Arthur on the other hand was not getting the hang of it. On one of the levitating islands above the school was a small duelling ground. Almost like a mini-colosseum. The steel platform was surrounded by seats for all to see. It could easily hold two thousand but for today it was for the class of future knights. Master Ward was having students duel each other as everyone was to watch and critique. The swords were simply made from timber so no real harm would be done. The second last duel just finished. Arthur's class had an odd number of students and he was last coming up. Would someone have to fight twice, Oh, three hells, please don't tell me.
"And now next is Arthur and…" Master Ward bobbed his head in every direction, making sure every student was accounted for, "oh, it seems there's only thirty-nine in today. Does anyone want to duel twice?" Before any student could even think, not a second went by, "I suppose not. Okay then I'll duel you Arthur Starfondle."
"Starfinder."
"That's what I said." Master Ward's face hinted at no emotion. His body was just a husk created to torture Arthur Starfinder. All because he criticised the architecture.
Atop the platform Arthur began to get jittery. Where was he meant to strike? What if he hit Master Ward and he started to bully him even more? Master Ward came out to the high steel platform and laughed at Arthur. He wielded a two hand wooden sword, at least over half the length of his frame. He wore armour from head to toe and he seemed more buff than usual? Did he use a physique enhancement spell on himself? He seemed taller. No, he was definitely taller. By about four inches. Arthur didn't know what affinity Master Ward had for his magic, but if he was the leader of Springfree, he was guaranteed to be powerful and most likely a jack of all trades. Arthur raised his wooden sword but it felt so much heavier than before. The grain on it was ragged and resembled the feeling of holding splinters. Sliding his hand up, a jagged edge caught his finger and it bled slightly. Meanwhile, Ward's sword was varnished black with white swirls of rings consistently coating it to show off the timbers' ancient age. As he stepped on his side of the circular platform, it was a slippery surface. The right side looked like there had just been a wiped oil spill whilst the left was untouched. Arthur carefully forwarded his right foot and suddenly slid an inch but stopped the fall.
Master Ward was the referee previously and he hadn't appointed a new one. So now Arthur was to fight, his spell enhanced teacher/principal who was cheating and was also the referee! This is impossible.
Master Ward stomped toward the middle, "Begin!"
He waited for Arthur's approach which was painfully slow. The other students were questioning if he had a bowel emergency with how he shifted. Waddling was embarrassing, but he'd rather do that than slip. After finally meeting him in the middle, Arthur stuck out one leg to gain some stability. Next, Ward tapped his knee with the hilt of his own sword and Arthur crumbled down. He was hit in a reflexive joint that he couldn't control. Getting back up, Wards raised his monster sword high and swooped down on Arthur's timid blade. It soared and clanked behind him and Arthur sighed knowing it was just a struggle to walk on the surface. He kneeled down cautiously and caught a whiff of the pungent oil. The fumes had left him slightly light-headed. As he turned, Master Ward pointed at Arthur to the other students and flicked his ankle with his buster sword. Arthur fell flat on his face, enough to smell the fresh oil blitzing his nose, again. His hands as slippy as the ground. I won't even be able to hold the sword.
"Come on young man. You're supposed to be in your prime. I'm well past mine physically," Ward snorted. The students watching laughed. Arthur was sure Ward must have put up some illusion spell to make sure they didn't see the oil. Even though it was crystal clear they should have seen it splutter when he fell. Or did they all hate him as much as Master Ward hated him? He was used to people liking him just through obligation but the king of Albosa only had pull within Albosa. Springfree was the leader here and Master Ward held much more power than his father in terms of actual firepower. In fact, Albosa was almost a relic at this point. The kingdom had little to offer except that it was home to the rendition of the chosen ones arrival. Other than that. Nobody cared. Why would a land that only does something once every thousand years be important? Arthur dreamed of taking over the throne and making his home powerful again. Even thought, he didn't really care for being a leader. Pride was at the forefront of this thought and his brother. If he were to ever do that, he'd have to learn how to deal with individuals like Master Ward.
He gripped the sword tightly– too tight. It started to rise out of his hands. He held it pretending his hand was a shaped claw, one that couldn't loosen its grip nor tighten it.
I'm never going to be able to beat him. Even if he wasn't cheating I'd have no chance. But how can I annoy him? Arthur's active imagination was running rampant. Oh…I'll let you win, Ward.
Ward raised his sword as Arthur stood staring at him, his sword facing the ground. "No defence! What have you learned from these fights." Ward loudly exclaimed and swooshed his sword down.
Arthur raised his arm to block it and roared, "He attacked me! Master Ward attacked me. My sword wasn't even set in duelling stance." The students collectively gasped. This wasn't a good look for Master Ward. Arthur grunted and groaned from the awful and very real pain he was feeling, "And since my sword was down it was clearly indicating I wasn't ready to duel. Ah, I'll have to tell the healers in detailed description how I obtained this gruesome injury. Maybe even some mental trauma too."
Ward felt panic strike. His head rapidly moving between Arthur and the students and then he was thinking how embarrassing it would be to be fired like this, even if he was the provost. He knows how bad this looks. Abusing a student rarely helps in any situation. Ever.
He leaned to Arthur making sure the others couldn't hear. He pretended to look attentively at his arm, "If you stop right now, you won't have anymore problems. Hear me?"
"Can I be picked for the hunger royale?"
"What? No. Not a cha–"
"Ahh. The pain. The horrors. Dying would be more peaceful!" Arthur cried.
"Yes. Now shut it," he gritted through his teeth to the young trickster.
Arthur was up and tapped his arm looking at his classmates, "Actually nevermind. I'm alright." His grin shined at Master Ward who was not pleased to see it. Not one bit.
Arthur had succeeded.
But that's not what happened. That was just Arthur daydreaming what the scenario should be.
The students didn't gasp. They laughed at how pathetic Arthur was to fall to that hit even though he was faking it. He groaned purposefully expecting a gasp but they all bellowed about it, "Look at Starfall over there."
He looked about and realised he had imagined all of what had happened. Next, Ward swiped across at his ribs, Arthur was too concentrated on his imagination running wild to combat the blow.
"Goodness gracious. Enough is enough. Young Starfist. You may be the worst student I've ever had the pleasure to teach. Funny too. Usually trouble makers will astound you by their natural ability to understand their learning curve. But to fake an injury, merely to not take part in a class activity. I'm afraid that is double detention."
Grease dribbled down Arthur's chin and the students giggled among each other. Ward won again. What an awful day it was. Failing, feeling miserable and not knowing what to do. Arthur just hoped the others didn't feel like his but then again, he secretly didn't want them to be doing that much better than him, as selfish as that sounded.