Chapter 4

Shinscale spent the next ten days training at the Academy. He continued his routine of conditioning in the morning, followed by sparring in the afternoon. Thalas had told him he was unable to learn the identity of his opponent, a common thing for an athlete competing in their first fight, so he focused on providing Shinscale with additional sparring. In the days leading up to the fight, Ashe recommended they focus on a lighter training schedule leading up to the fight.

Bas had also stopped by the Academy to provide Shinscale some advice on what he referred to as the "Swarmer Style" of boxing that focused on landing several punches to an opponent while taking damage. Shinscale developed an affinity for the style since he preferred to hit his opponents hard and quick while eating a punch of two..

On the night of the fight, Shinscale and Thalas arrived at the arena, both of them with butterflies in their stomachs as they walked through the halls. The nervousness stemmed from events of the past night, combined with the tiefling's first bout. Both took a deep breath and smiled at each other as Bas approached them. He asked Shinscale to demonstrate the swarmer stance, to which the tiefling did while moving a little bit.

"Don't move too much - " Bas started as he led Thalas and Shinscale into the arena and down the halls. They met Ashe outside of the locker room where they found several fighters and their cornermen preparing for their bouts.

As the other fighters started leaving the locker room, Ashe started placing cloth over Shinscale's hands while Thalas gave him a massage to loosen his shoulders. Mercer entered the room and behind him, two older tieflings.

Shinscale was about to jump out of his chair to greet his parents when Ashe slapped his hands, telling him to stay put.

Creed and Mercer watched Shinscale for a moment while Hollina said nothing. After Thalas finished his shoulders Hollina asked the room. "May I have a moment alone with my son?"

She glanced at Creed who smiled at Mercer, Ashe and Thalas. "Come children, I will tell you about our trip to Waterdeep."

The trio followed the elder tiefling out the door as Hollina stared at her son for a moment. Shinscale sighed as he finally met his mother's gaze. "Father told me your father was a fighter."

"He was the best, or at least I thought so," she said. "I used to watch him train for hours. He was so happy in the ring. It was his favorite thing in the world, other than me."

Shinscale nodded as she continued," He made enough money to retire and we spent most of my childhood together. He returned to the ring when he was older. He still had good hands and a spring in his step, but his body could not take as much punishment as he used to."

Hollina closed her eyes to what Shinscale assumed were flashes of her childhood and his legacy flooding through her mind. "Father said he returned to the ring because he needed the money and his body became damaged from the fights," the younger tiefling said.

Hollina shook her head. "I wanted to follow in his footsteps, but your grandfather was not going to let his baby girl be a prizefighter. She was going to attend magic school, which I did, but it was not cheap. I did not have enough gold to study under great magicians, so he took it upon himself to fight in order to earn me the money. I pleaded with him not to, but he said only the best for his girl.

She walked over to her bag and reached inside it. "He passed away shortly before you were born, but he had a smile on his deathbed. He was surrounded by friends - true friends - and fans who offered their condolences."

Shinscale watched as his mother withdrew a black robe and a pair of black gloves. Hollina presented the gifts to her son. "When I heard you were training at the Academy, your father and I made plans for Waterdeep to reclaim my father's robes and gloves," she began with tears in her eyes. "He would want you to have them."

Hollina handed Shinscale the robe. He stared at it, noting the tiny lighting bolts weaved into the fabric. On the back were dwarven runes spelling out "Lightning."

Shinscale embraced his mother, who held him tightly. He thanked her repeatedly before asking," Lighting?"

"That was his nickname," Hollina said, wiping tears from her cheek. "Every great fighter receives a nickname, usually from their peers. Who knows, you might have one of your own some day."

Shinscale hugged his mother once more when Thalas' voice came from the other side of the door. "Excuse me Miss Holina, Shinscale's fight is up next and we don't want him to be late."

"Nice robe," Shinscale heard Thalas whisper as they walked to the ring. The tiefling glanced throughout the crowd, his parents in the front row next to the Deacrhons. There were other fans in the crowd, some of them cheering for him as the announcer revealed he was from Neverwinter.

After Shinscale entered the ring, he watched his opponent, a tall broad shouldered human whose name was Jarek from Longsaddle. He wore blood-red pants that matched his gloves.

The two fighters walked to the center of the ring. The adrenaline in Shinscale's blood swelled as the referee was explaining the rules and to keep the fight clean. When they touched gloves as instructed, Jarek wished him luck and walked back to his corner.

Shinscale stood in his corner, watching his opponent until the bell sounded. The tiefling moved forward as Jarek started to weave, then ate two punches. Jarek moved to his left, only for Shinscale to catch him with two right jabs and a strong left, sending his opponents to the ropes.

The tiefling moved close causing Jarek to land a stiff right jab and a left punch to Shinscale's midsection, causing him to fall to a knee. Shinscale heard the referee's count and made it to his feet just as the bell ended.

Shinscale walked back to his corner, still feeling the blow from Jarek's punch and his lip was lightly bleeding. He heard Thalas' advice about watching out for Jarek's counterattack, then took a swig of water as the bell rang.

Jarek started the round as the aggressor, walking through Shinscale's first two punches, but stopped when the tiefling landed a right across his jaw. The human countered with two quick hooks to Shinscale's face, causing the tiefling to answer with a three-punch combination that knocked him down.

Shinscale stepped back as the referee started the count for Jarek, who quickly rose to his feet. After the referee resumed the fight, Shinscale landed a shot to Jarek's temple, causing him to go down again. The tiefling felt his adrenaline surge as the referee reached eight when Jarek was once again to his feet. He followed him around the ring, landing two body shots while Jarek blocked his last two punches.

After the bell rang, Shinscale walked to his corner, hearing Thalas' words," That was a good round, but he is going to try to move and goad you into a trap. Don't fall for it."

"And don't get too frustrated," Ashe added as Shinscale took a swig of water. "But don't stand there and do nothing. Most likely the crowd will boo and he will try something, that's when you hit him."

"If all else fails, dance a little bit," Mercer said as he massaged Shinscale's shoulders before he left the ring. During the third round, Shinscale missed two punches as Jarek stepped back and hit him with a jab. He realized Thalas was right as he stepped into a quick flurry from Jarek.

Shinscale evaded another Jarek's punches before he landed a left into the human's chest. He landed another quick shot to the face before Jarek started to move away. The tiefling followed his friends' advice to stay active and appear like he was trying to pursue him.

A chorus of boos rained from the audience as Jarek stepped forward and threw two punches at Shinscale, one missing and the other landing on his chin. Shinscale hit a right cross, then swarmed him with several lefts and rights until the bell sounded.

The referee stepped into the middle, causing Shinscale to back off. Jarek embraced the tiefling before he went to meet his corner. "That was great," Thalas said as he, Ashe and Mercer entered the ring and placed his robe over him.

Both corners stood back and grabbed each fighter's hand. Several cheers echoed through the crowd as Shinscale felt his hand being raised. He smiled as Jarek placed a medal around his neck and shook his hand. The tiefling was all smiles as he left the ring and went to his parents, who he held tightly.

Shinscale placed his medal on the wall with the others, then turned to Thalas, who nodded before letting out a yawn. "It's been awhile since we have had new trophies on the wall, but you didn't have to keep it up there. You could take it home."

"I will take it home when I have something to replace it," Shinscale said. "So with my first fight, where do I go from here? I know there are numerous champions out there, but the road to championships is a long one."

Thalas nodded as he and Shinscale sat at the edge of the ring. "It is indeed. Toril is full of challenges for competitors like us. I believe father said the Silver Marshes are going to hold the Gloves Tournament. I'm sure it would be a great experience for all of us."

"Yes it would," Shinscale said before letting out a yawn of his own.

"Perhaps we should wait a day to train," Thalas said as he noticed the morning sun peak through the window. "I also wanted to ask you about your robe. Lighting was your grandfather's nickname?"

Shinscale nodded as he stepped into the ring. "Mother said all great fighters have nicknames, but their peers give it to them."

"I've been thinking about that," Thalas said as he joined Shinscale in the ring. "Fighters don't usually give them their own nicknames. Sometimes it comes from the crowd. But like championships, your nickname will come in time."

Shinscale shook his head as he tossed his friend a pair of sparring gloves. "Until then, I guess we train for the next fight."

Thalas smiled as they entered the ring and started preparing for Shinscale's next bout.