(Here's the next update y'all. By the way, was anyone else experiencing anything bad with the site the other day? Anyways, I hope it's enjoyable.)
gemm1mt: Thanks.
Noble Six: Figures…thanks.
Chapter 14: A Lesson to Fight with Fury
(Adirondack Park, a week later)
Connell had been taking days with the four different spirits he first trained with, learning and working on his swordsmanship, archery, etc. He was still no where near ready to face his enemies, but he was getting there step by step, slowly. He awaited his next lesson. The winds picked up violently, the air rushed around as if a storm was brewing.
"Up boy!" A voice bellowed from behind him.
Connell recognized the voice. It was one of the voice he first heard, it had called for him to fight early on, to face what had drawn his hatred with fierce resistance. Connell got on his feet and turned around. The spirit was new. He was possibly around a foot taller than William Wallace, much more muscular and menacing in appearance. Atop his head was the head of a slain bear laid upon an iron helm and the beast's pelt wrapped around his broad shoulders to where the paws lay firmly on the spirit's huge chest while the rest of the pelt laid behind him like a shaggy cape. His mostly visible ethereal face has a thick moustache and beard, and piercing eyes displaying a hard look. His arms and torso were uncovered by any clothing, with some kind of possible insignias or symbols marked on his arms and chest. Around his waist is a leather studded belt with what looked like another part of the bear's pelt tied under the belt to form a skirt that hung down to his knees. And his boots seemed to be made of a deer skin with another animal's fur. In his hands he holds what appears to look like a more ancient large bladed Dane axe. The blade is large with a wicked curve to it.
"I am Adalbern, warrior of Germania." The spirit grunted, his voice is gruff and deep.
"And what will you teach me?" Connell asked, respectfully.
"To fight with PASSION! FEROCITY! WILL! Your enemies will seek to destroy you and what you stand for! You must return that with a powerful response!" Adalbern growled, one hand letting go of the ethereal weapon and pointing at the young man.
Connell almost took a step back, the spirit's reply and its tone caught him off guard. Connell had heard stories of berserkers, how they fought with the might of the beasts they proudly wore into battle. Steel and fire were said to have little to no effect on them. A fury overcame them as they leapt into battle, releasing a fearsome display of aggression and violence. When it came to warriors in battle, how they fought and the effect they had on their foes, berserkers stood out.
"Form the axe, boy." The ghost commanded, every word humorless in its delivery.
Connell closed his eyes, focusing, and then in his hands formed an ethereal axe identical to Adalbern's, proportionate to Connell's size compared to the spirit's. The young man opened his eyes.
"Now, let's begin. Raah!" Adalbern grunted then snarled as he rushed forward.
Connell watched in surprise as the spirit raced forward, pulling the axe back behind him as he got closer to his pupil. Adalbern let out a furious growl as he swung the axe forward. Connell gasped as he jumped back, the blade of the axe coming to close for comfort.
"Fight back, boy! In battle, you won't always have room to dodge!" The spirit of the berserker grunted in frustration, moving forward.
Connell grunted as he raced forward, swinging the axe down. The berserker caught the handle just below the blade with one hand. He laughed with mad delight as he tossed it back while also throwing its wielder back as well. Connell hit the ground hard, he grunted in pain and spit out some grass and blood.
"Is that it, boy?! If that's your best, then you have no hope of victory!" Adalbern hissed, his eyes burning holes in Connell's back.
Connell grumbled under his breath as he picked himself off the ground. He grunted as he turned to the spirit, who growled as he raced forward. The young man grunted as he dodged to the side from a swing, once again, barely evading the blade. In response, the spirit jabbed with the blunt end of the axe, hitting Connell square in his chest. The young man grunted in surprise and pain as he instantly fell to the ground.
"Fight boy! FIGHT!" Adalbern scoffed then bellowed as he lifted his axe before bringing it down.
Connell grunted as he rolled out of the way. He scrambled back onto his feet, his footing unsure.
"Do you believe you will honor your fallen friend by running, boy?! Is this what he asked of you?!" The spirit of the berserker hissed, slowly approaching the young man.
Connell's eyes narrowed in anger, his heart filling with fury at the memory of Humphrey dying in his arms and asking Connell to avenge him. The spirit smiled as seeing the young man's clear anger.
"Use the rage, boy. Aim it! Direct it!" Adalbern commanded, his voice booming.
Connell's eyes then raised up to meet the spirit's.
"Come on! Rrrraahh!" Adalbern grunted then bellowed, rushing forward.
Connell's heart was gripped with a mix of emotions. Part of him wanted to dodge and come from another angle…but he knew he wouldn't learn anything from Adalbern by repeatedly refusing to listen to the berserker. Besides, the way he spoke of passion and will, Connell's vow to himself and to Humphrey to defeat the forces that had caused such destruction and heartache. His anger built up inside him, willing him to face the spirit of the berserker head on…and he did. Connell let out a howl as he charged forward.
"Finally!" Adalbern laughed, ecstatic with his pupil's action.
He let out a roar as he rushed forward. Within a few feet of each other they pulled their axes back then swung them forward. The blades and handles slammed into one another, the horrible sound of a collision of metal and wood screeched as if the ethereal weapons were physical. Connell grunted in frustration as Adalbern's greater strength forced him nearly completely onto the ground. One of his knees was pinned down by the spirit's strength while the other struggled to stay in place with the foot planted directly under it while it tried to stay firmly placed on the ground.
"Is that your best?!" Adalbern scoffed, unimpressed with his pupil's action.
Connell didn't say anything, he just glared back and growled in response. The berserker snarled back. The young man tried to apply as much strength as he could to push back against the ghost. Connell got up barely then swiftly locked his axe with his teacher's and quickly pushed it to the side as hard as he could. Adalbern grunted in surprise and frustration as he followed the axe. The young man quickly pulled back his axe away as the berserker composed himself, turning to face the young man. Adalbern growled as he swung his axe downwards, Connell responded by swinging his axe from the side. The ethereal blades clashed, barely stopping one another's motion. Connell quickly lunged forward, slamming his body into Adalbern's. However, he instantly fell onto his back on the ground. The berserker pulled back his axe, but Connell quickly scrambled back onto his feet. The young man grunted as he swung his axe again, the spirit quickly blocking it with his own. Connell roared as he pulled back the axe back then quickly swung again. Adalbern laughed as his pupil swung again and again at him, which he blocked every single time. The berserker then slammed the blunt end of his axe into Connell, sending him to the ground once again.
"Urrggh…I'm…not…done…yet." Connell groaned in pain and anger.
The spirit laughed in response. The young man grumbled as he struggled to get up, his body aching in pain.
"Well, at least you're not hopeless, boy. You still have much to learn and do." The spirit said.
Connell grumbled under his breath, but nodded in understanding. In terms of strength and ferocity, he was no match for the spirit. Adalbern knocked him around like a ragdoll at every step and turn.
"It took some time…but you let your anger, your aggression be push you. Nonetheless, neither of us leapt into true fury." Adalbern stated.
Connell realized the way the berserker fought was without the legendary aggression and power battles would experience with the warriors. He knew that Adalbern was holding back, and still knocked him around.
"One day…maybe." Connell sighed.
"One day." The spirit of the warrior said then disappeared, his ethereal form rising into the air like flame dancing towards the sky.
To be continued…