Zerial brought his hand up to grip his sword halfway up the blade, raising the blade slightly and deflecting the heavy overhead blow Sebastian had just launched. As Zerial moved Sebastian's axe blade out of position, he maneuvered the tip of his sword inward towards the center of their conflict and took a half step forward, launching his arms forward while rotating his hips. Sebastian quickly threw himself to the weaker side of the thrust, narrowly avoiding the blade as it quested violently for his life. Zerial recovered and advanced, dropping the hand and delivering a one handed rotation strike by rotating his right elbow and wrist, utilizing the momentum of the movement in addition to his arm muscles to snap his blade down and to the left.

Sebastian threw himself backwards and scrambled away from Zerial, who followed along mercilessly alternating swings between his left and right side utilizing the same motions. Sebastian back stepped a half step and let Zerial's swing go miss him by a hair before charging and gripping the axe near the head, punching out with his fist and slamming the edge of the axe into Zerial's face-plate. Zerial dropped like a puppet with it's strings cut and actually slid forward into Sebastian's shins from the forward momentum of his attacks. Sebastian recovered by front rolling over Zerial and popping back up, spinning around at the ready only to see that he had managed to ring Zerial's bell hard enough to end the fight.

"Good recovery Recruit Sebastian. Master Scholar Tika, if you would..." Roderick said from the side line where he had been watching. Although the weapons the two teenagers were utilizing were only wooden replica's with iron cores, they could still pack enough of a wallop to knock a recruit out or stun them heavily on occasion even through the protective gear everyone wore. Many bones and even more concussions had been suffered over the years of the Recruits training.

Tika revived Zerial rapidly, bringing him to full alertness and clearing the fog from his head with the Sacred Arts. Zerial thanked the man and stood up.

"Zerial, you had a decent control over that fight. Where did it go wrong?" asked Roderick.

"'Footwork Knight commander. I allowed Sebastian to get within my stance and the axe he is using is great for close quarters combat and my sword was disadvantaged against it," Zerial responded instantly. Roderick nodded thoughtfully. Truthfully this was the closest Zerial had ever gotten to defeating another recruit on purpose. Amongst all of the knight recruits, Zerial was easily the worst when it came to dueling an opponent, and one of the best when it came to logical reasoning and tasks requiring self-determination and follow-through. Being the worst martial recruit still made Zerial a deadly adversary.

Roderick however would not be pleased with anything other than absolute supremacy. In his mind all of these recruits would achieve a level of perfection that allowed them to fight at a razors edge against each other, coming away with as close to 50 percent victory on both sides as possible. With that in mind, Zerial ended up spending every single day fighting duel after duel after duel. It made for a recruit with outstanding endurance, as Zerial could now run other recruits into the ground during physical training. Zerial's primary issue was that he left glaring opening that either he was too offensive and left glaring openings that were mercilessly exploited, or he was too calculating and surrendered the initiative early on. Neither case allowed for Zerial to utilize his greatest advantages against the other duelist, which was a game of attrition.

Roderick and Tika both refused to point it out, believing that either Zerial would learn to become an offensive master, like Sebastian who was easily the best duelist amongst the recruits, or he would eventually have the lesson of an impenetrable defense hammered into his skull, where his endurance would finally shine.

"Alright, take a break and change weapons," Roderick called. Zerial handed his sword to Sebastian, accepting in return the bearded axe that Sebastian had just been using.

Tika considered the two recruit's in front of him as they rested - more for Sebastian's sake than Zerial who looked as fresh as a daisy thanks to the regenerative powers Tika used. Gone were the boyish frames and awkward gaits. Instead both of the teenagers sat on the cusp of manhood. Zerial stood at an even 6 feet tall and one hundred eight five pounds, already at thirteen years old, and promised to become a giant among men. Muscle was not common for thirteen-year-olds to develop in such a way but Zerial packed it on while maintaining a lithe and athletic build. The recruits had been taught that endurance and stamina trumped strength and agility in most cases they would face. Zerial glanced at Tika and his common brown eyes met Tika's purple-and-green iris's. Tika raised and eyebrow and Zariel bowed low, his bald head reflecting the sun.

Most people found it hard to maintain eye contact with a practitioner of the Sacred Arts, but Zerial never seemed to have such an issue. His subservience was one of respect, as pupil to master, and admiration for Tika, not fear. Tika turned his eyes on Sebastian, who leaned against a wall with his ice blue-eyes closed and his bald head resting gently against the stone of the training yard wall. Sebastian had also gone through a growth spurt and stood at roughly 5 feet 10 inches tall and a hundred and sixty pounds. The two were opposites in nearly everything except their friendship. Where Zerial was strong, had endurance, and methodical in his approach to everything Sebastian was lightning-fast with his moments, precise, and practiced a measured aggression that eroded defenses or abused gaps in someones defense.

"Alright, that's enough rest. Begin," Roderick called, and Zerial once again took the initiative to launch the first strike, a horizontal swipe, which was almost lazily deflected by Sebastian who followed rapidly with a back-stroke that would have hit Zerial in the neck had he not taken a short half step back before launching forward again. Sebastian recovered his strike and brought the sword he was using in close and center, it's edge always seeming to point at Zerial even when deflecting strikes. Sebastian seized the initiative from Zerial with a series of rapid alternating strikes made by swinging his blade to full extension and then rotating his wrists to that the blade passed left and right repeatedly, each strike forcing Zerial to deflect and hemming him in.

Roderick almost though Zerial would retreat under the onslaught was was surprised when Zerial suddenly rotated his axe head in his hand, catching the edge of Sebastian's practice blade and using the rip of the weapon to force the sword wide and out while taking a full step into Sebastian's guard and bringing his back leg up into a devastating knee to the gut. Roderick heard the breath gushout of Sebastian's lungs as the teen got forcibly bent over from the force of the strike, and knew that the fight had just ended. A millisecond later Zerial's elbow smashed into the back of Sebastian's helmet and knocked him face first into the dirt, where he immediately lost consciousness.

Zerial stepped back and looked to Roderick who nodded once - the most praise Zerial had ever received from the man during a dueling session. It was a well executed deflection but Zerial had done that before many times. What he primarily lacked in these instances was follow-through. By the ferocious gleam in Zerial's eyes, it seemed as if he had just finally internalized the wonder of stoke-and-counter-stroke combat. But Roderick also knew that Sebastian had not been taking things seriously, and it would be a very important lesson for him to learn to take every foe seriously.

A few minutes later and a furious Sebastian was fully recovered. Roderick ordered the next bout to begin and knew that Sebastian was about to annihilate Zerial's new-found confidence. The next bout lasted a total of fifteen seconds before Zerial was disarmed and smacked upside the head with the training weapon, knocking the recruit out cold...

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The Scriptorium

"Damn Seb, did you have to hit me so many times and so hard?" Zerial grumbled as they shuffled in Tameral. Acolyte Jordan and Acolyte Gwen followed behind them as the five of them took their customary seats. Sebastian shrugged sheepishly and admitted to himself that his pride had been stung by losing to Zerial. He wouldn't voice that aloud just yet, as he did not want to hurt his friends feelings and instead decided to disguise the truth for now.

"Well, you managed to beat me so I knew I had to take you seriously. You've grown a lot Zer," Sebastian said, and ruefully accepted the beaming smile from Zerial. Sebastian knew that the two weren't really that close in terms of combat ability, but just as Zerial didn't hold his intelligence over Sebastian's head, Sebastian would not hold his combat prowess over Zerial.

"Damn Seb, Zer actually managed to wipe you?" Tameral asked, "What happened? Did you have the flu?"

"Oh piss off Tameral," Zerial said as the other four children laughed. Tameral was a good generalist when it came to their studies. He performed equally in all aspects of their training it seemed and was probably the most well-rounded. Although running in the middle of the pack, Tameral was a favorite for squire hood due to his general competence and can-do personality. Each boy was looking to the future of squiredom as recruit training approached it's end. The boys were all within several days to several months of each other in terms of age, and at age 14 Roderick would be approached by any Hexenguard Knights interested in taking on and training a squire. It would be at this point that the boys would begin to shift away from the generalist learning they had undergone to specialize in an aspect of the chivalric orders.

"Wow, so you actually won on purpose this time?" Jordan asked, turning her pale-green eyes that had a hint of violet beginning to creep into them on Zerial, and he felt his heart skip a beat. Unusually colored eyes was a sign of a practitioner of the Sacred Arts. As Jordan was the primary disciple of Master Tika, she took after the aspect that Tika studied the most - an arcane focus. Other practitioners would have different high-lights in their eyes depending on the type of Sacred-Arts they practiced. Master Dorman, who had returned with Gerald and Theresa after the war in Dather ended, had gold and red highlights with a deeper-than-normal brown showing his preference for earth-and-fire magics.

"Oh man, is everyone going to rag on me now? I made progress damn it!" Zerial sighed heavily as his closest group of friends shared another laugh.

"That's how it goes Zer," Gwen replied with a saucy smile, "Can't let you get too big of a head as our future lord!"

The collective class of 43 students suddenly went from a low roar to a respectful silence as Master Scholar Tika and Master Dorman swept into the room.

"Good evening," Tika said to the class as he stepped up to the podium. "In a month you will all be sitting for examination's to gauge your worthiness of adopting the title Scholar. For those recruits among you, this will be our third time administering the test to the combat classes. This is to support Lord Hart's efforts to create a scholarly chivalric order. I happen to agree that having more intelligent Knights will be a good thing for the banneret. Recruits will be tested on worldly knowledge such as rents, tax-schemes, manorial management, warfare, diplomacy, and other topics. Your tests will be administered primarily by Master Dorman," Tika waved in Dorman's direction and the warmage offered them a shallow bow.

"The Acolytes among you will be tested by myself personally, and the examination will be a mixture of practical application, one-on-one questions, a group problem solving competition, and finally a questionnaire with open-ended questions to answer. The results of this examination will determine what type of Scholar you will become. This is one of the most important tests you will ever undertake, and those of you with eyes on a future as a Master-Scholar of Mage-Practitioner should take this very seriously, as the results of this test will establish future courses of study that you may select. The three best among you will be sent to the College of Magery and the Sacred Arts in Pervalia City," A collective intake of breath seemed to be smothered by an oppressive weight of the future bearing down on all of the young minds in the room. The recruits from the schools of combat were all 13. The scholars in the room ranged from 15 to 17 years in age.

"Today we will talk about possible results that are possible to see from the test in a one-on-one basis. The Recruits will follow Master Dorman and meet with a panel of Knights and Warmages to discuss their futures. The Scholars will remain, and I will call you one-by-one into my office to discuss your prospects and desires. Acolyte Jordan, you are first..."

The Office of the Master Scholar of Ad Astra Monastery

"Have a seat Jordan," Tika gestured to the chair across from his desk. This was not the first time Jordan had been in Tika's office, but still she was overawed to be in the lavishly appointed room. A massive mage-glass window took up the western-most wall, split into three panes and capped in graceful arches, covered by beautiful emerald-and-purple drapes. The desk was a rich walnut shot-through with emerald, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst stone - a petrified tree that had been revived and turned into a desk. The two other walls opposite the window and doorway respectively held a massive series of gold-lined walnut shelves, bursting with the richly decorated spines of volume after volume of knowledge ranging from manorial management tactics to esoteric studies on the Sacred Arts. In the corner of the room sat a globe-and-astrolabe machine combination that depicted the world and spun on an axis. A telescope sat facing the massive windows, and the entire room was lit with a series of permanent-mage lights.

"You are perhaps my most promising disciple, which was why I selected you in the first place. Your fascination with Zerial aside, you are well disposed to the study of the esoteric arts. But it is your young flirtations with Zerial that present a problem," Jordan had gone bright red at being called out so easily by her master, but dared not refute him. Her? Like Zerial?!... Well maybe a little... all those muscles...

"Focus Jordan," Tika said sternly, reminded of his daughter who seemed to be chasing Gerald. Both women were doomed to disappointment. The nobility could not marry practitioners of the Sacred Arts because of the laws against mages playing politics. "I am sorry to say that you will have to set Zerial out of your mind," Jordan nodded sadly. It was just an idle fascination with a childhood friend. Tika knew - hoped - she would grow out of the infatuation. "As for your prospects... It depends, obviously, on the final results of your examinations. But I do not see that being an issue, and the path is wide open for you. I would like to offer you a permanent position as my only disciple. I will continue to teach your general subjects and broaden your knowledge of the world as normal and in a normal setting with others who remain. But when it comes to the Sacred Arts you would have my undivided attention and tutelage," Tika said these things offhandedly, as if everyone received a personal invitation from an archmage.

"Or," Tika continued, already knowing from how Jordan practically vibrated with excitement the answer she would give, "You can go directly to the college in the capital city and continue your studies there under the faculty, they ar-"

"I choose to stay here," Jordan practically shouted, interrupting Tika who just looked at her with an arched eyebrow. She went bright red and suddenly went as mute as a stone.

"Very well.. We will discuss your future later, after the tests. For now, focus on your course of study. You have chosen the best path, I believe, as eventually I will send you to the college either way," Tika waved his hand and dismissed Jordan, asking her to send in the next scholar candidate.

Office of the Domain Warmage, the Scriptorium, the Monastery

"Zerial, your choices are pretty much already made. You won't have much of an issue with the examination, and with a little more focus on your martial training you should pass the practical applications easily enough. But unlike the other recruits who will have to be recruited by Knights willing to squire them, you will squire directly with Knight Commander Roderick per the request of your father Lord Hart," Zerial liked this choice just fine, as he looked up to Roderick as his personal example of the epitome of a knight. "However your squiredom will not be a normal one. In addition to Knight Commander Roderick, you will also receive instruction from Lord Hart himself, and eventually you will go spend a year with Count Murdet and his son Lord Daniel Murdet as their personal page, in addition to continuing your education with Master Scholar Tika and myself" Dorman informed Zerial.

Zerial stood at attention facing Knight Commander Roderick, Master Dorman, and Lieutenant Miller, who had been promoted from sergeant after leading a force of men-at-arms to put down an orc incursion in the western marches alongside Lord Daniel Murdet.

"Do you understand?" Roderick asked.

"Yes Sir," Zerial responded.

"Very well, send in Sebastian. You are dismissed," Dorman said and the trio stood to return Zerial's salute before the teen turned smartly on his heel and exited the room.