriting.
Frato walked back to Fratley with a much more cheerful mood and a small smile on his face.
"Well Sir, shall we go home?" Frato asked his brother in a casual tone. For once, he had actually remembered someone's title.
"Just a minute Sir Frato, I want to wait for Lady Freya." Fratley replied in the same manner.
Frato then moved beside Fratley and turned around. He saw Freya approach him from a short distance straight towards the pair. She decided to walk in front of Frato, and before Frato could even react she smacked him right across his face.
"OW! What was that for!?" Frato shouted, no longer smiling and covering the red mark on his face with his right hand.
"You know perfectly well what that's for!" Freya scowled back. "You ought to learn how to show a little respect!"
"Now, now, calm down you two..." Fratley stated, trying to step between the two.
Freya just stood still, regaining her once calm mood. Frato however, was trying to push past Fratley to get his grubby hands on Freya. Fratley managed to hold him back with little difficulty and said something else to him.
"Frato, calm down!"
Frato eventually stopped trying to push past Fratley and moved back growling at Freya.
"I'll get you back Freya..." Frato leered at her.
"We're even as far as I am concerned." Freya replied coolly. "You don't frighten me."
Frato just growled once again. Fratley looked at both of them before saying anything.
"Let's go home, shall we?" Fratley suggested, trying to cheer the two up.
"Fine..." Frato answered in another quieter growl.
Finally, the three started to make their way home. Fratley walked in between the two as usual with Freya on his right and Frato on his left. Frato growled quietly once again, but another stern look from his older brother finally put a stop to it. Frato then just decided to scowl and sulk to himself. Conversation started quickly between Fratley and Freya about their day and the upcoming tournament.
The Dragon warrior tournament was held every year in the Royal Arena, which was part of the castle. Burmecia's toughest knights would compete to see who was the strongest in the city. Some of the richer citizens of Burmecia would pay to watch the tournament for entertainment. Families of the participants were permitted to watch for free, so April, Frato and Fratley had watched their father Lion-heart fight in the tournament several times. Lion-heart had been the winner of the tournament last year had been victorious multiple times in the stadium.
The rules for the contest were simple. To win, you either need to disarm your opponent or draw blood. The same armour and weapon was given to each contender in the interest of fair play, and no items were to be used at any stage in battle throughout the tournament.
No-one had ever been killed throughout the many years that the tournament had taken place and there were usually very few injuries. It was all a form a sport and one of the very few traditions that was kept in Burmecia.
The three knights reached Freya's house first, which was closer to the castle but quite a way west from the brother's home. Fratley and Freya waved each other goodbye as Frato stood with his back turned to the both of them, waiting for Fratley to leave and walk with him to their home. Fratley turned around as he saw Freya enter her home and walked with Frato. Conversation between the two quickly ensued.
"I do wish you could just get along with Lady Freya." Fratley muttered.
"I can't stand her." Frato scowled. "She refuses to follow the proper role of a woman."
"You mean you still can't get over the fact she can fight?" Fratley asked in a calm but slightly surprised tone.
"She shouldn't fight, that's just it." Frato replied, still scowling. "Men are the stronger gender, it is they who should do the fighting, and they must protect the women and children."
"Who says women can't join the army as well?" Fratley questioned. "If more women joined the army our forces would be much stronger."
"Could you just imagine the state of our homes if that happened?" Frato argued back. "Who would do the housework?"
There was a small pause before Fratley replied.
"Whether women should or shouldn't become knights is irrelevant. Your behaviour towards Lady Freya is dishonourable." Fratley said in a stern voice. "You are supposed to respect fellow Dragon Knights."
"I do respect fellow Dragon Knights. It's just that I don't think Freya should be one." Frato answered, looking at where he was going rather than Fratley's stern gaze.
"Well, if you think that is the case why don't you see his majesty and argue with him?" Fratley asked with a slight smile. "After all, he was the one who knighted her in the first place. He obviously thinks women should be welcomed into the Dragon Knights."
Frato just remained silent. He didn't want to take things that far. Thankfully, his silence only lasted a few moments as their house came into view and he opened the door.
It was time to train like they had never trained before...
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Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 9 and everything in it belongs to Square-Enix, not me. So don't sue. All original characters in this story (namely Frato) are mine, although I don't own the Burmecian race.
Author's Rant: Sorry for the long update but I had writer's block, even though I have a storyboard... This will be my last update for a while. However, it's not as if I'm missed...Where are my reviews!?!?!?