Chapter 6 - Violent Lessons

Coming to a stop we got a better look at the… elf? He was of tan complexion with the trademark pointed ears. Outfitted in leather armor of dark greens and browns, with two sword handles sticking over his shoulder, he struck an intimidating figure, practically radiating deadly intent. Looking at us with a keen eye he took in the group of humans - measuring and dismissing quickly, his eyes raked over me just the same, I was judged and found wanting like all the others. “Well, aren't you lot a sad sight. No matter, I’ll whip you eighty-seven into shape enough for most to survive, at least. You’re all mine for the next four hours, and tomorrow even longer. There are few that choose the path of a spellblade, not to be confused with warriors who do magic, those are like leaves to a tree. No, you all have shown promise, which is why you are here, only the few. While the others form lines and hack away at the opposition, you are mobile, always moving, to stop in any one place too long is a death sentence. Others will bombard the enemy from afar with arrows and spells, sometimes we too will join, but only in intervals. Where the battle needs us, we must go.”

Looking at us each in the eye his tone became grim, “ours is the most perilous job at times, striking into the enemy ranks, sometimes alone. Excising the threat and quickly retreating. Guarding a falling line as they replace fallen members so it doesn't crumble, costing even more lives. Some will specialize in particular areas, assisination included, nothing quite like taking the commander out right at the start of battle. Causing chaos up and down the lines for the enemy is also a trademark of the spellblade, causing them to scramble and make mistakes..

“You will be targeted, singled out from most others. However with the risks involved and what I will drill into you going forth, you will be the shining beacons of this ‘Tutorial.” He snorted in derision, “which will, in fact, be more dangerous than most missions outside, should you survive. Usually spellblades are held back only for the direst of circumstances as a cleansing force, sending teams of a dozen to quickly annihilate a phalanx, or perhaps a beast too strong for the lines to hold. A shock of power and destruction before withdrawing and recovering. You will not be doing this for the first full cycle at least, and after, I fully expect a group of five to suffice where another corps would take twelve. If you are to survive, this method is the only way, allowing you to quickly gain experience and contribution points. Learn from your mistakes, and remember to ration your power. You will not be facing armies with well trained soldiers, nor will you have them at your back. You will first be facing crude beasts with minimal intelligence, learn the flow of war during this time, to fight and survive alone, the instincts this will develop will be invaluable.”

We soaked that in for the moment he granted us, expressions downtrodden. I felt especially confused at why the guide would lead me toward such a perilous path. We had no time to even breathe or truly contemplate what was happening, I had a feeling that was the point. I glanced at my fellows to either side, a man wearing chainmail with an axe and dark coloring, to my right a woman small and in full leather of asian descent, and many others in the crowd around me. What struck me was that all our gear, compared to the others in the pit, were new or almost new. They knew, and they outfitted us best they could, which gave me heart. Much unlike the next words spoken.

“Make no mistake, without your efforts this castle will fall, and the innocents in the keep lost.” He sighed heavily, “I do not envy this task of yours, however it must be done. You may refer to me as Instructor or master A’dal. I do not believe in sending you to the wall without knowing what is to happen. I have said what I could and will do what I can to prepare you. Now come! Form a line. I must see you as individuals, I promise this won't take long.” At this he started to grin merrily, “those who land a strike upon me get double rations for our midday meal! Do not falter, do not hesitate!”

We shuffled into a line, everyone stepping into it, grim determination the collective mood. Attacking first was a man in a mix of leather and chain, one of the heaviest geared, tall enough for all of us to look up. From his back he drew a heavy two-handed blade and with a speed that defied his size, he took quick steps forward and made a prodigious swing downward. A’dal sidestepped almost too quickly to believe and his sword was a blur as it tapped the giant on the shoulder right as the heavy blade met the ground. Sand billowed upward and we could feel the vibrations from the front, but the most astonishing thing was that the large man was sent tumbling away rolling to a stop. A’dal was above him almost instantly and pinned his shoulder with a thin blade as the man screamed in pain.

“Lesson one. Strength without purpose is useless.” Withdrawing his blade, blood shined upon the silvery metal. Flourishing it he stated, “Lesson two. The consequences to every mistake are lethal.” Throwing a vial at the man, he leaned in close and spoke, but we heard nothing. The man got up and nodded at A’dal, tipping the vial back and jogging to the end of the line. “Come.”

It was a simple command, yet the girl at the front in thin leather hesitated, no doubt shaken by the display. But forward she went, a spear gripped in her hands, its tip darting towards the instructor, probing. He stepped forward, a bit too far to the left, another moment of uncertainty from the girl lunging too late. A’dal slapped his thin blade upon the shaft of the spear below the tip, sending it away from his body, stepping forward, he went to attack but the girl took two quick steps back, spear twirling as she guided its momentum into the defensive as it slapped the blade away. Eyebrows raised, I watched as he kicked sand in her eyes and knocked the spear away in her confusion. One lunge, and she was falling, blood rising from her thigh in a quick spurt. His blade bloodied yet again. As she also started writhing in pain he stood there.

“Lesson Three. Hesitation will kill you faster than anything else. Lesson Four. Use your surroundings, the world is your tool.” With a glance toward us he leaned toward her speaking quietly, handing out another vial, she grimaced and nodded sharply, going to the back. He looked towards the line intently and the man in front of me sprinted forward.

He was of similar stature to myself but he had different leather armor, opting for a more robust defense with a thick helmet. Still he was quick and he flashed out from his hip a traditional japanese katana. A’dal stepped back and parried the blade only for the man to expertly maneuver to the side, avoiding repercussions. Forward the man went, steady as the tides, his blade never too far from his center until his moment to strike, and even then he moved around A’dal with quick steps. Back and forth they clashed as a smile appeared in the instructor's eyes. And then it happened, A’dal went on a true offensive, still only using his one blade in a flurry of strikes, one lunge parried, a side step and an upward swing, dodged, another strike hitting the mans blade directly sending it slightly off, then he rolled forward unexpectedly, piercing the man through the side. Quickly he pivoted out of the man’s blade range and stood as the man fell forward. “Lesson Five. Predictability is opportunity.” He leaned down to speak with him as he slipped him a vial. He stayed there in conversation with the man a bit longer than the others, helping him up he patted him on the shoulder and the man only grunted in return as he made his way back clutching his side.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

I stepped forward and stared at the instructor as he looked back at me, my eyes narrowing. With a wave he gestured and I nodded, all this time preparing my energy to be unleashed, but I kept it tight. I stepped forward unsheathing my sword and swung it in front of me while stepping to the side. I kept it out in front of me and moved when he moved, probing. Soon he struck, lunging forward, I met his momentum with my own as I ran his blade along my own grabbing for his shoulder as I stepped through, but he was elusive and we were quickly resetting ourselves. He swung from the side, I stepped back, flicking my own blade against his in a parry. Moving my body to sway I swung around but kept the blade loose as I tried to catch him in a trap. He dashed under the blade - his sword still wide to the side, I turned my hips and rotated my shoulder bringing my blade close as he did the same. Closing in an opening appeared, not one normally able to be taken. I risked it.

My energy churned as I drew it through my meridians, enhancing my momentum at the last second as I locked blades with him. Staring into each other's eyes I saw his flicker of surprise and struck out with my hand going faster than should be possible. Aiming for his inside arm. Matching my speed he let go of the blade with one hand and swatted down stepping in close. His leg hooked mine and pulled, I set the energy in my legs free and tried to hop back. It only ended with him taking control and the point of the blade scraped across my collarbone as it found purchase, completely piercing through my armor as if it was an apple. My legs flailed upwards as the energy had propelled them into a gangling mess, then I was pinned to the ground as if nailed upon it, the impact only worsened the wound. Gasping, I stayed there a moment, when he leaned towards me.

“You show promise but lack discipline, concentrate on control or the flow of the fight will control you. Interestingly you can use your energy internally already, even if it is god awful. This comes back to discipline, learn to harness the energy before you use it, or you only hurt yourself. Go meditate and recover.” He handed me a vial as he stood and tugged the sword from my shoulder, blade hitching as it caught my collarbone, lifting me up an inch before it slid the rest of the way out. I almost blacked out. Almost. He helped me up and told me to go to the back, while announcing “Lesson Six. Power without discipline and control will be your undoing.” I tilted the vial back and gave him a thumbs up. He blinked, then I gave him the finger, because fuck that guy.

I walked to the back seeing the others were indeed in shallow meditation, semi focused on the fighting, quickly I joined them, feeling the healing energy mend and flow through me. As I entered with my mind's eye I could see the glow corralling towards my wound, actively stitching, somehow creating bone and tissue, after a bit I realized it wasn't free, because I was steadily becoming ravenous. Pushing aside my hunger I contemplated the energy rapidly healing my body. It truly was a marvel, how many lives could have been saved on Earth by just this specific elixir?

Opening my eyes at the sound of another scream, I looked up just as a young man with chainmail and sword fell to the ground. “Lesson Seven. Prepare for the worst, be on guard always.” With that he continued through the group arrayed before him, picking them apart and giving his own short advice, always delivering a healing elixir and quiet advice. There were a few more standouts that did impress the gathering.

The asian woman, quick and nimble flowed through katas seamlessly but failed to hold up to the sheer strength before her. “Lesson Eight. Guard your heart, once it falters the end is near.” No fights after presenting any new lessons, just reiterating the same. A dark complected man stood out even more, his weapon of choice was short blades reminding me of Kunai. As he closed with the instructor he was so fast, precise and moved with a grace that belied understanding. Back and forth they went until A’dals reach became insurmountable, constantly creating space to use to his advantage, piercing him in the hip.

And finally the final contender came, the only man in full plate with an axe unlike any I had seen before, all metal with a complete circular head, he charged forward swinging. Quickly the instructor stepped back, the ax sweeping back and forth with a fearsome momentum. Dings and scrapes were formed on the man's armor but it never amounted to much, he was constantly on the offensive unheeding of injury. It was reminiscent of what you would hear about old berserkers, attacking and ignoring imminent death. Forward he went, unerringly locked on his target until with a duck and stab upwards, the plating between his arm and torso was pierced, sending blood splattering across the ground. With a kick A’dal put him on his back. And that was the last of us to join in the group meditation. All of us sitting close in a three deep half circle around the duel area.

As we all sat meditating he looked us over. “Well, that concludes our first couple hours and I have an idea of what each of you are lacking. On your feet, our meal is done being prepared and is just inside.”

Quickly we gathered en masse, covered in blood and weary, we followed the deadly diminutive man into a coliseum dirt walkway. Just a few turns and we came to an arched open doorway. Within were large long tables and a damn buffet at the other end. “I forgot to mention, you don’t have rations, the system provides enough material for our cooks to feed you as much as you’d like. Eat, recover, and prepare. You have one hour until our time starts up again.” At that we rushed to the food, all of us grabbing plates and something to munch on until they were filled, beginning our communal meal. No words were spoken as we ate, all sustained injury that would have left us bedridden for weeks mere hours ago left us only famished. They even had spaghetti.

Finishing the meal, we all leaned back wearing contented looks, the meal was one of the best I had in months. Quiet conversation started between the group, human nature coming to the fore. I caught snippets and it was just the most present problems that were mainly discussed near me. To my right the man who fought with such technique was next to me, his katana at his hip. He glanced over and considered me. I would have expected him to be oriental from the expertise he showed with the Japanese style, but to my surprise, he was a bit older and of Latin descent.

“We are stuck here eh?” The man said with a grin.

I smiled lightly, “I suppose so but I wonder why this happened to our world?”

“Never was much in the real world, Martial arts instructors don't make much. Here we are though, but where or what this is… I have no fuckin idea man.” He shrugged and continued, “I feel I should be railing against the idea of something this large happening but somehow we all are just going along with it.” He frowned in thought.

I perked up as I considered it. “Now that you mention it, it is quite strange.. Do you think something messed with our heads?”

The man nodded, introspective for a moment. “I believe a minor amount, but it must be to the good, there should be mass hysteria right now but only acceptance is prevalent among us.” Pausing, he took a moment to gather himself and extended his hand, “either way I’m Lucas.”

“Cildarian, nice to meet you dude, where you from?”

“Peru, and you?”

“New Orleans.”

“American?”

“Yeah, well I guess it doesn't matter now does it?”

“No, no it doesn't.”

We sat the last few minutes in silence, looking up and down the table I considered the short conversation we just had. The only explanation could be the system. And it was to the good in this situation that somehow we skipped the mental trauma and jumped directly into our new normal. But it still irked me that something decided to go in and fiddle with my emotions. All we could do is forge ahead supposedly. The warnings we kept receiving were at the forefront of our thoughts, the innocents in the keep depending on us facing whatever it was that aimed to bring us down.