Chapter 6: Reunion of Master and Apprentice
Britain—this was one of the largest cities in Britannia. It was a larger city than Vesper, and of course, a very popular one with a greater population.
Meryl rode through the streets of Britain, searching for the bank. It was already morning and she had finally reached her destination minutes after the break of dawn.
When she finally made it to the bank, which took her quite a long time to do because of Britain's large area, she pulled out the rune that was out of charges and also a handful of reagents.
"Kal Por Ylem." She chanted and the rune she held glowed with the color of Britain.
Placing back the rune in her bag, she dismounted her zostrich and entered Britain's bank.
"Good morning, milady! How may I help you?" The banker greeted with a smile.
Meryl smiled back.
"Actually, I have no deposits or withdrawals to make at the moment." She said. "But perhaps you can help me by telling me the whereabouts of a man named Jore—"
"GUARDS!" Someone screamed from outside the bank, interrupting Meryl.
It did not take long before the sound of hooves approached the area outside the entrance to the bank.
"It must be a thief." The banker said, wondering.
Meryl exited the bank, out of her curiosity, and found right next to her zostrich a bronze armored man wearing a black robe. In front of him was the infamous Imonem, being held at the collar by the guard. Imonem was the cleverest of thieves. She was rarely ever caught pick pocketing and stealing, and she had always managed to get away with everything she did.
"Well, well, if it isn't the ignoble Imonem! You're wanted in almost all the guard posts of Britannia!" The guard said maliciously.
"My, my, aren't I that popular!" Imonem answered smugly.
She turned her head and seemed to get an interest in Meryl's zostrich.
"It's early in the morning and you're already up to your usual thievery!" The black-robed man, whom Meryl identified as Sieghart, exclaimed.
Imonem looked at him sharply.
"It's never too early or too late to get what I want. Thievery knows no night or day!" She replied and turned back to Meryl's zostrich, giving it a seemingly blank stare.
"And criminals such as you deserve to die." The guard added. "You know the law."
The guard raised his halberd. Suddenly, Meryl's zostrich let out a cry and furiously attacked the guard before he could strike Imonem. He released the thief out of distraction, and Imonem immediately slipped away from the scene. It seemed that she had used a provocation skill on the zostrich.
The guard fought back with the zostrich and he raised his halberd again.
"Begone, vile creature!" He bellowed.
"No, wait!" Meryl exclaimed, but it was too late.
Her zostrich's limp body dropped to the ground as its blood flowed freely from its neck. Meryl stared at the dead creature, completely filled with both anger and shock while the guard rode away, cursing Imonem as he searched for her.
"Lady Meryl."
Meryl broke away from her shock and turned to Sieghart, one of the members of the Heretics guild and also the older brother of Shacklebolt and Voldemort.
"Sieghart! Good morning!" Meryl greeted.
"I hope the death of your mythril zostrich did not affect you too much." Sieghart said.
"Uh… No. It's alright." Meryl replied. "What about you? Imonem tried to pickpocket you did she not?"
"Unfortunately, she was able to get away with my bag of reagents and mana potions. Now I'll have to restock." Sieghart answered as he gazed down the direction Imonem had gone.
"So," He suddenly said. "What brings you all the way here to Britain at an early time of day?"
"Actually, I'm looking for Jore'Sal. I'm sure you know where he is." Meryl replied.
Sieghart pointed to the northern part of Britain.
"North, in the large magery shop. Jade is with him."
"I see." Meryl said. "Thank you for your help."
After giving him one of her friendly smiles, Meryl left him by the bank and headed to the magery shop. It did not take long before she reached it.
She found him, Jore'Sal, inside the shop purchasing reagents. Beside him was the fair Jade, his 'would-be' partner. She was a beautiful woman. She was not a warrior though, unlike Meryl, but she was a merchant who sold furniture made of wood.
Jore'Sal, on the other hand, was claimed to be one of the most powerful fighters in Britannia. He was the current guildmaster of the Heretics, taking the place of the noble Aleon Vileslayer, who was absent along with several other Heretics members. Apparently, they were on a mission on a faraway land, and no one has heard from them since.
Though Jore'Sal was under the Heretics, he was also Meryl's trainer and master. It was he who taught her the fine art of battle and he continues to do so until the day arrives when she finally perfects every tactic taught to her.
"Jore'Sal…?" Meryl called as she entered the shop.
Jore'Sal turned to her and gave a small smile of what seemed to be of amusement.
"Come with me." He said, and Meryl looked at him questionably.
He whispered something to Jade, and then pulled out a rune. Taking the needed reagents, he chanted, "Vas Rel Por."
A moongate appeared after a few seconds, and Jore'Sal and Jade stepped into it. Meryl followed shortly, still slightly confused. She reappeared in a field full of houses and a tower; Jore'Sal's tower. She immediately recognized the place: the Heretics base.
Meryl suddenly felt a disturbance in her environment. When she turned her head, she found a sword coming down to slash her. Instinctively, she quickly drew her sword and blocked the attack. She focused her eyes on the attacker: Jore'Sal.
"Your reflexes have improved, I see." He said, smirking arrogantly.
Annoyed, Meryl pushed his weapon away and stepped back, still holding up her own sword.
"Have you lost your mind!" Meryl exclaimed. "You could have killed me!"
"That's the reason why I train you." Jore'Sal replied, sheathing his sword.
"Arrogant as ever…" Meryl muttered, also sheathing her weapon.
Meryl, Jore'Sal, and Jade entered the tower. It was very well decorated inside and every object seen proved how wealthy and powerful the Heretics were. Jore'Sal sat on one of his thrones and Meryl stood across him. Jade left them alone while she went to the upper floors to continue with her carpentry.
"I've already heard about what happened in Wrong dungeon, especially about Urumi's declaration of war against the Criterions." Jore'Sal said.
Meryl nodded. "Actually, she plans to target the Heretics next once she's done with us."
"I see…" Jore'Sal replied, and he rested his chin on his knuckles, as if he were thinking. "And you're here because…?"
"I… uh…" Meryl stuttered. "I seek extensive training…" Meryl said, almost in a whisper.
She had lost eye contact with Jore'Sal, and she stared down at her feet.
"I'll need it, especially since we're up against Urumi Kanzaki…" Meryl added.
Jore'Sal stood and approached her. It was only now that Meryl realized that he was a very tall man, but her thoughts were interrupted when he roughly and heavily placed his hand on top of her head.
"Ow!" Meryl cried, looking up at her master.
"What are you so embarrassed about?" Jore'Sal asked. "If it is training you want, just ask and I will give. Remember, it was I who devoted myself to teaching an idiot like you, and I take pride in it." Jore'Sal said, grinning.
Meryl smiled back, like a child who was given something she has always wanted.
"Thank you, Jore'Sal." She said.
"I will gather the rest of the Heretics. I think it is best if we join forces with the Criterions and help them with the war. We will depart for the Criterion base in three days." Jore'Sal said, and he approached the gate of his tower.
Meryl turned and followed him.
"I hope that armor you're wearing," Jore'Sal suddenly said, "will be able to endure our three days of training."
Meryl looked at herself, and realized that the iron armor she was wearing would not help her against Jore'Sal's vicious attacks.
"Oh…" Meryl said.
"No matter. I'll give you a new set." Jore'Sal said. "I think a brand new Rose armor would do."
Hearing this, Meryl smiled and followed Jore'Sal as he stepped outside his tower.