[center][h1]~Awkward Dialogue~[/h1][/center] From the way she spoke, it didn’t appear as though Totsurugi was quite fond of her educational choices- or lack thereof. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the sort of thing one could resolve by bringing it up. What was done was done after all, but that wasn’t of much comfort for the remorseful, and asking why probably wouldn’t do much for either (though from Totsu’s previous mention of her family owning a company, I could somewhat guess what might have happened). It was probably better that I let go of that conversation, so I just left the silence alone until Totsurugi was done fetching the new quest. [color=#68BCDD]“You can’t use your skill? Greyed out? Maybe it’s on cooldown, or maybe there’s some requirement you don’t meet for using it?”[/color] Totsurugi seemed to find her answer shortly after, and moved the topic back to my game. Her proposal brought back a grin to my face, and I went to pat her back. [color=#68BCDD]“Well, of course I’d love that! What are you even talking about “how else you could help me”, just being willing to do that much is already quite plenty! Having someone there willing to test drive it without making my wallet emptier than SelfTime. Hahahaha! Really though, are you really ok with doing that for me? Cause if you are… man, thank you so much!”[/color] I went for a couple more backpats before giving her some rest from it. We would obviously have to figure out how to set it all up and all, but the picture of it was already forming in my mind… along with that typical dread of showcasing what you’ve come up with. It reminded me of school group projects back when I was young. I always thought of something I could propose, but just thinking of how it would get shut down and everyone would think poorly of me for it… Well, in the end they did anyway because they thought I didn’t contribute (and I never really responded back either), and ended up dropping their work on me too for “compensation”. I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when Totsurugi declared it was time to move on to the next quest after fiddling with her menu for a bit. [color=#68BCDD]“Oh, right, the next objective. Which one is it?”[/color] I tilted my head slightly in her direction. [color=45bd2a]“It says here it’s called…”[/color] Totsurugi looked at their menu again. [color=45bd2a]“The Practice Grounds.”[/color] [color=#68BCDD]“Ah, yes, that one. Man that guy’s insufferable. Don’t attack him outside what the quest asks though, or he’ll end up killing you. He is one of those NPCs that’s just way stronger than his level would suggest you know? And even if you did manage to kill him, he takes forever to respawn cause he isn’t supposed to be killed at all, and you can’t do the quest if he isn’t alive.”[/color] With that warning spoken, we departed towards the training grounds. It wasn’t that long a “journey”, maybe five minutes walking, but even so that awkward silence was something that built up quickly. I had to say something, if nothing else than just to break that tension. [color=#68BCDD]“So, uh, do you have any siblings Totsurugi?”[/color] She didn’t respond immediately, instead made a fate guise of looking away thoughtfully, while ever so slightly biting her lower lip. I opted not to comment on it. [color=45bd2a]“Yeah, I’ve got a younger brother. I bet you’d love him. He always does what he’s told. My parents sure do.”[/color] Crap. I probably hit a sore spot, her voice was a much harder pressed than usual. I looked ahead, we were pretty close but not quite there yet. I forced a chuckle. [color=#68BCDD]“Well, I bet he’d just boss me around like the rest of the folks that were supposedly under me.”[/color] I gave Totsu a grin. [color=45bd2a]“Yeah. [i]I[/i] still got dibs on bossing you around first though.”[/color] She rubbed an elbow on me teasingly. [color=45bd2a]“Sorry if I got all moody, sometimes I just think they forget there is an older si-”[/color] The sound of the next quest objective interrupted her, popping the message in front of her as we arrived at our destination. [quote][u]Practice Grounds[/u] -Enter the Training Grounds and listen to Laíg’s explanation 0/1 [/quote] The training grounds. They had an admittedly different feel from the rest of town: Circular steps of stone descending onto a sand field around the size of a soccer field, with a wooden fence around it and some random objects in it. More wood formed pillars at the top of the stairs, holding up ruined banners at the top, and with iron rods closer to the ground, with baskets hanging from them. In the sand there was a looping animation of man repeatedly striking a set of training dummies with his refined silvery rapier, and occasionally doing some variation move like a spin or a jump before striking. He wore a polished onyx-black armor with some elaborate markings over it, in contrast with his windblown orange hair. While his neck and face were visibly thinner than the armor he was wearing would suggest, he still kept his fencing form rather perfect, and had a permanent smug smile stuck to him. As soon as we entered the training grounds,however, the looping animation would cease, and in a single imperceivable strike (read: a lot of flashy lights and little actual movement animated), took down all the dummies. Then the man would turn to us and his smile would drop after a scoff. [color=gold]“I knew we were a little short handed, but [i]this[/i] is what they send me?”[/color] As if emerging from the shadows, a small crowd of toy-merged-people in various shapes and sizes gathered on the stone steps of the training grounds. The messy hair dude looked through the crowd, then sighed. [color=gold]“Well, whatever. My name is Sir Laíg, and today you’ll have the honor of competing for the role of my official squire. I will test your mettle with three challenges to see if you are worthy.”[/color] He raised three fingers as he spoke. [color=gold]“You need only complete these trials with results that impress me. I doubt you can do that much though, so I’ll be generous and lower the bar to “coming close to impress me”. Fail to do so in a single trial and you are disqualified, even if that means none of you will get the position. When the trials are over, the remaining will have duels, PROPER duels, for the honor of becoming my squire. Now I shall move to explain the trials....”[/color] He proceeded to sheathe his sword and search his bag for something, and took out what seemed like an unlit torch. He slowly walking to various points in the sand, and place a torch which was immediately replaced in his hand, but the one left on the ground lit with a different colored flame each time. [color=gold]“A good squire ought to be able to act quickly, with grace and obediently. For your first trial, you will be given several patterns of colors, and you must go from one torch to the next in the specified order. If I say yellow red green, then you will go from the yellow torch, to the red torch to the green torch. If you fail to follow the order or stray too far from a straight line, you will fail the trial. Furthermore, this trial can only be completed while carrying one of the lances stashed back there.”[/color] Next, he used some sort of spell to create a short hexagonal pillar of stone, about half his height. He then placed a perfectly spherical sapphire on top of it. [color=gold]“For your second trial, you must demonstrate the manners adequate to a squire. I will ask you three questions. Should you fail to answer them properly you fail the trial as well. Success will allow you to reach the second part, in which you will touch this orb which will project an illusion inside your mind. Within that illusion, showcase the proper manners and you will pass the trial.”[/color] Finally, he unsheathed his sword again and pointed it at the crowd. [color=gold]“And third, my squire ought to be strong. Normally of course, a knight’s squire ought to be competent at swordsmanship at least, but given the circumstances I will offer even greater generosity this time and permit that anyone who can at least put me on my toes has the right to be my squire. Fear not, I recognize how impossible of a task this is, so I will be giving myself a handicap.”[/color] [quote][u]Practice Grounds[/u] -Enter the Training Grounds and listen to Laíg’s explanation 1/1 -Complete the Three Trials 0/1 [/quote] [hr] [@blueyellow]