CHAPTER 5 - What is your name ?

"Kael!" I hear a faint voice.

"KAEL!" I finally open my eyes.

It is Emma that tried to wake me up. I found myself on the ground for some reason.

I don't know why, but I don't remember falling asleep on the ground.

"Why were you on the ground?" Emma asks me.

I look at her confused as well.

"Well, I don't know really, probably I just fell from my bed."

Emma looks even more confused now, but she replies, "Well, I guess you are a tough sleeper."

I stand up to stretch myself.

"I'm going to train, are you going?" Emma asked me.

I look at her with a glint in my eye.

"Of course, I want to try to repeat what we did yesterday."

As Emma and I made our way to the training ground where we had been practicing sword fighting the day before, my mind was consumed with confusion.

Why had I woken up on the ground? I racked my brain for answers, but could not recall anything past the point of me going to bed.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed Emma's smile and nod of agreement as we arrived at the training ground.

As we picked up our swords and began to warm up, I was still grappling with the mystery of what had happened to me.

The movements of the sword were slow and deliberate, and I focused intently on my footwork and the positioning of my sword.

Emma's movements mirrored mine, and the sound of our swords clashing echoed through the training area.

Despite our slow pace, I could feel the energy building between us as we concentrated on our training. Then, without warning, Emma lunged at me with her sword. I dodged just in time, snapping back to the present moment.

As I looked into Emma's eyes, I could see that she was ready for a serious fight.

I took a step back and let out a deep breath, trying to focus on my footwork and the weight of my sword in my hand.

I closed my eyes and visualized myself becoming one with the sword, feeling its weight and movements as an extension of my own body. Emma was doing the same.

For a moment, we stood there in silence, each of us concentrating on our own movements and strategy.

I looked into Emma's determined eyes, and felt the adrenaline coursing through my veins. This time, there was an intense sense of urgency, a desire to push ourselves to the limit.

I took a step back and took a deep breath, focusing on my footwork and the weight of my sword. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and my muscles tensed with anticipation.

Emma mirrored my movements, her eyes never leaving mine. It was as if we were communicating silently, each of us daring the other to make the first move.

Suddenly, Emma launched herself at me with incredible speed and precision, her sword aimed straight for my head. I reacted instinctively, dodging just in time and lunging at her with my own sword.

Our swords clashed in a deafening clang, each blow sending sparks flying. It was a blur of motion as we moved in and out of each other's range, each one trying to find an opening.

For a moment, I lost myself in the battle, letting my instincts take over. I blocked Emma's attacks and launched my own, our swords clanging with increasing ferocity.

For a moment we stopped. We both stood there, breathing heavily and staring at each other in disbelief.

We had pushed ourselves to the limit, and I felt exhilarated by the rush of adrenaline that had carried me through the fight.

But then again i was surprised by Emma.

Her sword narrowly missed my head in just a few moments, and I felt a rush of excitement and fear.

I quickly regained my composure and dodged her attack just in time.

With each passing moment, I felt myself becoming more in tune with the sword, and I began to move with a fluidity and grace that I had never experienced before.

I could feel Emma's eyes on me, watching my every move, and I knew that I had to stay one step ahead of her if I wanted to win this fight.

But then in a split second we both launched at eachother with incredible speed.

I could feel the sweat pouring down my face as I stared into Emma's eyes. Our swords were locked in place, the blades resting against each other's necks.

We both knew that one wrong move could mean the end of the fight.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel my muscles trembling with exertion. I had never felt so alive, so focused, so completely in the moment.

Emma was breathing heavily, her eyes never leaving mine. We were both waiting for the other to make a move, waiting for that split second of hesitation that could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

And then, with a sudden burst of energy, I swung my sword around and knocked Emma's blade out of the way. In that split second, I had found my opening, and I lunged forward with all my strength.

Emma tried to dodge, but it was too late. My sword landed with a satisfying thud on her blade, and Emma from the power fell to the ground, defeated.

I stood there for a moment, catching my breath and trying to process what had just happened. I had won the battle against Emma.

I extended my hand to help her up, and as she stood up, I couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled with excitement and admiration.

"Thanks, Emma. You were incredible" I said, admiring the strength and skill she had shown in our intense sword fight.

"I'm glad we pushed each other to our limits."

Emma's smile widened as she nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, it was an amazing fight. I can't believe how much faster and stronger we both got during that battle.

You were a worthy opponent, Kael, and you definitely earned that victory."

I felt a sense of pride at her words, knowing that the hard work and training I had put in had paid off in this moment.

But I also felt a sense of gratitude towards Emma for pushing me to be my best and showing me what I was truly capable of.

"Thanks, Emma," I said again, my voice sincere.

"I couldn't have done it without you.

We both smiled at each other, a shared sense of excitement and determination filling the air.

I knew that with Emma by my side, anything was possible.

We both laughed and she gave me a playful punch on the arm.

As we gathered our things and headed back, I couldn't help but feel energized and alive from the intense battle.

Back at our dormitory I realized that today is the test day, and we finally get a "mission".

Together, we quickly gather our things and head to the training grounds.

As we approach, my palms begin to sweat and my stomach ties itself in knots. This is it - the moment we've been preparing for.

On the training grounds, The whole class greets General Patrio and exchange pleasantries.

He looks over all of us with a critical eye, sizing us up before nodding in approval.

Then a new teacher appears. It's Beras, the magical creature specialist. He greets us with a commanding voice, and I can tell that he means business.

"Hello children," Beras begins, his eyes scanning over us.

"I am here to give you your assignments."

"You will take a paper which will have a number from 1 to 10," he says, his tone serious.

"Based on the number you take, you will have to find and defeat a creature of that difficulty level."

I feel a knot form in my stomach. I've been training for days, but the thought of actually facing a magical creature sends a shiver down my spine.

I glance over at Emma, and I can see that she's feeling the same way.

Beras hands out the papers, and Emma and I each take one. I unfold mine, revealing that we both have the number 7. I gulp nervously - this is going to be a tough challenge.

"Once you have defeated your creature, return to me with its head," Beras continues, his eyes scanning over us.

"And remember, choose a teammate as it will be hard alone. Also, here are the papers with the creatures assigned to the numbers. Good luck."

With that, he dismisses us and hands us the papers.

Emma and I look at each other, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness at the same time. We're in this together, and I know that we can do this.

After Beras leaves, we examine our papers and learn that the number 7 corresponds to a goblin. I let out a sigh of relief - goblins are known to be relatively easy to defeat.

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"Do you also think this is going to be easy?" I ask Emma, curious about her thoughts.

"A goblin? That makes me laugh," she replies, a smirk on her face.

"Of course it's going to be easy."

Together, we set out to find our creature, discussing our strategy as we go.

We decide to head to the forest right away.

Emma and I make our way through the city, discussing our equipment and weapons. We realize that our swords are not in the best condition, as we haven't requested new ones from the academy yet. But for today's mission, they should be enough.

"Hello there, Kael," I suddenly hear a voice behind me.

As I turn around, I notice that it's the blacksmith, Laor.

"Doing the exam, are ya?" he asks, looking at us curiously.

I nod, feeling a sense of nervousness building within me. "Yes, we're on a mission to defeat a goblin," I say, hoping that he can offer us some advice.

Laor nods knowingly.

"Ah, the goblins. Tricky creatures, they are. You'll need to be careful," he says, his eyes scanning over our swords.

"Your swords could use some work. Here, let me fix them up for you."

Emma and I look at each other, feeling grateful for his help.

As Laor works on sharpening my sword, we talk about our mission to defeat the goblin. I explain our plan to him and ask for any advice he might have.

"Remember, aim for the eyes," Laor says as he hands me back my sword.

"Goblins have sharp senses, so you'll need to be quick."

I thank Laor for his words of wisdom and turn to Emma, who is also receiving her sword back.

feeling more confident and prepared than ever before. We know that we can do this, with our teamwork and our newly improved swords.

After two hours of walking, we finally reach the edge of the dark forest.

Emma and I exchange a quick glance, silently acknowledging the dangers that lie ahead. With a deep breath, we stand before the forest, our eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

The air is thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the only sound we can hear is the rustling of leaves in the wind.

As we step into the dark forest, a chill runs down our spines.

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The dense trees cast long shadows that seem to reach out and grab at us as we make our way deeper into the forest.

The silence is deafening, broken only by the crunching of leaves under our feet and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Despite our nerves, we press on, determined to complete our mission. We move quietly, our eyes scanning the area for any signs of the goblin.

The dense foliage makes it difficult to see far ahead, and we have to rely on our instincts to guide us

With the weight of Laor's advice pushing us forward, Emma and I venture forth into the dense forest,

each step more confident than the last. Our swords may not be the newest or the shiniest,

but they feel sturdier and more reliable in our hands than they have ever been before.

As we walk deeper into the forest, we keep our senses on high alert, scanning the area for any signs of our prey.

We know that we have to be cautious and vigilant if we are to succeed, but with our new sense of confidence, we feel more than ready for whatever lies ahead.

Finally, we spot movement in the distance. Our hearts race as we realize that it's our target, the goblin.

With a nod of understanding, we silently coordinate our plan of attack. Our movements are fluid and synchronized as we draw closer and closer to the creature.

With a smug grin, I signal to Emma to distract the goblin.

Emma emerges from the bushes, startling the creature and drawing its attention.

In that fleeting moment, I concentrate and launch a swift attack, severing the goblin's head with a single, deft strike.

Turning to Emma with a satisfied smile, I ask,

"Looks like we did it. What do you think?"

But as I take in our surroundings, I realize that Emma's senses are heightened and she senses danger lurking nearby.

"Don't they travel in packs?" she whispers, her voice laced with concern.

Before I can respond, Emma lunges at me with lightning speed, brandishing her sword. Instinctively, I hold my ground, trusting in her intentions.

As she comes to a sudden stop, I see a goblin, stealthily creeping up behind me.

Without hesitation, Emma pierces the creature with her blade, narrowly saving me from harm.

"That was close," she says, breathing heavily.

I turn to look behind me and let out a sigh of relief.

"Well the are bound to be more, lets be on our toes" She follows up

I nod in agreement, my eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement.

The adrenaline coursing through my veins keeps me on edge, ready to react at a moment's notice.

Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes catches my attention, and I motion for Emma to stay on guard as I move cautiously forward.

Peering through the dense foliage, I see a group of goblins, their beady eyes fixed on me with a menacing glint.

The moment i see them i jump back and signal to Emma that its time to fight.

My eyes narrow as I focus on the goblin horde. Adrenaline courses through my veins, and my heart pounds with excitement as I prepare to engage in battle.

Emma stands beside me, her eyes fixed on the enemy, her sword held high.

As the goblins charge towards us, I charge towards them with lightning speed, my sword flashing in the sunlight.

The clash of steel against steel fills the air as we engage in a fierce battle with the goblin horde, dodging and parrying their attacks with swift and calculated movements.

Despite their numbers, I fight with ferocity and determination, my every blow striking true as I slowly whittle down their ranks.

The sounds of grunts and cries of pain echo through the forest as I fight on, my eyes fixed on the enemy.

I see Emma darting in and out of the fray, her sword moving with lightning speed as she takes on multiple goblins at once.

Her movements are fluid and graceful, her every strike precise and deadly.

Suddenly, a goblin lunges at me with a vicious snarl, its blade gleaming in the sunlight.

I move with lightning speed, dodging its attack and stabbing it trough its eye killing it on the spot.

As the battle rages on, I do not feel my strength wawering.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, the last goblin charges at Emma.

Due to a mistake Emma drops her sword and panics.

In the moment i strike with the speed of light severing the goblins limbs.

As the goblin lays on the ground i stab it to its heart ending its life.

I help Emma up and we look around eachother.

Emma and I stand proud, our swords damaged, but victorious.

With a sense of relief and gratitude, we look at each other and share a knowing smile.

We had survived, and we had won easily.

The forest is now silent, except for the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the sound of our breathing as we catch our breath.

As we catch our breath and take the goblin heads, we hear a faint whisper coming from the nearby bushes.

We look at each other, and with a quick nod, we move cautiously towards the sound.

As we part the bushes, we see a young girl, no more than eight years old, huddled on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"Please help me," she whispers,

"I was taken by those goblins, and they were going to take me to their lair."

My heart breaks at the sight of the helpless child, and I kneel down beside her.

"Don't worry, we'll take you to safety" I say, my voice gentle and reassuring.

As we lead the girl towards safety, we can't help but feel a sense of unease.

We had just defeated a large group of goblins, but what else lurked in these woods?

We remain on guard, our eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

As we make our way through the forest, the girl clings tightly to Emma's hand, her eyes wide with fear.

"What's your name?" Emma asks, trying to distract her from the potential danger around them.

"My name is Lily," the girl replies, her voice trembling.

As we walk, we hear the sound of a twig snapping behind us.

We turn around to see a figure lurking in the shadows, its eyes fixed on us with a menacing glint.

Without warning, the figure charges towards us, its weapon raised high. Emma steps in front of Lily, her sword at the ready, and prepares to face the new threat.

As the figure comes closer, we see that it is a bandit, armed with a wicked-looking sword. I stand before the bandit to divert him from Emma and Lily.

The bandit charges towards me, his sword gleaming in the sunlight.

I step forward, my own blade at the ready, and prepare to face him.

Our swords clash together with a loud clang, and I feel the jolt run through my arm.

I block his next attack, and then lunge forward, aiming for his midsection. He dodges out of the way, and I spin around to face him again.

The bandit comes at me with a flurry of strikes, but I am able to block them all.

I see an opening and strike, aiming for his shoulder. He parries my attack, and I am thrown off balance.

The bandit seizes the opportunity and lunges at me, his sword aimed at my heart. I barely dodge out of the way, my heart racing with fear.

I take a deep breath and focus my energy, preparing to strike again. The bandit comes at me with a fierce attack, but I am ready.

I dodge his strike and lunge forward, driving my sword deep into his chest.

The bandit falls to the ground with a thud, his sword clattering to the forest floor. I stand over him, breathing heavily, my sword still at the ready.

As i stand there i look around to see if there is any danger left.

When i confirm there is none i put away my sword and go back to Emma.

Lily, who had been quiet until now, speaks up.

"Do you think there will be more bandits on the road?"

"It's possible," I say,

"We need to be on guard and stay alert. But I think we can handle anything that comes our way."

Emma nods in agreement, her eyes scanning the forest.

"We should keep moving," she says,

"The sooner we get to the city, the better."

END OF CHAPTER 5