"Nice air today, don't you think?"
"No, it's …cold."
The autumn leaves are flowing in the air. The red leaves are not here yet.
Noah stands next to his friend, Gluck.
"Two year and nine months, it's funny how fast time flies right?"
"…Yeah"
The two looked into the tree before them. They both witnessed the growth of the tree in the past two point eight years ever since they became cadets in the school.
The tree has become tall and strong. They can still remember when it just sprout from the ground. It feels awfully touching to remember.
This year, will be their last. Being in the school.
They will eventually, become a squire. But due to their talent in swordsmanship, Noah and Gluck can just skip being a squire and directly be a paladin.
(Having the talent does change a lot, doesn't it?)
Noah knows what it feels to be strong, most of the swords training sessions in school are often dominated by him and Gluck.
Of course, he skipped being a squire because of his talent. Noble family students also get this privilege because, well, they're from noble families.
On the side note, most matches between Gluck and Noah ends up in a draw.
"AAH… it's been a while since I visited the library."
"…Lazy"
The two fellows took a walk around the school. Every hallway, the canteen, the classrooms, the training room and lastly, the library.
It feels nostalgic. The hallways are always clean, most likely because students are sometimes punished to "clean the hallways".
The large canteen that can gives horrible food. Occasionally, the chef might feel generous and make quality food. But that almost never happens. So in the end, it had become an urban legend in the school.
The classroom is empty, today is the weekends. A lot of memory involves in it. Also, this place is Gluck's second most hated place in school.
The training room. Or so called "The massacre room" for some unfortunate enough to see the event happen.
A year ago, the commander of the paladin order personally visited this place. She is Remedios Custodio. She challenged every student in the school and proceeds to massacre everyone present. Yes, even the teachers who doesn't plan on participating.
The library, a place where knowledge is between two random books on a rack. Gluck didn't like this place at all. Well, a quiet place doesn't suit a hyperactive and childish teen.
"Ah, never thought I get to see you here."
Noah recognized the girl in front of her. The scary eyes, with a gentle voice. If you know her well, you will eventually get used to the eyes.
Well that is certainly not the case for Gluck Yunle.
"Oi, you know her?…She's…scary, I think she's staring at me like fresh meat…"
"She's me…cousin. Neia. …My friend, Gluck…."
Noah acts like a… introduction bridge for the two. Only half of it worked as planned.
"I'm Neia. Neia Baraja. A Second year, nice to meet you."
"M-my name is Gluck Yunle, third year. You too... Please excuse me, I have to borrow a book.."
Compared to Neia's introduction, Gluck's is too rushed. But it just makes it obvious that Gluck is afraid to Neia. Not to mention the possibility of him willing to borrow a book. Heck, he never comes to the library in the first place.
Seeing Gluck running away from the scene, Noah turned his head towards Neia.
"You're still… feared… by everyone else. I… assume?"
"Yeah, that's what makes this place so hard. I even get beaten up by mom just because I wanted to be a squire. Good for you, you can skip being a squire."
"Maybe… who knows? Anything could happen."
While the two are chatting, Gluck appears out of nowhere and pulled Noah away. Neia took a peek at Gluck's left hand. He carries a book titled "Demonic Rituals".
(Why does our library have that book? Why is it even allowed to be borrowed in the first place?)
Neia looked at the counter. The man in charge is reading with his eyes closed. Of course he would not see Gluck's borrowed book.
"Hey Gluck…"
"What? You're cousin looks like a sick psychopath! What, do expect me to stay calm?!"
"No, I was… asking what on… Gods land did you borrow… from the library?"
"What do you mean——shit…"
"Demonic Rituals". The huge title says it all. Gluck had realized what he had borrowed.
"Did you just…randomly…grabbed a book…and pulled me away?"
"Yes, yes I did…"
Noah stared deeply into Gluck's eyes. It's not as scary as Neia's but it still applied the same effect.
"Now, how…are you going…to deal with this?"
"Just return it?"
"What kind of …future paladin would… like to research …"Demonic rituals" in the… first place?"The point has been made. Seriously, what would outsiders think when they see a paladin holding a book about demonic rituals?
"I'll just…uh…say that I'm returning this for my friend…can that work?"
Noah let out a silent sigh, and proceeds to have Gluck return the book. Turns out, the excuse was not needed, as the man in charge is literally reading a book with his eyes shut.
According to some paladins, that book was there because "there's no knowledge that is useless as long you use it right".
(That's a stupid reason to keep a book about demons in a school like this. He has a point though)
8:30a.m.
It's still early in the morning. And they walked around the whole school. The whole trip was fun but short.
The grass field outside the dorm feels oddly warm. It would be the best time to take a seat during the present.
The tree outside the dorm. The tree that Noah and Gluck personally took care of. They watched the tree grow, and so did the tree.
It's almost touching to see. Time is truly cruel and generous.
"One last time?"
"That's the… tenth time you've… said that…"
"Really? Do you have to remember all the details?"
Noah lies on the warm grass. Smiles, and got up to his feet.
"Let's go then…"
Gluck knows best what he meant. So he stands up, walks along side with Noah into the school.
The school entrance, through the hallways, and finds themselves at the training room.
Door opens*
The room is empty. The empty seats and the sunlight entering from the windows. Behind the audience seat, a small room lies with swords and shield.
"Oh look, we have this whole place for ourselves."
Noah did not give a reply, he just walks toward the small door in the corner of the room. Seconds later, he walks out with a pair of sword and shield.
"That was rather effective of you."
No reply again. Noah tosses a sword and shield to Gluck, and puts on his equipment. Gluck does the same.
The sword and shield mostly consists of wood, but it won't break easy.
"Score…settling. Bring. It. On."
"You don't need to say that… do you?!!"
Accepting the taunt, Gluck jumps straight forward into battle. Completely on offence.
Holding his shield up, his sword on his side, Gluck pushes the pressure. Noah on the other hand, does literally the same.
They learn the same fighting style, ever since childhood.
The only difference is how they act.
Intense sword clashes echo the room. No one would be there to hear it though.
Crack*
(Shit… should have gotton a better one)
The fast paced attack would render a person's shield to be out of gas. That is what going to happen to Noah's shield.
The next few hits should be fatal to his shield. Gluck seemed to notice the fact too.
Gluck swung his sword, with extra strength behind it.
(He's using his body weight to increase the pressure of the sword, so that would…)
Noah instinctively knew what should be done.
The side of the shield is made from steel. Noah used that advantage to parry the swing. Along side with his shield, Gluck was knock backed during the process.
Noah's shield flew straight up, but a huge opening was there for him.
Noah stabbed Gluck and won the match. At least that was what it would be…
——The sound of steal echoed the room once more.
"Close… but not quite… YET!"
Gluck still had his shield. And he blocked that attack in the last possible second.
Back on his feet, Gluck took a look at Noah. He couldn't see him, the thing he could see is a brown circle flying towards him at full speed.
Bonk*
"Ouch, OUCH, hey it hurts!"
"Shut up and… stop being… a little…girl."
The infirmary room. This is the place that they are staying at.
Gluck is currently lying on a hospital bed with the nurse checking his injuries.
"Oi Baraja, why on earth did you threw a shield at my face? Not to mention it knocked me unconscious."
Remember the shield that went flying earlier? Noah shifted his sword horizontally and lauched the shield like a baseball. I believe I don't need to explain what happens next.
"Whatever, I win… this time."
"I refuse, you used a set up!"
The two started to argue. The nurse had to interfere before the two get heat up.
"Now there, looks like your body can already function well. Gluck Yunle, I request you to leave this facility immediately!"
Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang*
The struggle of chains. It is clear that a weak, yet stubborn being is held behind the chains.
The sounds of the chains comes from the bottom of the spiral staircase.
A young man, wearing the paladin school student uniform. Casually walks down, as if he knew the being under the dark is harmless.
"Quiet down, today is your last day. Be happy that you won't be here anymore."
He reaches the bottom floor, a door lies in front of him, he opens. It connects to a larger room, the dark, dirty room and surprisingly, no oder.
A green little creature sits in the center of the room. A goblin, multiple chains restricting it from moving.
Three tubes are connected to its body. Red fluid is being sucked out from the body.
Two whole years it's been through. It's amazing that the goblin did not die from blood loss over the past two years.
"The bucket is full again. Well, the last bucket it will be."
The young man looked at the bucket of goblin blood. He sticks a finger into the red fluid, the next thing that happened, was the blood slowly "vaporizing".
It took a mere three seconds to empty the bucket. The young man looked up, the body of the goblin is shredded into many pieces, the only recognizable places is the dangling limbs hanging on the chain.
There was no sound, this further proves that the mouth choker with the "silent" spell is that effective.
"Last thing to do… would be…"
The young man looked around, there is two extra buckets filled with blood just sitting in the corner.
Well, this place is no longer necessary for him, leaving this place alone might risk of someone tracking it back to him.
"Might as well burn this place down."
One of the dorms of the paladin academy has caught on fire, luckily the fire did not cause any casualties. The whole building was burnt to the ground. Officials estimate that the source might be coming from the bottom or basement level.