Chapter 4: The Meeting and The King

[Allies assembled, though will it be enough for the King?]

“It’s giant!”

Hazkura searched the housing unit with a face of awe and curiosity. Similarly to Vincent, she had little luggage with her – two small boxes of assorted items and a backpack with travel rations and two changes of clothes. Her current attire consisted of a lavender short-sleeved shirt (torn), tan shorts (slightly torn), and a cloak that was almost in shreds.

“You live here, all three of you?” Hazkura asked, her excitement unceasing.

“Yes, this is the test unit’s quarters,” Simon said with a smile. “I can give you a tour, if you’d like.” Hazkura nodded sprightly as Simon led her through the process.

Vincent started to follow, but felt a tug on his shirt-piece from behind. He turned to see Rinkyu staring at his stomach area.

“Do you need to ice it?” she asked, less quiet than normal.

Vincent didn’t understand immediately, then he realized her gaze was fixed on his ribs – specifically, the one or three Hazkura cracked less than two hours ago.

“I don’t think so,” he responded, stretching his left side to show her. It was a mistake to do that, he realized too late, as he immediately felt a shooting pain in his left side. He jerked back to a comfortable position.

“On second thought, yes. Do we have any ice bags?”

Rinkyu sighed and led him to the kitchen and opened the fridge door. On the bottom shelf were three blue packages – she took one of them out and bent it along the center. It made a pop, and she handed it to him. 

“It’s an ice gel pack,” she said. “Hold it on your injury like you would an ice bag. It should be good for four hours.” She stared at him for a minute, as if checking to see if he needed anything else, then walked away upstairs to join the tour.

Vincent took a few minutes to relax and test the gel pack on a couple spots before eventually deciding on a permanent spot to hold onto. It looked like Rinkyu was opening up to him, if not slowly, and Simon liked him here, or at least tolerated him. He sighed as he tried desperately to sum up his short tenure as leader of this unit. In less than five days, he had managed to hire one new member and had succeeded better in the physical training than the prior members in two of the tests (though Liane’s test was somewhat daunting).

He heard the steps of feet above as Simon was probably showing her the available rooms – he could make out Simon’s dedicated gait and Hazkura’s loud stomps. Rinkyu seemed to be quiet even walking, and he only noticed hers when they came to a stop. The footsteps made their way back to the staircase, and he heard their voices coming down.

“And that’s about it,” Simon’s voice finalized to Hazkura. “We’ll be doing training again Sunsday, but before that, we have a meeting with Lord Atrus in two days.” He then handed her what was to be the rite of passage for their ragtag group: a smartphone-notebook with a green trim. “This is for you,” Simon said with a warm smile. “It will be valuable if you need to contact us, especially out on missions. Keep it safe.” Hazkura responded with a dedicated nod and put it into her pocket.

Simon came over to Vincent and handed him a thick envelope as Hazkura started conversing one-sidedly with Rinkyu. “I have a favor to ask of you, Vincent,” he said quietly.

“Could you take Rinkyu and go get some new clothes? Your armor is good for combat, but something a little less…” He glanced at the fraying edges of his shirt, and the exposed armor plates. “…ragged… would be preferable for a meeting with Lord Atrus. At least something proper, for you, Rinkyu, and Hazkura, if you could.” He tapped the pack of money lightly and added, “There’s a little extra in there for a new armored shirt or a tailoring on your current set, and I left in there a list of good tailors and shops that may be worth looking at. Also, a set of casual clothes for each of the three of you wouldn’t be frowned upon.” He smiled and said, “I’ll ask Hazkura about her sizes and message you later.”

He paused, looking at the ice pack that Vincent was holding to his side. “I’m sorry to make you do this now of all times, but we are short on options.”

Vincent sighed. “Comes with the position, I guess,” he said with a tired grin. He waved over Rinkyu, who had been standing quietly next to the talkative Hazkura. It was not a disinterested look she wore listening to her, but Rinkyu was obviously a little uncomfortable with being talked to – Vincent addressing her gave her an out that she gladly took.

---

The two took a cab into the central district – apparently the phones had a symbol on their back that doubled as a taxi pass – and managed to find the shopping area after wandering around for a bit. They were both relatively silent during the trip, only talking to keep away the quiet, though Vincent was the one doing most of the talking. As they entered the area, they were introduced to a variety of stalls and shops staffed by all types of people. Vincent relied on Rinkyu to find the shops they needed since she’d been in the city longer than him.

Their first stop was for formal clothes – Vincent was unsure what exactly he was looking for as far as formal wear, but he could at least tell the difference between needlessly expensive suits and the cheaper, more casual clothes that still managed to be formal. Although they were meeting with a king, there was no reason to expect true formal rather than casual-formal. That was Vincent’s logic, and as they shopped, Rinkyu found no reason to oppose his choices.

Looking around the first few shops, Vincent eventually found a dark red dress shirt with matching slacks – a color that brought out his best look, he thought. As he collected the clothes, he felt his pocket vibrate. He brought out his phone, and there was a small envelope icon in the middle of the screen – Simon had told him that this was a notification that the phone had received a message. He fiddled with the screen for a few moments (longer than he would like to admit) and read the message. It was from Simon – the message listed out Hazkura’s height, clothing dimensions, and her preferred color for casual clothes. It also stated that they should focus on dark colors for their formal wear – the set that Vincent had chosen seemed to match the criteria.

Rinkyu, by contrast, had picked a yellow short-sleeved dress shirt with a cream knee-length skirt. She had apparently also received Simon’s text, as she was looking at her phone as she approached Vincent, sighed, and went to return them to their spot. Vincent wanted to let her buy that, but he imagined that Simon had procured just enough for everything he mentioned: one set of casual clothes per person, one set of formal clothes per person, and a tailoring for his armor, to be done the next day. He was presented a thin, black shirt with soft padding to cover up in the meantime.

She eventually settled on a grey pantsuit with a yellow accent along the folds. Vincent and Rinkyu had the sets set to be sized for them and found a dark violet skirt-suit for Hazkura, which they also requested to be sized with the information Simon sent them. The clerk told them they would be sent to the unit by nightfall.

They exited after paying for everything – a cost draining about seventy percent of the provided funds. Vincent had reached a point where he couldn’t think of any more conversation topics, and the whole choice to try and talk to her seemed fruitless. He sighed and took out a cigarette as they awaited a cab.

“You shouldn’t smoke,” Rinkyu’s quiet voice said. “The chemicals in that can give you cancer.”

“Of all the things that could kill me,” he responded, “if cancer does me in, I’ll be content.”

“It also smells awful,” she argued.

Vincent wasn’t completely sure why she was so adamant about this. Out of the four days he had known her, this was the most she’d talked.

“I can’t really argue the smell, but it’s something I do to take the edge off. The taste isn’t too bad once you get used to it.”

For a few moments, Rinkyu fell silent. Vincent wondered if she was producing another argument or if she had stepped back. He began to light it.

“Can you at least not smoke that around me?” she asked as he brought his lighter to his mouth, a slight tremble in her voice. “The smell reminds me of things I’d rather not think about.”

Vincent turned his head to say something, but stopped. His eyes met hers, and he noticed the look in them. It was a look he knew well – the look of someone remembering a horrible experience, and the look that preceded tears. He knew nothing about Rinkyu’s past; only that she was younger than him, and that she had skills and experience that rivaled Vincent’s own. Whatever she wasn’t sharing, it was something traumatic, and smoking was related to it – at least, smoking this particular brand.

He closed his lighter and returned the cigarette to the pack. “At the very least, I can agree to not smoke near you. Sorry for that.”

Rinkyu gave a faint smile, and a gentle “thank you”.

On the way back, Vincent realized he knew next to nothing about his group – he knew Simon was a scientist and (from his ranged rifle) somewhat competent with guns, he knew Hazkura was a survivor from Czeathe and incredibly strong, and he knew Rinkyu was surprisingly skilled in combat for being so young. Altogether, he knew the most about Hazkura through her interview, even though he had known her for the shortest time. He recalled Vesic always taking time to learn about his warriors – Vincent included – and committed their history to memory; he had always said this was to respect their memory in case of their death, tombstone or not.

Vincent made a mental note to try and learn where his team came from – their histories, their achievements, and their likes and dislikes. He wanted to build bonds that compared to his previous squad, and with luck, lasted beyond death. Though he didn’t fully understand why, there was a sense of urgency that he couldn’t shake from his mind.

---

They arrived back at the house only a few hours after they had left. Simon was waiting on the couch in the main room, head craned back over the headrest and a hand draped over his face – apparently exhausted from the constant busyness of the past few days.

“Welcome back,” he greeted, with one eye open. “Did everything go relatively smoothly?”

Vincent nodded, handing off the remaining funds to Simon. “The suits should be here by nightfall, and my armor will be fixed tomorrow.”

Simon sighed contently, placing the envelope next to him. “Wonderful.” He pulled both of his hands to his face as if to wipe something off, but just held them between his glasses and face for a few moments. “We’re just about ready to present the group.”

Vincent could almost hear the relief and tiredness in his voice and posture. A thought popped into his head, though he wasn’t sure how it would execute.

He approached Simon, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “You’ve worked really hard on this project, Simon.” He paused for a moment to think of the right string of words and continued: “I’m confident that this will be a prime example of a powerful and useful unit to the king.”

Vincent knew he didn’t have much of a basis for the king’s view, and there were still many things that were uncertain for this unit’s usefulness, but he wanted to reassure Simon that his vision of helping Saruja’s people was not a waste, and that his hard work would pay off.

Simon smiled, though his hands and head did not move. “That’s quite flattering coming from you,” he said.

It was only now that Vincent realized he was alone with Simon – Rinkyu had taken the opportunity to disappear upstairs while they talked. Noticing this, Vincent felt a sudden awkwardness in the room. A silence dragged for what felt like minutes before someone talked again.

“You don’t have to feel so out-of-place, you know,” Simon said from behind his hands. “We’re all outcasts here, and we’re each comfortable with our own ways of living. Don’t let yourself become preoccupied with making everyone happy.”

He finally removed his hands and stared hard at Vincent. “You’re our leader now, but you’re still getting the hang of leading. It’ll take some time before we’re ready to be open with each other, but even so, do it at your own pace. Don’t force yourself to be nice on my account – there’ll be time for that when we’re talking with the king.”

Simon’s insight was impressive, Vincent remarked internally. He wondered if it was a result of being so well read, or if he just had these people-skills naturally.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Vincent responded.

As the sun started to fall into the horizon, a courier arrived with the refitted clothes. Each member took a few minutes to make sure there were no adjustments needed, and once the okay was given, the courier left with a tip given by Simon. By this time, Simon had regained a little of his animated self.

“Now, we have two days before we meet with Lord Atrus,” he said, “and we need to go over basic etiquette in front of His Lordship and the Commander. Ideally, we’d take our time going over the basics and some more complex things, but for now, we’ll spend some time tonight and most of tomorrow going over what we can. As they say, practice makes perfect.”

Simon drilled as much as he could into the team as time would allow – kneeling at the King’s entrance, not speaking over him or the Commander, and what words and phrases to avoid while talking. He knew he was dealing with people with no political etiquette, or worse, “mercenary etiquette”. This meant he had to cover everything from dining politeness to basic understanding of civic courtesy, and he only had a day and some to teach it. Rinkyu, unsurprisingly, was the one who absorbed the information the easiest, though Hazkura and Vincent did also learn a lot quicker than Simon was expecting.

~17^th day of Rhuvu, Year 1403~

The next day came and went, full of teaching and practice for the dreaded day, and a brief reprieve when another courier dropped off his armor. Vincent had reached a point where he felt confident interacting with the King, though his knowledge of the Commander was wrought with uncertainty. Simon, however little, was proud of the progress the team made in such a brief time.

As night came, Simon closed the social training session with a deep sigh. “We’ve practiced all we can, now it’s up to fate.” He set aside the book he’d been teaching from and stretched his arms high and back.

Vincent took a quick glance at the group – Rinkyu was visibly drained from the socializing, but Hazkura seemed focused and quiet. He himself felt a strange exhaustion unlike the kind he felt from fighting – it was closer to the feeling of studying an assault plan and thinking of any exit that the target may use, though it was not exactly the same. But it was as Simon said – they would have to trust that what they’d learned was enough to get through the meeting.

“We’ll be meeting with Lord Atrus at ten-thirty, so we should leave here by nine. I hope you’ll all be up early to eat with me.”

Though he said this with a sense of joy, the group shared an uneasy feeling – no one was currently hungry after not eating all day, and Vincent (and Simon, likely) had the intense sense that tomorrow morning would be the same. There was a brief time before they retired to their rooms where Simon tried to calm the team down with card games, but the stress and uncertainty quickly shut it down.

~18^th day of Rhuvu, Year 1403~

Finally, morning came, and everyone prepared themselves physically and mentally.

Simon had indeed prepared a breakfast full of variety (eggs, redfish, fruit, and the most high-quality grainmeal that Vincent had ever seen), and though they were still tense about the mission ahead, they ate heartily and with determination. There was no benefit, Vincent decided, going to a meeting on an empty stomach. Once he had started, the others followed suit.

As nine o’clock approached, Simon went over the main points they were presenting to the king once more: the task force’s primary duty of easing strain on the military; the economical help it provided to the lower class; the increase of data collection for bandits, Baael, and factions; and the ease of access for diplomatic missions that the king wouldn’t be able to attend to. In addition, it would offer military training to more people, giving them a chance to apply for more positions in the city guard, and increasing the job market for the Sarujan military (which, given the current state of the military and its issues recruiting new and competent soldiers, would help the city resist enlisting a war draft).

Via his interview with Regnah and Simon, Vincent already knew these points, and after Simon reiterated the concerns that Vincent brought up later, he was sated with Simon’s resolve. Rinkyu wore her normal look of quiet understanding, obviously double- and triple-checking that she understood what she needed to say, if anything. Hazkura, on the other hand, was hiding her confusion and doubt well, but Vincent could tell easily – it was no different from the face a recruit struggling to remember his duties in a mission made.

Simon, meanwhile, was stressed, though his face was the same as it had been since Vincent met him – full of thoughts, passion, and trust. He was undeterred in his vision to help the city, and it seemed to override any fear or uncertainty he was feeling internally.

In his own mind, Vincent was going through various scenes based on different forms of King Pennrose. The man was spoken about with only good notes, but not much was said about his personality or his ethics – all Vincent could do was imagine him as different people that he had met in his travels.

Based on Cestalian, Pennrose would be kind for only a few more years, then slowly go insane. The people of Saruja would revolt, but if the military was bound to the king too tightly, the people would die in shows of power, and those that dare talk of revolt would be silenced.

Based on Vesic, Pennrose would be a stern but smart leader, if not a bit lazy. It would not suit a king of his power to be this way, especially with such a vigilant military at his control – it was likely that a shift of power would be forced by the Commander or another high-ranking officer.

Who else could he base this king off of? His mind raced between the people he’d met already in Saruja, but he couldn’t imagine people like Simon or Rinkyu in a position of power like that, and Regnah was too focused on research to match the qualities of a ruler.

At the same time he thought this, their taxi arrived, and the four packed into the car. Vincent cleared his mind. Instead of comparing the King to those he knew, he would have to judge him on his own merits. It was obvious after a moment of contemplating, but the stress that everyone was under – including Vincent – seemed to keep common sense at bay, as dangerous in its own way as it sounded, if not more so.

The ride was silent, save the occasional cough of the driver and the low-volume news playing on the radio. Everyone’s focus was elsewhere – Simon was staring out one window, Rinkyu was staring at the floor, Hazkura was staring into space, and Vincent was staring at the road ahead. Vincent thought some conversation would strike up at some point, but forty long minutes later, the hushed cab finally stopped about twenty meters from the new castle’s gate and outer walls, and everyone piled out.

While the border of the city kept a historical feel to it, the inside was off-puttingly modern – and this castle standing nearby the old one showed huge differences in the building styles. This one had formations of metal and rock that were unlike the brickwork found in the borders, and likely the old tower. There were also warped glass windows, which were opaque enough to deny looking through, but clear enough to let light pass in.

The entrance was guarded by two soldiers, one of which asked for their proof of intent – which Simon provided – and they continued into the building. The inside was dimly lit, though the sunlight creeping in from the few windows allowed a good amount of sight. The stonework here was different from the outside – each individual brick in here was carved with an intricate design that flowed onto the surrounding bricks, and the lower parts of the wall held a single material (perhaps concrete) with an even more complex design. After a few dozen steps, Vincent recognized these designs as an interpretation of The Word of Grudia – why this wasn’t on the outside for the citizens to see, he didn’t know.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached a large door, guarded by two more soldiers. They allowed the group in, and were introduced to a wide-open chamber with seating for onlookers (to count, ten bodies, including a person with a notebook), six chairs and a desk for addressing the throne, a stenographer to the right of the throne, and five royal seats, three of which were occupied.

The throne-sitter Vincent first noticed was an older man clad in gilded armor, crown atop his head, and a presence that demanded authority. He was almost gaunt, but that did not detract from the sheer magnitude of power and knowledge his stare projected and commanded. Though his face was wrinkled, he showed no signs of tiredness and held his head high – this was no doubt King Atrus Pennrose. His careful green eyes watched as the four members of the unit entered the room and crossed to their seats.

To the king’s left, a young man around Vincent’s age with long, dark hair and azure armor sat strongly and at attention. His red eyes pierced Vincent’s, with an aggression that challenged every nerve in his body. This, Simon had explained, was the knight commander, Knite-Siege Laster – and, as Vincent remembered, one of the contacts on his phone. He couldn’t tell if this man was glaring at him, or if his gaze was just that sharp. It was hard to tell his true build underneath the armor, but he stood at least a head higher than Vincent, and almost half a head broader.

The third person, to the right of the king, was a woman who was probably a little older than Vincent – her ornate robes and the large decorated stave locked in her arm screamed “mage”, so likely this was the Arc-mage of Saruja, the one who maintained the barrier, and the most powerful caster in Saruja, and likely all of Alhose. Vincent had heard her name in passing once or twice, but it escaped him at this moment. Her eyes were an abyssal black, like seas of night slowly searching the room. She locked onto Simon as they reached the desk, though her expression was difficult to read.

“Please rise,” an attendant placed aside the throne called out to those present. Vincent’s group stood behind their chairs as the rest of the room stood – the gallery, Knite-Siege, and the Arc-mage, but not the King.

The attendant faced their group. “You are in the presence of King Atrus Pennrose, Twenty-Fifth ruler of Saruja, and his leaders of state, Knight Commander Knite-Siege Laster and Arc-mage Warbelle Écartés. Absent due to an urgent meeting are Dean of Saruja College Urdan Wilcox, Treasury Representative Alana Duila, and Guildmaster Fierus Wartongue.” He bowed respectfully to the group and added, “District Administrators Yula Miora, Armand Grouse, and Julia Dand were invited to participate, and may enter the seating during the meeting.”

He turned to face the leaders: “To you, King Pennrose, I present Dr. Simon Listrean the Second, Vincent Laverse, Rinkyu Asakura, and Kozari Hazkura. Absent due to an urgent meeting is Dr. Regnah Sivverya.”

The King raised a hand, and everyone took their seat.

Knite-Siege tapped his chair twice, which echoed in the room loudly and clearly. He then spoke with a deep, scratchy voice: “We have gathered here to listen and discern the value, costs, and impacts of a presented ‘Saruja Task Force’, submitted for the King’s approval jointly by Dr. Listrean and Dr. Sivverya.” His glare finally moved away from Vincent for a bit as he scanned the party, ending on Simon. “Please begin.”

Simon stood up carefully and cleared his throat. “Of course, Commander.”

---

Simon put out his ideas with passion and truth, citing most of the same points that he discussed with Vincent: job opportunities for the less fortunate, a strike force that can move quickly and hit hard, a political liaison when the leaders were unable, and an imposing symbol of hope for the people that also marked strong defense against enemies. His presentation took about fifty minutes, and all the while, he maintained a sense of calmness and knowledge.

Vincent watched the three throne-sitters with stressed eagerness. Knite-Siege seemed uninterested, as if his mind was already made up about his decision, though he kept focus on the presentation until the end. King Pennrose, though harder to read, was obviously taking in the information seriously and carefully – as expected of the leader of one of the world’s superpowers. Warbelle, like before, he could not read at all – whether she was intentionally masking her reaction or if it was just natural for her, her expression remained unchanged.

Simon finished speaking of his project and breathed in deeply. “I would like to put this forth as a joint military-college effort, in order to procure funds for housing, pay, research, and resources in a way that does not damage current state functions.” He leaned forward on the desk, sweat now visible on his brow. “Is this an acceptable missive for you, my lord?”

The King rested his chin on his left hand, pensive. “Knite-Siege, your thoughts?” he requested.

Knite-Siege glanced at the King, then to the group. “If I may speak frankly, this task force seems questionable at best.” He crossed his arms and looked straight at Simon. “You say that the military and the college would fund the units jointly, but this group would fall more into the military’s authority. On top of that, having to assign ranks alongside our actual military personnel would be difficult, not to mention confusing for the enlisted. To say nothing of the cost of training even those with marked potential, both in terms of money and labor, would increase with the amount of units we decide to create.”

He looked straight ahead for a minute and shook his head. “Testing weapons for military use and trying to improve the economy through new jobs is admirable, but realistically, this task force seems like it’s trying to do too much, and it is expensive.”

Vincent muttered under his breath, “As expensive as those training rooms?” Unfortunately for him, his mutter was not as quiet as he’d hoped it’d be, as the words echoed through the room in a brief silence. Warbelle stifled a chuckle as Knite-Siege glowered at Vincent.

“Unlike your tentative unit,” he snarled, “those rooms have shown promising growth in our soldiers’ skill, as well as their confidence in putting those skills to use.”

“Why should this be any different?” Vincent doubled down on his opinion. “Didn’t it take a grace period to see those rooms produce a positive influence on the city, or did you just trust that they’d do exactly what you wanted before anyone tried them?”

The Commander stared daggers at Vincent as he narrowed his eyes back at Knite-Siege, and they glared at each other for a few moments before the King cleared his throat. Knite-Siege returned to his regular position with a gentler face, and finished with, “My stance on this project is rejection.”

The King nodded and turned to Warbelle. “Warbelle?”

The Arc-mage leaned forward, her face unchanged, save for her mouth slowly curling into a smile. Her voice was soft and slow but deliberate. “I am also skeptical that your task force can do everything you’ve presented, though if true, it would be an incredible boon to our nation. From the magic side, gaining insight into Baael and providing testing for anti-Baael weaponry would both be something I would approve, especially those designed by Regnah. Having a third force fighting against the Baael during assaults would definitely lessen deaths around the walls, assuming the warriors are skilled.”

She leaned back in her seat, and her smile slowly faded. “Still, I agree with Knite-Siege in that your scope may be too broad. A strike force is one thing, but a political liaison may be stretching our resources too thin.”

She clutched her stave and waved it gently. “I say, conditionally, no.”

This did not look good. A flat no, and a “conditional” no, whatever that meant – two out of three of the present leaders didn’t see enough value in Simon’s plan, which would likely mean that this was a wash. Vincent glanced at his team – everyone was visibly stressed, but none more so than Simon, who looked crushed. He had managed to keep his mouth closed, but it was obvious his pride had taken a serious hit, and it almost looked like he was on the verge of angry tears.

“With all due respect,” Vincent stated, “the leader of any group has to delegate and make hard decisions, and a wide scope of use is exactly what we are building the team for.  All members will be trained in all areas, so even if they aren’t the best, they will be able to do the bare minimum.”

He looked at Warbelle and added, “As the state leaders, I’m sure you’ve been in that situation, and probably have seen people with the ability to handle that much.”  Warbelle’s smile returned after he said this, and (for some reason) it became hard to look her in the eyes.

The gallery had begun chattering, though at this point, it was less whispering and more talking. King Pennrose tapped his own chair twice – similarly to Knite-Siege, the sound boomed through the hall, and the chatter quieted.

“I would like to ask your group some questions before I make my decision, Dr. Listrean.”

Simon straightened up and steadied his breathing. “O-of course, Your Majesty!” he stammered.

The King looked at Hazkura first.  “I have been informed of your history regarding the fall of Czeathe and after.  Enlighten me, do you hold any malice towards Nesetta or the Baael that could impact your thinking in combat?”

The rest in their group looked worriedly at Hazkura, who (to their fears) had a blank expression to the King’s question.  To their surprise, she answered after a minute of thought.  Her face became hard and determined.

“I fight for friends and family who died.  So they can rest with thoughts that I’m okay, and so other people don’t die.”

The King’s eyes flickered for a moment, and Warbelle showed an impressed face.

“Do you believe the team you’ve joined can defend this goal, only having known them for a few days?”

Hazkura glanced at the team and smiled.  “I don’t know, but I will know soon!”

King Atrus nodded solemnly and turned to Rinkyu.  “Ms. Asakura, you have been here for about three years now.  How do you believe you’ve seen Saruja and yourself improve?”

Rinkyu looked like her body jolted when the King addressed her.  She took a moment to steady her breathing, then spoke.

“I… I believe that with the knowledge and skills Regnah and Simon have imparted to me, I have learned how to save the lives of those struck with the misfortune of deadly situations…”

She cleared her throat a couple of times before continuing.

“I think… if it wasn’t for their support, and the support of Vincent, Hazkura, and our trainers…”

She paused for a moment, then finished her thought: “…If it wasn’t for all of them, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you today.”

Finally, he turned to Vincent.

“Mr. Laverse, you in particular have quite a reputation here.”  The King cracked his knuckles as he said this.  “Having only led one group for a minimal time, do you foresee difficulty leading your hand-picked team?”

This was a loaded question, Vincent quickly understood.  If he said no, it would come off as too confident in his own abilities, while saying yes would be honest but disorganized.

“Every leader has to understand their own weaknesses and strengths, as well as their team’s.  I won’t say that I expect my team to trust me or believe in me right away, but I’ve seen enough of their personalities to know these people are exactly what the task force needs.”

He looked around, meeting everyone’s eyes.  “Analytical minds willing to learn.  Strong-willed and caring.  Undeterred from their visions.  This is the squad Simon believes in, and the one I want to lead.”

King Atrus rubbed his chin, and studied the team for another few minutes.

“How many training sessions has your squad been through?”  The King finally said, addressing Simon, who seemed a little despondent until he was addressed.  He was clearly caught off-guard.

He focused his thoughts for a moment, and responded, “Hazkura and Vincent have joined us for one session so far, but Rinkyu and I have done two sessions a week for almost six months, for a total of fifty-seven sessions.”

“In your own words, how has the group progressed so far?”

Simon scratched his head for a moment as his focus fell from the King’s face to his feet. “Rinkyu has advanced well in all the physical trainings, and her spellcasting control has been slowly getting better. Hazkura and Vincent seem to both be skilled better in physical tests, but Vincent has better manifestation of Essence than anyone else in the group.”

Vincent appreciated the compliment, but felt that Simon’s observation was lacking on weaknesses. Evidently, so did the King.

“And your weaknesses?”

Simon still failed to meet the King’s gaze, until Hazkura walked behind him and slapped him on the back with such force that it echoed through the chamber. Everyone in the room, save the King, flinched at the sudden sound, and Simon’s back straightened in response. He quickly faced Hazkura with a mix of confusion and shock – Vincent couldn’t see Hazkura’s look, but it was either one of reassurance, or one that said, “Get a grip.” Either way, it worked, as Simon refocused on the King with renewed vigor, who had waited patiently for his answer.

“To start, Rinkyu still lacks a semblance of teamwork and sociality, though this is partially my fault, as I have not implemented any team-building exercises for us in our training yet. Vincent, although he’s strong and smart, seems to have tunnel vision when in one-on-one situations – he focuses too much on the end goal, which hinders his actions in combat.”

Vincent felt a little hurt that it was so obvious, though the more he thought on it, the more he agreed – his fights with Liane and Harte proved that he was focusing too much on something.

“As for Hazkura,” he continued, “she is severely lacking in control of her Essence, and seems to focus on how fun the fight is, rather than a set objective.”

The King returned to rubbing his chin, as if in thought. “Has your team had any political training, such as etiquette classes or reading on territorial disputes?”

“Rinkyu and I, yes, though I suspect Vincent has learned a bit from his own experiences,” Simon said confidently. “Hazkura has made it clear that she needs to learn more courtier-related skills to be a boon to the group, though her insistence on learning these skills marks considerable room to grow.” He began to look down again, but jolted back upright, in panic of Hazkura slapping his back again. “But documented training, just Rinkyu and I.”

“How much more training do you think is necessary to start your protection duties, as well as your political ones?”

Simon paused and closed his eyes for a moment. “I would request a six-month training regimen since that’s about how long it took for Rinkyu to get this far. With the coaches we have for physical training, we would be battle-ready in less than six, but I believe the extra time could be spaced out for rest, political training, and testing on small missions to assure the best outcomes.”

“And how much would you request in payment for this group – obviously not counting the housing unit?”

Rinkyu and Vincent both tensed at this question; it was risky to ask for too much, but asking for too little would end up being detrimental to the morale of the group, and over time, could result in members leaving. Though, Vincent thought, it didn’t seem like anyone in the group besides Simon had a place to stay besides the lodging provided by the government. Vincent wasn’t completely confident in his knowledge of Saruja’s economy, but based on other regions of Alhose, he expected a range of 2,000 to 4,000 Koin for their biweekly wages – not a huge amount by any measure, but enough to live on, even in a city as large as Saruja.

“I am requesting 2,289 Koin per member, per week, before housing costs, my lord,” Simon stated confidently.

It was exactly the range that Vincent expected, but something seemed worrying – perhaps the fact that this was the pre-rent request.

Knite-Siege seemed like he was going to say something, but the King raised a hand as if he had eyes in the back of his head. “Can you break down your finances?”

Simon became more unfaltering with each minute that passed, as there was no hesitation in his response. “Per week, 563 for training space rental time and maintenance on practice weapons, 750 for test weapon maintenance, 788 for food and daily supplies, and 188 as spending money for each member.” He adjusted his collar, which had shifted when Hazkura slapped him. “That last one is more for morale, but I still consider it a necessary expense. For the housing unit facilities and maintenance, I would request an additional 6,051 Koin, for a total of 8,340 Koin.”

Based on the sudden tension he felt emanating from his group, Vincent had guessed right. Rinkyu’s reaction was his focus, since she had been in Saruja the longest, and it was telling that even she was surprised by the amount.

“Is that a lot?” Vincent whispered to Rinkyu.

“Before housing, no,” she whispered back.  “I didn’t realize we were paying twelve thousand a month -no, more like sixty or seventy thousand –  on the unit alone.”

Simon glanced at Vincent, and gave a quick, gentle nod before looking back at the leaders. Knite-Siege was still holding his tongue, if barely. Warbelle seemed amused (the first time Vincent could discern a clear emotion from her), and the King had a face of deep thought, his eyes looking at no one in particular, though aimed in the general direction of Vincent’s team.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a long two minutes, broken finally by the crackle of the King’s knuckles as he closed his hand.

“I would like to offer you a deal, Dr. Listrean,” he said sternly. All four members of the team straightened, and a chill ran down Vincent’s neck.

“Before I can approve your main request to make dozens of these squads, I would first need an example to compare the envisioned project to. I will allow the payment of 8,300 Koin per member, per week for the establishment of a single temporary test unit of up to eight members.”

Vincent looked to Simon, expecting a face of joy. Instead, Simon’s face was one of shock, almost disappointment.

“I am willing to provide a government official to assign your group missions, and based on your performance, we can expand the project. You will start with basic protection and hunting missions, then work into political chores once your expected training period has ended. I believe that your group getting actual field experience will provide you with insight into what you need to work on, as well as whether your unit can be sustained with the people you’ve chosen. I will allow Harpwing team to continue utilizing the grounds near the Southwest Gate to help with your training.”

The King sat up straight in his chair with both arms on the rests and glanced at each of the other seats – Warbelle nodded with a look of satisfaction, and Knite-Siege hesitantly nodded his head.

“Is this agreeable for you and yours?”

Hazkura grinned widely and pumped her arm into the air. She started to say, “Sounds good,” but remembered her practice, and put her arm down, calmly saying, “Yes, my lord.”

There was another “Yes, Sir” from Rinkyu, and a downtrodden “Yes, Sir” from Simon. Vincent was slightly confused by Simon’s mood but added in his own “Yes” to the party’s vote. He glanced at Knite-Siege, whose face had lost some anger, but was still disdainful.

“Then, as it stands, your unit will do physical training for three more months without missions, then proceed into actual missions and formal political training alongside the physical. After a total of six months, your unit will focus solely on missions and equipment testing for a two-year period. If your unit proves significant usefulness by the end of this period, we will agree to more units and housing, starting with two additional units, as well as higher pay for each.”

He leaned forward again, this time looking more at Vincent. “Do you have a name for your proposed unit, Dr. Listrean and Mr. Laverse?”

Simon feigned a face that said he was happy with the results, and turned to Vincent, much to Vincent’s dismay. “I think you should name the team, Leader.”

Vincent had thought this might happen, but was unable to properly prepare for it. He looked to his group for help, but they each looked at him with their own faces of expectation. He was alone here, unfortunately.

“I did have one name, but it may be a little improper for an official group title,” he said after a few moments of deliberation.

“As long as it is appropriate to say in public, ‘improper’ is fine,” the King assured him.

“Then, I’d like to put forth the tentative name, ‘The Crush Squad.’”