Avryn finished up his own training. He had been redoing the obstacle course in magic class nonstop, especially at the part he failed. Still hadn’t gotten over that hump just yet. There was something missing. He noticed he was disassociating with everyone else and used this time to spend it with the group. He felt hunger growing in his stomach. Lunch would help with that.

  He grabbed his tray of food and found his squad and Leifren’s eating together. He took a deep breath and organized his thoughts before proceeding. He set down his food and sat at his seat, apologizing to them of his recent behavior.

  “Sorry, everyone. I, uh, it’s a habit I’m trying to break,” he explained.

  Rinna leaned over to him,

  “Did it remind you of…that person?”

  Leifren picked up,

  “That person?”

  Harver nodded but said nothing. Avryn leaned forward,

  “I suppose I should tell you all.”

  Lieutenant Zartes. That was was the name of the person Avryn called Douchebag. Recognition sparked in Leifren’s eyes,

  “The lieutenant of the Baradovian military?”

  Avryn nodded. He recounted all his interactions with that man. Harsh training, broken bones, disparaging words were what he received in abundance of. Just thinking back onto the memories were big mental obstacles for him.

  “You know the worst thing about it? I hate that prick so much but he gave me the tools I needed to survive,” he scoffed.

  Harver nodded, offering his sympathies through his silence. Avryn was the only other person he knew that went through similar things as he. Avryn continued, the part of the obstacle course he had trouble with reminded him of Zartes.

  “Each hit reminded me of the beatings…” his lips quivered.

  His hand were shaking in that moment, and it spurred worry from everyone.

  “You don’t have to continue if you aren’t comfortable with it,” Jenilah spoke up to him.

  Avryn just shook his head, and gave his usual smile,

  “I don’t mind actually. It feels good to have more people to talk to about it, you know? I already told Harver about it,” he reassured.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  He continued on with his story. His most common punishment was relinquishing his rights to eat and sleep on a comfy bed if he didn’t perform well to Zartes’s standards. He grew stronger when most would give up. It was because of the man he considered a father figure gave him hope. Captain Forban was his name.

  “Guess his optimism rubbed off on me. It was through him that I don’t really see things in a pessimistic sort of way,” was the best he could explain.

  Avryn acknowledged that he should be a little more open about such matters. They would be fighting together for hopefully many years, and he didn’t want to regret not opening up. He concluded that after all he went through with those two, he earned his way out of Middsborough, his hometown.

  “It was a little after that, I met Sir Iver, and then you guys know all the rest,” he finished up.

  His nerves had calmed down mostly. He exhaled with great relief. He felt a weight was lifted off him.

  “I am for building up toughness to face this world, but not to the point of tormenting a child,” Tvira commented.

  “That man gave me uneasy feelings, but I couldn’t guess he was like as you described,” Leifren noted.

  “Sometimes, I just feel every part of my body that man broke at least once,” Avryn clutched at himself.

  Rinna was noticeably quiet. It was easy for Avryn to grow bitter and walk a path of hate. The fact he was as optimistic as he is now was admirable. Jenilah had the same sentiments.

  “If I ever come across that man, I’ll give him what’s coming,” Kiria offered.

  Avryn laughed, and stopped her there,

  “If it ever comes to that, fighting him, he’s mine,” he joked.

  His eyes told a different story. He was dead serious on doing just that. Lunch was over by the sound of the bell. Their lot had the rest of the afternoon off. Avryn excused himself, stating he had something to do first.

  He noticed some stalls were put him by the courtyard. It was the third year students’ expo. People were checking them out, playing games, and enjoying the entertainment.

  “Oh, hey there!” A voice hollered.

  Avryn turned around and saw a shinkitsuri at a table. He had the look of a smith about him. A couple hammers, and an anvil was in his setup. He introduced himself as Jenki Kairos and explained his situation. He was offering free weapons maintenance as part of his assignments. Avryn’s ear perked up, and he explained he dabbled in the same craft. He used to work as a quartermaster back home.

  The two basked in each other’s know-how on weapons maintenance. Avryn caught himself and accepted Jenki’s offer. He unravelled the wraps that covered Lerosa,

  “Take good care of her,”

  Jenki knew of this gunblade, realization set in.

  “You’re Avryn Starbright, aren’t you?”

  “That I am,” he replied.

  “Don’t you worry, I’ve always wanted the honor of handling her,” Jenki examined.

  He did a standard sharpening and cleaning of the weapon. An easy and quick job for his skill. He returned the weapon, along a clipboard with paper and pen.

  “Sign this please,” he smiled.

  Avryn obliged, and then thanked him for his service,

  “I’ll be sure to remember your name if I need your services.”

  They both shook hands and exchanged contact infos with their Scribes. Avryn returned to the dorms. Tvira was the only one there and welcomed him back. He set down his stuff and removed the top coat, leaving only a tank top. He laid down Lerosa onto soft cushion of the weapon display. He caught a glimpse of Tvira. Her back was incredibly toned.

  “Nice back muscles,” he told her.

  Tvira turned to him,

  “Is that supposed to be a compliment, Avryn?” she chuckled.

  “Oh, absolutely. You must’ve been using the bow since childhood, I’m guessing?”

  His guess was on the spot. Tvira thanked him for it. He expressed that he was always interested in bows. An ancient, yet pivotal weapon in history, he called it. She was glad on hearing that, and also on his mood brightening up.

  “I don’t suppose it’s too much to ask if I could learn from you, during your free time?” he leaned forward.

  Tvira was surprised at this. She had never had a man in particular ask for her mentorship back in Veilund.

  “Are you sure?” she wanted his assurance.

  “Of course, you’ve pulled off some things that I dreamed of seeing someone do with a bow,” he explained.

  She felt a certain warmth, looking at his eyes. His eagerness to learn from her was something she simply did not expect.

  “Alright, but on one condition,” she raised her finger and pointed to his guns. “You teach me how to use those.”

  He nodded, and agreed to it.

  “Although, now that I noticed, isn’t it cumbersome to carry all those?” she pointed out.

  “Oh yeah, wished there was an easier way--”

  He gets cut off by the gunblade. It hummed in response and transformed before the two of them. It took on the form of a silver necklace, with the pendant taking form of a shooting star. The two looked at each other, bewildered by what had just occurred.

  Avryn moved to pick it up, and donned it over his neck.

  “Well, would you look at that,” he smiled with joy.

  “It suits you,” she returned the complement.