The sun had just risen and to the side of the southern garrison training area, a black cloaked figure sat alone. Well, Jeffrey had arrived really early and was the first one here. He was directed to wait in the training area until everyone else came, then they would be briefed by Guard Lieutenant Wills about their roles and allocations.
He was in quite the precarious situation yesterday, but with no disturbances through the night, he could say with mild confidence that he shook off the devil summoner.
Eventually, a couple of other people arrived, including that summoner girl he sparred before. She seemed popular amongst the recruits and would occasionally glance towards Jeffrey with a cold or perhaps mocking expression. Her shin was wound up in bandages and she had a mild limp as she walked.
With the sun up, it could be estimated to be mid morning. Everyone had arrived and sat away from Jeffrey. Not that it was anything new. In fact, Jeffrey felt more secure without so many people around him.
He was indeed quite the loner.
Showing up late, Guard Lieutenant Wills called everyone to attention. The eleven recruits, including Jeffrey all, stood in a line.
"Okay, you all will be assigned to this Garrison, except you over there," he pointed toward Jeffrey who stood on the end of the line, a fair amount of distance from the person next to him.
"You, buddy will be assigned to the eastern garrison, they're rather short on hands there."
The other recruits started to jeer at Jeffrey after this was said, it seemed like the eastern garrison had a 'reason' for their lack of personnel.
"Shut up! He's being sent there because he has practical skill, unlike you fresh fish!
You'll be staying here 'till you can actually defend yourselves properly!"
This remark made the summoner girl burn hot with humiliation.
To think an esteemed Star Summoner such as herself is evaluated as less than a ruffian.
"This is horse shite!" she couldn't resist the urge to yell back.
"Are you perhaps questioning this decision, little girl?" Wills' mocking attitude only served to vivify the other recruits.
"Yeah! You tellin' me, that this bandit is just gonna be accepted in? You can't just accept bribes like that!"
"This is corruption!"
Everyone started shouting random accusations.
"If you doubt his capabilities, why don't you spar him and see for yourselves how incompetent you really are."
His challenge statement silenced the crowd, despite how they ripped on Jeffrey a moment ago, the truth was they were rather afraid of him. He looked like he wouldn't hesitate to kill, not to mention his 'cold,' 'unfeeling' eyes.
After a moment one recruit spoke up,
"I'll fight you," it was the red haired man from before, he had mustered up his courage, and stood up against Jeffrey like he was putting his life on the line to defeat a tyrant.
Wills felt that this was a bit dramatized, but he seemed to be doing it to gain face with the summoner, so Wills had the decency to not ruin his chances.
…
Confronting the black bandit, Roddy held his blunted standard issue sword with his right hand, pointed toward his foe.
Opposite him, the black bandit held two blunted daggers, one in a reverse grip, the other poised to strike.
"Alright, you two can start," though Wills announced the start of the spar, the two still stood staring for some time. Until Jeffrey rushed at Roddy, in a similar fashion he rushed Prisca, the summoner.
Breaking from his reverie, Roddy clumsily blocked a slash from the left, onto to be met with a jab from the right. It was too quick, although his tunic allowed him to not be truly injured, it still hurt to be jabbed by a dagger, even if blunted.
However, Roddy didn't give up, even when Wills called off the spar. Roddy raised his sword and attempted to slash down on Jeffrey. Though his long exaggerated movement of bringing his sword above his head left him wide open. A simple kick was enough to wind him, and leave him crumpled on the floor.
It was embarrassing how quickly he lost.
…
Looking back at Roddy who was helped up by one of the other recruits, Wills started his lecture,
"I hope you all will see that there is a lot more training you need to go through before you can be proper guards of this Tanz City."
Though reluctant, the recruits could only agree with what Guard Lieutenant Wills said.
"Anyway, back to our previous conversation," addressing Jeffrey he said, "You will be assigned to the eastern garrison, Karl should be up there waiting for you, he'll fill you in on the details."
It seemed everything was solved, though there was one problem.
How to get to the eastern garrison.