Chapter 2

Larnry looked around and saw the audience of the arena, his eyes scanning through until he found the instructor in charge of this challenge.

He looked at the instructor for some seconds as everything seemed still to him and then suddenly he leaned backwards like he was about to fall.

Then suddenly pushed himself forward and lowered himself. Gripping the hilt of his sword, he held his sword lowered to the right side of his body.

It's blade just barely touching the the ground as he ran, it gave the illusion that he was dragging it, however no dust was produced.

In a few seconds, only dust remained of where he once was. His dash had covered several feets towards his opponents, soon he appeared before him.

Larny swung his blade with both hands however rather than following the training which instructed that you stop just before reaching your opponent and apply force to your weapon.

As you swing it from above to deal destructive damage or to offset your opponent, he chose to go from under. Dropping his sword down unto the ground as he dragged it for the swing.

Dust quickly gathered up blocking the view of his opponent, he had prepared to block from above but quickly his instinct kicked in as he lowered his weapon.

The force from the attack push Larnry's opponent sword up along with his hands. Quickly larnry brought down his sword once more for a vertical strike but his opponent reacted quickly.

Bringing his on sword down with similar speed, he managed to block Larnry's attack in the nick of time. Larnry himself seemed unperturbed by this as it was expected from someone who made it this far in the academy.

However he wasn't keen on dragging this as he pushed into his opponent, applying more to the handle of his weapon causing it to tilt towards the side he leaned to.

Just as it seemed that he would fall due to the unbalance of his blade, he slightly tilted it once more, causing it to slid off his opponents weapon.

Then bent and slashed backwards, it was quick and clean as his opponent looked at him stunned before looking down at his waist.

Larnry raised his weapon slightly and using the tip, applied a bit of force to his opponents upper body. This cause it to slide and fall towards the ground as blood and the inwards of a human came gushing out.

The match was over, Larnry had won.....this would be his last fight in the academy. Though he wasn't happy for some odd reason, he wasn't all jumpy and glad.

As he stared at his weapon then at the body. He smiled underneath his helmet where none could see it. His weapon was battered and would have broken if they fought for a little bit longer.

He had just gotten it, yet the power behind their clashes had nearly destroyed it. One would wonder at times, why lose valuable agents like this.

Larnry did, their strength could rival that of knights and their skills could rival even some of the well trained ones yet half of those potential agents were killed in this last challenge.

He couldn't really care less for the academy though, never wanted too, never will. All that mattered was him and no one else....maybe his mission/ oath.

But that was that, enough with inner thoughts....that Grandmaster is appraoching.

As Larnry looked up locking eyes with the Grandmaster of the academy whom approached him in a lax manner.

The academy made use of ranks and titles to differentiate ones abilities and skill, starting all the way from cadets to Grandmaster.

It was however a rule that the students could only ever advance so far until they are given off to service. Once their oaths are taken, they will be locked to their duty.

Little time for them to try to aim at a rank only useful in this academy. That is if they even survived or had not gone to the other side ofnthe world.

Still, in order to graduate. One had to be given the title of oath chained thereby signifying their readiness and skill.

" Larnry dash 079 of batch 68, you are hereby granted the rank of Oath chained. As per custom, since you are the last to rank up here...you will be given the first mission. "

The Grandmaster began speaking, Larnry didn't dare stand during such an important moment as he quickly fell on one Knee and bent his head.

He threw his now battered and to him useless sword away and rested that hand on his right knee which was not bent.

Again he couldn't really help but feel disappointed, not really because he was last but rather because he had no choice in it.

The academy was the one that organized your position and most times, it was random. He truly wanted to see what was happening from the spectators seat and not to be the receiver.

But no use complaining now, the past is in the past.....no one can change that.

Quickly, another high ranking instructor came to the Grandmaster, in his hands was a large wooden box filled with scrolls.

The Grandmaster took one and looked at it, on the seal lay the crest of the family whom had commissioned it and then under that crest.

Lay a writing showing what category the commission was fitted into. It would seem to be Larnry's bad luck as his commission was that of a life oath to a member of the family.

Life oaths could vary depending on the commissioner but the Grandmaster was quite sure of the particular commission.

" Larnry dash 079 of batch 68, rank of Oath chained. You are hereby commissioned by the Duke Gerlad Roseworth to swear a life oath of allegiance to one of his child. You shall depart immediately after you have been given your voting and sworn your Oath. Do you accept."

The Grandmaster spoke out, each of his words entering into Larnry's head. Knowing or at least having an idea of his fate conforted Larnry in an odd sense.

" As Duty bounds my soul and life. I am required to accept this commission. I Larnry dash 079 of batch 68, rank of Oath chained thereby accept this commission. "

" As I Grandmaster of Oath of the shadows academy grant you this commission. Your loyalty shall not be with that of the academy but of your new master. "

That was it, no more words were said as Larnry got up and left. All others with the same rank as his also got up and left.

Their Uniforms and new weaponary would be delivered to them in their dorms as well as their commissions.

The last thing for them to do is to take their Oath of servitude then that was it. Carriages or transports would come and take them to their required destination.

All provided by the Academy, this would be the last time they would ever see this Academy. Those who failed would be the only ones kept at the academy.

Considered failures but vital to the birth of a new batch of Oath Chained whom would uphold the reputation of the Academy.