At the west wing, Morgana was busy with her treatments on some of the third battalions that were injured, while Carlisle just kept on reading their minds - since there was nothing better for him to do.
His countenance changed immediately, when the lord impaler walked into the wing with his right hand. His men made an attempt to stand on their feet, but Zander stopped them - as for now they should rest.
"Carlisle, come" Zander said, and Morgana could see the inside of Carlisle leap with joy, as he immediately went with him. Morgana smiled as she watched them leave, then she went back to her job.
"You look really good today" Zander complimented as they strode along the training field.
Carlisle grinned, "I feel good too."
Zander looked at him and smiled briefly, "Anyone can tell" he said.
"Is it that obvious?" Carlisle asked, amazed by the lord Impaler's dashing dimples that are hardly seen.
"It really is" Zander answered. And as they walked pass the third battalions in training, the warriors bowed for their lord.
"Your realm is in dangerous hands, Carlisle. And we need to get it back" Zander said.
The mindler god nodded, "I'm aware"
"I'm glad you are. But first you need to be trained, Ramsgate will be a death trap, you should at least learn how to defeat yourself" Zander explained.
"I've always wanted that, it would be an honor" Carlisle replied.
Zander stopped in front of a huge long table that displayed different kinds of weapons.
"You have just one test to pass" he said, his eyes studying the weapons.
"A test?" Carlisle asked, as he swallowed a hard. Why was he suddenly scared at the mention of a test - perhaps it was because he has never done anything challenging in his life.
Zander saw just how scared he was, and that brought a grin on his face.
"Relax, it's not that hard" the lord impaler said. And the mindler god breathed out in relief.
The great impaler picked up a certain heavy sword from the table. Carlisle took his time to admire the sword - he has never seen any sword like that, it's blade looked sharp enough to cut through anything, and the hilt was made of gold throughout.
"Have you wielded a sword before?" Zander asked as he crouched to the ground, he traced his fingers on the ground - and Carlisle couldn't understand why he did that.
"Not in a real battle" Carlisle admitted.
Zander looked up at him, "You have a long way to go" the lord impaler told the mindler god, as he stood on his feet.
Then the lord impaler swung the sword in circles, before he buried it deep into the ground. Carlisle's eyes and mouth widened with amazement - how did he just do that?
"Now, all you have to do is pull the sword out" he informed.
"P-Pull the...the sword...out?" he stammered clearly striken by the test, he knew within himself that he had no such strength.
"Precisely" Zander answered.
Carlisle looked down at the sword - he didn't want to look weak and feeble in front of the lord impaler. So he took a deep breath before he held on to the hilt, he tightened his grip. And then with all the strength that he had, he pulled...the sword didn't even bulge, then he pulled again, the sword still didn't move.
"This is really...buried...deep" Carlisle said breathing heavily.
"Umm hmm" Zander hummed.
Still he kept on pulling...as hard as he possibly can.
"This is really hard to watch" Ian told his lord in a whisper, his eyes fixed on the god struggling to pull a sword from the ground.
"It really is" Zander whispered back. This was really embarrassing - Zander thought inwardly.
"Alright, that's enough" Zander said.
"Are you sure? I can keep pulling if you - "
"Yes, that's enough. Rest for a while" Zander said, because he was certain that Carlisle had exhausted his strength.
Carlisle nodded, feeling a little pathetic for disappointing the great impaler.
"Ian, walk with me" Zander said.
"Of course, my lord" Ian answered as they took small strides away from where Carlisle stood.
"He needs to be trained, at this point he is easy prey for Adrelhael and his men" Zander said.
"I know, I'll appoint one of the third battalion for it" Ian answered.
Zander stopped on his track, and so did his right hand - they were just a few feet away from Carlisle.
"I already have a god in mind" Zander informed.
"Who?"
"You." the lord impaler answered.
"What?" was the first word that he could utter to what his lord has just said.
Ian looked at Carlisle and then back to his lord. "Him? No" he said.
"Yes" Zander urged.
"I refuse" Ian stated.
"Ian, come on he is not that bad" Zander said trying to coax him.
"You and I know just how much of a weakling he is" Ian said.
"That's precisely the reason why I need you to train him"
"My lord, can't we choose another warrior for this job"
"We can't. I need a god that I can trust, and that god is you" Ian informed.
"I don't like mindlers, they invade privacy"
"Is that your problem?" Zander asked.
"It's one of my problems, I have a long list of them"
"Ian, this is not negotiable" the great impaler said and continued, "Do you remember those seasons that I trained you?"
"You are using emotional blackmail, that's not fair" Ian pointed out.
"What's not fair, is you refusing to train Carlisle, he has been through so much" Zander informed.
"Haven't we all" Ian said.
"Do it for me then" Zander said. He knew that he was not going to force Ian to train Carlisle he has to do it willingly, because Ian has grown to be more than a friend to him.
Ian glanced at Carlisle, he would do absolutely anything for his lord. And that was why he said, "Fine, I'll do it" and then he added, "But if reads my mind, I'll skin him alive"
"I'm sure he will understand that" Zander said as they walked back to the mindler god.
"I'll look pass the fact that you failed the test. Ramsgate will be a death trap, you need to be prepared. That is why you will be trained by Ian" the great impaler informed.
"By who?" Carlisle asked to confirm if he had heard right, in fact he wanted it to be that he heard wrong. This said Ian scares him, the aura coming from him was no joke.
"I'm sure you heard me the first time" Zander said. "So, I'll leave you two to begin" but before he walked away he whispered to his right hand, "go easy on him"
"No promises" Ian whispered back. Zander smiled at him before he left.
"Is he coming back?" Carlisle asked as he watched Zander leave.
"No." Ian answered plainly, and then he took a step closer to Carlisle, whom took a step backwards.
Ian leaned closer to him, "I'll make this very clear Carlisle. If you as much as read my mind, I'll tear out your throat and feed them to you. Do you understand me?" he asked with a cold stare that petrified Carlisle.
"y-yes, very...well s-sire" he stammered uncontrollably.
Ian stood straight, "It is good that we are in the same page" he said with a smirk. "Come along" Ian said as he walked off.
Carlisle stood there completely frozen with fear - he swallowed thickly. All his life he has always been pampered, he was not used with the hard way of life.
When Ian realised that Carlisle was not following him, he turned around. "Do you have a death wish?" Ian asked loud enough for him to hear. Ian's voice jolted Carlisle back to reality.
"No, absolutely not" he answered as he ran to where Ian stood.
With a sigh, Ian turned around and walked on with Carlisle following fast.