Skirmish at Sunset

Eltheca, Ensher's Room, Sunset

Ensher was calmly writing down her reports about the ongoing examination as a knock was heard on her door.

"Enter."

A young man stepped in as he closed the door softly then approaching her desk. Crossing his arms, he awaited her attention.

"It's already that time?"

"Yes, most of the groups have finished. We're currently waiting for Kien's however."

Lifting her head, Ensher pondered lightly at the sound of Kien then proceeded to respond.

"Ah, well it is getting dark soon so it should be done in a matter of minutes."

Raising a hand to his chin, the young man held a disappointing look on his face which expressed more than enough his feelings on the matter.

"Certainly, though I must protest that his methods of training the new recruits are rather brutal even if it is mere basic training."

Ensher placed her pen down and pressed her hands together firmly acknowledging his statement as she raised her eyes to his.

"I understand Ethan, however we cannot afford to have anyone of us unprepared while on their missions. It's been years since then, but it still haunts us to this day."

"The Blood of Eltheca..."

Grimly pulling her hands back with a sigh she nodded as visions of young recruits slain across the battlefield by their own comrades posing as Chasers themselves only to turn their backs to them thus instigating paranoia throughout The Chase.

"If they are not ready for combat, then we cannot afford for them to be out there with us. The Grand Chaser herself has told us this during The Council of The Chase years ago."

Scratching his head, the young man could only softly nod at her response then looked out to the sun slowly disappearing as the sky was illuminated with its fading light the moon shortly appeared.

"The examination should be ending shortly; I will take my leave then."

"Ethan?"

"Yes?"

"Please don't be so hard on him, he's been through enough as it is."

"...I understand."

Taking his leave Ensher sighed as if a large burden was removed from her shoulders as she then looked upon the pages, she was writing upon with a soft smile then closing the book and walking out towards the courtyard.

Kardia Shore, Clifftop, Sunset

"Hyah!"

"Sloppy..."

"Hrk!"

Casually evading a wild thrust from his opponent Kien knocked him out cold as the young man's eyes rolled back then dropping this weapon. Noticing the approaching newcomers, he took a moment to look around as the unconscious bodies piled as the day was soon ending.

'Only her? This is a disappointing lot.'

However, as soon as he said that he sensed an alarming aura of killing intent just as he conjured his blades parrying a split-second attack from a hooded figure. She was short in size yet nimble and then peering into the hood the eyes glowed as the light illuminated them as he bore a light smile.

'Finally.'

The figure leapt back brandishing her weapon in combat ready stance as Kiizu's eyes widened recognizing the figure as the girl she saw hours earlier. Then, noticing the trio of recruits she encountered she soon found herself rising from the ground still fatigued from her bout with Kien but was able to lean on the dull weapon for support.

"Whoa! What happened here?!"

"Are they dead?"

The young men were alarmed then brandishing their weapons as both Kien and the girl didn't bother paying them attention. However, noticing Kiizu near the goal they were shocked and pointed fingers.

"Wait! She made it?!"

"No way! Okay we gotta win this!"

"Yeah!"

*BOINK! BOINK! *

"OW!" Both remarked.

Executing discipline on the two of them, the final member of the trio puffed her cheeks then stepping forward nearing the hooded girl who in turn did not let up her focus on Kien. Taking a moment to study the situation, she softly whispered to the other.

"We'll draw his attention; I trust you can finish him?"

".... Sure."

"Right, good luck alright?" She said with a smile then drawing her weapon.

"Whatever..."

"Hey! What are we supposed to be doing?!"

"Yeah! What he said!"

As they stood side by side Kien could only sigh at the sight of what he asked for from this examination. Conjuring his other blade in hand, he readied himself. The boys smirked as they gave each other a fist bump as they suddenly disappeared.

'Wait...'

*CLANG! *

Suddenly finding himself in the air, the large blades interlocked as if intending to cut him as he felt their gaze as he softly landed on their weapons relishing in their grim expressions he looked towards the girls then pointing a blade at them.

"Come."

As the girl drew an arrow from her quiver, she notched it calmly then looking at his face. Then before releasing it she grinned in response to his taunt.

"Of course!"

"Let's do this!"

"Haha!"

"..."

Suddenly separating Kien flipped back towards Kiizu as he immediately saw that the arrow would hit her if simply evaded to which he reached out for the arrow by its shaft as he landed softly in front of her. Snapping it, he was met by a wild strike from the hooded girl as his face was grazed lightly.

"Good."

"...."

Sending her back, Kien immediately went into the shadows disappearing from their view as they were confused as to where he was. Kiizu meanwhile struggled to speak but could only view the inevitable events that would transpire just like the rest of the recruits as it was only a miracle that she survived her encounter with him.

"Hey! Watch out!"

"Behind you!"

"Eh?"

The girl then reacting to the boys' warning she turned only to see a flash of light in her eyes as Kien attempted an attack of his own only to be parried by the hooded girl then knocking the two of them back towards the boys crashing into them. Walking towards the group he sheathed his blades then crossing his arms.

'Hmm...they have potential...this could work...'

Taking a moment to look at Kiizu who then puffed her cheeks at him in response to which he could only return his usual expression though what came out from his mouth soon after caught them by surprised.

"You pass."

"Huh?"