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| II: Good Dog |
—
Marion ran ahead of Amicia and her father with Lion, the dog barked and yipped excitedly as they made their way along the path. Lion soon became too fast for her to catch up, so she slowed down, and took in large breaths of air.
Out of the two, Marion had always been the more blunt one; she often thought with her knives and emotions instead of her mind. Marion was little, yet no knight would want to find themselves at the end of any of her blades.
Marion stood up straight as Amicia and Robert caught up with her. The dark-haired girl could see Amicia poorly holding back her giggles at her face, flushed from doing so much running. Marion glared at Amicia, and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You are quite annoying." Marion huffed, embarrassed from being in such a state in front of Amicia.
"And you are quite red, Ma Chevalier." Amicia teased, and gently flicked Marion's rounded nose.
Marion scrunched her nose up, and smiled, before she trotted off after Amicia. The three made their way towards a fallen tree trunk, it would need to be lifted so that they could enter the clearing. Robert lifted up the fallen tree with ease.
"Do you dare enter the Trial's gate?" Robert asked, with a quiet grunt.
"Amicia De Rune fears nothing!" Amicia exclaimed, with a smile.
Marion smiled, and ran over to the log near the tree. She used her calloused hand to gently push some of her short, dark hair away from her face as she sat down.
"Try not to hit my head with one of your pebbles, Cia." Marion teased, and Amicia rolled her eyes.
"I'll try, but your big head is hard to miss." Amicia chuckled, and Marion stuck her tongue out at her.
Amicia picked up a round rock, and placed it in her sling. Marion watched as she swung it around a few times, testing it out, before she turned to her father.
"Ser Knight, what are the terms of the test?" Amicia asked with a smile, her voice playful.
Robert scratched his neatly trimmed beard before speaking, "The sacred apples of the... er... The Sacred Apple Tree have been corrupted by a great evil!"
Marion let out a quiet giggle, this was a new story. She watched as Amicia took in a deep breath, readying herself to begin.
"If you destroy six of these rotten apples by the time I count to ten, I will make you a Knight." Robert declared, and Marion gave Amicia a thumbs up.
"I accept your challenge!" Amicia smiled, before beginning to swing her sling.
Amicia began to hit each of the apple's; her aim was perfect. Marion would probably get the sling tangled around her wrist, and the rock in her eye if she tried to use it (though she would never admit that). The dark-haired girl began to clap as Amicia finished her 'challenge', it didn't look like a challenge for her.
