It had been a few weeks since Drinain's final test, and he had been itching to know what the next stage of his training would be. But instead of receiving an answer, he was surprised by a visit from Thorne, who arrived at his quarters carrying a large, intricately carved wooden chest.
"What's this?" Drinain asked, his curiosity piqued.
Thorne smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "A gift, Drinain. A gift worthy of a warrior such as yourself."
Drinain's eyes widened as Thorne opened the chest, revealing a magnificent suit of armor that sparkled in the light. The armor was a deep, burnished silver, adorned with intricate engravings that seemed to dance across its surface.
Drinain couldn't help but gasp in awe, his eyes fixed on the armor as if mesmerized. He had never seen anything so beautiful, so majestic. He felt a sense of pride and ownership wash over him, as if the armor had been made specifically for him.
Thorne chuckled, clearly pleased with Drinain's reaction. "Ah, I see you like it," he said. "This, Drinain, is a suit of armor fit for a king. Or, in this case, a warrior such as yourself."
Drinain's eyes roved over the armor, taking in every detail. He saw that it was composed of multiple pieces, each one carefully crafted to provide maximum protection without hindering movement. There were the greaves, which protected the legs; the cuisses, which protected the thighs; the breastplate, which protected the chest; and the helmet, which protected the head.
Thorne noticed Drinain's fascination with the armor and smiled. "Let me show you how it's put together," he said, helping Drinain into the armor piece by piece.
As Drinain felt the weight of the armor settle onto his shoulders, he couldn't help but feel a sense of transformation. He felt stronger, more powerful, as if the armor was imbuing him with a sense of confidence and authority.
Thorne helped Drinain adjust the armor, making sure that every piece was properly secured. Then, he stepped back and admired Drinain's reflection in a nearby mirror.
"Ah, you look magnificent," Thorne said, beaming with pride. "A true warrior, ready to take on whatever challenges come your way."
Drinain grinned, feeling a sense of pride and ownership wash over him. He knew that he would never forget this moment, this feeling of being transformed into a true warrior.
As he admired his reflection, Thorne began to explain the importance of taking care of the armor. "A warrior's armor is his lifeblood," Thorne said. "It protects him from harm, and it gives him the confidence to face whatever dangers lie ahead. You must always keep your armor clean and well-maintained, Drinain. It is a sacred trust, one that you must uphold at all costs."
Drinain nodded, taking Thorne's words to heart. He knew that he would always cherish and protect the armor, just as he would his own life.
Just as Drinain was about to thank Thorne, a soft knock at the door interrupted them. It was Helen, come to inform them that dinner was ready.
"Ah, perfect timing," Thorne said, smiling. "I'm sure Drinain is famished after trying on his new armor."
Drinain grinned, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. He knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one that would be filled with adventure, danger, and glory.
As the night wore on, Helen's concern for Lyra's safety grew. She had expected Lyra to return home before dinner, but as the hours passed, there was no sign of her. Helen's worry was evident on her face as she asked Drinain to go out and look for Lyra.
Drinain nodded, feeling a sense of responsibility to help find Lyra. He set out into the night, his eyes scanning the streets and alleys for any sign of Lyra.
As he passed through the village square, he noticed a group of thugs harassing two young women. Drinain's instincts kicked in, and he strode towards the group, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he drew closer, he realized that the two women were Lyra and her friend Joanna. Drinain's anger flared, and he challenged the thugs, demanding that they leave the girls alone.
The thugs, taken aback by Drinain's bravery, laughed at him, thinking him to be just a foolish teenager. One of them even had the audacity to ask Drinain to empty his pockets before leaving.
Drinain's eyes flashed with anger, and he swung into action. With a swift kick, he sent one of the thugs crashing to the ground. The others, taken by surprise, stumbled backward as Drinain launched a series of rapid punches and kicks.
The fight was intense but brief. Drinain's training with Thorne had prepared him for situations like this, and he took down the thugs with ease.
Lyra and Joanna watched in shock and awe as Drinain dispatched the thugs. They had no idea that Drinain had been training in combat, and they stared at him with newfound respect.
Drinain, still breathing heavily from the exertion, turned to Lyra and Joanna and asked if they were okay. Lyra nodded, still looking stunned, while Joanna thanked Drinain profusely for saving them.
As they walked back to Helen's house, Lyra couldn't help but ask Drinain how he had learned to fight like that. Drinain smiled, knowing that he had to keep his training a secret. "Just something I picked up along the way," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Lyra raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing him, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she thanked Drinain again for saving her and Joanna, and the three of them continued on their way home.
As they entered the house, Helen's face lit up with relief at the sight of Lyra and Drinain walking in safely. However, her expression quickly turned stern as she turned to Lyra.
"Lyra, where have you been?" Helen asked, her voice firm but worried. "You know you're not supposed to be out this late. What if something had happened to you?"
Lyra looked sheepish, but defensive. "I was just visiting Joanna, and we lost track of time. I'm sorry, Helen."
Just as Lyra was about to continue, Drinain caught her eye and gave her a warning look. Lyra's eyes flicked to Drinain's, and she seemed to understand that he didn't want her to reveal what had happened with the thugs.
Lyra's expression changed, and she looked down, mumbling an apology. Helen looked at her sternly, but seemed to accept the apology.
Thorne, who had been watching the exchange, smiled to himself. He seemed to know exactly what had happened, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned to Drinain and said, "Drinain, come play a game of chess with me. I think I can finally beat you."
Drinain smiled, grateful for the distraction. "I doubt that, Thorne," he said, following Thorne to the chessboard.
As they sat down to play, Lyra looked at Drinain with a curious expression. She seemed to want to ask him what had really happened, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she just watched as Drinain and Thorne began their game of chess.
Two days had passed since Lyra's late-night escapade, and Helen had almost forgotten about the incident. She had spent the day at the neighboring village's market, selling their family's fabrics and goods. As she made her way back home, the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape.
As she walked, Helen noticed a group of shady-looking characters eyeing her from afar. She quickened her pace, but the group began to close in on her. Suddenly, they pounced, grabbing her arms and attempting to steal her money.
Helen struggled and kicked, but the thieves were too strong. Just as they were about to overpower her, a figure burst onto the scene, sending the thieves flying.It was Drinain who had been sent to do an errand by Thorne at the outskirts between the two villages which happens to be where Helen and the thugs were.
Drinain, with his agile movements and lightning-fast reflexes, took down the thieves one by one. His fists flew in rapid succession, striking true and sending the attackers crashing to the ground.
Helen watched in awe as Drinain dispatched the thieves with ease. She had never seen him fight before, and she was shocked by his skill and prowess.
When the dust settled, Drinain turned to Helen and helped her to her feet. "Are you okay, ma'am?" he asked, his eyes scanning her for any signs of injury.
Helen nodded, still shaken but grateful for Drinain's timely intervention. "Y-yes, thank you, my dear son" she stuttered.
As they walked back to their village, Helen couldn't help but ask Drinain about his fighting skills. "Drinain, who taught you how to fight like that?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Drinain said nothing, as he didn't want to reveal his secret to Helen, but Helen pressured him further.
Drinain hesitated for a moment before answering, "Thorne taught me."
Helen's expression changed from surprise to understanding. "I should have known," she said, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Thorne was always a skilled fighter, but I had no idea he could fight to this extent and was teaching you too."
Drinain smiled, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude towards Thorne. "He's been teaching me for a while now," he said. "I'm just glad I could use my skills to help you."
"No problem" Helen said and they made their way back home.