One. Two. One. Two.

Llew swung the Blaster Blade through the air methodically. He felt the blade slice through the wind. Felt its weight in his hands.

"Need a sparring partner?" Randolf suggested jovially as he approached.

Llew nodded with a smile.

A cool breeze swept through the meadow in front of Zenon's shack, carrying with it birdsong and the warmth of the morning sun.

Randolf armed himself with his shortsword and adopted a ready stance. "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Then.. here I come!"

With an unexpected burst of speed, Randolf dove within Llew's guard, sweeping upward with his blade that was now glowing with a dim, yellow light.

Llew pulled the Blaster Blade back.

CLANG!

The tip of Randolf's weapon stopped short just below Llew's chin, shaking slightly as it struggled to advance.

"Fast!" thought Llew.

Pivoting on one foot, Randolf forcefully pushed Llew's blade upwards, then used the momentum to bring his shortsword around for a bite at Llew's chest.

Forced to guard, Llew twisted the Blaster Blade in his hands, sending the tip on a crescent path set to parry the blow.

But Randolf saw through it.

Retracting his wrist slightly, he allowed his blade to slip off the surface of Llew's weapon and swing behind him.

The radiance of his shortsword surged in intensity as it assimilated the reserves of magical energy stored in a battery within its hilt.

Llew saw at once that a powerful blow was coming and pounced with a duo of slashes.

But Randolf stepped between them with ease, holding his blade steady as it continued to charge.

"I'll blow you away!"

With a savage battle cry, Randolf slammed the blunt face of his weapon into Llew's chestplate.

BOOM!

There was a miniature shockwave as all the condensed energy was released at once, unleashing a force that swept Llew off his feet.

He landed with a thud.

"Ouch. Guess I need more practice," he muttered sheepishly.

Randolf chuckled. "No worries. No one is born knowing how to wield a sword."

There was the clunk of steel boots as a man approached the two young knights from across the grassy field.

It was Gancelot.

Picking up the Blaster Blade from where it had fallen, he straightened and squared his shoulders to the front, holding the weapon out at a forty-five degree angle. "This is how you hold a longsword."

Llew was amazed at the sword's acceptance of this stranger. He knew of only one other person so far who had managed to hold it without the power of "Blaster", and that had been the King of Knights, Alfred.

"Here, try it," said Gancelot as he tossed the blade towards Llew.

Catching it, Llew attempted to imitate the stance that Gancelot had shown him.

"Good. You should straighten your back a bit more. And shift your feet like this.. yes."

As Gancelot instructed from the side, Llew began performing a variety of poses with the Blaster Blade, then moving on to strokes, and then combining those strokes to create different attacks.

"How's that?" asked Llew after successfully completing a particularly complicated manoeuvre. Sweat was dripping down his face in rivulets.

Gancelot nodded. "Well done. That should be enough for today. Your movements still require some refinement but I can see that you have potential. Why don't you you stay here for a few more days. I can train you to be a master of that sword."

"I can't," Llew gazed at the distant mountains. "There's something I have to do. And I have to do it as soon as possible. I'll be leaving this place tonight, for Angel Feather territory."

"What about your friend. The girl? What if she doesn't recover by tonight?"

"Then we'll have no choice but to leave her behind. I'm sure Master Zenon will take good care of her."

"I see.. very well, then. To arms!"

"Huh?"

"I like your resolve. Since you're leaving tonight, I'll just have to teach you as much as I can before then. You better be prepared. I won't go easy on you."

Llew grinned. "Yes, sir!"

…

Dusk was falling as the Royal Paladins gathered outside Zenon's home.

Despite his exhaustion from the day's training, Llew's heart thrummed with excitement and anticipation for the next leg of his journey.

"God speed. And be safe," wished Zenon.

"The same to all of you," was Llew's reply as his original team, minus Morgana, boarded their steeds.

Before they could leave, Gancelot stepped forward and began petting the head of Llew's pegasus. "What's his name?"

"He doesn't have a name."

"That isn't right. All living beings deserve a name. I hereby christen this proud horse.. Zephyr."

"Zephyr?"

"Yes. May he become the wind that carries you to the end of your journey."

"Thank you."

And with that, they rose into the sky.

To the land of the Angel Feathers.