A year has gone by, Günther is long gone from the chicks, Arthur has become the chicks' mascot, fighting against the instructor with half-long hair.
Arthur is much more confident when he fights, landing one blow after another even though the instructor yawns as he parries, the other soldiers cheering him on.
-GO AHEAD ARTHUR!
-THROW A PUNCH!
-I BET ON YOU!
As they exchange blows, the instructor speaks to him.
-Is this all you can do in 1 year? Maybe you should give up.
Arthur continues to hit, smiling.
-Never!
He loses right after, gets countered then goes down with a sweep.
-RAAAAAAH NO!!!
-HE LOST AGAIN SHIT!
-MY MONEY NOOO!
Arthur wipes the dirt off himself.
-You've really improved.
-THANK YOU!
-Keep up the good work and you'll soon be going to the orcs.
-YES!
He bows in greeting and some soldiers join Arthur.
-You've got to win before you leave the group!
-I mean it! You get 2 chances a week with the chief instructor!
-Thanks guys! I'll do my best!
Transition
There's a meeting between the chick group instructors.
-Well, do you see any of them going over to the orcas?
They're chatting amongst themselves.
-Why not Arthur? He's improved a lot.
-Yes, he's clearly got what it takes to be in the orcas.
The chief instructor stops them.
-No, he doesn't.
They're confused.
-If you want to change him to another group, it'll only harm him.
-No, it won't! He'll be with much stronger people! He'll progress.
He sighs.
-You don't get it. You think someone who wants to become a legend can just settle for this level?
-Haha, Suke, you're not thinking seriously!
-Becoming a legend isn't a real dream!
He sighs even louder.
-You really don't understand anything. For a while now, I've been thinking you're too old for the new generation.
The tone rises.
-INSOLENT!
-WATCH YOUR MOUTH SUKE!
His gaze is frightening.
-We can settle this now. I'll remind you who's the youngest person ever to be elected dragon here.
-Grr-
They're all stopped by his words, Suke became a dragon when he was only 20, today he's 32, he's one of the strongest in the country.
-Until he's reached a level that I think is right, he won't leave the chicks.
The instructor, still standing next to Suke, thinks to himself, "He's so scary when he gets angry!
The meeting ends and the other instructor chats with Suke.
-You defend your darling very well, haha...
-My... pet?
Suke looks at him with murderous eyes.
-SORRY AAAA!!
-Tssss... It's not that. I just hate kids with exaggerated dreams.
The next day, the fight between Arthur and Suke was even more violent.
-The chief instructor was really pissed off today!
-We're all surprised you're alive!
Arthur laughs with the others and slowly another year passes.
The fights with the instructor went on all the while.
"Hmmm, he's not really progressing anymore."
Arthur hasn't won a single time.
-Arthur.
-Yes, boss?!
-Would you like to learn magic?
-OF COURSE!
-All right, tomorrow's your day off, so you're coming with me.
-UNDERSTOOD!
-Take the rest of the day off to rest up too.
-THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
-AND STOP SHOUTING SHIT!
-I'LL BE CAREFUL!
For the end of his day, Arthur meets up with Gilbert.
-So, how are you getting on?
-SUPER! My boss is going to teach me magic tomorrow!
-... Arthur.
Arthur. - What?
-Do you even know how magic works?
-YES! You say words like "blizablux" and then flames appear!
Gilbert regrets knowing him a little.
-Let me explain it quickly. Magic comes from the world of spirits, and depending on our affinity with certain spirits, we can use the magic that corresponds to them.
-Oh, so that means you get on well with the spirit of vision?
Yes, if you like, and the better we get along, the more high-level spells we can use.
-Is that all?
-No, you have to show great spirit to the spirits when you use a spell, pronounce their names correctly, and make offerings to them from time to time.
Gilbert takes out a packet of sweets from his pocket.
-Vilkaz, spirit of vision, the supreme gaze, accepts this humble gift.
The candy packet disintegrates in front of him.
-THE PACKAGE IS GONE!
-He's gone to the spirit world, Vilkaz is very fond of sweets.
-If everyone gives him candy, he's just a diabetic, isn't he?
Gilbert wants to laugh, but he can't disrespect the spirit, so he says nothing.
-Oh, by the way, I've become deputy chief of intelligence!
-Congratulations, Gilbert! A friend of a legend is bound to be (almost) as legendary HAHAHA!
-And what about you? When are you getting out of the chicks?
-I... I don't know.
Gilbert realizes he's ruined the mood.
-BREF! Tomorrow you'll probably do a magic affinity test.
-What does it involve?
-To find out which spirit could lend you its magic and at what level.
-It's bound to be a very stylish and unique spirit!
Transition
-Hmm, looks like you're compatible with Aquillon, the water spirit.
Gilbert explained to him yesterday that the water spirit was the most common and the most compatible.
-Would you like to meet him?
-Meet who?
-The water spirit.
-May I?
-It's a necessary step for using magic, some people manage to meet them without magic tools but for most people it requires a slight leap into the spirit world.
"How did Gilbert meet his spirit?"
-Let's get to it.
-YES CHIEF!
Arthur is all excited.
There's a huge mirror and lots of booths on the sides, lots of people enter the mirror, they're naked.
-BUT WHY ARE THEY NAKED???
-The spirit world is very demanding.
-BUT ???
-Only purity can enter it, in other words, only your body and your spirit, clothes are too much.
-I'm not sure I want to get naked here.
-For a legend, it's simple, isn't it?
-You're right.
Arthur enters a booth and yells.
- "LEGENDARY UNDRESS" ORAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Clothes fly off and he runs out of the cabin.
-I'M LEGENDARILY NAKED!
-Go quickly and splash your face and rub your hands with the water over there.
-UNDERSTAND!
Suke is embarrassed, he regrets having taken him, in a very large vat at the bottom of the stairs leading to the mirror, there's water, water so clear and pure that it seems cold and hot at the same time, above the vat there's a crystal floating, drops of water run down the crystal and fall into the vat.
Surprised by the quality of the water, Arthur puts some in his palm and wets his face, then rubs his hands together.
He raises his head to the mirror and moves forward, looking back at Suke with the look of a lost animal, Suke mimes a hand touching a wall.
Arthur turns back to the mirror and places his hand on it, feeling as if he's touching water, his fingers sinking into it.
He continues to move forward, drawing in his hand, then his arm, then the rest of his body.
When he opens them again, all he sees is an immaculate white around him.