Perspective: Thor Gild
{Past }
"I am a member of the Ascetic clan", from childhood I was taught to live in the ways of the Ascetic.
Our clan believed that the way of asceticism lied in rejecting ease and always opting for the difficult path. We lived in the mountains near Summerwe Volcano range , we distanced ourselves from comfort and convenience there. Although our aim was to develop strength, we firmly held the belief that resorting to violence should be the last option. This belief was even more strengthened by our refusal to embrace convenience, as violence is seen as an easy solution that we consciously avoided choosing.
Our way was to deny convenience and worldly desires, to offer ourselves to the guidance of Arngrim, "the god of Slaughter".
One of his teachings in our clan was to emphasize the idea of not healing wounds immediately. The belief was that on enduring pain can actually strengthened both body and willpower. As a result use of healing magic was strictly forbidden. except in cases where injuries were life threatening. Instead our clan taught members, how to cope with injuries without relying on magic, allowing the body to naturally heal over time. Those ways were exercises, eating otherwise venomous plants and animals or breathing techniques to empower one's body's healing mechanism.
Even though I left my clan like many others before me, who didn't want to devote their entire life for our God, yet I still kept the belief of his teachings in my soul and I still used them occasionally.
Enduring pain is the mark of being a true ascetic, in our clan there were many people who survived a life threatening injury only through endurance and sheer will power. Through doing that people were treated as heroes.
Our belief was,
Using healing magic was a mark of a coward, Even though I haven't seen anyone use healing magic, until I went to the free city of adventurers "Ustrax".
There using healing magic was normal, people used healing magic for even the most minor of injuries.
That is where I met my trusted friends, Elkdrack, Patrick and those two.
It was about a month ago, Patrick had gone somewhere for a month or two now, I was chatting with Elkdrack in the guild hall. That is when those two appeared.
First Regina stepped in, whose beauty was simply breathtaking, her flowing locks of hair as brilliant as the clearest summer sky, glistening like shimmering star dust, ohh, her smile that painted joy on all who beheld it, had the power to soothe even the weariest souls . She wore a robe of vibrant green, wielding a celestial staff, that emanated an otherworldly charm.
Yet, it was her smile that truly bewitched me, it's radiant aura and enchanting quality that seemed to cast a spell, captivating me beyond any measure. In that very instant my heart surrendered to her, falling irreversibly in love.
Then he stepped in, Conrad Garnier. At first I couldn't get a read on him. When he entered the hall, I couldn't help but notice his lackluster gaze and utter indifference. Yes, maybe he was a bit attractive, with his jet black hair, silver chainmail and that intimidating sword that was as black as the void. I also felt the compassionate gaze of several women finding him attractive, with his mysterious aura.
But his most distinguishing feature was that apathetic expression that screamed, "I don't care".
I was hopelessly In love with Regina, so next day With Elkdrack, I decided to confess to Regina.
In the morning, I waited for them to enter the guild hall, after they were done with their business I firmly approached her.
At first I decided to hold her delicate hand and tell her how I felt, while I succumbed her to my charms.
Yet, Elkdrack cautioned me against too much agression.
So, I gracefully descended upon my bended knees, bearing a bouquet of blissful flowers, with confidence in my words I spoke,
"From the very instant I layed my eyes on your radiance, you were the only one who stayed in my mind, every time I close my eyes, your Image is all that greets me. At this rate I fear forgetting the simplest of human needs, like eating and sleeping. So, I beseech you my love, to honour me with your permanent presence on my life, marry me. Let your enchanting gaze forever bless my sight, until the end of time".
As soon as I said that, Conrad extended his hand, protecting Regina from me.
He had that disgusted look on his face, that really pissed me off.
But with subtlety I asked,
"Good sir ..... do you two perhaps already belong to each other,
If so, excuse my rudeness over here".
He replied,
"No ... ".
"She is like my sister".
As he said that, I saw Regina's wistful gaze upon him.
Then I asked,
"Then why must you object to our confession,
It is surely up to her to decide".
Then the way he replied really ticked me off,
"Because I hate your kind".
He said that with a straight face, insulting my clan so easily, as if his word held no weight or consequences.
Infuriated I replied,
"That's it .... I have tolerated enough .... you can't insult my clan ..... and live to tell about it ...".
I took off my glove and threw it in front of him, challenging him to a duel.
"I challenge you to a duel .... and If I win you will take back what you said, and let madam decide what she wants ".
He replied,
"You guys haven't even met eachother .... what makes you think that she will choose you over me".
"Witless bafoon".
In the town's square, on a spectacle for all to see, I planned to destroy him and his hollow pride.
It was decided to be a sword battle, who ever knocked the sword off one's hand was to be deemed the winner.
We stood adjacent to each other, pointing our swords at one another, surrounded by a crowd of unsuspecting audience.
In a graceful motion, I initiated the attack, I quickly lunged my sword forward, aiming a precise thrust at Conrad's chest. But to my surprise he skillfully parried my strike with a quick side step. Countering my attack with a swift slash towards my exposed flank. I held my breath and I responded with a graceful twirl deflecting the strike.
As he did that, I noticed a corner of his mouth curling upwards, he had a self satisfied smirk on his face.
At first he initiated a deceptive fient, pretending to strike from left direction while quickly changing his
course to the right, As I didn't knew I fell for the decoy and attempted to block the initial strike, leaving myself vulnerable to my right. But as soon as I caught on to his trick, I gracefully twirled locking my blade with him.
As we locked our blade, he had a surprised look at his face. After that he backed off.
We circled each other while pointing our swords at one another.
As I once again initiated, I executed a swift upwards swing, aiming to catch him off guard, Conrad reacted by swiftly stepping back, narrowly avoiding my strike. Then he countered with a lightning quick downward strike towards my exposed forearm. With my reflexive instinct I narrowly avoided getting my arm chopped off, by sidestepping to the opposite direction.
As I was the one who was caught off guard, I assumed a defensive stance, waiting for him to strike. It seemed though he wasn't familiar with something called patience, or he simply didn't thought that highly of me and my skills. He attacked me with a powerful overhead blow, I used the momentum of the strike to re direct it. launching a rapid counter attack towards his undefended torso. Then he responded with a elegant twirl deflecting my calculated strike with a series of lightning fast parries. Then In rage he performed a mesmerizing series of elegant twirling strikes, showing his finesse. But as I was impressed but yet undeterred, I anticipated each moment and tried to counter it, with precise strikes of my own, attempting to disrupt his rhythm. With each deflect I pulled, my grip gradually loosened, thanks to my sweaty hand, then on one final strike my sword hilt slipped from my hands, upon contact with his blade.
I had blocked each attack, but now my sword was no longer in my hand, so by default he won.
As I stood there ashamed on myself, for barking so much and then losing to him, he spoke this words to me as he left.
"You are good with your blade ..... but I still hate your kind".
He appraised my skills yet, he still insulted my clan.
"Why?".
As he said that my grasp on his personality had been proved incorrect, I thought to myself.
"What is he?".
"I don't understand him!".