Solo [Training Grounds] A New Road

[Crystal Nightshade]

6th of Summer, 516AV
7th of Bell, 10th chime
Syliras Order Recruitment Office

Crystal made her way up the stairs of the recruitment office. After her talk with Ferrin, she had decided to join the Order. His words had echoed in her head, how they could use someone like her. She was still second guessing herself by the time she entered the building. She stood awkwardly at the entrance, her thoughts rushing in like high tide, and crashing to scatter into many more. Moving forward was hard, she could easily go back out and pretended it never happened.

No, you have a friend counting on you.

She let that thought course through her veins, sink it, echo. And with that she was no longer rooted to the spot, rather the door out was obscured by her mind, only the way forward was visible. So she went further in.

At the desk sat a man, curly tresses of dark blonde hair rested on his head, and blue eyes pierced her own. She flinched but regained her composer when his harsh stare softened.

"Can I help you?"

Crystal shifted her weight uneasily, looking to the door before she was interrupted from wandering thoughts.

"Miss, please sit."

"Oh, um, yes." Crystal sat in the seat at the head of the desk as he had gestured, and the man let out a good natured chuckle causing Crystal to focus on him.

"'Scuse me for laughing, you look like a deer about to get struck."

Crystal couldn't help but crack a smile. This knight seemed kind, despite the scars that marred his body. "Sorry, I just.. I want to sign up to be a knight."

"Oh? And why would you want to do that?"

"Oh, it's," She wondered briefly if the question was some sort of test, but answered in the way she would have even if it weren't. "I want to be of use. I want to grow, improve, learn even.. I just can't see myself doing that in any other way than serving the people of Syliras. I.. I want a family again, people to protect. I want to fix what I know is broken within myself."

----

Crystal made her way home, unlocking the door to her apartment with ease. She sat on her bed with Leo, the leopard cur looking at her curiously. She then layed down and looked at the ceiling. Don't Crys, don't you dare.. And then she broke out in to sobs, startling Leo who quickly made his way to her to provide comfort. However, her smile confused him.

----

Crystal had gotten cleaned up, explained things to Leo - who didn't understand her excitement - and headed toward the training grounds according to the paper carefully stuffed into her pocket. She was to meet her Patron Knight - the one who would train her - there. Ser Erik had emphasized punctuality for her, apparently because her Patron was a punctual person. Sera Lissa Hoffman. Crystal wondered what the woman was like.

She hadn't mad any preparations, so she didn't know what her patron looked like. She stopped mid-step when she realized this. All of the women here could possibly be her Patron... Keep a level head and approach a place where she would be easy to see. That's what she'd go for. She looked around, noticing a lot of people were sparing and training, all knights or squires like herself.

Before she could walk further in, she was stopped by a woman. "Name and business." The woman said, and it wasn't a question.

"Oh, um, Crystal Nightshade. Um, my business? I'm looking for my patron?"

The woman's eyes softened, though just a bit. "Do you know their name?"

"Yes, uhm," Crystal pulled the paper from her pocket and read off the name. "'Sera Lissa Hoffman.'" The woman nodded and motioned for Crystal to follow. She introduced herself as Miriam Antinous, one of the weaponmasters of the training grounds. Afterwards she was introduced to a woman with dirty blond hair.

"Are you Crystal Nightshade?" The ebony haired woman nodded. "Good, you're on time. I'm Sera Lissa Hoffman, but you will address me as Sera or Sera Hoffman, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sera." Crystal nodded obediently.

Intellectual Seeker

[Crystal Nightshade]

"Good. Now tell me, what weapons are you familiar with? I know this was asked at your initiation, but I'll ask again; Do you know any magic?" Sera Hoffman had more authority in her voice than anyone Crystal had ever met. More so than her mother and father when she was scolded. She's somewhat intimidating... The ebony haired girl thought.

"I'm familiar with very few to be honest... I'm just learning how to use my shortbow, dagger, and short sword," the younger one stated sheepishly, but continued nonetheless. "I don't know any magic, I don't even know what it is..."

Sera Hoffman nodded, before signalling Crystal to follow her. "I don't know much about it myself, so I'm certain you don't need it." Crystal followed quickly behind her new patron, but furrowed her brows in confusion at the other woman's explanation. Guessing that she didn't need it, Crystal pushed her magic related thoughts to back of her mind.

Her Patron had dark brown hair, it was almost black in the shadows. Pulled into a messy bun, her eyes were a bright hazelnut color. Crystal then directed her attention to her armor. It had a a sword drawn on it, obviously meaning something. From what she observed from others around the Training Grounds, certain people were marked with two of them, but very few. "Excuse me Sera,"

"What is it?"

"Why are certain people with a different number of swords?"

"Quite observant of you Squire," Sera Hoffman chuckled before continuing. "It's good you pay attention to detail. These swords mark our rank. I'm a simple Knight, therefore marked with one. Sergeants with two, Stewarts with three, Captains with four, Wardens with Five, Lords with a shield, and finally, the Grandmaster with a tree."

Crystal nodded as she processed the information to let Sera Hoffman know she was listening. So one she left her squire position, her armor would be marked with a sword.. She supposed she could aim for Sergeant. It couldn't be to hard right? "How do we advance in rank then?"

"Once you reach the requirements to be a knight, I as your Patron will recommend you to the order for what is called a Knighting Quest. These quests are different from person to person, and are only given after I see you fit enough to do so. I'll tell you this now, I will not give the okay until you have matured both body and mind. Now I need to see what you can do."

"But Sera Hof-"

"Be silent squire. The time for questions has past, the time for me to test your worth has begun!" Interrupted Sera Hoffman. Authority rang true in her tone, almost daring Crystal to speak against her. Crystal nodded even though she still had many questions. "Good. Head over to that rack and pick up a shield and sword. When you return I want you to come at me with all you've got."

Crystal hurried to the weapons rack, thankfully finding a short sword before looking at the shields. She had no clue what any of these were, but she grabbed the one that looked light and easier to maneuver. "Would you mind telling me what kind of shield this is Sera?"

"Good choice squire, that is a kite shield. Mainly of us knights use them." Sera Hoffman said, slipping on some leather gloves. Crystal noticed her Patron had left her shield on a nearby bench, instead brandishing a her own short sword.

"Won't you need a shield to Sera Hoffman?"

"Of course not," she said with a devious smile. "You'll be too weak to land a hit on me anyway."

Crystal almost sneered; Almost. She instead furrowed her brows, and frowned. Anger was evident. She couldn't believe this. How could her Patron say things so lightly without testing her first? Crystal didn't know how to equip the shield, but she figured it out after turning it over. Putting her left arm through the bracer, she carried the short sword in her right.

"Come on then, prove me wrong if you can."

Intellectual Seeker

[Crystal Nightshade]

Sera Hoffman had angered Crystal, that she knew. The question became would she react with a level head, or just random outbursts of strength?

Crystal's frown turned into a scowl as her Patron spoke. As she was about to take a step forward, she recalled her mini lesson from Garland. What was it he said? Something about not letting her anger fight the battle?

"Squire, are you too scared to move?"

Snap. Crystal had had it. Enough underestimation, enough taunts, she would fight her way. It was just like the other fight, too much goading. It wasn't her anger that had snapped, it was her restraint. She was determined to prove Sera Hoffman wrong. She was weak yes. However, the weakness was physical. Perhaps she could win with mental strength.

Crystal observed Sera Hoffman. It wasn't often she studied an opponent, so she wasn't even sure what to look for. She knew that Sera Hoffman wanted her to attack first, so maybe she could surprise her somehow...

Crystal took a step forward slowly, almost hesitantly. She wasn't as confident in her skills in sword play, clearly Sera Hoffman knew this..? Though she didn't waver in the slightest. She was clearly comfortable in armor, but she looked even more confident in her sword skills. Her posture was loose, but the way she held her sword with purpose...

No, the younger woman wouldn't compare herself to her Patron. Instead she would give it her all. Crystal took a deep breath, exhaled, and charged her Patron. She was eager to please her Patron, hopefully impress her. Maybe even get a few revenge hits for the earlier remarks.

Crystal drew her blade back, preparing to make a thrust, but her Patron circled around her, kicking her in the back. Her momentum used against her, Crystal cushioned her fall with her arms. "Is that all you have Squire?"

Crystal stood and dusted herself off, only to receive a punch low in her stomach. Crystal coughed from the blow, monetarily losing her breath and taking a few steps back. "This is a spar, not a beauty pageant. Your looks won't matter if you're dead."

Crystal snarled and flared her nostrils, now she was angry. She aimed a punch at her Patron, sword all but forgotten. It was weak, ill timed... much left to be desired. Her Patron sheathed her sword gracefully before grabbing the fist aimed at her, and twisting it around Crystal's neck. "Are you angry Squire? Good, I'd be angry too if I was this weak."

Crystal grunted in pain as the grip on her wrist tightened, and pulled further into her back. She squirmed as she tried to lessen the pressure, but with each moment her Patron's grip tightened and pulled further. Eventually Crystal stilled.

"So I've got you attention now, do I? Your weak squire, too weak to even make it as a knight," Crystal growled and tried to elbow her Patron, only to have that wrist grabbed a a foot roughly on her back as she fell to the ground. Both her hands were hopelessly bound. "You are impulsive, too eager and arrogant to learn from your mistakes."

Crystal grunted as her Patron stepped off and released her. Crystal sat on her legs, rubbing her left arm. Her wrist would be bruised for a bit. Crystal frowned, unwilling to make a move on her Patron. She had made a fool of herself today, and she would never forget it. She smiled sadly, knowing her Patron would tell her to quit being a Squire.

"Beyond that however, I sense a fighters spirit. With the right Patron, maybe you can over come these things. The question is," Crystal turned to her Patron quickly with widened eyes. Did that mean..? "Are you willing?"

Intellectual Seeker

[Samuel Longwell]

Grading Complete Please edit your grade request thread so that it's obvious that it's been graded. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions/problems with your grade. Name: Crystal XP Award: Rhetoric 1 Observation 3 Socialisation 1 Endurance 1 Unarmed Combat 1 Lore: The Order: A new family? Joining the Order Sera Hoffman: My patron Sera Hoffman: Somewhat intimidating The Order: How to recognise a knight's rank The Order: A quest is required to become a knight. Sera Hoffman: Authoritative voice Kite shield: Often used by knights Sera Hoffman: A far more experienced fighter Rewards: +1 Shield point for training, +1 Shield point for thread with Patron. Notes: A nice thread, I enjoyed reading it. The relationship between knight and squire is already very interesting, good job!