Chapter 35: Other opportunities
Pixel had listened to them talk and when they had finished, she asked. "If it is not too much trouble.. could I ask for another favour?"
Rufus looked towards her and sigh. "It is not good to be too greedy. You have already received enough."
Baan laughed. "It is fine Rufus, so long as she does not make an excessive request then I should be able to help. The youths are the future of Zou after all."
Pixel cleared her throat and then asked. "Is it possible to get a couple more recommendations for to train with one of the Dukes? Although I will be quite busy with training and my duties, my mother and those close to me will be left quite idle without a strong backing. I do not wish to let them all fall too far behind when I may heed their support in the future."
Baan studied her and then smiled. "So you wish to use this chance to build yourself a team of your own? Why should I help you do so when there is already enough stability in Zou?"
Pixel then stated seriously. "You have said that the youths are Zou's future and I believe that it is only right that not just myself should be given the chance to help build that future. It would be unfair for me to take this opportunity alone even if I have gained it in some way. Others may be just as deserving of this chance but their talents may go unnoticed.
I have a couple of friends that each have their own potential and styles but without me saying so, they may only ever be able to receive my own support that has been given so their future may be limited. I am asking for them but also for those that are deserving of such help."
Baan nodded as he looked serious. "Indeed, the talents of Zou are many but while there are more opportunities with those two around, there are still those that have been missed. People from smaller families or those that are less fortunate than most will most likely fall far behind and have more difficulty making a living for themselves.
I hear that you had chosen to use your place for an assistant or study partner and had given it to someone that was not from a noble or rich family.Most would have used that chance to gain a supporter from a family that could be useful to them in the future but you chose differently. Fine then, I will accept your request but you need to tell me more about them."
Pixel showed a look of happiness for a moment before she started to explain. "Harley is a Fennec and has excellent talent with the sword, she has been trained by my personal guard who says that her talents are very high.
Liquorice who is a sheep is more suited to a tackling and grappling style while Misty has excellent climbing abilities and has long arms, hook shaped claws which are very dangerous. While they have improved a lot under me, there is still much room for improvement."
Baan showed a look of understanding and said. "Misty should join you as you join the Night Guards. Harley can join the Musketeers as she will benefit from learning from them but leave Liquorice to me."
When he mentioned Liquorice, he showed a look of excitement in his eyes due to their similar species. "Although she can learn a lot through the Night Guards, it would be best that she learn from me personally."
Baan then added. "Your mother will probably be kept busy by her household duties but it would be good if she could find the time to train with you and participate in the Night Guard's activities. If she stays weaker than most then she could become a big weakness for you. Those that cannot harm you and will not give up will have no other choice but to target those closest to you. Since she is a feline species, she is very suited to studying under Cat Viper.
That personal guard of yours will need go improve himself too if he wishes to be useful to you too so he can learn along with Harley. Even if he is too old, he can still improve upon himself and act as a mentor for those that may join you in the future."
Liquorice was best suited to study under him so that she could master his own electro techniques that utilised the large wooly fleece that is around his body to surround himself with more electro and static energy.
If she could master it properly then her tackling and grappling moves would show even greater improvement.
Pixel, Ash and Misty were more suited to more unorthodox styles of fighting that required better climbing and acrobatics so Cat Viper was the best teacher for them to let them develop their own style of combat.
Harley was someone that was most suited to the path of the sword so she would have to study under Duke Dogstorm within the Musketeers but old Swifty the raccoon could not be left behind as he had an equally important role.
Baan then thought of something that had previously been mentioned. "Then how would we deal with the ongoing problems within Zou that have been missed or ignored over the years?"
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