Animator vs Animation: The Dark Web

Chapter 11: The Officials (Part 1)

Yellow felt an odd sense of kinship and comfort coming from Lemon. He tilted his head at her, the feeling unfamiliar to him.

The Officials and the Color Gang finally reached the outside of the hideout, the landscape hilly and dimmed in the light. The terrain wasn't exactly ideal for training, but it would do. The Officials led the Color Gang to the middle of the hilly landscape, where they settled in a flat, open area. Mountain Mist stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the group.

"You know what to do from here," Mountain Mist asserted, turning her head to the Officials. "Remember, precision, strength, and unwavering focus defines the Codeborn." She then turned to the Color Gang. "And you four, don't fool around. Disrespect towards your Officials will not be tolerated. Is that understood?"

The Color Gang hastily nodded, remaining steady until Mountain Mist's gaze shifted away from them. She was terrifying, they had to admit, but none of them dared to show that fear. Mountain Mist sharply waved her hand at them, signalling for the training to begin. The group dispersed, the Color Gang trailing behind their corresponding Officials.

Wisteria and Red stayed put in their spot, with Wisteria stretching his arms while Red slouched. It almost seemed as if the Official was mocking Red's laziness, which made Red cross his arms in defiance. Wisteria crouched slightly, clenching his fists as his stern gaze fixed on Red.

"Lesson one, Red," he began, his tone with a sarcastic edge on Red's mind. "You're going to need to learn strength and precision, which I'm guessing seems foreign to you just as discipline is. But maybe, I might as well try to cure that case of laziness of yours. Hence..."

Without a moment's hesitation, Wisteria dashed forward with a speed that blurred the distance between them. Red flinched, barely having any time to react, and he dodged his strike just mere inches away. He stumbled into the dirt, shaking his head and dusting off dirt off his cloak. Despite the sudden attack, he still moved as if he wasn't taking any of it seriously. Red shook his head and pushed himself up as Wisteria approached him with his hands tucked behind his back.

"And in your world, everyone says you're the mighty Red who always strikes first. How disappointing to see one who is supposed to embody such confidence act this way..." Wisteria said with a remote tone, a sarcasm that dripped down onto Red like rain. "Try again. This time, try to strike me."

Red, still recovering from the fall, shook his head before he launched himself forward. But unlike Wisteria's definite speed, he was slow and predictable, something that looked to be clumsy and embarrassingly obvious. Wisteria stepped to the side effortlessly, pivoting with grace as Red stumbled once more, almost tripping over his feet.

Wisteria audibly sighed in Red's mind as he approached his trainee, shaking his head in disappointment. "Was that all your effort? I would suggest trying again, but at this rate, I would already be retiring by the time you land the faintest scratch on me." He gestured to Red, but his relaxed posture did not falter. "We can go back to the basics, no shame in that. If, of course, the basics aren't too advanced for you already."

Red stiffened in disobedience, already tired of Wisteria taking the advantage. But a feeling tugged him in his training; perhaps it was intentional. Wisteria was an Official, an all-mighty powerful enforcer in the Codeborn under the leader. Red, in comparison, was just a dull Follower. He stumbled up, nodding his head reluctantly, and stepped forward to Wisteria.

"At least under all those covers of laziness, there's at least a hint of reluctance within you that allows you to listen. Now, let's see if you can keep up." Wisteria crouched and clenched his fists once more, assembling for another strike. This time, Red prepared himself, but his lethargy kept him from moving.