The next morning. A new day at the main district of the Caneloveft family with such beguiling redness of the sun glowing across the sky upon the cool wind, gracefully breathing against the trees, flowers and everything that comes it way.
The red sun reflects it's image on the fountain's stream of water as the statue of the Red-blooded armor mounted high known to all Humanes around as the pride of the Caneloveft.
In a room, Flavius was seen sleeping loudly on his bed, his curly hair was now scattered across his face and on his bed then he turned his body to the other side of the bed, positioning himself to the coolest side of it, he groaned a little. Maybe the fight between Herminia weakened his young body a little yet he loved every bit of his—A knock was heard on his room's door.
"Young master Flavius, you have been summoned to the… "
Flavius unconsciously raised his upper body from the bed as he blinked his bleary eyes while tirelessly scratched his lower back with a yawn. He stood up wearing nothing but loincloth, approaching the door while dragging his feet pushing away many scrolls on the floor.
"Young master Flavius... ?"
"Is it morning already?" He said to the door, his eyelids almost closed.
"… Yes, young master. You have been summoned to the valley for your first training… and you are late."
"I'm I?" He rested his head against the door as his eyelids slowly closed.
Flavius? Where are you? Matthan's voice asked in his mind.
"I'm in the room, why?" He answered unconsciously to the voice in his mind.
Everyone is waiting for you.
"Me? Why?" He had forgotten he was now the new wielder of the Red-blooded armor. He thought everything was a dream, having named the successor of the armour and fighting a short young girl that was selected as his Cohort.
Everything you think that'd happened yesterday wasn't a dream. Now your father is being mad at you.
"My father? My… "
Then a knock was heard on his door once again,
"Young master?... "
He opened his eyes wide, it was never a dream, he rushed to pick his a trouser given for his training on the floor to as he yelled.
"I'm coming—I'm coming... ugh! I'm okay." He fell while trying to get dressed.
Came out from his room as quick as possible while he puts his hands on his head to tidy up his curly hair, passed the devastated court took a quick-glimpse at the few Humanes using their potency to rebuild it.
It'd happened. He said to himself.
"Who was the fool that did this? This atrium alone cost a fortune. " One of the Humane questioned as he inspects the place.
The words pierced his head as he turned his face the other way while walking faster, escorted by the Humane who knocked the door.
Eventually he stopped at a grand-flat bottomed green land, containing rivers flowing from one end to the other, some part of the land was densely wooded along mountains as the red sun's rays and the cool wind transpired on the land, He took a deep breath in and out then he noticed Herminia beside him, dressed in a spilt cutter sleeves and a tight short. Her wild hair was now straightened almost covering her left hazel eyes as the wind blows while putting her hand on her hip with a poker face.
Flavius cleared his throat.
"H-Herminia—I… "
"What?" She countered without looking his way.
Flavius flinched a little. "I'm—"
"Telling everyone you are a con-artist, telling everyone that I'm a fake." Herminia rolled her eyes to him. "I don't belong here because I'm a girl? Because you are from a wealthy family and I'm not, that you could control we Humanes of this caliber that has nothing or—"
"I'm sorry." Flavius apologized as he stared directly into Herminia's hazel eyes, this time his blue blazing eyes said it all. He was truly apologizing. Could he have change over the night?
"Huh?" Herminia was dumbfounded.
"Yes, I said it. I'm sorry, okay. After thinking about everything Uncle Matthan said about you and with the way I reacted without hearing your own side of the story. I think—"
"You, think?"
"Yes-No, what I meant was I know, I take back everything I ever say about you. Please will you forgive my little ways of understanding and… tell me more about your world. I-I will tell you mine, if you ask."
"No problem. I'm glad you realize your mistakes. I didn't mean to be rude, we just think differently." She looked at the healed cut made by the blue-fire opal knife on her palm for a bit then squeezed her hand into fist, walked up to him, drawing out her fist, "we haven't probably introduce ourselves yet, Hi. I'm Herminia."
Flavius's blue eyes and his downward-turned mouth widened then he slowly fist pumped her.
"I'm Flavius, Nice to meet… "
He suddenly felt some tinkling in his palm then he looked down, red smoke came out from Herminia's fist and his.
"What's happening?" Herminia asked slightly shook...
"I don't know."
Then a surge of red sparks kindled on their fist then deflected both of them to the grassy ground. They both grunted.
"Once again, you kids are making my job as your trainer more easier." Matthan said behind with a tip on his hat.
"What happened?" Flavius looked at his fist as it faintly emits red semblance.
"You have taken the first step in wielding the EXTERMINATOR which could now be worn by any of you." Great-grandmother said as the praetorian guards matched behind.
"Does that mean, A Cohort can wear the armor too?" Flavius asked as he was assisted by Herminia back to his feet.
"Yes. Don't be surprise, it is a contract after all. Any of you could wield it but the differences are clear if one didn't consume another." Matthan replied.
"Please I don't understand," Flavius blinked.
"Huh, weren't you there during the orientation? What about the scrolls you were given to read?" Herminia asked.
I was asleep the whole time. And the scrolls where did I put it?
"He said, he was asleep the whole time. And the scrolls. He lost it." Matthan said Flavius's thought out loud.
"Huh, I didn't say… " Flavius lowered his eyes. "I will look for the scrolls probably in my room."
"What was meant by forming a contract as a single wielder is when two becomes one. The EXTERMINATOR has the ability to consume the contractor or the contractee both having the same abilities to become one."
"Hmmm. Now I understand." He smirked then he opened his palm wide staring at the healed cut on his hand. "But what if another being from our family spilled his or her blood on the Red-blood armor also having a Cohort, will it affect it's current wielder?" Flavius curiously asked as Great-grandmother shook her head.
"The answer to that question will be for another day. Now it's time for your training." Matthan said.
Flavius face brightened, hearing that from Matthan's mouth. The day as finally come.
"Cool. I can't wait. Tell us what to do, I don't see the Red-blood armor here." He looked around thinking the EXTERMINATOR would be worn on his first day of training.
"Not today, for now let's keep it very simple. The training you and Herminia are about to observe will help in gathering stamina and perseverance. Run to that mountain and be back before noon." Matthan explained, pointing to the highest mountain in the valley.
"Huh?! That?! It's freaking far from here, Herminia won't—" Before he could finished his words, Herminia was already in front running towards the mountain.
"What.. the?"
"You better go now, it will hurt if a small girl like her be the first to reach here before you."
"Ha. I-I. Gosh!" He turned running towards the mountain, yelling. "It's not fair."
Matthan smirked while watching them run.
"Where is Timilehin?" Great-grandmother asked.
Matthan turned to answered
"He left, Ma'am with his wife very early this morning."
"Hmmm. Not seeing their son before leaving I guessed, it all falls on Timilehin orders." She Smiled. "The new owners of the Red-blood armour will be interesting afterwards." She turned as she walks back. "Don't forget to check your injuries at the healer's before the day ends."
"Yes, Ma'am I will." Matthan bowed then he held his right side.
"Good to know, you aren't too depressed about this like my grandson."
Many moments later. The blue skies stippled with many furry clouds as it shadowed on the grasses in the valley along with the blazing sun shining ferociously on Flavius, his tongue sticking out from his mouth, panting his whole life out and sweating all over while staggeringly moving as though he was jogging yet awkwardly. He arms resting on his chest and his legs swinging around the grassy way.
"Huff, Huff, Huff! My liver, my kidneys, my heart are about to burst!" Flavius gasped also about vomiting thinking about both the pains and what he saw in his body yesterday. Everywhere was blurry, then he stopped. "I made it!"
He looked at the sky then closed his eyes.
"I-I... "
"Flavius!" Herminia yelled.
"Huh?" He opened his eyes not seeing what was in front of him.
"You are halfway through with the race," Matthan shouted while waving his arm, about two miles from where Flavius stood then he looked back hoping to see Herminia, squinted his eyes to the front where Matthan was, he could see a short girl standing near him.
"Is that who I think it is?" he struggled as he jogged the same awkward manner as before heading to them…
Few agony moments later, he was seen laying down on the grass breathing hard.
"I-I-I made it… This t-time."
"Here you go." Matthan said giving several gemstones which looks like diamonds to Herminia. He looked at Flavius with a big smile on his face.
"Time for the next training."
"What?... Just kill me!" Flavius complained.