“Again.”
The order was given and so I attacked, rushing forward, blade whirling shield launching upwards to block against the blow that was always going to come.
The ring of metal on wood echoed out as I deflected his blunt sparring sword and swung, and he did the same, the two of us falling into a flow, swords meeting shields as we circled each other, trying to find some weakness, some location to make a blow get through.
Then despite everything, I was tapped on my shoulder, retreating back, I hissed, rubbing the spot.
“That hurts you know.”
“I’m aware, the pain will remind you not to lower your guard.” Glaring at Zo’Talana, I had to admit for all he was a bitch, and he was a massive bitch, he was so fucking skilled it was absurd.
We’d been training for months now.
I’d gained tons of things, and yet, I still hadn’t caught up to him, although I think it was more because I just wasn’t fast enough, or strong enough. I refused to accept my smaller reach was a weakness though. Not because it wasn’t, it was honestly, it was a massive factor, but I needed to learn how to work around it anyways.
There were far too many giant monsters in Azeroth that I would fight. I would very often be the smaller combatant, so I simply had to learn to deal with it.
I took a few steps back and walked to the pitcher of fresh water that was left out for us, taking a moment to wipe my forehead, and catch my breath. I took a drink, and poured one for Zo’Talana who was walking over.
“You still beat me.”
“You are surprised by this?”
“I expected to be able to hit you at least.” I grumbled, but he took the water and drank it down.
“The day you hit me during this training child is the day I have embarrassed myself.”
“Come on, I’m pretty good.” I complained to him, and he shot me a sharp look.
“Do not humble yourself. You are more than good, as you well know.” He snapped, and I looked away feeling my face warm up a little.
It had been inevitable that my rate of improvement would be noted.
Day after day, constantly training with an elite swordsman, he had noticed in weeks that I was improving, and the fact I wasn’t stopping was a shock.
Thankfully everyone had seemed to accept that I was some sort of genius as an explanation, and that kept me from having to explain my system, or anything awkward like that.
But it meant that Zo’Talana had changed from treating me like an annoyance, to keeping a sharp eye on me day by day.
His training had ramped up if that was possible but it had become less just fighting me, and more actually training me. Well…
It still involved a lot of fighting.
Months of daily fighting had left an effect on me, and I wasn’t complaining. The changes were drastic.
Alah’Dorah
High Elf
Level 3 [10/300 XP]
Strength 16
Agility 16 +1
Stamina 18 +1
Intellect 10 +35
Spirit 12 +6
Skills Known:
[Swords Lv 36 128/360] [Expert]
-[Parry Lv 2 4/20]
-[Dual Wielding Lv 2/20]
-[Mana Enhancement lv 6 6/60]
[Shields Lv. 35 324/350] [Expert]
-[Block Lv 26 43/260]
-[Ambidextrous Lv 20 56/200]
-[Mana Block Lv 5 15/50]
I’d hit Expert in both of my weapon skills, and it had made a rather drastic change.
“Are you done for the day?” I was asked, almost mockingly, and I looked away from my stat screen that I’d been glancing over to glare at the old elf.
“Not on your life.”
He swaggered back to the middle of the yard and just waited, as I regathered my sword and shield. Take a breath to push mana into both of them.
Neither were all that useful.
Mana Enhancement, the skill I’d gained at Expert Swords, was really just a way to keep my sword from breaking when bashing it into strong materials. Apparently it was considered a bit of a joke of a skill from the elves that fought with blades, if you needed to reinforce your blade, just get a better one.
For me though, it was awesome. If I was out adventuring it wasn’t like I could just stop at a smith and repair my gear.
Mana Block basically did the same thing for my shield, although that was at least semi useful in a fight as well.
Both of my weapons enhanced, I charged in, and we began. A blow slammed into my shield, a straight thrust, meant to stop my charge, but I took it on the shield, the Mana Block adding an additional barrier, meaning the blow didn’t push me back like it had in the past.
That and my increased Block Skill.
The Shield skill was how good I was at having the shield in place for a hit, the Block skill was how much of that hit I could mitigate.
At least that’s basically how I understood the two skills working together, either way, it worked.
And the heavy thrust was only enough to slow me as I slipped in, and my sword began swinging again.
His shield interposed, the much larger tower shield, still a pain in the ass, but his response, a shield bash, was easily avoided. I blocked a second strike, a heavy chop that would have dropped me to my knees before, instead it was brushed off, slipping off my shield like it was barely felt, as I sliced up, aiming for his exposed wrist.
He twisted, his hilt catching my cut and trying to brush it away, his attempt to pull my blade from my hand, failed as I adjusted and bashed out, my shield slamming up wards into his sword knocking the sword out of place, and just as I shifted to stab forward, his shield sliced across, catching my blade and once more his entire body was hiding behind the heavy shield.
I caught the motion, not losing my balance, and disengaging a step, as his shield slammed forward hitting nothing.
Seriously the shield was twice my size, it was like trying to fight a door.
But I would have to. There would always be larger enemies, Orcs and Trolls would dwarf me.
Heh Dwarf.
No, focus.
I had caught my breath, so I moved back in, as he brought his shield back in after bashing it forward, I slammed into it with my own shield. If I was heavier it would have forced him back a step, but it also meant he couldn’t slide to the side as easily, and I shifted going around his left side, his sword was on the other side and his shield was out of place.
I swung in, then dodge, a kick lashed out to my legs, that I jumped over, I actually tumbled forward, which hurt a bit, but I came up and swung, but his sword was there. Catching me.
“Rolling on the ground like a troll again?”
“If it works!” I threw back in his face and pressed my attack, he’d shifted around all the way to block my strike, so he was out of position! His feet were out of place, and his shield askew!
And yet despite my charge and strikes, he was easily able to fend me off, and readjust until he was back on guard.
Our feet shifted on the field, shifting around each other, but no opening was revealed to me.
Damn stupid Zo’Talana and his stupid skill. He had height, age, and experience, and I had well, an incredibly fast improvement rate.
I once more breathed in, I was competitive, I didn’t like losing, and I didn’t like feeling like I couldn’t win, so it was a reminder that I could.
Not today, and not tomorrow.
I charged
But someday! I would overcome the difference between us!
“There you are.” Mama called out as I stumbled into the house, her look of concern making me wince.
“Sorry I’m late. We got a bit into it.”
“So you say every day.” Mama said, not at all pleased. “I gave you a rule.”
“To be home before dinner so I could wash up and eat it with everyone, yes Mama. Sorry Mama.”
“Hmm. I’ll let it go one more time, go get washed up.”
“Okay!” I offered, moving my tired legs to get me to the washroom so I could clean up and eat. We’d fallen into a routine. Most days I trained with Zo’Talana, only sometimes going to class, as everyone had thankfully agreed that the six months of training was worth focusing on.
But it meant most of my days were repeated over and over. Wake up, eat, get ready, train, eat lunch, provided by El’Tela, or sometimes run home. More training, home by dinner. Usually be super exhausted and ready for sleep.
I hadn’t even run the Guild in months. There was just no time or energy to do so after getting beaten up by Zo’Talana over and over.
I rushed out clean and ready to eat, and Mama sent me a smile as I raced into my chair.
“Oh hello, my Light, how was your day?” Papa asked, and I grinned, as I sent him a big grin,
“I’m getting better every day! I’ll beat him up someday!”
“That would be impressive. Zo'Talana is… Very skilled.”
“He’s stronger, and faster, and bigger… But I’ll beat him.” I said assuredly, and Papa smiled at my confidence.
“I look forward to seeing it.”
“Well, are you excited for tomorrow?”
“Huh, Tomorrow? What’s happening tomorrow?” I asked, and then perked up as Mama revealed the food! My favorite!
“You silly girl, it’s your birthday tomorrow. Did you forget?”
“Forget, I didn’t even know! Really?” I asked, perking up and Mama just laughed at me.
“So distracted she wasn’t even watching for the turn of the seasons.”
“Kinda hard when I’m fighting every day! But that’s awesome… I’m eleven.”
“Tomorrow you are.” Mama reminded me, and Papa smiled at me happily having heard what was being said.
“Happy birthday My Light.” He whispered to me, and I grinned, see Papa gets it!
“It’s not her birthday yet.”
“Hehe! Papa was the first to wish me Happy Birthday, this is why he’s my favorite!”
“It’s not your birthday yet!” Mama growled, and I just grinned as I leaned into Papa for a hug. Of course I gave Mama a big hug right after, it was one thing to tease her, and another to leave her thinking I didn’t love her a lot.
“Doooooraaaaaah!” I braced myself and caught the Dorah seeking, Kimi missile and spun her around as she slammed into me. “Hehehehe!”
Her giggles echoed out as I spun her around, and I noticed just how easy it felt to do so. I guess months of heavy training would make me stronger, even if the few points I’d gained didn’t really feel like much.
“Hey Kimi.”
“Dorah! Happy Birthday!” She cheered and I felt my smile stretching to match her as we both laughed.
“I’m glad I decided to hold this, Kimi would have dropped it.” The voice of Kimi’s mother behind me, had me turn as she carried in a small package.
“I understand, Dorah is the same way.” Mama offered, taking the package and bring the other woman inside, and I pouted at her.
No I wasn’t! I was very responsible! Mama just ignored my look, and Kimi soon pulled me away.
“Dorah! I haven’t seen you in forever!”
“Sorry Kimi.”
“Nooo, don’t be sorry just come over more! I want to show you all the birds, Doooorah!” Kimi whined and I just laughed. Despite being two years older than me, Kimi was still childish, but that was fine.
“Okay I’ll come over soon and you can show me all the birds you feed.”
“You better! There is this really beautiful Cardinal that’s been coming around.” She told me, and I just nodded, Kimi’s knowledge of the birds of the Eversong was getting surprisingly good.
Ma’Rika had happily taught Kimi all about the animals of Eversong.
“Girls don’t run off just yet!” Mama called out, as Kimi was trying to pull me out towards the back yard, but she instantly shifted her tugging towards the living area which had been set up for my little party.
I smiled at the streamers that hung from the rafters, Mama had made them. I laughed as Kimi made a noise of appreciation and instantly started running through the hanging streamers giggling, as I followed right after her.
Sometimes you just had to act your age, you know?
“Alright, that’s everything.” Mama called out, and I blinked realizing I’d been running around with Kimi for a while now. She sighed in almost relief, breathing heavily and sounding rather out of breath.
“‘Is not fair! You don’t get tired!” She huffed at me, and I just laughed, and reached over to poke her side.
“Maybe you just need a bit more exercise!”
“Hey!” She squealed at me, swiping at me, and then making like she was going to run but stopping. “I’m too tired.”
“Okay, come one, let’s sit and relax.” I told her, pulling her towards the seating around the table that now held a few packages. I grinned as they were gifts for me! We took a seat, and Mama already had some glasses of fruit juice placed out for us, and Kimi and I both dug in.
“Alright, since you girls are finished running around, how about we open some presents?”
“Yes!” I shouted because who didn’t want to open presents?
Mama smirked, and soon she gathered all the other adults together.
It wasn’t too many people.
Mama, Papa, and Kimi’s Mother. Not exactly a parade, but that’s just how birthdays were out here.
I don’t know if it was different in the capital or something, but birthdays were often small private events here. Not like there were a lot of kids to share it with anyways.
The first gift was of course Kimi’s which had her light up as I took the small paper wrapped parcel. It was a rectangle, not more than a foot across, so I carefully tore the paper and felt my smile grow as pigment caught my eye.
“Kimi.”
“I wanted to show you my birds.” She explained and I smiled at the little painting that she had no doubt hand done herself. The painting was of a tree, but it was covered in different birds, each colorful, sharing all the branches. No doubt it was more inspired than something she had seen, but it was wonderful.
“I love it Kimi, thank you.” I said, and then turned it around to show everyone and Mama made a happy noise at the sight while Papa just looked happy that I was happy.
I also got a nice scarf from Kimi’s mother, which looked lovely. It wasn’t like a winter scarf we didn’t have winter, but it was a light cloth scarf mostly just for looks.
Then Mama handed me a package wrapped in cloth, and I pulled it open to see a pair of bracers.
I gasped in delight, and looked them over before noticing they were archery bracers.
I sent Mama a smirk knowing what she was up to, and she returned it with her most faux innocent look.
“Ah, I got you this.” Papa offered, grabbing a book off the shelf, and Mama and I both rolled our eyes that he hadn’t wrapped it or anything, but as I took it from him, I looked at it curiously.
“The Enchanting Primer?”
“Hmm. It’s not something given to amateurs, that’s the book they offer at the Enchanting College, it took a bit of doing, and well… It was suggested to me anyway, but that was the one I used.”
I looked up at him in surprise, and then opened the book, and there printed in his hand, although a bit messier than I was used to was his name.
Not just his name, but his old name.
“Aran’Alah Arkhana’Shola.” I whispered, Papa’s teenaged scrawl and as I opened the book, it was even better. Little notes were written in the margin, something I’d seen him do even now.
“Is it… Was it a good choice?” He asked, a bit helplessly, and so I did the only thing I could and charged across the room and slammed into him in a big hug.
It was wonderful!
There were enchantments in the book! New ones! It probably even had the minor Mana enchantments!
“Oh, I guess you like it… That’s good.”
“I love it. Thank you Papa.”
“That’s good then.” He said, smiling and patting me on the head.
This was a great birthday.
“You are late.”
“Sorry.” I called out to Zo’Talana, I’d slept in a bit by accident this morning, having forgotten to set an alarm for the morning.
“Hmph. It matters not to me. After all, this time is bought and paid for, and there will be no more if you wish to waste it.”
“I said so-... I understand.” I offered instead of getting snappish back. He nodded as if he didn’t care.
He did. Or else he wouldn’t have critiqued me on it, but at the same time he often fell back on the ‘I don’t care about you, so do what you want.’ Response whenever I did something he didn’t like.
Talk about a difficult man to deal with.
“A decade and a year.” He said, surprising me as I was strapping on my shield.
“Yes.”
“You only have so many months of my training left. There will be no more after. Do you know what you will do?”
“Well. First I’ll have more time to finish other things. I’ve fallen behind on my magic training, and my enchanting, and other stuff. And then I’ll just keep improving until I’m ready to start my journey.”
“Yes… Your journey. A childish dream. To see what is beyond our lands, when there is nothing there to see. Miserable Humans, huddling in their huts, and trolls dismembering each other.”
“And far more than that.” I said, but I wasn’t going to argue with him. He had no interest beyond the capital. He was… Politically captured, I guess would be the term. To him, the only thing that mattered was the politics of the capital.
To me, they didn’t matter at all.
“Prepare yourself.” He demanded, and I did, shield up held correctly, sword bared, and posture correct.
Then we marched towards each other, the first blow of our swords ringing as a sword of handshake to begin.
He started swiftly as always, sword lashing out, then again, pushing me back.
“You have talent beyond this village, beyond the miserable lands beyond.”
“I like my village, and I want to see the world.”
“It would be a waste.”
“A waste?”
“Yes. Your talent is worthy of the capital. You aren’t a mewling child without a thought in your head. You carry the talent deserving to stand at the top of our people.”
“You mean playing politics, and making deals, no thanks.”
“I mean power, and the control to guide others. You could be a Spellbreaker. You are young, but I would bring you in as an apprentice. You would struggle at first, as the others are older, but you have more.” He riposted my strike, his sword arching out, and he nearly slammed his sword into the side of my head, but I leaned back.
“I wouldn’t mind learning how to be a Spellbreaker. It’d be a useful talent… When I travel to see the world.” I countered, slamming my shield forward, and pushing his sword and wrist into a bad position.
“Fool.” He kicked out, and I barely kept my shield up as it slammed into me, kicking me back. I scrambled but kept my feet.
“Maybe! But I’ll be a genius, or a fool, on my own terms!” I demanded, and rushed in again, a furious series of strikes that forced him to hunker behind his shield.
Then he surged forward, and I gasped as I realized he had done something.
Because the moment later my body hit the dirt, in a way I hadn’t experienced in a while. Rolling a bit I caught back to my feet and winced.
“Ow.” I probably had a busted nose from how hard his shield had just slammed into my face and body. “That’s cheating.”
“You are dead. Congratulations fool. That’s as far as you will get on your own terms.” He said solemnly, malice in his voice.
“That… Was it a spell? You moved faster.”
“Was it?” He responded and he sword raised, and I winced but got up, a quick heal which he let me do, and my nose stopped hurting, and I could focus on the fight.
“Teach me that.”
“A child that only wants to see Trolls and Humans, doesn’t need it.”
“That’s what you think.” I countered, there were far more dangerous things out there than Trolls and Humans.
His blade raised and I scowled, fine. I’ll just beat it out of you.
“It is what I know.”
“Talk to me again when we’re done, maybe I’ll change your mind!” I roared as I charged back in.