[Mina]
The talk with Vera was, thankfully, very peaceful. Mistress had previously mentioned that the talk may devolve into her desiring to take the Young Miss as her disciple. I did not know why someone like Miss Vera would want the Young Miss as her disciple.
Till now all her students were young men with a burning fervor for battle and arms as thick as their thighs. I really did not know why someone who only took in such students would want the Young Miss.
As always the Mistress was well-informed and she knew everything.
She directly told me about the Young Missus body and why this would be so interesting to Miss Vera.
And I have to admit that when Mistress told me about how her body is refined to its optimum and her potential for both bodily cultivation and regular cultivation is way above the norm, I too was very interested in how she achieved this.
Sadly Mistress directly told me that this is apparently a technique that only works for people of her clan. But she also told me that the Young Missus has a terrifying background, something I knew from the point where the Mistress became frantic about the Young Missus health and that we could profit from serving her.
Aside from the profit, I know that serving the Young Miss will be a pleasurable experience.
While the Young Miss tries to appear all mature and adult-like she is completely unable to hide her fascination for the various things she sees around her.
I think she herself is completely oblivious to her facial expression when she saw the inside of the central guard station, the frontal garden of the Mistress private residence, the gateways that are placed in the inner area of the Order, or the inner hall where she was proclaimed as the inheritor of the Mistress.
Her behavior is really cute, coupled with her sweet beauty and her innocently mature behavior I find it hard to resist her. I'd love to cuddle her. ever since I left the training grounds as an instructor I have not been able to spend time with the younger members of the Order.
I notice it lately but I really miss the times where I was able to guide and take care of the younger children.
"Sigh..."
"Is there a problem, Mina?"
Oh! I seem to have sighed aloud. Turning my head to the side I can see the enquiring gaze of the Young Miss.
"Don't worry, Young Miss. I was only lost in my thoughts. It is nothing important."
"That's good!"
The Young Miss face instantly showed a brilliant smile. Once again I feel like she herself doesn't notice that she often smiles at her surroundings. Her smile can really brighten the mood and raise morale. She would make a brilliant mascot.
"Young Miss. I have forgotten to inform you about some things."
When I was lost in my thoughts I remembered that I wanted to explain the plan the Mistress made for the future weeks and perhaps months.
"What is it?"
Once again her face morphed into this endearing, questioning gaze.
"The Mistress had informed me about your future instructors. For future interaction and because there is no one better available, First and her unit will take over your combat training.
They are experts in various weapons and techniques. They can also instruct and teach you real combat experience.
While Dua and I are stronger, we lack the experience First has. We have our fair share of combat experience but First and her squad have fought for years on end."
When she heard that First would teach her, her face showed an anticipating expression.
Normally kids her age would not be thrilled to spend their time in a training field, at least most would not, but the Young Miss looked like she could not wait for her training to start.
"Then what will you and Dua teach me?"
Right after I told her that First and her squad would be her instructors she wanted me and Dua as well.
"We still don't really know. Since combat and survival experience will be taught by First and her unit and actual cultivation will probably be Mistress part, and you will visit a school, there is not much we can teach you."
"Oh..."
The dejected expression on the Young Missus face was really heartbreaking.
"I will, of course, ask the Mistress whether or not we are allowed to participate in the teaching regiment!"
Seeing her dejected expression, I hastily answered before thinking about it.
But after seeing her happy expression I knew that I had to somehow convince the Mistress to allow it. Let's hope she has something for us...
As we sat in the carriage for a few minutes only silence accompanied us.
There was nothing much to talk about. We all knew that we would have to first meet the Mistress as she would know how to proceed.
And while on my side only silence reigned, Dua was eating. Sweets to be exact.
One might not be able to guess from her character, face, and body but Dua was a fanatic for everything that is sweet. This is a trait she shares with Five. Despite their very different character, the two somehow hit it off. I have seen them together on more than one occasion. The last time they were visiting various Confectionaries in Rias, I did not go and greet them because I know how distant Five is.
I do not have a bad relation with Five, I think our relationship is much better than with most but we simply do not meet often enough to be close friends. I actually don't know whether or not we could be called friends. It's...complicated?
Anyway. The only things that matter right now are the Mistress and the Young Miss. While they both seem rather unperturbed, I cannot get these thoughts out of my head.
Even if we have a rather harmonious relationship in this city this does not mean that there are no undercurrents. There are gangs and smugglers and no city will ever live without them.
'Our' gangs are milder than the ones who call the capital or other cities their 'home' but this does not mean they are harmless.
They refrain from any big actions and keep themselves well-informed. Their networks are not in rivalry with each other but they cooperate. Their territories are 'peaceful'. No violent takeovers. Gang fights on the street. They are content with their territory and do their utmost to keep the Guards off.
Sometimes our Order helps out but we are simply too few and not informed enough to destroy them with one strike.
And while the gangs pose a problem, my sight is focused on the other members of the council.
They are all the heads of a certain faction and nobody can tell me that you don't have any ambition when faced with the opportunity of taking over more territory and more power.
That's why the Young Miss has First and her Squad at her beck and call. Normally that would have been unnecessary but now she became the Mistress personal inheritor. At first, she would have been faced with some curiosity as the Mistress has always taken geniuses of their own as disciples and she would be one as well.
But an Inheritor! That is another story! An inheritor will inherit everything. Techniques, wealth, position and literally anything the master can give. No one just takes someone as his or her inheritor!
The Mistress has not told me why she changed the plan but she will have her reasons.
For now, I can introduce First's Squad in detail. I think we have not done that yet and it would be good for the Young Miss to know about her new subordinates.
"Young Miss."
I turn myself towards the Young Miss. Right now she is resting her chin on her left hand and is staring out of the carriage. I don't know what she is thinking about but she seems tired.
ever since she woke up, she has been a bit lethargic. I think a good nights rest and a healthy breakfast will help her get over the stress.
Sadly the coming days will be everything but relaxing.
She raises her head as I call her and looks at me. Her gaze contains the same questioning expression that makes her so cute.
"What is it, Mina?"
The Young Miss is still very much focused on acting and being adult-like. While she is unbearably cute I guess we will have to teach her how to hide her expressions. This is a definite weakness.
"I thought that it would be good for me to introduce First and her Squad to you before the Oath and before we arrive at the mansion. Right now we have some time and I can explain a bit more."
When The Young Miss heard that I would introduce First and the others to her, her eyes instantly brightened and all her previous tiredness disappeared in a flash.
"Ahem. First I will have to tell you about the way our Fighters are chosen and trained.
We all start at the point of being recruited. There are no really specific ways to choose only some criteria.
First: All recruits have to be female.
Second: The average affinity with a single element has to be at least common.
Third: The recruits have to be willing to enter the training for a two year period without outside contact.
These conditions are relatively mild compared to other organizations but we make up for that with our training regiment. The basic training is the same for everyone.
Fitness and close combat. Cultivation and utilization of energy in general.
After that, all recruits go into specific courses. Support, Combat, and Diverse.
They then spend one and a half years in these courses before they are tested and judged.
Based on their result they will continue their training for one or two more years and will then enter the Order to work. These one or two years are more relaxed and focus on furthering the already good foundations which is why they are then allowed to leave the premises of their training camps.
In every batch of recruits, there are a few special ones. Some have a unique ability, high affinity or something else that makes them stand out. These people are offered to work directly for the Mistress and if they agree they will join the Elite Troops.
First and her Squad is one of these Elite Troops. They all have their unique ability and have finished their training with excellent scores.
But let me introduce them. First is originally called One. She is called First because she always scored the first place in all exams. She takes pride in having done her best to achieve the top position which is why she directly accepted it when the others started calling her First. Respectively the others were called Second, Third and so on.
Aside from that, she is also...
.
.
.
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After an exhausting and long description, I hope that the Young Miss was able to get a good overview of her new subordinates.
The overly simplified summary would be something like this:
One is the leader. She commands and organizes the unit. She is also the expert in hand-to-hand combat. She is stern with an inner fable for weapons it is at the limit of being a full-blown fetish and is caused by her incapability of using most weapons effectively. She also has a fable for any type of 'natural weapons' such as claws, tails or other body parts.
Two is the second leader of the group and is lovingly called 'Lieutenant' by her comrades. She is open-minded but still very strict. Despite her warm character, she becomes a bundle of fury should you fail your assignment. Especially if it is an easy one. Despite her hardcore leadership, all members love her as she has only the best for the team in mind and always supports them. She fights using a type of ax.
Three is a small woman. Despite her small build, she is another CQC expert. Her specialty are two scimitars with whom she first confuses and then kills her enemies. Her character is rather shy and this does not change during combat. Even if she does not hold back she is still easily flustered in combat and shy. She is also one of the stealth experts of the team.
Four is Three's big sister. She is taller than most women but she too has a problem with being shy. She is not as bad as her sister but it inhibits her social capabilities. She fights using a large Guandao which she uses with agility rather than brute strength. Despite her not relying on brute strength she is the vanguard of the team. Using her speed and agility she uses large swings utilizing her body's rotational force to destroy the enemies lines and defense.
Five is a reclusive woman. She is warm and nice once you know her but she holds to herself. She does not speak much and most conversations are a shaking head or a nod on her part. Despite her character she too is one of the close combat experts of the team. She fights using a spear that can be split into two smaller staffs with steel-tipped ends. She possesses the ability to utilize Intermediate Healing spells using her Water affinity.
Six is the first and strongest long-range expert of the team. She has a genius affinity with both fire and lightning. Using these destructive elements she is able to cause wide-spread destruction or intensely concentrated damage. Aside from her magic, she focuses on using a bow albeit she only recently entered the expert level with her bow. She minors in potions and poison which she learns from Seven.
Seven is also one of the long-range fighters. She concentrates on crowd control and suppression. She also acts as the teams support. Poison, potions and raw herbs. No matter what she will throw it at her enemies and allies. Her affinity with nature allows her to use Nature Magic which helps her alchemy and her support. Buffs and Heals are thrown at her allies while her enemies suffer her curses and poisons. She also uses a whip.
Her character is one of the few that conforms to the stereotypical opinion of alchemist being eccentric people. Research is her top priority after her teammates. Said research often causes her to smell. This smell can vary strongly as it is sometimes pleasant and sometimes it will make you faint.
Eight is the only medium-range fighter of the team. Her weapon of choice is a pair of chain sickles often laced with Seven's poison. She has an affinity with earth and water and utilizes Earth magic to support her comrades by changing the terrain and obstructing the enemy while using a variation of her water magic to produce ice with which she slows and obstructs her enemies. Her character is the exact opposite of her element. Cheerful and charismatic, she is a medium height woman with a beautiful face with small dimples.
Lastly Nine. Nine is the super-long-range expert of the squad. She utilizes one of the dwarven countries finest products the High One herself bought for her. The weapon is a product of an unknown engineer that supposedly visited the dwarfs before they even build their country. The weapon category is called Firearms and her weapon is a Long-Range Anti-Material-Rifle. She utilizes her long range to catch the enemy off-guard and finish their strongest members in a flash. Aside from her rifle she fights using two handguns and two Kukris. Both developed by the same unknown engineer.
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These are the links for images of the Maids weapons. Not all of them but most.
Two's axe. Found nothing better. Make it less fancy:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5b/c1/93/5bc193c12acd7b78f304115d2ff31ea2.jpg
I found a perfect image of how I imagine three's scimitars to be:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/01/57/27/0157272f6a4ee5369056a2c000c01efd.jpg
Found one for Four's Guandao:
https://www.dragonsports.eu/115682-verylarge_default/guan-dao-hallberd-8-naginata-thick-blade.jpg
This comes close to Five's spear:
http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server4100/dd172/products/1123/images/6366/72_Full_Tang_Battle_Ready_Japanese_Sankaku_Yari_Spear__78772.1351104177.1000.675.JPG
This is Seven's Whip. Just add a bladed tip to it:
http://www.mickswhips.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/croc-yard-whip-micks-whips.jpg
This is Nine's Kukri, her Rifle and her handguns:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9d/8f/91/9d8f91d7701360f8255eb65cf8f932f7.jpg
http://www.yugoimport.com/sites/default/files/m12_long-range_sniper_1.jpg (less modern)
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/29/c5/13/29c513e2dc0f247981c5e0b9ec6daa08.jpg (pure black for both and less modern)