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The boys grow, learning about the people around them and themselves. All while trying to understand the new world around them. Before they know it, three years have passed, and they've stepped even closer to manhood.
Alph sings a beautiful melody, and the small plant begins to grow into a large, gorgeous flower. Alph excitedly looks over at Fey and she smiles. He sings more melodies, causing fire to swirl about as he wants, the wind to form around him, creating a protective sphere, and water to rise and fall and float at his beckon. Fey watches him in wonder.
"This boy is so talented, despite only being a half-elf."
"Alph, come here."
Alph walks over obediently, Fey studies him for a moment, and then nods.
"Come along, we have one last thing I want to see you attempt." Fey says.
Fey leads Alph into the center of the massive clearing and walks off to the side. The winds howl and clouds gather in the sky above them, as thunder claps ring out and lightning strikes the earth, leaving destruction in its wake.
"We're going to test your aptitude for sorcery, okay?" Fey asks, her eyes showing a hint of worry.
Alph nods, his pale eye focused on the tree about twenty paces away.
"Now, extend your arm out in front of you." Fey commands.
Alph extends his arm out, and looks over at Fey, awaiting further instructions. Fey nods and begins to speak once more.
"Now, reach in yourself, and feel for power."
Alph closes his eyes and goes still for a moment, and then nods.
"Now, draw out that power." Fey commands.
Alph nods and then a large aura rises out of him, part of it white, and frosty, the other purple and raging like a thunderstorm.
"Now, build it within your palm and let it loose." Fey says.
Alph draws in the aura and suddenly the storm rages even louder. The winds begin to rip leaves and branches off the trees, and lightning begins to strike all around Alph. He puts his left hand up, and lightning strikes down into his fingertip, coursing through his body and making his veins glow and pulsate with power, Alph takes a deep breath, and his eyes focus. Blue lightning fires out of his palm, striking a nearby tree making it explode into small pieces. Fey smiles and rises to her feet, she takes in a breath and the winds curl around her, letting her reach Alph with no trouble.
"A little too powerful, just try to rein it in a little bit more." Fey says, holding Alph's hand.
Alph nods and then begins again, after a moment his face twists in effort and his arm begins to shake.
"I... can't!"
The corners of Alph's mouth twist and contort, and then harden into amethyst-like gems. Just then, a massive blast of lightning fires out, blasting through three trees. Alph sways and then begins falling.
"Alph!"
Fey catches the boy, frantically checking him. She looks at his mouth and her eyes widen in shock.
"Oh dear..." Fey says, putting a hand over her mouth.
"What happened?! I heard an explosion!"
Fey turns to see Swyn running over. Swyn drops down to her knees as she gets to them.
"A-Alph is..."
Fey trails off, staring at the boy. Swyn follows her gaze and her eyes widen.
"By The Seven..."
The purple gems at the corner of Alph's mouth glow and intense energy pulses within them as the storm begins to rage even louder.
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Metal clangs against metal, blow ringing out across the grounds. Arthur is knocked to the ground and his blade clatters beside him. He looks up at the tip of the blade pointing at his nose, and then lets his drop back, staring up at the sky. The blade is sheathed and then an armored hand extends out to him. He smiles and takes it; he's lifted back to his feet and patted on the back.
"Not bad, kid." Yuger says, flashing him a grin.
Arthur chuckles and brushes his hair back.
"I still couldn't even land a single strike. How are you so strong, Yuger?" he asks, looking up at the old Knight-Lieutenant.
"Lots and lots of experience. I've been through many a battle, and of those many, it'd take ten hands to count the number of times I almost met my end!" Yuger says with a hearty laugh.
"Don't fill his head with that nonsense! A near-death experience doesn't mean he was doing good."
Arthur looks over to see his mother approaching, shaking her head angrily. She wraps her arm around Arthur's shoulders protectively, though her fingertips can barely meet the end of the boy's stature now. Arthur smiles and leans into his mother.
"I'll be fine, mom. I won't do anything dangerous like Yuger does." Arthur reassures his mother.
Myrna sighs and shakes her head.
"Even when you tell me that, you have your father's genes, which means no matter what you do, trouble will always find you." She says, hugging Arthur close.
Mentioning my father again, though I never got to meet him. I wonder what type of person he was.
"Oh, come on, Myrna! The boy's only got a few years before he'll be a man! He can't have his mother coddlin' him no more!" Yuger says.
Myrna glares at Yuger, and then looks back down at Arthur. She rubs his cheek and then lets him go.
"You look so much like your father now. I can only hope you didn't inherit his knack for getting hurt." Myrna says.
Arthur grins at his mother and straightens his tunic.
"I'm sure I didn't, besides I got-"
"Arthur! Arthur!"
The three of them turn to see a small girl with blonde hair and light blue eyes running over, she stands barely up to Arthur's shoulder, but she was born only mere months after.
"Iufla, it's nice to see you." Arthur says.
Iufla stops in front of them and bows.
"It's nice to see you again, Knight-Lieutenants." Iufla says, her voice become prim and proper.
Yuger laughs and reaches down, ruffling the girl's hair.
"You need not be so modest, Iufla! You're just as much a Paladin as the three of us!" Yuger says.
Iufla smiles and walks up to Arthur and hands him a small box.
"The Knight-Commander told me to bring this to you!" She says.
Arthur looks at Myrna and Yuger, who nod in return. He opens the box to reveal a small steel dagger, with glowing glyphs on the handle.
"My, the Knight-Commander was feeling generous for our soon-to-be Paladin of Ardonia!" Yuger says.
Arthur lifts the dagger out of the box and above his head, looking at it with admiration and wonder.
"It's beautiful." He says with a smile.
The blade turns red, and more glyphs appear. The glyphs shine brightly, like a beautiful flame. Arthur brings the blade back down and it returns to normal.
"Well, I think it suits you." Myrna says.
Arthur nods and inserts into the sheath on the back of his belt.
"Oh! Isn't today your hunting trip with Yuger?" Iufla asks.
Arthur nods affirmatively, his eyes glimmering with excitement.
"Yeah, it is. Oh, do you want to come along?" Arthur asks.
Iufla's face turns pink, and she waves her hands out in front of her.
"I-I couldn't possibly impose!" Iufla says frantically.
"Impose? Why it'd be great! We could hunt all day if we had you along! It'd also give you a chance to spend time with-"
Yuger is interrupted as he punched on the top of the head by Myrna.
"Iufla, why don't we both go, it'll be fun!" Myrna says, her tone not matching the vein popping out of her forehead.
Iufla looks down at the ground, her hands fidgeting.
"I-If you don't mind..."
Arthur smiles and claps Iufla's shoulders.
"Then it's decided! This'll be great!"
Arthur also receives a punch on the top of the head. He holds the top of his head, wincing and looks at his mother confusedly.
"What was that for?!"
Myrna sighs and takes Iufla by the hand, leading her to the barracks.
"You men are incredibly dense."