The Realm of Alagir

The Training

(Case's POV)

I swung my practice sword at Braxton. He deflected it and launched into an upwards slice. I parried the attack, the force of it jarring my arm. I thrust and Braxton sidestepped. Before I could recover, Braxton slapped his wooden blade into my wrist.

"Good job." Braxton said, "You're improving."
"Barely." I said.

"Stop being so hard on yourself, you're doing great for a beginner." He scolded.

"Whatever." I said angrily. Dropping my sword and storming away from the clearing.....
As I approached our house, I saw Jacob sneaking away from our mailbox. I walked over and opened it up. Inside was a slip of paper that read;

The days tick down, the games begin.
Search the clues, and you might win.
The four corners of the earth burn as coals.
You cannot stop, our eternal goals.
Our power must grow.
Soon the whole world will know.
Dianite has returned.

"Check this out." I said the Braxton as he came towards me. He read it. "Jacob's got a new hobby." I said dryly.

"Seems like it." Braxton said. "Whadya think he means?" He asked.

"I guess we'll find out....."

The next day, I found another paper.

The time is soon
Destruction calls
One heir to fate
One answer to all

Later that day, another one appeared;

Days are short
His power grows
But he is no match
For his foes.

Despair grants power
The records are kept
Not every day
But every hour

I showed Braxton and we spent most of the day trying to figure out what they meant.

"Clearly, he's going to summon Dianite, but how and where?"

That Night.....

I slipped silently out the door of our house, heading toward the forest. I wandered, following my instincts and memory to that hatch in the woods. I found it and opened it, slipping inside. I landed in a dirt tunnel, the walls held up by wooden beams.
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice asked tiredly. I looked into the darkness and saw a silhouette.

"I want you to teach me." I said.

"Teach you what?" He asked curiously, stepping forward into the torchlight.

I looked directly into his eyes and said, "Teach me how to fight....."
CLANG. Our blades clashed as we dueled. I leapt backwards, dodging his sword as he thrust it forward. I readied my sword, the sun glinting off the fine iron.

"Pretty good." Bridger remarked. I lowered my sword.

"These swords are too bulky and unwieldy." I complained.

Bridger paused for a second then said cryptically, "I have an idea."
I followed him back to his hovel. We entered and Bridger walked to his closet and started rummaging.

"Most people in this realm use a normal broadsword. I use a falchion, which is similar to a broadsword. It's rare to see one of these though."
Bridger handed me a box. I opened it. Inside was a sword with an ornate hand guard and a thin purple tinted blade.

"It's a rapier." I said. Bridger nodded.

"No one makes them anymore." He said.

"Yeah, something about a prophecy." I remarked.

"Anyway, try it out. Maybe it'll suit you better than a sword."
I took the rapier out of the box and raised it, testing its weight. I tried a couple quick jabs. I smiled, satisfied with it's speed.

"It's perfect." I said.

"Then it's yours. Amorine told me to give that sword to someone worthy." He said. I frowned.

"Who is Amorine?" I asked. Bridger's face turned dark.

"Someone from my past." I nodded.

"What's it's name?" I asked, changing the subject.

Bridger smirked and said, "It's name is Justice's Vengeance....."