Speronör #Wattys2016

Chapter 3: Prove Your Metal

[Ashlynn's POV]

"So!" Ethan boomed, "time for your second test, are all of you ready?"

Um heck NO! I thought as I stood there awkwardly with a very VERY heavy sword in my hand and a bow with a quiver full of arrows strapped to my back. Our second test involved using two weapons of our choice to cut down 10 wooden enemies while completing an obstacle course. Initially I chose bow and arrows because I had taken a few classes when I was a kid so I figured their relative light weight made moving easier and the sword was because I thought it would look cool.

It turns out that the others thought it was cool too because all of us were carrying swords of similar designs. The difference was the choice in our secondary weapons: Leo choose a wooden staff, Liash choose a crossbow and Jillian choose a set of throwing knives, "You know how to use those?" I asked Jillian and Liash.

"Er, no not really but I mean they are our secondary weapons so I doubt we need to use them, so I just anyhow picked one up" Liash replied.

"The knives seem pretty self explanatory, just throw toward your opponent and you're bound to hit something right? Or at least distract them" Jillian replied.

"Ok students, enough chatter. Who would like to go first?" Ethan asked. Leo and Jillian were suddenly very interested in the surrounding forest while I was staring down at my boots (wonder what these are made of?). Out of the corner of my eye I saw that Liash had backed away quite abit from me and so had Leo, leaving me and Jillian in Ethan's focus, "You!" my heart and lungs stopped working, "Jillian, you get to go first!" and cue respiratory system.

Jillian, ever game, just started the course after taking a moment to study it further. First up in the obstacle course was a 10 meter field that Jillian sprinted across, suddenly three pop up figures carrying swords and shields popped up in front of her. Reacting quickly, Jillian swung her sword and took out each of the straw dummies. Next she had to climb up a steep incline then swing across a pond of water. Suddenly when she stepped up onto the platform before the swing, a huge pendulum with a sharp metal blade attached to the bottom was released.

"No! Ethan, you can't risk her life like that!" Leo said pleadingly. But Ethan just calmly replied, "Don't you worry boy, she'll be fine"

I couldn't watch but I had to and by some miracle, Jillian made it past the pendulum of death and landed safely on the soft grass on the other side of the pond.

"5 minutes and 47 seconds miss Jillian! You did brilliantly for your first attempt, now who would like to go next?" Ethan asked. And so the rest of us took turns to try the course. Right now, it was clear that Jillian had the fastest timing and the cleanest run, the rest of us suffered a few setbacks during the course. I had fallen into the water (amongst other things) so I was standing there sopping wet while Ethan was telling us more about what being a warrior meant while waiting for Phillip to come and give us our next test.

"Being a warrior is not just about being able to wield weapon and fight of monsters, although that is in the job description so you do need to be prepared, but at its core, being a warrior means that you have to stand up for those who have no means to protect themselves even if you are terrified." Ethan said, standing just that much taller. It was inspiring to see him so dedicated and I secretly wished I could be a warrior too, 'too bad you did so badly on the course...no way you're going to be a warrior' I thought to myself sadly.

Gong, Gong

"Ah, that is the bell that signals the afternoon sparring session for the students" Ethan explained, "everyday students from all the disciplines will come together and spar to make sure that everyone is capable of defending themselves should the need arise."