2 His First Portal

Portal travel was new to Marriott, the feeling of traversing planets felt like going through goo. It lasted a second, but his body felt like it had gone through a workout. "Rose. Ugh. Are portals always gonna feel like that?" Marriott had questioned his sister.

Not turning around, Rose had wondered what he meant as she didn't feel anything odd going through the portal. "Uh. No..? Maybe it's because it's your first time going through one. I didn't feel anything weird." She shrugged.

Taking a quick look around his surroundings, Marriott realized that the portal had taken him to a field. A large building was erected nearby with multiple doors and a sign right next to each door. The building itself was quite impressive, it was quite large, made up of what seemed like steel and a glass dome was visible over the top of the building.

As Marriott gazed upon the building, a podium and some speakers had been set up. A teacher who was shorter than most of the students climbed up on the podium. Her voice ringing out from the speakers. "Students! Please listen up! If you have a weapon already prepared for you, please form a line to go to either the waiting room or to the training room. Your weapon will be brought out to you," The instructor on the podium cleared her throat. "If you do not have a weapon, please form a line going to the weapon storage! Thank you, that is all."

The students had quickly been split up three ways, the shortest line was the one heading towards the door with a sign saying it was leading to the waiting room, the longest to the weapon storage room and a medium-sized one to a training room to test and practice with their new weapons.

"Hey! Marriott!" A voice yelled out in the crowd.

Marriott jumped up so he could see who was calling out to him. The crowd started to part as Solana and her brother, Peale, walked towards Marriott and Rose. Solana came up close to Marriott while Peale awkwardly stood around Rose. "Hey, Mar. My brother already picked out a weapon for me, so I'm gonna head to the training room. Come see me when you get your weapon."

Marriott gave her a thumbs up as he knew she didn't have much time before she was ushered away. "See you there!" he yelled out.

As the time passed and his line progressed, he eventually got to the storage room door. The room was dimly lit, a chart was shown on a wall with all the different types of weapons. There was a receptionist behind a glass wall, with many racks filled with what Marriott assumed was weapons.

"Hey Mar, I'm gonna get myself a great bow. You should pick out some gauntlets or a spear, they're pretty easy to use." Rose had given him some pretty useful advice, she then turned to the person behind the glass wall, asking for a great bow.

Taking it to heart Marriott ended up asking for light weight steel gauntlets. A sweat absorbent beast fur made up the inside, making it both feel softer for Marriott as well as reducing his worry of sweaty hands. The gauntlets themselves seemed to be worn out, tiny indents over the steel exterior of the gauntlets made it apparent. But it wasn't too much of a worry to Marriott as it showed that the gauntlets had been tested in combat before.

After receiving his weapon, Marriott left the storage room, gauntlets already on. As he was leaving, someone smashed their shoulder against his. Either on purpose or by accident, Marriott was annoyed. "Hey, watch out. People are leaving with weapons here. Keep messing around and you might accidently get stabbed or something." He said, as he started to move away.

A hand grabbed his shoulder, forcibly turning him around. "Oh? Is that a threat you loser? I mean," the man had said, looking at the gauntlets Marriott had on. "If it is, you're not threatening at all. Who even uses gauntlets anymore? Anyone with a sword could slice your arm off. Someone like me in fact."

The man infront of him was just slightly taller than Marriott, he had been wearing the 2nd year uniform, which meant he was a grade above Marriott. The man also had purple curly hair and dark blue eyes but, most importantly to Marriott, a really punchable face.

"If you're claiming to be able to slice my arm off. Then prove it. I'll be in the training area. Show me you're not all talk." Marriott growled. Teeth clenched and his fists balled. Whoever this person is had to learn their lesson. By Marriott's hand.

"You've got guts on you 1st year. I'll be sure to slice them apart when we fight." The 2nd had laughed to himself, thinking lowly of Marriott as he walked into the weapon storage.

Marriott made his way to the training area and although it was a training area. It was much closer to being called an arena. Dummies littered the grounds, the sounds of arrows thunking into a target, or the sounds of people strenuously swinging weapons that were too big for them. The occasional blast from a powerful skill bounced against the walls quickly followed by instructors scolding students for causing damage to equipment.

In the center of it all was a raised platform, the floor of which was made of a dark grey metal. Possibly a unique ore made to take a lot of damage. A few small runes surrounding it, most likely there to make sure any ranged attacks don't end up hitting an observer.

As Marriott made his way further into the room, he saw Solana getting on the platform. She had been armed with a green tinted sword, which Marriott had recognized to be her family's old sword. The material that made up the blade was gathered from a unique nature golem her father killed during one of his expeditions. Marriott remembered it because of how often Solana bragged about having a monster material blade.

Across from her a 2nd year, armed with a dimly glowing shield and a blue-steel short sword. An unfair match in Marriott's mind. However unfair it may have been, he had no choice but to root for his best friend.

Before the battle commenced a referee explained the rules. "This is a touch battle. A protective skill has been cast on both of you. Speaking of skills, you are allowed to use any skills you have as long as they are intermediate class or lower. If your target hits you in a vital spot with a weapon you're out. If you get hit on any limb you can no longer use that limb. Once three limbs have been hit you are forfeit," The referee then quickly got off the platform and stood on the stairs. "The battle will now begin. Start!"

As the battle began, Solana dashed towards her enemy with unnatural speed. Quickly catching the 2nd year off guard. She ran left then quickly jumped right to get a better striking angle. The 2nd year's shield had completely covered his left flank giving Solana a shot at striking the arm wielding his sword.

Realizing his mistake the second year roared. The ground shook slightly, however that was merely a side effect. The roar had generated enough power to throw Solana backwards. It was quickly apparent that the 2nd year's skill was to create a knock back inducing roar.

It took Solana a second to recover after being thrown back but it had been an opening for the 2nd year. He rushed in bashing Solana with his shield, making her fall to the ground and slashed at her with his sword. Unable to do anything but block Solana had no choice but to sacrifice one of her arms. After contact had been made, she kicked the 2nd year's shield. Sliding herself away from her attacker and giving her enough time to get up.

Solana rushed in again, this time, attempting to jump over the 2nd year's shield in hopes to get behind him and strike his back. She placed the sword grip in her mouth. Using one hand to grab the shield and vault over it, then quickly grabbing her sword and slashing at him from the back.

"Lethal contact has been made. Match goes to Solana!" The teacher said, shocked by the quick turn of events. The 2nd year offered his hand out to Solana. "I was. Not expecting you to just. Jump over me. Next time I'll make sure to counter that. Nicely done Sol." He gleefully said.

A cheer erupted from the small crowd of specators as well as a cheer from Marriott which caught the attention of Solana. She quickly grabbed her scabbard from the side of the platform, where she had left it before battle, and made her way over to Marriott.