Both Isaac and Fredrick honed their magical abilities and their knowledge of history. Isaac and Sorincrad left for Lion's Point where Isaac would be trained by Lady Athena and Sir Bartholomew. Cromwell would return with Mortimer to Dragonrock to begin raising the March of Chaos.
Isaac and Sorincrad reached Lion's Point and they were greeted by Lady Athena. She took them to the Keep, where a painting of King Aace hung over a large meeting room. Isaac looked at the painting with wonder, and he noticed the features he had. Isaac had the same features. A bust of Titus showed that Isaac shared features with him as well.
"Sorincrad, is it normal for people to look the same?"
"It is if they are related."
"So I'm related to Titus and King Aace?
"Your mother decended from the line of Aace. It was his bastard line. Your father decended from the line of Titus, and thus had great wealth. Your parents met, and then they had you. Hm, no wonder your the manifestation of pure goodness."
Isaac was then greeted by Sir Bartholomew who quickly took him to the courtyard to train. He gave Isaac a fully sharpened sword, then prepared his stance.
"Shouldn't he be using a sparing sword?" Sorincrad asked to Lady Athena.
"Probably, but a real fight won't be so nice."
Isaac and Sir Bartholomew began their duel, Isaac trying to overpower the great swordsman, and Sir Bartholomew testing Isaac as best he could.
"This kid is very strong, and I may have underestimated him," as Isaac kept releasing flurries of blows onto Sir Bartholomew.
"End the fight," called Lady Athena.
"Rest up Isaac, you duel me in the morning."
"Ok pretty lady."
Sorincrad then approached as Isaac was lead to his chambers.
"Now, was that a real fight, or did you just feed his bravado?"
"Oh it was real alright. Real good for my leg, of which THERE IS NONE."
"You let a fifteen year old child cut off your leg? Aren't you supposed to be the best swordsmen in Graiigreald?"
"The kid is fast, and he's good. I hope you are ready, Athena."
"I will show him what battle is really like."
The next morning, Isaac was awoken by Sorincrad and given a sword.
"Be ready, Isaac. As soon as you leave this room, your battle with Athena begins."
Isaac left the room cautiously, keeping his guard up as he went down to the courtyard. He stepped out of the tower and was met by Lady Athena. As she had her sword to his throat, Isaac moved so his back faced the center of the courtyard. Then he parried her sword away and began to fight. Athena did not fight with honor, throwing dirt in his face, tripping him, and tackling him. But Isaac never gave in, and when he reached his opening, he threw Lady Athena to the ground.
"Yield!"
"Make me."
Isaac then knocked her completely unconscious, stunning Sir Bartholomew as he watched.
"That kid is going to lead armies from the front lines and kill every soldier before the rest of his army could even take the city."
Sorincrad agreed, and thus they prepared him for leadership, grooming him into the greatest swordsman and general in the land. As he grew, he would earn his title, and the soldiers took to calling him "commander."
-+-
Fedrick and Mortimer began their ritual. They captured Sir Zion in the dead of night after killing all of The Shadows. Fredrick buried his arm into Sir Zion, destroying his heart, and he pulled from his chest a cloud of shadow. As Sir Zion gasped, dying, Fredrick's sword formed. It was as black as the void, absorbing all light and radiating evil. It was the shadow of chaos, the instrument of evil. Cromwell looked through Fredrick's eyes. He would have his revenge.