It was a beautiful day in the town of Cozack. The sun was bright and left the sky open with no clouds forming that morning. The trees rustled along with a light wind. The town wasn't as busy as the rest of Nyst, but it certainly contended for the tightest community. The only downside was that criminals from other towns came here, seeking escape or fortune. While several Beastials left their homes for whatever jobs they had, grunts could be heard from one backyard
"Yaah!" Kail screamed as he attempted to strike 16-year-old Bal-Savi. With a simple twist of his wrist, Bal deflected the attack with ease. He yawned as Kail failed at yet another strike.
"Geez, do we have anything better to do than train Kail?" Bal asked as he soon deflected the next strike that came for him. He wore a white shirt with short sleeves and black leather pants. He stood upon the harsh grass with his bare feet. He tried to feel the grass under his feet as he barely paid any attention to his opponent. A large Beastial man in the form of a Bear faced him, with nothing on but the blue leather pants that were tight around his waist. Both had sword sheathes attached to their back.
"Now attack me." Kail demanded to his pupil.
Breathing deeply, Bal raised his sword arm and focused on his opponent. The man's one weakness was magic, but he couldn't use his. Instead, he decided a few well placed strikes and a good thrust would give him a good position to win the duel. Making his move, Bal began to rush his guardian. Kail rose his sword in front of his face, preparing himself for the attacks that would come. And indeed they did as Bal began to repeatedly strike downwards upon his opponent's weapon. Kail did his best to hold his own against the kid as he held his weapon with both hands. He parried almost every strike, taking Bal off balance. Seeing his own strength failing him, Bal made the hard decision and made his move. Pulling back one of his strikes, he steped back to make room for the quick thrust. Without warning he raced forward with his hands leading his swords aim at his opponent's chest. What happened after was not the intended outcome. Bal's face was held back by a large bear paw and its grip was tight around his head. The tip of a sword was lifted against his chin as his own was kicked out of his hands, landing in the grass with a soft thud. The prick against his neck soon left and the massive paw let go of his head as he heard its own put away their sword. Bal's breathing increased as he reached down and held his knees, looking up at Kail as he stood back up. Placing a hand against his chest, he attempted to get a pulse. All that came from the center of his chest was the cold dark feeling of the purple rock that laid there. The Demon heart was dead still, but his breathing remained. He shook his head as he walked over and picked up his sword. As he put it away, Kail put a hand on Bal's shoulder and smiled with his big bear-like face. Bal sighed and looked at him to hear the man's response.
"17 years ago you were just a toddler. Today you become one of us." He told the boy.
"I wish they were here." Bal replied sadly.
"I know they would be here if they could, but they are with the Gods now." Kail did his best to lift the kid's spirit.
"What if I have to take off my shirt during the Proving? What if the being I fight rips it off? What would they do to me if I accidentally used magic? What if-" Bal began to question everything that could go wrong during the coming event, doubting his own ability to hide his powers and faults. He was afraid of what the town would do if they learned about the demonic rock heart that was sewn to his chest.
Kail grabbed the boy by both shoulders, turning him so they looked at each other in the eye.
"Look at me. You will be fine. As far as I know, you'll knock 'em dead. With my training and your innate skill and willpower, you've turned into a strong opponent." Kail said with a half-serious, half-confident voice. He released the boy and then smacked his back as he walked toward the house's backdoor.
"Go find Liza for me Bal. And if you're really wondering about afterwards, just ask her about it. I bet she'll have plenty to teach you." Kail said as he opened the back door and entered inside the brick house, disappearing within. Bal was not outside alone. He paused to feel the warm grass against the skin of his feet. Looking up at the morning sky, he smiled brightly.
"I'll be fine." He told himself.
It had been ten minutes since Bal went in search of Liza in town. He had just searched the last of the neighborhood border, beginning to walk past the many shops placed in Cozack. Most of them were for adventurer's, selling weapons armor and other pieces of equipment they might need. The other shops sold found and housing supplies, simple items for Beastials the didn't partake in the guard or the military. While he began to past the common stores, an object caught his eye. A necklace was being displayed for a jewelry store, but it was different. It was made of steel that was rusting, and its pendant was shaped like a small gem. An odd carving was inscribed on the pendant. It was a beast he had never seen before. For some reason, he wanted that necklace, he needed that necklace. Bal walked closer to the glass window to star at the object and it began to glow. Before he could observe it any longer, a harsh scream cracked the air. Snapping out of his trance, Bal turned to see an alleyway at his left. He placed his right hand on the handle of his sword and sprinted to the entrance. That's when he saw three men, creeping upon a defenseless woman. Looking past the men, he notice that this woman was a gray wolf Beastial with her back against the wall. He then recognized her and screamed her name.
"Liza!!"
Liza took her attention off the three criminals, looking past them to see an elven boy stand there. His weapon was ready to be unleashed. 'Damn, always with the knack for getting attention. This could prove useful though.' Liza thought to herself as she saw the criminals turn to face Bal.
"It's the lazy elf! Kill him!" One of them shouted as the three of them pulled out weapons.
Of course Bal couldn't help but pay more attention to their Beastial forms, rather than their weapons.There was a Deer, a Bear and a brown-skinned Wolf. The Deer fashioned a crossbow while the other two drew out swords. Taking out his own, and twisting his wrist, allowing his sword to move with the wind, he took a step forward and raised his sword. He nodded to Liza, who was behind all the chaos, assuring her that he'd be fine.. Nodding back to the boy, Liza allowed her claws to spread out, ignoring the pain it caused her. The Deer began to draw a bolt, and she saw her chance. Like a rabid animal, Liza charged and pounced upon the Deer. She quickly swiped away the man's weapon, detracting her claws only to punch him out. Bal stood silent as he watched his opponents rush him on. 'Fools.' He thought to himself as he prepared himself for their attacks. They decided to rush opposite sides of him, one on his left and right. Swinging a second apart, they striked at the elven boy. Even with his overconfidence, he deflected both attacks with ease, striking back at them with equal force. Watching his attacks just become deflected as he did the same to theirs he decided to end the fight right there. Dropping down, Bal clenched his legs together and then launched himself into the air. With speed, he performed a backflip, kicking the weapons out of his opponent's hands. As their blades flew into the air, Bal landed onto his feet and then launched himself up again. Within the air he struck at their swords, cracking the steel as the pieces fell from the sky. Landing once more he sheathed his sword and gave them a dead stare. The two looked at the boy and could only see death in his red eyes as they became frightened and took steps backwards. Liza got off the Deer as the Bear and Wolf quickly ran and got him, dragging his feet as they scurried away. Liza brushed off her black pants and blouse as Bal looked at the shattered swords. As he looked up at Liza she raised an eyebrow at him with her hands on her hips.
"What?" He said without a clue of why she had that look.
"You're never that serious, not unless someone insults your parents. I don't recall them ever saying a word other than, 'Kill that lazy elf!'." Liza said, questioning Bal's motive for unleashing his rage upon the criminals earlier
"I have no clue, I just didn't want to deal with them today. I have enough on my mind. What are you doing without your armor any how?" Bal attempted to sell her a reasonable excuse and avoid the topic
"A guard can't take a break?" Liza responded with curiosity
Bal explained only what he had heard about Kail's position of guard, "I don't remember Kail ever putting breaks into the rules of being Guard Lieutenant."
Liza stretched her arms and put her hands behind her head. "I was undercover to discover a big criminal underground. The only criminals I've found were those three. They look new to the town, so it couldn't have been them."
"Well, I just hope I can get through this proving." Bal said, expecting a confident response from Liza
"So you're not worried about the beast they could give you? They've never tested a non-beastial before. No one has." Liza began to say, with doubt in her mind of how Bal would pass
Bal was doing his best not to focus on the fight he would have to face. "I am more worried about the job they'll give me. I don't want to end up a guard."
"And what's so wrong with being a guard?" Liza didn't say this as an average question, but nearly threatened the boy in a playful way.
Trying to calm Liza down, Bal switched to the defensive immediately. "Nothing Liza!!! It just doesn't fit my style. I'm not a stand-still protector."
Liza laughed and patted Bal's back. "Some times you make it too easy to scare you!"
"You know you don't even have to try. I don't pick fights with girls." Bal said in an honest voice.
Liza smiled and nudged him. "I guess that's why you'll never beat me in combat. Your softer side slows you down."
They walked in silence until Liza spoke up once more.
"Hey Bal?"
"Yeah?"
"Honestly, I hope you do better than both me and my father." She told him in a confident manner.
Scratching his head and smiling Bal tried to ease her worry. "I'll give it a shot."
Punching Bal in the shoulder, Liza frowned at the boy. "I'm being serious you dope."
Rubbing his shoulder, Bal looked at Liza and gave her a half grin. "I know, I just don't want to be the downer in the conversation."
Punching him even harder, they both grinned as they finally approached their home. "Jerk."
"There you two are!" Kail shouted to them, the big bear making his way to them easily with big steps.
"Hey Dad!" Liza cried, with her left arm waving at him in excitement.
Kail gave Bal a stern look as he held up pieces of black leather armor.
"The rest of the guard is already up in Yeirn. The Guard will give you a ceremonial welcome and a final salute."
Bal straightened his back and looked Kail in the eyes. "I'll give it my best."
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