Combat

Calitian is a world full of magic, but also full of conflicts. Kingdoms using spies, assassins and armies to increase their kingdom and wealth, Nobles fighting against each other for some pieces of land, bandits raiding caravans and settlements getting attacked by monsters and marauders. This world is far from being peaceful.

As a mage, your main defense is of course your magic. But you are fully aware, that your Mana reserve can vanish dangerously quickly. It was the most logical decision for you to learn how to defend yourself without magic. Your older brother thought you how to use a stick to defend yourself before he was conscripted into the local military. This is a start, but will not help you very much if you have to face a skilled fighter. To your luck, the academy offers not only theoretical courses, but also teaches combat and strategy lessons.

The course is open for members of the mage guild, officers from the royal army, students who are interested in self-defense and even traveling adventurers. The teacher, Sir Benedict, is a local legend. He was just a peasant conscripted into the royal army, but so skilled that the king, crown prince at this time, made him a commander and member of his personal inner circle. During a battle against a treacherous lord some decades ago, the prince was wounded and almost killed. But Sir Benedict came to the rescue and defeated ten enemies, including a heavily armored knight at once. For this he was rewarded with the title of a royal knight himself.

Sir Benedict is an old man now, but he still has the knowledge and experience to be the best fighting instructor in the kingdom. And he strongly believes that everybody should be allowed to learn. Including peasants and non-humans, who are normally not allowed into higher military ranks at all.

The lesson takes place at the training grounds. Two rows of Students, already wait for the lesson to start. You see a few known faces and at least one nature mage and a water mage came to the course too today. There also is a young adventurer you know in the first row. His name is Morvan and as much as you know, he is not a bad guy at all. He is a member of the adventurers guild and often travels through the land to do missions.

Sir Benedict waits until the big bell rings before beginning his lesson. Exactly on time. With strictness and patience he instructs all of you to repeat the basic attacks and blocks. He watches you all and whenever a student makes a mistake, he or she gets a quick hit with the teachers cane on the leg. You are lucky to get only two of them this time. According to Sir Benedict, the record is twenty-seven hits in a single lesson. And he hopes nobody is stupid enough to break this record before his final retirement.

After the basics he pairs all students up for duels with wooden swords. Only the new students get another task. Since you are here for some time and even quiet good, Sir Benedict regularly pairs you with the other good students. This time it seems to be Morvan again. You sigh as soon as Sir Benedict is gone. Working with Morvan can be very difficult. Especially for you.

It is not like Morvan would be arrogant or did not like you. He is a nice guy and a great fighter. He is known for defeating a very dangerous bandit leader in the eastern regions of Priluxandria and barely survived a dragon attack in order to save a child that got too close to the dragons lair. You had some training sessions with him in the past and also a few private talks. You learned a lot while training with him. But sadly, he seems to have trouble understanding a rejection.

When he asked you to spend some time after classes, you first did not thought he had a date in mind. And when your found out and told him about your relationship with Luna, he was surprised at first. And a little sad maybe. But that does not stop him from flirting with you almost every time you meet. It is not bad and he is much less aggressive in his behavior than other guys you know. But it can be quiet annoying sometimes.

“Hey beauty,” Morvan greets you smiling, “couldn’t stay away long from me?”

“You are not the only one who is doing missions,” you reply calm, “this had nothing to do with you.”

“If you say so,” Morvan replies smiling and takes a fighting position, “but you were definitely a topic of conversation in the guild last night. A chimera, right? Impressive.”

“Thank you, that’s nice to hear,” you reply and also take your position, “now be quiet and don’t hold back.”

Morvan attacks and you dodge. He is very fast and precise. Since he is not a mage, swordfight is his main skill. You on the other hand only do it for self-defense in case you run out of mana. However, you also manage to counterattack him a few times. After half an hour you are breathing heavy, your arms hurt and you have at least four bruises. Morvan is only a little exhausted. Or he is a great actor.

“Your skills are impressive,” Morvan praises you and nods, “you know, I could use a woman like you in my adventurers group. And I don’t have a mage yet.”

“I am in dept with the guild and can’t leave before I passed the exams, which I told you about ten times already,” you gasp but grin amused about his ongoing tries, “despite, Luna already wants to found an own group.”

“A shame, as always,” Morvan mumbles, “how about a bet then? If I beat you in a training fight, you will do whatever I want for … ten minutes.”

“We both know you are a better fighter than me,” you reply, “my strength is magic. I have no chance to beat you in a fight without it.”

“True, you are good but not that good,” Morvan admits, “how about this: If you manage to hit me at least one time before receiving a >deadly< hit, you win. And of course, I will do whatever you want for ten minutes, too. What do you say? Deal?”