Xavier's immediate reaction after hearing this older man's words was to try and create as much distance between them as he could. Struggling to free his hand from the man's grasp however, proved to be far too difficult for Xavier to achieve. Instead, Xavier found himself throwing his legs up and his body back gripping the man's forearm with his free hand. Xavier now had his legs around the man's neck and pulling back on his arm to try and choke the man out.
With a chuckle and grim smirk the man looked Xavier square in the eyes. "you seem to have some talent for a rat, but not the experience of how to use it." The man quickly punched Xavier along his left side and Xavier's entire body convulsed with agonizing pain. letting go of the man's arm but his legs now stiff in position Xavier hung upside down and tried looking around frantically for a way to escape. Realizing his legs were still around the man's neck Xavier let go of them holding his hands over his head and threw his weight backward to get away. With the grace of a brick, Xavier fell to the ground and rolled away some before rising again to his feet.
"Oh the babe is scared to face a real man is he?" The older man smirked to himself. Xavier was quick to respond saying. "Nah just couldn't stand the stench. I mean what did you drink your piss?" Xavier started to feel a bit more confident as he got some distance between the man now and could have a better chance to react. The man however now was getting visibly angered and came charging at Xavier like a rhinoceros charging its newest victim. Just before the man could make contact Xavier dropped to his back and raised a knee as the man passed over him taking the knee to the groin and stopping for a moment as he clutch at the source of pain.
"Leave it to a rat to do something so dirty and underhanded." The man then spat at Xavier's feet and Xavier just shrugged at him. "Didn't realize this was meant to be an honour-bound fight. Care to show me proper etiquette then master?" The man started to get angry again but realizing that Xavier was taunting him regained his composure and stayed at a few feet distance. "What is it you want from the palace boy? looking for some quick cash with something to sell or you looking to assassinate one of them fancy new woken?"
Xavier now realizing a bit as to what was going on dropped his defensive stance and stood more relaxed. "I don't know how the king would feel if I killed one of my own or stole from him after his kindness was gifted to me." The older man then became puzzled his one good eye looking focused on Xavier's face to try and call a bluff that wasn't there. "You trying to claim you're one if the woken yet you ain't in one of them fancy preppy rooms inside?' " No, I much more preferred the view last night to suffocation inside one of those rooms."
The man then started to chuckle and then his chuckled evolved into an echoing roar of a laugh Xavier would swear could wake up anything whose ears it reached. The man rushed at Xavier again and before he could get back in a defensive stance the man grasped his shoulder and shook him like a toy. " I like you boy, you have spirit and attitude and ain't all posh like most folk I meet in service to the king." Xavier feeling his teeth chatter as he was still being shaken about let out a small laugh and quickly shut his mouth for fear of breaking his teeth. "Well since you're not a dirty rat how about I apologize over some breakfast for you? I cook some good morning ham."
Xavier finally being released from the man's grasp smiled and nodded. "I'd enjoy some food, mind if I wake my party mates and bring them along too?" The man then had yet another puzzled look on his face. "You mean mate right? Each woken only gets one to start with everyone knows that much." Xavier now remembering his events from the night prior looked down ashamed that he was weak enough to need the extra member. "It's two. I will explain why after your apology meal." The man was still confused but understanding he hit a sore spot dropped it. "Okay, wake them and tell them to take you to Archvald's quarters."
Xavier returned to where he was sleeping and woke the two party members that were asleep there on the ground. He began to shake the male first. "Hey you uh, soldier guy wake up." After a few more shakes the boy woke up. "What is it, something happening sir? " "No nothings happening, I was just told to wake you and get you to lead me to Archvald's quarters." The boy's eyes shot open and he turned to the girl shaking her desperately. "Sintarra wake up now we have to go quick." "What is it Ethan I'm asleep?" "Archvald wants us at his quarters now!" Sintarra hearing that was already up and on her feet. "Hurry then he'll skin us if we're not there already." The boy, Ethan, and Xavier both took off after her all three of them sprinting.
"Why is this such a big deal he just-" Xavier was then cut off by Ethan. "Because he's someone you don't anger unless you have a wish to meet with your maker!" Xavier was unsure of what was so concerning but followed them into one of the three smaller buildings out of the bunch. The structure looked like a house on the inside and Xavier could smell the ham he was promised beforehand. The two of them shouted in unison "Reporting in quartermaster sir!" They then bowed and looked up at Xavier as if he should do the same but he just walked deeper into one of the rooms now hearing the sizzling of meat. "I brought them over sir. The food smells great even from outside."
The man was over a small fire cooking the meat in a pan holding it in the middle of the flames. "You sure made it fast, it's almost ready please my boy have a seat and invite your party in." Sintarra and Ethan hearing this looked at each other as if this was a nightmare and stepped into the room and sat down at his table. After a few moments, the man turned around with the pan. "Breakfast is ready for." he then paused and looked at the other two as Xavier looked between them all. "So that's why you have two, did you both get this planned with your daddy and uncle? Must've convinced them to let you both team up with one of the strongest woken to keep you safe."
Archvald then turned to Xavier and gave him a look of compassion something the others had never seen him do before. "Boy someone like you deserves a strong ally who is worth more than twice what these two can do. I can give the word to some of my finest and have one of them chosen for you." Xavier didn't know if this was a test at first but seeing his party members look down into their laps he realized the man meant what he said. "I'm very sorry sir but someone like me needs help as I'm sure you've heard by now I didn't receive an element or weapon during the ceremony last night. That is why I have two party members due to my weakness and no other reason. and these two chose me over everyone else so I keep them as my allies until they wish to leave my side. "
The quartermaster looked at Xavier, then to the others and burst with his roar of a laugh again. "Ha Ha Ha, that is a good one you being weak. Boy someone like you couldn't possibly be weak you have no need to try and defend these two." Xavier kept a stern face as he waited for Archvald to finish his laughter only speaking once the man finished. "Sir I thank you for the kindness you've shown me but I have yet to see what these two are capable of so I have no need to lie for them as of yet. I only speak the truth and since they have put faith in me I will return that faith in kind until they show me how strong, or as you put it weak they truly are."
The quartermaster then stared at Xavier and without a word stood up and marched his way around the table now towering over Xavier. Xavier then stood up in an act of defiance but to Sintarra, Ethan and his own surprise Xavier was given a pat on the shoulder and a smile. "I knew you had a pair kid but enough to argue with someone like me. I'll tell you what if you're the weakest of the bunch with your talent, I says form a squad and then maybe these two posh brats can learn something or two. Once you feel confident enough they can each fight me on their own and only after they beat me will I apologize to them and you. Till then eat up and spend your time training, the ones who believe themselves strong when weak tend to die but the ones like you." Xavier noticed the man begin to tear up a bit and his voice crack before he forced the emotion away. "Ones like you who think you're weak tend to be the strongest where it counts." he then placed a hand on Xavier's chest and the other on his shoulder sitting him down again. "Hope you kids are hungry cause we are eating every last piece of this beast to celebrate your early graduations."
Sintarra and Ethan both looked up to Xavier and smiled mouthing. "thank you." The group of four spent the next hour eating till their stomachs ached and the quartermaster gave each of them a badge from a box near the door. "This will show each of you has earned my approval as graduates from the royal training regiment. Wear it proudly yet wisely for if I learn any of you die wearing this ill chase you to Hell and beat you so bad you'll wish to die again." The group then left the old man's house and walked out calmly across the field Ethan already shining his badge. "So what now that we've eaten and somehow gotten on the quartermaster's good side?" Sintarra asked running ahead of the two boys and turning with a wide smile to face them. Xavier let out a yawn before giving a response. "I think I have an idea."