Pulled Out

Chapter 17: Pulled Out

"That was not really impressive Jett."

Eliana stared at the two cousins with a stern face but deep inside she had questions piling up. She cleared her throat to catch their attention, they stopped teasing each other and looked at Eliana.

"Surprised?" Jett smiled triumphantly.

"I didn't know you were Ethereals." Eliana said in a small voice.

Larsanel took a step towards the stupefied girl. "That's okay! Not everyone knows. We're both newcomers, to simply put it we've recently joined the Seven." She explained.

'How?'

She wanted to ask, but she knew everyone knows how one can join the circle so she decided to keep her mouth shut.

"I see." She says instead.

Jett slightly raised his hand. Eliana gave him a questioning look. "Spar with me Eliana." He invited her like a kid. "I'm tired of sparring with Lars. I can easily predict her moves now."

"No!" Larsanel protested putting her palms on Eliana's shoulder. "Go spar with someone else Jett. We met first, I wanna spar with her too." She whined.

Jett frowned like a puppy, these two are awfully childlike. He scratched the back of his head and had a staring contest with his cousin. After almost a minute he sighed and broke eye contact, he couldn't beat his cousin's stubbornness at all.

"I'll allow it then." He gave Lars a look before turning to Eliana. "Let's spar next time." He smiled turning his back against the two and trailed off to find a partner.

Lars circled around Eliana to stand face-to-face with the girl. "What kind of weapon do you wield?"

Eliana stared deeply at the girl. Her mind was buzzing with excuses how she would deal with this. Her palms were sweating and she could feel her heartbeat race.

She blinked. "What do they have here?"

Lars darted her eyes at a distance. Eliana followed her gaze and found she was looking at a stack of open boxes. One of them had a sharp object pointed out from the box.

"Let's pick out a weapon."

Eliana nodded and followed behind Larsanel. She could feel the burning stares and looks she received from the rest of the class who were already practicing in pairs.

She carefully eyed Larsanel's back.

'It must be because of her.'

They stopped in front of the boxes. Some were emptied out by the others. They went straight to the newly opened ones. There were numerous weapons inside each of different kinds.

"Mmm." Larsanel thoughtfully tightened her lips before lowering down to pick up a green sword. "This will do. Pick yours now El."

Eliana bit her lower lip nervously. She knew nothing about weapons. If this was a place for wizardry she might be able to pick out stuff, there was a series of books dedicated to that back on earth. But no, Praediti was all about abilities. Now the Lady knight wanted them to show their fighting skills.

She heaved a sigh before reaching down to a silver sword. She mustered an awkward smile to Lars. "I pick this. I'm not really good with swords. I hope I can learn from you."

Larsanel giggled. "Of course! That's why we're doing this. It's training, it should help us enhance our skills."

They went to an open space enough for them to move around.

Eliana masked her wariness.

"Wanna take it easy first?" Lar's suggested.

Eliana nodded. "Easy, very easy."

Larsanel positioned herself in a battle stance. Her left leg behind making her body slant. Her hands held the sword at an angle.

Eliana followed her, it was noticeably similar to the movies she'd seen. Larsanel's cheerful demeanor was replaced by a serious one. Her aura seemed to have changed as well, Eliana could feel it.

'She's ready to fight.'

Eliana couldn't help but tighten her grip on the sword. Attacking first would be foolish. She knew nothing about swordsmanship.

In a swift motion Larsanel attacked first swinging her sword aiming at Eliana's neck. Thankfully Eliana's reaction time caught up just as fast, the blade of her sword met with Larsnal's creating a sharp sound.

Wasting no second Larsanel swung her sword again and again causing Eliana to have a difficult time blocking the attacks. With every swing Eliana took clumsy steps back. It was evidently clear to see she was having a hard time.

"Ugh!"

A swing with full force sent her sword flying away from her grasp. She felt her right palm sting from the sudden impact. Glancing quickly to her palm now red and scratched.

Larsanel held a confused and puzzling look. They both exchanged stares. Eliana looked at the girl with amazement.

A smile slowly spread on Larsanel's lips. "Wow Eliana, when you said you're not good with swords I expected you to at least know the basics. That was horrible."

Eliana cringed both from the comment and her throbbing palm.

Lars noticed how she tightly clung to her clenched right hand. She approached Eliana circling her left hand to her right wrist.

"Let me see that."

"It's okay." Eliana picked up her sword from the ground. "I'll wrap something around it. Although it was short, you were really good and you moved really fast."

Lars shook her head. "Trust me, a sword is not my specialty. You're equally as fast, the only flaw is your clumsiness whenever you receive my attacks it prevents you from reacting."

Eliana hummed a reply. She can't believe someone from the Ethereal Seven complimented her. Her-- an amateur.

Maybe it's just Lars. She can see how kind she was, so far.

They returned the swords back to the boxes. Eliana found a bondage on top of a table field with first aid items. She wrapped her throbbing hand with it.

"Since we can't use weapons because of your hand. How do you feel about hand in hand combat?" Larsanel suggested.

Eliana had her head low out of sight from Eliana's gaze. Her frown was mixed with worry. It won't be soon until the anxiety eats her.

"Let's-"

"Eliana."

Both girls darted their eyes on the newcomer who cut Eliana off. Eliana frowned at the guy who called her by her name.

'Who's he?'

Larsanel greeted the guy with a small wave. "Hello Bastion!"

"Larsanel." He nodded at the girl with a warm smile. "Eliana, you are Eliana am I wrong?"

The guy had caramel hair, the air around him felt refreshing. He was oozing with friendly vibes.

Eliana nodded. "That's me."

Bastion smiled stiffly extending his hand. "My name is Bastion, a third year knight in training."

Eliana mirrored his smile reaching his hand for a handshake. "First year, I'm Eliana... Although you've already mentioned my name." She slightly frowned. "May I know your intention?"

Bastion placed both of his hands on his hips puffing his chest out. "You will come with me." He said.

Larsanel joins the conversation. "Why? We're still training."

Eliana motioned Lars to leave this to her. "For what reason do I have to go with a third year?"

Bastion dismissed their guarded reactions by waving his left hand at them while his right hand covered his chuckling mouth. "Forgive me. It seems like you girls misunderstood. I'm here to bring her to the office. I was asked to by someone who's here for her."

Larsanel relaxed and shifted her eyes to Eliana. "It's the first day and someone already misses you." She awed.

Eliana thought about it, it must be Lord Wistal.

"I'll follow. Let me inform Lady Astrid first."

She turned to leave, but Bastion stopped her.

"There is no need. I came to give her the word and received her approval. You are given permission." He grinned as if he was proud he did something responsible.

"I'm sorry Lars. I guess you have to find someone else to spar with." She smiled apologetically.

Lars shook her head. "Mmm, it's okay! I hope to see you tomorrow."

They separated, Eliana and Bastion leaving Larsanel behind. Eliana followed the guy's footsteps silently.

"How is the Academy so far?" Eliana was surprised how he talked casually. Nevertheless she relaxed and replied.

"Tough, but it's fairly uneventful so far." She thought well about what to reply, she decided to give safe answers.

She saw Bastion nodded from her peripheral vision. "Indeed, newcomers experience difficulties from the starting point. But you'll improve soon, like me. Just don't give up." He encouraged her.

'This guy is interestingly friendly.'

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

Bastion continued. "You know Larsanel. You must have met Jett as well, I presume."

"Yes, Lars introduced him to me. I didn't know they were cousins."

Bastion gave her an amused look. "Do you know who they are?" He asks.

"Aside from being blood related apparently they are part of the Ethereal Seven." Mentioning the group's name rolled on her tongue with a weird feeling.

"Correct. They are both talented that is why the previous rankers passed down their ranks to them." He shared.

Eliana masked her curiosity. "You seem to know a lot about the Ethereal Seven." She pointed out.

Bastion chuckled. "I do know a lot about the circle. People tend to misunderstand them, thinking the circle is filled with conceited and self entitled tyrants. They are far too different from that judgement."

'He sure is talkative.' Eliana thought.

Before she could comment they arrived at a beige door. She hadn't noticed how they climbed up to the second floor. Bastion knocked three times, after hearing a, 'come in' Eliana clutched the door knob.

Bastion gave her a look. "They specifically gave an order to bring you here, well then." He motioned to leave.

"Alright, thank you."

Bastion nodded giving her a friendly smile before turning to leave.

Eliana expected Lord Wistal, but the other person who was seated next to him in front of the principal's desk was unfamiliar to her.

"Eliana, my niece."

"Uncle Wistal." She greeted and reluctantly nodded at the other person. "Hello ma'am."

The old lady smiled at her.

The guy behind the desk spoke. "Young lass, sit down." He pointed at the couch on his right. Eliana recognized his voice, he was the speaker during the program.

"Pardon me, but what brings you here uncle Wistal?" Eliana asked.

Lord Wistal gave the old lady a look. The old lady answered Eliana. "We apologize for this irresponsible and sudden news, but we are here to take you with us for an important agenda." She spoke slowly, careful not to surprise Eliana that much.

She failed, Eliana was beyond confused and surprised. She felt furious. What was with this world and the Lord had to do with her? She felt played, and hurt most importantly she wanted to leave. Now.

She didn't bother to hide her frown. "What?"

Lord Wistal spoke. "It is exactly as you heard Eliana. Don't worry, Rimbrad knows."

"Rimbrad?" Her frown deepened.

Lord Wistal shifted his eyes from her to the guy behind the desk. The guy had a mischievous smile plastered on his lips.

"Pardon me hahahaha!" He exclaimed. "My my, how irresponsible Wistal you sent her here clueless!"

Lord Wistal nodded. "It's part of the plan Rimbrad. We'll take her with us now."

Eliana wanted to yell now. They spoke like she wasn't in the same room or rather as if she was a child. She hates feeling clueless now. She should've been more upfront about asking questions, obviously her fear shut her self-esteem down. She felt small and overpowered by these people.

But what does anyone expect when you're sent to a different world?

"Excuse me, I'm sorry but I would like to know what this is all about." She mustered the courage to ask the question calmly.

Rimbrad took the honor to answer. "I know you're human Eliana. These two Jurists are here to take you away from tomorrow's traditional school test. On the second day for the newcomers, every year the Academy holds a power level test. A public exam to showcase your skills and potential for both your ability and combat. You my dear have none of both. In other words Wistal here will help you avoid that." He breathes. "Additionally, I will help you to come up with something to explain your absence."

Eliana's face was devoid from any emotions. "Why did I not know about this?"

"The test is kept a secret." Rimbrad said.

"Tomorrow, your investigation starts." Wistal chimed in.

The old lady joins the conversation as well. "Do not worry dear. We may not be able to explain everything to you now, but if anything goes wrong we are here to help you."

Eliana doesn't even know how to react. Just what is this?