Kaiden and Aridan followed General Janos out of the office. As they entered the reception area, Janos turned to his aide. “Alred, fetch me an arming sword,” he paused, glancing at Kaiden, “and a heater shield, I assume?”

Kaiden, puzzled by the specificity, furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

Janos stopped and faced him. “Your class – Knight – typically uses armaments like a heater shield and arming sword, though there are exceptions.” He explained with a matter-of-fact tone.

“Why does it matter what type of shield I use?” Kaiden questioned.

Kaiden cautiously took the dagger, focusing intently as he attempted to activate his Elemental Talons skills. To his dismay, nothing happened. A mix of confusion and frustration washed over him.

“But the system doesn’t mention any of this.” Kaiden protested, his voice edged with irritation.

“It’s fairly well documented what types of weapons and armour different classes can utilize,” Janos explained, patiently, sheathing the dagger back into his boot with a fluid motion. “Though I haven’t specifically come across a Dragon Knight, I’d surmise that your armaments would typically include an arming sword to longsword, heater shield, lance and specifically a rondel dagger. Additionally, your skills would likely be compatible up to heavy armour.”

Kaiden shot Aridan an accusing look. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” He complained.

Aridan shrugged, somewhat apologetically. “It’s such a basic concept, I honestly forgot.”

Kaiden looked at him speechless by the oversight.

Aridan ignored him, and confirmed to Janos, “Yes, his abilities have worked with an arming sword and heater shield before.”

The general nodded and turned back to his aide. “Alred, please fetch an arming sword and heater shield, and meet us at indoor training center one.”

Alred responded with a quick nod, turning briskly to carry out the orders. His swift steps echoed slightly as he departed.

As they walked to the training center, Kaiden noticed the curious glances from passing elves.

The training center itself was a remarkable structure, cleverly suspected between several massive trees, that served as its foundational supports. The interior was more spacious than Kaiden had anticipated, a vast hall that echoed with their footsteps. Despite its purpose, the hall was unexpectedly empty – no other elves were training, and surprisingly unlike some of his favorite books and movies there were no training dummies in sight, just the expansive unadorned floor.

Janos led Kaiden to the center of the room, his steps echoing authoritatively. He stopped and turned to face Kaiden with a scrutinizing look, his eyes flickered with a slight glow as he activated a skill. “Level 18, Impressive for someone your age,” he said, the corners of his mouth hinting at a smile.

“Um, how am I meant to face you, sir, I’m assuming you're quite strong?” Kaiden asked apprehensively.

“He’s level 87.” Aridan chimed in.

Kaiden blanched at the revelation. Apart from maybe the Dragonborn king, he’d never heard of anyone having such a high level.

“Don’t worry, I’ll adjust my strength to match yours,” The general said reassuringly. “I just want to get a feel for how strong you are and gauge your technique. The best way to do that is to see it for myself.”

Just then the general's aide, Alred arrived, handing Kaiden an arming sword and heater shield. Kaiden noticed the attendant rolling his eyes as he said, “Are you sure this isn’t just to avoid doing your paperwork, sir?”

“Bah, that paperwork can wait.” The general replied dismissively, as he waved Alred away.

Kaiden examined the arming sword. It looked plain but felt exceptionally well-balanced in his hands, clearly of superior quality compared to his previous weapon. He then equipped the shield, noting the dark wood, which he recognized from the Ashen Sorrel tree Aridan had mentioned. It featured a striking design – a black stripe at the top and the rest painted a vibrant forest green. The centerpiece was a raven, its wings spread wide as if swooping down on its prey.

“That’s the general's personal, heraldry” Alred explained, his voice carrying a note of reverence. “For where the raven flies, death is sure to follow.” With those ominous words, the aide departed, leaving Kaiden to face the general alone.

“Let’s get started.” The general said, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. He darted forward without waiting to see if Kaiden was ready. Reacting instinctively, Kaiden barely managed to interpose his shield between himself and the general. The thrust of Janos’s sword crashed into the top of his shield, pivoting it on his arm, and the hard edge clipped his chin, sending a flash of pain across his face as stars danced across his vision. “Don’t hide directly behind your shield,” the general chided, a stern note in his voice as he corrected Kaiden’s posture.

Kaiden readjusted his shield, holding it angled as instructed. The general charged again, delivering a powerful blow that buckled Kaiden’s arm. “Keep that elbow tucked in! Use your structure, not just your muscles!” Janos bellowed.

Before Kaiden could fully process the advice, the general swung again. This time the blow was aimed high, and Kaiden raised his shield to protect his head. However, the expected strike never landed on his shield; instead, the general manoeuvred briefly obscuring him from Kaiden’s sight. In that split second, something hard slammed into Kaiden’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He doubled over gasping for air and collapsed to his knees on the wooden floor of the training centre.

“How can you react to what your opponent is doing if you can’t see them?” the general criticized from above him.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Glaring up, Kaiden saw the general standing imposingly over him, a stern look on his face. “Come on, is this all you’ve got? Stand up.”

Gritting his teeth, Kaiden rose to his feet. The pain was nothing compared to what he had suffered in Gul’Gormeth; if the general thought this was enough to make him quit, he had another thing coming.

The general nodded approvingly and their one-sided duel continued. What are you a statue, use those legs,” The general roared again, nicking Kaiden’s front leg with the tip of his sword.

Kaiden could scarcely believe that the general was holding back. But he knew in reality that if the general was using his full strength, he would have been killed with the first blow. It wasn’t about power; the general’s mastery of combat was simply leagues above his own.

The training session intensified as the general relentlessly pressed Kaiden, each instruction punctuated by a powerful blow. “Activate some of your skills,” he demanded, pausing as Kaiden activated the Dragon Scales skill on his shield.

“Too slow.” The general critiqued sharply as his sword thudded against the shield, sending Kaiden staggering back from the force.

“Again,” he commanded.

Kaiden tried again and again, each attempt slightly quicker, as he tried to sync his skills with the generals strikes. It was difficult to do as he simultaneously tried to absorb the blows with the correct technique.

“You’re wasting too much mana,” the general observed. “Activate your skill at the point of impact and then deactivate it.”

The duel was gruelling. Kaiden gasped for breath, his muscles screaming in protest, as he desperately tried to adjust his technique. The general's commands cut through the air, each word sharp and precise, driving Kaiden to push his limits. He struggled to keep up with the relentless rhythm the general set, his blade a constant threat that forced Kaiden to adapt or fail.

He attempted to cast Dragon Scales again, but the skill flickered out. The room seemed to tilt as exhaustion and mana fatigue took their toll, blurring his vision.

Despite the exhaustion, the general’s words echoed in his mind, pushing him to his limits. “Don’t stop! Your enemy isn’t going to go easy on you,” Janos bellowed, each word a hammer driving Kaiden to keep his shield raised and feet moving, even though they felt like lead.

Finally, the barrage of blows ceased and Kaiden’s legs buckled, sending him to his knees with a heavy thud. The taste of bile rose in his throat, and he spat, trying to clear the burning sensation.

He felt the general approach, his presence looking over him like a mountain. Blurred lines sharpened slightly as Kaiden looked up, meeting the general's assessing gaze.

“Your technique is almost non-existent and your skill activation is sloppy, but you listened to instructions well, and you didn’t give up,” Janos stated, his voice firm yet not unkind. “We’ve got a lot to work on, but we’ll make a real warrior out of you yet.”

Kaiden’s spirit, though battered, ignited with a spark of resolve. This duel had not only highlighted his current shortcomings; it had shown him a path forward to power. As he knelt there, sweat-soaked and breathless something within him shifted, a desire to rise above his limits and meet the challenge. His pain was temporary, but the opportunity to grow under the tutelage of such an experienced warrior was invaluable.

Alred approached the general with a slight urgency in his step. “Sir, remember you have that appointment in five minutes. We need to leave now or we’ll be late.”

General Janos Everclear responded with a grunt, his displeasure evident. “Rest up for now Kaiden. We’ll start the real training tomorrow. Oh, and feel free to keep the sword and shield, better to be in the hands of a warrior than sitting in an armoury.” His voice carried across the room as he turned to leave.

Kaiden continued to kneel on the ground gasping for breath. As Janos disappeared from view, Aridan walked over, extending a towel to him. Kaiden grabbed it, wiping the sweat from his face.

“Your dad’s a monster,” Kaiden said between breaths, “he didn’t even activate a single skill.”

Aridan gave a knowing smile, helping Kaiden to his feet. “He is known as one of the Federation's strongest warriors,” He replied a hint of pride in his voice.

“He certainly knows how to push someone,” Kaiden said as he looked at his skills:

Skills

Name

Rank

Dragon Blood

9

Dragon Scales

11

Elemental Talons

6

Elder Dragon

1

Dragon scales had advanced to rank 11 the beginning of the apprentice ranks which was between rank 11 and 25, promising enhanced defence and more efficient mana consumption.

“He’s actually very particular who he trains personally,” Aridan said.

As they stepped outside, the fresh air was cold against his sweat-soaked skin and clothes.

“You definitely need a bath,” Aridan said.

“Yeah, a bath sounds perfect right now,” he agreed, feeling the weight of the training session in every step.

As they left the garrison, a silence settled over them, broken only by the distant chatter of elves and the rustling leaves. Eventually, Aridan spoke, his voice heavy with uncertainty, “Maybe I should still come with you.”

Kaiden let out a deep sigh, feeling like a weight was settled on his chest. He couldn’t let his friend ruin his life for him, not after he’d only just gotten it back. “Even if you could leave, Aridan, where would we go? Living on the fringes of society, known as a deserter, isn’t the life we fought for. Your family thought you were dead for three years. You owe it to them – and yourself – to reconnect,” he reasoned.

Aridan nodded, visibly reassured by Kaiden’s words. After a pause, he asked, “What will you do in the meantime?”

“I’m not sure,” Kaiden admitted, his tone contemplative. “I suppose I’ll need to find some work, there’s still a lot I need to learn. You mentioned an adventurer’s guild, maybe I can sign up. Who knows next time you see me I could be a famous adventurer.” Kaiden joked.

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Aridan responded thoughtfully. “You’ll earn gold, and it will help you level and get stronger, something I believe you wanted.”

Kaiden nodded in agreement.

“Before you do that though, I do have a recommendation.” Aridan continued. “Instead of joining the guild straight away, there are a few academies in the Human Empire, where you could spend a year or two. You’d learn a lot, hone your skills, importantly maybe meet a few trustworthy companions to join the guild with. It’s still a dangerous profession, and you’ll need allies to watch your back and cover your weaknesses.” He advised.

Kaiden’s interest grew as he considered the idea. “Are those academies expensive?” he asked.

“Well, yes,” Aridan admitted “but I think we can manage. I’ve saved up a bit; it should be enough to cover your first year.”

“I can’t take all your money.” Kaiden protested, feeling uneasy about accepting such a large amount.

Aridan shook his head, his decision firm. “Don’t worry about it,” he insisted, clearly not willing to take no for an answer. “Just make sure you keep in touch,” Aridan added.

“Of course,” Kaiden promised.

Aridan clapped him on the shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. “Just give me two years, and we’ll be fighting side by side again. Who knows maybe by then you might be able to keep up with me.”

Kaiden returned the grin. “Keep up? By the time we meet again, you’ll be the one trying to keep up with me.” He countered.

With the setting sun casting long shadows through the towering trees, Kaiden and Aridan walked away from the garrison, their spirits buoyed by the bonds of friendship.