1 MONTH LATER - Highwood Forest
It's been 1 month since the attempted kidnapping of Sylvia and so far there have been no suspicious characters coming to avenge the Kidnappers like some Chinese Cultivation story.
Sylvia has Healed from the fever and she hasn't told me how she threw the stone with her mind. I even asked her and she'd always stare the topic in another direction. Due to the Kidnapping incident I realized how weak I am when I faced the Musclehead Thug. He was so strong and fast even under the effects of paralysis.
That's why I'm going to have to find a Knight that will teach me the ways of the sword. During my research on Knights I found out that they use there Arcanum in a very different way from Arcanists. While Arcanists do rituals to cast spells, Knights use Arcanic Energy to amp there physical abilities and do many other feats of Power but only certain Knights can properly use their Arcanum.
The Arcanum seems to be the Soul or is part of the Soul. It is in every living being and only Sapient life like humans and Demons can consciously use it.
Currently I'm Hiking with the Boys to a Veteran High Knights Cabin in the forest. Why am I doing it you ask, because I want to be a Knight...maybe.
"Are we there yet?" Gil asks because he is bored out of his mind. "No," I reply, annoyed due to the fact that he has been asking this question once every 5 minutes for the last hour. "Ok," he timidly replies realizing my annoyance.
A few minutes later we Arrive at a Modest Wood Cabin with a porch. I walk to the door and Knock it and Nobody Answers. I Knock again and again and again for 10 minutes before a shadow appears behind me and the boys. "Who might you Lads be?" a gruff aged voice asks.
I turn around look him up and down and reply "Were the Highwood Explorers, me Alastoran, him, Gilstron, Him Micheal and Him Ludwick, Mister...". "I am no Mister, I am Sir Gawald of Newbain!" Sir Gawald states in a Boisterous tone.
After introducing Himself he immediately become deathly serious and asks us "What are you Lads doing here this deep in Highwood forest?". "We came looking for you Sir Gawald, so that you the great Knight you are can train us," I state.
He stares Me and the Boys up and down and asks "How old are you by chance?" I reply "I'm six", Gil replies "I'm six", Mike replies "I'm seven", and Lud replies "I'm six Sir".
"Hahahaha!" He bursts out laughing then immediately straightens his face and says seriously "To be trained by me one of you must land one Hit on me, no rules and I cant move from where I'm standing. Go now". My face immediately turns serious and I bolt towards Gawald and throw sand from my pouch on his face. As soon as I do that I go up close to his side where his kidney is located and I send my first into his Kidneys direction. I suddenly feel a hand grab my arm and throw me into another direction.
As I am about to hit the ground Gil catches me and safely let's me down. "Thanks Gil," I say and he nods. "We have to do this together" Mike states. "I say Gil, you and I distract and while he's distracted Lud lands a Hit from the Back," I say to Mike. "Good idea Al" Mike replies. "Mike go tell Lud the plan while we distract Sir Gawald," I instruct Mike and he nods and heads to Lud's direction.
I turn to Gil and we simultaneously dash towards Gawald as he and I shoot spikes and throw sand into Gawald's face disorienting him enough for Mike to get behind him and send a kick to his crotch but Gawald grabs Mike from Behind and and throws him into a nearby Pond.
Gil and I continue to distract Gawald for 10 minutes when I get manage to throw a spiker point blank into his face and I shout "NOW LUD!!!". Lud jumps put of no where and punches Gawald in the spine and Gawald gasps in pain.
"Well you Lads aren't so bad after all, I'll teach you but the training will be intense and you will must likely wish you had not even been born," He says seriously. "Do you understand boys?" he asks. "Yes we do,×4" We say in unison.
The Great Timeskip: 4 years later
It's been 4 years since we started Hellish Training with Gawald. Our days went went by with us Training Swordsmanship, Perception and all other aspects of a Knight and a Hunter but one thing was different than what you would expect from the training....Gawald made us do Arcane Rituals inwhich we took baths in 'Magical' herbs and drank god awful concoctions.
He said they were to help with our muscle growth, cleanse us and Improve us beyond normal means and so said so done over the years instead of me looking like an average 10 year old I looked like I hit puberty and then some. I became sharper, better and stronger. I grew to 5'5 and Gained moderate amounts of muscle, I wasnt a Body builder but I was proud of myself.
Gil grew to be 5'9 and became more of a Physical freak. Utterly obliterating me in an arm wrestle. Although Gil is Physically better than me I am able to outlast him and beat him in Duels.
Mike showed the Least results only being 5'3 and relatively lean compared to us but that was nothing to scoff at when you haven't hit puberty yet. It seems like he has found a Teacher in the Arcane arts and has been showing up less and less for training.
Lud grew to 5'5 and has shown to be my rival in terms of Technique but a surpass him in physical prowess.
Gawald has shown to be very proud of us and has said that he would recommend us to begin apprenticeship under a High Knight who he mentored.
Currently I am Standing with the Boys right in front of the 6'8 High Knight Gawald. "Boys....you have shown to be cut above the rest and ready to become men...therefore I task you Lads with Killing a Direwulf in these woods...if you succeed I will let you apprentice under my ex-student". "Yes sir"×4 we all say in unison.
And so we begin the hunt.