The Pass by Zion Kistler (books to read romance TXT) 📖

While Treaf was busy with blocking Mildo’s sword, Mildo tucked his sword into his arm and pulled out his dagger in a flash, grabbed Treaf’s side, twirled him forcefully around, and held the dagger to his neck from behind. Treaf sighed, and then caught his breath. Ok, two wins, one loss. And what do ya know, a loss to Mildo. Mildo was soon lost to Treaf in the confusion and Treaf was left to his thoughts. But before he could find a new opponent, a whistle blew, and this signified that this stage of the training was done.
Sitting on a large rock Treaf drank water. He wondered what the next part of training would be, probably showing advice and general theory on how to fight, he soon decided. Hmmmmmmm, I don’t really need that, he thought. But really, it would not hurt, so after Noedar said so, he walked into the field again and waited for someone to order him around.
“Okay. Well done. Now we will train with more complex training—each of you will be given a mentor, and he will ‘teach’ you. Make sure that you are all spread at a good distance across the field.” At this, whoever had said that stopped talking, and each person found a mentor each, and Treaf guess that this is what they had been doing for the last week or two.
Thankfully, Noedar had found a separate person to train. Treaf was not in the mood to
Instead he saw an unknown person coming towards him, one of the Second Society’s men, no doubt, and instead of getting into a long conversation about him being late for the magic training, which Treaf had expected, he instead beckoned Treaf over.
“What style do you use?” He asked Treaf. Treaf actually felt his mind go blank. Um…I don’t use a particular style, he realized.
“Um…” The man waited expectantly.
“I just fight.” For a second the man looked partially confused. Treaf didn’t really blame him.
“I see. How exactly does that work?” What do you mean how does that work? I just fight. No theories to it…
“I just fight like I said before. Now if I don’t have a style, how are ya going to train me?” Treaf asked.
“Well, ‘just fight,’ like you said. Then I can give you advice.”
Without any further delay Treaf drew his sword, and so did the man who Treaf did not know his name. Treaf made the first move. Holding his sword above his head, he plunged it down, and this would have staked the man to the ground had he not side stepped. So Treaf ducked as he swung, predicted where his legs would be, and swung towards them…the man brought his sword down as Treaf had just done and blocked Treaf’s blow. Jumping up, Treaf kicked at his face, and his boot hit his cheek…this brought some blood out of his nose when his flesh pushed against his nose. Got ’im, Treaf thought. However, the man then stabbed at Treaf, and Treaf whipped past the sword, and, catching the back of him as he was in the lunging position, elbowed his back. This made him rear up, and while he was doing this Treaf kneed his upturned belly, which sent him sprawling the other way, and so Treaf planted his boot on his rib cage and shoved him over, and then held his sword to his neck. So much for ‘training,’ Treaf thought smugly. The man had the dignity to get up, luckily, so Treaf stood there.
“I have no advice to give you,” the man laughed. Treaf had the courtesy to laugh along. My training has been going good today, he thought, and grinned.
“Is there anything else?” He asked the man. The man replied “No,” so Treaf, having nothing else to do, decided to busy himself by finding more water. Soon he could not so he was forced to stand there and watch.
Actually, he had been expecting that things would look much worse, but the fighting skills of the individual men were actually quite good. The problem was that they only had thirty men to fight.
Even if we trained every man to almost unbeatable fighting ability, I doubt we could win with thirty men. He laughed at this, because of course it would be absolutely impossible by any means…
After a few minutes he grew bored of watching other people fight, so he left the training field and started walking towards the city. Training isn’t as extensive as it was a while ago, he realized, remembering his and Mildo’s time with Malock. I was new to fighting back then though; a freshy right off the Barren Lands, he scoffed.
Thinking about it, it made sense now that he was not receiving as much basic training—he had already achieved that and was already at a higher level. Now he was learning magic. And thinking about that, he realized that the time of trying out the Kagra on the homunculi was growing shorter. And neither of us know what to do. If we had more time… there were only four more days until they left. And he still had to figure out what they were doing in that factory too. Why do I even care? I’m not even a resident of this city, and I’m not gonna be staying here for much more at’ll. But sense it was something interesting to do, he might as well do it.
After realizing that he was not at all going anywhere in particular, he decided that he should go to the Elder’s even though he was in the least of that kind of mood, sense he had just gone a while ago. But one never knew, perhaps he had figured out some kind of warding system that would work to protect Treaf and himself while performing the Kagra. And besides, he had nothing better to do anyway.
Treaf soon arrived. After knocking on the door thrice, the Elder welcomed him in again and Treaf stepped over the threshold and into the house.
Taking his usual position on the Elder’s round table, the setup was the same as it had ever been. “Welcome back,” the Elder said. Treaf merely grunted.
“Have you figured out anything to do with wards yet?” Treaf asked. But before the Elder answered, Treaf realized that he still had the Spell Book from when he had taken it from the Elder when they were still in one of their camps along the road. He had forgotten to bring it with him after he had been training just a few minutes ago. So the Elder would probably not have had any resources in which to research for wards anyway. And this meant that they were loosing time yet again by not figuring anything out.
And, when the Elder replied, Treaf was proved right.
“Well, it would seem right that I need the Spell Book to do any research, am I not correct?” Treaf nodded.
“I’ll return it to you shortly. I’ve realized that ya need it…” The Elder nodded in agreement.
“So, I guess that’s all we really have to talk about, right?” The Elder nodded again.
“But one question, Treaf. Has the Second Society been training you at all with the Ten Death Bonds?”
“Nope. They haven’t arrived recently at the training place.”
“Are you planning to say anything to them? Our time is short here, so it would be wise to take up as much training in magic as possible.
“Yes, of course,” Treaf replied, and then said good-bye and left the house. It was still about four in the afternoon, and the day was young according to Treaf. Eager to find out as much as he could, he started walking through the city until he reached the guest house. Stepping inside and then up the stairs to the room up there, Treaf picked up his book of Mourgorth and began reading.


Chapter Fifteen
The Spirits Inside
The morning came quicker than usual, and it was cloudy and dark, for the sun had not yet risen. By the time Treaf had realized it was morning all of the others were already getting ready.
Quickly jumping up, he strapped on his sword and threw on his cloak. If he was correct about something, he knew that he would need his armor with the complex inscriptions and designs on it for later that day. Perhaps they would be performing the spell, perhaps not. He made a mental note to buy a new cloak once he had his ‘prize money’ or whatever it was that he would receive, for it was truly mangled and torn, besides the blood and dirt stains that had taken residence on its surface from the many battles it and Treaf had endured. But if he were to receive any money or prize at all, he was not sure.
Probably not, he decided as he walked down the stairs, his eyes still seemingly puffy and not fully capable of sight. However, once he had reached the bottom of the long flight of stairs and had entered the main breakfast hall his senses had cleared up more.
Actually that previous day and night Treaf had not thought much about the tasks looming before him, but he realized now that action would probably be taking place either that day or the next. After all they would be leaving in about three or four more days.
However, of the tasks that he and the Elder were going to perform, (hopefully without getting killed or injured,) he did not know how far they were going to get that day or if they would do the final testing that day either.
Breakfast had arrived pretty much by the time he had sat down, so now he received the pleasantly steaming plate and began to eat it and thought. But soon enough there was little left to do or think about than wait, and to soon consult with the Elder.