Shion and Eren went back to the inn, silence among them.
They didn't feel watched, which was a good sign.
They finished their day and went straight to sleep.
With the morning light, they both went straight to train, like every morning.
People was training already in the association grounds. As the time passed by, more people arrived.
Morcant was there too, training as promised, he was in company of another mercenary, probably his friend.
He waved to Shion and Eren, to say hello, to which they replied just with a nod.
After yesterday's spar, more mercenaries were eager to see Shion's combats.
But no one worked up the valor to ask her for a training session.
When they were done doing their routine, Morcant asked Eren for a spar.
This should have not come as a surprise, both were new, and trying to improve.
Eren accepted gladly, and took a wooden sword from the rack.
Morcant took shield and axe. Not your standard combination.
They both bowed slightly, before adopting their respective stances.
Eren was still using her guard stance, composed, firm, but somewhat rigid.
Morcant used his shield facing the front, leaving enough space for him to see. His axe in his free hand at chest level.
Someone just helped out to signal the start of the battle, and both tried to rush the first movement.
Eren sword's met with Morcant's shield. He tried swinging his axe, but it was clear he was still getting used to use a shield in combat. It felt more like the shield was a burden instead a tool.
The movements of both were stiff, giving their adversary enough time to react.
Morcant lunged too deep, axe biting down with more intent than control.
Eren caught it cleanly, wood striking wood with a sharp crack.
Their weapons slid and locked between them, too close to swing, too far to grapple.
For a breath, they stood frozen, their eyes searching, feet not moving.
The fight stalled, not from strength, but from uncertainty.
The excitement from everyone in the training grounds started to die off.
Some went back to their routines.
Some others were watching with a look of nostalgia in their eyes.
Few remaining can be heard complaining about what they're doing wrong and why, but not loudly enough to count as an advice to a new mercenary.
Shion finally stopped things.
"Enough" She said "You're making this painful for everyone, and you won't learn from this"
She stepped in the middle of Eren and Morcant.
"You" Said to him "Your shield must be an extension of your arm. Not a weight to lift. Think that, instead catching your opponent's blade, you will deflect it. You can also use it to bash them. If you're serious about using a shield to combat, think of it as a tool to mark the pace of the battle. Nothing should be off your pressure. If someone tries to get to your teammates, you have to block them in every sense. If they try to push you, bash them back and make space"
Morcant's eyes were locked on his shield.
"Eren" She turned to Eren "Flow with the battle. Don't be as stiff. It's wood, but if they hit you it will hurt anyways. This is training for actual battles, find their weak spots and openings, exploit them, don't give him time to breath unless you're in direct harms way. If the opponent is quicker, step to the sides, to the back, attack from above and below. Force them to step back, gain terrain, make their arms shake and their resolution break"
Eren nodded, a bit thoughtful.
Few eyes turned back.
Not every day someone offered that kind of advice to new mercenaries.
Few veterans could be seen nodding despite not turning back to see the advice.
Eren and Morcant restarted their positions, taking their stances.
This time Morcant did not rush. His shield moved first, not to catch, but to nudge Eren's blade aside, testing her balance. The axe followed only after the opening was made.
Eren did not meet him head on. She stepped to the side as Shion said, letting the shield glance past her shoulder instead of striking it. Wood scraped wood. Deflected. Not blocked.
Morcant tried to press, pushing forward with the shield. Remembering the advice, he bashed instead of leaning, forcing space and setting the pace.
Eren gave ground, but deliberately. One step back, then a pivot. His axe cut air where she had been.
She struck low, not hard, but fast. A tap against his thigh. He turned to face her, arms already working harder than before.
Morcant adjusted, shield snapping sideways to intercept her next strike instead of absorbing it. The deflection opened a narrow line for his axe, and this time the swing was controlled.
Eren barely caught it, the impact jolting through her grip.
They moved now, not stiff, not frozen, circling, pressing, yielding.
No one locked.
No one stalled.
And for the first time, it looked like a fight.
The veterans who had been criticizing earlier now nodded in quiet approval.
The nostalgic looks turned to interest.
Those who had returned to their drills found themselves smiling as the sound of wood striking wood gained rhythm.
Few mercenaries adjusted that quickly.
They were not talented — they were trying.
And only one had guided them.
Eyes drifted to Shion.
An orcish mercenary speaking of pressure, pace, terrain. Calm and exact.
It did not fit the stories people liked to tell.
The fight accelerated.
Eren tested the shield with quick, irritating taps of her blade.
Morcant answered by stepping into her space, shield thrusting forward, axe ready to follow.
Every push demanded a response.
On one committed swing, his axe arm extended too far.
Eren struck sharp, precise against his forearm.
The wooden axe slipped from his grip and hit the ground.
The opening was absolute.
But she froze.
Training held her hand still. Guards did not strike the unarmed.
The pause lasted less than a heartbeat.
Then she moved.
Her blade stopped inches from his face.
Silence.
"I lost," Morcant said.
This time the approval was real. Not loud, but certain.
A few claps. Several nods.
Respect.
They bowed lightly and stepped away.
Eren returned the wooden sword to the rack.
"Thank you, Shion. That helped."
Shion shrugged. "You adjusted. That's yours."
They left the grounds together, dust clinging to sweat, the morning already warming into day.
After their shower they returned to the association's building. The jobs were already posted. Few of them were already taken.
"What is it gonna be?" Eren asked.
"I don't know, probably something outside the walls" Shion was scanning the jobs.
Few guarding jobs.
Collecting herbs.
Collecting a debt.
Some unfortunate soul was going to be sent back to the gods.
But she found something else.
Disturbances reported along the south-eastern river road. Creatures harassing caravans entering Reka.
She pulled the slip from the board.
"We will take this job please" Shion gave the job posting to the clerk.
This round woman adjusted her glasses "Sure enough, I'll mark it as taken. Bring it back with some proof of completion" She marked it with a stamp.
Proof of completion.
"What kind of proof would be useful?" Eren asked.
"Depends mostly on what the creature or monster is. If it's a golem, bring the core. A treant, bring a branch. Wolves? Bring an ear. Doesn't need to be big, just to match whatever has been reported in the area"
Eren nodded slowly.
Seems reasonable enough.
Anyone could claim completion if no proof was shown. Even then, anyone can claim completion after a single kill.
If it was a pack creature, killing one would not end it. It would provoke the rest.
Probably its fair to ask one instead all of them. Even if it can be exploited.
Shion folded the contract and tucked it into her belt.
They stepped through Reka's east entrance, the river road stretching southeast. Quiet, green, and deceptively ordinary.