The dawn brings about the children's first true day at the keep.
Having them gathered just beyond the keeps rear, Ashe couldn't help but release a yawn as she looked at the 75 acolytes that stood before here. They looked tired, weren't used to waking up at the crack of dawn yet.
"Hello, my name is Ashe, I'll be in charge of your physical education." She paused before waving lazily. "How's it going?" Ashe noticed that little Gales ended up waving back with a smile. "Every day until you are allowed to leave the Keep, we're going to be doing exercises. Jumping jacks, sit up push ups, name it we'll be having to do it." She stated, raising an arm over her head and stretched. "You'll also be undergoing a mile-long jog through the Serpent's path that leads you further towards the higher mountains." She paused as she popped something. "That's better…" Shaking an arm the woman looked back at the children. "This will be part of your morning routine, and after the morning run we'll have you return here for your academic classes. And in between several of those courses, you'll be in my care. Understood."
"Yes mam."
"Good." Ashe stated as she looked at the morning sky as she got to her feet. "Now let's get some stretches in, we've got a lot to do today."
The spacious hall rested in the north-eastern part of the main corridor, opposite the library that sits upon the north-west. Class was usually done in this hall, a trained Hunter presenting a lecture of sorts the trainees would follow. It was here they learn many things, some general and sometimes mundane skills that would help them later on in life.
Mathematics, science, herbology, history, creature lore… and many other things encompassed this. Regardless of their origin, these skills were needed by a hunter; as there was more to the task than just how to track and cut down a creature.
Such lessons were crucial in life in and outside of the path they would walk one day.
"Hello everyone." A hunter stated as he stepped away from a board and addressed everyone. "I'm Hunter Alan. I'll be teaching you your general creature lessons." He stated. "So~ to not waste any time…" Alan stated as he gestured to the board behind him, each piece of it covered in a different etching. "Lynian." He poked a picture. "Herbivore." He jabbed another picture. "Fish, Wingdrake, Neopteron, Temnoceran, Bird Wyvern, Flying Wyvern, Piscine Wyvern, Carapaceon, Amphibian, Fanged Beast, Leviathan, Snake Wyvern, Brute Wyvern, Fanged Wyvern, Elder Dragon and Unknown." He tapped each of the pictures as he called them out.
"These are the 18 Classes associated with creatures, and as such they are the 18 breeds you will run into during your years as a hunter. They are also the 18 breeds we will be covering together in these lessons." He explained. "Under my tutelage you will be learning their physical characteristics, you will be learning their migration patterns and the abilities generally associated with them." Alan stated. "Any questions?" He didn't get any. "No, oh well, maybe later than. For now, I'm going to give you a short explanation on each of these species. In order."
He tapped the Lynian etching.
"Lynian are sometimes referred to as the beastman species. They're intelligent creatures, often extremely short and possess mammalian traits. Often they live in tribes, and share a common culture, dialect and one that can be recognized as their leader." Alan stated. "Now, Lynian can be divided into two distinct subclasses; cat and ape. An example would be the Felyne for a cat-type, and a Shakalaka for an ape-type." Alan paused. "I will go into more details on those breeds later, for now, understand that the apes are somewhat more hostile than their Cat counterparts who are often more peaceful and coexist with the People in some way or form."
Alan took a breath as he jabbed the next picture.
"Herbivores are animals that feed off plants. They're typically passive less their young are endangered and often live in herds. Their docile nature allows them to be tamed, some acting like beasts of burdens for caravans and the like."
He moved to another picture.
"Fish." He chuckled. "You'll only really see these guys if you head towards the ocean and coastal towns. They're coldblooded, possess gills, fins and live wholly in the water. A variety of fish exist, you can break their classes down into migratory, swimming and carnivorous." He paused. "Do not eat blowfish unless you have a master chef preparing it for you. It could kill you."
"Next up is Wingdrake. They're a small breed of wyverns often resembling birds or the pterosaurs of the last ages. Despite their size they are relatively strong, strong enough to carry a full grown person in the air, and still get from Point A to Point B with little to no difficulty. Hunters have gotten into training them for this very purpose, using them as a method of getting around in a short period of time."
"Next is the Neopterans; also known as the Beetle Species. They're insectoid creatures that are easily recognized for their carapace. They're size can range from something incredibly small to something larger than a full grown man with some being able to fly.
"Temnocerans or the Chelicerate Species are a class recognizable by their arachnid-like characteristics, such as their ability to produce silk. Often these breeds have six legs." Alan shivered for a moment, as if a bad memory had suddenly come to him. He quickly moved to the creature.
"Bird Wyverns." He took a noticeable breath. Bird Wyverns are a breed of wyvern that often have bird like characteristics, like a sharp beak or even some form of plumage. Their size varies, but you can more or less predict their height range by their distinct type. Flying Bird Wyverns and Theropod Bird Wyvern." He explained. "Flying Bird Wyverns are rather large - larger than most people at that, and they have developed functional wings. They also generally act like a bird, instead of a wyvern." He stated. The other Type is Theropod. They are much smaller than their Flying counterparts, they can't fly but they have long tails and have considerably powerful legs. They often live in a social hierarchy of sorts with females and beta males led by a strong alpha which commands and controls the pack."
"Flying Wyverns." Alan began. "Flying Wyverns are, well, wyverns capable of flight thanks to their powerful wings. Some are quadrupedal, utilizing their wings as forearms to further enhance their movements on land, while other members in this class are flightless despite being classified as such; we refer to these types of Flying Wyverns as Pseudo Wyverns."
"Piscine Wyverns." alan aused seemed to chuckle. "By the five, might as well take a shot every time a Wyvern. He mused before shaking his head. "Anyway Piscine Wyverns are a type of wyvern that have evolved to specialize in swimming. In exchange they lack the ability to fly. They're a bit sluggish on land, and often weaponize water."
"Carapaceon." Alan moved on. "These are crustacean-like creatures, often recognizable by shells or exoskeletons and their crab-like physiology. More than often they resemble crabs lobsters or even scorpions.
"Next is Amphibians, They are typically frog-like in body structure, with powerful, spring-like back legs and muscular forelegs. They are known to inhabit a diverse range of environments and are typically carnivorous."
"Fanged Beast. These are non-wyvern based creatures, and are often much faster than Wyverns and other larger beasts. There are two main types, the first is Pelagus, which have some form of ape like characteristics, like maybe a simian structure and face. The other is simply referred to as well, Fanged Beasts. "They are evolved forms of Bear or anteater, or even rabbit - yes that is a thing you will learn about later.""
"Leviathan, the kings of the ocean. Top predators in their environment but still very deady on land. Getting in a fight with them on their home turf is usually suicide, but you might be forced to do so regardless."
"Snake Wyverns. These monsters are known for their serpentine features, such as long, coiling bodies and forked tongues. They can range dramatically in both size and overall body structure, with some members being large, serpentine land-dwellers, while others being noticeably smaller perhaps the size of a small small human
"Brute Wyvern." Alan took a needed breath. "These are a flightless group of wyverns that resemble theropods. Adapted for life on land they have powerful hind legs and physical strength. A common trait among these breeds is that they share small forearms but there are those exceptions, who make use of these heavily developed limbs in combat."
"On to Fanged Wyverns. They are very similar to fanged beasts, with highly developed limbs for life on land. They are easily recognizable by their quadrupedal nature and flightless limbs, with their forearms being much larger than their hindlimbs." Alan took a breath as he tapped the next picture.
"Elder Dragon." He paused. "Elder Dragons or just Elders are the most rare and dangerous breeds to exist. They're not exactly… easy to classify, see the classification system set up by the Hunters groups Creature Classes by shared traits, Elders however break that mold, and reside out the standard ecosystems you can find others in and despite how they are often called Elder 'Dragons' not all of them resemble dragons to begin with."
Alan hit the last picture. "Unknown. These creatures are as of yet unclassified species. To be fair most newly discovered species fall into this grouping before they are properly studied, and categorized."
Alan lowered his arms. "As I said earlier, these are the 18 breeds that exist in our world, the ones you will be learning about over the next couple years. I don't expect you to memorize everything pertaining to them, but I do expect you to remember what's associated with them. Misidentifying a creature on a hunt is something you can not afford. It can and often will get you or someone close to you killed. Am I understood?" Alan got a series of nods. "Good, now since it's your first day, we're going to start with the top of the list and stay on that till class is over." He told them.
"Hello everyone." A hunter stated as he crossed his arms as all the children just looked around staring at the literal hundreds of weapons that were gathered around them.
"By the Five…"
"I am Hunter Johnson. I'll be in charge of your weaponry training." The hunter stated as he crossed his arms. "A Hunter's Armaments are the tools that you'll be using out on the field to hunt Monsters. There are 18 main types of weapons to choose from, and you will be learning to use all of them." Johnson stated as he extended a finger. "Note; I said use, not master. Even though you'll be starting your training at such a young age, it is near impossible for one hunter to master all the 18 weapon types. Most chose not to either. Once they have found a weapon they are comfortable with, they will spend their years specializing to use that weapon in general, that way they can bring out its full potential during a hunt." He explained to them. "Now we can break weapons into two different classes: melee and ranged. Melee weapons are simply those types that require you to get up close and personal with the creature you're hunting. Ranged on the other hand are those that allow you to hunt at a distance." He paused. "Now, those 18 weapons are as such…" He gestured to a weapon on a table.
"The Sword and Shield, the oldest and truest of the weapons in a hunters arsenal. The sword is sharp and light, excellent for fast strikes, while the shield adds an additional layer of defense for the Hunter outside of armor."
He walked over to another table.
"The Great Sword is the second oldest weapon type you may come across. Built to deal with large monsters it offers an extended reach as well as more meat for more powerful swings. You can use it as a shield as well. That said, there is a catch. The greatsword is one of the more cumbersome weapons, its weight makes swinging it around like a toy knife impossible."
He moved again.
"The Hammer is the third oldest weapon, like the Greatsword it offers excellent striking power, however it is a blunt weapon. You do not cut with it, you crush bone and rock into dust, and if you can hit a large monster on the head with it, it can leave them dazed for a moment or so. Its size may be a hindrance, but not nearly as much as the previously mentioned weapon. And as you can tell with the examples I have presented here, it's effectively a metal pole with a large chunk of iron on it, this doesn't make it the best for blocking." Johnson took a breath as he moved.
"Dual Blades; they are often associated with those that completely abandon defense. The extra blade amplifies the cutting ability allowing the Hunter to unleash a flurry of blows often to overwhelm prey during a Hunt." He moved on to the next.
"The Lance. It is a typically large weapon good for striking from a distance. It is always accompanied by the use of a shield for defense purposes."
"The Long Sword is a weapon said to originate from one of two villages; Yukumo or Kamura." He explained. "Despite its range it is noticeably less 'meaty' than other large weapons, allowing for fluid movements and strikes during a hunt. It is a pure offense weapon, with its thin frame making it near unusable for defense purposes."
"The Hunting Horn is another blunt weapon, specializing in impact damage. That said, it's more than just a slightly modified hammer. Understand that the hunting is used to play songs while this is good for festivities it is more known for its ability in the field. If you want to be technical, you'd see the notes it plays travel at a certain frequency, one that promotes the brain to produce certain stains of stimuli to temporarily boat a hunters parameters past their left imposed limits." Johnson stated before coughing into his hand. "A proper and full explanation will be given another day. For now…"
"The Insect Glaive. It is a curious weapon taking the form of a double ended rod. Hunters that use this weapon are accompanied by Kinsect, a type of bound insect that can assist the Hunter in combat. These insects will drain blood from their prey, giving them a sense of nausea from bloodloss and make them easier to deal with."
"The Tonfa. A pair of light weight weapons that offer decent mobility. An impact weapon, the point consists of a pole attached to a propulsion system . The weapon can extend and shorten itself to a degree in combat."
"The Gunlance" Jonson sighed as he lifted up the weapons. "Now the Gunlance can be considered the first real attempt at creating a hybrid weapon, mixing both ranged and melee options together, with mixed results. There is a mechanism within the weapon that fires an explosive round, but its distance firing capabilities aren't necessarily impressive. Because of this, its shelling abilities are often used at close range. Its most infamous ability is the Wyverns Fire, which releases an incredibly powerful explosive round that will launch you in the opposite direction of the blast…" Johnson took a breath. "There are… some who like to play around with this ability. Using it to launch themselves into the air in some makeshift flight. Don't ask me why they do that… I don't get it."
"Next is the Switch Axe. As the name suggests it is a weapon that switches between two forms: an axe and a sword. Despite its size its relatively lightweight, running isn't necessarily impossible and it doesn't sacrifice defense. The main feature of the Switch Axe is the Burst feature, which completely drains the equipped phial of its contents and requires it being replaced for further use."
"The Charge Blade, one could say its the sister or brother of the Switch Axe. A weapon with two modes. In this case it takes the form of a sword and shield that can be united to create an axe with much longer reach. There is also a phial in this weapon located on the hilt that can be activated to infuse the weapon with additional properties."
"The Magnet Spike." The children weren't exactly sure what in the world they were looking at. "Now this is a curious weapon, and relatively new at that. Developed on the Frontier roughly seven years ago, it represents the current limits of Hunters weapon technology." Johnson stated. "It can be used as both a cutting weapon and an impact weapon. Being a large and heavy weapon it would be difficult to use in combat, but that's where it shines. See, the weapon can manipulate magnetism thanks to the large red and blue phials stored within the weapon. By manipulating the magnetic forces within the weapon most of the weight is lifted and mobility is returned to the Hunter." Johnson stated as he set the weapon down. "As said its a new weapon, and its full capabilities have yet to be discovered."
"The Accel Axe. Another relatively new weapon with a artillery mechanism built into it. Its a heavy-duty single-edged ax with a short reach and a mechanical muzzle attached at the opposite position to the blade which sets it apart from both the Switch Axe and the Charge Blade which have a longer reach and a double-edge." He paused as he looked at the new weapon in his hands. "The artillery mechanism of this weapon type is built in as an accelerator to -quite literally - obtain " detonation velocity ", which uses the recoil of the artillery to accelerate rapidly. Using this mechanism its possible to use an explosive charge to rush forward with it, making use of the momentum, to quickly depart from a certain area or even as a makeshift break." He paused as he gestured to something on the weapon. "Note there is a lever on the handle, holding this will allow compressed gas to be released, which in turn causes the explosion inside the weapon. In addition there is a secondary lever at the peak, one that when knocked down causes the hatch to open up, releasing a high-powered burst of sorts." He set the weapon down, and moved.
"The Bow, the oldest of the ranged weapons. Primitive but its abilities are something that can't be ignored. There is a reason it has survived the passage of time and continues to be used to this day. Like any weapon it takes trial and error to use properly, but if mastered, its silent, precise, and deadly when needed." Johnson pulled out an arrow, considering you could even call it that. "This is its ammunition, though we call it an arrow its more a ballista bolt than anything. It can be laced with poison, a paralysis powder or even an explosive to augments its capabilities." He moved on to the last table.
"Lastly are the three Bowgun types Light." He set a bowgun on the table. "Medium." He set another larger bowgun on the table. "And Heavy." He set the last gun on the table for everyone to see. "These are the mainstream ranged weapons for a Hunter, the successor to the Bow. Light bowguns are capable of rapid fire. The Medium class are moreheavy, but they fire larger caliber rounds. Depending on the model it can be folded when not in use. Lastly the Heavy-type are the largest of these three types, they fire the largest caliber rounds and possess the greatest firepower. Now bowguns have gone through the most changes throughout the centuries. Originally they had interchangeable parts, but as bowgun technology advanced such things became unnecessary." Johnson rubbed his throat.
"These are weapons you may choose from as a hunter, and while I did say that hunters end up specializing in one of these weapons, it is best to find an alternative, after all there are situations where your weapon of choice may noy be the best for you. For example, a weapon with a long reach isn't the best for when you're confined to a small area where you have no room to swing it." He stated as he reached for a sword and shield. "Still, given it's your first time, we'll start you with these, the oldest of the melee weapons. Everyone gather around and we'll head out to the courtyard so you can get used to swinging these things around."
"I am Hunter Xesh, and I'm in charge of alchemy." Xesh stated as he crossed his arms and gestured to his classroom. The place is full of herbs and test tubes, small burners and diagrams. "Understand this will be a very boring class." He stated. "You will be sitting a lot, watching test tubes heat up and crushing herbs into dust and combining them. " Xesh stated as he scratched his head. "Now I'm just going to be doing explanations today, so you're not going to be doing anything really except listening to me talk." He shrugged. "As I said it's going to be a very boring class."
He sighed as he stood from his desk and started handing out books.
"Now, generally, people believe alchemy to be a form of magic available to only a select. That is not true. It's not magic - it's science. It's something we can explain, break down, analyze and understand. Alchemy is the act of combining items and certain materials in order to create something new. Often Hunters use alchemy to create something to assist them in the field, but really anyone with the know-how can make use of alchemy for whatever reasons." Xesh stated as he took a breath. "Now while a lot of hunters make use of alchemy, not all of them have perfected using it. In fact it's not uncommon for a hunter trying out something new to screw up and create complete garbage. To ensure that doesn't happen, hunters either acquire or record logs that depict the proper methods needed to actually create something that either isn't useless or won't end up killing you."
"I am Hunter Irene." A red haired woman stated as she took a moment to push back her hair. "Welcome to dissection class." She stated. "To keep things simple, we're going to be cutting up dead animals." I understand that some of you are no doubt a bit uncertain and squeamish about cutting up the dead, but I assure you, this is a general skill for all aspiring Hunters." She explained.
"Pss~" Gales turned his head as he tried to get Erza's attention. "Erza~ Erza~."
"What?" Erza said in an annoyed tone.
"Irene looks like an older you."
"Well, she is my mom." Erza stated as she tried focusing on what her mother was saying.
"Oh… wait what?"
"As Hunters, we use the dead to improve our weapons. Forging new ones from their bones and talons and scales. That is our way of honoring them." Irene stated. "You can learn a bit about a hunter based entirely on what their armor and weaponry is forged from. You can learn what they've hunted up till now, see what they had to go through in order to get to this point in their career." She released this beautiful smile.
Now as you are not yet Hunters, such a thing doesn't yet apply to you, but you will get there in time. For now, we need you to get used to both death and cutting up the dead." She stated. "Do you understand, this isn't for someone with a weak stomach." She paused. "No hunter can have a weak stomach for these kinds of lessons." She told them. "Since you're all new, we're going to start small. On your table you'll notice a dead frog. Please follow my instructions in cutting it open and pulling out what I tell you to."