Read The Paladin's Path :: Lurek Sparring

Trystan follows with his eyes to where I am pointing. " Ahh that, well that's what we call the Dead Marsh. Before humans settled in this region, there was a big elven empire that fell to ruin. That over there is where supposedly the lost capital city of that empire was. Scholars and archaeologists around the kingdom and the holy city gather every few years to explore that region. The last time they went, around twenty years ago, no one returned. Since that day, ,Verbina Wangenroth the high priestess of Tyr, outlawed any expedition going there. The only thing that we know, as a fact, is that there is no daylight coming through these clouds. This area is pretty much drowned in an eternal night. It's why the clergy of Leos is the most eager to explore that region" I look at Trystan with a puzzled face. "Oh wait you don't know our pantheon? Well let me introduce you to It. You already know my patron god Bahamut. There's many others that are deserving of worship. In Tyrael City there are strict laws about which gods you can worship. It isn't that restricting It just outlaws the evil pantheon. The gods of orcs , goblins and murder for an example."

He began giving me a long winded explaination of the gods. Basicially It's split up in greater deities and lesser ones. He only began teaching me on the greater ones. I rolled my eyes from the boredom of It all. There's Tyr the god of justice and war. He is the god with the most followers. So their faction got the biggest voting power in the city. It basicially is propping up the army too. After that the next popular one is Leos the god of the dawn. He is all about the goodness of life and spreading hope and advancement in communities. Actually he is the god most people pray too, atleast thats what Trystan tells me, but because of the history of the city, Tyrael City is an exception.

Seeing my enthusiasm vane Trystan started explaining them in short order with their respective portfolio.

Tyr Justice War

Leos Dawn and Sun

Mythra Goddess of Magic and Secrets

Bahamut God of Dragons

Vessalia Goddess of Nature and Patron God of Elves

Belathor God of the Forge and Patron God of Dwarves

Ronegok God of Knowledge

We stopped for the night and began constructing our camp. I went with the others to gather firewood and when we came back. Trystan and the others were sitting around a propped up table. Trystan and the others waved us over. He began to speak.

"So boys and gals before we arrive in Tyrael City, we are gonna have a little spar. Rina, Farielle set up a course for you to absolve. Alrik, Durxel will give you a spell to learn. After that you will join the others in the melee spar." They both nod along. Trystan looks over to Lurek and me. " You two will start with warming up. I set up a few training dummies for you." Lurek starts immediately to protest. " I don't need to train with a boy that just started picking up the training! It will be wortless for me. He's legit on the level of trash right now! I bet on It!" Trystan just shakes his head. "You will do as your told Lurek. Warm up and by the way ... CRASH... I don't think he's at the level of trash." While Lurek whined to Trystan. I started with my usual way of beating that dummy. I needed five hits till It crumbled to the ground. I rotate my wrist a bit and it feels good to use It. I turn around to Trystan. " I'm done can we begin?" Trystan bellows with a hearty laugh. Farielle looks over to him and whispers something to him. He nods in response.

After Lurek warmed himself up, we got positioned in a small arena surrounded by wooden stakes. The rules are if any of us makes the other leave the circle or disarm him, then we win the round. Hits to the head are disallowed. There are two rounds. I look at Lurek and I wonder why he looks so nervous. We get ready and Trystan throws a red cloth into the arena. Once It hits the ground we are starting.

As soon as It hit the ground, Lurek charged at me. He quickly unleashes a barrage of attacks. The one aimed at my right shoulder I parried. He then returned with an another cut to the stomache this time. I can barely dodge out of the way. I make him stumble a bit and now I am on the attack. He turned his back on me and I immediately exploit that and whack him on the back. As he screams out in pain, I also give him a kick to his side to make him fall out of the arena.

I won the first round and I can barely hold in my laughter. I won't make fun of him that would be unsportsman like. Lurek sulks a bit and Farielle looks over his back. She slaps him on the back to give him the signal to continue. So he returns to the ring. For a second time the red cloth falls to the ground. This time I don't wait to give him a chance. I charge at him and swing my sword to his hand. As It hits, even I can hear the loud crack that comes from his hand. The sword flies out of hand and lands on the ground. Curiously Lurek hits the ground at the same time. Holding his hand in pain and holding back pain. Whoops I think he broke his wrist. I stretch out my arm to help him up. I feel quite bad about It.

"Shit, sorry I hit you too hard. I didn't want that." He slaps my hand out of the way. "Screw you! You did that on purpose!" Anger swells up in me."Well yeah? I wanted to disarm you but not break your wrist!" He immediately jumps up and goes into my face, screaming something that I couldn't understand because he was still crying. Trystan seperated us and started to look at the hand of Lurek. He started to heal him. "Good hit Thorry. Your next opponent will be Bjorn." He told me nonchalantly while turn around to look at that hunk of a boy behind me. How the hell can I manage that?