Shaken

Chapter – 2

Shaken

***

The adventurer guild was always a busy and bustling place, filled with the sounds of clinking mugs and clashing steel alongside the endless chatter of different breed and ranks of adventurers

So, it was inevitable that Lia's banter with Miko drew the attention of these five adventurers who sat around the table near the reception desk

" That's one spunky kid "

 Remarked a tall armored warrior with his shield resting near his side, sipping on his ale his gaze was on the young cheerful girl who seemed to be rather determined to become an adventurer

" I just think she's rude - "

An archer who dressed in leather armor remarked as well with a smirk

" -but I must admit! She looks kind of amusing coming her only that short sword "

" hey isn't that Hal coming up to her? "

A black clad rough who sat on the same table as the two stated before their 4th person there, the silver haired mage adjusted her glasses and remarked

" Is that fool planning to trouble that kid? "

" Well this'll be a fun watch, Look! It seems like they're gonna spar-"

The shield user chuckled with excitement as he continued

" Hey guys ! Let's bet If that kid wins I'll buy the drinks for the whole party tonight !"

The group's excitement flared at that, especially the mage s they followed the combatants towards the guild's indoor training hall

***

The interior of the hall was spacious and open, fortified with magic runes and enchantments, the entire place was designed to withstand the full force of two seasoned adventurer's fighting with everything they have

Hal, the seasoned rank-6 adventurer stood with his great-sword resting on his shoulder with a firm yet relaxed stance, and across him, stood Lia who was stretching her arm, then bouncing slightly on her feet warming her body up for the test

{ I hope she isn't as reckless as I think she is' after all there's limit to how careful even seasoned adventurers can be }

Miko thought to herself with a sigh while standing between the two, she then held up her hand

Time - 11:09am

Location - Igna guild's Indoor Halls

" Alright, we'll conduct this test using standard sparring rules – soul force is banned not that both of you posses it, mana usage is permitted, however lethal strikes are banned, and both of you are to stop when I say so, understood? " 

Both combatant's nodded

Hal: { I'll have to hold back quiet a bit her(sighs) the girl is pretty much a toothpick with that build of hers after all}

Miko seeing the two confirming her words stepped back and announced with a loud shout

" Begin! "

Dash!!

Hal wasted no time, with a single powerful step he immediately dashed towards Lia and swung his sword in a diagonal arc, fast and powerful

Preceiving such a fast movement Miko was ready to end the fight, but before she opened her mouth to everyone's shock, the girl barely twisted her body in time allowing the heavy blade to to slice pass her by mere inches, the wind pressure alone making her hair whip around

" Whah?"

The audience were shock but before they could comment any further, the battle full of variables thy did not expected continued with all its chaos

Lia: { Gosh! I nearly died there!} " Insane old man!! "

Hal: " Not bad kid! "

Hal praised before he continued his onslaught

Lia's eyes widened as the next heavy swing of the blade came at her , the man, Hal Horn, he was faster than she expected ,knowing that she would not be able to dodge the attack she raised her short sword and pressed the blade of the great sword off its trajectory deflecting it ,then taking the opening she created, she enchanted her blade

Lia: {CUT}

Her blade fainty glowed drawing a line towards Hal who evaded it with practical ease, sidestepping and leaning towards the right to avoid her attack perfectly

Hal: " Is that it? {Sword skill-HEAVY FALL}-"

His sword got cloaked in mana that turned red

"- if so then this is it kid "

The sword came down slashing the girl in two, blood splattered at the scene much to everyone's shock, especially Hal

{HUH? This! Wait! }

Regaining his senses from the shock of killing the kid he briefly glanced at Miko the referee to see that, she had no intention of stopping the fight, to which Hal lately came to a conclusion that

" Okay maybe you are kinda fast old man!"

A confident voice shouted

{ Mana Cl-}

And as Hal immediatly back at the kid's falling body and splattering blood ,that suddenly bursted into dust-clouds from which a pair of indigo colored glowing eyes flew out revealing Lia's dirty form now right infront of Hal's helpless face meeting his black shaken eyes meeting her malevolent indigo eyes ,her dagger glowing with magical sharpness aimed straight for his throat

. . . . . .

" Ah…umm Match over the winner is Li Lilac "

"WOAAAH!!!"

A thundering cheered followed Miko's declaration

***

Hal's body remained motionless as Lia's blade hovered inches from his throat, the cold sweat on his forehead was all too real—he had severely underestimated her, even though he had held back significantly, the fact that she had managed to deceive him with a well-timed Mana Clone and get the jump on him was nothing short of terrifying

For a brief moment, he saw it in her eyes—pure killing intent, a sharpened resolve, that wasn't just the recklessness of a brash rookie, it was the gaze of someone who had been through real combat before

Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the intense look in Lia's eyes faded, she blinked and exhaled sharply, and took a step back, lowering her weapon

" Haah… damn, that was nerve-wracking "

She muttered, shaking her hand to get rid of the lingering tension in her fingers

Hal let out a loud breath before rubbing his neck with an exhausted chuckle

" You...You're one crazy kid, you know that?"

He sheathed his greatsword with a loud clank and stretched his muscles

Miko, still somewhat shocked herself, quickly recomposed her professional demeanor

" Well, that was… unexpected "

She admitted

" But fair is fair, (she smiled){ It seems we all underestimated the girl here } Lia Lilac, you passed the combat evaluation "

The crowd of adventurers erupted into cheers and excited chatter once .ore

" Holy hells, that kid actually pulled it off! "

" No way, Hal lost to a newbie?!(lol) "

" Hahaha !Hey Garrick! Cough up the ale, we had a bet! "

The archer with red hair dressed in leather armour, Reiner Kain demanded with a wide grin on his face

" ....Fine "

The shield user Garrick Voss accepted with a gloomy look on his face ,indeed who would actually expect the girl to win as she did

"Well, this is quite the surprise. She's got some real talent."

The silver-haired mage,Selena Veyne stated with a smirk while adjusting her glasses

The Garrick groaned once more but then laughed as he fished out a pouch of coins

"Yeah, yeah, I'll cover drinks, that was worth it anyhow haha!! "

Lia, catching her breath, turned to Miko with an expectant grin

"So, does this mean I'm an adventurer now?"

Miko let out a small chuckle

"Not quite. That was just the combat test. You still need to handle the registration process, pick your starting rank, and take on a beginner's quest "

Lia groaned dramatically

"Ugh, more paperwork?"

Hal laughed, patting her on the head roughly

"Get used to it, rookie, the real pain of being an adventurer isn't the fights,(his gazed turned hollow ) it's the damn reports "

The gathered adventurers laughed heartily at that, the tension from the intense sparring match fading into a lively atmosphere once more

Still, as the excitement settled, Hal found himself glancing at Lia again, that speed, that adaptability, she was too good for a complete beginner, so naturally be for curious as he asked himself mentally

{ Where did she really come from? }

For now, he kept those thoughts to himself.

" Come on, kid "

Miko said, motioning her towards the reception desk

" Let's get you officially signed up "

With one final glance at the training hall, Lia grinned and followed, today was just the beginning

 ***

Dear old man Randht

Your favourite daughter Lia has officially turned 18 yesterday, thank you for celebrating my birthday with the others yesterday by the way, and also for raising me so wonderfully , now that I'm 18 I'm off to become an adventurer like I always dreamed, yippee!! I'll make you proud okay? So don't worry and look after the kids, I'll send money when I can through the delivering services

Yours truly

Lia Lilac

. . . .

Shaking ,gritting his teeth Father Ranth's entire complexion turned boiling red, it was to the point that the sisters there at the orphanaged backed away from him on sight telling the kids to stay away as well

Sister April: (fled to the kitchen as Ranth read the letter once more to fully digest what he just read) { it seems like whatever our Lia had wrote for him, did not contain anything good }"—"

" ARrrgh!!! "

Brukh !!(sound of the table getting smacked)

"— { yes ,it must be good at all } "

End of Chapter