Class of Heroes: Boys Side Edition

Class of Heroes: Boys Side Edition
Author: Garlyle Wilds / Genis Irving
Origin: Class of Heroes


Toby I ~ Edge
Warnings: None

Swing. Swing. Swing. Warriors in even rows, practicing in perfect sync, tearing through the air with practiced strokes measured to perfection, under the discerning eye of a grisled old swordsman, berating failures and leaving only the best of the best.

That's what I had expected.

Clang. Swish. Thud. A mismatch of unpracticed novices, many of whom taking up a sword, axe, or lance for the first time, being cautioned by a worried and frail young woman munching on a biscuit, to keep a distance from one another.

That's what I got.

"Okay, okay, everyone, let's take a moment to break," she called out, but she had a biscuit practically in her mouth as she said it. Who was she to tell us to break!? I relaxed slowly, letting my short sword rest, although my tail still remained tense. "Really, now rest your weapons--" and she dropped the biscuit to hurry over and scold a human youth who looked far too thrilled to actually be picking up a weapon to stop now. What a pain.

Even as most of the rest of the class turned to pay the mishap heed, I didn't bother. What a disgrace. I knew this introductory class for any melee class was necessary, but that was just flat out embarassing. Turned away, I found myself staring at a tall figure, who didn't seem to be paying much attention. A blue-haired Draconian, looking almost as bored with things as I felt, but he was far more obvious about it, his two-handed blade resheathed upon his back already. The brown school uniform looked a little strained against his physique, but it was no surprise - his race was reknown for a powerful build. I could respect that at least.

As I was measuring him up, he turned to me and caught my eyes, smirking. "Like what you see?"

I think I actually did lose my composure for a few seconds, because I had absolutely no clue how to respond to that. "... What?"

Chuckling a bit at me, he turned full on to face me, and repeated himself. "I said, like what you see?"

Well, I was trying to figure out a proper response, because yes, I did. He looked like almost the only competant warrior here besides myself. For a moment I felt hesitant to say yes, but I nodded anyway. And his smirk just widened, teasing me.

"Well, sorry, but I'm normally not into felines... though I could be persuaded," and he winked right at me.

My ears and tail stood on end with the sudden embarassment and anger. "What!? No!" I hissed back at him. "What the hell!? I meant you look tough. That's it." I was already drawing the blade closer to me, and the grin dropped a bit off his face.

"Huh, you're pretty high-strung, huh?" he laughed, "but Felpiers always are, aren't they? Just relax... ... unless you want a fight?" the grin that came back to his face was different, the stance he took more serious.

I pondered for a few moments, shaking my head. "We probably ought not. This isn't the place."

"Are you chicken?" What an infuriating man! But, I had to keep myself calm. "Oh, wait, you're a cat, not a bird... so you're too lazy?"

Rage.

"Fine, have it your way," the sword came up, and a second later I lunged.

The speed he moved at kinda startled me, backstepping out of range even as he pulled out his own weapon, and even as I was recovering from my swing I already knew to duck on instinct - the counterattack nearly nicked my tail as it went right overhead. Well, that wouldn't do, but I could already see him attempting to handle his recovery, so without another moment to spare, I made the counterslash, aiming for his shirt.

It never made it. I was thrown off-balance when my sword was deflected out of nowhere, and even as I spun full about to try to deal with it, two things occured: one of which was the distinct flesh - and metallic - thud, of a body and weapon being toppled over; the second was a hand grabbing my sword arm and stopping it dead. A girl's hand, to boot.

"Wasn't the first thing I said, not to pick fights?" Mrs. Reiner's smile was still on her face, although a short sword was now drawn instead of a snack, and when I turned my head further, I could see the Draconian righting himself. He looked just as shocked as I did. "Now, why'd you do that?"

"He--" no. Composure. "...I let myself be enraged," there, that sounded much better. Reiner turned to the Draconian, awaiting his answer, along with the rest of the class. And all he did was to shrug, like it was nothing. That, too, could have made me mad... but I refused to let it.

"Well, you two shouldn't be fighting like that. Really," she shook her head, then let me go. "Although, you're not bad for new students. Okay!" she grinned, getting some crazy idea in her head that I don't think I liked much. Especially if it was going where it sounded... "Introduce yourselves to each other, 'cause you're gonna be sparing partners."

What a ridiculous notion, is what I thought.

"Feight," the confident warrior in front of me extended his hand after only a moment. "Warrior in training."

Well, I couldn't turn that down. "...Toby," I answered, giving my hand to him. "Samurai."

The way he met my eyes... he was a strange man, but I could already feel the thing I had missed from the other students here: Respect.