Dom was sat on a long antique, light brown table in a small banquet room. that was on the Yacht named the Shepherd. The group of eight students were sat on one side, including Stephen and Rosie, where as Dom, Jessica, Roger and Captain Kelly sat on the other. At the top of the table sat Annabel Howard, a silver folk in her hand as she picked up a small cut of a roast duck that she was eating. All of those at the table had a plate of high quality food and Dom was enjoying every bite of his meal.
"It will take us just over nine hours to arrive at the Isles of Britainy, we will then head towards the port, where you will be collected by carriage and taken to your destination." Annabel explained kindly, however as she spoke everyone listened intently. "We shall finish this meal, have a small chat about any questions or worries you may have and then you shall head to your cabins to sleep. Do you have anything to add Captain Kelly?"
"I do not Lady Howard, just that this is a great opportunity to ask questions that you may not get again from someone as central as yourself." Captain Kelly replied politely as he put his cutlery down in expectation for questions from the group.
"Very well, please continue to eat everyone, but feel free to ask any questions." Annabel stated, also putting her fork down, her plate now empty of the juicy duck that she had been eating. Rather than asking anything first, Dom cut in to a vegetable on his plate that he hadn't eaten before, it was called a Bok Choy and he had found a new love for it, the crunch and flavour exploding in his mouth.
The first to speak was a slim male from the larger group, they were sat on the far end away from Annabel Howard, and had been a chatty and confident person throughout the journey so far. His excitement obvious when he began to ask his question.
"Lady Howard, when can we learn the sword techniques of the Hundred Peaks?" The slim male asked.
"Once you are deemed worthy." Annabel replied honestly, "You will be entered in to the Peak and tested, depending on how you perform depends on which Peak you are sent too and what techniques you will learn. I have heard that you like to use the Scimitar, however it may be worth trying something more mobile like a Rapier. Different Peaks practise different swords. You will have time to practice with many different types before you put yourself forwards for testing and your Peak chosen."
"The Rapier isn't my style." He replied, "The Scimitar allows me to be light footed, the Rapier isn't a weapon for battle."
"Pfft." Another voice said, struggling to maintain their frustration. Dom turned and saw that it was Rosie.
"Do you have something to add Miss Cole?" Annabel asked, turning to Rosie, whose face now went red in embarrassment.
"I am a Rapier user myself, the Rapier is meant for battle if you know how to use it." Rosie replied, showing pride in her weapon.
"I do not disagree, I have read about you in my notes, you are an agile and talented Swordswoman." Annabel agreed, "but you have a large mountain to climb if you want to succeed in the dreams you have laid out. A Rapier is a sword of skill and finesse, but if you were to fight against someone like Stephen here on a battlefield, you would be badly matched, so your precision is important. Are there any other questions?"
"Why are we separated from the other group?" Another male asked, this one had been a bit quieter, showing frustration at how Roger, and then Dom and Jessica had been treated better than himself. There was a bitter tone in his voice, and Dom understood it partially.
"That is a rude question to ask!" Captain Kelly replied sternly, staring the student down, who turned his eyes away and apologised.
"No, it is ok Captain Kelly, he has the right to ask his question." Annabel chided, "You are joining the Hundred Sword Peaks, the sect with the strictest and strongest swordsmen and swordswomen across the world. We train you to be the best, so you can help guard the peace of the world. Once you graduate, you will be a Peaks Swordsmen, joining one of our many Military Units around the world, or working as an important Guard for one of our key members. Like my Guards you have met who guard me. If you decide against those options, the doors open to you will be huge as long as you stick to the Peaks beliefs and ethics."
She paused for a second, whilst everyone put their forks down and listened to her, the words she was saying key to all of them. Some, like Stephen understood the multilayers to the Peaks as two of his older brothers had joined before, however not all of them new the full depth of what they had joined.
"The Peaks however have another purpose, from the moment you stepped on this Yacht, you have sworn yourself to the secrecy of the Peaks. Any leakage or betrayal will be dealt with swiftly and flawlessly." Annabel continued, as those in the room took a gulp of air. "The other primary task of the main Ninety Peaks is to guard those of the Ten Hidden Peaks. The Hidden Peaks train some of the best Leaders of the World, their Advisors and other key people. These three will be joining those Peaks. Therefore they are in a more prestigious part of the Peaks, you are a Warrior, they are the Leadership."
The one that asked the question looked at Dom, Roger and Jessica with a different look on his face now, mainly one of confusion and a lack of understanding at what Annabel had explained. Annabel looked at him with a slight glint of sympathy, before deciding to explain it in simpler terms.
"You are an exceptional swordsmen that has learnt the art of defence, you will most likely join the eighteenth Peak if you are successful. The muscular one beside you is adept at fighting with a great sword and standing on the front lines cutting through enemies, he'll most likely join the seventh peak." Annabel continued, talking about Stephen who seemed impressed with Annabel's knowledge. She then swung her arm in the direction of Dom and the others. "Mr Turner is an avid fan of History and is collating his knowledge on everything that he can, so that he can make himself in to an advisor of one of the many kingdoms. His ambition is to help his liege be the best, by learning from the past. Miss Moon is an intellectual with a mind that can make quick and complex calculations, she is a champion chess master and could manoeuvre the battlefield around you, again a future advisor that could help take a military nation forwards. Mr Lazarus is from a family of deep connections, similar to the Howards, his future was set from before his birth. He has studied at a prestigious military academy, his spear skills are better than some of your sword skills and he has strong tactical acumen, with a strong leaning towards a senior military role such as Miss Moon, but more leadership than strategic."
Dom sat there in silence as Annabel spoke, the words she said were all new to him. The words about his family name confused him, he knew his father had an important role before he betrayed the Western Kingdoms. He had little knowledge of any one that came before his father as his family was rarely discussed. He always felt his positive treatment such as the Academy he was sent to, was due his mother being a war Hero and successful general in her own right. Part of him wondered what grade she would be if she was an NPC in World Conquest Online, he suspected at least an A or a B+. He hoped whilst he was here he could learn more about his fathers family.
He was also surprised by the positive assessment she had off him, and everyone else in the room. She seemed to know important information on everyone who was attending and had shared a lot of key information about the Peaks and there world influence. She had no notes and it was clear she had read and researched every individual on her Yacht.
"If you perform well in your studies you will have more options available to you, all of the futures of every member of the Hundred Peaks is limitless, our key goal is to be our best selves so that we can protect our future and that of mankind." Annabel finished. "Any more questions?"
There was silence for a few seconds as everyone took in the information that she had shared, she hadn't explained anything in to much detail, but the bits she had showed that their choices to join the Hundred Peaks were correct. Dom had a few questions himself, but he didn't feel it was worth asking any of them right now. However, Roger didn't feel the same way.
"I have been reading how many of the Universities and other educational facilities are investing heavily in World Conquest Online headsets. Will these be part of the curriculum and if they are, how will they be incorporated?" Roger asked from his seat. All of those on the other side looked to Annabel with serious eyes, a question in the back of all of their minds.
"Yes they will be, I expect that you all either have played it or heard about it. If you haven't, you will be playing it soon." She replied with a slight smile. "For those studying in the Ninety Peaks, there will be some requests made of you so that you can progress further faster. These may be things such as attempting to meet up so that you can work as a team both in the game and reality. If you have the intention of being part of a specialised unit, we may task you with protecting key members who are playing the game."
"And us?" Roger questioned, keen to find out if he would have any instructions or could continue on his own.
"You will speak with your designated mentor, explain your current aims within the game and they will give you some advice. However, as long as you are doing something that pushes your studies here, then it will be accepted." Annabel explained, "You have more freedom, but with freedom comes responsibilities."
Roger nodded his head in thanks, and a few other minor questions were asked, mainly about the Ninety Peaks, such as the sleeping arrangements in the Peaks which were shared spaces initially, but private spaces when they progressed. There was also questions about if they could get their own special weapons forged, which they could if they achieved enough merits, however Annabel had advised against it until they were near the end of their studies and their bodies had fully developed through the intense training.
"I think it is now time to get some sleep." Captain Kelly informed them as the questions began to finish and Annabel had given him an eye signal. "I will direct you to your rooms."
.....
Dom had headed down the corridor, the ship rocking slightly as the waves were more aggressive now that the moon was fully up in the sky. He had followed Captain Kelly and had been directed to a small cabin with two bunk beds. Surprisingly he had been placed with both Roger and Stephen. He had expected to be put with Roger as the two of them were both part of the Hidden Sects, but due to all the conversations about segregation he hadn't expected Stephen to be placed with them.
"Top bunk is mine!" Stephen laughed as he climbed the small ladder to the bunk on the left side.
"I'll have this bottom one." Roger had agreed, taking the bottom bunk on the right side, leaving Dom with a choice of either Top or Bottom. Part of Dom had wanted the bottom bunk as well, the ship now rocking more and the fear of falling out was definitely in his mind. However, he didn't want to sleep underneath Stephen who was extremely muscular, the small chance of Stephen falling on him had put him off that idea.
"I'll stay above you then Roger, if that is ok?" Dom asked. Roger smiled and nodded his head as he began to undress and put on some clothes that had been placed on a table at the end of the small cabin. Each of them had a sleep set and a Uniform placed on the table, their names labelled clearly on them.
As the three of them got changed, ready to go to sleep, they had conversations about where they had come from. Stephen had come from the southern part of the Western Kingdom, originally from a small island south of the continent in the Balearic Sea, he had moved to the mainland when he was young and was from a family of Warriors who had thought in every war since the founding of the Western Kingdom. Roger was from the centre of the Western Kingdom and hadn't had a long journey to Maubeuge, his family had been there for generations and he had a more peaceful upbringing compared to the others.