Sword from the Sky

Sword from the Sky - Chapter Three

A LATE START

TWELEVE YEARS CAME AND WENT, AND NOW A YOUNG generation of Davinian students stood ready to embrace their destinies and compete for the final rite that would make them Masters of Daví. Though the lands of Bune were more alive than ever, a darkness still encompassed the horizon, always near yet distant, always making itself known in the deepest dreams of the peoples of Esterra.

It was the day of the annual Spadas or “Testing of Blades,” and young Luca lay sleeping on his bed as the dawning sun crept about his chamber walls. Luca lived with his father, Prince Druuk. Their manor was situated a few miles from the walls of the palace. As the second prince, that is, the second oldest son of the king, Druuk was not allowed to reside inside palace walls. That honor was only bestowed to the king, the first prince, and any of their immediate families and staff. Yet, Druuk had complete access to the palace at all times, and because he was still a prince, all reverence was given to him by the people of Bune, for it was his birthright.

As his son, Luca was also given certain privileges, such as being able to access the palace and enjoy some of its comforts, regardless of the fact that the king had never recognized young Luca as his legitimate grandson, for the king believed that Luca’s mom, Evie, was nothing but a harlot who fancied herself as nobility. This tension between Druuk and the king had always bothered Luca, and he had always blamed himself for the rift, although he kept this deep in his thoughts and made sure never to reveal it to his father.

After the passing of Sunasar the Knower, Druuk became the greatest scribe in the kingdom of Bune, and replaced Sunasar as head scribe of the Order of Daví. Druuk met and sometimes even surpassed Sunasar’s ability as a scribe and master of the discernment of spirits, and because of his prestigious status, Druuk was able to persuade the Davinian masters to take in Luca for training on a trial basis. Luca was admitted to the Blade School of Daví at the age of six to learn basic movements and concepts, but his admittance to the order was a blessing, because it was unlike the Davinian order to accept a boy with a wooden leg; a Davinian warrior required physical strength and agility, and Luca’s leg disabled him in this fact.

Surprisingly, after the first year, the masters witnessed a fire in Luca that existed in no other student, and though it came with great difficulty, Luca quickly learned all the movements needed to handle being a Davinian apprentice. He was not quick on his footwork, but to offset that, he became proficient with his upper body. He learned how to create a great center of balance, even with his disability. And his techniques, his slashing and counters, were all up to par and sometimes even surpassed others.

Would he ever become a great master? Probably not, but the determination that bred inside Luca garnered him respect from the masters and also empowered his spirit, enabling Luca to advance from level to level. He became an inspiration to some students, though others pitied him and saw him as receiving special treatment. And strangely enough, there were some that saw him as someone to envy, for he inspired a sense of awe wherever he went.

It wasn’t long before Luca had earned all six of his lower blades and was ready to test for his final blade, his long sword, which all students must acquire before being recognized as a Davinian Servantu, a master of blades.

The Spadas Procession was about to begin, as all of the students from the provinces of Esterra had arrived from their long journeys, lining up along the entrance to the Vie ba Ave, more commonly known as “Ave’s Path.” The Blade School of Daví was situated at the end of this great mile-long road that broke through the never-ending sloping moors along the palace borders.

Every year it was tradition for all the Davinian students to gather around the entrance to Ave’s Path and form one impressive procession line that stretched back for hundreds of yards. Following the path, they would go in procession down the lengthy road towards the large bridge that connected the land to the Davinian School. As an annual event, it drew large crowds, and all manner of life ceased to be, if only to accommodate this important occasion.