[center][h3]Chapter 1: The Road To The Accolade[/h3][/center] [b]"Stand in attention, recruits!"[/b] It was an stern and big man in full body armor standing in front of a group of hopeful recruits, young or not. [url=http://s12.postimg.org/bapi7dxr1/sample_87acc499ec119df060957fa3bbb305aa.jpg]The man seemed slender, but his figure was defnitely imposing, despite his old age.[/url] His armor too, was quite imposing, [url=http://s12.postimg.org/vn3wdkwf1/Dark_Souls_Knight_Artorias_The_Abysswalker_Cospl.jpg]despite lacking a helmet.[/url] The meeting in question was taking place in the [url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtY4hRUHrSo/VETSvQr4ZbI/AAAAAAAAAOU/H0q0l8yhMIA/s1600/77bc62de1a82.jpg]castle's[/url] grounds. There was a nearby fountain with crystilline water and even a bench nearby. The birds were chirping and some other animals could be seen running around. It was hard to picture this place as one where a military meeting would take place. The man in front of the recruits then cleared his throat and put both hands behind his back, [b]"Now, don't get all tense. I just need you to stay quiet and listen to me. I shall not repeat myself, after all. You can call me Ace Glauco."[/b] The elderly man introduced himself. [b]"I am a paladin, perhaps the only paladin, at the service of milord Alexandro and, as you can see, I am already an old man."[/b] He brushes his mustache with a single hand and closes one of his eyes as he eyes all of the recruits. [b]"I will not be able to linger by his majesty's side for much longer. As much as I am powerful, I am also old. These old bones are not what they used to be, no, no."[/b] The man closes both eyes and turns his gaze to the sky. He was an imposing figure until just now, but as he started talking about his age, it was easy to see him shaking and his knees shaking too. What Ace said was certainly right. No matter how much training he had, it was useless with an old body like his. [b]"So, I will have you undergo a harsh training and other tests in order to see if you are qualified to become the next Royal Guard, or at the very least capable knights for Jotenvarr. I sorely doubt king Alexandro would risk going to war at any time, but it never hurts to be prepared. Ho ho ho!"[/b] The man let out a slight and hoarse laugh. [b]"Now, please step forward once you hear your names."[/b] He produced a list from his back and started reading it. [b]"Lemme see here...."[/b] [b]"Squad..."[/b] [hr] The meeting went on as the man announced the names of the several recruits that arrived, along with the place they should head to and their instructor. When it was time to announce the fifth squad, Ace's face suddenly went pale. He adjusted the armor surrounding his neck and pulled it apart some. [b]"Squad Quinque: Hiro Anu. Diana. Pauline Bloem. Itazu. Hyakuya. Tybalt."[/b] He cleared his throat yet again and seemed more nervous with each passing second. [b]"Please, head to the forest just behind the castle. There, you will find a woman named Hirotsuka, who shall be your instructor. A word of advice, young ones... whatever you do, don't get on her nerves."[/b] The man gave them a slight smile that arched his mustache upwards. [hr] [@Lauder][@Eklispe][@Redstring](you can wait until you finish your sheet to post)[@GypsyDangerZone](same to you as Redstring)[@Polaris North][@NeutralNexus] [hr] Squad Quinque left for their own training grounds and Ace continued until he arrived to squad number thirty, when his face turned pale again. [b]"Ehem!"[/b] He coughed loudly. [b]"Squad Trignita and last squad: Aika. Claude. Victor Mortem. Mikhail. Maximillian Velmaar. Azi Lukotta."[/b] The man turned his head to the castle. [b]"You need to head inside the castle and to the mausoleum. There, the woman named Illian will be waiting for you... Another word of advice. Do not insult Lord Straizo or anything similar while in her presence, unless you want to become part of the mausoleum."[/b] [hr] [@Light][@Bornlucky][@Sarcelle Renard][@Sagittarius][@Leos Klien] [hr] [center][h3][color=green]The Forest[/color][/h3][/center] [center][h3][color=brown]Instructor Hirotsuka. Class is now in session![/color][/h3][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/5qyODNk.gif[/img][/center] The forest was incredibly thick. There was only green and brown in that area, and it would be easy to hit your head against some kind of branch standing on their way. The battle maid was leaning against a single tree, throwing a sharp kunai and catching it back with just two fingers. When she heard the steps of her new disciples coming, a simple smirk appeared on her face. She'd throw the kunai in her hand at the head of the group to make them stop in place, [color=f26522][b]"Stop right there."[/b][/color] She then would turn to them, without allowing them to speak or heeding any of their complaints at the sudden attack. [color=f26522][b]"I was getting tired of waiting. All right, quick! Your names! On the double! I need to memorize them but I probably won't if you die or resign after this."[/b][/color] She then would point at herself and continue her speech, [color=f26522][b]"Sorry, but you drew the short strew with me on this one. There hasn't been a single person able to withstand my training, and I don't plan on breaking that record with you punks. Get ready to go through some real exruciating training! You will either go home for your moms or stay here and be knights worthy of serving Lord Alexandro!"[/b][/color] The woman actually seemed serious, and the fact that the elderly knight from before advised the aspiring knights of their temper, it actually seemed that they shouldn't cross her unless they wanted problems. [hr] [center][h3][color=gray]The Mausoleum[/color][/h3][/center] [color=9e0039][center][h3]Instructor Illian. The Corpses Talk... But Don't Answer Them[/h3][/center][/color] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/bVkBGcJ.gif[/img][/center] When the group of knights arrive to the mausoleum, they'd just find the room empty. The trembling girl, Illian, would just be waiting behind some structure or other for the group of knights to come. However, she really did not expect the man that came in trashing about. [hr] [center][h3]Claude, The Ex-Merc[/h3][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/gUUNFWH.gif[/img][/center] [color=brown][b]"Why the hell did they even send us here?! Is this some kind of idiotic joke? 'Cause I'm not laughing, lemme tell ya, sir instructor, yo!"[/b][/color] The man with sharp teeth, a pair of sunglasses, a long brown coat and a skull tattoo in his chest had kicked the door of the mausoleum open and was just shouting at random, try and see if someone would really come out if he made enough of a fuss. He was quite tall and seemingly did not use a shirt just to show off his muscles and intimidate others, as if the skull in his chest wasn't enough. Illian went further in the back, scared of the man that had just came in. Sadly, Claude could see her as she moved. [color=brown][b]"Who's hiding there!"[/b][/color] He kicked the tomb that Illian was hiding behind. The girl fell back on her rear and then looked up at the man, looking as if she were about to cry. [color=brown][b]"Who are ya, shrimp?"[/b][/color] Claude approached her and bent down to look at her in the eyes. [color=bc8dbf][b]"I-I am I-Illian. L-Lieutenant Commander a-and your instructor. I-I... I think it is a p-pleasure to m-meet you?"[/b][/color] The girl stuttered and she seemed ot be at the verge of tears. [color=brown][b]"What?"[/b][/color] Was the single thing that Claude uttered, before he took Illian by her head and lifted her up with a single hand. [color=brown][b]"Who the hell do they think they are? Making a child our instructor? Are you fuckin' with me here, huh?!"[/b][/color] He started shouting, and the pressure on the girl's head was getting stronger. [color=bc8dbf][b]"Stop!"[/b][/color] The girl struggled. [color=bc8dbf][b]"You are hurting me! And if you keep hurting me...."[/b][/color] The girl's eyes turned cold and she started glaring at Claude, [color=bc8dbf][b]"I'll hurt you even worse."[/b][/color] Claude flinched for a moment but then returned the glare with one of his own, [color=brown][b]"Love to see ya try, brat."[/b][/color] [color=bc8dbf][b]"Bolganone!"[/b][/color] The floor below Claude turned red, and a geiser of lava suddenly appeared from there, throwing Claude back and crashing into some of the tombs of the mausoleum. Claude was seemingly out after that. Illian fell to the floor as gracefully as ever and then turned her now crazed eyes to the other recruits. [color=bc8dbf][b]"Hello, I am Illian. I feel better after hitting that guy. Don't worry, he isn't dead. The attack didn't hit him head on, so he should recover in a bit."[/b][/color] The girl laughed a bit. [color=bc8dbf][b]"I will be your instructor at this time. If you have any doubts of my capabilities as an instructor, you can ask that guy over there."[/b][/color] She pointed at Claude, who was just then recovering from that crazy attack. [color=bc8dbf][b]"Now, I need your names... um, please?"[/b][/color] Slowly returning to her original self, the girl started shrinking.