"Kenjii!" snapped the arms master. "What are you doing?"
Mustadio blinked and turned around. He had chenged his physical appearance, and as much of his personality as he could, but old habits died hard.
Mustadio had heard about Olan Durai being burnt at the stake because of his telling the truth of what happened with the Church with the Durai Scriptures. So, Mustadio had kept who he was a secret. His name, Kenjii, he took from a ninja who had joined Ramza's ranks, and died in battle.
He was not alone. Malak, a trained assassin with powers of the 'Hell Knight', was with him. Mustadio had found Malak lying, mortally wounded in the road, not far from where Mustadio found himself. So, using his second elixer (the first of which Mustadio used on himself), Malak was revived. Mustadio never got along to well with Malak, not they ever fought or anything, they just disagreed on their outlooks of life. However, Mustadio was glad to have someone he could be with. Ramza was dead, TG Cid was dead, and so was that metal giant, Steel Worker 7. Mustadio was sure many more were, too.
"Nothing, sir..." Mustadio mumbled, and slowly walked back into the ranks of men weilding a staff. He stood next to Malak, who's exotic hair style was the same, and picked up his own staff. The arms master nodded, then attacked the air with the staff, one move at a time. Each time the arms master struck out, so did everyone in the class. Mustadio was clumsy with the staff. He missed his Blaze Gun, a gun that fired magical lightning bullets. He was comfortable with a gun in hand, not a stick of wood. Malak, however, was very skilled with his staff, as he already was master of the weapon.
Hours of the 'practice' went on. Mustadio was dripping with sweat when the class was dismissed, and learned nothing of the staff or how to use it. A waste of time.
"Maybe so," said Malak, leaning against his staff, the Gokuu Rod. "But it gives us something to do to blend in. Maybe if we become soldiers, it will be easier for us."
Mustadio was unaware that he had spoken that last part until Malak responded. "Shh!" Mustadio hissed. "Don't want anyone to hear!"
Malak shrugged.
"We have to get out of here!" said Mustadio. "We can't stay here, he have to seach for the others. Like Agrias and Rafa!"
Malak winced. Rafa was his sister, another assassin trained in the arts of 'Heavenly Knight'. They counteracted each other very sharply. But he caught himself with a grin. "I think you have a crush on Agrias, Must... um, Kenjii."
Mustadio blushed hard. "I do not!! I just think her strength will be god to have!" Mustadio thought it was kind of childish to not admit that, but it was a bit embarassing.
Malak laughed. "Ah, well. Your secret is safe with me, Kenj. Come one, let's go."
Mustadio shrugged and tossed aside his staff, one he had borrowed. Unlike Malak, Mustadio carried no weapons accept his gun, and not always because it was a one of a kind weapon, that Mustadio didn't want everyone finding on him. That could lead to uncomfortable questions.
Mustadio followed Malak to the door, when a single word between two soldiers talking caught his ear. 'Ramza'.
Malak heard, too. "What was that?" he asked.
One of the soldiers glanced at Malak, a bit surprised. "Um, well, there has been a reported sighting on the heretic Ramza. We were planning on going out and trying to bring him in for some gil!"
Mustadio's eyes widened in surprise. Then he shook his head. "No, you're not!"
The other soldier smirked. "And why not?"
Mustadio faltered, unkowing of what to say, but Malak came to his rescue. "Because we are!"
The second soldier laughed, a mocking laugh. "Yeah, whatever. Maybe you can, Han," that was Malak's new name, "cause I've seen you with that staff. You're good. Your loser friend here," he jerked a thumb towards Mustadio. "sucks. I suggest you screw him and come with us!"
Malak scowled, then shoved the soldier to the ground. "He's my friend!!"
Mustadio stepped in front of Malak, and put an arm out to block Malak. "Let it rest, Han. We'll find Ramza."
* * *
"Why did you stop me?" asked Malak in their dorm room. Mustadio was going through his pack until he found the Blaze Gun. He shoved it in his jacket.
"I didn't want to fight. Besides, it would be unfair. I can't fight without a gun, and that wuold make those two against you. You're good, but not invincible."
Malak persued. "But all it would take is one Diamon Back-"
"NO!" said Mustadio, flinging a hand out to the side. "You have no magic, and I hate machinery. I'm not Mustadio, I'm Kenjii! And you're Han, not Malak! We-"
"Are the heretics allies?" asked the arms master, stepping into the dorm room, arms folded. Mustadio recognized the two soldiers behind him as those that he and Malak had quarelled with earlier.
"You are Mustadio and Malak?" repeated the arms master. "You don't fit the description, Kenjii. Han, or Malak, does, however, and that's good enough."
Mustadio took out his gun and aimed it at the arms master's chest. He was far away enough to make a good shot.
"Let us pass," said Mustadio. "We have to visit out friend."
The arms master laughed. "You mean the heretic Ramza? No, you die as heretics, too!" The arms master snapped his fingers. Instantly, the large dorm room was occupied by one oracle, a mage, and a preist.
"You have been charged with heresy. Do you plead guilty or not?"
Mustadio answered by firing arms master in the leg. Leg aim, a way of immobilizing his foes. Instantly, the two soldiers and the oracl surged forwards. The mage and preist charged spells.
Soon, the mage fell dead, and the priest, with his arms shot, could perform no longer do any magic. Malak was fighting vicously with his staff.
"Use your magic!!" yelled Mustadio. Malak nodded and leapt back. He threw his arms in the air and waited a moment. Then, a burst of yellow light flashed where one of the soldiers stood, and was knocked back. Several more flashes his unoccupied areas, and one more hit the same solder, killing him. Mustadio fired several shots at the solders. The damage was no more bullets, as they hit, lightning magic erupted from the magic bullets.
With Malak's Hell Knight magic, and Mustadio's sniping, the room soon was dead but for the two. They exchanged glances.
"I guess... I guess we have to go look for Ramza now, too? Then for Rafa, and Agrias, and anyone else," said Mustadio.
Malak let the Agrias joke die on his lips. "Yeah... I guess so..."
Mustadio ran over to the bathroom. "First off," he said. "I'm washing this dye out of my hair!"