Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKGWKdqCuQ
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZZCmdBiUV
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?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEkNXseUmq
I nodded. "Yeah, you?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRUN6d1vUV
"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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCfeOkxuGM
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lSXF0oa99
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17mD1LjAyW
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaXpjCmQMP
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?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgGIWz0kjR
I shrugged. "I've lost track of time, to be honest."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2d1jJhf0F
"Oh, okay. So what is it like in the human realm?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTi6vdBu4p
"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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWBDAt5aSJ
"What's a coffeehouse?" Cassie raised one of her eyebrows, gulping down her cup of water. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3HeMPVDjg
"It's where we drink coffee and eat pastries, you know, like this cafeteria, except more cozy."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sNZfWraNK
"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?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUe3SYhkf7
"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. "739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jgXKbBsJV
"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. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLkCTRTMfX
"Out of the way, meat bag," he mocked, whiffing his hands around his nose. "You don't belong here."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k2Fy1Kba3
Cassie chuckled as she stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Aren't you the only one here from Arendia, Nat?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaGG2yvZzR
Nat's face turned red as he walked away from us, his head hanging low. Cassie and I laughed together. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhkFmgnHI9
"Okay, that was hilarious," I grinned. "I have to be honest."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FC5YmWVAF
"Well thanks, Bugsy," she said when we heard the bell ringing four times. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1f3WvgWsC
Cassie sighed. "We should head to the training room before the sergeant gets mad."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRg9VNaGMg
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHrFdWszBv
"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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp2mkLbEAk
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?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IGWKoJWEX
"Yes, sir," I answered, stepping forward from the straight line. "Would you care to turn around and introduce yourself to the others, please?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiiq9Hr6vW
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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu75xHhMNlq
Nat burst into laughter, causing the sergeant to give him a death glare. "What's so funny, Nat?" he snapped. "Speak up, cadet!"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkpfl59uLT
"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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJWZuI4Eb9
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?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwYKAnn417
"Be strong and brave on the battlefield?" stuttered Nat, his hands trembling. "You're wrong," he pointed out. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4idgywIoxv
"Be respectful of others regardless of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Clearly, you need more lessons on the Codes, cadet!"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjT7clfqOQ
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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSwU92Axiu
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuc3pcvRzD
"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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY2G4TXlzn
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?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBmNsrVhrD
I shook my head. "No, sir. This is my first time."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgJH5js8jf
"Well, you're about to find out more about sword-fighting," he chuckled. "Now get ready."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmACR7Z7cR
I raised one of my eyebrows. "With all due respect, Sarge, shouldn't you be teaching me first?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDqgGAJ1pA
"You're right, Bugsy, but I want to test your capabilities. Now, are you ready, cadet?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvKx6rx31Q
"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. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi989RLvzVO
"Rule number one," he gave his hand. "Be responsive when your enemy attacks you."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGbPiaaf4l
I sighed and grabbed his hand, only to be flipped over. "Rule number two, never let your guard down."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDSd7xFJzD
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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zxyHGcbMU
"Yes, sir," I acknowledged, rubbing my head. "I understand."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlwmAJp9Qz
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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HmiPvxBUQ
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.739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sMR8DDxtw
"I win," I let out a huge smirk, lifting my head up. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiCA23wZFj
Sergeant A'tynn chuckled. "No, I win, Bugsy."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg4U5M20LP
I glanced at the sword A'tynn pointed at my chest, making me groaned in frustration. "Dammit, I almost had you."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jFZ3nFXvR
"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."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWvznRBRxH
"Yes, Sarge," I bobbed my head, dusting my tunic. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CGcbTQ4gX
"You know, Bugsy, you ain't so bad after all," praised the sergeant. "You adapt rather easily for a beginner."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKnSpQaIMv
"Thank you, Sarge," I saluted, as we shook hands with each other. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZt43RhrfE
"Come back later for more lessons. You have a lot to learn. Understood, cadet?"739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC8ytK1R8N
"Sir yes, sir," I obeyed, stiffening my body. 739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVjd8zCz86
"At ease, cadet."739Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqElF1VSZ1
