The trio walked through the bushes, their gazes navigating the lush greenery.
"Are we there yet.. " Amy groaned.
Zach in the other hand silently followed behind.
"Tch.. if you think you can do a better job navigating these coordinates then be my guest.." Arthur snapped.
"Whoa chill.. " Amy laughed.
Arthur gritted his teeth in annoyance he eyes snapping back to the paper that was given to him by miss Lauren.
Zach was still shock that the middle aged woman left them to navigate a facility that spans up to an island.
"So.. how does this practical training work anyway" Amy sighed as she followed closely behind Arthur.
Arthur looked bewildered at her puzzled gaze " you don't know ?" He asked.
"If I knew I wouldn't be asking questions dummy.." Amy rolled her eyes.
Zach too was intrigued..
Because he's seen the way some students fight at the higher years, it seemed more refined and eloquent. Was there some sort of public training.
"Umm it's more like a public training" Arthur spoke stoking a bush aside.
"Public training..?" Amy raised a brow.
Yes." Arthur replied.
"All students will gather in one place, randomly swinging a sword until a master notices their talent, and takes them in as a disciple.." looked ahead.
"I think we're here".
In front the bush clearing in front of him was an platform made with bricks—An artificial plateau.
Atop this massively wide structure—roughly 2 km students stood on it, swinging their wooden swords.
"Ahhh.. this is so hard... my hand hurts" A student complained.
"Yep this is definitely the place.". Arthur expression turned smug.
How will you get chosen by a master..? " Zach asked.
"The masters are always watching..." Arthur replied.
Zach didn't know any about sword fighting or any kind of weapon at that, he could some people wielding spears, daggers and scythes.
"Maybe I can asked them for guidance" Zach thought.
The sheer size of the plateau made it incredibly easy to get lost.
In the distance a robes figure approached the trio.
"Are you new here..?" He asked not sparring the trio a glace as he walked over to the wooden rack just a few meters away.
"Pick a weapon.." he said.
The ominous man didn't even waist a single step, his aura radiated something familiar—power.
Zach looked at he rack, filled with all sorts of wooden weapons, spears, katanas, daggers, straight swords and so many others.
Zach picked the long straight wooden sword, since Aragoth was a straight sword he figured it would be better for him.
Amy picked two dual short swords, and Arthur picked a katana.
The figure just pointed to the plateau, "..Impress the masters.." he said walking away from the group.
The Trio looked at his back.
"His aura gave me chills.." Amy shivered.
"I know.." Arthur admitted.
Zach stood in slience. Looking at the man's back.
"Zach.. are you there"... Amy's voice broke through his daze.
"Umm yeah" he said rubbing the back of his head.
*Attention students *
A loud voice echoed from atop the podium. "Come on let's go Amy rushed to the platform as Zach and Arthur silently followed behind.
The students gathered in a large circle and at the Middle a robe figure stood, Zach wasn't too short so at least he could glance at the person making the announcement.
"How well you do here will determine the rest of your future in this facility, you be here for the next four days" the robed figure spoke.
Murmurs erupted. people gazed at robed figure in disbelief.
" the amount of food you'll be getting will be directly proportional to your progress, so work hard... or die hungry..".
The robed figure walked off the podium leaving the students stunned.
****
" Sigh.."
Zach couldn't possibly ask for guidance from strangers, that thing was too hard.
He wanted to approach a girl who was using almost the exact same long sword as him but he got stoped by a feeling in his chest.
"I think I have social anxiety". He sighed in defeat.
Amy had zero problem blending in. instantly she asked someone offered to teach show her the ropes..
"Ahh women have such unfair advantage."
Zach walked around sometimes and saw Arthur in the distance.
The young cadet swung his wooden katana at different angles, dancing around the podium like a wasp striking the air with deadly precision.
Zach watched from the distance.
"What your cool.. can we spar.." A red haired student approached the blond haired cadet wielding a straight sword.
Arthur looked puzzled but gladly accepted.
They clashed with their wooden swords.
Arthur moved gracefully striking the red haired student making him stagger a few meters back in surprise.
'you..'.
Arthur moved this time charging at him, the duo clashed, and Arthur dominates the fight with impressive footwork and deadly precision.
Each strike chirping at the red haired student defense.
Slowly people turned to look at the spectacle going on in front of them as Arthur narrowly avoided a slash. Spinning around and landing a devastating strike to the kids neck.
"Argh.. " the wooden long sword collapsed on the floor with a thud.
"Tom are you okay.." some onlookers rised to the scene, toms held his neck, which was bleeding.
"Nah I'm ok.." he shrugged. I was just careless.
'ugh show off...' Zach made a face.
Soon one after the other, students walked up to Arthur to spar, the clash would last for a few moments before the opposition completely loses their guard and get fell by Arthur's blade.
'Sigh.. I'm busy searching for a teacher when the teacher was in front of me the whole time.'