Klarion pushed aside the covers that had wrapped around his body overnight. As soon as they fell away, he felt the lightest touch of the brisk early morning air. He shivered. The warmth of the covers was nice, and he almost sank back into them given how stiff his muscles were from the previous day, but the smell of cooking bacon and eggs drifted in through the opening of the tent.
Getting up, he fixed his disheveled hair as best he could, then left the tent. The clearing was much the same as it had been last night. Safe, secure, and hemmed in by trees all around. Honestly, he should have expected that. The impression he got from Alesin and Rolfun was extreme competency, especially after both had saved his life yesterday. They wouldn’t have set up a campsite in a location that was at risk of being disturbed. Another thing he would possibly have to learn.
Klarion still did not have a clear idea on what to expect regarding the Imperial Academy. He set aside those thoughts for now, as the smell of cooking breakfast was too much to ignore at the moment. Alesin was bent over the firepit, carefully flipping bacon next to at least a dozen eggs that were cooking in a large pan. Standing behind her, big smile on his was, was Rolfun holding three plates.
“Good morning, Klarion,” Rolfun said, though his eyes stayed fixed on the meat that his wife was flipping. “Got a treat for breakfast this morning.”
Stepping over to the half-ogre, Klarion took one of the plates he was holding. He then gazed hungrily at the cooking meat as well. “I’m glad that bacon is something that doesn’t only exist on Earth.”
“And I have perfected how to cook it, as well,”Alesin said, starting to lift the pieces off to divide between the plates. The eggs followed right after that. “Not so long that its like eating hot jerky, but not so short that all you can focus on is the hot fat you are chewy.”
Taking his first bite of bacon, Klarion could do nothing but wordlessly agree. She had done a great job with it. The next ten minutes were spent in largely companionable silence, the only sound being the chewing of their eating. Rolfun, little to Klarion’s surprise, finished his food first.
“Before we continue on our journey today, we wanted to talk to you about an important topic.”
Rolfun tapped a small ring on his hand, and to Klarion’s shock, pulled forth a long wooden table. Rolfun had a spatial ring. Before he said anything, Rolfun followed by pulling out what Klarion was able to quickly identify as a warhammer, a war axe, a long sword, and finally a greatsword. The benefits of playing roleplaying games as long as he had.
“Based on how you moved your body yesterday while I was assessing you,” Rolfun continued, pointing at each weapon in turn. “I think these are the best potential choices of a weapon for you to begin familiarizing yourself with.”
“And I need to make a choice now?”
“Yes,” said Alesin as she set down her own empty plate. “Klarion, the Imperial Academy is as much a battlefield as it is a school. You’ll be surrounded by people with ambitions, some of whom will stop at nothing to advance their own interests and who have trained their entire lives to be ready for the chance they might have to do so. You are already way behind the experiences and training of the other nobles who will be entering the Imperial Academy alongside you. The sooner you pick a weapon, the sooner we can start instructing you in the basics of its use.”
“Alright, that makes sense,” Klarion then turned his attention back to Rolfun. “Before I make my choice, could you tell me why you picked these weapons for me?”
“Of course,” Rolfun smiled, glad that Klarion hadn’t simply picked one without consideration. “Each of these weapons demands different strengths, different techniques. That being said, I chose them because they fit what I see to be your build and potential. But what you select is ultimately down to you.”
Klarion reached down and lifted the first weapon, the warhammer. It was on the heavier side, but not uncomfortable in his grip. He lightly swung it a few times.
“The warhammer is a brutal weapon. Its strikes can crush bone and armor alike, but it is also slower, requiring more precision. Once you master it, the warhammer is perfect for overwhelming an enemy’s defense.”
He set the warhammer aside; it did not feel quite right to him. He moved to pick up the war axe next. Almost before he had it in his hands, Klarion already had the sense this would not be the weapon for him. Before Rolfun could explain the virtues of it, Klarion was already shaking his head and setting it back down. He looked to the swords.
“The longsword is all about balance. Wielded properly, it requires speed, precision, and strength. It is a good all-around weapon for someone starting to learn how to fight,” Rolfun said, pointing to the shorter of the two swords. The half-ogre then gestured at the last remaining weapon. “The greatsword is a beast of a weapon, all about reach and power. While it is a heavy weapon, and a bit slower than the alternatives here, I prefer it for its ability to fight multiple enemies at once.”
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“So the greatsword is the weapon you use?”
“Yes!” Rolfun said with some excitement, then glanced at Alesin as if asking permission. When she sighed and nodded, Rolfun eagerly reached into his spatial ring to pull out a massive greatsword, even larger than the one that he had placed for Klarion to examine. A pommel in the shape of a fanged skull was revealed first as Rolfun showed it to Klarion. The blade itself was nearly as long as Klarion was tall, forged from a darkened steel with a slight bluish hue. Given the new world he was in, it might be a different metal or perhaps magic of some sort was involved. Actually, given the slightly glowing runes etched along its length that he was just now making out, it was certainly enchanted. Rolfun hefted the blade effortlessly in one hand, grin growing even wider at how enraptured Klarion was with his pride and joy.
“I know you want to show him,” Alesin interjected from the side. “Go ahead. Just keep the damage to a minimum.”
Her husband nodded in thanks, pivoted and walked over to one of the trees ringing their campsite. “Watch this,” he called over his shoulder. Raising the greatsword, still one-handed, Rolfun swung it down at the side of the tree. The blade did not appear to slow at all as it emerged from the side, but Klarion was not following Rolfun’s swing. His eyes were fixed on the ice that followed in the wake of the greatsword. It expanded for another moment along the part of the trunk that Rolfun had slashed, then gave way with a sound similar to shattering glass. Reaching out, Rolfun deftly pushed the tree to fall back into the forest rather than into their campsite. It landed with an awfully loud crash.
“I said keep the damage to a minimum!” Alesin said, exacerbated.
“Sorry,” Rolfun said, scratching his head. “I think I was just a little too excited to show him.”
Klarion walked over to inspect the downed tree while his escorts argued. The trunk looked like it had been sliced clean through by Rolfun’s sword at first, but the spread of the ice along the cut and the resulting slam against the ground had ripped jagged splinters out along the whole length of the blow. The damage was beyond impressive for such a light blow, and Klarion was sure it was the least of what Rolfun was likely capable of.
Klarion imagined what it would be like to wield such a dangerous weapon. The sheer power it would give him, and how intimidating it would be for any enemies. And there would likely be many of them, given how Alesin and Rolfun had been talking to him about what life would be like at the Imperial Academy, given the noble house he belonged to. He also had to admit to himself that, in the roleplaying games he had played with his friends, he had always enjoyed the sessions where he had played a character who wielded a greatsword. Placing himself in the position of those characters, he could already imagine how satisfying the weight of the weapon would feel in his grip and how every swing would carve a path through those who sought to kill him.
“I think I have made my decision.” Klarion stepped over and picked up the greatsword with a grunt. It was a bit heavier than he expected. Hopefully, he would get strong enough, quick enough, that he wouldn’t be encumbered by it for long.
Rolfun and Alesin ceased arguing over the half-ogre’s need to control his strength as they heard Klarion make his decision. Alesin rolled her eyes, since it would not be the weapon she would have advised, but she had guessed it was going to be a forgone conclusion given the demonstration her husband had given. For Rolfun’s part, he looked excited that the young lord of House Blacksword had selected the weapon that he himself preferred and had spent so much time mastering.
“Excellent choice!” Rolfun reached into his spatial ring to pull out a simple leather harness. Gesturing Klarion over, he showed him how to wear it, and then secured the greatsword to his back. It felt awkward at first like he was being pulled to his right, but Rolfun simply adjusted the straps a bit so that it sat more comfortably. Once it was in place, the half-ogre showed him a quick release in the strap so that he could pull the blade free quickly if needed. He practiced it a few times to get used to it.
“Today you are going to get used to carrying your new weapon around. Depending how comfortable you move with it, we might start some simple lessons tonight.”
“So get used to it as quickly as I can, since I don’t have a lot of time,” Klarion responded.
“That you don’t,” Alesin nodded in agreement, moving to begin packing away everything in her own spatial ring. “We need to get moving. Though there is some time yet, there is a hard deadline to get you to the Imperial Academy so you can enroll for the current year. If we are late… well, we will make sure you aren’t late.”
“Do you need my help packing up?”
“No, we have it handled. Just make sure you’re ready to go in a few minutes.” Alesin put the rest of her cooking equipment away. While Rolfun moved to put the weapons and table back into his ring, she made her way over to the tents, ducking inside the one she had shared with her husband the night before.
“Hey, Rolfun,” Klarion said, stepping over to the half-ogre. “I was going to ask earlier, but that is a spatial ring, right?”
“Yes, though it’s only a common, small one. The larger ones are too expensive for Alesin and I to be able to afford.” Rolfun finished putting the table back into his ring. “I’m surprised you recognized what it is. Does your homeworld have these items as well?”
“No, or at least not that I have ever heard of. I actually recognized it from similar items that were in some of the games that I played with my friends.”
“Ah, I see. Well, luckily for you, you will be able to afford one far better than mine at some point. Probably during your time at the Imperial Academy too.”
“Everything is packed and it’s time to go. Same order as yesterday, with you in the middle of us,” Alesin said to Klarion, having finished putting the tents away. She tossed Rolfun’s backpack to him and pulled on her own. She jumped a few times, then adjusted the straps to secure it better. Satisfied, she again focused on Klarion. “Today’s going to be harder for you, Klarion. I’m sure you are sore, but we need to go a bit further today to get to the next camping site. The whole way, we are going to take it in turns to begin teaching you about everything you need to know before you arrive at the Imperial Academy. Are you ready?”
“Yes. I will do my best to keep up and absorb everything you both can teach me,” Klarion said. “Don’t go easy on me. I want to be as ready as I can be for the Imperial Academy.”