Chapter 5
"The Mamono World" written by XXXXXXXXX, section mamono beasts - Kobolds
Kobolds, the dog breed that most lives up to the motto "man's best friend", are beast-type mamono. They are not specific to just one region, but can be found anywhere in the world. Their docile and gentle attitude is a vast contrast to the typical behavior of beast mamono. Although not all kobolds are naturally aggressive, few races are more passive than kobolds.
But make no mistake, they are still mamono, and carry with them the same ability to attract single men as any other mamono, although their tactics are much more passive than most. Inside their bodies, there is a gland that mixes their sweat with a little mamono mana or M.M for short, which guarantees kobolds an imperceptible and long-lasting pheromone. This pheromone induces great feelings of lust and desire in unmarried men, which is why kobolds only begin to release this scent when in contact with a man they have decided to call their master. In a matter of time, this master will be increasingly affected by the scent and, without even realizing it, will begin to desire the kobold as a man desires a woman.
Such an attitude, however sneaky, is only taken towards those the kobold is genuinely interested in, unlike most mamono races who want a partner indiscriminately, and kobolds always offer their all to those who are chosen as their masters (which on this occasion simply means the man she loves). They tend to have a taste for responsible, caring and gentle men.
A very interesting fact about kobolds is that, contrary to popular belief, instead of seeing in black and white, this species sees the full spectrum of colors, and with their animal instincts and powerful sense of smell, their vision can be even better than that of many races, including humans. Giving them much more complete vision, even in dark environments or with compromised visibility.
If a man has a Kobold as a partner, in a period of 3 to 5 months in contact with his M.M., his soul is converted from fully human to half-incubus, and like the Kobold he gains a keen sense of smell and instinct, which is a very useful bonus.
* Information about transmutation into half-incubus will be discussed in more depth in the next sections of this book.
Jonathan has always been a deep sleeper, and many times his family has almost thrown a bucket of cold water over his head to wake him up. But this is only true when he's in a place he trusts, like his home and that of his closest friends. When he's in a different place, such as a bus or a hotel, his sleep is very light, any noise is enough to make him alert, almost as if he were a predator, while in a place with possible other predators, his instincts are sharper and after hunting his meal and returning to his burrow, his sleep is deep so that he can digest his food.
So it's a surprise to him that he feels so rested now. Even without opening his eyes, the comfort he feels now gives him energy for the whole day.
Jonathan "Hey, where did I sleep again, huh?" Rambling on about his situation, he feels something pass by his nose rhythmically, tickling him.
Melanie - uhm...uhm - Making cute noises out of her mouth, lying on Jonathan's uncovered chest, a lock of her hair occasionally brushes against his nose.
Jonathan " Hmm" With the sun's rays beating down on their bodies, he realizes with a little relief and just a little disappointment that apart from his shirt, no other clothes are off his body. Thinking back to last night, after leaving the alley, they went to the house that the captain had offered him. They were both tired to death, but Jonathan remembers making dinner for them and giving Melanie, who was still weak, a bath.
Jonathan: "It's amazing to think that this medieval world has running water. But otherwise it's not that advanced, the kitchen is very basic, with one of those home tanks for washing clothes, and wood-burning stoves, even the lights were just lamps for the rest of the house apart from the master bedroom where there was a kind of lamp made from a magic crystal." As he remembers the house better, he can see that it feels very homely and cozy. Rather than being a building like most of the dwellings in the city center, the house has only one floor with two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a living room that serves as a dining area with an arched door opening at the top that leads into the kitchen. From the outside it looked like most of it would be made of wood, seeing that the supports were made of oak logs, but it seems that all the walls were made of cement, even though they probably didn't have the formula to make it yet, so the stone that covers the walls must be something like matrix or quartz, which makes this simple house very expensive to make at the time. At least the windows are those retractable ones instead of rails like the windows in your house back in your world, those things were always creaking, and I could already see mini gardens in front of them, demarcated by stones.
Jonathan - Hey, Melanie, wake up - He nudges her, but she doesn't seem to notice at first.
Melanie -Uhm... Just five more minutes - Without even opening her eyes, she mumbles with a little drool running from her lips.
Jonathan " Cute. I don't think it would hurt to leave it a little longer." Squirming to get more comfortable, he just enjoys the sound of the birds and Melanie breathing on his chest.
Soon after Jonathan has prepared a coffee for the two of them, consisting of simple bread and margarine, the two are still at the table, sitting facing each other, and he puts the situation on the table.
Jonathan - Melanie, I have to meet some people today, they want me to clarify things about how I got rid of the minotaur - He wants to get Melanie on the same page as him, he explains the whole meeting that happened with James yesterday.
Melanie "So almost as soon as he woke up, he came looking for me. I'm much more grateful that he did. Knowing that, my worries before seem a bit silly." Melanie didn't like those feelings of doubt and betrayal, even with the mess her head was in at the time. "It's not like he gave me any reason to doubt him, unlike that one!"
Jonathan - So, in view of all this, I wanted to ask you a question - Distracting Melanie from her thoughts and pulling her back into the conversation, she jumps up and looks at Jonathan again.
Melanie - Oh yes, what do you need? - Wondering what her master will need from her, her bottom starts wiggling excitedly behind the chair.
Jonathan - What do you want to do from now on? - Seriously, he asks the question he's been thinking about since yesterday, probably the first time he's asked her opinion. ( This fact makes him feel a little guilty, but better late than never ) .
Melanie - What do you mean? - Being a question out of the blue, she's a little confused.
Jonathan - I want to know if you plan to continue with me or wish to continue doing your own thing - The young man doesn't know what she was doing before, but I doubt she planned to follow an outsider from another world as soon as she got near Lescatie.
Melanie " Why is he asking that? AH! Does he want to get rid of me?! No! Melanie, you've already said that these thoughts are silly, he just wants to know what you think."
Melanie - Oh, I'd like to - Going to answer automatically, she is prevented from completing it.
Jonathan - And before anything else, I want you to bear in mind that things could get more dangerous from now on, I really want to know if you want to continue accompanying me. I really appreciate your company, but I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you - Before the kobold thoughtlessly blurts out the reasons why he's going to question her about her intentions from now on. He also wants to make sure that she chose to stay with him of her own free will and that he has no resentment for leaving her in that alley for so long, even if it wasn't on purpose, he still feels a bit bad.
Watching her and waiting anxiously for her answer, his eyes follow her as she gets up from her chair and walks around the table to stand right in front of him.
Melanie - I may have been worried when you went towards that monster, and a little anxious waiting for you in that place, but you kept your promise and came back, even though you could leave me there and not suffer any consequences, you wanted to come back. That's certainly proof that you're a man worth keeping around, Jonathan." Smiling, she takes the young man's hands and looks directly at him, her feelings showing in her bright, happy eyes. - You saved me from a situation that almost led to my death, and after that, you got me shelter and food, without asking for anything back. I was very happy when you showed interest in accompanying me to Lescatie, and you're making me very happy, showing that you care about my opinion, many humans treat me like a simple animal that follows commands and only gets with someone because they're innocent or foolish, but I say from the bottom of my heart that you're someone I want to follow from now on - .
Jonathan - Ah! - Prepared for a simple yes or no answer, he was surprised by the sincerity in Melanie's words. Even without realizing it, they have lifted a great weight from his shoulders. Knowing that she still trusts him in this way brings him great happiness.
Jonathan - OK! If you want to stay with me, then my arms are open, I promise I won't let anything ... Hm! - Melanie jumps into Jonathan's arms, giving him a tight hug.
Jonathan - Huh, Melanie, I haven't finished my speech yet -
Melanie - But you said you had open arms, didn't you want a hug? - Tilting his head to the side in a cute way, there was no way Jonathan could deny her that.
Jonathan - Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted - Smiling, he puts his arms around her. "That's nice"
James and Jonathan met almost at the door of her house, and went straight from there to the main street of the castle. After the moment with Melanie, he talked about who wanted to meet him today and asked her to stay indoors. He also left food for her and told her that if anyone came into the house and saw her, she should run and find me, even if I was in the throne room, and he would protect her.
Walking through the streets of Lescatie in the company of someone who has lived here all his life is almost like sightseeing. As Jonathan walks beside him, the captain of the guard, James, occasionally points to a place and gives a short explanation about them.
James - And it was at that fruit stand that I met my vice-captain, you should have seen him, it looked like a strong breeze would be enough to knock him over, hahaha - Quite different from the serious and professional countenance Jonathan expected from him, his carefree attitude relaxes him a little. Instead of looking like an officer taking a criminal to court, they just look like a young man following an older man to a bar.
James - And that building over there is where the last male heir of the Makir family had a heart attack. Poor man hadn't even tasted his first drink yet - With a sadder, more serious tone in his voice, he remembers the commotion that happened soon after.
Jonathan - Oh, I know, it's all that fighting over inheritance stuff, isn't it...Kghu! - Before he could finish speaking nonchalantly, James suddenly put his hand over his mouth and led him to a shady corner of the street.
James - Kid, don't ever say something like that so freely in this town! - With a deep voice, the carefree appearance he had shown before was completely gone, the experienced and calculating captain of the guard glanced around at the surroundings, making sure they hadn't been overheard.
James - You shouldn't talk about these matters out in the open as if it were something silly. This kind of accusation is very serious and - Removing his hand from Jonathan's mouth, he begins to approach his ear - We don't know who is listening, the nobles of this city tend to do drastic things when one of their "ears" hears something like this - Giving a slight sigh, he moves away from the boy, Jonathan seems to be putting the puzzle in place.
Jonathan " Holy shit! It's true, in the books it said that Lescatie, despite being beautiful and an important center of the order, is extremely corrupt, I don't remember exactly how high things got, but I wouldn't want to make one of these nobles my enemy just yet." Swallowing dryly, he shows that he understands the seriousness of the situation, he's going to have to think more carefully about the things he says if he doesn't want to get into too much trouble soon in the city.
James - Remember kid, all the beauty in the world only hides the rats, and they're very good at smelling fresh meat - Walking back down the street, Jonathan follows him again, now in a colder and quieter environment.
The walk to the castle wasn't as long as he'd expected, before noon they were already at the gate, and it helped that James still wanted to talk about some places in the city instead of staying silent. Even though Jonathan wasn't very focused on the conversation, he appreciated it. It would have been too awkward for him to start the conversation again after the mess he'd made.
Looking ahead, the castle really does do justice to the city, colored blue, white and with touches of gold. All the stone in the structure is polished white, the door that arches upwards is made of thick, dark wood, with the metal that surrounds the wood either painted or actually made of gold. Looking up, he can see guards guarding the entrance, walking on top of the gates, towers that as well as giving archers more visibility should also serve as a store for arrows and other equipment.
We waited for about five minutes, until one of the guards greeted us and asked us to wait a little longer for the king to receive us. Although on the outside Jonathan's demeanor was serene, in his head he was once again pondering the corrupt state of Lescatie's politics.
Jonathan " I know that at the moment the king doesn't have much political power, and whoever is really in charge is behind the throne, but I wonder which of them is really curious about me. Both could be bad options as far as I'm concerned."
James - Hey kid - Giving his shoulder a light touch, the captain of the guard noticed his nervousness, even if it was hidden, the older man had too much experience not to see the signs of agitation in the young man - There's no need to be nervous, he's just going to congratulate you on killing the minotaur and ask a few simple questions - Adopting a bit of seriousness now, But if you want some advice, here's what you should do: TELL THE TRUTH. At the moment, nobody knows much about you, so any lie could be taken much more seriously than it should, and the nobles of the city are still paranoid about what's happened over the last few days. I don't want to see you behind bars, kid, you're a good guy, and this town really needs people like you in it - With that finished, he gives Jonathan a little push on the back, which makes him take a few steps forward.
Jonathan - Thank you - Looking back with a smile, he hears the creak of the gates opening and turns his gaze forward, his initial trembling stopped, and follows one of the soldiers who instructs him into the castle.
Passing through the vast corridor with a red carpet on the floor, the walls are all covered with paintings or pedestals with some priceless item. Spacious enough for more than one queue of people to pass at once, instead of talking to the guard escorting me, I decide to look at the paintings and try to make sense of what they symbolize.
While most of them only seem to depict the generations of royal family that once ruled Lescatie, a few stand out, those with dirty, bloodied heroes standing proudly above the body of some random monster. As I haven't had time to ask specifics as to what date we are today, I can only deduce that these paintings were made a long time ago, before the transformation of all the monsters into their mamono versions.
Jonathan " Well, almost all of them" Thinking back to the unusual encounters he had had, he is still confused as to how this type of monster still exists in this universe.
Guard - We're here - Stopping in front of another door, this one much more decorated and luxurious than the one at the entrance to the castle, Jonathan tries to imagine that this is going to be like a job interview, which stresses him out even more.
Opening the door at once, the hall shows a much greater class than he had seen so far, everything polished and crystal clear, a white marble floor with waves of black, soldiers in two rows stationed towards the throne. The light in the room is provided by large stained glass windows, blue and gold with images symbolic of the belief of the chief goddess. On each side of the throne, five flags, making a total of ten, are on poles, all with some kind of symbol, some of which are animals or valuable objects. The throne leaves nothing to be desired, rich in detail and with full red upholstery, even looking comfortable to sit on, and a surprise, it seems to have a cup holder, bowls?
But what impresses him is the man sitting in his place. Jonathan was expecting an old man falling apart or a lousy king without the strength to really lead. The man he sees is the complete opposite, an imposing figure, dressed in a pompous manner and with the presence of royalty, yet these clothes cannot disguise the size of the man wearing them, larger than Jonathan by at least 20 centimeters, strong arms and a firm torso, with shoulder pads and greaves made of some metal unknown to the young man. His face alone commands respect, a serious and experienced look, with a few wrinkles but still far from old age, a well-groomed black beard that gives him a more frightening appearance, very short black hair and eyes that pierce your soul with their redness.
King of Lescatie, Castor Bistoa Lescatie, the current leader of the order's most capable city, looks directly at Jonathan, acknowledging his presence he nods and gives the boy a disarming smile.
King Castor - Welcome, young Jonathan, please come closer so we can talk - Gesturing for the young man to come closer, he walks a respectful distance from the king, at least 10 meters.
King Castor - Hmm, right, as the rumors said, you're quite young, and you don't look like the type who has struggled to survive in life - With an analytical tone, the king determines something with his gaze - Well, without further ado, I summoned you here for two reasons, Jonathan, the first would be to congratulate you on helping the city of Lescatie, the attack by that monster was something completely unexpected, but clearly not random, many of our best warriors were out of our territory, and nobles very important to the maintenance and order of the city were also absent - The king speaks in a grave voice, the way the situation has turned out, there is no doubt that a greater power was responsible for the attack, even though no one knows who it might have been, the information that someone is able to summon monsters almost out of nowhere is extremely dangerous - There are no words to say how grateful I am, without you, a large part of the city of Lescatie, the legacy of almost 700 years of my family, would have been brought to the ground. Take this thanks not only as me without the king of Lescatie, but also as the man Castor Bistoa Lescatie - Looking straight into his eyes, almost forgetting the disparity in the position of the two, his humility shines through as he thanks the young man.
Jonathan - H-hey, King Castor, me, hmm - How can he tell him the truth now, most of everything that happened, the fight with the minotaur, was just him trying to play the hero, who got carried away and didn't think too much about the consequences. - I don't know if this is what you want to hear, but I didn't do it thinking only of the city. I saw a monster and I wanted to kill it, I don't know if I deserve all these thanks - Even though he's ashamed, he still remembers James' words. Speak the truth.
A few seconds pass, and King Castor looks down at his hand, still resting on the throne, he checks something, and smiles.
King Castor - Well done, it looks like at least we have someone honest today - With a smile on his face, the king looks once more at Jonathan, but instead of losing the liking he had for the boy, a new layer of respect remains in his gaze - I can see in your actions and words how sincere you want to be. Not wanting to be something you're not, I understand that, I respect that. Especially in someone as young and impressionable as you, boy, many of our best heroes would have lied to bathe in glory, but you don't want to be thanked for something that didn't cross your mind, hmm - Like a teacher proud of a student who has passed something he didn't even know about, his smile is much more relaxed than before.
With strength in his legs, the king rises from his throne, his exotic, metallic armor going 'clink, clink, clink' as he approaches the young man, his steps calm and slow. Now that Jonathan is seeing him up, he takes in the fact that the man must be at least 2 meters tall, and as muscular as a heavyweight wrestler, but somehow, he doesn't feel threatened or afraid.
King Castor - Which brings us to the second reason I summoned you, before any of the more powerful families arrive and try to get answers out of you, why not already ask a few questions. That way we'll have something when they arrive at my castle demanding explanations. - Castor remembers only too well how irrational and desperate some of the nobles of the houses adjacent to the Lescatie family and others get when something goes wrong. And the boy in front of him is a piece with the most destructive potential for them, someone with strange powers but who is not one of the order's heroes, therefore not easy to control or chain up.
Jonathan - All right! You can send it - Now that some of his nervousness has passed, he can think a little better, he was already prepared to be interrogated for some information, but this is the best case scenario now, no torture or blackmail, there's no pressure for him to tell the whole truth and about everything he knows, some of his knowledge would certainly send him behind bars or worse, to the gallows. Knowing the truth about the mamono and the chief goddess, as well as the fact that he came from another world, makes him too dangerous for the order to keep him alive and free. But Jonathan still knows that lying in any way will have horrible consequences.
King Castor, now at a distance so that he can hear Jonathan's words without having to raise his voice, crosses his arms, leaving his left palm, full of rings and covered by a gauntlet, tilted up towards his face.
King Castor - Your name? -
Jonathan - Jonathan Cruz, sir -
King Castor - Kukuku, there's no need to be so formal, you can speak freely, don't be afraid to be disrespectful. The guards and above all I will not take offense, there is no one here to flatter -
Jonathan - Hmm, okay - Now that you think about it, the guards are a bit too far away to really protect the king. At the distance they are, stuck to the wall and in a relaxed way, it would be easy for someone with bad intentions to hurt or try to take the king's life. Questions for later.
King Castor - Did you arrive in Lescatie on the day of the attack? -
Jonathan - The same day, a few hours earlier in fact, around midday - The questions should end up being just to recount the events of the day, there's nothing to hide here.
King Castor - Hmm, was that the first time you fought a monster? -
Jonathan - No, the day before I arrived in Lescatie I killed a troupe of goblins - Jonathan sort of omits the fact that these goblins were clearly males of their species, something that shouldn't be possible by now.
The questions continued, simple things like where he was born, his parents, and even about his mysterious powers. Jonathan answered everything truthfully, but vaguely in some parts. He explained exactly how his power worked, but didn't indicate whether he could do anything other than what they had seen him do against the minotaur. The king of Lescatie was surprised to learn that he had no training in fighting monsters, or armed combat of any kind. The king didn't comment, but he saw sadness and longing when he asked about his family and friends.
King Castor "For someone like that to defeat a monster that even experienced soldiers trembled in fear of, and to heal so quickly, with injuries that would make even a hero of the order rest for weeks. I don't want to harass him at the moment, but I need to make sure he won't be a threat to the city."
King Castor - Right boy, we're down to our last doubts now, after that, I'll let you go and rest, you're welcome to stay in my castle if you like - Extending his arm to indicate a door further to the right, Indicating another corridor that leads to the guest quarters.
Jonathan - Right, thank you - Just then, the air becomes a little thicker again, the king seems more serious, his gaze more rigid and cold. Whatever it is, much more important than before, Jonathan has to answer truthfully and without using any lies or omissions. Swallowing dryly, the young man faces the king, ready for the last interrogation.
King Castor - Are you completely human? -
Jonathan - Yes - Without even thinking, the answer was launched, but the question hid some extra meaning and by the king's nod, he was able to affirm something good.
King Castor - Are you or are you not an enemy of the order?
Jonathan takes about three seconds, which drag on like snakes on a wall, but he speaks again without stuttering or fear.
Jonathan - I am an ally of humanity -
King Castor - Hmm, right, the last one, your goal or rather, what you want to do from now on, will it be for the benefit of humanity or for the benefit of mamono? -
Jonathan - I would never help monsters like that minotaur, my goal, what I seek, I'm sure will help humans - .
There was a silence after his answer. Perhaps the way he phrased it was enigmatic to the king, but his face was a mask of seriousness that gave away nothing of his thoughts.
King Castor - Well done! I think that's all - Smiling and exclaiming, the intensity of before finally dissipates, and Jonathan has to hold back a sigh. The way things stand, the King of Lescatie doesn't consider him an enemy. - By the way, I feel I should tell you two things, first you will receive a reward for your service to this city, but we can leave that for later. We must have spent almost an hour with me just asking you questions, so secondly I allow you to ask me anything, feel free - He catches Jonathan off guard, a reward he expected, but he had no idea that the king would let him question him, so he doesn't have many doubts, much of what the city has to hide he has already read in the books.
Jonathan - Well, if I may, I was curious why the guards here are so far away from the throne and from you, wouldn't you feel safer if they were by your side? - That's the only thing he doesn't understand at the moment, and Jonathan will wonder about it for a long time if he doesn't find out now.
Immediately after this question, one of the guards seems to cough, then another, and another, until Jonathan notices that they are holding back their laughter, even the king shows a look of amusement at the question.
King Castor - Well, normally things would be as you said, and being as brief as possible, the answer is ...! - In an instant, the king disappears from view, a blur moves quickly across Jonathan's vision, he is confused as to where the king is, and before he could take a step forward.
King Castor - It's because if someone threatens me, I have a lot of free space to deal with the problem - Appearing behind Jonathan, he slowly brings his open hand up to his shoulder, and waits a moment for the boy's reaction.
For a few seconds, Jonathan doesn't move or react, the shock of the situation taking a while to leave his system. He realizes that he could have died right then, without any opportunity to defend himself.
Jonathan " I-that was too fast, he basically disappeared for an instant and without a sound flanked me, how is that possible!" Shocked, his heart pounded and he broke out in a cold sweat. But after the shock has finally subsided and his panic has calmed down, his breathing returns to normal.
Jonathan - You're not a normal king, are you? - With a nervous smile, trying to convey a mere shred of confidence.
King Castor - Welcome to Lescatie, boy - With a smile on his face, his white teeth showing a little gleam and his posture relaxed and confident.
After Jonathan's display of power, the king invited him to a banquet in the hall. Not wanting to be rude, Jonathan accepted without blinking and after about three plates full of food such as roast chicken, pork ribs, rice with farofa and mayonnaise, and another two hours to digest all the food, he thanked the king, now more informally, and decided it was time for him to go back. Excusing himself, he walks to the gate, where he sees James standing next to a tall woman with the aura of a soldier.
The woman is wearing little armor, so that he has plenty of movement without losing too much protection. Getting close, Jonathan soon deduces that the woman is Merse Dascaros, one of the heroes of the order in Lescatie, and now that he begins to focus, it was the same woman who helped him in the fight with the minotaur at the end. The two seemed to be talking until they noticed his arrival. They both turn and James just nods.
Merse - Hmmm - Turning her whole body towards you, her sharp gaze begins to analyze the boy, from head to toe she seems to be making some kind of assessment. Completing this by taking a good look at his face, she says - Hmpf! It could be worse - Disdainfully, she begins to approach Jonathan.
Jonathan - Could it be worse? What are you talking about? Hey! - When she was only a few steps away from him, she grabbed one of his arms and squeezed it, giving a little 'Uhum' as she did so.
Merse - Yeah, just as I thought, you're a complete ass -
Jonathan - HEY! -
Merse - And a stubborn one at that - She finishes by doing a full turn, examining Jonathan, and making him a little irritated - Okay!, here's what we're going to do, tadpole, we're going to have a training session now, you and me, at the training ground where my squadron is - Without turning her gaze, she invites (commands) with her arms crossed.
Jonathan - He, let me show you who's the stubborn one - Even though he doesn't feel very confident, he still thinks he can at least put up a good fight.
In less than half an hour, the group of James, Jonathan and Merse find themselves in a dirt arena, some training dummies with signs of use, a circle of white chalk made of fangs on the ground to mark out where they will fight. At the four corners there are wooden walls that reach up to their waists. All of them are recruits in training at Merse's squadron, and apparently they are betting on how the fight will go.
? - 20 bronze that he doesn't wake up from here - An excited voice shouts as it lifts a bag of coins.
This irritates Jonathan a little, but his frustration is not visible on his face. Everyone will be surprised when they see for themselves what he can do.
She decides to take a simple wooden staff, as she uses spears and halberds most of the time, this is what she can use most comfortably. Seeing no need to stretch, she leans on the stick with one elbow.
Jonathan hasn't picked up a weapon so far, whether it's a fake or using his blood, it seems that a silent understanding has been made between them. Until the fight starts, the two won't draw their weapons. That doesn't stop him from starting to stretch himself with exercises that come into his head.
James - Looks like I'll have to be the judge of this fight, then - Standing between Merse and Jonathan, he begins to tell them the rules of the match - firstly, the two of them will fight until one of them admits defeat or is incapacitated, secondly, neither of them will fight with the intention of killing or skinning their opponent, are you sure about these rules? - Seeing that the two only nod, he gets ready - 1! -
Jonathan " Okay, let's start light, as soon as he gives the signal, I'll bite my thumb and make a blood stick with a small sphere on the end, and before she gets close, I'll stretch to keep a good distance"
James - 2! -
Merse stops leaning on the stick, but still doesn't seem to be ready in position, she just relaxes with a serene face.
Elt "From what Miss Merse told me, he doesn't look like he's had much combat in his life. I don't know what she hopes to get out of all this, but I hope she doesn't go too far with him." As a spectator, the young soldier looks at the pose the two take before the fight begins.
James -3! FIGHT - Making a gesture with his hand, cutting the air from top to bottom, he announces.
Merse - Hrm!
Jonathan - WHAT! - The exclamation is due to the fact that the second the 'fight' came out of James' mouth, Merse launched herself with everything like a spring contracted to the limit being released. Her relaxed pose was abandoned in an instant, her body took a lower angle and like a runner approached, and in the next moment her baton was ready to hit Jonathan's head with precision and force. The image slightly reminds the boy of a billiard cue going to hit the ball.
Jonathan - Ughh - Reacting more out of shock than reflex, he manages to tilt his head back a little and take a couple of steps back. Even so, the tip of the bat brushed against his cheek and for a second he swore he felt the inside of his mouth pulling against his teeth. It had all happened so quickly that he hadn't had time to activate his ability.
Merse - Hmm - Without giving her opponent much time to get organized, she continues her assault, once again using her incredible speed to cross the distance. She launches an uppercut towards the boy's face, but before it arrives, she steps back, feints, repositions herself and ducks even lower, uses the stick to trip Jonathan's legs who, unable to react, gives a little cry of fright.
Jonathan - Ghr - His ass hits the firm ground before he can touch himself. He puts up his hands to get up, but before he can.
Merse - If you get up, you'd better be armed, kid. I didn't come here to beat up a prick who can't even arm himself - She brings her staff close to Jonathan's face, warning him of what will happen if he's not prepared.
Jonathan " That woman! " Enraged by the disrespect, he suddenly stands up with a finger already being bitten off in his mouth. Before he can fully stand up, a bloody blade has already been made, the hilt of the sword flowing all over his hand, so that he doesn't lose his grip on it due to too strong an attack. He pushes Merse's staff away and uses the next instant to continue his attack.
A cut aimed at Merse's left arm is intercepted with great technique and causes the force of the blow to dismount Jonathan, but the boy resumes his position and again advances with quick but unrefined cuts, blows made more by the strength of the arm than by practiced movements. One is aimed from above and is deflected by Merse as she moves smoothly to the side, and Jonathan rushes after her, swinging his blood blade in her direction.
The blows that aren't simply blocked are dodged with the minimum of movement, head-on, horizontally or vertically Jonathan's attacks don't connect, each impact with the sound of something hard hitting wood. The young man's grunts of effort are a contrast to the battle veteran's controlled breathing.
Changing tack, Jonathan leans down with an attack aimed at her ankles, but is again blocked when she slams the stick into the ground near her leg. Then, with a curvilinear movement, she punches Jonathan's chin with the stick. The shock disorients him and she staggers backwards. Opening his eyes, he sees Merse approaching and prepares for another blow.
A swift thrust comes towards him, he manages to block it to the side, but quickly pulling out his staff, she delivers another one before he can raise his blade and hits him again in the face, between the eyes and the nose.
Jonathan " Argh! Damn it, if I'd been wearing glasses I'd have screwed myself right now." Closing his eyes a little from the pain, he resumes his guard, irritated when he notices that the woman is still calm and not showing much physical effort. A new series of blows is sent in Jonathan's direction, without taking Merse's breath away, only one or two are blocked at a time by him, while the others hit his body or arms, pushing him back and making him grimace in pain.
Losing patience, Jonathan puts more force into one of his blocks to get the stick out of the way, and he lunges forward with a heavy attack on Merse. In a calculated and elegant way, he tilts his body to the right, his attack cuts through nothing, and Jonathan is hit in the face by the side of the stick.
Jonathan: "Okay, that's not working, she's reacting too fast for me to hit her." Two blows are defended by the boy, but their intention was only to make him back off. He jumps backwards and looks angrily at Merse. "I need to attack her quickly enough, before she prepares a counter-attack, but how... THAT'S IT!" Jonathan remembers the way he used to run between the buildings and dodge the minotaur. Even though he wasn't very physically fit, the way he used his power gave him a superhuman capacity for movement.
Jonathan gets into position, his hand with the blood blade is pulled behind him, his two legs are positioned firmly on the ground. His front leg relaxes, while the other retracts like a spring ready to burst.
Merse " So the boy at least knows a decent position, but it doesn't look like anything he showed against the minotaur " Deciding it didn't matter, Merse shrugs and puts both hands on the stick to prepare for something his instincts know is coming " Anyway-"
Jonathan - HAAA! - Jumping with all his might, imitating the way his opponent surprised him at the start of the fight, his body moves like a bullet towards Merse. Her face finally abandons its calm look and takes on a surprised look, a fact that gives Jonathan a sense of satisfaction, and when he gets close enough, he executes his attack, with a cut to her abdomen. But...
Merse - Hmph! - With a confident snort, Merse sees the attack coming. For a moment, she's out of Jonathan's sight, who seems abashed to have once again hit nothing, when...
Jonathan - Ughtrr - A big blow hits his stomach, Merse had ducked, and with both hands to give more force to the blow of the stick, she drives the tip of it straight into his stomach. The blow was so hard that Jonathan's feet lifted off the ground, and he was thrown in the opposite direction. A horrible taste of vomit assaulted his mouth, and a burning pain shot through his back, which crashed into the earth of the arena. He was thrown 5 to 10 meters by the blow, and with that alone he felt as if he had been hit by a tanker truck.
Jonathan - Blergh! - Managing to turn his body and support himself with his arm while still lying down, he lets some of his gastrointestinal contents spill out onto the floor. "She can even react to that" Stunned that his trump card was so easily defeated, Jonathan looks back at Merse with a shocked look on his face. The older woman drops the end of the stick that hit him to the ground, and a confident, annoyed smile takes over her face.
Merse - Look, so that's how you escaped that giant's blows, you were quick ... Hmm? - Observing the boy's tactics somewhat disdainfully, she sees him try to get back on his feet - Well, it looks like someone's still got a fight in him, or do you just like being hit that much? - Trying to make him really angry, Merse wants to see how he fights when he's pissed off.
Jonathan - Hrggh, huhuhu, no, I'm not one of those idiots who likes getting beaten up by pretty, sadistic women. My type is the one who likes to get that annoying little smile off your cute little face, LISTEN! - Shouting the last line, he still doesn't realize what a fuck-up he's made.
...
...
...
...
...
For a few moments, the people who were cheering, booing and cheering the fight, people who have known Merse, the heroine of the order for a long time, are perplexed and don't give a damn after Jonathan utters the phrase.
Everyone apart from Jonathan and Merse "He's fucked"
Jonathan, who had already put the sound of the spectators in the background in his mind, is the one who notices the lack of it the most, looking sideways, trying to understand what could have shut everyone up, he is confused and looks back at his adversary.
Jonathan: "Because everyone kept quiet, I didn't say anything offensive or heavy, I just answered what she said. I just ... " As if a light bulb was turning on very slowly in Jonathan's mind, "I called Merse Dascaros a beautiful, cute and sadistic woman... The specific heroine who is traumatized by her mother, a sadistic, naughty and cheating woman who abused her so much that she lost an eye, who brought her husband, Merse's father, to the brink of death for his betrayal, and finally abandoned her. And who made her hate herself as a woman, shaping her opinion of her femininity as something to be repudiated in order not to become like her mother. And I've just insulted her with the worst kind of thing possible for her." With the look of someone who has finally understood that he's made a huge mistake, Jonathan's eyes widen and he swallows.
It was at that moment that Jonathan realized, he'd fucked up.
Merse - Uuuuuhhh, fuuuuuu - Breathing slowly, and exhaling calmly, she looks at Jonathan with a smile innocent enough to pretend to be calm, but with a malice almost jumping out - OK -
She starts walking terrifyingly towards the boy.
Jonathan - Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. We can talk - In the middle of his plea, Merse appears in front of him and hits him hard with the wooden stick, still with elegance and technique, but carrying an aura of aggression not present before. The blow hits the boy square in the cheek, and he staggers backwards with pain in his face.
Without a second's respite, she strikes again with precision. Two blows hit the boy's stomach, and he puts his arms around her to protect himself and from the pain, and taking advantage of the fact that his head is down, Merse raises her staff to hit the boy's chin. And before his feet could stabilize, she struck him once more in the face, this time right in the nose.
Even with a gush of blood coming out of his nose, the attacks continue. Swift and brutal, with no pity for the recipient: torso, thighs, shoulders, head and extremities, nothing is spared from the storm that Merse now commands.
And yet with all this ferocity, her face doesn't contort in anger or effort, just a calculated coldness. His blows haven't even lost their former grace.
One last blow is delivered, and Jonathan once again falls to the ground, thrown like a sack of potatoes. Purple marks appear on his body in the places where he received the heaviest blows. With his back on the ground, he still hasn't undone the bloodied sword in his hand.
Elt "Good thing Miss Merse hasn't lost control." The soldier in the heroine's service becomes calmer, he was seconds away from entering the arena to stop her before she went too far.
James - Well, I think we can say that the fight is... Huh?! - Surprised, he sees the form of Jonathan getting up, even with all the wounds on his body.
Jonathan - Ah, ah, ah - Barely rising to his feet, he glares at Merse. - AHHH! - And he lunges at her with all his might.
Even so, her instincts and reflexes aren't overcome by the attack, she dodges once again, and Jonathan runs straight past her, who takes advantage and strikes him in the back, causing him to fall again.
Jonathan - AAHHH! - But, as if he didn't feel any pain, he gets up again and attacks again.
This time he positioned himself in front of Merse and began with a barrage of slashes, which Merse easily deflected, and with precision, hit Jonathan in the chest, who took a few steps backwards due to the loss of breath.
Jonathan - AAHHH! - He's not even thinking anymore, out of pride or maybe something else, he feels angry at not being able to do anything, the attacks have become more savage, and his energy, even though it's being spent at a huge rate, isn't enough to stop him.
He had already decided to change, and even though this is just a training fight, he doesn't want to let himself fall just after taking a few blows. Deep down Jonathan knows he has no chance, but he needs to change, he needs to become something that wins against all odds. He needs to ...
James - That's it! Let's stop here - Stepping in front of the young man who was about to fight again, he puts his hands on his shoulders - I declare Merse the winner -
Jonathan - Shut up! I can still -
James - Trying to end up in hospital again, don't, kid, you've had it - To calm him down, he puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and turns him towards Merse - By the way, I think she's already satisfied with the fight -
It's true, for some reason the woman is smiling, like someone who's found a penny in the street and decided it's a good day.
Merse - I have to say, kid, it's been a long time since I've seen someone with so much guts. You're not good at it, but you've got the will - Approving of his spirit, she walks over to him, - I've made up my mind, you're going to be trained in my squad, kid - Pointing her staff in the direction of the four people gathered around who were watching the fight.
Jonathan - Huh? - Confused and a little lost by the woman's rapid change of tone, he just nods that he has more or less understood the situation.
Merse - Good, so you understand, these are Elt, Clinton, Tyler and Mureau, they're the ones you'll be training with for the next few months -
Elt nods, realizing they're talking about him, he looks like a generic fantasy character with his brown hair and light eyes.
Clinton looks a bit stockier than Elt, still with brown hair, but quite curly, and green eyes.
Tyler has tanned skin, like one of those surfers in a movie, his head is bald and he has closed eyes (like Brock from Pokemon, which wouldn't make sense if he could see, but whatever).
Mureau is the most distinguished of the group, with golden blond hair, pale skin, a confident smile and red eyes. He also looks the best dressed of them all, and his hair is combed to the left (like Cloud from Final Fantasy).
Merse - Any questions? - She turns to Jonathan now, wondering how he will react to this offer.
Merse "I may have lost my temper, but I've managed to deduce what kind of person this boy is, he's not just a big guy with a power who thinks he's special, he has no shape or form, training him will be very good for Lescatie, and it will help to keep an eye on him."
Jonathan - Hmm - Now that the adrenaline has worn off and all the pain has returned to his body, he begins to think about the proposal (demand) he has been given. This woman is very strong, and the king of the city was the strongest person he had met so far. If he plans to get anywhere near their power, relying on the skills he gained when he arrived in this world won't be enough. If he wants to become a hero in this world, he'll need that training.
Jonathan - When we begin - With a cocky smile, and half bloodied and swollen from the beating he's taken, the next step of his adventure finally opens up to him.
