08:46

And now, they have finally arrived at the training ground of the base, where LUK3 seems to be wandering from left to right like a maniac on and on, while N04H is barely standing awake. He doesn't really get what this man wants to do, and at this hour, who knows how much he can keep up with his stupid decisions.

[N04H]-...Are we really going to train this early? *yawn*

[LUK3]-Oh, this won't be training at all, N04H! It's a free day, so I'm not putting you to train!

[N04H]-Then why don't you just tell what are we doing here?

[LUK3]-Simple! Remember what we've tried the first time we were put to choose your role? You know, when you joined the base?

[N04H]-...At this hour, I can't even remember what I did yesterday, LUK3.

[LUK3]-Okay, umm... Well... What about the moment when you hurt KYR4? Do you remember that?

[N04H]-*sigh* Just get to the point before I fall to the ground...

[LUK3]-Damn, you start to become just like C0NNER at this point, man... Okay! Okay! I brought you here because we have to choose your weapon! Remember?

[N04H]-At this hour...?

[LUK3]-Well, I mean... later this day, I already have plans for my free time and probably you have some as well. So I thought we could get this done as soon as possible so we can also have our rest later.

[N04H]-...What's the rush anyway? *yawn* Wasn't Master CHE5TER saying that I have all the time in the world until that happens?

[LUK3]-You're joking, right? Four months and you didn't even try to get an idea of your possible weapon? You know that from this one year, we also have to train in the weapon category, right? Half of the year is already gone, god dammit! From tomorrow, we need to start the training on that until the next year when you will begin your training with your personal Defender!

[N04H]-...Then why didn't you say it earlier!?

[LUK3]-I thought you already knew that!! Isn't it obvious that we need to train with your weapon as well? You think I can just give you a weapon and all of a sudden you are a master in controlling it? It took me four months to learn an advanced way of fighting with mine!

[N04H]-Yeah, great... Then how do I choose? You give me recommendations or...?

[LUK3]-Nope, not this time. A role it's much more easier to recommend than a weapon. There are so many choices that you can take and it only depends on your personal preferences! For the role, you can just put someone into a random case and see how he acts to get an idea.

[N04H]-Then how?

[LUK3]-Just take them one by one and try them out! The one you feel the most comfortable with while fighting will be your option. Well, at least that's how I chose mine when I was your age.

[N04H]-Really? You just took it and it was the best option for you?

[LUK3]-I just felt that I'm gonna fight smoother with it the moment I touched it. It's a matter of personal preference as I said! I felt that a spear is what defines me, simply as that. Later on, I had to design the way it will look like and got it in a few days. Those weapons are just for training, you get your own one after you are done with your year. Oh, and I called it "Little Sun"! Like it?

[N04H]-Do we really have to name them?

[LUK3]-Oh, no, not really. I just thought it was cute!

[N04H]-Okay... Then what about the others? How did they choose?

[LUK3]-I told you, personal preferences! C0NNER felt more comfortable with a bow, but I sure envy him 'cause he chose his weapon pretty quickly. The bow delivery was delayed though, so I guess it had its own down sides.

[N04H]-And KYR4?

[LUK3]-Oh, KYR4 was a strange one for sure. None of the weapons she'd tried were to her liking.

[N04H]-Then how did she got hers?

[LUK3]-Well... she simply designed it.

[N04H]-Huh? You mean a new weapon?

[LUK3]-Yep. She made her weapon also her gadget as you probably saw it before, but it took more time for it to come. But I'm not surprised by her gadget though. She got a pretty high score at her exam when we graduated.

[N04H]-Really? How much?

[LUK3]-Uhh... around 950, I think. I don't remember exactly. But it was pretty high!

[N04H]-Oh, she got a lot... I got around 730 'cause my design was too simple.

[LUK3]-Really? Aw, man... you got me... I got only 680...

[N04H]-Well, at least you've passed the exam.

[LUK3]-Yeah...

[N04H]-Okay... and MY4? How did she choose her weapon?

[LUK3]-Oh, she doesn't have one. She's a Healer, remember? They do not fight at all.

[N04H]-Alright... Then any other person that works here?

[LUK3]-Can't say for sure... MY4 and I joined at the same time, then KYR4 came too after one year, and the last one that entered was C0NNER, before you, of course. All the other members had already finished with their training by the time we were put to choose our weapons. I think the only one that was still training back then when I joined was RY4N, but he was almost done with it as well. You can ask them if you want, but I don't know how many of them even remember.

[N04H]-Then maybe you know the previous Investigators' weapons?

[LUK3]-Well, I knew a guy that was using a spear like me... a few were using small guns... Heh, one was using a long pole... Umm... I don't know, there were quite a few weapons. If you want an example from the present, Boss is using a sword. If anything, you can try and look for a melee weapon. That's what predominated in this role. Just take a look and see what appears interesting to you.

So, N04H goes around a table on which are all kinds of training weapons and observes them in detail. All bunch of guns, swords, polearms and so on. He doesn't get so excited from any though. He tries at first the sword thinking he might take the ruler's example, but the sword didn't seem so easy for him to handle. Then he tried to take from LUK3's example, then C0NNER's, but none of them seemed good enough. Then he tries some guns thinking that maybe he likes to strike from the distance more, but no result once again.

Then, he looks again at the melee weapons, until he gets to the fist weapons, where he gets interested in some simple brass knuckles. It's not a complicated weapon, so LUK3 doesn't really get why he chose these out of all the other options.

[N04H]-...I think I will go with these.

[LUK3]-Really? Didn't know you are into punching. Guess I learn something new every day...

[N04H]-I mean, they were a bit cooler if they had a small blade to use whenever I wanted, but they are fine for now. I don't see anything else around here that gets my attention.

[LUK3]-Well, you have all the time in the world to design your weapon until you finish with the training. No need to rush, but just make sure it will be done until then, alright? So we don't have the same problem like we had today.

[N04H]-Okay... Then what now? I've picked my weapon. Are we done?

[LUK3]-Not really. We have to see if it really suits you or need to change it, since you didn't think about it earlier. So... I guess we are doing some tests and then we come to a conclusion.

[N04H]-Oh, so are we gonna fight?

[LUK3]-Well, I mean, if you want me to wipe the floor with you, sure! But I was thinking rather using a simulation. Don't get me wrong, you've progressed these months and all, but I have years of experience behind and it won't be so fair. So it's better if we set up a simulation for your level, just to be sure.

[N04H]-Alright, I understand now. So what do I have to do?

[LUK3]-Simple! I will set the simulation for your chosen weapon and you have to beat three levels. After that, you can tell me if you remain with it or look around again. It's just gonna be a hand to hand combat in your case, just like what we did, so no worries, alright? And remember that the difficulty increases by each level. Knock your opponent out and you are good to go!

[N04H]-Got it! Start the simulation!

And so, LUK3 starts the simulation at N04H's orders, so that LEVEL 1 can finally begin. He takes his position while the hologram is being set, but it doesn't take long before the fight starts and the first level ends. Then LEVEL 2 begins and N04H takes his position again. This time, the opponent is indeed a bit stronger, but N04H succeeds in coming out victorious again. And then, LEVEL 3 finally comes. N04H takes his position once more and waits for the opponent to be set. But when it is set, its strength is way higher than the last two, making the fight a bit harder. His opponent is now faster and predicts his obvious moves too many times for N04H to even get closer.

At some point, the recruit is even injured by his opponent, making him move slower and realise that he has to think of a different strategy. He then remembers what he saw at the Great Leader a while ago in a demonstration, where He knocked His opponent down by finding a weak spot, so he thinks that he might have to do the same thing here too. He lets his opponent get closer to attack him, while he tries to dodge the attacks as much as possible. He couldn't dodge all of them though, so he had to defend himself at some, but when he saw the opportunity, he hit his opponent in the face as a small distraction, and then at its weak spot strong enough so it can drop on the floor and the simulation to finally end.

[LUK3]-Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Hey, you good there, buddy? You took some pretty bad hits back there!

[N04H]-Yeah, I'm fine... Just a bit exhausted...

[LUK3]-Okay! Sooo... you will remain with this one or you want to try something else?

[N04H]-Nah, I'm fine with it for now.

[LUK3]-Okay then! Guess I don't have to find anybody for the weapon training in the end, so it's good for me as well.

[N04H]-Why? You had to search for someone?

[LUK3]-Well, duuhhh! There are weapons that I really despite and if you took one of them, I couldn't teach you anything myself! For example, I've never worked with guns! How was I suppose to teach you if you chose one?? At least with this one, we remain at martial arts practice, but more advanced!

[N04H]-Okay... Then what now? We've chosen the weapon. Anything else?

[LUK3]-Nope, that's all! You can go back to your sleep if you wish, ooor we can stay and chat for a bit longer!

[N04H]-*sigh* Did you really wake me up this early just to get everything done in a few minutes?

[LUK3]-Yup!

09:38

Now that they are done with everything, they seem to have remained just to chat until they get back to their time left for sleep. LUK3 had already put everything back as it was so now they just stay down to rest for a bit after the whole action.

[N04H]-So... Are we really gonna start the training tomorrow? I thought I will need more time at what we've done before.

[LUK3]-Hm? Oh, yeah. Well... if that's the programme, I can't do anything about it. But it will be easier than it was at start, that's for sure. You got used to our techniques already and know the way I teach, so it won't be as hard as it was when you just joined. Besides that... these will be kind of our last months in which I will be your teacher, because after, you will have to choose your personal Defender and train with him. By the way, did you thought about this subject? Do you have any person in mind? You won't really have that much time at the end of this year.

[N04H]-Why so?

[LUK3]-Well, the Defender has to approve to work with you in the first place, so if you have no idea of what person you should choose, you will find yourself that nobody really wants to work with you and end up losing some time from the training until you find someone. You just need to have some options in mind from now on and try to talk with the people you want later, so that at the start of the next year you can begin your training.

[N04H]-Okay... Then... What about C0NNER?

[LUK3]-C0NNER?

[N04H]-Yeah. I mean, he doesn't have an Investigator, right? So he is free. And he is probably the only Defender I know the best from all the people around here.

[LUK3]-I will be honest with you, kiddo. I'm not sure C0NNER will accept such a thing to begin with.

[N04H]-Why not?

[LUK3]-You know him, N04H. He is as cold as the blood of a dead corpse. He doesn't really like that much working with someone. Heck, he doesn't like that he needs to stay with KYR4 during the missions either, even though KYR4 helped him a lot of times!

[N04H]-Oh, I see...

LUK3 gets a bit serious now though, as he looks down and continues talking.

[LUK3]-But... I understand it's not his fault.

[N04H]-What do you mean?

[LUK3]-Even if I joke around with him sometimes, I know what he had to endure to enter this base and work for us. To be honest, I cannot help but feel bad about him sometimes when I see him struggle, yet still refuse any help.

[N04H]-...You told me he got saved from you guys, right?

[LUK3]-Oh, right. I never even managed to tell you about him, did I? Heheh... But yeah, something like that.

[N04H]-But... he should be happy that he survived and got in a more peaceful place... right?

[LUK3]-Yes... but it's not about whether he has a home or a shelter from the enemies. It's more about the people he had lost to achieve this life. I don't like remembering about it myself, so I don't even know how it should be for him.

[N04H]-You were there when it happened?

[LUK3]-Yeah... I mean, I was in the mission of saving him and the other people from his execution room. But because of the chaos that had happened in that mission, somehow, him and some friends of his got lost in the building. When I saw them, it was already too late for me to get to them and go to a safe space. It was my duty back then to protect him and the other kids... even now I didn't forgive myself for not paying attention to the people from the group. Later on, when we had finally finished the mission and got back, C0NNER got in the end with us, but his friends couldn't be saved. I'm not so sure what happened, but I felt bad the moment Boss told us that we had two losses during the mission.

[N04H]-...But it wasn't your fault, right?

[LUK3]-Hard to say for sure, buddy. It was my duty to protect them after all, but I also did everything that was in my power to get everyone out. It's a matter of perspective here. But... losses are normal around here, aren't they? It's the payment for working in such place, and we all have to deal with it. We cannot guarantee that we can save each person, even if we try it. It's better to lose a few than lose a bunch in the end.

[N04H]-You know, I didn't realise until now... but you all seem as you have seen things you didn't want, even with these happy faces you have. I've never imagined that you can hide so many truths behind that smile you always have.

[LUK3]-Really? Oh, boy, you sure have things to learn! Heheh! But you know, N04H, a simple death shouldn't affect you. This is the cycle of life after all. We shouldn't live our lives in fear that we might lose even more than we already did, that's why I'm trying to make the best of it! The others tried as well, even if it doesn't look like it, but maybe they just got a bit marked from what we've encountered throughout our journey here.

[N04H]-But what can cause such a sad atmosphere in the entire base? You said it yourself: a simple death shouldn't affect us. If it's not a loss, then what is it?

[LUK3]-Oh, you sure put a lot of questions, N04H! I like that!

[N04H]-Maybe because I want to know more about you guys? Aren't you working better with someone after you know more about the person?

[LUK3]-Maybe... But I guess in our case, it's the complete opposite. Don't you see how many times we fight with each other out of nothing? Take the example from earlier!

[N04H]-Umm... I'm not sure that's categorised as "nothing" though... You pissed me off as well when you did that.

[LUK3]-Really? Heheh... Why so?

[N04H]-I don't know, simply because of how stupid your reason was. Aren't you afraid you will get in trouble later?

[LUK3]-Mmm... Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not as afraid of Boss as you think, kid! I told you, He isn't as scary as He might look like! I mean, yeah, I hate pain and all, but He takes it easy on us, even if it doesn't look like it... Trust me, you really don't want to see Him at His true potential. If you fear Him because you don't know anything about Him, remember that there are people who fear Him because they know too much.

[N04H]-So... you know Him well enough that it stopped being scary to you?

[LUK3]-Actually, for me, there was nothing scary about Him to begin with. I worked for Him for some good years now, and believe it or not, we did have times when all of us were actually friends. If you want me to be honest, when I entered and saw Him for the first time, I thought He was some kind of brat that was playing with us with the lie of Him being the Great Leader. Don't tell Him that I said that by the way...

[N04H]-Really? What changed your mind then?

[LUK3]-Simply the fact that I got to know Him better after a while. I was your age when I joined, and He wasn't that older either. It's just a year difference between us. A lot of the newcomers had doubts on Him being the ruler of the city back then, and many refused to obey to His orders for quite some time. Heck, even KYR4 almost lost it when she joined a year after and was one step away from simply giving up on the military just because she saw a kid of our age being the Great Leader! Now look at the present! She obeys to every word He says no matter how hard she disagrees! He proved Himself worthy of being the ruler in the end, so we all had changed our views on Him. But maybe we pushed this into His mindset too much over the years, 'cause He still has this habit of proving everybody what He's capable of. So, maybe we really did exaggerate...

[N04H]-He feels that people still don't respect Him? Even after all these years?

[LUK3]-I'm not sure, buddy... I don't know His intentions any better. RY4N is the only one that knows Him the best, and yet he too doesn't understand what CHE5TER is after. I doubt it is respect what He seeks for. We gave Him all the respect in the world as our ruler. It can't be simply that.

[N04H]-Then... what it might be?

[LUK3]-Who knows... But with all this respect, in us grew a feeling of pity for Him, which just recently became fear.

[N04H]-Fear?

[LUK3]-Mhm!

[N04H]-Fear of what?

[LUK3]-...

It is that moment of hesitation when LUK3 stops talking suddenly and remembers a bad memory of the past, then looks a bit at N04H, not knowing how exactly he could respond to that question at all. He thinks about it for a while, then looks down again and tries to avoid the subject.

[LUK3]-Doesn't matter... Come, we've talked enough already, don't you think? You were tired after all. We can go back and rest until the day starts. We have all the time in the world to answer your questions later.

So, LUK3 gets up and starts walking towards the exit, while N04H remains behind and looks at him leave, wondering even more about everything that he has said.