Luke walked through the woods, following a cobbled stone path.
The forest was mostly of some kind of trees, slightly spaced trees.They loomed over him into the sky, spreading their branches neatly around. These ones weren't like the Dunédains,who spread their branches wildly.The forest gave off a sweet and soft rustling sound, sending chills down Luke's back.
Luke walked steadily,gazing around in search for his colleagues.His long Shadow Cloak danced in the wind,making it kinda difficult for him to walk since it occasionally got stuck to some shrub or thistle.
"Guys!!"Luke called,after he had not noticed his team.
"Over here!!"somebody called.
Luke hastily followed in the direction the calling came from, grabbing his cloak as he went,and he found himself in a glade.There was a stone circle in the glade.
The stone circle was mostly covered in runes. There were seven sculptures of elves spreading their shadows over the circle below. The circle below had a majestic rune sculpted through it.Observing carefully,Luke noticed the runes on his cloak were pretty much the same as the ones he stared at,now.
"You're late,"a voice tore him from his amazement.
"Huh!"Luke gasped, jumping out of his day dream.
"Where have you been,young man?"Lord Albion asked.He was clad in some make of armour, designed and defined endlessly.
"I...I....I had lessons with Lady Meredith,"Luke stuttered, looking around at his friends.They all were clad in armours that covered their torsos,only,baring their arms.They all had swords, Krysmis's the biggest.It was more like a claymore.
"And you have lessons with us,too,young fellow!" Clearly,Lord Albion was angered but he shouldn't blame Luke.
"Hey, Luke.I never seen you as handsome as you are now,"Enoc called.Honestly speaking,Luke became extraordinarily handsome once he was in trouble. And now here he was, looking as gorgeous as can be.
"Quiet, Jai-Blynn,and get to work!!"Lord Albion snapped."Actually, there's two of us.Two Jai-Blynns,"Eric protested."Just get to work and let me sort this young man out,"Lord Albion shot them a hard glare.
The team went on to train, themselves.Eric was duelling with Asralyn,Enoc with Clement,Rohan with Robin [Rohan looked angry]and Krysmis,alone.
"Why aren't you dressed,young man?"Lord Albion turned to look.Even though he was wearing a helmet,Luke could see his angry expression.
"I'm sorry,sir.I don't know where the armory is," Luke apologized."Well,I see,"Lord Albion nodded,as if agreeing,"but that doesn't explain why you are late?"
"I..." Luke began.
"Sir,he is new here,"Asralyn called.
"What is that supposed to mean?"Lord Albion turned to Asralyn.
"He didn't do most of the bookwork,"Asralyn said,"so... Professor Alberic must have assigned him to some extra lesson,so he can catch up."
Luke almost sighed in relief.How did Asralyn know about his extra classes?She had just explained to Lord Albion what Luke would have had trouble explaining.
"Okay.Extra classes it is.But I'm forced to ask you to talk to your teacher so you can join us on time,"Lord Albion said,"or I'll deal with her myself."
"Okay,sir!"Luke nodded.
"Okay,then.Get dressed,"Lord Albion nodded to an armour,much like the armours the team was putting on,on a stone beside a sculpture. There was a sword leaning on the stone beside it.
Luke strode over to the armour.It was more like a bodysuit,made of leather.It had no sleeves,and fastened at the crotch.This thing was kinda light,and fitted closely on Luke.
"You get to train with Ecthelion,"Lord Albion said.
"Uh...oh!!"Luke gasped, picking up the sword. The sword had a gold pommel,on a wrist-to-elbow long hilt,which was joined to the blade by a finely sculpted bronze guard.The blade was roughly thrice as long as the hilt was,and it shimmered faintly in the sun.
Luke was perplexed at first,by the weight of the sword.It was typically heavy.
"Uh...sir...I think this sword is kinda heavy," Luke protested,feeling the sword's weight in his arms."You will get used to it,pretty soon."Enoc called.
"Have you trained in sword fights,before?"Lord Albion asked.
"No,sir."Luke said, glancing at Krysmis,with whom he was to train.Krysmis was leaning his chin against the hilt of his gigantic claymore.
"Well, Ecthelion,go easy on him,"Lord Albion said.
"You heard him, Ecthelion!!"Luke lifted his sword."Don't you call me that,"Krysmis said, straightening up.
The rest of the team had gone on with their training.Enoc could be heard teasing and talking with Clement.Eric and Asralyn fought quite well with each other,with Asralyn beating him up and Eric saying he just let her do so. Rohan and Robin were equally good,which annoyed Rohan.He kept trying to beat Robin to it but that fellow seemed as ready as himself.
"What should I call you,then?"Luke asked.
"Brackwell.Call me Brackwell."Krysmis said, launching his attack.Luke dodged that one pretty well,with a sidestep."Why don't you like the name Ecthelion?"Luke asked, gripping his sword tightly."It sounds like a curse to me,"Krysmis said.
Well,that name did sound like a curse,which kinda explained why they thought he was cursed.Speaking of which...
"Is it true?"Luke asked, striking a blow which Krysmis knocked off quite well."What is true?"Krysmis asked, warding off Luke's constant blows."That you are cursed,"Luke blurted.Krysmis didn't seem to care what he had just had,clearly explaining his emotionlessness.
"This conversation stops here,"Krysmis said,his voice void of any emotion.Luke observed his face and actions to check if he did have emotions but that guy was totally emotionless.His face expressions never changed.What's more,Luke wanted to see if that guy had been angry,the day Luke touched his shoulder and he almost broke his wrist off.
"By the way,were you angry last time?"Luke asked, stabbing."Why would I be?"Krysmis parried the blow with his claymore."It is pretty clear you don't want your shoulders tampered with,"Luke said,swinging a blow to the left,on Krysmis's ribside."Whatever it is you think,"Krysmis deflected the blow.
For a newcomer like he,his skills in sword fights were not the very best but atleast,he knew something.Luke wasn't like most of the newcomers in Havens, wherever he learnt those skill,him and his gods.
"Fasten your grip,young man.Your weapon might be knocked out of your hand easily,"Lord Albion said.