Aila glared at Leo with a scowl, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive stance. "I'm not here to help him do shit," she stated, her tone blunt and to the point. "He's a nobody that took away Nolan's position here. He's gotta prove himself if he wants to earn his place here." She stated extremely bluntly, holding a chicken leg and pointing it at Leo. "No one's gonna hold his hand and guide him through everything."
Both Tokita and Leo simultaneously deadpanned after seeing Aila's response. Leo shook his head before turning back to Tokita.
"Don't mind her, she's always angry," Leo said while scratching the back of his neck. He pointed towards the table and pulled a seat out. "Come on, sit, sit! Captain will bring the others soon."
Tokita hesitated for a moment before taking the seat that Leo offered, feeling a bit uneasy with Aila's cold attitude towards him. He couldn't help but wonder if there was any way for Aila and himself to ever reach common ground, considering how much she hates him. "Thanks," he said to Leo, trying to keep the conversation going. "So, how long have you been a member here?"
Leo chuckled, settling into his own seat. "Oh, I've been here for years, I was the second one Grensvall recruited, Back then, the hideout was in much better shape, I can tell you that much."
Tokita nodded, taking in the rundown surroundings of the hall. "Yeah, it definitely looks like it's seen better days. What happened?"
Leo's expression grew somber as he leaned back in his seat. "Well, it's a long story, but let's just say that times have been tough for us. Our ranking caused us to get less funding, and obviously, that means we had to make some cuts. But we're still here, still fighting." He said with a foolhardy smile.
As he spoke, the door to the hall opened, and Grensvall walked in, followed closely by a few other Knights. "Ah, good, you're still here," he said with a slightly sarcastic tone, clapping his hands together.
"Tokita!" A familiar voice rang out, as Tokita turned to see Ian approaching him with a smile. His blonde hair was neatly combed, and his armor gleamed with a fresh polish, highlighting the dark green undershirt and steel chest plate.
"Ian!" Tokita exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as he walked over to his friend. "I was just thinking about you. Your fight was absolutely insane, man."
Ian laughed, a lighthearted sound that made Tokita feel at ease. "You think my fight was insane? You were literally on fire and still kicking ass!"
The two shared a high-five before Ian pulled out a chair and took a seat. As Leo looked on with interest, he asked a question. "You two know each other?" He asked with a grin.
"Yeah, we met in the Initiation," Tokita responded.
"Ah, I see," Leo said while taking a sip out of a glass of water.
Soon, a girl emerged from behind Ian, her presence seemed to exude a certain serenity and tranquility, like a calming breeze on a warm day. Her dark blue hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, with a delicate white flower pinned behind her ear. Her bright blue eyes shone with an inner light, reflecting the purity of her soul.
The fabric of her kimono was a light shade of blue, with intricate cherry blossom designs embroidered on it. The delicate material flowed around her as she walked, making her seem almost weightless. Her footsteps were soft and gentle, like the rustling of leaves in a gentle breeze.
Despite her seemingly peaceful aura, there was a sense of strength emanating from her, like the unwavering roots of a tree. It was clear that this girl was not to be underestimated.
She came out while waving towards Leo.
Leo turned towards the girl, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, if it isn't the sleepyhead herself," he said, his tone teasing. "Good Morning, Mitsugi."
Mitsugi rolled her eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I'm not that late," she protested, taking a seat to the right of Leo.
"Late enough," Aila muttered under her breath, causing Leo to stifle a laugh.
Trying his hardest to ignore Aila's comment, Leo turns to Mitsugi. "Well, introduce yourself to our second new recruit." He said, insinuating Tokita.
Mitsugi smiles warmly at Tokita, bowing slightly in greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Mitsugi," she says in a soft, melodic voice. "I specialize in support, but I'm always looking to improve my combat skills as well." She takes a seat next to Leo, picking up a piece of fruit from the plate in front of her.
Leo chuckles at Mitsugi's introduction. "She's a valuable member of our team, that's for sure. Don't let her humble demeanour fool you, she's saved our asses more times than I can count." He takes another sip of his water, glancing around the table.
Tokita nodded as he looks at her bows his head lightly. "Nice to meet you as well, I'm happy to be able to learn from you all!"
"Someone tell him to pull his head up before I puke," Aila interjected, her words dripping with venom.
Leo shot her a disapproving look, but Mitsugi simply sighed and shook her head.
"Don't mind her, she's just being Aila," she said, offering a reassuring smile to Tokita. "We're glad to have you here."
Aila responded by simply scoffing and taking another bite out of her chicken.
The group's chatter quieted down as a loud, resounding clap echoed through the room. Their attention turned to Grensvall, who had just taken a seat at the opposite end of the table. His presence commanded respect, and the beard under his snout gave him a wise and experienced look.
"Now that we've got the introductions out of the way, it's time to get down to business," Grensvall announced, his voice deep and commanding. "We have a lot of work to do to turn these new recruits into Knights that can handle missions and requests from the King, so we'll focus on teaching them everything from the top."
"Seriously...?" Aila stated as if it were the most excruciating process in the world, making it worse by looking at Tokita with a disgusted look.
Grensvall gave Aila a stern look, his eyes piercing as he spoke. "Yes, seriously. We have a responsibility to ensure that every Knight who joins our ranks is fully equipped to handle whatever challenges may come their way. That means no shortcuts, no half-measures. We will start from the basics and work our way up." He said as his long ears flattened on his fluffy head.
Tokita could feel a knot forming in his stomach at the thought of the rigorous training ahead of him. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to prove himself worthy of the Silver Steel Knights, and as someone who could compare to Akane.
Grensvall leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You may think you know everything there is to know about combat and strategy, but there's always room for improvement. That's why we'll be starting with the fundamentals: weapons training, tactics, and physical conditioning."
Aila rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, clearly unimpressed. Tokita, on the other hand, sat up straight with a determined look in his eyes. He knew that he had a lot to learn, and he was eager to absorb everything he could from the experienced Knights. Ian simply looked forward with an "anything goes" look on his face as he gave Grensvall a thumbs up.
Grensvall continued, his voice firm and unwavering. "We'll be starting bright and early tomorrow morning. Be ready to work hard and push yourself to your limits. Because that's what it takes to become a Knight."
Grensvall turns to his right-hand man, Leo, and speaks with a tone of authority. "Leo, could you bring Ian and Tokita to their rooms?"
Leo grinned broadly, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "Ah, a tour guide at last! You're in good hands, my friends," he declared, his voice full of energy and enthusiasm.
"Thanks, Leo. We appreciate it," Ian said, smiling as he stood up to follow Leo.
As Leo led Ian and Tokita down the dimly lit hallway, the sounds of the Silver Steel Knights' Hideout filled the air around them. The creaking of the old wooden floors, the distant murmur of voices, and the occasional clank of swords being sharpened all served as a reminder of the rich history and tradition that was woven into the very fabric of the building. As they reached the end of the hallway, Leo turned to face them, a warm smile on his face.
"Welcome to your new home," he said, gesturing towards the doors on either side of them. "Rest up, boys, because tomorrow, the real training begins." With that, he turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving Ian and Tokita to ponder the adventure that awaited them in the days to come.