Slip of the Tongue

The next morning Joshua awakens to a pounding on his door. Quickly jumping to his feet, he cracks his back and stretches his arms out as the banging gets louder and louder.

Looking back to his patient, he jealously watches her sleeping peacefully. “Lucky you.” He thinks to himself as he quickly heads to the door and opens it revealing Layrn herself. Immediately standing at attention he salutes her, only to be waved off.

“ Joshua, the twins notified me of your 'situation' before they went on their climb. Intrigued to see what its all about, I decided to come check it out myself and I’ll say… you did a good job dressing her wounds.” Narrowing her eyes, she gazes at Susanna looking her up and down as her foot twitches. Raising an eyebrow she clicks her tongue.

Making sure that she was loud enough for Susanna to hear, she continues. “Couldn’t have done it better myself. You go ahead and get dressed and go catch up with those two, I’d like to see how my pupil is doing.”

“Understood captain.” Joshua bows his head and grabs a few things as he makes his way out from his room.

“Kid, why did you just leave without question?” Draxis questions.

“That’s one of the rules around here, if your squad commander tells you to do something even if it’s poking an ogre with a stick.”

“Humans,” Draxis grumbles to himself.

Back in his room Layrn stares at her pupil blank faced tapping her feet impatiently. “Get up Anna, I know that you're awake. Did I ruin your plans by showing up. Are you disappointed?”

Immediately Susanna sits up blushing furiously stuttering. “That wasn’t my intention at all, I...

“Don’t ‘I’ me? He’s the direct lineage to the patriarch of the Terra clan. And has the potential to be great leader, an aura master and probably much more than that. That’s why he was sent to here in the first place. Blackwood isn't know for being easy to survive. "

"But that's not what I---"

“ I was your age once and I know why you were feigning unconsciousness.” Layrn shakes her head with a grin.

Susanna looks around feigning ignorance. “Huh, whatever do you mean captain?”

“Girls like hanging around boys they like... And you slept in the same room you little perv; I have my work cut out with you.” Face palming with a sigh she shakes her head.

“Yes, Squad Leader.” Susanna looks down dejected.

“Don’t look so down, with your arm being damaged you don’t have to participate in the next step of everyone’s training yet. It should give you more time to think about the direction you want to go.”

“What is it?” Susanna curiously asks holding her bandaged arm.

“Well after seeing what happened to you because of a wild beast, and Joshua's recklessness’ I figured everyone should get more accustomed to using weapons So, I’m pushing weapons training by a month.” Susanna nods in understanding.

“So, for the remainder of everyone’s stay here the four of you will begin sparring with each other and help each other overcome your weaknesses. Do you understand?”

“Yes ma’am, what kind of weapons do you have in mind for us?”

“Well for you, your smaller frame wouldn’t suit a long sword I was thinking something closer to a Rapier but I'm not sure if the time we have allotted here will be enough; Till then prioritize the crossbow. You’re a natural with it.”

“Understood.” Susanna cheerfully accepts Layrn’s praise her ears perking up.

“As for the others, I’ll need to watch them more. I’m leaning towards a Bastard Sword for Joshua he seems to be pretty athletic with a good physique even though his aura capabilities are kind of lackluster. He also seems head-strong so it would fit his personality.” Layrn noticing Susanna day dreaming again snaps her fingers repeatedly. Susanna’s mind wanders to Joshua’s physique at its mention before shaking her head: her face beet red.

“Stop thinking about Joshua, head back to your room and get changed. Meet the four of us in the drill hall in 0300 hours. I’m going to go catch up with them just in case that wolf wants to keep attacking my students.” Layrn growls as she quickly heads out.

Susanna finally alone with her thoughts shakes her head.” Is it really that obvious; if so, why doesn’t he acknowledge it then?” Mildly frustrated, she stands back to her feet taking a moment to regain her balance. Curiously looking around the room her gaze wanders. “I should probably head out now, but...” "I could also see what he's been up too." Curiosity gets the best of her. She can’t pass up the opportunity to snoop around his things, so around thirty minutes later she sits down completely disappointed. Joshua didn't have anything to hide.

“I was sure I’d find something.” With her shoulders and head drooping, she heads down to her own room in failure.

------

Back to Joshua, almost halfway to the top. Layrn quickly ascends upon him catching him off guard. “Hey Squad Captain, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Cut the honorifics brat, I just wanted to say thank you for saving my pupil. She doesn’t think things through sometimes and as you saw yesterday, she can get caught off guard easily because of it.”

“Aren’t we all your students?” Joshua’s questions sarcastically.

“Yeah, but she's half dark elf. I’m sure you of all people noticed my species.” Layrn eyes narrow as the sclera shift to gray.

“Yeah I noticed, I was honestly kind of surprised; I thought dark elves never left the Greyoll Forest aside from training or trade.”

“That’s probably because dark elves don’t exactly cooperate with outsiders, unless you’re like me and got kicked out due to the Friar Laws. ”

“Same.” Joshua unconsciously replies to the notion of being kick out of his clan.

“What?” Layrn gazes at Joshua puzzling response.

“Nothing.” Joshua sweat drops.

In his mind Draxis starts laughing. “Kid, you are so bad at hiding the fact you regressed. I mean come on, at least make a slight effort.”

“You wouldn’t get it; I was a mercenary for years; talking with purpose is not my strong suit. I’ve been doing my best to just control my tongue. Do you realize how hard it is to minimize my foul mouth around these kids?”

“Heh.” Draxis's laughter continues as, Joshua soon realizes that he's been speaking aloud.

“What do you mean you've a mercenary for years? You’re not even a man yet.” Layrn's tone drops. “And just who the hell are are you talking to? It clearly wasn't me.”

“Myself?” Joshua nervously backs up.

“Don’t try and lie to me kid, I can see through them easily. If something is plaguing you tell me. I can fix it. " Layrn steps forward knuckles cracking as Joshua takes another step back.

“Okay then, I’m just talking to an ancient dragon. That lives rent free in my head.” If Draxis had been able to drink anything, he would have spit it out right at moment. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BRAT, DON’T TELL PEOPLE I’M IN YOUR HEAD. DO YOU KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES IF SOMEONE FINDS OUT.”

“Sure brat! You’re totally talking to an ancient dragon. Oh, what am I kidding… If you don’t want to tell me that’s fine, but I’d start running.”

“Why?” Joshua raises his eyebrows as the hairs on his neck stand up.

“Because you've just pissed me off!” Joshua’s eyes widen in panic as he starts rushing away from her as he attempts to pool aura into his feet.“ That’s what you get brat… Remember that souls are currently linked right now.”

“Ugh fine, what do you mean our souls are linked though? I thought it was just my body.” His face contorts in confusion as he continues running from the beast chasing him.

“Do you really have time to waste worrying about that right now.” Draxis mentally motions to Layrn chasing them.

” Fair point Jackass” Joshua replies as his body starts trembling. Draxis with wicked grin on his face exerts his Authority once more slowing the boy down.

“It’s alright kid, you’re forgiven now. Only because she’s right on your tail.” Turning his head slightly he catches Layrn a only few feet behind him. Joshua whilst panicked barrels his boots into the ground reaching the summit in ten minutes flat.

Stumbling to the ground, Joshua feels Draxis relent his assault. “Welcome to the mountaintop, Joshua.” Vilhelm bellows out beckoning Joshua over to them only for Laryn to follow shortly behind. Standing at attention the twins raise a salute to their instructor.

Screaming aloud the twins echo out a reply. “HELLO SQUAD CAPTAIN.”

“At ease cadets. I’m up here to inform the three of you that in 0300 hours that we will begin the next step of your training and to not be late.” her gaze turns to Joshua as her eyes radiate annoyance.

“UNDERSTOOD.” The twins cry out.

“Yes, squad leader.” Joshua raggedly coughs out, his lungs screaming in pain: Chest shallowly rising and falling.

“Just what I wanted to hear." Layrn with a sharp twist makes her exit leaving the twins rushing over to Joshua. Questioning what exactly happened last night and why he's in such rough shape.

After half an hour passes as Joshua finishes telling his brothers the situation. “Long story short, she was attacked by a mutant wolf first. Then as I was trying to get her to safety a huge cat jumped the two of us before I killed it. Then I pissed Layrn off by speaking my thoughts out loud.”

“You really can’t catch a break, can you?” Wilhelm chuckles patting his brother on the shoulder.

“At this rate, probably not.” Joshua yawns aloud. “Enough about me, how has your training been? I know that you guys were already at another training site, but got in trouble with father.”

Wilhelm rolls his eyes. "Honestly we weren’t doing so hot over there. The instructors had such high expectations of us that it felt like we couldn’t even breathe wrong without them being critical of it.”

"It didn’t help that neither one of us have had much practice training with our aura cores; currently I’m only at 1 and Vil's at 2.” Wilhelm continues. “How about yourself?”

“Hm, I’m alright I guess still on my first core myself. I’m genuinely surprised to hear that from you though Wilhelm. I thought you guys would be further along than that. but I guess I'm not the only late bloomer." Joshua cracks a cheeky smile. Wilhelm sighs.

“I'm also glad to hear to hear you say that Joshua. So far, our time here has been pretty hectic. And that's not counting the people in charge being literal psychopaths. How did they even pass a psych evaluations?” Vilhelm rambles continuing on without pause.

“I mean all of them are insane, Gytha somehow has mana, so I don’t even know why she is even in our territory much less training our cadets. Weil is okay I guess, but he’s also a bloody drunkard. Gyles is well… the most normal I guess.” Joshua in agreement nods. " "As normal as one can be teaching here. "

“Don’t get us started on the commandant, as soon as we arrived, he felt the need to make examples out of us for being the direct descendants of the patriarch.” Wilhelm shudders. "We were literally chased by his hounds for an hour before being let into camp.”

“They all deserve to be imprisoned.” Vilhelm groans out.

“I agree guys, I wholeheartedly agree. but at least he didn’t greet you how he did me. If I hadn’t preemptively jumped from my caravan, I would have likely died.” Joshua replies with a gulp.

“Layrn at least seems to want to somewhat help us, treating us like actual cadets.” The three of them make their way back down the mountain all the way back to the wolf squad drill hall. Continuing their banter and conversation all the way down the side of the mountain.

After reaching the bottom Vilhelm finishes his story. “And that’s why we got thrown out of Leywiin’s Training Site.” Grimacing at the ending Wilhelm sighs.

“It’s not our fault all those kids decided to listen to obvious sarcasm and go try it.” Vilhelm waves his arms around obviously finding the whole situation hilarious.

“Yeah, some people just aren’t bright are they.” Joshua responds obviously influenced by his years of mercenary work; casting insults were basically second nature at this point. Stopping in his tracks he chuckles. “Hey guys, I can see the drill hall from here, I'll see y'all there I just need to go properly change. I’ll swing by shortly." As Joshua races off he leaves Vilhelm and Wilhelm by their lonesome.

“See ya shortly Joshua.” “I just wonder what she has in store for us now?” Vilhelm questions to himself as he waves towards his little brother.