The Last Gate

Chapter Two: Spar

After preparation, it was time. The group of students all seemed tensed, waiting for Ares to give the signal to begin. Remus stood calmly, a wooden sword at his hip as he allowed himself to bounce on his feet in preparation. He awoke in the afterlife with a sword in his hands, an obsidian blade to be exact. His soul was connected to his weapon and thus he used a wooden sword in its place. Across from him, he watched as June stretched her legs and bounced up and down, her springy curls almost covering her face as she did so. But her smile shone through the curtain of hair over her face. She didn't have a weapon on her person at all, she came into this world with nothing but her bare hands. June raised her hands, pulling the curly locks of hair into a tight bun, a few pieces still falling in her face.

"Your goal is to down your opponent. Remember that no matter what, Guardians are a unit. We do not harm one another in malice, but in hopes of strengthening each other." Ares' voice seemed to echo, commanding respect with each word.

June seemed to roll her eyes, having heard this spiel every sparring match. Remus nodded in agreement, shaking his arms out a bit before looking to Ares.

"Go." Was all that came from their teacher's mouth.

Remus sprang forward, crossing the distance between he and June with a fox's quickness. Using the wooden sword in his left hand, he struck the girl in her stomach with enough force to knock her back. Though as June went sprawling away from him, Remus sucked his teeth.

"You aren't defending. What are doing? You know this is a fight, right?" He questioned her with a perplexed expression, his scarred eyebrow twitching in irritation.

"Pa-haahah!!" A laugh came from June. The girl rolled onto her back, holding her abdomen. Remus had knocked the wind out of her, and the air that did enter her lungs was used to laugh. "I was just wondering if I was allowed to go all out, ya know?"

"It's a fight!" Remus yelled. "Don't pity me! You're the one at a disadvantage here." He used his arms in gesture, shouting at the downed girl though she seemed to be ignoring him.

Without another word June rolled onto her stomach and raised herself into a springy crouch. Then she burst forward. Seeing this new burst of energy from his opponent, Remus readied the wooden sword beside his head to block her incoming blow. Though it was all for naught, when June's fist would first connect with the sword and snap it in half like a toothpick. Then, her fist met his cheek. The blow itself wouldn't have knocked Remus from his feet, he had prepared himself to recover. But June's movements were quick, and unlike the loud boisterous girl shown moments ago. Her left fist met his stomach, and with the force of a bull she sent Remus backwards. The boy's landing was rough, first landing on his head then skidding to a stop on his side. He coughed, an enraged expression on his face as he began to try and stand.

The entire class room was quiet, the only noise filling the room was Remus' staggered breathing as he struggled to find his footing. It was Ares who moved then, his steps silent as he neared Remus and kneeled next to him. His large hand laid on the boy's back, his lips moved with words unheard to the class.

"The match is over. June is the victor." Angie stated, raising her arm in June's direction.

The girl's two toned eyes seemed to shine before she erupted into a triumphant scream, jumping up and down in celebration. "Oh!!" She suddenly yelped before folding her hands in front of herself and bowing in Remus' direction. "Thank you for the match. Sorry I went a little overboard."

"You will get many opportunities to prove yourselves as Guardians." Ares said, though his eyes barely left Remus before he held his hand out and helped the student stand. "This is merely one of them."

Remus didn't reply, his eyes cast downward to the floor while his face remained in a scowl. His eyebrows knitted together as his hand worked away at the broken wood in his grip. After a moment he stood up, closing his eyes to release the tension in his body with a sigh.

"Thank you for the match." His voice was barely above a whisper.

The class continued afterwards, the students sitting at their desks while Ares and Angie stood before them. The room was rather large, half of it served as a gymnasium whole the other served as a classroom. All Guardians resided in a land called a Haven, a large sacred area where no demon could cross. It was a large territory, where the Organization has cleansed the area of demons and constructed many buildings and amenities unseen to the human eye. Many havens held different names, and were scattered around the world.

"There have been many reports of a sweet smell wafting around the Rosecoast haven." Ares said suddenly, causing all of the class to look to him. Even Remus, who had taken to staring out a nearby window instead of paying attention. "Which means, a guardian will wake tomorrow night when the moon is at its highest."

Everyone seemed to gasp a bit, some even leaning forward in their seats. The prospect of a new classmate always excited them.

"This means," Ares began, his voice silencing the chatter that had come up. "I will be sending two students to retrieve this guardian. As this also means that demon activity will be at its highest. At this stage in their life, Guardians are still considered human until they open their eyes. A demon can devour them at any moment. Remus, June."

The two students raised their heads to attention, June who had been slouched back in her chair with her arms crossed and Remus who had his head against his hand.

"You will be ensuring the safety of this new Guardian. And bring them back to the Haven."

There was silence, at first. Then June burst into a loud "YES!!!!" The girl screamed so loud, she startled poor Xion beside her. The soft spoken boy even began to tremble a bit. "Sorry Xion!" She apologized rather quickly, patting his back for a jit before looking to Ares. "You know teach', a lot of people don't like you! And I mean alooooot! But this is turning you towards a road to redemption!!" She smiled confidently at him, as if the words that came from her mouth weren't absolutely jarring.

Ares gave a blank stare, blinking for a moment as Angie covered her mouth in a feeble attempt to hide her laughter. He blinked again, before raising his head, "You are to leave by six in the evening, ensure that you communicate with humans. Though we kill the demons that affect them, sometimes being there to listen is enough." He used the handle of his blade to rest his arm, blinking a bit before reaching up to scratch at his fluffy beard. "Class is dismissed."