Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uXNk3OG3J
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU6TY72FM9
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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQe67Ips7C
I nodded. "Yeah, you?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBipqNGPXqi
"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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw3CFfKHcf
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJROWwBoWe
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58nz1DCn9l
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzGzNouRWm
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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg90KfI6F3W
I shrugged. "I've lost track of time, to be honest."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibgfoVTeko
"Oh, okay. So what is it like in the human realm?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAIBD6nOpX
"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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlZWeJURkH
"What's a coffeehouse?" Cassie raised one of her eyebrows, gulping down her cup of water. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d3ZJwzW52
"It's where we drink coffee and eat pastries, you know, like this cafeteria, except more cozy."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN74Py0DFM
"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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyJOZvcfHH
"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. "616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZMh8wMAln
"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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJhmN0hUvR
"Out of the way, meat bag," he mocked, whiffing his hands around his nose. "You don't belong here."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XleI7hfHo
Cassie chuckled as she stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Aren't you the only one here from Arendia, Nat?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4qO0cE4ve
Nat's face turned red as he walked away from us, his head hanging low. Cassie and I laughed together. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkqjdn2UOn
"Okay, that was hilarious," I grinned. "I have to be honest."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KVdFQjoLx
"Well thanks, Bugsy," she said when we heard the bell ringing four times. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRaBTzrMPy
Cassie sighed. "We should head to the training room before the sergeant gets mad."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIfx4WFl3b
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQEjeZ2cTg
"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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bFv6NsopO
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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWFeoY8SW8
"Yes, sir," I answered, stepping forward from the straight line. "Would you care to turn around and introduce yourself to the others, please?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTKP06jxNv
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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpwefsczvb
Nat burst into laughter, causing the sergeant to give him a death glare. "What's so funny, Nat?" he snapped. "Speak up, cadet!"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUWhw6dxM1
"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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI0iYsn2Ru
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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyLrONSwaj
"Be strong and brave on the battlefield?" stuttered Nat, his hands trembling. "You're wrong," he pointed out. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHouLNnltyU
"Be respectful of others regardless of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Clearly, you need more lessons on the Codes, cadet!"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieAIzxeLFT
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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNE9Xep1za
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtEiz9vh27
"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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboThm4L8dx
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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgcjIuVC9S
I shook my head. "No, sir. This is my first time."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7MH8RGcLy
"Well, you're about to find out more about sword-fighting," he chuckled. "Now get ready."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHMgTr95A5
I raised one of my eyebrows. "With all due respect, Sarge, shouldn't you be teaching me first?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvOw3gtQ0B
"You're right, Bugsy, but I want to test your capabilities. Now, are you ready, cadet?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjBQ6jioAW
"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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9Q6fuefr9
"Rule number one," he gave his hand. "Be responsive when your enemy attacks you."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1xSwdSw8j
I sighed and grabbed his hand, only to be flipped over. "Rule number two, never let your guard down."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGWg7zYqcB
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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe2by9uhS0
"Yes, sir," I acknowledged, rubbing my head. "I understand."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgbT8T8Qoq
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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4wLFW1iYF
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64065cBeeh
"I win," I let out a huge smirk, lifting my head up. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5OfcJzFE7
Sergeant A'tynn chuckled. "No, I win, Bugsy."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUfUSChJLQ
I glanced at the sword A'tynn pointed at my chest, making me groaned in frustration. "Dammit, I almost had you."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRAxUXt7tr
"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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfeSmc74LQ
"Yes, Sarge," I bobbed my head, dusting my tunic. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9kGSF7KFr
"You know, Bugsy, you ain't so bad after all," praised the sergeant. "You adapt rather easily for a beginner."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFTc6mPxm8
"Thank you, Sarge," I saluted, as we shook hands with each other. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzup8LHXDv
"Come back later for more lessons. You have a lot to learn. Understood, cadet?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsl9JXd8Pv
"Sir yes, sir," I obeyed, stiffening my body. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNljlHvfX4
"At ease, cadet."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYge9WyJ8Wx
