The Crimson Champion

Brutus Side Story: Xerkhon's Training

(Author's Note: This side story takes place during the few months after the prologue when Brutus trained with Xerkhon, so please enjoy!)

I get dressed in my armor, then I leave my room and head towards Xerkhon's throne room. As I enter, Xerkhon grins from where he sits. "Are you ready for today's training?"

I nod determinedly. "Yeah, I am." Xerkhon stands up and he summons a worn greatsword. I assume it's like that from ages of use. I summon my katana like he taught me and I hold it at the ready.

Xerkhon jumps at me with a slash and I quickly roll to the side to avoid it, then I get up and slash at his arm, although I don't leave a wound or anything.

Xerkhon turns and swings his blade at me. I duck, then I roll forward to stab at his right leg, making him growl. He leaps backwards, then he charges at me.

Xerkhon tries to stab at me, but I sidestep and he completely misses. I laugh. "You're too slow!" Xerkhon just silently glares as he looks for an opening to attack.

I decide to throw my katana at his chest, which he manages to block. He rolls his eyes. "Is that all you have?" He begins to pick up my katana but I snap my fingers and it returns to my hand, making Xerkhon look annoyed.

I smirk. "You're the one who taught me that, of course I'm going to use it against you. You should've seen it coming!" Xerkhon rolls his eyes. "Fair enough. I have another idea for your training, though."

I give him an interested look. "What's that?" Xerkhon opens a portal. "I have someone for you to meet." A gray-skinned elven man in a crimson robe walks out and the portal closes behind him. "Brutus Crescent, meet Karnak Tartaros, my high priest."

I give Karnak a confused look. "Tartaros? Like the destroyed kingdom?" Karnak nods sadly. "Yes, I used to live there, a long time ago..." He shakes his head. "The past doesn't matter now. Anyways."

Karnak turns to Xerkhon. "What do you need me for, my lord?" Xerkhon smirks. "I'd like you to help train my champion. Your combat training could be very useful for him."

Karnak bows. "I understand, it would be an honor to help." He goes over to me and he smiles as he holds his hand out. "It's nice to meet you, Brutus." I shake his hand. "It's nice to meet you too."

Karnak goes to the opposite side of the room from me as Xerkhon goes back over to his throne to sit and watch us. Karnak turns to face me and he summons a gray metal staff with spikes on both ends.

Karnak holds his staff at the ready, so I jump at him to start the fight. I try to bring my katana down on him, but he swiftly blocks with one end of the staff.

He then twirls the staff and smacks me on the left shoulder with one end, so I'm forced to leap back. Karnak runs at me and he attempts to hit me with the staff, but I manage to defend against it.

I slash at his hand to try and make him drop the staff but he easily sidesteps out of my way. I give him a confused look. "How are you so good with a staff? Aren't you some kind of wizard or something?"

Karnak grins. "It has to do with the combat training my lord mentioned. In Tartaros, I was trained with a staff like this, similar to a warrior monk's training. As for the wizard part, I certainly have magic, but..." He smirks. "That will have to be for another time."

I watch Karnak for a potential opening to attack. "Hmm...you're pretty interesting, Karnak." He jokingly bows. "Why, thank you." I take that as an opportunity to leap at him for a slash, but he instantly brings up his staff to smack me in the gut, making me fly backwards a little bit and fall on my back.

Xerkhon laughs from his throne while Karnak just shakes his head and walks over. "You have to try harder if you want to catch someone like me off-guard."

He extends a hand to help me up, but I ignore it and stand on my own. "Yeah, yeah..." Karnak smiles. "You're not bad, though. With some more training, I'm sure you'll be strong enough to do whatever you became my lord's champion for."

I clench my fists as I think about it. "Xerkhon brought me back to life after my old teacher Yuri killed me, my sister, and my best friend. Once I'm stronger, I'll be able to kill him for what he did!"

Karnak thinks. "Yuri...what is his last name?" I growl. "Solaris. He's the damned emperor of it." For a split second, I see a look of pure rage on Karnak's face, but then he quickly changes it to a determined look.

"I have my own issues with Solaris, so I'm prepared to help you with anything I can, as long as it's okay with Lord Xerkhon, that is." We both look at Xerkhon and he nods. "Of course, all your help is welcome, Karnak."

Karnak smiles. "Excellent!" He turns to me. "I will make sure to help you take down Solaris. It will require a lot of hard work, though. This will not be easy in any way. Are you prepared for this?"

I nod determinedly. "Absolutely. Yuri WILL die, I will make sure of it!" I bow to him. "Thank you very much for offering to help me, Karnak. It means a lot."

Karnak waves me off. "It's no problem at all, I'm glad I can help you take down Solaris! But you've had two fights today, so you should go get some rest, Brutus. We can continue tomorrow."

I sigh. "Alright, you have a point." I walk off towards my room with a grin on my face. Finally, I'm getting somewhere! You're done for, Yuri. I'm coming for you!