*One hour earlier*
*As the leaders of the orders were having their annual steak meeting the rest of the orders were hard at work. Outside of The Wall, Jin, Gael, and Alita were about to enter. Wearing their normal winterwear outfits and Jin was holding a briefcase. The group enter The Wall and greet the receptionist who had become well acquainted with them over the year*
(Receptionist): Hello folks. Happy new year.
(Jin, Gael, and Alita): Hi Mrs. Carter!
(Mrs. Carter): So what brings you kids in today?
(Alita): I’m here to drop off some paperwork for you.
*Alita hands Mrs. Carter her paperwork*
(Mrs. Carter): Aww, thank you, sweetie. What about you two?
(Gael): Just killing time.
(Jin): I have some business with Robbie Shinri. Is he in?
(Mrs. Carter): He should be on the upper floors training. I recommend the sparring floor. Most of the knights are there to get back in shape.
(Jin): Thanks, Mrs. Carter.
*Jin, Gael, and Alita enter the elevator as Mrs. Carter reviews the paperwork*
(Gael): So, mind telling us what’s in the briefcase?
(Jin): Just a few items I got commissioned to work on.
(Alita): You do know Amarti has warned you about accepting commissions from other knights.
(Jin): Yes, I know. But the guy supplied the materials and it’s a good way for me to hone my skills. I’m actually proud of what I made this time. It’s great getting to work in the old workshop back home.
(Gael): Oh yeah, you went home for the holidays. How was it?
(Jin): It was good. Mom really missed me and spoiled me quite a bit. My sisters were also asking me questions about the kingdom.
(Gael): And your dad?
(Jin): Could have gone better. While he’s happy I became a knight he’s not too happy that I’m working with the Black Knights and not the other orders. In his eyes the Black Knights are just glorified public servants.
*The elevator stops and they get off to walk down the hall*
(Alita): Did you tell him about the other side of your order?
(Jin): Oh no.
(Gael): Really? I’m sure he’d changed his tone if he knew.
(Jin): Yeah, and my mom would have a heart attack. Plus, I doubt he would believe half the stories I’d tell him.
*Once the trio reach the end of the hallway they reach some guard rails and look down below to see many knights both and blue and red sparring with each other. Off to the right side is the weight area. To the left is a small sitting area where knights can sit and talk with each other. On the opposite side of the group are various treadmills and machines. Looking to the weight area they spot Robbie wearing blue gym shorts with black leggings, white shoes, and a blue tank top. He was in the middle of lifting weights with Keanu benching him. Keanue wore black sweatpants and a grey t-shirt*
(Keanu): 96. . .97. . .98. . .99. . .200!
*Robbie and Keanu set the bar safely on the rack and Robbie sits*
(Keanu): Good job, muscle man. That’s a new record.
*Keanu tosses Robbie a towel which he catches and uses to wipe his face*
(Robbie): Thanks. Probably could have done about a hundred more. That weight was starting to feel light at the end.
(Keanu): If you consider 500 pounds light then we have a big disconnect.
*Robbie chuckles from Keanu’s statement when he spots Jin and the others approaching the area*
(Robbie): Well look who’s here.
*Robbie gets up and wipes down the bench before walking over to meet Jin and the others with Keanu right behind him*
(Keanu): Hey guys! Long time no see!
(Jin): It’s good to see you both again. Happy new year.
(Robbie): Same to you.
(Gael): Looks like you guys are hard at work.
(Keanu): Oh yeah, everybody is trying to work off that holiday rust and get ready for the new year.
(Alita): I heard you both stayed here in the kingdom instead of returning home.
(Jin): Woah is that true?
(Robbie): Yeah, my home is pretty far from the kingdom, so I felt that making the trip out there wasn’t worth it.
(Keanu): My situation is a bit more complicated but the same as Robbie’s.
(Alita): I see. I’m so sorry you couldn’t get a chance to see your families.
(Robbie): Oh it’s fine. I gave my grandpa a call. He’s doing good for himself and is planning on visiting me once the weather clears up. So what brings you here? On official Black Knight business.
(Jin): Actually, I’m here to see you. I finished your commission during the holiday break.
(Robbie): No way! I thought for sure it would have taken you another month or so to finish.
(Jin): Nope. You actually gave me some good materials and my old workshop is a lot bigger than the one I have here. Come on, let me show you what I got.
*Following Jin, the group heads toward the opposite side to sit down and talk. After finding an empty table they sit down and Jin opens the briefcase reveal three sets of knuckledusters. The first ones are black leather ones. The second pair are red and the final pair are white*
(Robbie): Woah. They’re beautiful.
(Keanu): Magniga (Magnificent).
(Jin): So, pick the pair that catches your eye the most and we’ll go from there.
(Robbie): Hmm, can’t go wrong with black.
(Jin): A good choice. This pair was crafted from the augite you gave me. A good balance of weight and durability. I know you said you go through gloves quite a bit so these should last you a good while.
(Robbie): Cool. What about the red ones?
(Jin): Now these took the longest to make. Crafted from the ruby. High durability. The only problem is they’re heavier than the average knuckledusters, so you’ll have to put more effort into holding up your hands. On the plus side, you’ll be hitting people harder.
*Robbie picks up the red pair and can feel how heavy they are compared to the first pair*
(Robbie): Yeah, I see what you mean. It would take some getting used to.
*Robbie puts them down and goes to pick up the white pair which are light*
(Robbie): Wow, these are light.
(Jin): I would think so. Kaolinite is pretty soft compared to the other minerals you gave me. It’s still durable but not as durable as the others. However, thanks to its lightweight you’ll have little resistance when you throw punches. Speed over strength.
(Robbie): Man, these are amazing! Thanks, Jin. I knew asking you was the right choice.
(Keanu): Now I’m jealous. Any chance I can have you look over my clubs? I got to do whatever it takes to qualify for BOSR.
(Gael): BOSR? What’s that?
(Robbie): You’ve never heard of BOSR?
(Jin): He wasn’t at the academy like us.
(Robbie): Oh yeah. I forgot about that.
(Jin): BOSR is short for Best of the Super Rookies. It’s an annual tournament where the first-year knights gather and battle it out to see who’s the best. It’s one of the biggest events in the kingdom.
(Gael): A tournament to crown the best of us rookies? Count me in.
(Evan): Now there’s a good laugh.
*Recognizing that voice. Everyone turned with disdain and saw Evan and Malakai wearing blue tracksuits*
(Keanu): Oh great, it’s the Fargusons.
(Evan): You actually think you have what it takes to be in BOSR? Some of the greatest knights have participated in this tournament. You wouldn’t make it past the first round.
(Malakai): Let alone qualify for the thing to begin with.
(Gael): I have to qualify? I thought all rookie knights were invited.
(Robbie): Only the top 128 knights are allowed to participate in the tournament. The knights are determined based on the missions they complete throughout the year. Each mission has a diamond ranking. The higher the diamonds the higher the difficulty of the mission the higher the points.
(Malakai): Five diamonds is the max for rookies and are guaranteed weekly for us knights in the Blue Dragon Order. Where as you Black Knights mostly get one or two diamonds at best. You’re lucky if you get a three-diamond mission.
(Robbie): You two seem pretty confident that you’re going to get in.
(Evan): Of course. With the missions we’ve been on we’re guaranteed to be in the tournament. The same can be said for you and unfortunately Keanu. Those three on the other hand don’t come close.
(Keanu): Don’t be so sure. BOSR is still months away.
(Evan): As if. Ever since they were formed, the Black Tortoise Knights haven’t qualified for any of the tournaments.
(Malakai): Mostly all because those knights are mid knights who couldn’t cut it in the field.
*Evan and Malakai begin to laugh angering Jin, Gael, and Alita. Jin finally hears enough and stands up*
(Jin): Enough! Make fun of us all you want but don’t ever insult our order.
(Evan): Oh~, and what are you going to do about it?
(Jin): Downstairs. Now. I’ll take on either one of you.
(Gael): Why one? I want a piece of their ass too. Tag team.
(Alita): Why stop there? I’m also fighting.
(Bastion): In that case count me in as well.
*Bastion approaches the table being wheelchaired over by a mechanical-golem like creature*
(Bastion): I’ve been wanting to test my golem against the likes of you for quite some time.
(Jin): Then it’s settled. Three on three. Let’s do this.
***
*In the women’s locker room Scarlet was by her locker and fixing her hair. She was wearing a white t-shirt and red track pants. As she was staring at the mirror fixing her hair, she noticed the muscle gain in her arms. No doubt the training she’d been doing with Jade and Morgan was beginning to pay off and be noticed. All of sudden a girl with dark blue hair and green eyes ran wearing a red tracksuit ran in*
(Knight girl #1): Hey guys! The Farguson brothers and Bastion got challenged to a fight!
(Knight girl #2): What! Who called them out?
(Knight girl #1): Some knights from the Black Tortoise Order. Everyone’s already taking bets.
*Some of the girls exited the locker room to go and see the fight while Scarlet stayed behind not concerned*
(Scarlet): Who’d be crazy enough to fight them?
*All of a sudden, the realization who could be fighting went off in her head and she rushed out of the locker room*
***
*A few minutes later everyone who was sparring down below cleared the area to make room for the fight that was about to happen. Word spread quickly about Black Knights challenging the Blue Knights and everyone was taking bets on who would win and how long the match would last with a majority of the knights betting against the Black Knights. They all gathered up above getting ready to watch the fight unfold. One knight in particular was paying close attention. He wore a blue tracksuit and had emerald green hair with purple eyes. He was also holding a rapier that was sheathed around his waist*
(Green-haired boy): And to think I thought it was going to be a boring day at the gym.
*Down below, everyone had changed into their fighting gear. Evan was wearing a full skin-tight body suit that was black and had grey plating. His weapon was a three-section bo staff. Malakai wore a dark silver mage robe and had an orb of liquid metal floating above his right hand. Bastion was off to the side while his golem was cladded in white samurai armor and wielding a sword on standby awaiting command*
(Jin): We don’t know what these guys can do, so let’s get a quick feel for them and go from there.
*Gael cracks his neck*
(Gael): Let’s show them what the Black Tortoise Knights are all about.
(Alita): Ready for combat.
*Jin, Gael, and Alita enter the ring*
(Malakai): You guys sure you want to do this? It’s not too late to-
(Gael): Shut up and ring that bell.
*A bell rings signally that the fight has begun and the young members of Shadow Eye charge ahead*
Author’s Note: And that’s how we got to where we are now. This is a fight that’s been building up since the last volume, and when I started making plans for this volume, I made plans to create a situation where these six would face off against each other while also expanding on the other rookie knights in the kingdom. I also announce that there’s going to be a tournament happening soon. Every action-adventure fantasy has its tournament arc, and this arc will focus on Jin and the others. Look forward to that and come back next week for the blow off as the Tortoises and the Dragons face and give you a preview of what’s to come. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.