Chapter 48

Dog Days.

Velder Palace(Dawn)

Chung's PoV

I woke up earlier than usual and washed up. I do morning training with my Cannon every morning to make sure i don't lose the familiar weight when i need to use it.

Thankfully, the palace offered a training ground for such activities so i made my way down there. All the while thinking of what will happen in two months.

In two months, we will be going to reclaim Hamel. I wish it was at a later date but i guess two months is enough. Hopefully ill be able to find that crimson armored man.

I got down to the training ground with my cannon and saw someone was already here. It was Elsword practicing his swings. "Hey, Elsword." I call out to him and he turns to me.

He had on grey heavy armor and judging from his sweaty face, he must have been here for a while. He nods and walk over.

"Didn't think anyone else woke up as early as i did."

"Yea, your sister used to come here to."

"She was here earlier, she left a while back."

So that means he wake up earlier than Ms.Elesis? he's committed that's for sure. I nod and turns around and goes back to practice. Wait wasn't, he severely injured yesterday? how is he already up and running.

I eye him carefully now. No regular person should be able heal so fast in such a short time. Now that i think about it, he was healed since dinner yesterday. Can he possible be a demon or something else? better be a bit careful around him.

"What is it?" He takes me out of my trance with voice. I must have been staring so intently at him. "Ah, its nothing. Just wondering something." He stared at me a while longer before turning around again.

Ok then now for today's training season.

A few hours later (Morning)

I was done for the day. I nearly collapsed to the ground, I'm not sure why but i felt real good today. Elsword was sitting with his legs folded and eyes closed. Not sure what he's doing but i guess it break, he does look to be leaving anytime soon.

"There you are, c'mon we gotta go met up with the head if the Black steel." Aisha came inside. She passed right by me and shook Elsword who snapped his eyes open.

I don't know what's with her, she's so...rough around the edges, honestly. "Yea I'm coming." He sheds off the armor and walked off with her. I guess i should get over on there too.

Noon

Raven's PoV

Everyone was all sitting down in a waiting room for Orion to come. I just hoped this goes quickly since i have a bad feeling from that guy.

Also, i think i need Eve to perform maintenance on my arm. Its been acting up a bit lately. Hopefully its just a malfunction.

There was some chatter between the girls, now Ara was apart of the girl talk now. It was only me, Elsword, and Chung staying quiet.

After a while, the doors opened and a a bunch of soldiers in black armor surrounded us. I almost drew my blade but then saw Orion walking to us.

"Welcome all of you." He says with his behind his back. Even now he wears his armor.

"I, am Orion. That is all you need to know. In this place, you shall refer to me, as Head Captain Orion." He walks a bit. "We shall be training you viciously for the next three months in preparation for the Demon war."

"We will be testing your strengths soon to see what you lack in. Do you accept these conditions." We nod at him and he walks away. Another man come in after in in sleek black armor and wore a full helm covering his whole face.

"Ill be your escort." He motions us to follow him and we did.

Barracks

We suited up in the armor they gave us. (An: Normal unique heroic gear look except the girls also have pants.)

"First, we will be gauging your strength." The man went behind the large punching bags were in front us and placed botboth hands on it. "First up." Elesis called. She readies herself before punching a straight.

The noise was loud and the whole bag shaked. "Impressive." He said nodding. "We aren't really physical types so can we sit out of this?" Rena asked. Surprisingly the man nod amd gestures the benches. Rena, Ara, Aisha and Eve left.

"Next" I stepped up but which arm should i use? ill go with my human arm. I punched a quick straight and the bag shook a little. Heh, i must say im a bit disappointed in myself, guess i been too lean on my training.

"You need work." Yea no kidding man.

"I guess im up." Chung walked over and instead of a straight, he went with a jab. The bag shook almost as much as when Elesis punched it. Damn, even Chung?

"Last, and impressive display." He said. Elsword got off the wall he was on and walked over. I bet he will break it, Elsword was almost inhumanly strong.

Surprisingly he only made it shake and left it at that.

"Thats it?"

"Eh." He just shrugged and went back to where he was. Too good to even try huh? cocky brat.

3rd PoV Running Course

The crew made it to a running course and had to jog the whole room five times over. "Uhh, i think im ok with my normal speed." Aisha tried to leave but was grabbed by Rena and Eve.

"The nasod doesn't need to run."

"I had no intention to. But, i must keep my comrade running." She looked over to Aisha who sighed. Raven, Elsword, Rena, Ara and Elesis already started running their laps. "Keep slacking and you will be left behind." Rena taunted.

Gravity Room

After running their laps, the crew met up in a special room. The room itself had magic circles and magic insignia inscribed on the walls in orderly fashion.

"The room feels...kinda heavy." Chung said looking around. He wasn't all that effective on him since he was used to having his armor on along with his cannon training.

"It is a gravity room. You will train here for speed, mobility and reactive training." The man said not even fazed by the shift in gravity.

"I thought running was our speed test." Aisha asked exhausted. "That was basic cardo, see how much stamina you had. This course you will partake in. No excuses." The man said pointing to Aisha.

"Now then, each of you will have to dodge the magic missile bullets that are shot at you. Your essential goal is to dodge all them if you can." He snapped his fingers and several blue balls appeared behind him.

"Now then, spread out and get ready you start in 1 minute." Everyone got in position and readied themselves.

"Oh and no countering, also the gravity will shift at certain points. For now, since it's your first day, ill tell you when but in the future i won't." The balls behind him spread and fanned out behind him.

"Now, lets begin."

Sparring Rooms.

When gravity training was over, they all went to the spar rooms with Orion now tending to them.

"I see no one dropped out, good." He said. Soldiers began to file themselves behind him in an orderly fashion. Some of the soldiers whispered to among each other.

"It's the red haired knight that got arrested, whats she doing here?"

"Oh its the fallen prince, didn't think he would come up."

"So those are the kids who killed Berthe eh. They don't look like much."

"That black haired girl and blonde are hotties, think i got a chance?"

After the last comment Orion coughed to grab their attention. "Now then." He began.

"Each of you, will be paired up with another." He said and then looked over to Elsword. "I will personally train you." This earned a few gasps from the other soldiers.

Elsword nodded and walked over to him. "You will be trained by my right hand man." He gestures the man in black armor and Elesis who walked over.

"The rest if you will be in training with the others." He walks away with Elsword.

"Are we not as special as those two." Raven sighed and leaned on a wall. "Does it matter?" Rena says with a shrug. "I dont really care, ill just go read." Aisha said walking off with Eve following.

"Hey, Ara wanna spar?" Chung asked and Ara nods. "Guess that leaves me and you." Rena says with a shy smile. "I need to do mentality training and practice my sword arm so i cant really help." He pats her shoulder and walks off.

Rena sighs and looks around. Everyone was already busy with their own thing and she felt a bit lonely already. "Elf." She looked up and saw the same man in dark armor. "You may train with me if you dont have a partner." Rena nods with a smile and walked with him.

The training consisted of sword training, archery, basic exercises such as push ups and pull ups, and other activities. Aisha went to go and read some of the spells along with training her magical powers and Eve went to think up of newer design crafts for her arsenal.

Elswhere

Velder Palace( Evening)

Queen Noah and Edan was walking the halls after a meeting with the red knights. She sighed and looked over her shoulder at Edan. He looked a bit annoyed but kept quiet.

"Is something wrong?"

"You know whats wrong"

"Just trying to make small talk, this why your platoon is scared of you and doesn't talk to you."

"If they have time to talk then they have time to train as well."

Noah sighed again. "Your really stubborn." He rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Look whose talking." Noah turned back straight with a huff.

"Hey you two." Speka came down in front if them. "Where have you been. You were supposed to be at the meeting." Noah scolded. "You do know who your talking to right." Edan corrected her.

"Meeting are boring, i literally have a million things I would rather be doing." She shrugged.

"So how are the others."

"I believe they're doing their courses. The Black steel doesn't take their training lightly." Everyone looked over and saw Valak walking up to them with an arm on his hip.

"Whoa, look who it is. Doesn't this meeting bring back memories." Speka said throwing an arm over Valak, who sighed. "Ah, when i saw those kids, i almost reminded of ourselves." Noah admitted.

"Same, that Aisha girl takes after you." Edan said with a chuckle and placing his hand on her head. "And so does Raven, in every aspect." She retorted.

"Nah, i see a bit of Valak in him too."

"Dont drag me into this."

"And Chung too, hes hiding something as well"

"Whatever."

"Ah, Valak you never change do you."

They all walk off with few laughs and nostalgic memories if their younger days.

Velder Palace (Night)

The crew went back to their rooms for the night after a long day of training. Everyone was tired and sore.

"Aisha get off me, your beda over there." Elsword groaned and tried to push Aisha off him but was too lazy and tired to so decided to just leave her.

"You took the first bed. Its your fault."

"What did you even do..." Rena laid on Elsword's arm. "Im a mage what do you think." She sighed. "Well atleast we can relax." Rena tried to stay positive. "Way past the time we usually sleep at?" Aisha rolled over.

"I'm going to sleep." She said and went to her bed. "Same, night Els" Rena also went to her bed. Elsword was the last to fall asleep but soon woke up again.

"Can't sleep eh."

'Yea, seems im having these kinda nights alot.' He got up and went out to the balcony. He yawned and leaned over the railing and at the crescent moon. It felt somewhat smoothing to him.

"Yo." He looked over and saw Elesis smiling at him in a white shirt and red shorts. "Worlds a small place huh." He joked.

"Weird you usually would be out cold by now."

"Things change." He shrugged. "Yea. They do. I remember back when you were still small enough to barely hold a sword." She looked up admiring the sky.

"Now your all big and strong, almost feels like i was left in the dust. But ill soon catch up to you guys."

"Looks like our lines are reversed. It feels like forever since we last talked like this." He looked down at the city, illuminated with the fire lamps of homes.

"I still remember my original goal to become strong. To be able to fight along side you as an equal."

"Soon you will, give it months time." She said jumping over. "Until then don't ease up on your training." She said patting his head. "It would look better if you were taller than me." He said with a smirk.

"I'm still older."

"That just means your old."

"It means you have to show respect."

"Ill respect you once you hit my height"

"Sounds like you need to know whose in charge here."

"Enlighten me then."

The two went back and forth until they both decided to turn in for the day.

An

Wonder who can the man in black armor could be. hmmmmm?