"Lord Himmelstein, if you don't get up now, you'll miss the tournament," a blond maid admonished me, her hair shimmering in the dawn and giving off a beguiling strawberry scent.
With a sleepy smile, I replied, "Ah, the tournament, yes.... That's the one where I get to admire the magical arts of the fighters, right?"
With a gentle shake of her head, the maid corrected, "No, my lord. It is a sword fighting tournament, and you are one of the participants yourself."
My heart leapt. Why did everything have to happen so quickly? But there was no choice but to face fate. With a resigned sigh, I let the maid dress me and got into the ornate carriage that would take me to the tournament grounds.
When we arrived at the show grounds, I was overwhelmed by the splendor of the place. Colorful tents adorned the field, knights in gleaming armor practiced their sword skills, and an excited crowd of spectators had already gathered to watch the spectacle.
I was led into the arena by my own father, Lord Himmelstein. The massive wooden walls of the arena seemed to rise before me, and I could feel the adrenaline in my blood. Sword drawn, I faced my first opponent, a young nobleman whose emerald eyes sparkled with the desire to fight.
It quickly became apparent, however, that I was far outmatched. The boy was nimble and agile, his blows coming fast and relentless. Each time I tried to deflect a blow, I was thrown back by my own clumsiness. My breathing quickened, the pain intensified, and my hopes of winning the tournament with glory and honor were destroyed more and more with each round I lost.
After being defeated by several opponents and my defeats increasing, I finally retired with aching muscles and a humbled soul. The harsh lesson had made me realize that I still had much to learn in order to survive in this new world.
I had to admit to myself that swordplay was an art I had yet to learn, and that I would not master it simply overnight. Despite all the humiliations I had suffered, I was determined to evolve and meet the challenges of this world.
===
Name:
Aldric Himmelstein (Tim)
Skills:
[Dimensional Travel (Inactive)]