“Form up!”

Caius had, as bold and firm as any King, gave the order to the recruits in the courtyard. After his visit to see how Noctis and his retinue were doing, Caius had taken an airship back to Torensten to continue working with Celes in restoring some semblance of order. But Caius’ heart was heavy. What he had learned in Provo…

He couldn’t understand it. It hurt him, pained him down to his very soul. But for now, he knew he needed to push it down. All of that hurt, all of that pain? Was nothing compared to what would happen to Zephon’s people if he wasn’t on his game. Caius had to be at his best, and so did the Dragonblades.

Cloud would be able to hear the noises from within the Rest, an inn that had been re-purposed for use as the mercenary unit’s base. It wasn’t exactly… Imposing, that’s for sure. It looked nothing like a mercenary’s fortress, and if not for the flags and sign that held their insignia, it might be easy to miss that it was their base altogether. But it was a good property in a well-populated part of town, and they had made good use of it. The interior was… Cozy. The phrase “for hearth and home” had been employed quite literally, and he could hear the crackling of a fireplace and the clanking of mugs in the next room over.

He would be greeted by a young woman of seeming eastern descent, who gave a warm smile at the sight of them.

“Welcome to the Wyvern’s Rest! Are you a client, or an aspiring mercenary?” came a deviation of her rehearsed line. Looking at the man, she wasn’t really sure. That giant sword did suggest the latter... Though she could almost swear she had heard about a sword like that somewhere...

Meanwhile, they could hear the clanging of blades, as Caius had challenged a group of recruits to take him on as a group. Caius phased past a swinging blade, before swinging an elbow back into the recruit to send them toppling forwards into another. Another swung, and Caius materialized his two-sided blade to slam its blunt into their leg with his free hand. Exercising control over his weapons with a blue glowing aura, Caius separated the two blades from within the center sheathe, sending them flying towards two more recruits that came at him at once. One recruit tripped over the leg of the other, and their off-balance allowed him to use the daggers to knock their swords out of their hands. Caius used the opening to leave his feet and dropkick them both in the face.

“Your coordination is lacking! Come at me again!” Caius barked at them calmly, but sternly. He was definitely more irritated than usual, the group of them could see that. But this at least kept his mind occupied. And it didn’t stop him from training them as Celes had. “If you’re tripping over each other, it weakens you as individuals. But a strong unit amplifies the strength of your individual attributes. The Dragonblades are as much a unit as it is a group of mercenaries, and against the threats that Zephon throws at us? If you can’t work together, you’re good as dead. Now – again!”

After Cloud had finished with the receptionist, Tomoe, he would arrive in the midst of the battle. The coordination of the men had improved, giving Caius a bit more of a challenge. This motivated Caius to utilize a bit more of his power, phasing past blows as though he weren't even tangible, before delivering quick shots with the blunt of a blade, an elbow or a foot. His movements grew more aggressive as he further pressured the men, rewarding their improvements by pushing them more. It was one thing to be coordinated, it was another to maintain that coordination in the face of a strong adversary.

Eventually, the men fell at his feet. Caius de-summoned his weapon and clasped his hands together. "That's enough. You've improved nicely," Caius praised the men, who had been grumbling about how all that of that had been for nothing at the time. While they had still lost, they had progressed, and Caius wanted to ensure they understood that. To motivate them to keep growing. "As your own abilities grow, don't lose sight of how to best work together with your allies. You are stronger together, and as your teamwork improves, the stronger the threats you can take on. If you want to keep Zephon safe -- or whichever motivation has brought you here today -- don't forget that. This job isn't easy, our reputation can bring plenty of jobs and gil... But they come with expectations, too. Keep at it, and I know you'll rise to meet them."

At some point in the battle, Caius had glimpsed the sight of an unknown combatant with a massive sword from the corner of his eye. He had decided to allow the lesson to finish first before greeting them, but he hadn't forgotten them either. As the hopefuls filed out to lick their wounds, Caius turned to face them. That weapon of his was fascinating... But hadn't he seen it before?

"What's your name, sir? How can I help you?"

Caius dusted off his attire when the man introduced himself, not wanting to look too much of a mess in front of a client if he could help it. Not much could be done about his hair, though, so he just smoothed it back for the time being. Caius wasn’t all that appearance conscious in general, but the kingsglaive understood very well the importance of being a consummate professional in this line of work. So the man was called Cloud… Where had he heard that before? It reminded him of the stories that Yuffie had told. He didn’t have a photographic memory of the entire tale, but he could almost swear he had heard of a Cloud. Worse yet, was that sword. It was a dead ringer for the one he had seen on the back of Angeal. And then there was those eyes… They were the same, weren’t they? The same as Angeal… And the same as Sephiroth. They had that same strange glow, which Caius had not yet identified the cause of.

Fortunately, a good poker face hid this concern. At least for now. The best thing he could do was gather information. Caius nodded at the explanation of his business here. So he wanted to join up? He didn’t look like the type to run with a group, if he was being honest. But he wasn’t one to turn down a potential recruit, especially one who could swing around a sword like that. Especially with all the threats that were now coming down on their heads. Still, he needed to be careful with his vetting, or risk having enemies on the inside.

“The Dragonblades are always open to new recruits. Of course, we’re not exactly your run of the mill mercenary guild, either” Caius brought up, as he would motion for Cloud to follow him while he made his way back inside. “Why don’t you tell me what you know of us? I’m interested in knowing more about your background, as well. I think a good working relationship starts with being upfront. I’ll grab us some drinks.”