CHAPTER 07: PREPARATION

Hiruko entered the vast preparation hall, where weapons of all types glittered under the lights.

Beneath a large canvas marquee, the temporary forge buzzed with organized activity. The one-eyed, bearded blacksmith, setting the pace, supervised his two assistants: one apprentice working the bellows and another sharpening blades. The air reeked of hot metal and new leather, filled with the efficient clamor that kept the participants in the running.

Dorothy gave them her final instructions in a clear voice:

— This is the hall where you will prepare. You have one hour. You may choose any Slaker and modify it to your liking. Tinkerers are at your disposal. Do not dawdle. All the Anima present here have already been serviced. Focus on choosing the right arcane stone and rejoin me at the dungeon entrance.

Uli rubbed his hands with excitement.

— Perfect! I'll take a spear and modify it to hold two stones.

— Two stones? Won't that tire you out too much? Selene worried.

— Don't worry, we are going to spend three days in this dungeon. We might as well prepare properly. We don't know what type of Draugr we might find there. And you, what kind of weapon are you taking?

Selene explained that she planned to modify her Slaker into a hybrid form of nunchaku and bladed whip, perfect for counter-attacks and defense. Then she turned to Hiruko.

— And what about you, Hiruko, what are you choosing?

— For me, I'll choose claw-daggers.

— Are you sure? That will penalize you enormously in terms of reach, Selene objected.

— No. Since the academy, I've been looking for a style to fight beings larger than myself. I realized I really like to pummel things, and this suits me.

— But you don't master your Anima yet! You should favor a weapon that can defend you from a distance, no? Uli argued.

— I think this one is perfect, Hiruko replied with a conviction that ended the debate.

Suddenly, a cold voice called out to him.

— Hey, you.

Hiruko turned and instantly recognized the famous Goki Kosuga.

— I heard your name when you shouted it at the examiner. Is that really your name? Goki asked, his gaze piercing.

Damn, he heard, like everyone else, Hiruko thought. But so be it, we'll share this identity between the two of us.

— Well, yes. Why do you ask?

— Do you know Ishin?

— No, never heard of him. Who is he?

— Where are you from?

— Why? I have no obligation to answer your questions, Hiruko retorted, annoyed.

— Hmph, you're right. Just know that if it turns out you are my enemy, I will not hesitate to kill you.

— Watch what you say.

As Goki walked away, Selene whispered to her friends that she had inquired. Goki was a soldier their age, from the same province, but self-taught by necessity after his master's disappearance.

— He's scary, Uli commented.

— No, he's a good guy, I felt it, Hiruko asserted, a strange intuition passing through him.

— We have 30 minutes left, Hiruko. We should go to the tinkerer, Selene urged.

— That's true. My weapon is already ready, I'll wait for you at the dungeon entrance, Uli declared.

At the Tinkerer's

The workshop smelled of oil and hot metal. A bald, bearded, one-eyed man greeted them.

— What can I do for you, young folks?

— Here, sir, we've already made sketches of how we'd like our weapons to be, Hiruko explained.

— Call me Ed.

— Pleased to meet you, Ed, they said in chorus.

Ed studied the sketches, his expert gaze scanning the plans.

— For you, young man, it will be difficult to maneuver these claw-daggers, especially while changing their shape. Plus, they'll be heavy for a close-combat fighter. The weight will be about 7 kg for a single dagger. Don't you want to opt for something lighter, like the young lady? Her choice favors endurance and skill.

— Don't worry, Hiruko has always been tough. He'll know how to use them; he's quite sturdy after all, Selene defended.

— I'll have you know I already lift much heavier, so it'll be fine, Hiruko assured.

— No problem, Ed said with a shrug.

Fifteen minutes later, Ed announced they were ready.

— It's ready already? That was fast, Selene wondered.

— He was quick, I see, Hiruko commented, impressed.

— Who do you take me for? No one in this kingdom can match me, except Alphonse of Inun! Ed boasted.

— Yeah, the braggart, they murmured, smiling.

Selene tested her weapon by inserting her arcane stone, making it change shape with increasing agility.

— I find it's exactly what I wanted. I just need to get used to its flexibility.

— And you, test yours too, Ed ordered Hiruko.

Hiruko put on the claw-gauntlets. The metal was cold and heavy against his fingers.

— How do they feel? Ed asked.

— They're good. Just a bit heavy.

— I warned you, you didn't want to listen.

— When I drew it, it seemed much lighter. What could have increased its weight?

— It's the metal available here. It's heavy, and the equipment you requested is complex to assemble.

— And where can we find light metal?

— Outside, in mines or in dungeons too. Why? You don't intend to start mining, do you? Ed joked.

— No, no. But I'll do everything to find a strong, light metal for my Slakers. Other than that, thank you.

As they were about to leave, Hiruko changed his mind.

— I almost forgot to ask you: the other young man, with violet hair, did he tell you what kind of alloy he used for his weapon?

— He didn't say. Or rather, he didn't want to add anything. He plans to use his own weapon. I offered him my help, though. He categorically refused, even for the application of his stone. He refused to use the stones from my forge.

— He wants to play the mysterious one, Hiruko grumbled.

— Anyway, on my beard, if that man isn't a phenomenon, he's surely a madman, Ed concluded.

— I see. Anyway, I'm off.

— Hey! You forgot to insert your arcane stone into your Slaker! Ed reminded him.

— Don't worry, I'll do it at the dungeon entrance.

— As you wish. This youth seems to love risks far too much, I see, the tinkerer sighed.

Heading Towards the Dungeon Entrance

As he approached the sinister dungeon entrance, Hiruko felt a sudden itch in his eyes. At the same moment, small, pale golden specks of light showed him the way towards the dungeon.

— Ouch! My eyes are itching, he complained, blinking.

— What's wrong? Selene asked, concerned.

— I don't know, it came over me suddenly. Maybe those slightly golden lights...

— What lights?

— No, forget it, he said, realizing he was the only one seeing them. The source of that light seems deep, over there, in the dungeon...

Uli was waiting for them, impatient.

— You finally finished?

— Yes, yes, we didn't want to leave you alone because we knew you'd get bored without us, Hiruko teased.

— Not at all! I was just watching the candidates. We're more than 130 and...

— You can keep thinking later, Selene interrupted. Let's listen to Lady Dorothy's final instructions.

Dorothy stood before the gaping dungeon entrance, an enigmatic smile on her lips.

— My candidates, the time has come to face your destiny and measure yourselves against the obstacle. You have shown us you are determined; now remains to prove it on the field. The other examiners are watching you via a magical broadcast screen. The whole world is watching you. Next, you must...

Two impatient candidates interrupted her.

— Stop boring us! We know what we have to do. Exploring this dungeon will be a cinch!

— You're right, my friend! This gathering is a test, but victory boils down to first come, first served! Only the dungeon's reward matters! Let's go!!!

They rushed into the darkness before anyone could stop them. Dorothy did nothing to stop them, merely sighing.

A few seconds later, agonizing screams tore through the silence, followed by the sound of tearing flesh. Then, the head and lower body of the two reckless individuals were thrown back to the entrance in a shower of blood.

The crowd of candidates stood frozen, horrified by this demonstration of brutality.

Dorothy spoke again, her icy voice contrasting with the surrounding horror.

— Well, I don't think I need to explain further. What you just witnessed greatly facilitates my instructions.

— You're sadistic! You could have held them back, but you preferred to see them get torn to shreds! Ageel cried out, pale.

— Must I remind you that we are in the army here, not a babysitting service? They were adults and aware of their actions. They just wanted to show off. Last piece of info: dungeons exist by the hundreds in this world, and each has its own peculiarities and requirements to respect. You should really inform yourselves if this is your first time. And as I'm being kind today, the only clue I can give you is that this dungeon particularly likes the proud.

Uli, trying to keep his cool, raised his hand.

— Since the dungeon seems so dangerous, do you authorize us to form groups among ourselves to explore it better?

— I set the rules at the entrance and the exit of the dungeon, comrade. The rest of the time, you must obey the laws of the dungeon itself.

Uli nodded, understanding they were on their own.

— I'll leave you to it, then. I'll see you in three days at the exit. Goodbye, and try not to shame me by dying like animals, stupidly.

With those words, Dorothy turned on her heel, leaving them facing the dark entrance that had just feasted on two lives. Our young hero and his crew had just witnessed the atrocity of the world of the arcane. Beyond this dungeon, they would understand that this cruelty was the same that awaited them on the battlefield against the Draugrs.