The Morningstar

Chapter 1

"master the sword is too light for me and too small" the voice came from a boy about 17 years of age

"very well Shaxx, grab your long sword we shall train with real steel" Shaxx's master was an elvish woman in her mid-forties. Her name was Elizabeth, she had her greying hair in a top bun so it wouldn't disrupt her vision and her pointed ears were far longer than the usual elfs.

Shaxx chuckled slightly and walked over to a midnight black scabbard and drew his Dragon Steel long sword from its cover. Its hilt was an ivory white and the pommel was a sharp spike that could pierce boiled leather.

Dragon Steel was a durable steel that's secret was lost to time, all Shaxx knew is that this sword could shatter others swords and never dulled.

"Now as we are using sharp steel, we must be cautious" Shaxx's master drew a steel arming sword from a brown leather scabbard resting on her hip. The hilt of the sword was an unusual wood that shaxx had never seen before. When he had asked Elizabeth about it she had told him that redwood was only reserved for those who have passed the way of the sword trials.

Shaxx knew nothing of the elvish way of the sword trials, he found most elvish customs peculiar but had never expressed his confusion towards his ward.

"I know master" shaxx took his stance holding his sword in front of him and focused his eyesight on his master who was twirling her blade.

Elizabeth had always told him "an opponent who twirls their blade is over confident, use it too your advantage"

As his master took her stance the door to the training room swung open and a dozen men armed with enough weapons to supply a militia stormed the training room. These men were simple thugs and their weapons while plentiful were only axes and daggers made in an unprofessional forge.

"'Allo Elizabeth, it's time you pay your debts love" the bandit that spoke had a hoarse voice and his visage was marked with scars from a battle long lost. He was the only thug branding a professionally made scimitar. Its curved blade was peculiar to shaxx however he had trained against all sword types so he did not fear the Assteinian blade.

Shaxx and his master stood back to back ready to face the potential bloodbath.

"shaxx reme...." she was cut off

"MISERUM" against the advice of his ward, shaxx charged at the thugs catching them off guard. He lunged for the first thug on his left and successfully pierced the tattered gambison he was wearing. Shaxx quickly parried the other thug's axe and grabbed the throat of the would-be killer with his left hand and crushed his airways.

Shaxx's master sighed and charged the thugs fighting with an unnatural elegance. Every move was fierce and deep yet to shaxx and the thugs she was simply gliding and almost dancing.

Shaxx and his master fought hard and well. Shaxx's moves were clunky and heavy; however against opponents who had no combat experience this tactic had worked rather quite well in his favour, even though Elizabeth had preached fluidity and grace.

shaxx and the bandit leader looked at one another "come on kid I'll let you go if you leave" he twirled his scimitar.

Shaxx readied his blade by holding it in front of him with its point at a diagonal pointed at the roof.

"Let's dance" the leader scoffed and swung his sword at shaxx. Shaxx parried and kicked the leader in the chest and quickly drew his dagger from his sheathe and plunged it deep into the leader's stomach and slit it across, spilling his guts.