Upon arriving at the hall, I realized that I needed to find a group to sit with, just like high school. Since her group had already taken me in, and maybe just a little bit because I am a simp, I sat next to Ria. Torvar sat down next to me and stretched, ready to dig in.
The tables were full of various types of food. I immediately grabbed a warm piece of bread and some cheese. Too bad it's not grilled, I thought to myself as I bit into the deliciousness.
Ria was cutting into a Slaughterfish Steak while Torvar was gleefully ripping pieces off of Venison Steak he had in his hands. The difference between them made me smirk.
"So," Ria said to me, "How does it feel to be a member in the greatest warrior guild in all of Nirn?"
"It's alright so far," I said, taking a bottle of mead from a bowl filled with them.
"All right? Just all right?" Ria put her fork down. "Have you been living with the horkers?"
I narrowed my eyes as I bit into my makeshift cheese sandwich. "I've only just arrived, Ria."
"This group...this family...this band...this is the best thing I've ever been a part of." Ria looked at the ceiling in awe, then down with sadness. "I hope that Thelen and Iddra are okay, or at least in Sovngarde now."
"The missing CIrcle," I guessed.
"Yeah, but don't talk about it too much," Ria brought a slice of Slaughterfish to her mouth.
After that, we ate a little, and I felt I had to say something to break the silence. "Soooooo, been on any jobs lately?"
"Not really," she said between chews, "Before...everything...full members used to go on more patrols, but now we spend most of our time training here in Jorrvaskr. I think they're worried that something will happen to us out there, or maybe here in Whiterun with the war and whatnot if we're away for too long." Ria took a sip from a tankard and turned with a smile. "Although training is fun! Wanna spar later? I want to see what you've got!"
Oh boy, time to get my ass beat again.
"Sure!" my simp ass smiled painfully through a bite.
Athis came up behind me and leaned on my chair. "Did I hear someone say spar? This I have got to see." He grinned.
Torvar stood and downed his tankard. "To the yard! Right?"
Yay, an audience. I had one bite of sandwich left. I really didn't want to finish it and get my ass beat.
This is what I'm here for, I thought to myself. And who knows, maybe I can actually do okay.
The other companions began whispering around the hall. I ate the last bite of my sandwich and downed my drink. Nodded to the three and followed them out to the yard.
The Circle was eating outside on the terrace when we approached. All of them turned their heads.
Ria stepped up to Vilkas, "Can you oversee our match, Shield-Brother?" she smiled at Vilkas.
Vilkas smiled back and turned to me. "Good to see you are eager to train, new-blood!" He put down his bread and rose from his chair. "Of course, Ria, go ahead and get ready."
Ria marched over to the collection of gear and picked out a Heavy Skyforge Shield, and gleefully strapped it to her arm. I followed and picked up a Light one.
"No wooden swords?" I asked, looking around.
Ria laughed, "What do you think this is, the Fighters Guild?"
Yay. I began strapping the shield to my arm, and I noticed a crowd began to form.
Ria turned to me, noticing as well. "Don't worry, it's not always like this. You're new, and they all just want to see what you've got." She winked and walked down to the yard.
I looked at the crowd again and tightened my shield. What the hell am I doing...what the hell have I gotten myself into. Besides, she's a girl. I can't-
My eyes widened. OH GOD, SHE'S A GIRL. I'm going to be PUBLICALLY beat by a GIRL.
I nervously walked down to the yard. "Draw your blades!" Vilkas shouted, getting applause. Ria drew her Skyforge Steel Sword, entering her stance. Her blade was in a high position, pointed at me, with the center of her shield pointed right at me. I drew my Imperial Sword, placing the sword on my shoulder in as best of a stance as I could muster, thinking back to my spar with Vilkas, and held my shield in front as well.
Vilkas held his hand between us. "A refresher on rules for the new-blood. No stopping for potions, no magic, and NO killing. This fight goes until one of you fall or submit. Don't leave this area either - don't ask, it's happened before." He got a bit closer, looked me in the eye, and put a gauntlet on my shoulder. "Remember, what happens in the yard, stays in the yard. Don't mind anything she says or the others say during the match. Do your best, and both of your skills will improve. It's why you're here." I nodded, a bit more confident, and he returned to the middle of us.
"Companions, are you ready?" Vilkas looked at us.
"AYE!" Ria called with a smile. I returned with an "Aye." of my own.
Vilkas stepped back and gave a wave of his gauntlet. The yard went silent. I could only hear the hammer from the Skyforge and a breeze from over the Whiterun city wall. Ria's smile faded into a vicious glare. She began circling me, so I instinctively started circling as well. After a bit of silence and sweat permeating on my brow, she swung first, meeting my shield and gaining applause from the audience.
Boy, am I glad to have this shield, I thought to myself.
Ria and I circled more, our shields almost touching at times. The anticipation was killing me, so I gave a swipe. Ria didn't wait for it to arrive, knocking my swing aside with her shield, stepping to the side, and delivering a solid horizontal swipe to my shield, sending my elbow into my stomach and gaining even more applause.
I leaped back to regain my composure as Ria came forward, bringing with her a vertical strike. Realizing this was a power attack, I raised my shield and gave the best bash I could muster. Her sword arm deflected from recoil, but her footwork stopped her from losing her balance. I gave a similar swipe that she gave me, meeting her shield and gaining whoops, whistles and applause.
I smiled, spinning my sword back to my shoulder. Maybe this isn't so bad. Ria regained her composure quickly and re-entered her stance as well. Her focused glare was still there.
I was winding up for another strike when she rushed in, past my guard, and bashed me in the chest. Taken by surprise, I staggered, opening up my guard further, earning another bash to the face and a heavy strike across my chest. The pure force of her swing finished the job of the shield-bashes, and I lost my footing, falling on my back. As the crowd erupted in applause and cheer, the nerves in my chest erupted from the pure pain of fractured bone. I cried out, but, perhaps luckily, it was muffled by the cheer.
I lay there breathless, my limbs limp. I looked at Ria holding her sword and shield in the air triumphantly and looked up to the sky demoralized. How am I supposed to kill a dragon if I can't even beat the weakest in-game Companion?
The sun was blocked from my face by the figure of Skjor. He scowled down at me for a few seconds, scoffed, and headed inside. As he did, the crowd began to dissipate slowly.
The next face I saw was the smiling face of Ria. "Hey not bad for your first day! You actually surprised me with that bash!"
I chuckled painfully.
"Potion?" she held a Potion of Minor Healing in her hand.
Remembering about Healing, as I lifted my shield off the ground and placed the hand under it on my chest, I said, "No thank you, I've got it." I closed my eyes, concentrating, and let the spell do its work.
Ria gasped, "...such colors..."
I let my health bar fill, stretched, then rose to my feet, brushing off the dirt from my ass. I cracked my neck, stretched again, and then opened my eyes...to a small murmuring crowd, a shocked Ria, Athis' raised eyebrow, Torvar's confused face, and a slight smirk on Vilkas' face.
"What?" I asked.
