Winter 4987, 28 Ginmoth
Five long bells rang out the morning, and the other Squires rushed out to join Shon in the courtyard to stand in formation for their morning run. Both Monks were already there, chatting by the gates after joining him for their drills, but Lily only showed up after Master Daunas and the Paladins came out to start the morning exercise.
Like before, she stood to the side of the formation and turned with a yawn when the boys made their sharp right face and started marching. She ran with them as before, but they all knew it would be the last time.
The formation made it halfway around the fortress for their first lap when the Monks caught up and passed them at what looked like a full sprint. Ryuuko flew as fast as it could to keep up with them but soon fell back to fly beside Shon as he jogged. "There's no way they can keep that up..." Rerves panted, watching as Masters Velona and Veon-Zih rounded the side of the fortress ahead of them.
They could, and they did. Lapping the boys a total of fifteen times as the Squires ran their standard ten rounds. As the boys gasped, trying to catch their breath and retrieving their weapons, Shon distinctly heard Veon-Zih say to Velona, "Maybe next time we can make a race out of it."
"You mean actually push ourselves?" Master Velona asked, stretching her legs after the run and not even sweating.
Veon-Zih laughed and quoted a lesson he often shared with Shon in his childhood, "The only way to move past our limits is to push them." he stretched out his arms -cracking his knuckles- then presented a hand to Velona, "Care to dance before you go m'lady?"
Velona laughed and called to Lily, who had her arm stuck to the elbow in her small belt pouch, "Hold my staff, Lily. You can use it for drills if you want." the lady Monk's eyes never left Veon-Zih as she tossed her staff to Lily, then drew her short curved sword from the small of her back and bowed.
It was very difficult for any of the Squires to concentrate on their drills as the Monks sparred. It truly did look like a dance. A beautiful and deadly dance. The moves were fast enough that there was no way the Squires were catching all the nuances. Shon had never seen Veon-Zih moved like that before. And though he'd always known he had a long way to go to even be close to his Master, he hadn't really realized how much the Monk had held back for him. And though Master Velona matched Veon-Zih's every move with one just as quick and impressive, neither stopped smiling. As if -to them- it really was only a dance...
"Impressive, isn't it?" Master Danaus shouted to the boys. The Squires all jumped in surprise and tried to start their drills again. The Weaponmaster just laughed, "That's what a lifetime of dedicated discipline and practice looks like boys, remember it and always push yourself to be better tomorrow than you are today."
Shon could hardly pull his eyes away and Danaus laughed again, "And never forget not to underestimate someone just because they seem to be unarmed or armored. It very well might be the last thing you do."
Rerves managed a laugh of his own and called out, "We learned that last unit, sir." which made Shon finally shake his head. Clearly, he was nothing compared to his Master. But that didn't mean he would ever stop trying.
The Monks' match ended in a draw, and the boys and Lily were finally able to finish their drills without distraction before making their way back into the fortress for breakfast.
Lily ran ahead of them all and waited in the middle of the Squire table with her full plate. From his corner, Shon heard her say her goodbyes to all of them.
"Don't you four dare forget to tell me where you're stationed! I really am going to send you gifts next year," she told the seniors.
To the second years, she said, "Keep working hard, you're almost halfway there, and you've already grown so much in just one year!"
To the youngest -the ones that hadn't known her before- she said, "It was great to meet all of you, do your best, and you'll be even better than these guys eventually."
To Thom and Rerves, she said with a grin, "You guys will be the seniors soon, so no slacking off, you're on the home stretch now, and I'm never going to stop writing, so I'll know if you do."
"What about Shon?" Zihler huffed, "You're not going to tell him to work hard and do his best or anything?"
Lily grinned down the table at Shon for a moment, then looked at Zihler with a wicked smile, "Shon works hard at everything, and that's why he's already the best."
"Ouch..." Rerves called out, "Whoever said she needs fire to burn?" Lily just snicked an exaggerated evil snicker as if she'd been joking, but also shot a wink toward Shon.
At the officer's table, Velona stood, taking her plate to the food table before heading for Lily and the Squires. "Ready?" she asked.
"Almost," Lily said, though she too stood and dropped off her plate as the bells began to ring.
She waited by the door and, as the Squires started their single-file march towards the chapel, stepped out to block their path, taking a moment to hug each and every one of them before letting them go. The officers didn't stop her, though the Major General shook his head, and Master Danaus barked out a laugh.
As usual at mealtimes, Shon was last in line, but as Lily reached for him, Ryuuko slithered between them, hanging from Shon's sword strap to nuzzle Lily's cheek. He let the pseudodragon do it, but when it didn't seem about to stop anytime soon, he grabbed it by the neck, pulling it off of him and dropping it to the side so Lily could step in and wrap her hot arms around his neck.
He'd meant to just give her a quick hug -like the others- but as she sighed, the rest of the world dropped away. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in the cinnamon scent of her hair and wanting to hold on for all eternity.
"I'll let you know where we're going, so you know where to forward your letters," Lily whispered to him.
Shon nodded against her neck, running his hands up her back. It seemed as if time were standing still, but all too quickly, Ryuuko clawed its way up his leg and back to reach his shoulder, its talons digging in with every step. He flinched, sucking in a pained breath at the scratches. Still, it was the Major General clearing his throat that finally had him stepping away.
"To the chapel Squire, you've said your goodbyes."
Snapping to attention, Shon saluted the officers, not looking back as he marched down the hall and towards the chapel.
Lily was going to be following her dream, and with a Master Monk who would make sure she worked hard to perfect her staff art as much as Veon-Zih had done for Shon before coming here. She was dedicated and a hard worker, and she seemed to think he was too. He did work hard, even in his free time, and that was why he was the best... Except for one thing...
Shon stopped outside the chapel doors and turned to wait for the officers. Paladins exchanged looks as they passed him, but he stood at attention until Masters Danaus and Veon-Zih came into view with Major General Selibra just behind. Once they were in range, Shon saluted, waiting to be acknowledged by the command.
Danaus' voice faltered, and Selibra studied the Squire for a moment before asking, "What is it, Squire?"
"I have a request, Sir," Shon stated clearly.
"Well, spit it out," Master Danaus barked while Master Veon-Zih arched a silent eyebrow.
Shon took a deep breath, "I want to train in armor."
The three men exchanged looks, and Danaus started, "After lessons..." but he faltered when Shon began shaking his head.
"I mean all the time, sir. From the morning run to lights out."
Danaus leaned forward, blinking at Shon -who maintained his strict attention- then looked to Veon-Zih, "Was this your idea, old man?"
The Monk could only shake his head, looking his student over with a critical eye.
The Weaponmaster turned to the Major General, "Selibra?"
"It isn't a bad idea," the Major General conceded, addressing Shon, "You will spend your final evening break scrubbing your armor and showering thoroughly. There is no reason we should have to suffer your stench for your discipline, no matter how admirable."
"Sir." Shon saluted, going into the chapel only after being dismissed. Veon-Zih had told him at his first lesson that he needed to work his weakest side twice as hard as his strongest. Well, he had put it off long enough, and for the last year of training, he would work his weakness into a strength.
***
