Tales of Six

Chapter 9 : The training grounds

"So you are with the Citadelle"

Kaen is startled by the Wood Elf staring at her. The heavy door shuts closed behind the Lyune as she puts her badge back in her pocket.

Kaen- How did you get in ? I've never seen you there.

Wood elf- Did you get in because you're from the Citadelle, or because you have a Citadelle badge ?

Kaen- ... Who are you ?

Wood elf- No one special. Now get out.

Kaen- Hmmm, interesting suggestion, but I think I'll stay.

Elf- It wasn't a suggestion...

The elf opens her hand and it fills with flames.

Kaen- Nice, you got a torch.

Kaen starts walking toward the stairs behind the elf, but the elf steps to block her way, with the fire still in her hand, menacingly. Kaen stops and thinks. She got her sword back from Ribanur, but she's still very tired, and this corridor is tight and would restrain her movement. Fighting the elf now is not a good idea.

Kaen- Why are you so protective of what's behind you ?

Elf- Why are you so protective of the flyhn girl ?

The two stare at each other in the light of the magic fire. The rest of the corridor is dark, and the stone floor and walls echo any sound back to them.

Kaen, trying to ease the tension- So, do you know where we are ?

Elf- Don't you ?

Kaen- Should I ?

Elf- Should you ?

Kaen- Don't play therapist with me and just answer the question !

Elf- *to herself* Why would I answer this, but then again, maybe she has information *to Kaen* I don't know exactly what it is, only its name. "The training grounds" whatever that's supposed to mean...

Kaen- No way... These are the training grounds ?

Elf- So you know it then ?

Kaen- Well, I know of it. This is the final exam. When you finish your third cycle at the Citadelle, you need to take and pass an exam, and they always call it the training grounds. I didn't even know it was underground. They keep the location a secret, only the graduates and the teachers know. *a bit more quietly* And with the drinking I've seen from some graduates after the exam, not everyone remembers.

Elf- That's all well and good, you can leave now.

Kaen- Look ! Stairs.

Kaen tries to walk past the elf again, and the fire in the elf's hand suddenly grows twice its size.

Elf, with a sharp tone- I told you to leave.

Kaen, staring at the elf for a second- ... Fine.

Kaen rolls her eyes and starts walking back to the entrance and tries to open the door, but it doesn't move.

Kaen, serious all of a sudden- It's locked.

Elf- Look, I understand you're trying to stay, but this is getting annoying.

Kaen- I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR STOP BEING A BITCH.

Elf- ...

Kaen gets her tools out of her pockets, kneels in front of the door and starts picking the lock. The elf looks surprised by the sight of Kaen using lockpicks, but stays silent.