III
Tempus Vernum
I slowly moved through the first steps of swordsmanship. Dual wielding blades, while absolutely awesome, were not for the unskilled. It required perfect control, enhanced situational awareness and complete focus.
Which is why Kulkaverk had reanimated three Kull corpses and had them practice with me. His point was simple.
'If you must learn the most difficult form of sword-fighting, there should be no room for error' he said when one of the Kull marked me with a spear, the point resting on my neck. I sigh and motion with my eyes to start again.
Dodge. Weave. Parry. Block. Stab. Spin. Slash. Duck. And stop as a sword is pointed at my gut.
'Enough' he says, motioning with his hands to the corpses. They slowly trudge away from me. I can hear them walk away, while I am gasping for arms burn from exertion.
'And what exactly are you trying to achieve?' he asks me, his voice full of restrained anger.
"I have to be able to go toe to toe with the best of the best" I respond, my voice weary with exhaustion. He huffs in displeasure as I sheathe my two swords, placing them on a bench and then start my stretches.
'You are being foolish to train to the point of exhaustion, youngling' rumbled Kulkaverk. I nod in reply about to respond, when I sensed something evil and malignant. We share a quick glance, then I run up the mountain side, using a ridge to get to the other side.
'That...that's a Shade's work' rumbled Kulkaverk, his voice disgusted.
In the distance, a circle of trees burned.
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