Disclaimer is on chapter 1

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The Walk

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Today was the day. The young lad, the son of the famous warrior Claymore, was now of age and had to take The Walk of the Worthy. It was sure to be a momentous day for him…were he to actually be awake and not still lying in bed as the sun began to rise. Perhaps this was his only flaw to date unless his duel last night with the Swordsmanster took more out of him than most assumed or expected.

How fortunate it was that the lad had a caring father who was more than willing to rouse him from slumber with a gentle nudge.

"Frizz!"

The generally small fireball hit it's mark just above the young lad's bed leaving a lovely scorch mark yet doing nothing to disturb his slumber.

"Kaboom!"

Outside the home of Claymore and son, those who were usually up at the crack of dawn barely batted an eyelid as a large explosion sounded from within the walls. Having heard explosions from the house every now and again whenever the father had had one too many skinfulls and decided to re-enact a fight or two to show his son just how skilled he was with his magic even before he had lost his arm battling Xiphos.

With such a man who was as dangerous with spells as he once was with a blade, it was no surprise that his son would train his developing sixth sense to warn and alert him of his father's attacks against his person and allow him to act accordingly like waking up and diving off the bed before his bed became burnt matchwood.

"Glad that spell woke you, sleepy head! The next spell I had lined up could've hurt!" Claymore laughed as he spotted his son stand up from where he had landed. "Bet you're still tired from yesterday, eh? But you know what today is, don't you?"

He knew it was a pointless question, asking his son about what was so special about today even before the lad quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Aye, that it is. Your sixteenth birthday, lad- the day the Queen will order you to take the Walk of the Worthy, and you'll become a man!" Claymore continued as if that one look from his son told all that he wanted to hear- both in his mind and what the lad really relayed with just a look.

It was a rare treat to hear his son actually say something even when he was small. Nothing to do with any sort of illness, the lad was merely the definition of the silent type capable of conveying what he was saying through mere looks and, in time, his ever improving sword skills if that dance with Swordsmaster Dao last night was anything to go by.

"Seeing as you're now up, I suggest you get yourself sorted and head over to the castle. Best to not keep Her Majesty waiting, son" He suggested casting a quick glance upward at his son's more than usually untamed locks.

Silent as the proverbial mouse, the son of Claymore wisely followed his father's suggestion and made himself a bit more presentable before leaving their abode and stepping out onto the streets of Avalonia and made his way up the grand staircase that led up to the castle hiding in the shadow of the tower stretching towards the heavens themselves.

While normal circumstances would have allowed him to the main foyer for the castle to seek audience with Queen Curtana, those who were of age and coming to begin their Walk of the Worthy were allowed to venture further inside to the courtroom where Her Majesty would preside awaiting the young man herself as custom dictated so that she would send them on their way, so to speak, casting them away as boys to return as men worthy of protecting the kingdom of Avalonia.

Today seemed not to be the case for the son of Claymore. Upon nearing the entrance to the courtroom where he and the Queen were supposed to meet, he was greeted not by Her Majesty but by Colonel Cutlass, Her Majesty's Commanding Officer of the soldiers of Avalonia.

Upon spotting the young man approaching him, the Colonel instinctively went for the sword at his waist before recognising him for who he was.

"Oh, it's you, Sabre. Today is your sixteenth birthday, isn't it?" The Colonel inquired once the lad got closer. "Ordinarily, you'd be granted an audience with Her Majesty. But she's apparently a bit under the weather…again"

Sabre visibly frowned at this. It was not so much about not being allowed his audience with Queen Curtana but rather that she was still unwell. It looked as if Her Majesty was more than just a bit under the weather like he and his father had assumed last night.

"Felicitations, birthday boy!" A jovial voice called out to Sabre. "How peculiar for you to be visiting the castle alone"

Appearing from the shadows of a nearby archway of a side passage that lead to the training quarters where he just finished an invigorating sparring session with some of the guards sanctioned with training duty for the morning, Prince Anlace walked over to the Colonel and aforementioned birthday boy.

"I imagine you are here to meet with mother?" He inquired having gone through what Sabre was to go through today two years ago.

Even to royalty, the young man remained as quiet as the proverbial mouse merely inclining his head in response to the Prince's question.

"How unfortunate. She's made it quite clear that she does not wish to entertain visitors at present" Anlace sadly explained to Sabre. It seemed obvious that visitors included her own son which clearly upset the young Highness as he had to take a moment to collect himself as worry for his sole remaining parent washed over him.

At that moment, the doors to the courtroom opened with an audible groan causing all three of them to direct their gaze to the opening oak doors as if suddenly expecting the Queen to appear before them. Sadly, it was not Her Majesty that stood in the now open doors but the minuscule figure of Minister Misericorde whose height barely made it to Sabre's shoulder's even with his towering bishops hat adorning his balding features.

"Your Highness, I trust all is…tickety-boo?" He inquired in a gentle, bumbling voice as he adjusted his spectacles.

"Minister Misericorde" The Prince acknowledged before explaining the problem before them. "My young friend here is celebrating his sixteenth birthday today. Accordingly, he has come for an audience with Mother"

The Minister hummed as he picked up on the problem at hand.

"Unfortunately the Queen is somewhat…ahem…unavailable. This does give rise to a most vexing dilemma" He agreed mumbling to himself as he thought over how to solve said dilemma.

Not even seconds after he had begun pondering a solution to overcome the problem at hand did a lantern flare to life inside his ancient mind.

"Bingo! I have it! I shall momentarily assume the role of Her Majesty and convey the procedure of the Walk in her stead!" He proclaimed somewhat proudly as if no one else would have come up with such a solution.

Finding the Minister's solution to his liking, Prince Anlace humbly excused himself from the gathering to continue with his own schedule knowing that the matter was in capable hands.

"I shall come, if I may, somewhat directly to the, er…yes…t-to the…er…point" Minister Misericorde began in his own bumbling manner. "As you have now come of age, you are required to undertake the Walk of the Worthy. It is a long-standing tradition of the Kingdom of Avalonia- a trial to establish your merit, if you will. Beyond the plains to the north, you will find the notorious Caliburn Cave. The Walk of the Worthy merely requires you to return safely from its innermost chamber, the Worth of Worth!"

To the ears of foreigners visiting the city of Avalonia, it sounded nothing more than a simple trip to and from a cave on the north of the island. What lay inside however, lay a test that was to prove the mettle of each and every sixteen year old who had to venture into its depths. To many men who had fortaken the Walk, it was almost too much for them to accomplish. In Minister Misericorde's mind, it was safe to predict that the talented young man before him would return triumphantly if rumours about last night were anything to go by.

With his task set out before him, Sabre bowed respectfully to the Minister and the Colonel who was still with them, and made his way back to his and his father's lodgings to pick up his sword and shield before making his way to the front gate of the city where his journey would begin.

Before long, he was greeted by the gate keeper who was evidently expecting him by the easy smile he had on his wizened features.

"The Colonel told us you'd be heading out of town today. You're off to take aren't you?" He asked despite knowing getting a vocal answer would be nothing short of a miracle. "Better open the gate then"

As the huge gate doors slowly began to creak open, the father of the birthday boy came ambling along to wish his son luck on his big day.

"Heading off to Caliburn Cave already, are you, lad? I'd like to say I'll go with you, but that wouldn't make it much of a trial now would it?" He joked before becoming serious. "No, lad. This is something you've got to do on your own. I'll be thinking of you, though. I may even remember to raise a glass to you down at the pub"

With those, somewhat, helpful words passed down from father to son, Claymore patted Sabre on the shoulder before walking off in the direction of the pub. Perhaps, before his fourth or fifth glass, he would remember to keep his word to his son although whether in remembrance or success was anyone's guess.

"Typical Claymore. Same as ever" The gatekeeper chortled. "Well, good luck on the Walk. Just follow the path across the plains and you'll be in Caliburn Cave before you know it"

Nodding his head to reply that he had understood the gatekeeper's instructions, Sabre set off along the long bridge that connected the Kingdom of Avalonia to land beginning the start of his journey to become a man.

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The Avalonian guarding the cavern entrance to Caliburn Cave was surprised at the sight of the lad approaching him despite hiding it. He had been sent word ahead of time that Sabre, son of Claymore, would be commencing his Walk shortly yet he was not expecting the lad to be making his way towards him this soon.

"welcome to Caliburn Cave!" He greeted the lad when he got closer. "There's no mistaking a son of old Claymore, is there? I mean, look how easily you got here!"

He meant every word of it. As far as he could recall, there had never been any record of someone reaching the entrance to the cave so quickly in the latest generation. Clearly this young man before him was destined for greatness- assuming he could accomplish his Walk without any misfortune befalling him.

"Still, this is just the beginning of the Walk of the Worthy. Are you ready for the true test ahead?" He inquired to Sabre who merely nodded his head in reply. "Alright then. May the Goddess be with you! I pray that she will see you safely through the challenges ahead of you…with all your limbs still attached"

If Sabre was even the least bit daunted by the soldier's last words as he moved passed him and into the dark depths of the cavern, it did not show on his features.

Making his way into the cavern, Sabre was immediately attacked by a flock of small purple bats swooping down at him coupled with a swarm of blue and orange blob like creatures. While numbering in the tens when banded all together, they all fell to the band of silver light that cut through them like the creatures that attacked him on his way to the cavern dropping to the cavern floor in twice as many pieces as before once Sabre had introduced his blade to them.

Throughout the rest of his journey through the cavern, Sabre encountered pretty much the same thing despite the different surroundings: blue and orange blob creatures that would charge at him at speeds equivalent to a stampeding horse, green puddles of ooze that could chuck blobs of themselves that could shrink his shield upon direct contact, little archer folk in hoods that shot arrows at him, and yet each and every assault on the young lad resulted in a vicious riposte that left his assailants dying before they hit the ground.

After sometime aimlessly following the path that sent him deeper still into the cavern, Sabre soon found himself coming across a pair of furnished doors that concealed the unmistakable aura of a warrior. Venturing into the chamber, whose doors opened as if in beckoning him to enter, Sabre found himself inside a chamber where the walls contained the scars and stories of many a previous battle against that which tested ones worth.

The chamber however appeared empty and void of his opponent, save for the empty suit of armour that was sitting upon a pedestal at the far side of the chamber.

'Well met, seeker of Worth!' A hollow voice called out to the lad causing him to turn his focus upon the old suit of armour. 'Behold this knight of old, Sir Dirk Worthington!'

So this was his opponent: the spirit of an ancient warrior whose medium was the very suit of armour the lad had spotted earlier. It stood to reason that whoever it was who tested ones worth was immortal although a mere haunted suit of armour was by far what many young lads yet to take their Walk were possibly expecting to face.

Unfazed by the haunting voice, Sabre stood across from the knight silently asking what it was that the spirit sought from him.

'A duel, sire! That is your charge!' Sir Worthington replied as if sensing the unasked question. 'Defeat me and take your place amongst the ranks of the worthy!'

A simple one on one duel. That, it appeared, was all it took to measure the worth of those who took up the Walk of the Worthy. While confusing as it may have been to have one's worth measured over a simple sword bout, Sabre merely drew his sword and awaited the response of his opponent.

Seeing as the young lad had drawn his blade yet waited for him to rise and bare arms himself, Sir Worthington could tell that this lad was a definite cut above those he had face in recent times.

'Battle without quarter!' The knight yelled pulling his sword from where it lay point down in the ground and skilfully catching it as it twirled in the air before charging towards Sabre.

Waiting until the last second before reacting, Sabre stepped to the side allowing the knight's blade to slam harmlessly against the ground before sending his own blade towards the knight's helmet in the attempt of decapitating it only to meet no resistance as the knight jumped back a step. Only Sabre's quick reflexes allowed him to bring his shield up in time to block the lung aimed at his throat the force behind the blow forcing him back before being able to regain his footing.

On the offensive once more, Sir Worthington charged forward with his opponent mirroring his move. Swords met shields as the two passed resulting in both combatants gaining cross shaped scratches upon their shields from the flurry of blows that were traded in the brief second they overlapped before parting again.

'A good blow, sir' Sir Worthington complimented his chest plate sporting line going from left pauldron to right hip where Sabre's sword managed to land whereas the young lad himself only sported a small tear on the front of his tunic.

Crossing blades once more, Sir Worthington found himself on the defensive more than offensive as Sabre unleashed a flurry of blows upon him. It was therefore inevitable that his shield would not be able to withstand the attacks and eventually shattered upon a rather vicious overhead blow before the two separated once more to opposing corners of the room.

Despite the advantage Sabre would have gained over still having his own shield, the young lad allowed the protective discus to drop from his hand to land at this feet before stepping forward once more perhaps even earning the respect of the ancient knight as he too stepped forth.

'Show me your worth!' He cried out charging forward with renewed vigor.

With the playing field evened out once more, the two opponents pitted steel against steel, bringing forth plumes of sparks as the blades came in contact with one another or merely added another gouge to the scarred decor of the chamber. Once or twice, their blades managed to slip past the opposition and deal minor damage, not enough to be deemed a fatal blow but still informing one that he was beginning to tire out as the battle progressed whereas the other could possibly continue for days on end due to his immortality.

Fortunately for Sabre, he had an ability that allowed him to overcome this problem in the form the Master Stroke techniques he was able to wield. Said to be pivotal in turning the tide of battle, these techniques were hard to master but worth the effort in times such as these. Bringing his blade up in front of him as if saluting Sir Worthington, Sabre began to channel his energy into the blade while perhaps silently hoping that he still had enough strength to pull this move off.

Mistaking the gesture for one of defeat, Sir Worthington charged forth with his own blade poised and ready only to realise too late what was about to happen. In the span of a second, Sabre unleashed a deadly volley of sword strikes that struck home sending his body crashing to the ground where it scattered to the corners of the chamber from the force of the blows.

Waiting a second to see if this was just the first of many opponents he was to face in the depths of the cavern, Sabre picked up his discarded shield and made for the door to the chamber deeming that he had accomplished what he had come here to do. Only once the door to the chamber had closed itself, did the destroyed suit of armour pull itself back together and reform the knight of old.

'Such mastery of the sword! Thou art worthy! I am defeated!' Sir Worthington admitted easily almost sounding in awe of his defeat against such a worthy opponent. 'So endeth the Walk of the Worthy!'

His voice echoing throughout the cavern, Sabre paused in his trek back the way he came, perhaps mentally thanking Sir Worthington for his praise, before continuing on back to Avalonia where the rest of today's events still awaited him.

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Master strokes used: Multi strike

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So endeth another chapter of this tale of swords & sorcery.

For those who have played this game already, you're probably aware of the nickname one of the character's gives Sabre later on in the game. If you could leave which of the nicknames I should dub him once I get to that part in your reviews, I would be most grateful.

Until next time

Watch this space & peace out!