In an underground training area...
The room that was supposed to be litten up well from small mana crystals of the wall was now instead filled with living shadows dancing around and clashing to each other like a whirlwind.
At first glance, that sight will look like some dark mist.
But if one were to look closer in, they would be able to recognize that this mist was taking the form of a humanoid figure.
To be more precise, there were two groups of shadows with one having a smaller build than the bigger ones.
Discussing them otherwise with their lack of feature would be almost impossible.
Almost, that is.
The strong would imminently realize a feature that the common people couldn´t even hope to notice.
That was that the bigger shadows were a level above the smaller shadows.
And the one controlling the smaller shadows had already noticed his disadvantage.
With a hole opening from the living shadows, a figure wearing black gauntlets together with a metal mask on his face dived to the shadows that weren´t his.
The figure's legs also were covered with similar dark boots covering till his knees, with the rest of his body to be a tight yet light armor with the color of dark and silver, allowing him to freely move without hindering his movements.
That made the figure look quite intimidating to look at as even if they tried to look at his eyes, the opposite party would feel like they were staring at the abyss and being stared back at.
That was because they were.
The shadows that were about to pouch at him were swiftly recalled under the true shadow of a tall figure with similar gauntlets.
*Thagh! Thagh! Thagh!
Sounds of the metal gauntlets clashing echoed through the whole training grounds!
Each punch of the smaller figure was closely followed by either another punch aiming for vital parts or a hand of shadow appeared once in a while to put on the pressure on the taller figure.
But even though all that, each and every strike was blocked with a solemn look of the other party without showing much difficulty.
"Tch..."
As the clash continued, a hand of a shadow appeared under the taller man's feet.
*Wseeen!
Activating some sort of mechanism on the gauntlets, the extracted blade came out.
As if copying him, the shadow also pulled out an extracted blade from the gauntlets.
Both him the shadow pushed their blades forward intending to kill their opponent.
Yet...
"Too slow."
With a half-turn of his body, he devasted the shadow with a kick while grabbing the extracted blade and pulling him forward.
With a swift movement, he put his palm on the short figure's shoulder and pushed lightly.
*Crack!
"Tch!"
Having his one arm dislocated, he called multiple shadows to jump at the tall man.
"Wasteful movements..." Saying that he made a quick work of those shadows with just his gauntlets alone.
However fast he finished the shadows though, it was just enough for an iron masked figure to retreat and fix his arm.
Seeing that, the tall man was about to charge forward before he halted to his steps.
Looking above him, four transparent balls glowing with purple light of the size of a football came falling down right at his location!
"Mhmm, well times, but..." Jumping back, he dodges the purple balls a few seconds before they fall.
Once the balls met the ground, a small crater appear, as if gravity itself got heavier for a second.
Unbeknownst to him though, the magic caster responsible for the purple balls planned the man to take this action.
As the tall man got his footing back, a bright red light appeared behind him.
"Take that!!!!"
With red scales covering his hand, another figure brought out raging flames on his fist.
And like a cannon, the flames shoot direct to the tall man, who actually was Hanson.
"If you plan to ambush me, then don't tell out loud. Haven't I already taught you that?" Hanson said as he dodge the flames.
*Boom!
Sadly, as the flames were shot out and Hanson dodge them instead of blocking them.
Some of the equipment turned to melt.
'Sigh...those were expensive.' Sighing internally, Hanson put an end to their training.
Gathering the iron mask who was Kayn, the magic caster Anna and Marcus who shoot the flames together, Hanson nodded satisfied.
"Well done today. You guys improved."
Pointing one of the time, he started to lecture them.
"Kayn, your talent and battle sense are what many would like to have. Your hard work also impresses me. But your flaw is that you put too much on top of your shoulders, not realizing that without help, failure will come to stop to advantage."
"Anna, I am impressed of you capable to wield such magic and forming a plan around it. What is keeping your plans to not working though is that you accept the very best of everyone."
"And now you Marcus..." Staring at Marcus, Handon sighted.
"You got to work ongoing for the kills instead of a flashy big move. Doing that would make you as much of an enemy as your enemies. And don't forget to no yell when you ambush someone..."
Clapping his hand, Hanson declared the end of their training.
"Hey, Kayn. Are your arm alright?" Anna asked with concern.
Taking off the iron mask, Kayns eyes turned back to normal.
"It's alright...the pain has already faded away." Kayn said.
"Seriously? When I heard that crack I got gossips through my body." Marcus said.
Having finished their schedule of today, the trio went towards the door to take their leave like they were used to.
"Wait, who told you guys to leave? I still got something to tell you guys." Hanson said with a frown on his face.
Turning around with confused looks Kayn asked.
"What is it?"
Staying silent for a minute and serving them, Hanson crossed his arms together.
"I decided to put you guys into work for now on..."
Hearing that, they all froze.
Work? Not training?
"By work you mean..."
"Exactly what it sounds like. Your training shall be continued so don't worry. It's also to gain experience with tough...partners."
Saying no more, Hanson pulled a book cover in a cloth highly together and gave them to Kayn.
"From now on, you guys will guard a certain person in that address. As for this book give it to the man that you got t guard. I already informed the other staff so don't worry and gain some...experience.
Taking and starting at the book blankly, they nodded their heads.
"As you say, Master Hanson" bowing their head, the three quickly left the build and walked in the roads.
"Work, huh? Doesn't sound fun at all." Marcus complained to himself.
"Don't be like that, after what Master Hanson had done to us. Rejecting will be disrespectful." Kayn said.
With Anna using the map, the trio soon found their destination.
"So is this the place? Many asked as he stared at the building.
" Let's go in and ask."
Walking to the receptionist, Kayn asked if they were in the right place.
"Oh~you guys look much younger than I had expected. Don't worry. You can go ahead and give " him" the item he seeks.
The first confused at first, but after 15 minutes they managed to walk on the stairs without the other guard's lunch any attacks on them.
"So you guys are ones..." Edward said with a tired voice.
"May we please enter the room? That item that I am holding is ordered by Master Hanson to give it to the behind that door."
"Sigh...what was Hanson thinking in sending you guys..." Mumbling to himself, Edward opponent up the door, leading to a bad light-up space.
The three of them stared curiosity around as their mutation was giving them better eyesight in dark places.
The room was quite vast by itself, filled with books and various weapons on the side.
Even weird chains folded on a small ball that was mostly metal and had small parts of glass.
But the very first that all three notices upon entering were an ominous kind of mana.
"This is...dead mana, right Anna?" Kayn said with a frown, being inside here felt as if you were short in air.
It was uncountable
"What happens here?
Entering the room, they wanted to look on the crafting branch and see if they might find something.
But before they could even realize it, Anna who was holding the book was suddenly surprised by a shadow casting on top of her and... A sword right about to cut her throat.
" I believe that's my..." A deep voice sounded, triggering some sort of PTSD on Kayn.
Turning around to see if his ears were playing tricks on them.
When he saw the figure, he was shocked.
Danzel rook the book away stared at the trio intensely.
"Hmm, you guys are the new guards that I´ve heard of..."
Putting the sword away from her neck, Danzel revealed a grin.
"Long time no see... You three.."
'It's him!' The three thought at the same time.
With shock still remaining in their eyes, Danzel was surprised that they were still alive somehow.
With his grin getting bigger and bigger, Danzel asked them.
"How longhas it been...?" Walking past them and putting the book to his working table, Danzel said as if he suddenly remembered.
"Right....Around 2 years, if I am recalling right"
