"Hell yeah!", Tobias cheered, as the once mighty adversary is now lying down in a fetal position as a piglet. He then moved around, carefully salvaging caltrops he could use for next time. Takahiro, on the other hand, took a deep breath as he sheathed his blade into his scabbard. His face morphed from having intense focus and into a gentle demeanor within seconds before he gave a relieved sigh. Meanwhile, Ellie had an annoyed gaze, as things didn't perfectly go to her plan. Maxwell however, had a confident smirk on his face, but his hands remained shaking, partly due to fear and anxiety. Conquering one's demons isn't an easy task, nor require a one step fix after all.
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After talking amongst themselves, the two Steam Hunters then approached them, with Toshiro picking up the piglet carefully and telling them to not let their guard down, and that they should move quickly. The four kids then agreed to hold on the celebration for later, as the mana demon threat was still there, not to mention the eerie ambience that cloaked the place.
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"Hmph, so that's why you were able to face me so valiantly. Using fear as inspiration... You mortals sure do amuse me from time to time. It will serve you well to keep me entertained.", a deep voice whispered in Maxwell's mind, as if it were a chilling echo from the depths of a dank cave. After hearing such words, Maxwell gave an uneasy glance at Thonir, who was holding the pup- but he recognized it a split-second later, now glaring at the ground as he walked. Never again he'll be scared, the boy says to himself.
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"Quit moving so much, dumbo!", Ellie whispered in annoyance. As spontaneous as he was, Tobias was also perceptive enough to notice a subtle change. Normally she was relaxed and confident, but now seemed fidgety and irritable, a clear opposite to his easygoing attitude.
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"You alright?", Tobias asked in a whisper, showing concern for his friend.
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"No, and I won't tell why... not now, at least. I just want to go home.", Ellie said before changing grips and shaking her arms to relieve some tension. While Tobias himself seems very excited, he couldn't deny the fatigue he feels as well. Who knew that hunting mana demons was a tiring job, even at the lower ranked missions.
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Thankfully, the crew was fortunate enough to not run into trouble as they passed through the hollowed city, mainly because Tobias was forced to not snoop around after being repeatedly tugged back into line by Ellie.
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"While we wait, we will be evaluating your individual performance. Do not take our words too personally, as we only demand the best from you.", Toshito stated with his arms crossed. His direct and commanding aura didn't hell with moral however, as the four of them were expecting a harsh but needed evaluation.
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"Let's see... Maxwell!", Thonir called.
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"Yes, sir?", Maxwell called, glancing at the pup he held then up at Thonir's eyes.
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"Ye fought 'im well, gave 'em what it deserved. I see that you've been diligent 'n our trainin', that's great! Even if we make it into t' ranks, we must keep polishin' ourselves everyday. I see that ye got that killer instinct in ye, yer speed, power, and precision increases when ye sense weakness. That's some talent ye got, use it wisely. Ye have grown big and strong too, must be my cooking!", Thonir commented, before giving a hearty laugh.
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"Maxwell.", Toshiro called.
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"Yes, sir!", Maxwell replied.
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"In the beginning of battle, you seemed lost in your thoughts. Remember that in combat, even missing a single second is fatal. You also approached the beast sub optimally, relying on wild swings to scare it away. Us Steam Hunters must perform with utmost efficiency, so get out of your damn head and use proper technique. Remember that it is your role to charge forward, to protect your teammates, and to create openings for them.", Toshiro said in a commanding tone, to which Maxwell nodded.
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"Ellie, me daughter!", Thonir called happily, to which Ellie eyerolled to. Though she had been used to Thonir treating her like his little princess, it felt terribly awkward in public, so she prefers to spend little time with her father when outside.
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"I remember ye when ye were just a small lass, ye could hardly fit into my palm-"
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"Stop with the sentiments, dad. What should I work on?", Ellie asked in an annoyed tone. She seemed eager to improve though a bit impatient with it.
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"Ah, right. Well, ye know how to time a good shot, too bad 'twas a miss. You'll get 'im next time, honey.", Thonir said in a reassuring tone.
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"Elgrudeth. You picked your shots yes, but what you did after was unacceptable. You made yourself a target. You were too eager to prove yourself, so much so that you put your life at an even greater danger. Remember that you are a marksman. You hit targets without being a target yourself. Practice self-control, Elgrudeth.", Toshiro advised.
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"Thank you, mister Toshiro.", Ellie replied, now aware of her wrongdoings.
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"Tobias, me boy!", Thorin happily called, as he glanced at Tobias.
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"Yes, mister Thorin?", Tobias asked with the same enthusiastic tone.
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"Ye are crafty to think of such alternative ways- If ye keep at it, I might be convinced that a Steam Hunter don't need no gear, heh. Ye are perceptive as well, able to pick up the beast's patterns and use it to your team's advantage. Well done, lad.", Thorin commented. Tobias responded with a smile which melted as he heard his name get called by Toshiro.
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"In the first half, you acted as if you didn't have a purpose. You were just glancing at everybody. At this point, without Steam Gear, you are just a sacrificial pawn. As Thorin said, you were able to deduce the situation calmly, yet what of your teammates? Next time, take action. I see that you are quite expressive- use that. Don't hesitate when in combat. Take the lead and improve upon your situational awareness.", Toshiro advised.
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"Understood, sir!", Tobias shouted, now aware of his faults. Thorin then turned to Takahiro, stroking his chestnut beard with his right hand whilst carrying the pup with his left. He looked up and down at Takahiro with a brow raised, before glancing at Toshiro.
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"I'll leave yer boy to ye, but do know that I'm impressed. Maybe I'll have to train these punks harder.", Thorin said.
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"Takahiro, give me a self assessment report.", Toshiro ordered.
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"Yes, sir! I was insubordinate and eager to prove myself. Had I been less fortunate, my shoulder would be pierced, leaving me unable to continue in combat. I learned that I should work more on my field awareness, temper myself, and develop teamwork skills.", Takahiro said with a straight posture.
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"Good-"
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A loud whistle then cut off Toshiro, followed by the sounds of chugging soon after. It was one of the famous steam locomotives, a "Brass Chariot", known to tour all over the continent to fetch Steam Hunters resting on posts and return them safely to the capital. As the locomotive driver saw the crew waiting there, loud screeches then emerged not a minute later, as the locomotive halted. Like before, Toshiro flashed his item of identification, which Tobias had a clear glance of. The intricate carvings were hard to deduce from afar, but a green chiseled gemstone in the middle stood out. He also remembered that Thorin had a medallion similar to Toshiro's, so he kept that in mind.
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The crew then walked up to the locomotive, having a similar interior to what they rode into from before. Each of them went to their individual pairs of seats, and after feeling a bit of comfort is when they felt their fatigue. Maxwell's shoulders and arms were sore, as if he had just gone 8 rounds of continuously throwing punches. Ellie had aches on her arms too from lifting and using her crossbow, while both Maxwell and Takahiro seemed just fine, but still a bit tired. The rest of the ride was quiet as the four reflected on their performance, with them arriving at the capital at late afternoon. Toshiro then turned the quest in the guild, marking it a successful mission, and splitting the rewards between the four amateur hunters. Even though what they accomplished was just a low ranking mission, their wage was definitely above average, earning a pouch quarter filled with silver coins after just a day's work.
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"...Woah...", Tobias said as he peeked into the pouch. He then glanced at Maxwell, who looked starstruck as well. It almost felt like cheating to him, as he himself had to get beat and scrape his way into victory just to earn a handful of copper coins when he was starting.
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"Hey- Max! Do you remember something?", Tobias called.
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"...Remember what?", Maxwell asked, before tying the pouch close and glancing at Tobias.
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"What was that about treating me to dinner again? I could reaaally go for a hot meal right now.", Tobias teased, recalling the moment when Maxwell had won his most recent bout.
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"Ah, right... but don't you think you can pay for yourself now, Tobias? Looks like you've got a lot more coin than me, buddy.", Maxwell responded, remembering the promise from three months prior loud and clear.
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"I assure you, all payment is divided equally among the four of you, as each of you had contributed in your own way during the mission. Though, a celebratory dinner doesn't sound so bad.", Toshiro commented. The rest of them then glanced at each other and nodded, giving out an unspoken ultimatum. Other than missions, the guild offered other services as well, such as food and lodging, with discounts depending on your Steam Hunter ranking. The crew wanted to spend a peaceful dinner, so they moved up the stairs and into the second floor to avoid the loud cheering and chanting of drunk hunters, perhaps they were celebrating a victory as well.
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The venue was dazzling, living up to its reputation as a slayer's haven. with the smooth ivory walls trimmed with brass blending in with the recently furnished furniture lit by silver candelabras and chandeliers, providing a first-class experience. As they walked around, they heard small chatter, but not as loud as drunken yelling and cheering. The six of them then occupied a large round table surrounded by eight seats, along with a small brass bell resting on the middle. After making themselves comfortable, Toshiro then pressed the button, the bell ringing with an attentive waiter following up shortly after, distributing menus for all of them.
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"...what!?", Tobias exclaimed in a whisper, as he saw the varying prices. Some meals had foreign names difficult to pronounce written in such fine calligraphy, with the price to boot. Maxwell felt the same way, so he gulped and traced his finger downward as he skimmed to the lower prices, with their texts smaller and less grandiose. After a few moments, the six of them discussed and decided for a meal, so they rang the bell again to tell their orders.
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Both Maxwell and Thorin ordered meat heavy meals, with Maxwell's being just humble servings of baby back ribs while Thorin had slices of steak fit for a noble. Tobias and Toshiro preferred balanced meals, with Tobias having chicken stew with carrots and potatoes, while Toshiro ordered a plateful of salad paired with cuts of venison. Ellie and Takahiro on the other hand, went all out with their rich tastes, with Ellie ordering a creamy pasta seasoned with lemon and garlic followed by scallops and shrimps, while Takahiro ordered a meal with a foreign name, a risotto of sorts sprinkled with leaf toppings and various seasonings ready to explode onto the consumer's palate.
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After making their orders, the six of them then discussed what comes forward.
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"As you four may have heard, you all have potential, but are inadequate enough as Steam Hunters. There's only one choice for you lot, and that is Cogsworth Academy.", Toshiro explained his forearms rested onto the table. Both Maxwell and Tobias looked clueless, glancing around aimlessly while Takahiro and Ellie didn't even bat an eye.
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"Cogsworth Academy?", Tobias inquired, as expected of his curious nature.
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"Yes. Are you not familiar with it?"
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"Uh- no, sir- Mister Toshiro. Me and my brother came from humble beginnings, and I haven't read nor heard about it."
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"I see. I suppose a simpleton wouldn't know of such things. Ahem."
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Toshiro then went on to explain Cogsworth Academy's history. It was an academy located at the capital, and is every kid's first choice for a prestigious school. Unlike the other buildings in the city, the Academy is predominantly made with Elven architecture, with tall and smooth porcelain walls, and red roofing. One might find it ironic however, as there were very little to no steampunk machinery in the campus. Instead, it had an aesthetic filled with lush green grass to remind the Elves of their homeland. The academy was built from the pact of peace emerging from the three races amidst the "Crimson War", where each race shed blood onto the sacred lands which resulted in the corruption of mana. The academy was open to all fields worth studying, be it combat, machinery, or magic. The school's main purpose is to provide comfort in contact with the other races, and to promote peace and education, so that civilization will soon progress enough to recover their lost homelands. The students there are free to pick 8 fields they want to study, and are provided with their own dorms. Underneath the benefits however, lies the ridiculously high fees without a scholarship sponsor, the difficult entrance exams for scholars, and the "initiation" for Steam Hunters.
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Toshiro then took a sip, before continuing to explain the situation for Steam Hunters. For aspiring Steam Hunters, though there is still need for academic merit, the program focuses on enhancing the Hunters' strategic capability and combat skills, making them effective in Mana Demon hunting. The initiation for Steam Hunters is a supervised "Hunter" mission, similar to this one... but only the best are allowed into the academy. Toshiro stated that if they were to put this kind of performance for the initiation, the chances of them graduating are slim to none. The four of them then glanced at the empty table, a bit disheartened by the cold facts along with Toshiro's direct manner of speaking. The entrance exam are to be hosted two months from now and if they were to be having two missions every two weeks, these young hunters will have plenty of battlefield experience.
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Shortly after explaining, the meals they ordered them came to them, their appetizing scents providing an escape from their minds. All of them then set their concerns aside as they are treated to such fine meals of their choosing.
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"Eat up, me lads and lass,", Thorin said before bringing down the fork and lifting a steak to take a big bite out of it. Maxwell took after Thorin's eating habits, with him taking the baby back ribs by hand and gnawing on the sweet meat. As he ate however, he noticed the pup glancing at him every now and then.
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"What, you hungry?", Maxwell asked in his mind.
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"Ha! As if I could accept a meal from someone beneath me!", a voice said in his head. Maxwell then shrugged before continuing on eating, but later he made sure to hold one piece under the table, letting the pup eat. Tobias blew at the soup a bit, before taking the bowl and slurping it all in, chewing on the pieces of potatoes and carrots, and feeling the savory warmth pass through his throat and down his stomach. In contrast to these three, Elgrudeth, Takahiro, and Toshiro ate in a more reserved manner. Ellie took servings of her risotto, holding her face with her other hand in delight after every bite. This was another level compared to his father's cooking after all. Takahiro, on the other hand, was more analytical of the dish, chewing the food slowly as he tried to recognize the tastes with his palate, taking mental note of it... perhaps for future reference? Toshiro, though well-mannered, ate with purpose, looking as if it was just another meal in his life. The six of them then enjoyed their meals before paying their respective prices and heading back home.
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