Episode 17: Walls crumbling

The break was over and the teams assembled around the guild master again

guild master: now you’ll be wearing this red cloth, again, in your left arm. you will proceed along the same route as before, but this time assuming enemies are around, the instructors will stalk you and try to exploit any mistake you make and attack you, so be prepared to fight or flee.

Nagye: (here it is, the hand monster drill that knocked out both Taro and Shizuka, I am not looking forward to this)

guild master: if you are captured or defeated, you’ll be sent back here, or in case you can walk back on your own, please do, but remove your red cloth beforehand so the instructors know, if there’s no questions, then we may commence at my signal

the drill had started, the teams started moving. when Sidra and Nagye were away from the guild master’s sight, Nagye’s bird was sent flying again,, but this time the view was much different

Sidra: Nagye? are you alright?

Nagye: th-they’re all coming—-h-here

Sidra: goddess gracious, may we be on our way then

Nagye: y-yeah but, so-sorry, I’m not skilled enough to fly my bird with my eyes open, it m-makes me dizzy

“You have to make the decisions on when to fight or retreat”

Nagye: (I may be a failure, but I have the responsibility, I can’t let them down, be strong, be strong) we’ll ha-have to run while avoiding them based on the last place I s-saw them

Sidra: may it be done with the goddess favor

they started running in directions that kept them away from the approaching instructors, Nagye and Sidra stopped periodically between sprints to aerially assess the situation. for some reason most of the instructors were ignoring the other teams

Nagye: it’s almost like… they are fo-following us, what do we d-do?, I d-don’t know how to f-fight…

Sidra: and as a priestess, I don’t fight either. may the goddess protect us

they went for another sprint, but this time, a flying mace hit Nagye in the legs, making her trip and fall. then Ari and 2 others jumped from the grass and surrounded the girls

Ari: we got them!, the highest value targets

Sidra just stood there and let the guy with a shield run her over

shield instructor: huh?, they are not defending though

Sidra: we surrender, I beg of your mercy before the goddess’s eyes

mace instructor: huh?, you can't just surrender without trying to fight back girls, if we were real bandits, would you just let us do whatever we wanted to you?, you gotta show a bit of tooth and nail at least

Ari looked at Nagye on the floor, shaking from the impact, then whispered to one of the instructors

Ari: did we go overboard?

mace instructor: we were all told that the court mages’ daughter was our priority target since she held the most powerful mana control, I guess our ambush was simply too good?

Ari: I guess that’s enough, let’s pretend you got all beat up, go back to the starting point

shield instructor: next time we won't be so kind, get ready to fight, what if it's you who have to protect my kids?, you gotta show them enemies the teeth and nails

Sidra helped Nagye stand up, they removed the cloth on their arms, and walked back

Nagye: s-sorry, I c-couldn’t do anything, and now all the instructors will focus on us b-because they think I’m some sort of g-genius, it’s all my fault

Sidra: may we endure with the goddess favor

as Nagye walked, she flinched from the pain in her leg, Sidra noticed and proceeded to apply her Healing Grace

Sidra: there, I will not let a soul suffer before my eyes. No matter how much they may hurt us, we shall rise again, such is the power of the Healing Grace

Nagye: th-thank you, ye-yeah but… it still hurts, and its s-scary

that sentence moves something inside Sidra

Sidra: (if I am to ease suffering, I simply cast the Healing Grace, but then, if they are scared, or if they suffer pain, then what?)

they returned to the starting point and reported to the guild master

guild master: you were captured already?, surprising, I did not expect the instructors to be that efficient

Nagye: I umm, its b-because I… I don’t know h-how to fight, I’m sorry!

guild master: what? impossible, you are the daughter of the mages who taught me how to use explosive mana

Sidra: I’m afraid I cannot be of much help either, I am a priestess, not a warrior, I only heal, not fight

guild master: hmm? but what if you must fight to prevent people from being hurt?, why heal them when they are suffering when you can prevent that suffering in the first place?

Sidra stood in silence, she didn’t know what to answer

guild master: I know many church members who are skilled fighters. The duty to protect is not just about healing the injured, it's about preventing suffering, even if that means easing the fear of a child scared of the dark. I want you to remember that

the guild master’s words impacted like wrecking balls inside Sidra’s mind, cracking walls she erected long ago, shedding light on old memories

*----------------------------------------------

Sidra remembered being in the presence of her disappointed parents, she was a kid, bruised up, with bloody knuckles

Sidra’s dad: why did you have to do that? he’s the salt merchant’s son!

Sidra: He was bullying another kid, he had been bullying him ever since he came here!, he had it coming

Sidra’s mom: enough! I don’t want to hear more excuses!, you’re always fighting and now you’re trying to find a reason to justify it, and it might cost us a lot of money this time!, we might lose the deal because of you, go to your room and reflect on your actions!

Sidra went to her room while trying not to cry from both the scolding and the bruises from fighting not just the merchant’s son, but a whole bunch of his friends that joined in

she looked through the window, and saw some kids hanging out outside

lanky kid: uh-oh, its Sidra, she’s glaring at us from the window

chubby kid: l-let’s get outta here, I heard she will fight anyone that looks her in the eyes

the kids left, reminding Sidra her bad reputation in the neighborhood

Sidra: I don’t do that anymore, I only fight bullies now, and still, everybody hates me

—-----------------------------------*

the memory was over, and Sidra’s focus went back to the guild master

Sidra: I will try to keep it in mind

guild master: as for Nagye’s predicament, it is quite unexpected, but nothing that can't be fixed. change of plans, you will attend the mana combat lectures instead of the hostile patrol drill, there you will learn the basics, that way you won't be completely defenseless next time

They were led to where the lectures were taking place. There were people wrestling, some others were learning to manifest mana arms, others were sparring with wooden weapons, and others were sitting listening to lectures.

after scanning around, Nagye saw Taro sitting in one of the lectures, meanwhile Shizuka was dominating priest guy in a wrestling match

priest guy: wait you’re doing it too hard!!

Shizuka: hehehe, take this!, and this one is for the time I caught you hiding Taro’s shoes!

priest guy: aaghh!! help! help!

Sidra and Nagye went to sit next to Taro. He welcomed them with gestures because he didn’t want to disturb the atmosphere of concentration in the lecture. Nagye got close to him and began whispering

Nagye: T-Taro, umm, can you accompany me l-later? I n-need your help

Taro nodded. Meanwhile, Sidra was sitting in the lecture, but not listening to anything at all except her own thoughts

Sidra: (what if I return to how I was?, what if they find out?, they’ll stop liking me… they’ll hate me)