This turned into a slice of life for the most part. Well, that could work.
Chapter 10: A Passing Choice
"To stabilize your aura, you must first understand where it comes from. Your soul." A wrinkled woman with ashen hair tied into a bun stood over twelve trainees sitting crossed legged. "You've felt what it's like for your soul to shoulder your burden. To have it shield your body and heart. To keep you warm and safe."
Farran lets out a snort. "Always a poet; that Margery."
Name: Margery Tonelli
Level: 114
Age: 64
Affiliation: Kingdom of Hasiera
AP: 4883/4883
HP: 144/144
Perks
Stats
Details
Equipment
Margery is one of Farran's oldest friends. She's in charge of training newbies in maintaining their aura. As it turns out, aura isn't a passive ability since it often requires training to maintain it. Something I didn't know. Now that I think about it; the in-game lore did state that aura isn't a passive perk. I just didn't pay attention.
Anyway, making the trainees run with their chosen weapons during the first training session was dangerous. The reason no one was vocal about it was that nearly all adults have a martial attitude, and the children were taught to be self-preserving and considerate at an early age. Fortunately, it's behind us. No one was hurt, and the sparring was getting to know the basics of hand-to-hand combat.
"As a hobby?"
"Partially. Marge studied literature in Mistral. Always loved the poetic warrior archetype." Farran said with a shrug. "Never bothered going to a Huntsman Academy, but she's a mean fighter; trained by her ma and pa. Bless their souls. Their lass can give me a run for my money in a fight."
Margery's head swivel towards us. "I heard that! Your bones creaking too!"
"Brat! Ain't spewing bile about ya!" He shouted back.
"Ain't implying you are!"
The two exchanged a few more colorful words before ceasing their squabble. I couldn't help but crack a smile. The two give off this annoying sibling vibe that's amusing to watch.
"Bah! Wretched little dobber. You would have thought the pest mellow out, but nah! A pest is still a pest!"
"Don't you have a town to take care of?"
"Bah, stow it!" The old huntsman toned down his voice to address me. "See ya later, lad. Take care of 'em." Farran waved goodbye and walks off. "Alright! I'm going. Brat!"
"Don't throw out your hip!" Margery throws back and turns her attention back to the trainees. "What are you kids looking at? Can't concentrate? How are you to keep up your aura in a battle then? Focus!"
The trainees went back to concentrating on upholding their aura lest they incur Margery's wrath. I wonder what it's like needing to uphold your aura. Unlike them, I can toggle my aura on and off. The things we players take for granted.
While the trainees are doing their meditation thing, my thoughts keep drifting back to the training regimen I'll be overseeing. As of now, we're using Farran's basic training 'template' with some of my ideas added in. There was no point in altering most of it since it covers the basic necessities to prepare someone for actual combat. It's the so-called intermediate stage and beyond where the biggest changes are.
Farran wants an actual overhaul of the current training regimen with something that would better their chances of survival and defense against the Creatures of Grimm. When I asked what exactly his goals were for conducting an overhaul, and most importantly, what he wants from me, he looked a bit surprised by my specific inquires before laughing and said he needs a moment to think about it.
Honestly, for a guy that's well into retirement; is still fighting; training people how to fight, and governing an entire community that's under constant danger, I'm surprised he even has time to sort out his thoughts.
Eventually, he answered that he wants to train them like huntsmen and huntresses. Everyone who is willing, not just the kids.
As he explained it, their current 'combat doctrine' is mainly defensive if not almost purely defensive. The town's militia stick close to their teammates and defensive structures/platforms and rarely go on the offensive due to their limited numbers. Hasiera may be a small town, but it's large enough that just having a population of 435 people isn't always enough to keep the fortified town afloat. Not everyone is fit or knowledgeable enough to perform maintenances, repairs, maintain defenses, etc.
They couldn't afford to lose any more people, so this is how their combat doctrine turned out. In a nutshell, it's much like the Hussite's War Wagons strategy where soldiers would center themselves on defensive platforms and fight off superior opponents.
It worked and causalities are almost nonexistent.
However, there's a drawback to this combat doctrine. It has crippled their ability to take the initiative and eliminate any building threats that are outside their comfort zone. The Grimm incursion several days back made Farran realize his mistakes, which resulted in the near exhaustion of Hasiera's defenses and infrastructures. If I hadn't arrived to help, the damage would have been much more profound.
The end goal is to get most of the townsfolk, especially the kids and teens, to become efficient in fighting off the Creatures of Grimm. From there, Hasiera has two feasible options in trying to reconnect to the rest of the world: Reclaim access to the sea and send out a boat, or start constructing an aircraft within the town that's capable of long-range travel. That's why the system with its ability to construct quickly and efficiently is absolutely crucial in this planning.
The first option, reclaiming access to the sea, is the most difficult and unlikely to go through. There was a naval base situated north of Hasiera but that's been completely destroyed by giant sea-dwelling Grimm and Hasiera luckily has a corvette saved by chance.
The second option is the easiest but requires allocating significant resources using the system to build a capable airship.
It's something I can easily do with the system, but there's the question of which aircraft I should make and the number of materials needed. There's no shortage of blueprints my alliance has. The problem is that I don't have all materials for some of those types of aircraft and I don't know much about in-game 'engineering' and 'design'. The best I can provide is the construction and explanation about the aircraft I can construct. Ultimately, it's up to Farran and his trusted people to decide.
In the meantime, our job is to inspire and train the kids and teens to become efficient fighters.
Margery approached me and points her thumb at the trainees. "Alright, kid. Your turn. I'll be here to help out."
"Thank you. I'll need someone to keep an eye on the trainees when they're sparring. Alright! Now that your workouts are done, let's begin basic hand-to-hand combat! Put on your protective equipment and get into pairs. Keep your aura up, if you can."
/-/
Qrow was quick to find another group of fleeing villagers poorly armed and terrified for their lives.
These villagers were another unfortunate victim of the Grimm possessing unusual powers. The Creatures of Grimm are capable of unnatural fleets, but this Grimm takes the cake. Reports are sprouting up about a Griffon unleashing devastating bolts of red beams and can shred an entire building with just a flap of its wings. The worst part is that there are already causalities among the huntsmen and huntresses ranks who ran into the monstrous Griffon.
"Easy there. I'm a huntsman." Qrow showed the villagers his huntsman license. "Is there more with you?"
A villager nods. "There's another huntsman and a huntress who was helping us. They've gone back to rescue the others when we were forced to split by that… Monster."
Qrow sharply sucks in his breath. He can either choose to meet up with the huntsman and huntress to assist and kill the Griffon or help these people. His true mission is to neutralize the Griffon and he's hard-pressed to do so. If he can't, the best he can do is collect more information about the Griffon's true capabilities.
His choice should be simple. Proceed with his mission. There's a village nearby he traveled through on his way here. These fleeing villagers should have no problem reaching it unless his semblance brings about misfortunate for them.
"Okay. There's another village if you keep going. You should be able to see it once you've crossed over the inclines. Think you can make it on your own?"
"Wait, what will you be doing?"
"Helping the others and hopefully; kill the monster."
/-/
"Keep your chin down in a fight. It's a vulnerable spot. One clean shot and you're down. I know it feels weird, but trust me when I say you'll be keeping your chin tuck in once you get hit there."
"Took it on the chin?" Margery asked.
I grimaced, "More than I'd like." I've been punched out in real life in and in-game. It's embarrassing, needless to say. "I've learned from my mistakes at least."
The trainees are wearing padded protective equipment so they can afford to leave their unguarded, but that leads to bad habits. If they don't listen, well that's on them. It's all about learning and once bitten, twice shy. Once the protective equipment comes off, those bad habits will bite hard.
"Hah. You and me." She returns her attention to two trainees she's to be refereeing, Dylan and Agnes. "You two ready? Remember the rules. Begin!"
Agnes' light brown eyes twinkled in the light and her faded black hair tied back in contrast to Dylan's dazzling blue eyes that's hidden behind his silky light black hair. Both trainees got into their fighting stance and slowly shuffled towards each other.
"Ready to hit the floor again, Dilly?" Agnes taunts her partner and 'close friend'.
Name: Agnes Nilsen
Level: 15
Age: 13
Affiliation: Kingdom of Hasiera
AP: 225/225
HP: 150/150
Stats
Details
Equipment
Dylan scowls, "Do not call me that."
Name: Dylan Skygem
Level: 13
Age: 13
Affiliation: Kingdom of Hasiera
AP: 160/160
HP: 132/132
Stats
Details
Equipment
He tucked in his chin and leveled his gaze despite his eyes being hidden behind his hair. Judging by his stance, he's intending to strike her on the chin. An easier feat due to his height. On the other hand, Agnes is much taller than Dylan and has a better reach. A moment of stillness, then the first punch was thrown.
A quick right jab from Agnes was met with a block from Dylan's left hands, pushing him back. He pulled his hands closer to his face and curl his upper body defensively. Agnes backs down and crouched a bit, looking ready to lunge at Dylan at any moment.
I avert my eyes and focus on the trainees under my watch. A total of six pairs were formed. Three are under my watch and another three are with Margery.
Punch, kick, and grapple. The trainees sparred against their partners with attacks that could be seen miles away. Given time, they'll learn how to effectively throw their attacks. This training session is for the children to learn the ropes and for me to learn what they know in terms of combat.
"Oof!"
I watched Altan get grappled and thrown onto the padded floor by Cedar. It was an 'unfair' match up considering Altan is shorter and frailer while Cedar is taller and much stronger. Altan is punching above his weight class.
Name: Altan Esplanade
Level: 12
Age: 12
Affiliation: Kingdom of Hasiera
AP: 176/180
HP: 101/101
Stats
Details
Equipment
[Altan Esplanade's Training Progress]
Militia Training: 5.87%
Huntsman Training: 0.19%
Cedar had a look of concern as he helped Altan to his feet. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Altan grunts. "I think I got the hang of putting up my aura."
Their sparring resumed. Altan's tactics remained the same for the most part. Try to use his smaller frame to dodge Cedar's attacks and hit him low. It didn't really work as Cedar wised up after getting punched in the guts once and began countering Altan's tactics with knee strikes and kicks, albeit pulled off awkwardly.
Name: Cedar Montferrand
Level: 19
Age: 15
Affiliation: Kingdom of Hasiera
AP: 244/300
HP: 170/170
Perks
Stats
Details
Equipment
[Cedar Montferrand's Training Progress]
Militia Training: 9.36%
Huntsman Training: 0.22%
I actually don't know if [Martial Tradition] is in effect, I would presume it's a passive effect for Hasiera. Every trainee here has some exposure to combat, mostly from seeing the adults train and fight. A product of their environment, hence the [Martial Tradition] policy that increased the training rate.
'So, that's how the Martial Tradition policy worked…'
This will make my jobs easier. Well, not entirely so. Just enough for me to determine their potential proficiency. An intriguing and exciting prospect to witness if the trainees choose to continue their training, not like half of the players within my alliance who have varying degrees of dedication. To be fair though, we players do have a life and there are other things other than play games. Nothing wrong with that.
"Alright! Let's wrap things up!" The training had been dragged all the way into noon and by now the trainees were exhausted and hungry. A perfect time to have lunch. "Place your protective equipment into the bin before you leave!"
Regardless of their choice, I'd made mine's here in Hasiera.
/-/
He was too late. They're all dead save for a fatally wounded huntress who would soon join her partner in death.
Damn his luck. Damn his semblance. Damn it all.
The dying huntress gasp and spasm on the ground, painfully whispering something. Qrow crouched down to comfort the dying huntress. She wheezed and hacked, spewing blood everywhere, desperately trying to say something but her throat was clogged with blood.
Qrow did his best to ease the huntress's suffering, moving her body to prevent her from drowning in her own blood.
"Haaagh… Gaah… It-it…"
"It's alright. It's okay… You'll be okay." Qrow said softly.
"It… Spoke…!"
Qrow blinks. "Who?"
Her eyes quiver madly, staring haphazardly into Qrow's. "Grimm… Spoke…"
He felt the hair on his arm stand straight and his throat slowly drying. Perhaps he heard the huntress wrong. He hoped he heard it wrong.
"What did it say?"
"… Y-you… Not… Enzo…" The huntress wheezed. Her breath rattles as she repeats with her dying breath. "You… Not… Enzo…!"
And with that, the huntress died in his arm.
