Dark Thriver

Chapter 6 - Ambition

As Riku walked back from the Beast's Valley with the others, he remained silent. "Um, Master? How do you intend to complete that mission?" asked Erica. "Yes! I'm sorry, Riku, but no matter how much you try, we deserve the position we hold..." said Mac.

"That's wrong!"

yelled out Riku, stopping in his tracks. "Listen, you two! You have as much right to reach a higher rank as anyone!" he said as he turned towards them. "It's because...we're all equal!" said Riku, looking at them with determination burning in his eyes.

"Master..." mumbled Erica. "So I will train you with all if my will! I will make you strong enough to be able to climb up that ladder! You hear?!" asked Riku, angrily. As Mac and Edward looked at each other, they smiled. "Yes!" they said together, putting a smile on Riku's face. "Then we start today! We need food, water, and wooden swords!" demanded Riku.

"Uh, Riku? We got what you meant. You don't have to continue with that tone..." said Edward. "Ah, sorry..." said Riku, scratching his head while laughing. "Master is really something..." thought Erica as she walked up to Riku. "I will acquire the necessities! Don't worry about it, Master!" said Erica with a smile.

"Ah, sure!" said Riku, smiling as they continued walking back to the base. "This will be difficult. If I had to say, it would be close to impossible for me to train the two of them. Especially as I am now..." thought Riku, hiding his worries behind his smile.

~Training began~

As Erica brought the swords, Riku took his coat off, getting rid of the bandages on his shoulder. "It was a little difficult going up against someone like that redhead with only one hand...It does feel better now!" said Riku as he began swinging his sword around carefully.

"With one hand...? No one mentioned that in the rumors!" said Mac, holding his sword. "If he was able to beat Satia like that with one hand, I can't imagine what will happen with two..." said Edward, depressing both himself and Mac.

"Now, come at me!" said Riku. "The two of us against you?!" asked Mac. "Yeah! I'm sorry, but you're inexperienced as you are now. Weird coming from me, but you have to have a style you can use!" explained Riku. "But...the style you're using is like nothing I have ever seen..." said Edward. "That's why I said it's werid coming from me. I don't have my own style. Fighting the redhead was my first time holding a sword!" said Riku, worrying Mac and Edward even more. "What's wrong?" asked Riku, confused. "He's a natural! That jerk..." thought Edward as he clenched his fist in frustration.

"Come on!! I'm waiting!" yelled Riku. "Fine! Here I go!" said Mac, running towards Riku. "Huh?! He went into a natural stance? He's not raising his sword..." thought Mac. As Mac swung his sword, Riku dodged by moving his head slightly, completely avoiding the attack. "How?!" asked Mac. "Well, you're a little too predictable when attacking..." said Riku. "Predictable?!" said Mac, falling to his knees. "And I thought I told you to come at me together! Take it more seriously!" said Riku, swinging his sword with frustration. "F-fine! Let's go Mac!" said Edward as he and Mac rushed towards Riku, yelling.

2 Hours Later

With Mac and Edward panting on the ground, Riku stands there, not breaking a sweat. "This is too difficult..." said Edward. "Yeah. Maybe even impossible..." added Mac. "Master is wasting his time teaching you two slugs! Get into shape!!" yelled Erica, finally reaching the peak of her frustration.

"Is that all?"

asked Riku, getting everyone's attention. "Is that all you can say? Ever since we started, you've been improving bit by bit, but you haven't noticed that yourselves, right?" asked Riku with a serious tone, getting everyone confused. "Don't you have some ambition?! Do you WANT to live down here forever?! Huh?!" asked Riku, angrily. "But we--" "aren't cut out for it? Wrong! Incredibly wrong!" said Riku, cutting Mac out. "I swore...I swore on my pathetic Japanese name! I won't give up on you two! You hear?! I don't have magic! I don't have any amazing skills! Am I giving up?! You're standing here, in this academy, sloping off, lazing around! It's pathetic!" yelled out Riku, gritting his teeth.