Chapter 2: 2
That weary figure of Bellona could be found pacing around the yard, groans emitted from her lips at each passing second, frustration was all what begat the young lady, while she onlooked the figure Pavlos stood away from her, a huge contrast to her state—He bore finely craved battle knives in hnads, not to forget that grin sat on his lips.
Perhaps he enjoyed to see her this irked. To have her throwing a fit, did much pulling the glee to the fellow.
There both figures were, taking turns launching at that tree ahead, just like a game of darts, but this time, weapons were used.
"Y'know when you said 'we begin now' I thought for once you actually meant your words. I'm very much interested in knowing the reason as to why we're training with knives. I mean, why can't we train with swords—or bow and arrows" That grunt left the lips of Bellona, while hands went throwing a dagger frustratedly at the six-feet standing tree.
She tried taking out her pain on the trees, but whatever she did, the knives didn't seem to connect with them. Unlike Pavlos who did it effortlessly.
"You're not prepped for that" Came his response.
He went behind her, straightening her shoulders, helping put her in better form.
"When will I be ready then?" She called at once.
"If you stopped asking questions, you'd be ready in no time" That utterance of Pavlos, was emitted in such a pensive tone.
He ignored her groans, grabbing another dagger, and at once, aimed it at one of the tall trees, launching it in a snap.
"To fight and overcome, you need to focus" He began.
"That's the first thing you should take into consideration"
"I've seen tons of people fight with their eyes closed" Bellona called in response.
"Bellona! Will you let me to teach you?"
"Of course, Heavens!" She flung her arms in the air, gaze turning to him.
"Then focus!" He snapped
"Now try the exact thing I did" He added.
She sucked in a breath, placing her left foot before her right foot, with her right arm far behind her left arm, she tossed the knife at the tree.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips, as she watched the knife flying straight ahead, almost connecting with the face of a young man, but was halted mid-air, as that figure came approaching from behind the tree, collecting the knife just in time, while it stayed inches away from his face.
A sigh of relief Bellona gave, having realized that figure was Aiden, a young man whom she had been friends with, since their toddling days.
He let out a chuckle, flipping the knife and resting it in his out-stretched palms, meanwhile Kasumi was left peering on at him with such awe in her gaze, found amazed at the young man's skills.
Shuta who remained beside Bellona, only watched with a smile tugging on his lips, onlooking the scene like a proud teacher, watching his student bask in his glory.
"Aiden! To what do I owe this?" Uttered a cheer-filled Pavlos, with eyes found beaming on at the figure away.
"Only here to ask if I could take your horse out for a ride"
"Sure! Just as long as she's fed, I'm alright with that" Followed the response.
Aiden gave a nod in response, turning to look at Bellona, then stretching the knife out.
"I believe this is for you" He had laid the knife carefully into her palms, eyes held in hers
"Focus" He whispered.
And with that, he went walking off.
"See, he gets it" Pavlos muttered.
"What's it about this 'focusing' stuff anyway?" Bellona scrunched her face.
They were soon interrupted by someone coming from behind them.
They both turned to see Elpida, a maiden holding a basket filled with berries, hurrying towards their direction.
"Hey!" That voice of hers was filled with much delight, eyes found beaming at the figures away.
Her dark hair went bouncing side to side, figure approaching the two.
She had set the basket down onto the green grass, carefully picking the berries out.
"I've been on the look for you all morning. Where have you been?" Bellona asked.
"Well 'look' what I got, freshly plucked berries" She squealed.
"Know what I'm thinking" Bellona asked with a smile on her lips.
"No one ever knows what you're thinking" Elpida stated.
Bellona let out a chuckle, soon having her hands dipped into the basket, taking out a handful of berries and stuffing them into her mouth.
"This is good" Followed her moan, with the berry's juice, sliding down her tongue.
"It's the season" Elpida responded.
"Care for some, Pavlos?" She asked.
"You finally acknowledge my presence—Shocking" Came his response in a flat tone.
"Sorry. I got lost in the goodness of these" uttered Elpida, reaching out to touch his arms softly, flashing a smile his way.
"You ignored me cause of those?"
"Oh, don't be like that. Come have some" She beckoned onto him.
"Much thanks, but I decline politely. I deal with things that warm me up and and add to my great deal of feats. Y'know-
Elpida tossed a berry at his face which had put a pause to his utterance.
"Don't you—He began, but was caught off by Bellona joining in and throwing berries at him, laughing in the process.
Pavlos shook his hair wildly, red juice dripping down the sides of his face.
He packed a handful of berries, and was about throwing it at them, when they heard loud screams coming from the village.
Dropping all they had in hands, their figures went hurrying over to where that noise came from, and coming to behold the scene away, the shock had been slapped to each one of their faces.
Soldiers, dressed in black armory seen dragging a lot villagers away, feet stomping on their crops, hands doing enough to toss out their food onto the earth.
Bellona was quick to recognize them as Cedric's soldiers.
That infamous tyrant recognized far across the lands, the same one who wouldn't spare them a rest.
Feared by a large deal of people mainly because of the things he did, Cedric's name was found highly spoken of.
The man who seemed to be passing the commands, remained atop a black horse, voice bellowing into the area, ordering for the men to take a pause, and ensure silence.
He had managed to grab everyone's attention in a matter of minutes, and soon enough, that quirky grin had taken his lips.
"People of Lorwich" He began.
"His majesty, Cedric demands all eligible men come with us to Grirendra"
His foretelling, had pulled the murmurs from everyone, confused gazes shifting through each other's.
"We're not giving our sons to you!" Called a voice from the crowd. The speaker, an old man, had pulled himself forward, hands gripping onto his walking stick, his eyes bored into that of the commander.
A low chuckle escaped the man's lips, hands ruffling his hair. In a second, that grin had been wiped off his face, now replaced with a scowl.
"There is no choice given" He let out. "We'll take them either way. Through force or their own will. You choose"
He raised two fingers up, and the next thing that followed, was the number soldiers pulling forward, their weapons drawn out.
Screams erupted everywhere, carts of food tumbling over as armed soldiers dressed in black dragged the boys away.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone