The Ashen Dominion-Chapter 59 - Awesome

After training for a bit, the guards came back with the dinner, so I went out of my room.

"Whoa! We’re neighbors now!"

Damian said as he came out at the same time and saw me. I just ignored him and walked toward the gate. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He followed after me. Rose, Jhamillah, and Jenna came out at the call of the guards too, and after seeing Damian trailing me like a baby duckling—they did the same.

"It’s tough being a single parent, huh."

Viktor said when he saw us like that, he was smiling slyly.

"Ugh..."

I just groaned and ignored him too.

"Hm? Where are the others?"

A guard asked, seeing that only six of us came out of ten gladiators here.

"They’re probably still sleeping."

I said without stuttering. And at my words...

"..."

Viktor and the others stared at me with wide eyes, like they were shocked I literally just said that.

I shrugged my shoulders and got my portion of dinner for today.

"Well, whatever... Just give them their portion, or not. I don’t really care—fix things among yourselves."

The guard who came with our food said that and casually gave us the portion of the four. He doesn’t really care.

’Extra food for us, nice.’

I thought as I glanced at everyone, smiling.

"..."

They were smiling too, looking back at me.

And with that... We all ate together.

"..."

They’re all such a noisy bunch. They probably spent most of the time talking instead of eating.

*****

After eating dinner...

Viktor went back to his room, training.

While the four were still following me, I instructed them to. I will explain about the battle points to them.

I told the four how they need to buy everything they need in this place, and how the currency works. Damian didn’t understand shit, but I’ll just let the girls help him with that.

"So with your five starting battle points, you need to buy weapons for yourselves. After that, you can spend the rest on whatever."

I told them. The four nodded their heads in unison.

And not long—

"Oh, looks like they’re here."

The servants arrived.

"Follow me."

I immediately walked toward Rai when I saw him, the four behind me.

And when we reached him—

"Ah...!"

Rai saw Damian.

"AH!"

And Damian saw him too.

They looked at each other, surprised.

"...?"

While the three girls, they just looked confused.

"You know him?"

Jenna asked Damian.

"Kaiser, me, and that guy were in the same carriage on the way here along with two more kids."

He nodded his head as he said that.

And before anyone else could say anything—

"I’m sorry for acting like such a dick before."

He followed with that, bowing slightly at Rai. Damian is taller, so Rai is looking up at him.

"Erm... I really just threw it in the past, don’t worry."

Rai replied to him, smiling a little.

An awkward atmosphere surrounded the two. So to break that off—

"Anyway, let’s get to the main reason why we’re here."

I cut them off and spoke.

Everyone’s attention went to me.

"Ah, right...! Here’s today’s ration."

Then Rai handed me a paper bag, it’s the cooked chicken breasts that I always ask for.

"Thanks."

I muttered to him and nodded my head, and after that—I opened my mouth again.

"Also, can you help these guys? They’re new here and they need weapons... You’re the only trustworthy servant that I know."

"...!"

Rai’s eyes widened when I said that, then... He smiled.

"Leave it to me!"

He declared.

"Thanks again."

I smiled back at him and replied.

And with that—I let the four of them talk to him so they could buy their weapons.

I didn’t wait for them to finish...

"See you guys later."

I went back to my room without waiting for their responses, and there, I ate the two roasted chicken breasts and started training with the greatsword again.

BAM!

"Ugh... It still falls straight to the ground sometimes..."

*****

The next day, I got up and started my morning exercise.

And after a while... I went out when it was time for breakfast and we heard the guard’s call.

I saw Viktor, Damian, Rose, Jenna, and Jhamillah come out of their rooms too.

We took our portion, then we started eating together. The guard asked us about the four other fighters again...

"They’re just probably still asleep."

Then I answered with that again.

The guard looked at me weirdly before shrugging and just letting it go, and this time as well—we got the portions of the four for ourselves.

...

...

After eating and getting ready—

"Let’s go."

"Yeah."

Viktor and I decided to head to the training ground.

"Where are you guys going?"

Damian asked when he saw us too. The three girls were behind him, looking at us curiously too.

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"We’re going to the training ground."

Then I said that.

Just as I was about to turn my back and started heading to the gate—

"What?! Me too!"

Damian exclaimed in excitement.

"Huh?"

I looked at him in surprise.

"I used four of my battle points for a month of access to the training ground!"

He added, a stupid grin on his face.

"What about your weapon?!"

I asked, frowning.

"Here, see! I got them for one battle point!"

And then he showed me a pair of leather gloves with small metal bumps on the knuckles, and a metal plate at the back of the them.

"..."

I was speechless, my mouth opened a few times but I couldn’t find a word to say.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA—! This friend of yours is really something, huh."

Viktor said, turning to me while laughing his ass off.

I ignored the two and went to Rose, Jhamillah, and Jenna. And then I asked what weapons they got.

And fortunately... They picked well, unlike someone.

Rose got herself a shield and a one-handed sword. Her set-up is just like my current one, with just bigger equipment.

Jenna got a bow and a dagger, apparently—she grew up as a hunter so she’s confident in using them.

While Jhamillah picked a spear for its range, and used some of her points for armor.

"..."

I turned my head back to Damian.

"Heh!"

He’s smiling proudly.

’Ugh... I just hope he knows what he’s doing.’

*****

After that small incident—me, Viktor... And Damian, are now currently headed to the training ground.

Yeah, we brought him with us as he’s going there too anyway.

He talked and talked non-stop while we were on our way, while Viktor kept replying to him. They’re both talkative, really.

But luckily, just after a couple of minutes... We reached our destination.

"Whoa..."

Damian admired, seeing the training ground. Based on the story he and the three told me last night, they were trained in a spacious dark room along with the others.

I thought they would be in a place like this as well.

Anyway, I immediately separated from them and started training my body with weights. Viktor did the same, waving goodbye to us.

And Damian, well... He followed after me and did whatever I did.

"Hehe, I’m glad I came here with you two."

He said, smiling at me.

I just frowned and did my thing.

...

...

...

And hours later, after eating lunch in this place—

"It’s time."

My daily sparring match with Viktor is here again.

"Huh? What are you guys doing?"

Damian asked as he saw us get into the arena.

"Just watch."

I told him before getting a wooden sword and a wooden shield.

And just moments later...

"They’re at it again!"

"Guys, it’s starting!"

The other fighters training and the guards started getting close to watch us. I saw Damian’s eyes widen at that.

It was satisfying and I smiled a little.

"You ready?"

Viktor asked me, I shrugged and faced him.

"I’m always ready."

And with that—

"Then let’s start!"

BAM!

He rushed straight at me, a wooden axe in each of his hands!

"..."

I calmed down and took a stance, and when he got near me—

FWOOSH!

I thrust the sword in my right hand forward.

Viktor just tilted his head to the side and avoided my blade, a smile plastered on his face. Then as a counter—

SWISH—

He swung the axe in his right hand, diagonally down from above my head!

TWHACK!

I blocked it by raising the shield in my left arm.

SWOOSH—

Then, the axe in his left hand came from below, aiming at my chin!

’Fuck...!’

Fwish~

I looked up and barely dodged it. Though, my eyes were still on Viktor.

And in that moment... I saw him looking at me in the stomach!

TWHACK!

I quickly retrieved my shield and placed it in front of me, and because of that—I blocked a kick aiming for my gut!

"Gugh...!"

I was flung a couple meters away though from the impact.

"Wha?! How’d you block that?"

Viktor asked, surprised.

I smirked as I immediately took a stance again.

"Because I’m fucking awesome."

And then I said that.