The room smelled of sweat, wood, and leather. It wasn’t an unpleasant odor, but it was powerful: the mingled scent of countless students who came to this practice hall. Today, Nihka was one of those students, and soon the sweat dripping from her body would leave her own mark on the room. Not to say that she had never been here before, she had been taking self-defense lessons from one of the members in late evenings, but this was her first visit as a true pugilist.
Nihka made no attempt to hide that she was legally registered with the Adventurer’s guild, though few would ever guess. She spent most of her time researching Alchemy, tending to the estate, or gathering botanicals. She didn’t match the typical image of a brazen youth gallivanting about Eorzea in search of danger and excitement (and money). She preferred the more tame pursuits but circumstances had worked against her. Thankfully, being an adventurer meant she had the right to sign up with any of the various guilds throughout the city states.
Every single Guild of the Hand had her name on their books, as did those of the Land (but the less said of the fishing fiasco the better). She had taken lessons at every Guild of Magic, as well, but the Disciples of War were all foreign to her. Marauders were of a whirlwind of destruction, she did not want that. She couldn’t bear the thought of all the heavy, bulky armor that gladiators wore. Archery felt right, but it had never been her strong suit even when first learning to hunt. The lancer’s guild bore too many painful memories to even bother stepping into. It was the pugilist guild that drew her attention as she watched lithe warriors fight with little more than hand and foot, their steps flowing like a dance.
She hated fighting and she hated hurting anyone, but to protect her daughter, to protect her beloved, and to protect those she would call family she would fight.
Since the visit to the conjurer with Anstarra....
Her first lesson began at the fourteenth bell, and she stepped into the room in loose pants bound around the calves and a comfortable, tight top. All around were other students, members of the guild, and a young midlander approached, catching his breath. Nihka glanced up at him through her hair. He had olive skin, green eyes, and black hair cropped short against his head.
“I haven’t seen you around here. Are you new?â€
Nihka shook her head, then shrugged.
“Oh?†He looked at her again, eyes narrowed; there was a moment before he nodded in understanding. “Oh! Night classes. I don’t see many keepers awake this ... umm... would you call it late? Early? Anyway. My name’s Saebald.â€
Nihka nodded.
“Do you talk?â€
“...Not... a lot...†She paused a moment before answering him, then delivered the line plainly, as it was the truth.
“Uh, right.†He glanced around awkwardly.
“Nihka,†Nihka said. The man looked to her and blinked.
“What?â€
She said her name again, pointing to herself. He seemed to understand her meaning that time.
“Well, Nikka, welcome to the guild.â€
“Ooh, a little black cat come to play? Hope it’s not too bright for you.†A pair of slit-eyed seekers sneered at Nihka, snickering to one another as they walked into the guild. They were both tan with ruddy hair and shared similar features, likely close sisters. Nihka turned to watch them as they set down bags and pulled on leather gloves.
“F*** off, you c**ts,†Saebald called out to them with a rude gesture. Nihka said nothing, looking elsewhere.
“Chasing tail again, Baldy?â€
“Ignore them, Nikka,†Saebald said as he placed a hand on Nihka’s shoulder. She flinched, and pulled away, turning to face Saebald’s hurt expression.
“What?â€
“..p..please... not touch....â€
The twin seekers burst out in laughter.
“Hey! I’m trying to help you, Nikka. You should be grateful.â€
“..Not help...â€
“Sure you do. Those bitches like causing trouble.†Saebald said. Nihka shook her head and pulled away when he tried once again to wrap his arm around her shoulder.
“.. take care self...â€
“He’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel, isn’t he,†one seeker said to the other, drawing Saebald’s attention (thankfully) away from Nihka.
“F*** you, U’lata.â€
“I’m U’tahla! She’s U’lahta.†She pointed to the identical seeker beside her.
“Knock it off, all of you!†An older elezen man shouted to the room, and everyone went silent. Nihka took advantage of this moment to put some distance between her and Saebald. He approached Nihka, and hooked his thumbs into his belt. Leaning in, he peered at her closely. She flinched, leaning back. “You must be the cat Archienne told me about. What sort of training do you have?â€
“Study alchemy.... study... arcanima....†Nihka stammered out. The seeker sisters snickered.
“Okay, I’ll be more specific. Do you have any training that might actually apply to fighting?â€
“...train.... ah... self-defense lesson... Archienne.....a..and.. study dance...â€
“A dancer? I knew it!†U’lahta whispered to U’tahla. The pair giggled to one another. Saebald smirked.
“Good,†their instructor said waving her off. “Assuming you do more than shimmy your hips for gil you might not be completely worthless. Let’s begin.â€
Nihka made no attempt to hide that she was legally registered with the Adventurer’s guild, though few would ever guess. She spent most of her time researching Alchemy, tending to the estate, or gathering botanicals. She didn’t match the typical image of a brazen youth gallivanting about Eorzea in search of danger and excitement (and money). She preferred the more tame pursuits but circumstances had worked against her. Thankfully, being an adventurer meant she had the right to sign up with any of the various guilds throughout the city states.
Every single Guild of the Hand had her name on their books, as did those of the Land (but the less said of the fishing fiasco the better). She had taken lessons at every Guild of Magic, as well, but the Disciples of War were all foreign to her. Marauders were of a whirlwind of destruction, she did not want that. She couldn’t bear the thought of all the heavy, bulky armor that gladiators wore. Archery felt right, but it had never been her strong suit even when first learning to hunt. The lancer’s guild bore too many painful memories to even bother stepping into. It was the pugilist guild that drew her attention as she watched lithe warriors fight with little more than hand and foot, their steps flowing like a dance.
She hated fighting and she hated hurting anyone, but to protect her daughter, to protect her beloved, and to protect those she would call family she would fight.
Since the visit to the conjurer with Anstarra....
Her first lesson began at the fourteenth bell, and she stepped into the room in loose pants bound around the calves and a comfortable, tight top. All around were other students, members of the guild, and a young midlander approached, catching his breath. Nihka glanced up at him through her hair. He had olive skin, green eyes, and black hair cropped short against his head.
“I haven’t seen you around here. Are you new?â€
Nihka shook her head, then shrugged.
“Oh?†He looked at her again, eyes narrowed; there was a moment before he nodded in understanding. “Oh! Night classes. I don’t see many keepers awake this ... umm... would you call it late? Early? Anyway. My name’s Saebald.â€
Nihka nodded.
“Do you talk?â€
“...Not... a lot...†She paused a moment before answering him, then delivered the line plainly, as it was the truth.
“Uh, right.†He glanced around awkwardly.
“Nihka,†Nihka said. The man looked to her and blinked.
“What?â€
She said her name again, pointing to herself. He seemed to understand her meaning that time.
“Well, Nikka, welcome to the guild.â€
“Ooh, a little black cat come to play? Hope it’s not too bright for you.†A pair of slit-eyed seekers sneered at Nihka, snickering to one another as they walked into the guild. They were both tan with ruddy hair and shared similar features, likely close sisters. Nihka turned to watch them as they set down bags and pulled on leather gloves.
“F*** off, you c**ts,†Saebald called out to them with a rude gesture. Nihka said nothing, looking elsewhere.
“Chasing tail again, Baldy?â€
“Ignore them, Nikka,†Saebald said as he placed a hand on Nihka’s shoulder. She flinched, and pulled away, turning to face Saebald’s hurt expression.
“What?â€
“..p..please... not touch....â€
The twin seekers burst out in laughter.
“Hey! I’m trying to help you, Nikka. You should be grateful.â€
“..Not help...â€
“Sure you do. Those bitches like causing trouble.†Saebald said. Nihka shook her head and pulled away when he tried once again to wrap his arm around her shoulder.
“.. take care self...â€
“He’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel, isn’t he,†one seeker said to the other, drawing Saebald’s attention (thankfully) away from Nihka.
“F*** you, U’lata.â€
“I’m U’tahla! She’s U’lahta.†She pointed to the identical seeker beside her.
“Knock it off, all of you!†An older elezen man shouted to the room, and everyone went silent. Nihka took advantage of this moment to put some distance between her and Saebald. He approached Nihka, and hooked his thumbs into his belt. Leaning in, he peered at her closely. She flinched, leaning back. “You must be the cat Archienne told me about. What sort of training do you have?â€
“Study alchemy.... study... arcanima....†Nihka stammered out. The seeker sisters snickered.
“Okay, I’ll be more specific. Do you have any training that might actually apply to fighting?â€
“...train.... ah... self-defense lesson... Archienne.....a..and.. study dance...â€
“A dancer? I knew it!†U’lahta whispered to U’tahla. The pair giggled to one another. Saebald smirked.
“Good,†their instructor said waving her off. “Assuming you do more than shimmy your hips for gil you might not be completely worthless. Let’s begin.â€
