Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 59

Ceri’ilis Trainee Spellbreaker

His breathing came rough in his ears. A few minutes break in between each round wasn’t enough to properly catch his breath, especially after so long.

“What do we do?”

“Shut up.” He hissed, still trying to breathe. It had all been a joke at first. 

The girl was talented, he would admit. Her skill was enough to properly put all of them down, but they were four against one, and that should easily balance things after only a few rounds if that.

But the girl was tireless. He looked up, his back aching just from that movement, after hours of swinging his sword and taking strikes.

She was a brutal juggernaut and other than short moments she would pull up her helm to drink water in between bouts before calling for another challenger, he hadn’t seen her face. Just the blank visage of the helmet she wore. That mask gave her the look of a blank faced monster, and Ceri was starting to think she was. 

No Elf could go on this long.

“Aaa-oof.” He slumped. That was Milar falling. A combination that ended with the girl smashing her shield into his face, and then tripping him.

He groaned from the mud seemingly unable to get up.

“Tired already?” She mocked, as she had whenever one of them had fallen unable to keep going.

Her chipper attitude only made it worse.

If only he had the Spell. If he could steal her spell, then he could be just as tireless as her!

He groaned as he rose up, it was his turn again.

The other two helped Milar out of the dirt, and through the fence as he weakly climbed through. His legs were practically shaking as he steadied himself on the other side, and his arms were shaking.

What had they done to piss off Captain Arkhana’Shola? The man was always a brutal teacher, but this was absurd.

“Prepare yourself!” She called out, an oft repeated line as she informed him she was coming, and did just that.

She dashed at him, full tilt, like a sprinter, and he felt his eyes cross at how quickly she moved. 

It wasn’t really that fast.

He swung his shield up and met her charge staggering back and then just managing to parry the follow up blow.

It was just absurd.

They had started this in the morning, and the sun was setting now. At least six or more hours of non stop fighting, and she still moved as if she was just starting. 

If nothing else he learned a true weakness because of this. 

After a long fight, a fresh opponent, even one not as skilled would be a massive danger especially if they were exuberant.

And this girl was nothing if not exuberant!

He slashed out, trying to create distance, but she was already sliding on the mud of the field, and then coming back in, his shield barely raised in time, to block her sword blow, and the hit caused his arm to nearly collapse.

He was so damn tired. He reacted as best he could. Swinging, pushing, and yet, his body was fighting him. His arms felt weak, and his legs constantly wanted to give out under him

The girl had tricked them all. Their first fights had been running contests, where she led them around constantly forcing them to move and run and she often went for the legs forcing them to jump and skip to avoid attacks.

She’d done it on purpose.

He continued to fight back earning a few cheers from the others not because he was doing well, but because the longer he stood the more time they would have to rest.

The bastards. His breath felt heavy in his ears as he swung at what he thought was an open helm strike. 

A moment later his world shifted and he hit the ground.

She’d tripped him… Again.

“Your legs are open! Next!” She shouted out, and he groaned as he stared up into the sky.

Can they stop now?

Please?

He no longer had any ego, instead of rising up, he just rolled over in the mud and crawled through the fence, barely tugging his sword and shield along.

They were already coated in mud anyway. He’d have to clean them wouldn’t he?

He’d have to clean them tonight. Tonight after he was already ready to collapse right now.

Decision made, he collapsed into a heap on the grass and just breathed.

The sound of footsteps, steady footsteps actually had him blink.

“Captain?”

“Hmph. Is this it?” The Captain mocked, and Ceri just decided that sure, yeah this was it. He dropped his head back into the grass. Not sure he could get up anymore.

Everything ached, and everything felt tired.

He’d never been pushed this hard in his life.

Yet, to become a Spellbreaker? An Elite? He’d dedicated himself to this, thought he was ready.

“Enough!” The Captain's voice rang out and Ceri felt like he wanted to cry.

“Huh? Oh times up huh?” The monster's voice called out, and the Captain scoffed, or laughed. Ceri wasn’t sure which. It sounded like amusement, but everyone knew the Captain didn’t laugh. 

“They aren’t getting anything more out of this, and I don’t think you are either.”

“Yeah fair, I’ve mostly just been beating up on them for the last hour or so.” She called back, and Ceri didn’t even have the energy to get angry at that.

None of them spoke. All he could hear was heavy breathing as all four of them stayed slumped to the earth.

“It seems they don’t appreciate the training today. Perhaps I’ll have you come back tomorrow?”

“Please no.” A whisper, and Ceri wasn’t sure who said it.

“Oh leave them alone Grunkle, they’ll need some time to recover anyways. Here I’ll at least make sure they'll be good to crawl home.” He looked up and watched as the girl walked to Milar and then started casting. Golden Light, the same Light she’d been casting with all day, gathered in her hands, and then washed over Milar.

He jerked a bit startled, and then he seemed to slump even more.

“That’s nice.”

“Healing magic usually is. Here I’ll give you a pick me up too.” She raised her hand. “Fortitude.” She spoke a word that was both a word he recognized and wasn’t at the same time. 

Either way Milar jerked again and then slowly sat up.

“Huh.” He was still shaky as he slowly rose up, but he had a bit more energy than before. “You couldn’t use that on us while we were fighting?”

“If you can’t restore yourself in between battles, that’s something you need to be prepared for.” She said back simply, and then moved on, healing and then casting the Fortitude spell on all four of them. Ceri shivering as the Healing magic washed over him. The many bruises and aches not vanishing, but fading away into a haze of soreness. 

And he too sat up.

The girl had taken her helmet off, and hooked it onto her belt. Her hair was perfect, despite the fact she was dripping with sweat. 

Heh, she had a spell for her hair too? He’d have to learn that one. His own hair was a mess of mud and sweat. He probably looked like a half drowned Hawkstrider. 

She nodded as she looked over all three of them.

“Wait.” He called out, as she turned to the Captain and was walking away.

She did, turning a bit and looking at Ceri.

“How did you do that? It’s been hours, and you-you fought like it was the first minute for the entire time.”

“It’s a spell. If you want to learn it? Go to the Healing Halls. All the spells I used today are taught there. Who knows? A healing spell, and a bit of extra fortitude, could save you and your unit's life some day.” She nodded and then just turned and walked off. Right past the Captain just waving at him as she walked off the field.

He looked at the Captain who was looking at her back, his face turned away so he couldn’t see, but Ceri was wondering just what the Captain was thinking.

The girl was young, and she’d just torn apart his elite recruits.

Ceri was in his eighth Century, Although he’d spent most of his first few centuries playing and partying. But he’d practiced the blade over the centuries picking it up here and there, and training whenever he felt like, at least enough to keep himself muscular and impressive for the ladies.

But to be outdone so completely?

It was embarrassing.

“You all look as ashamed as you should be. Losing battle after battle to a girl that has not seen her second decade.” The Captain's voice called out like a thunderclap and all of them slumped.

“I don’t care how old she is. She’s a monster.” Milar called out, and for a moment Ceri thought the Captain's face shifted into a smirk. 

“You’ll face her again in another endurance match. Perhaps you will have learned from today, or perhaps not. Now, fall in, and I expect all of your gear to be cleaned before any of you sleep for the day. If I find rust or worse, mud remaining on even a speck of your kit tomorrow, you will leave this training in disgrace.” Then he just turned and walked away.

Ceri barely managed to push himself to his feet, the others struggling along with him. 

Yeah, today sucked.

—--

“You are a mess.”

“I know!” I chirped almost happily as I slipped through the shop, Tira’nore was giving me a bit of a look. I know I was covered in mud and sweat, but I’d already cast the cloth cleaning spell twice on my way back, the only thing that would solve this was a bath.

Papa was enchanting and Nata’liore was here as well, I noticed she had gotten the Banish Dust spell working, and was actually carefully forming the enchantment structure using the spell. 

It was slow going, but her enchantments had actually started to pass muster. Papa had even congratulated her a few days ago. 

I don’t think I’d ever seen a grown woman so childishly proud of herself. She’d stroked her own ego for about an hour, but Papa didn’t seem to care, and while Tira’nore had been rolling her eyes within minutes, and Sha’Narin had seemed less than impressed. I’d just shrugged and let her talk herself up.

I headed up without stopping though, wincing a bit as my legs weren't happy with me heading up the flights of stairs. 

Today was a learning experience, and it was a good one, I’m glad that Grunkle had set this up. 

I groaned as I made it to the last step, my body aching. Just because I was tireless, didn’t mean my body was recovering after every cast of Holy Light and Inner Fire. 

Healing still left healing pain, and muscle aches hung over me like a cloud. 

And yet, I could ignore the pain. It didn’t leave my muscles tired, or weak. I still had all the strength I’d started the day with. More even.

But I still felt achy and other than time there was only one good solution for that.

I headed into my room, and finally started pulling apart my armor. 

As tired as I was, I still carefully cleaned each piece. Banish Dust, Polish, and Cloth Cleaning to remove all the particles that would smudge it up, and I placed each piece on a table inside the room. Until I was finally able to remove the Gambeson, leaving myself in just a shirt and pants.

With a bit of work I wandered over to my tub and started filling it, sitting on a chair beside the tub and just slowly conjuring water after water. 

Once it was full I heated it up, and with a sigh slipped into the almost steamy water.

I could feel all the sweat, and gunk flowing out of me, leaving me clean and happy. 

And much more relaxed.

My aches would vanish with a good night's sleep, but I did need to eat something before that. Couldn’t let my body devour my own muscles.

I conjured a muffin and just started chowing down, the sort of bland bread taste, something I’d long since gotten used to. I looked at the half eaten muffin.

I’d done a lot of practice conjuring food recently. 

But I’d mostly focused on the amount of food, instead of the quality. It had just been a side project for a while. Better food would be nice, but wouldn’t actually prepare me better for battle.

If it had been a quiet year instead of one filled with war. I’d likely have mastered the spell by now.

I bit into the muffin.

But it was, and I was focusing on the things I’d need. Yummy tasting muffins could come later.

Even if it was tempting.

“Inner Fire.” I cast, feeling my body once more burn away the tiredness. I sat there in the tub for a while casting spells whenever I had the mana.

Today had been a good day.

—--

“I’m off!” I called out, as I walked down the steps into the workshop and then out through the back door. Papa and Mama were together, near the workbenches as I waved on my way out. 

Blacksmith day! 

A new order had come in, and Master Illianar had been grumbling, he definitely needed the help. 

Which meant I would be working on my own project today and likely get another few points into Blacksmithing since I’d likely be working on something difficult. 

I was half way down the alley before I nearly cursed myself and turned around.

My gauntlet had been dented badly while training with the Spellbreaker trainees the other day. I’d been thrown at the poor men and women over and over over the last while. 

Grunkle did train me himself as well, but he took an inordinate amount of joy in the suffering of those he was training. 

So yeah. 

I turned around and made it back to the door when I heard it.

“I still worry about her. She hasn’t been the same since we left the village.” Mama’s voice was loud enough as I realized she was talking to Papa.

About me.

I hesitated, stopping. I don’t think she had heard me, which was a bit of a shock. I guess she just wasn’t trying.

“She’s dedicated… She’s like me. Too much like me perhaps.” Papa said, and I frowned. 

“Yeah well… I wish… I wish she was happy.”

“I don’t think she’s unhappy.” Papa said, and I smiled at that. Good! Papa understood!”

“She hasn’t made any friends. She spends all her day training… It’s not like her. She was always easily dedicated, but she used to play. Go on adventures. Remember her little Adventure Guild?”

“Of course.”

“She hasn’t done that.”

“It’s a different space. She knew everyone then, maybe she doesn’t feel as comfortable, or that it’s not proper.”

“She’s never cared about knowing everyone, or doing the proper thing before. I wanted to have her meet people her own age, but she had no interest in the Rangers.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you start… She’s acting like a full grown adult, when she’s barely fourteen. What do we do?”

“You’re asking me? You must be desperate.”

“Oh hush you!” I had to stop a chuckle despite the tone because Mama just dope slapped Papa.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“You?”

“She’s like me. Maybe I can reach out to her… Plus I am her favorite.” There was a long silence, as I knew Mama was gaping at Papa for teasing her.

“I’m stealing the next one.” Mama grumbled, and Papa just chuckled.

I stood there for a while. Then I shook my head. 

I could fix my gauntlet later. Best to not walk into that. Instead I continued on towards the Foundry. 

—---

“Dorah.” I looked up as I got home. I was a bit messy from the forge, although mostly cleaned up, the new Cloth Cleaning spell was super useful, but Papa had called out for me, and I wasn’t surprised…

Well I knew he had said he would, but I was surprised he remembered.

“Papa?”

“Come sit with me?” I nodded, wandering over and taking a seat next to him. He showed me what he was working on, a pair of bracers, military style.

“Stamina?”

“Intellect actually. This is going to a Magister.”

“Ah. Worried about dying so he’s buying full armor.”

“Perhaps.” Papa agreed and I smiled as I leaned over and watched him work. He slowly cast the Banish dust spell. He was still taking a minute to get it right, but he liked it, so after a moment the dust flowed over the bracers, two sides of the same enchantment, it would be a strong Intellect Enchantment. 

I’d have to think about getting that on some of my stuff. Not that I didn’t already have a lot of Intellect. 

“Your mother and I are worried.”

“I know.” I said, instead of playing pretend. “Mama is scared, cause I’m not acting like a kid.”

“Hmm. She wants you to be happy.”

“I am happy.”

“Are you? Or are you so deep into your interests you aren’t noticing anything else?” He asked, and I had to blink because that was definitely not what I expected.

“Papa?”

“I’m like that too. I fall into my interest, it’s all I want to do, and then I look up and realize… That I’m alone and that I pushed everything away from me for my interests. Your mother… She saved me. Made me stop hiding in my workshop, gave me something to step outside for. You’re like me. But better… And maybe worse. I only have one interest.”

“Heh.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. 

“I’m just… I want to be ready to fight.”

“You won’t have to fight.”

“I know… I know I won’t have to, but that’s the same thing as… It’s not about having to. It’s about should. I saw what the Trolls do, and I can’t even imagine how many people died. No one talks about that. How many villages didn’t evacuate in time.”

“Many.” He said simply. And I nodded.

“So I want to prepare. I’m going to fight them.”

“And when you look up, like I did and realize that there is no one around?” I met his eyes, he had turned away from his enchanting entirely. “If you dedicate all of yourself to this Dorah, then you might just find yourself without a reason to do it in the first place.”

“I’m not doing it just to protect the people I love… Everyone deserves to be safe.”

“That’s not what I mean.” He corrected me, and I pouted but nodded. 

I understood.

“I should still live even if I want to prepare… I can’t only prepare. I don’t want to be alone either.”

“I know. Your friend Kimi is good for you, but you haven’t been seeing her much.”

“She made some new friends, and I don’t really like them.”

“That happens. So… Will you just give up?”

“No.”

“Good. Go make some friends, or do something with others. You know there are lots of things you could do. I remember people used to go to the parks and the children would play. You could go there, see if you can make some friends.”

“I’ll think about it… Maybe do my Adventure Guild again. I haven’t done that in a while. I could use some new spells I guess.”

“If that’s what you want. If that’ll make you happy.” He said, reaching over and pulling me into a hug. “Just try not to forget there is more than your interests. Hmm You went to the Blacksmith today?”

“Yeah. Master Illianar, is swamped with work. I was making a breastplate today.”

“Really? Tell me about it.” I grinned and happily chattered away about the experience.

Papa really was the greatest.