"What was that." The pony tail asked.

I then heard a bunch of men talk as their footsteps got closer to the carriage "Well, I'm hungry..." One of them said as he walked in.

He ducked under the door to walk in as the rest of his men stayed outside to wait. He wore very colorful make up on his face, and had a mole on his nose that was quite ugly to look at. He wore... strange clothes to say the least. The most natural looking thing he had on was his gardening hat... and tail.

"What was that noise?" The woman asked.

"Just weeding out the weak, toots" He replied licking his lips at her. but we both flinch in disgust. "Get me a long sausage, then maybe you can... have my saus-"

"Hey, I was here first." I said interupting his speech. "Don't be a donkey."

Donkey man turned his attention to me. "Oh? This toots yours? Dont worry I'll give her back after I'm do-."

"My name's not toots, its Angela" She interupted. "And you're disturbing my customer. Kindy leave."

The tall donkey man walked past me to the counter, his fingers were fast enough to wrap around Angela's face. She struggled to pull it out, but to no avail. "Now now, I don't appreciate that kind of disrespect y'know?" He explained "Give me everything in the shop..."

I didn't want to get any more involved. 'I'm wasting too much time here.' I thought as I walked towards the exit.

Another man walked in blocking my path. He was shorter than I was and had quite the gut. "And where do you think you're going?" They came in one by one. "What do you think boss?" He asked looking at me with his grin going from ear to ear.

"Do whatever ya want with the guy, but the girl's mine." He replied.

"You guys don't want to do this." I said.

"You heard em boys."

Angela looked like she had enough. With donkey man's hand still on her face, she jumped on the counter and struck him on his nose so hard he bled from it a bit. "OWW" he moaned "Why you little." He pushed her so hard, she flew to the front of the carriage, then jumped over the counter, and for some reason, closed the curtains.

'Impressive, she's not half bad.' I Thought before turning my attention to the 10 men in the room. "Look, don't waste my time. just let me go..." I said to them.

They didn't listen to my wanings at all. The fat guy threw the first punch, but I easily blocked it, and pushed him back before catching another fist from the side. I pulled the hand in fast and close, then smacked the man on the side of his head with my elbow knocking him out cold. the fat one ran at me with the most pathetic battle cry. I caught the hand, and threw him at another unfortunate body in the way.

I looked at the three uncuncious bodies around me. "I Told you." I looked up to see the other guys pulling knives from their pockets. "Really?"

....

Arl and I Had trained for a year now in Observation, combat, strategy and the like. I even took on some missions with other members of the group. We walked to the training area as we always did. but this time, he actually talked before we got there.

"This will be the last time we train together, I'm sure you're excited" He said."You've come a long way weed." Arl said, still maintaining a straight face.

I Knew him long enough to know he was proud. "Thanks." We opened the door to the training hall, Raziel and some other members of the creed surrounded the training area. "Why are they Here?"

"Do you Know why we're here?" He asked.

"To trai-"

"To fight! To the death." He pulled off his shirt revealing the scars on his chest.

My heart instantly dropped. "What?"

"It's been a year of none stop training. You're a pain in my ass." He walked to the middle of the room. "GET OVER HERE! NOW!"

"AHH o-okay..."

I walked to the centre of the room holding my breath.

"Its tradition for the newbies to fight with a member of the group." He explained as he got two swords from a barrel beside him. He dropped an hour glass on an extended part of the wall. "There are two ways to win. Kill the opponent, or fight none stop for an hour."

'Kill?' I thought. "Ohh... so who am I fighting?"

He threw one of the blades at my head. I narrowly dodged the sword as it stabbed and got stuck to the wall. All that was left was the hilt. I looked back at him, my body began to shake profusely.

"Me..." He ran towards me, his speed was almost unregisterable. I jumped back instinctively before he could poke the blade into my chest.

Arl moved his blade with speed and force trying to cut my head off. "Isn't there anyone else that's a bit easier?" I asked while dodging the slashes.

"No! stop talking!"

I jumped over Arl and landed behind him. I attempted to punch him on his back. Unfortunately, the roundhouse kick was faster. The kick was strong enough to Knock most people out but I was able to dodge just in time. 'Shit!' I thought as I somersaulted backwards. 'He's too fast.' I looked at his blade, then at the hour glass. 'I Just have to survive long enough right?.' I sucked in as much air as Possible before exhailing a pillar of fire at his direction. 'If I can't maintain Hand to Hand at the moment, long ranged attacks are my best bet.'

I looked at the direction where I shot the blast, he wasn't there anymore. "Smart move." Arl spoke behind me. He went for an axe kick, but I blocked. Using the other leg,jumped aiming for a straight kick to the chest.

"Aahh!" I exclaimed as I fell on my back. Arl swiftly moved to my position with the blade close to stabbing... But that was the idea. I shot another pillar of fire from my mouth, Arl was taken aback but dodged with ease the blade wasnt soo lucky.

I jumped back on my feet. "No more swords."

Arl, for the first time since i met him actually had a smile on his face."Hmmph."

We readied our fists...