Chapter 2

Training Begins

For days they wandered in the that forest with no goal or purpose. They were going in circles it seemed.

"We shall rest here for tonight," Rasutii told them with a cautious look on his face, " Kurisu you rest we may need your strength, Maikeru get to training we can not lay around with you still unable to transform."

" How exactly am I suppose to practice if Kurisu is going to be resting? I don't have another person to train with except an old bag of bones like you," Maikeru said with a laugh joking about Rasutii's old appearance.

" Oh really? An old bag of bones you say?" Rasutii replied with a little chuckle himself, " Sounds as though you think you can defeat me am I right?"

" Are you challenging me old man?" Maikeru smiling as he brought out his sword.

Rasutii did not reply, he just stood there with his sword by his side. When finally a clash of swinging metal broke that silence, and a loud screech filled the forest.

" W-what the heck was that?" Maikeru stuttered looking over his shoulder at a creature that had just been sliced in half by Rasutii.

" That my friend was one of the many dangerous creatures of this forest, for you not to have known that you've probably only ventured into the safe part of the forest." He answered.

" So what if I've never been in this part of the forest?" Maikeru snapped.
" You don't know how to defend yourself do you?" Rasutii asked him looking at the facial expression he was making.
" Just because I haven't been in this part of the forest, and faced this kind of danger does not mean that I do not know how to defend myself," He replied

Maikeru stood there with anger in his face. He clinched his sword tightly ready to attack Rasutii.

' That's right feed on that anger inside of you," Rasutii thought smiling to himself, " Come on you little brat prove to me that you have some skill with a blade... We fight to the death right here, right now."

With those words running through his head he held up his sword. " You want it you got it," He said as he struck the first blow.

Rasutii stood there calm until the last second. As the tip of the blade was about to strike he swung his blade knocking Maikeru off balance and vulnerable for an attack.

" You swing wildly with no control of your sword. How do you plan to defeat yourself against an opponent stronger than me?" He told him with his blade tip at Maikeru's throat.

Breathing hard and fast Maikeru replied, " But... there's no need... no wars have happened for a hundred years."

Rasutii smiled and said, " There is much you must learn now that you are a dragoon, but that is enough for now. Rest and eat your fill, then we've got lots of training to get done."

Kurisu sat back and laughed. " Shut up I don't see you doing anything but being a lazy good for nothing," Maikeru said with anger and embarrassment flowing through him. He couldn't believe that he could've been killed right then and there.

" Well I'm not the one who has no skill with the weapon I'm carrying now am I?" Kurisu replied mocking him.

" No but I seem to recall that I held my own against you, and I would've beaten you if we weren't interrupted." Maikeru told him with a smile.

" Is that so?" Rasutii asked.

" Y-yes but I was holding back my full power," Kurisu answered trying to sound convincing.

" If that's true than you should have no problem beating him this time," Rasutii told him.

" Are you telling me that you want me to practice with Maikeru?" Kurisu asked.

" No I want you two to fight with the intent to kill one another," Rasutii replied smiling at the look on his face.

" I can't ki - " He said before being cut off by Maikeru, " Let's do it! I'm ready to get some pay back for the other day."

" Then let's begin," Rasutii suggested, " I will give you one hour to finish your fight, afterward we will begin transformation practice."

Meanwhile, miles away a new evil plot was being set in to motion. The new king of Bale has been acting very strange lately, and everyone in the kingdom has noticed this change. A once kind and gentle king has turned cold and bitter.

Back in the forest Maikeru and Kurisu have ten minutes left in their fight.

" hahaha. You've been holding out on me haven't you Maikeru?" Kurisu smiled as he continued his attacks.

" You've been doing the same," Maikeru replied.

" Time is up!" Rasutii shouted, " good show, good show. Now rest up we have more practice to get done, and tomorrow we may finally leave this forest."

" Leave? Where to?" Maikeru and Kurisu ask in unison.

" We leave for the kingdom of Bale," Rasutii answered.

" Bale? The capital city of Serdio?" Kurisu asked with much interest.

" Yes I have requested to see the king, but I will give you more information tomorrow," Rasutii told them. He put out the fire as the forest grew dark and cold.