The streets thinned as we followed Thyra. Weaving in and out of main streets, side streets and alleyways.
The glances of random people constantly landed on Thyra as we walked.
Thyra clearly noticed. She seemed used to it. Aric however, didn't notice. He was too busy talking and asking questions.
Aric: "So… where are these training grounds anyway? Are they big? Do lots of people train there?"
He pauses for a moment. Studying Thyra's expression
Aric: "Wait. Are we gonna meet other adventurers?"
She ignored him, looking in the opposite direction. Not at something, simply looking away from him.
Aric: "Right.. No questions. Got it"
I chose to say nothing. Just keep walking.
Every time I catch her eyes she's already looking at me. It feels like she's always watching. Examining me.
Suddenly Thyra comes to a stop in front of a walled courtyard. The iron gates swing open with a groan, revealing the racks of weapons, battered dummies and the dirt floor scarred by years of usage.
A man stepped out of the shadow beneath an archway on the opposite side of the courtyard. An older man with broad shoulders. His face is carved by scars and lines similar to Thyra's. His left eye was cloudy and white, seemingly blind. Despite it he carried himself with confidence and strength. Just from looking at him it was apparent that he was. Or still is. A warrior.
He studied Thyra for a bit as he walked closer, before smiling. Following it with a wave.
Man: "So the rumors were true. You're still fucking alive."
Thyra: "Disappointed?"
Man: "Very. wouldn't have to deal with you if you'd actually died."
They shared a laugh and a handshake.
He looks past Thyra at Aric, then at me.
Man: "Always you bringing trouble to my doorstep."
Thyra didn't reply, instead just moving out of the way to let the man walk up to us.
Man: "You two strays?"
Aric shook his head
Thyra: "They just got their licences. But they are my students."
He turned to Thyra, clearly surprised.
Man: "You do remember what happened last time you had 'students' right Thyra?"
Thyra shifted uncomfortably.
She hasn't told us anything about her past. Though it's clear she was a soldier or warrior at some point and it's even more clear that she isn't planning on telling us anytime soon.
Thyra: "I thought we agreed to not talk about that after what happened."
Man: "Right… My bad."
Thyra walks into the courtyard, the man follows and waves me and Aric in after.
Aric finally broke the silence as we made it about halfway into the courtyard.
Aric: "So you're the owner? What's your name."
The man snorted, amused by Aric's attempt to break the silence.
Man: "Rhovan Marric. Past Commander of a city long dead. But skip the title and semantics. Just call me Rhovan."
Aric: "Thanks for letting us train here, Rhovan. This place is amazing."
Rhovan: "I don't know how you two and Thyra met but anyone who Thyra considers a student is worthy of training here. And We'll see if it's still amazing when you're bruised and hurting."
He gestures to a rack of weapons. Daggers, curved swords, straight swords, greatswords, axes, katanas. Everything I could think of was on the rack.
Aric's eyes lit up again as he walked over to the rack and began looking over it.
Rhovan turned to me,
Rhovan: "I assume you plan to use the sword on your hip to fight. But feel free to try one of the weapons on that rack."
How did he see the sword? It's been beneath my coat the entire time.
Kareth: "Yeah, I'll stick to my sword for now. I might try something else later."
I nod dismissively, pushing my coat aside to properly reveal my blade.
Aric: "This one!"
He raises a medium length straight sword above his head with one hand. Slightly longer than my katana but straight and sharp on both sides. Its clearly been used but still shines with no noticeable defects or chips.
I sigh
Rhovan chuckled at the childish display.
Rhovan: "It's yours to use while you're here. Don't cut off your hand. Don't damage it. If you break it or want to keep it you pay for it."
Aric: "Thanks again Rhovan. But now it's time to test out how good I am."
Aric grinned at me and Thyra.
Rhovan pointed us over to a court on the edge of the courtyard. Marked out by white paint on the dirt ground.
Thyra: "So. How should we do this? One at a time or both of you at once?"
Thyra walked into the training ground, standing directly in the middle. Rhovan grunted, standing just outside the marked edge of the training ground.
Rhovan: "One at a time. We need to see how good your individual skill is first."
Aric was basically vibrating as he walked into the marked training arena.
Aric: "I'll go first! Watch this."
Kareth: "He's never fought before by the way. Don't beat his ass too hard."
Thyra: "I won't. Thought I definitely will beat his ass."
Aric jumped at Thyra, sword high in the air above his head. Thyra responded with a simple jab to his stomach from the bottom of her spear.
Thyra: "I didn't say we could start. Besides that was a terrible strike. You left every part of your body open while doing an attack that anyone with eyes could predict."
They kept going at it for a few minutes as Me and Rhovan watched. Thyra far outclassed Aric in every conceivable way. Every move Aric made was followed by a block, deflection or by outright overpowering by Thyra. Every move comes with advice and corrections. Despite her rough exterior she was clearly caring for Aric a lot, actually teaching him.
Rhovan also threw in advice from time to time. Being a straight sword user himself made it easy for him to tell Aric how to be better.
Rhovan: "Hey Thyra! That kid needs a lot of training. Want me to see what this one is like!?"
He gestured at Aric for the first part before gesturing at me.
Thyra: "Sure. We'll be back tomorrow so we can swap the one we're training if that's fine with you."
Rhovan turns to me, waiting for an answer.
Kareth: "I'm fine with that, training is training. And training from a past Commander is even better."
Rhovan gestured for me to follow him as he walked to the middle of the training court next to the one Thyra and Aric stood in.
Rhovan: "Lets start with you coming at me. I'll defend all your strikes so go all out. Once I give the signal to stop I'll give you advice and whatnot. Then we switch so I'm attacking you. Sounds good?"
Rhovan draws the straight sword from its sheathe on his hip, holding it parallel to the ground.
I nod, wrapping my fingers around the hilt of my blade slowly.
My breathing is heavy as I draw the golden blade from its sheathe.