Turns out that just being told to come to the training grounds at 0600 wasn't really helpful when you needed to find a place, or have a place to sleep in. I had spent my night out in the cold, my wings wrapped around me like some kind of feathery blanket, my spear acting as an incredibly uncomfortable pillow.
So yeah, all in all, I preferred the truck to the street. At least the truck had seats. And a roof. And wasn't, you know, the ground.
But now it was even worse because I had no ducking clue where these training grounds were. So I did what any lost person would do.
I asked.
"Uhmm, sorry sir, can you..."
He kept on walking, not even glancing my way. Rude.
"Sorry, ma'am, I need some help."
She kept on walking, her eyes fixed straight ahead like I was invisible. Double rude.
"Sirs, could you please direct..."
The group kept on walking, chattering among themselves as if I hadn't spoken. Triple rude with a cherry on top.
Okay, what was with these people? I was getting frustrated, very frustrated. Besides, I was a girl. I thought people stopped for pretty girls. Wait, could it be that I'm not pretty?
I caught my reflection in a shiny metal sign, studying myself critically. White hair tied in a ponytail, check. Icy blue piercing eyes, check. Jacket clinging tightly to me, showing off my definitely-not-scrawny-thank-you-very-much figure, check.
I moved my hand to my chin and began inspecting myself from different angles. "Nah, that's impossible," I muttered. "I'm a total babe. These people must be blind. Or jerks. Or blind jerks."
As I was checking myself out – because someone had to appreciate this magnificence – I heard a voice from behind.
"What are you doing? I told you to be in the training grounds by 0600."
I turned around slowly, already knowing who I'd see. And there she was, the bald captain, Alessandra, in all her shiny-headed glory.
"Good morning, Ma'am," I said, trying to inject some cheer into my voice and probably sounding slightly deranged instead. "You see, you didn't specify where these training grounds were. Also..."
I took in a deep breath, feeling my frustration bubble over like a volcano of annoyance.
"You made me stay out all night in the freezing cold! I went to a hotel, but I didn't have money, you torturous scumbag! You can't just say a line and then be on your merry way. Do you know how many weird looks I got sleeping on the street? A lot! And let me tell you, concrete does not make for a comfy mattress!"
Devourer intent started to roll off her in waves, making the air feel thick and heavy. People around us – the few that were out this early, anyway – started to edge away, probably sensing the imminent throw-down.
Just as I thought we were about to enter a brawl that I was all for, by the way (sleep deprivation does wonders for one's combat enthusiasm), she raised her hand and began scratching the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I completely forgot."
She gave an awkward smile that looked about as natural on her face as hair would.
I blinked, my tirade derailed by her unexpected apology. Then, like a train getting back on track, my indignation returned full force.
"You forgot? You FORGOT! How can you have such a big head and forget? What is in there, air? You don't even have hair; your thoughts should be uninterrupted! Also, don't Devourers' memories become better as they grow? If you're like this now, what were you before? Do you have short-term memory loss? Should we get you one of those little notebooks to write everything down in? Maybe a string around your finger? A personal assistant to remind you not to leave recruits stranded in strange cities?"
Weirdly enough, she just stood there and took my words, which she honestly deserved. I half-expected her to snap back or unleash some captain-ly wrath, but she just... took it.
"Okay, okay, Ronin, you've made your point," she said when I finally ran out of steam. "How about I show you to the training grounds?"
And so it was done. She began walking while I just grumbled about dementia behind her, which I hoped she both would and wouldn't hear. It was a complex emotional state, okay?
We reached a small building that looked about as impressive as a cardboard box. Walking in, we entered a simple office with a desk by the front where a man in uniform sat, looking bored out of his mind.
Alessandra walked over and said, "Sebastian, could you please open up the training grounds?"
"Yes, Captain," Sebastian replied, suddenly looking much more alert. He pressed a button on his desk, and I heard a 'tring' sound that made me jump slightly.
I looked to my side and what I thought was a wall opened up, revealing... a metal box?
The captain walked in before smiling at me. "You coming or what?"
I stood there, dumbfounded for a second. I mean, sure, Grandpa had taught me about stuff like syphoning, vehicles, and a bit more, but I had never heard him say anything remotely similar to this. Maybe he thought that was too obvious to mention?
"Yes," I said, stepping into the metal box and trying not to look too wide-eyed and country-bumpkin-ish.
Inside, I saw a bunch of buttons going up to number seven, that made my fingers itch to push all of them. But I remained still.
Alessandra then pressed a button with the number six on it.
Before I could even process it, we fell. And when I say fell, I mean plummeted like a stone with delusions of flight. My feet now floated inches above the metal ground as my stomach tried to escape through my mouth. I quickly put my hands on the ceiling, trying and failing to push myself back down.
Just as I was contemplating whether Devourers could survive massive fall-related splats, we stopped. The sudden deceleration made me stumble forward as I regained my footing, my knees feeling like jelly.
"A little warning next time?" I gasped, trying to get my heart rate under control.
Alessandra just smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
The doors opened, revealing what I assumed was training ground six. And let me tell you, it was not what I expected.
Giant houses stood before us, each emblazoned with the symbol of a river and a man rising from it. A number was placed next to each, going from LIV to LXIII.
Big cages filled to the brim with giant beasts loomed in the distance, their roars echoing across the vast underground space. Huge patches of ground were occupied by different Devourers facing off against each other in what looked like epic duels.
It was like nothing I had ever seen before, even my grandpa's training grounds fell vastly short to it.
"Welcome to training ground six," Alessandra said, a note of pride in her voice. "Or as we call it, the Sixth Legion. You're assigned to Cohort Sixty – my cohort."
She smiled slyly, and I felt a chill run down my spine. It was the kind of smile that said, "I haven't forgotten about your little outburst, and payback's going to be a beast."
"What, you didn't think I was gonna let all those insults slide, did you?" she continued, confirming my suspicions. "What was it you said? I had short-term memory loss? Let's see if that's true."
Her smile grew bigger, and my dread grew along with it. I had a feeling I was about to regret every word I'd said. And probably some I hadn't.
"Now, Ronin," Alessandra said, clapping a hand on my shoulder that was probably meant to be encouraging but felt more like a prelude to doom, "let's get you settled in. You've got a lot of catching up to do."
As we walked towards the houses – barracks, I realized – I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and terror. This place was unlike anything I'd ever seen or imagined. It was a world of power, of monsters, of Devourers pushing themselves to their limits and beyond.
And I was about to become a part of it.
"Um, Captain?" I said as we approached Barracks LX. "Quick question. When you say 'catching up,' what exactly do you mean?"
Alessandra's grin was positively shark-like now. "Oh, you know. Physical training, beast studies, combat practice, power control... the usual. Plus whatever extra tasks I think might help you... improve."
I gulped. "And by 'improve,' you mean...?"
"Learn some manners, for one," she replied, her tone light but with an edge of steel beneath it. "And maybe develop a healthy respect for your superior officers."
As we reached the barracks door, she turned to face me, her golden eyes boring into mine. "Make no mistake, Ronin. You're here because of who your grandfather is, and because we believe you have potential. But potential means nothing if you don't work for it. I'm going to push you harder than you've ever been pushed before. I'm going to find your limits and then drag you kicking and screaming past them."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "The question is, are you ready for that?"
I stood there for a moment, processing everything. I wondered if this training would be as hard as they said, would it be harder than grandpa's, I felt a tingle down my spine at the thought.
I straightened my spine, met Alessandra's gaze, and gave her my best challenging smirk. "Ready? Ma'am, I was born ready. Bring it on."
Alessandra's answering smile was equal parts approval and promise of future pain. "That's what I like to hear. Welcome to the Sixth Legion, Felice Ronin. Try not to get yourself killed on your first day."
With that cheerful sendoff, she opened the barracks door, revealing a room full of Devourers who all turned to stare at me.
As I stepped inside, my new life officially beginning, I couldn't help but think: 'Grandpa, I hope you knew what you were doing when you sent me here. Because I sure as hell don't.'