"Richard! Have you finished your duties yet?!" The question could be heard once again by everyone in the building. Any new members would be surprised by the frequency of the event but would get used to the voice echoing throughout like older members have been hearing for months.
"They always get done. Don't make a fuss over such a small thing." Richard, on the other hand, was barely paying attention. The woman was getting progressively angrier each time she had to speak to Richard about his behavior or duties as part of the convent. She was far from old, but the expression on her face looked far too natural. It didn't seem like she ever smiled. It surprised Richard her hair wasn't gray or white yet.
"You are impossible! You shouldn't be with the rest of us!" A common but rude last sentence that had been told to Richard by many people, both within his group and outside of it as well. The only one that treated him with decency was Erica, even if she did so more passively. He didn't blame her at all, though. Richard would never want Erica in a situation where she had to endure what he did. Thick skin was not something she had. The agitated older woman, no the other hand, showed no respect, leaving in anger.
"Sir Richard, why do you instigate so much?" Erica was close, as expected, and came up when the two were near alone. She also came up with the same question as she usually did.
"Why shouldn't I? What have any of these people done to earn my respect?" Richard came up back with the same answer every time as well. The two had a similar conversation a couple times a week, which had been progressively shortened to just the question and response.
"We did get you in here. It is not much, but it is something." As per the usual, Erica tried to reason with the wall of a boy but would get nowhere fast. Although, the reason was true at least for two people.
"Yes, you and Miss Alvechi. The hag and her little pets want me out." Richard had no qualms in speaking his mind to whoever about whatever. It seemed more like a disadvantage with the typical outcomes, though.
"Sir Richard, please watch what you say! You are already in danger!" Erica spoke louder, startling Richard. He heard Erica raise her voice, but it wasn't any less shocking any other time. She took her position very seriously, even defending people she didn't like.
"Fine, just calm down. Some things get you worked up too easily. It isn't that late, I still have plenty of time." In Richard's mind, he always had 'plenty of time'. There was a reason he was nagged to get things done earlier every day.
"It's almost mid-afternoon!" A clarification of time wouldn't mean much to anyone else, but Richard visibly reacted. His eyes widened, and he unusually looked to his sides.
"Already?! I need to keep better time. Um…I had better go do my stuff, then!" It was extremely out of character and physically had Erica reacting. Out of everyone, she would know Richard like she knew herself. This was not how he reacted to anything, though.
"I will he-HEY!" Erica started to speak, but Richard was already on his way out of earshot of hearing speech.
It wasn't hard to get away from the other initiates or anybody else. Almost everyone ignored Richard like he was an Orc. Most would try to mend this reputation, but Richard was used to social isolation. The only reason Richard joined a year ago was out of appreciation of Erica. Richard had found something else to catch his attention, though.
It was unusual for any place of worship for an Aedra to teach anything, but manners or the way of life concerning the teaching and representation of the Divine itself. Followers of Zenithar were taught about trade, commonly most active in highly populated cities. Followers of Kynareth were taught to respect nature, usually based near open cities or ones that are bountiful in wildlife. Many were peaceful lessons taught, but few were based around fighting or defending: Talos, Stendarr, and Akatosh.
"I wonder what they are being taught today!" Richard had reached his spot specifically for spying on the most interesting group in his eyes. He had encountered a few of the members before being a part of the convent. They immediately had his attention, always being at the back of his mind until he wandered around the building to find them training. This particular building didn't seem to house many who were trained in combat, especially when compared to the numbers boasted by Talos or Stendarr. Despite that, Akatosh fighters are determined in their cause.
"I wonder how I can get to there…" He was always fully engrossed in trying to learn from afar, hoping he could get something from watching.
An unknown amount of time passed, but Richard never paid attention to how long. The fighters didn't have a set schedule like other followers, instead taking it upon themselves to train on their own. They would have a grandmaster around if they requested one, but the training between the initiates would be self-propelled.
"So, THIS is what you have been doing?!" Richard jumped at the voice, spinning on his heels to see Erica. If anybody were to try and succeed to find him, it would be her. She had a genuine angry look on her face, never a good sign.
"Shh! Quiet down or else they will hear you! I'm just…examining things." It wasn't a lie, just stretching it to accommodate his own personal slacking.
"You have duties, spying not being one of them! Why will you not follow orders, Sir Richard?" The answer was clear, but the entire reason may not have been. The subject always infuriated Richard.
"I am not going to stand around and take orders from someone else, Erica! I have been alone since I could fend for myself and I am not going to adopt to having people around. I don't WANT people around." As expected, Richard spoke without thinking. It always gets him in trouble, no matter who it was. Erica was no different.
"So, you do not want me around…?" Erica was known as the most passionate disciple, but that high emotion was also used in everyday life. She was highly passionate AND highly emotional with both what she said and what was said to her. Richard was getting slightly better at noticing moods, especially with Erica herself.
"Don't make up ideas. You already known the answer." Despite knowing about Erica's moods, Richard still naturally doesn't show what he really means.
"What do we have here? The couple of the abbey over here avoiding their jobs?" The two had forgotten to keep their voices down, attracting the attention of a few of the soldiers. They didn't come in politely, though. The blemish of a fighting force that deserves better in Richard's eyes.
"W-We are sorry, Sir! We will leave immediately!" Erica spoke up quick and made her apology even quicker. She pulled hard on Richard's outfit, in the direction away from the training grounds. Predictably, Richard resisted.
"I'm not going anywhere! They aren't any better than us, just because they have some authority." Once again, Richard's bull-headed attitude clashed with what he probably should be doing.
"Sir Richard, please come along…" Erica's voice was lowering more. She shrank fast in situations with anyone technically ranked higher than her. For the most part, she considered everyone higher than her.
"Listen to your girlfriend, boy." Richard yanked his arm back hard, Erica stumbling against his back. Despite his sudden aggression, she hid behind him.
"I'm not going to back down to the attempts of humiliation by an arrogant boy. What will you do now?" It was clearly a question to challenge the fighter. As expected, the vain warrior stepped forward to impose his dominance.
"MY arrogance? You have no respect and I deserve every ounce of it." The battle here was only between two prideful attitudes. Erica pulled at Richard's sleeve.
"Sir Richard, we cannot disrespect Sir Vius…" Erica timidly tried again, flinching when Vius glanced at her. Richard moved again to put her as far away from his predicament, even if she wouldn't leave entirely herself. She moved slightly again to keep at least an eye out to watch Vius.
"You will get my respect when you show me you deserve it in front of me." Vius cringed at the response, no doubt unusual for him to get disobedience when he brought up the respect reasoning.
"Fine, I'll beat the respect into you. They'll believe me rather than a grungy mutt than you!" Vius stepped towards Richard, sword drawn. Erica gasped and gripped Richard's sleeves, her knuckles going white. It was a surprise she didn't leave yet, but her personality seemed to be slowly changing ever since Richard arrived. Richard, on the other hand, didn't make a move, instead staring down the arrogant Imperial fighter coming at him.
"Excuse me! Vius, wouldn't that be bad to see if the Armsmaster seen you threatening another person like that." A scruffy Nord warrior hastily stepped up close to where the confrontation was happening. Vius sneered at the Nord, lowering his weapon and standing still. His thinner hair on his head but his impressive beard made it perfectly obvious where he came from.
"Torbin, why are you always around at the wrong time. You have a knack for that." Vius still held his intimidating demeanor but his voice portrayed a more calming and friendly sound. The Nord didn't look as young as the other warriors but to a that race, that was very much his prime. The natural strength this man possessed the older he got was ever increasing.
"Sometimes, I feel like I'm here just to watch your reckless self. Head back, I'll take care of these ones." Vius didn't reject the notion, him and the ones that came along leaving Torbin with Richard and Erica. Richard moved his glare to Torbin when Vius was out of his vision.
"What do you want, now? Clean up that waste of human spaces job?" Torbin sighed and turned, bowing slightly to Richard. His expression turned to confusion.
"Not at all. I am here to keep the peace around the building. Some people can be too proud of themselves. Without him around, you shouldn't be as tense. I hope." Richard wasn't about to let his guard down, even if this fighter acted like a respectable person.
"If you are friends with them, I'm not going to treat you any different." As expected, Richard answered with hostility with no question.
"I see. Well, then there's nothing I can do about it. Keep quiet when you're watching us, okay?" Torbin turned, starting to leave. Richard was satisfied enough, thinking about whether he should come back or not.
"Please hold, Sir Torbin!" Erica finally moved from behind Richard, her voice back quickly. She took Richards hand, pulling the wondering boy along to get close to the Nord again. He didn't move very far but took larger strides than the timid girl. It showed Richard and Erica's relationship much clearer as Richard made no move to stop. Torbin turned, a smile on his face and bowed slightly again.
"What do you need, young lady?" He certainly didn't share the arrogant attitude, as some others seemed to harbor. It was clear with how quick Erica was to approach the Nord.
"I am Erica and I would like to ask you something in private. Can we meet when you are not busy?"
"Erica, what are yo-" Richard kept his eyes on Erica, confused with what her plan was. Unfortunately, he would get nowhere with Erica's rise of confidence.
"I do not mean to interrupt you, but please let me talk this time, Sir Richard." Erica quickly spoke up, taking Richard by surprise by her sudden disruption. Richard backed down without a fight.
"I see. So, Miss Erica, you are certainly asking for a lot, but I do appreciate your asking."
"Sir Richard, you are too aggressive! It is not a bad quality to have while in combat, but you cannot risk your own defense for one attack!" Torbin held a large, scuffed claymore across from a heavy breathing Richard, wielding a longsword of his own. The two men were staring each other down outside the walls of Wayrest. It was a windy but clear nonetheless, giving the two a large amount of time to train without weather interrupting them. Torbin wore his traditional training outfit, a basic lightly layered linen outfit with leather stitched in places that are normally used to block basic strikes like the knees and elbows. The outfit had no decorations other than their beige color, only the metal armor having an engraving of what they represented. Torbin was able to get a spare outfit that fit Richard with only a negligible amount of looseness.
"Then what in Oblivion should I do to kill things quicker if I am not taking what chances I can do attack?!" Richard gritted his teeth and closed the distance between Torbin and himself, thinking his lighter weapon could cause Torbin's counterattack to be obscured. He started with strike starting from his bottom left upwards, swinging just before it would make contact with Torbin. In turn, Torbin did nothing to block or attack back, instead watching Richard directly and his claymore unmoving. Richard's true attack was a hard slice downwards back the way it came using the force of gravity as well as his own dominant arms strength. Torbin seemed to barely move but completely interrupting Richard's attack. Torbin's claymore moved so only the hilt blocked Richard's attempt, catching the blade. Richard didn't have time to pull back, his offense breaking with a solid push away to cause Richard to lose his footing. In a moment, Torbin's blade point was against Richard's neck.
"You don't wait for chances, Sir Richard. You make your OWN chances." Richard stepped back, lowering his weapon. He was clearly frustrated, but at himself and his ability.
"We've been doing this for months. I know Erica convinced you to help me but why stay? I doubt the others you are around take this long." Torbin put his claymore down, stretching on the way up to answer Richard's question.
"It might surprise you, but I don't harbor the same kind of ego as the rest of the fighters. Although I am proud, I do not think ones in your position to be any lesser." Richard thrusted his blade into the ground, his expression unchanging and question clearly unanswered.
"You know what I mean. It's no surprise all the members of the convent know I am just someone picked off the street. No special background or relation to anyone else."
"I see. Sir Richard, how much do you know about me?" It was an odd question, but Richard had no answer to it. A blank stare and a shrug are what Richard gave. "I will not go into detail, but I will tell you this: You and I are neither from any special background. I am a Nord, that is what got me past the doors. Erica got you past the door. As well as a few other things, from the sounds of rumors floating around the other members."
"What did she say to you to get you to do this, since we are on the subject?"
"Hm. I guess she wouldn't mind me telling you." Torbin gestured for Richard to follow him, the two lounging out of the sun while Torbin retold the story.
"Sir Torbin, I do not mean to be too forward, but I have to ask you something special. I do not know why, but I feel like I can trust you." Erica and Torbin were alone in the market area of Wayrest. It was unnecessary in Torbin's eyes, but Erica insisted on talking away from the building. Erica donned her traditional robes that had the representation of Akatosh emblazoned on it and Torbin had his plain, linen clothes.
"I get that more than you would expect, Miss Erica. Whether it is because I am a Nord or how I act, I have people trust me with quite a few secrets of theirs." Erica smiled warmly at the response.
"Is there a way for you to help Sir Richard to fight like you do? He may not know, but I can easily assume he has been watching the warriors training for a while. He is very interested in being a soldier, but he is too impatient to wait for him to have that chance normally. I want Sir Richard to be happy and he would not ask any else to help him." Erica held a basket, having an assignment to pick up specific food for a special dinner being planned. It took a minute for Torbin to answer, having to give the question thought. He didn't want to jeopardize his own position, even if he didn't mind helping someone else himself.
"You are an odd one, giving so much attention to the boy. Although, maybe we were destined to be friends by Akatosh. I will, but it will have to be at specific times. I need you to tell Sir Richard exactly what I am going to say, understand?" Erica turned to stand diligently at attention to Torbin's instructions.
"You are making me do my work just to make it here in time, and you are putting yourself in danger of being in trouble as well. I just don't see why, is all." Torbin put his hand on his chest before responding.
"You made a scene when you first went into Chapel of Akatosh, you don't think you were the only one who heard something, did you? Although I kept my calm, I heard but a phrase. 'Follow your closest companion'. I was confused seeing as I traveled with no one on my pilgrimage, so I figured there were two options." Torbin took a breath and caught his thoughts up, not wanting to get off subject too much.
"There were only three of us in there on that day, but why assume it was me?"
"I didn't assume that. You will know soon enough what transpired in the years that led to this, but we can't waste time like this! You have much more to learn." Torbin pushed himself onto his feet, striding to his weapon again. He was much more enthusiastic for this than Richard was, not giving his all into it, even now. It wasn't that he was doing it on purpose, rather he had to balance his life now. A schedule was the last thing he ever thought he would actually need to have before this.
"Now, try to strike me but do as I-"
"Is this really where you have been, Torbin? Using your time with this weak trash?" A sharp and all too familiar voice came from the direction of the city limits. Torbin kept his eye forward, but relaxed his grip and Richard shot a glare at the approaching figure. It took them less than a second to know who would come to immediately give that kind of remark. Vius, Torbin's fellow warrior, was maliciously approaching the pair. He didn't have his lackeys with him, surprisingly alone.
"Why are YOU here?!" Richard, not unexpectedly, shot out with an aggressive question of his own, rather than let Torbin say a thing.
"Quiet, trash. It's bad enough you got picked off the street to mess our building, you shouldn't be getting any treatment other than to do the jobs no one else deserves to dirty their hands with." Vius retorted with his own insult, being a lot ruder than before by far.
"I'm gonna en-"
"Sir Richard, quiet speaking!" Torbin cut off Richard, taking him by surprise. He got louder than he had before in an instant. His attention was finally faced toward Vius, who showed no intention of backing down, but was stopped in his tracks.
"I don't know what is going through your head, but I can overlook this little problem if you let this filth wallow in the dirt by himself." Vius was holding nothing back, a sudden burst of confidence coming from him.
"I don't want or need your opinion on what I should do. Keep your suggestions to yourself and I will do what I please. There's nothing you can do that will endanger my position." Torbin was, by far, the most intimidating of the three. He was not only the oldest by a couple years, but his Nordic origin made his entire body more pronounced and gave his voice a much louder carry to it. Vius' Imperial background didn't make him as threatening, rather just able to keep his cool a little better. Richard had the weakest of the three in both stature and basic body type. His largely Breton origin made his body look a little too frail, a disadvantage in most situations.
"That's true, but rumors spread fast and no one will believe the one they are about or a mangy dog about them being false. This is your decision?" Vius didn't come to physically fight, not armed with anything other than the traditional casual outfit the budding soldiers wore outside the training grounds. He only came to get Torbin, in this case, not succeeding.
"It is. Go do whatever you want." Torbin showed his true colors, standing up to someone who arguably had more pull with their peers. Richard wanted to say something, but Torbin raised his claymore to almost block Richard physically. Vius huffed and started back the way he came. When the snooty Imperial boy was gone, Torbin pulled his weapon back to his side.
"You should have gone. You can probably still catch up." It was a heartfelt sentiment from Richard, a rare occurrence in comparison to the large amount of sarcasm or negativity he spoke on average.
"I believe in Lord Akatosh. Vius is not the one that is mean to be my companion, so he is not threatening in the slightest. Now, get back to training and don't hold back!" Torbin regained his fighting stance, Richard doing so a moment after as well. The two continued for a couple hours until the sun had reached the horizon, signaling for them to return to the city.