Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNrKDVWuhg
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyLqVZHi4n
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?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlyFhgW1jr
I nodded. "Yeah, you?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIfiQkhMlQ
"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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5ygdpW3Ah
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkZKA0N5lG
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYhTCylVDg
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gnTbhDVm3
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?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRhVHSh9P9
I shrugged. "I've lost track of time, to be honest."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1ImGN1yg2
"Oh, okay. So what is it like in the human realm?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjePkA6zsaU
"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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKylTG6dft
"What's a coffeehouse?" Cassie raised one of her eyebrows, gulping down her cup of water. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmXqlfKP39
"It's where we drink coffee and eat pastries, you know, like this cafeteria, except more cozy."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQHN4JFvP0
"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?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W9sc677pC
"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. "677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hxZ2mVwxc
"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. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoDxUmwjO8
"Out of the way, meat bag," he mocked, whiffing his hands around his nose. "You don't belong here."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlrgX2h1Tb
Cassie chuckled as she stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Aren't you the only one here from Arendia, Nat?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdjz3xlW1J
Nat's face turned red as he walked away from us, his head hanging low. Cassie and I laughed together. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPSATroCZu
"Okay, that was hilarious," I grinned. "I have to be honest."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb0i1Mx0ix
"Well thanks, Bugsy," she said when we heard the bell ringing four times. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlbFS8Ljcm
Cassie sighed. "We should head to the training room before the sergeant gets mad."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIC876kgw9
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbwUk5n1ig
"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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TKWYEOQ0y
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?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwJH7qhp8q
"Yes, sir," I answered, stepping forward from the straight line. "Would you care to turn around and introduce yourself to the others, please?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyI2c6uU6t
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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9cmrRhBdj
Nat burst into laughter, causing the sergeant to give him a death glare. "What's so funny, Nat?" he snapped. "Speak up, cadet!"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnH2XVSO74p
"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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUt43POuud
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?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwK3K4VEVG
"Be strong and brave on the battlefield?" stuttered Nat, his hands trembling. "You're wrong," he pointed out. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ucsSvh1UF
"Be respectful of others regardless of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Clearly, you need more lessons on the Codes, cadet!"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5iFR5oie7
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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHltVOxLk0v
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhSs7yB97b
"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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC7KulQKUe
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?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdvgeLhod1
I shook my head. "No, sir. This is my first time."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabKigdR7aV
"Well, you're about to find out more about sword-fighting," he chuckled. "Now get ready."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO81RDcjJh
I raised one of my eyebrows. "With all due respect, Sarge, shouldn't you be teaching me first?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7sMLd0IFS
"You're right, Bugsy, but I want to test your capabilities. Now, are you ready, cadet?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnBOjfAPfc
"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. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjNozXu8rf
"Rule number one," he gave his hand. "Be responsive when your enemy attacks you."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS2Ixmtxny
I sighed and grabbed his hand, only to be flipped over. "Rule number two, never let your guard down."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVMrDsIupJ
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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSupmRsjnyK
"Yes, sir," I acknowledged, rubbing my head. "I understand."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2OAV0zdsg
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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwRnrUN1Ep
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.677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5k0h3qPva
"I win," I let out a huge smirk, lifting my head up. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQiegGX6bQ
Sergeant A'tynn chuckled. "No, I win, Bugsy."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7hULUOkxJ
I glanced at the sword A'tynn pointed at my chest, making me groaned in frustration. "Dammit, I almost had you."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbluhRAQar
"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."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PCN73bLDN
"Yes, Sarge," I bobbed my head, dusting my tunic. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYijH0DNqmU
"You know, Bugsy, you ain't so bad after all," praised the sergeant. "You adapt rather easily for a beginner."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOABKjf9nUq
"Thank you, Sarge," I saluted, as we shook hands with each other. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRNSCLtyXB
"Come back later for more lessons. You have a lot to learn. Understood, cadet?"677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oPO6UpXfV
"Sir yes, sir," I obeyed, stiffening my body. 677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XZ5x8Rkxt
"At ease, cadet."677Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFpk2IP3hX
