Warnings: Language and Violence


Riding Exercise

Six Years Ago: Snow Fields

"Come now, Gideon, I didn't take you for a man who doesn't know how to ride." Bringing his horse to a trot, Rainer glanced back at his comrade.

Frowning, the redhead spurred his horse to trot alongside the other man. "Strider is being temperamental today. She wasn't groomed the right way yesterday."

"Blaming it on your dear steed's attitude," Rainer jeered with a mirthful smile. "Ever the nobleman, my friend."

The redhead sent the other man a dirty look. "I speak the truth."

Consider this pay back for all the times you've teased me, then. "Of course, you do."

"Why do I feel there is irony in this conversation?" Gideon wondered aloud, his face nearly split in two from his ever-growing grin.

The two men shared a knowing look. Within seconds, the redhead's composure gave way to his bubbling laughter. He slapped a hand across his knee before reaching over to his friend and nudging him in the shoulder. Rainer's laughter erupted up from deep within his chest. He wiped a happy tear from his eye. Ironic conversation indeed!

"Wait up for me, you two!" A woman clad in heavy leather armor hurried her horse along. "I could've gotten lost if I didn't hear your laughter."

"Forgot your compass again, dear Hadriana?" Running a hand through his hair, Gideon smirked back at the woman.

"Not my fault Sergeant Stick-Up-My-Bum woke us up at an unholy hour." The mint green-haired woman grumbled, "And for the last time, Giddy, call me Haddie!"

Rainer chuckled at his friend's grumpy response to Haddie's nickname for him. Thank the gods I've been blessed with such interesting friends. He adjusted his helmet, feeling the metal become slightly uncomfortable. I can't believe we even became friends. I don't think I would've lasted long in the Osladan Army without them. Tightening the grip on his horse's reins, Rainer spurred his horse ahead of the others. I need to focus on riding to our destination. If none of us focus, then none of us will—! Beneath his helmet, his ears twitched. Through the howling winds, a faint shout stood out. His head turned towards the origin of the cry.

"Hyah!" Spurring his horse along once more, Rainer hurried to the sound. Tabdak-tabdak!

"Whoa, whoa! Wait up, Rainy!"

"What's gotten into you, Schermer?!"

Coming to a stop on top of a hill, Rainer's amber eyes focused on a small group beyond him. Group of four, suspiciously hooded. His eyes snapped movement on the right. Large group behind them, closing distance. Judging by their clothes, they're a bunch of bandits. Tabdak-tabdak! Tabdak-tabdak! At last, the other two reached him. A glance behind him revealed Gideon and Haddie with unimpressed expressions.

"Idiot, what on earth are you thinking? Charging ahead without so much as a word!" Gideon smacked the other man upside the head. "Actions like that normally kill a man!"

"Yeah, Rainy, you could've at least shouted something. I'd hate to see one of my friends get hurt, especially if I can help stop it." Haddie pursed her lips as she gripped her horse's reins.

Shaking his head, Rainer gestured to the groups in the distance. "Shall we head out and deal with a potential bandit attack?"

"Bandits, eh?" Gideon cupped his hands over his eyes as he peered in the distance. "Twelve, maybe fifteen of them versus three of us."

Haddie's eyes glinted with excitement at the news. "Ooh, bandits! Now if we had a commanding officer to oversee us, it'd be our time to shine!"

She's always thinking about rising in the ranks isn't she? Rainer sighed heavily and prepared his lance. Clearing his throat, the young man turned his head to the others. Two pairs of eyes focused on him yet again, this time different expressions rested on their faces. Haddie glowed with excitement burning brightly in her magenta eyes. Gideon calmly brushed a hand through his medium length hair to put up an image of aloofness, but his lips curled into a self-assured smirk. I can only hope he isn't planning on organizing the battle. His tactics are...not always up to par. Noting their expressions, the tall man sighed. Well, whatever reasons either of them have for fighting, I hope they will at least agree to stopping these bandits. Rainer nodded his head and pointed to the bandits who were closing in on the group of four.

"We'll need to deal with them before any of those travelers get hurt." Noticing the smirk which grew wider on his friend's face, Rainer focused on the redhead. "I assume you have a plan in mind, Gideon?" His plans are better than nothing, I suppose.

"You could say that." Gideon responded as he pulled out his tome.

"Come on, come on! Out with it already," Haddie whined as she nocked an arrow in her bow. "They're gonna get away!"

We cannot afford to waste time! Rainer shifted in his saddle, "I agree. Spit the plan out already, Gideon! Lives are on the line here!"

Rolling his eyes, Gideon motioned to the sword-wielding bandits rushing towards the travelers. "Rainer, be swift and intercept those three. Haddie will—"

Without waiting to hear the rest of his friend's plan, the lance-wielder spurred his horse forward. Gods give me strength! Rainer pointed the tip of his lance at one of the bandit's chest as he rushed by him. CLANG! Metal clashed against metal. The unfortunate bandit cried out in pain as he fell onto his back. While the fallen ruffian choked on his own blood, the other two sword-wielders focused on the cavalier. One of them leaped forward; his sword aimed at Rainer. Clank! Having struck true, the bandit returned to his place beside his comrade. The dastard... Rolling his shoulder back, Rainer guided his horse out of the second bandit's attack before he lunged again.

In the distance, Rainer noted his comrades' progress. Twang! Twang! Haddie rode gracefully to her targets, letting loose as many arrows as she could while she advanced. Vvwaa-boom! Vvwaa-boom! Meanwhile, Gideon remained a few paces away from his opponents. Blast after blast of magic left his tome to his surprised enemies. My friends are fighting as hard as they can! I mustn't fall behind. An energizing feeling erupted inside of Rainer's chest. He rushed forward and struck one of the bandits down in a spray of blood.

"You Osladan scum! The Crown's dogs always get in the way!" A loud voice boomed across the field.

Gazing toward the voice, Rainer noted a distant figure riding on a wyvern. We are incapable of dealing with that with our current skills and experience.

"Gotcha!" Remembering the nearby bandit, Rainer felt a sword pierce a weak point in his armor.

Loosening his hold on his horse's reins, the man fell off his steed. I...I got careless again... Rainer groaned and let his lance roll out of his right hand. He clutched the wound with a sharp intake of breath. How could I? My focus is usually better... Gritting his teeth, the amber-eyed man glared up at the approaching bandit. The final sword-wielder leered over him with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"RRRAAHH!"

I refuse to die like this! Adrenaline thrumming through him, Rainer grasped his lance. Just a little closer... The bandit became even closer, ready to chop off the soldier's head. Shoving the tip of his lance up, Rainer narrowed his eyes. Schlick! A pair of stunned green eyes met with calm but determined pools of amber. Letting out a wet cough, the bandit attempted to move from his impalement. Rainer drove the lance even further through the bandit as he got back on to his feet. SSSCCCHHLICK! He let go of his lance and shoved the body to the side before climbing on to his horse.

Once he regained his bearings, the tip of a lance appeared between his eyes before he could draw his bow. "You kids have an awful habit of getting into more trouble than is intended for your training exercise."

"C-Captain Chavdarov!" Rainer let loose a breath he didn't realize he held as the lance lowered.

"Taking care of three soldiers ought to be a warm up for you, Schermer, not a work out." Twirling the weapon around, the captain handed the lance over before pulling out his axe. "Come on now, let's finish these rabble-rousers off."

Nodding, Rainer followed after the great knight after mentally preparing himself. The weather will numb my wound and we can patch it up at Scarmont. Shallow or not, I can't let this stop me. Tabdak-tabdak! Tabdak-tabdak! As the two rode side-by side, the younger man struck out against his enemies. His lance pierced through most of those he encountered, until an axe-wielder stood in his path. I won't lose to this tactic again! Urging his steed to jump back, Rainer narrowly dodged the blade of the bandit's axe. He charged forward in retaliation. Cl-clang! Damn, his defense is good... Rolling his shoulder back, the man eyed his opponent.

His opponent smirked before leaping forward again. Shhik! Wincing, Rainer growled and shook his head while his enemy jumped away. The cavalier held a hand to his bleeding left cheek. Two wounds in one skirmish? My father wouldn't have approved of this at all... The man tightened his grip on his lance and charged forward, nearly spearing the axe-wielder's head off. As the bandit rolled out of the way, a flash of light appeared in the distance. Vvwaa-boom! With a loud, agonized cry, the bandit burned to death.

Rainer tilted his head towards his rescuer. "My thanks, Gideon."

"Hey, I need someone around to keep me sane."

Haddie appeared beside him, a few new marks on her armor, "How rude. I like to think I keep things from getting boring."

"True," Rainer chuckled before his ears twitched beneath his helmet again.

Clank-clank. Captain Chavdarov strolled alongside his steed and eyed the three soldiers. "Today was meant to be a riding exercise. All I needed to see was whether or not you three could ride without your mount kicking you off. However, today's events surpassed my expectations for this exercise. I commend you three for your quick action in response to these bandits."

"However, some of us need to improve." Rainer murmured to himself. Namely myself, of course. I've been reckless today...

"You cannot learn a thing without hardship." The older redhead advised before nodding to the four travelers standing in the distance. "Now, what will you three do with them?"

Directing her horse to the travelers, Haddie trotted towards them. "Let's go see if they have anything to say!"

"W-wait, Haddie, my hair isn't fixed yet!" Gideon fretted as he straightened out his appearance. "I can't charm anyone with hair like this!"

Shaking his head good-naturedly, Rainer went ahead of his comrade. Once he joined Haddie and the travelers, he noted the change in the air. An uncomfortable tension rested on his shoulders. The hair on the back of his neck stood upright. I don't like this... His eyes focused on the tall, hooded travelers to see black-striped arms showing beneath their cloaks. Gods no... Two adults and two children stared up at the two horse riders.

"Thank you for your assistance." A thick Zoan lilt became evident in the tallest of the traveling Tigronians. "We cannot thank you enough."

Rainer watched on as Haddie's expression turned sour. "No need for thanks."

"Surely, we can do something?" The female Tigronian wondered as she reached for something from her satchel.

"No," Haddie's venomous tone managed to frighten the children. "I've done my part. Now do yours and leave."

The male Tigronian turned his gaze on to Rainer. "Will you not accept our thanks?"

Gods forgive me. Rainer averted his gaze from the Tigronian.

"What's with the serious faces, ladies and gents?" Gideon slowly approached the group with an amiable smile.

"Please, accept this as a token of our thanks." The female Tigronian offered a jade brooch. "We purchased it from a hightown merchant in Pruaz years ago."

A flicker of emotions passed in Gideon's eyes once he saw her stripes; a sneer quickly formed on his features. "Keep your trinkets. I've no want for anything that's touched your kind."

"But—"

"Leave now!"

Frowning, the male Tigronian looked to Rainer yet again. "You, you who has yet to speak. Please, please say something."

Rainer kept his eyes on the distant horizon.

"We offer our best as thanks! Is that a crime here?" A desperate tone appearing in his accented voice.

"..."

Narrowing his eyes, the male Tigronian took the brooch from his wife and threw it to the ground. "Your kind make me sick."

Immediately, Rainer's eyes focused on the fiery man; he tuned out his comrades' angered shouts. Please, just leave before they react.

"You stand by and say nothing, believing you seem better than those who look down on us!" The Tigronian spat and began pulling his family away. "You are worse. You remain silent and let all this come to pass! People like you are lower than dirt, you dastard!"

Slowly, the Tigronian family turned away from the trio. Rainer brushed off his friends' words of comfort as he stared at the family's backs. I'm..."lower than dirt," huh? His glassy gaze turned to the jade brooch on the snowy ground. He looked to his comrades to see Haddie nocking her bow once more. Gideon crossed his arms, a smug expression quickly replaced his previous frustration. The redhead's vibrant blue eyes glinted. I've seen that look on our instructors before...

"What are you two doing?!"

Haddie hummed happily. "We're going to make those creatures pay for saying that to you! No one gets away with disrespecting a member of the Osladan Army, right Giddy?"

"Of course. Those wretched creatures won't know what hit them."

Rainer blinked at them, his expression falling. "You have no reason to do that! Let them leave!"

"Your kind heart is much too much, dear friend." Gideon chided as he glared at the group in the distance.

All at once, Rainer felt things around him blur. Haddie's arrows soared through the air faster than he could blink. Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang! Dark amber eyes watched on in horror as the Tigronian family fell. Gods... As each family member fell, their cries seemed to echo within Rainer's ears. Even their bodies falling to the ground haunted him, as if he stood right next to them. The father. BOOM! The mother. BOOM! The children. BOOM! BOOM! Their deaths rang as loud as any thunder clap in the harshest storm in Oslad. This isn't justice! It isn't right!

"That is murder!" Rainer shouted, wildly gesturing to the fallen Tigronians. "They were innocents!"

Scoffing, Haddie shouldered her bow. "Don't be ridiculous, Rainy. Creatures like them are never innocent."

"They were defenseless!"

"Beasts like them have no need for civilized weapons like we do, Rainer. Let's just get out of here, yeah?" Gideon turned his steed around and trotted towards his father.

Lowering his head, Rainer listened as Haddie turned her horse around as well. Clop-clop. He numbly climbed off his steed, walked over to the brooch, and knelt down to it. Grabbing the ornament, Rainer turned it over in his hand. Gideon and Hadriana slew that family... Simply because they were Tigronian? He tightened his grip on the brooch. They'll never truly be my friends then, will they? Especially if they'd go so far as to commit murder because they despise a race for existing at all... Shaking his head, Rainer put the brooch in his satchel and remounted his steed.

I shouldn't have trusted them; I was right to be wary of them two years ago.


Adjusting his grip on the reins, the amber-eyed man sighed. I understand how some deaths are necessary, but... Rainer looked up to see the backs of Haddie and Gideon. To go so far as to murder an entire family... Narrowing his eyes, the young man straightened his posture. He focused on the distant outline of Scarmont Citadel.

"Are you alright, lad?" A voice to Rainer's left snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Captain Chavdarov," Nodding his head, the cavalier smiled politely at the older man. "Thank you for your concern, but I am fine."

The older man frowned and kept pace with Rainer. "Of course you are, lad. Care to tell me where you see yourself in the future?"

An easy enough question to answer. "I hope to be a skilled fighter with a sharp mind off and on the field."

"Sharp mind, hm?" Captain Chavdarov spurred his horse to trot faster. "I can see it. However, I wasn't asking about yourself personally. I meant in regards to the military. Do you see yourself a part of the Challenger Division? The Vanguard Division? The Warmaster Division? The Lawbringer Division?"

Rainer tilted his head back and forth as he considered the question. "The Challenger Division is too direct for me in my opinion, as is the Warmaster Division. However, I might have a chance in the Warmaster Division if I became stronger. I don't see myself in the Lawbringer Division at all, to be honest."

Chuckling, the captain glanced back at him, "What? You don't like the laws, lad?"

That's putting it nicely. "Some laws make sense, but others get in the way of doing the right thing."

The young man sped up to the man's side. He gave the older man a curious glance. He isn't going to yell at me for insubordinate thoughts? What an odd man. Rainer rolled his shoulders back and focused once more on the journey ahead. Lieutenant Graves should be nearby with the others... Before he could get on another train of thought, Rainer heard the captain clear his throat.

"Interesting perspective, lad. I suggest you hang on to that. So, do you see yourself as a part of the Vanguard Division?"

The young cavalier scoffed and shook his head. "I wouldn't be a good fit for it; I fall off my horse too much. Perhaps I can settle for one of the outposts."

Captain Chavdarov shook his head. "That's such a poor outlook, lad. I think you'd do fine in the Vanguard."

"Thank you, Sir." I highly doubt my chances.

"You'll get better in time." Spurring his horse farther along, the captain caught up with the other two.

Rainer hummed thoughtfully. I suppose there isn't any harm in trying. His gaze found its way to Haddie and Gideon once again. I might end up in the same division as those two, but that's a poor excuse to not do my best. He nodded resolutely and spurred his horse along.


Thank you for reading, once again! Any constructive criticism? Any questions? Feel free to type out your thoughts.