Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIOnqPPDna
I jumped from my bed and groaned, rubbing my eyes. Grabbing my ribbon beside me, I tied it up into a bun and stretched my arms and legs. I put on my gray robes over my black, sleeveless top, wore my trousers, and slipped on my combat boots.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jGMqU9uIU
My bunkmate, Cassie just woke up from her sleep, got dressed, and looked at me. With tan skin and silky black hair, she had a small mole on the side of her lip, along with a red burn mark beside her left eye, indicating that she got that scar recently. "Morning, Bugsy," she yawned, wearing her red hairband. "Did you sleep well last night?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWT7hqnJKo
I nodded. "Yeah, you?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo756PIfKWS
"I slept well," she glanced at me with her gray eyes, walking out of our quarters. "Now come on, we don't want to make Sergeant A'tynn mad."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5aajKv1tO
I gave a nod and rushed out of our quarters, catching up with Cassie. The hallway was bright and crowded, filled with shinies like me passing by, getting themselves ready for training. Some were brushing their teeth with their wooden toothbrush, others were passing the breeze with each other.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNoYkHKGaY
Stepping into the mess hall, I find myself sniffing at the freshly-baked bread and hot, garlic soup, making my mouth water and my stomach grumble. I grabbed my tray and showed it to the cook, who served my meal to me. "Thank you," I bowed, as I headed to where Cassie and her friends were sitting, with stares of curiosity and hostility.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXvECvOv8o
Some fair folks covered their nose as they walked past me, while others scoffed at me, whispering with each other. I sighed as I ignored them and dipped my bread inside the garlic soup, munching it. Oh wow, my eyes widened. This taste exactly likes how Mom and Aunt Inara used to make back home.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCdBaxaWtJ
The soup was salty, yet a little tangy at the same time, with the aromatic scent filling my nose. I stared at my food and gobbled it up as quickly as I could, emptying my tray in one go. "Someone's hungry," teased Cassie, nudging my shoulder. "How long has it been since you last ate some real food?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghVtf3eTuf
I shrugged. "I've lost track of time, to be honest."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwLllbs36M
"Oh, okay. So what is it like in the human realm?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rlz4wUzo2
"It's alright," I replied, resting my arms. "I mostly helped my aunt and my stepmom to run the coffeehouse and hang around with friends."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9asEH2Ztw
"What's a coffeehouse?" Cassie raised one of her eyebrows, gulping down her cup of water. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9z1JB1XtA
"It's where we drink coffee and eat pastries, you know, like this cafeteria, except more cozy."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1L9M8hI6y
"I've never had coffee before," she said, as we both stood up from our seat and placed our tray into the basin. "What does it taste like anyways?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq1m5qE3sD
"Coffee tastes bitter," I answered. "But once you add some sugar and milk, it'll taste good, depending on how much you put inside, though. For me, I would put only a teaspoon of sugar. I don't like sweet stuff anyways. "683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5f5tpUVbk
"That sounds nice," she smiled sweetly as we both headed out from the mess hall, only to bumped into a blue-haired boy with golden eyes and fair skin, painted with freckles. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPbaigUDdE
"Out of the way, meat bag," he mocked, whiffing his hands around his nose. "You don't belong here."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbvNwANOyj
Cassie chuckled as she stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Aren't you the only one here from Arendia, Nat?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjafInooA4X
Nat's face turned red as he walked away from us, his head hanging low. Cassie and I laughed together. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Rc6a2zaN
"Okay, that was hilarious," I grinned. "I have to be honest."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYVveTMIL4
"Well thanks, Bugsy," she said when we heard the bell ringing four times. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgScwjagLQ
Cassie sighed. "We should head to the training room before the sergeant gets mad."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D4WEtovkt
I nodded and rushed to the training room, lining up in a straight line. As we placed our hands behind our back and straightened our posture, Sergeant A'tynn entered the training room. With tanned skin and black, curly hair, Sergeant A'tynn has a huge scar on his cheek and wears an eye patch over his left eye. His eyes darted towards us as he paced back and forth, making my palms clammy.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tEpOXWTLS
"Attention!" he barked his orders towards us, making us stand still like a statue. "As you are all aware, we have a new recruit under the orders of Her Majesty's."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEcNbcKP8a
The sergeant's icy blue eyes peered towards me, making me swallow hard. "Cadet," he spoke, in a gruff voice. "Would you please step forward?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x5X81vwd4
"Yes, sir," I answered, stepping forward from the straight line. "Would you care to turn around and introduce yourself to the others, please?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0SKPJl0su
I nodded and cleared my throat, my hands still locked behind me. "My name is Bugsy," I introduced myself to the other cadets. "It's an honour to be inducted into the Knights of Moon by Her Majesty Queen Titania. I will do my best to serve the Kingdom of Angelis with pride and determination."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCdXAgVDmF
Nat burst into laughter, causing the sergeant to give him a death glare. "What's so funny, Nat?" he snapped. "Speak up, cadet!"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsPSURRzkl
"She's only a human girl," Nat sneered at me. "Humans are nothing but weak and brittle. She wouldn't even last for a day in battle."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3VDoakK56
I let out a soft chuckle and rolled my eyes. "Cadet Avveros," addressed Sergeant A'tynn. "What is the first code of Knights of Moon?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRjL78Oine
"Be strong and brave on the battlefield?" stuttered Nat, his hands trembling. "You're wrong," he pointed out. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8uAoLqM29
"Be respectful of others regardless of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Clearly, you need more lessons on the Codes, cadet!"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKGXi0e6bF
Nat's lips tightened as he was ordered to get back in line, like a child being sent for a timeout. "Thank you for the introduction, Bugsy," he said, as he looked at the other cadets in line. "At ease, cadets."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ1viaH1tW
The rest of the cadets loosened up their posture as they grabbed their swords and pistols from the weapon racks. Cassie stood on the training mat and spared her sword with a frizzy-haired girl, letting out a slight giggle. I walked towards the weapon rack and grabbed a thin-bladed sword, only to be stopped by the sergeant.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1DQtfbZ6r
"You won't be using that yet, Bugsy," he told me, handing me a Wooden Waster. "Until you're ready, you'll be using these for now."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPfSAISMb7
I nodded, understanding his words. Shame I couldn't use a sword yet. I was looking forward to using them. Then again, I might hurt myself, or worse. He led me to a training dojo and faced me in the opposite direction, twisting with his waster with one hand. "Have you use a sword before?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdXeh3vxxm
I shook my head. "No, sir. This is my first time."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSt1STM45N
"Well, you're about to find out more about sword-fighting," he chuckled. "Now get ready."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq5OquwoVr
I raised one of my eyebrows. "With all due respect, Sarge, shouldn't you be teaching me first?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoOMj6eC0B
"You're right, Bugsy, but I want to test your capabilities. Now, are you ready, cadet?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC6rXm1Mg6
"Sir yes, sir," I nodded, as I held my waster with both hands, guarding my front body. Running towards me, his waster clashed with mine, pushing me backwards. I tried to hold my block, only to slip and fall, landing on my back. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyIUOnOBfR
"Rule number one," he gave his hand. "Be responsive when your enemy attacks you."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9xwLpJkyz
I sighed and grabbed his hand, only to be flipped over. "Rule number two, never let your guard down."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTNvNRJOyd
I picked up my training stick and darted towards him, only for the sergeant to grabbed my arm, making me lose my grip on my stick. "Rule number 3, don't let your emotions get the best of you."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhHmhm2P2B
"Yes, sir," I acknowledged, rubbing my head. "I understand."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp4rFKr64U
He stepped his right foot forward and held the pommel of the sword just below his navel. "This is called 'The Plow Guard'," he explained. "This is one of the defense poses you'll be using against your attacker. Now you try it."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dCoHHm7Tc
I imitated his posture, pointing the tip of the sword at his throat. As he began to strike, I took a few steps backwards as I blocked every attack towards me. Feeling my sword slowly slipping from my grasp, I managed to kick his left knee, causing him to trip. I seized the opportunity and jabbed his chest.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNucEaozmvW
"I win," I let out a huge smirk, lifting my head up. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjbqMyxh0w
Sergeant A'tynn chuckled. "No, I win, Bugsy."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXOh1QDhiy
I glanced at the sword A'tynn pointed at my chest, making me groaned in frustration. "Dammit, I almost had you."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcgNKb4jZD
"And you did," he lifted himself up, putting his sword aside. "But you must always double-check before declaring a victory against your enemy; that's rule number four."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaYwjbRf3E
"Yes, Sarge," I bobbed my head, dusting my tunic. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxXSMNy6QZ
"You know, Bugsy, you ain't so bad after all," praised the sergeant. "You adapt rather easily for a beginner."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsDPcGaEt3
"Thank you, Sarge," I saluted, as we shook hands with each other. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA78BkH2UzO
"Come back later for more lessons. You have a lot to learn. Understood, cadet?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWuYFffppg
"Sir yes, sir," I obeyed, stiffening my body. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqfCHxRxnh
"At ease, cadet."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoXjcu6JeK
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