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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Calypso" data-source="post: 1441499" data-attributes="member: 16875">One Hero's Story - Coming of AgeThe sword lunged at Kaelin.  In an instant his own sword was slapping away that of his attacker.  The clash of the steel blades rang out over and over.  In came the sword again, and again Kaelin deflected the attack.  A third strike came in low and down swooped his sword to block, but his attacker’s sword suddenly angled up, nearly wounding Kaelin in a vital area.  He jumped back, less than amused, narrowly avoiding disaster.  The attacker stared back at Kaelin, equally as stoic.  He opened his arms out to the sides, inviting Kaelin to return to the combat.Kaelin quickly led in, jabbing and slicing at his opponent, but finding no openings.  He began focusing down low, hoping his opponent would shift his defense and leave himself vulnerable.  He found that his tactics were no more effective.  His patience quickly dissolving, he doubled his efforts, slashing franticly at his opponent.  The room was growing warm, heated by their activity, and Kaelin was becoming hot and angry.  He was beginning to lose focus and was primarily concerned with simply keeping up with.  He sliced even more furiously at the attacker, but still to no avail.  His opponent was prepared for every attack and knew every trick.  As the other did not seem to be tiring, Kaelin’s only option was to quickly find a maneuver that the attacker would not expect.  Kaelin sliced upward with his weapon, missing his opponent’s ear as he easily ducked below the blade.  Kaelin saw his opportunity and slid onto the floor toward his attacker’s legs, his sword leading the way.  He fully expected his sword to make contact, but instead was surprised when suddenly struck heavily on the head and again on his behind, leaving him lying prone beyond his attacker.  He glanced at his sword three feet away.  He scrambled to get up, hoping he would have the chance, but his opponent reached him more quickly than he thought possible and deftly kicked away the Kaelin’s fallen weapon.“Enough, young Kaelin,” the other elf finally said.  Kaelin turned and glared, but said nothing.  “You will become a great swordsman one day, but not if you don’t learn to control your aggression and focus yourself.  Your mother is expecting you in the temple.  Wash yourself and get there quickly.”   Kaelin dragged himself from the floor, and began to object but thought better and simply replied, “Yes, father.”  He replaced his sword on the weapon rack along the wall and went out through the building’s opening.  The other elf stood still, replaying the battle in his mind.  It was one of the better practice sessions, he decided, but his son would need to learn further discipline.  He was pleased with Kaelin’s skill with the sword, as he was also pleased with his son’s skill with the longbow.  Kaelin was still young though, and had much to learn.  His chief concern was that despite his skill, Kaelin would find himself in a battle for which he was not prepared. Though he would not outwardly show it, he had all the love in the world for his only son and was devoted to teaching him the art of combat, so that he might better defend himself and may be better prepared when that one battle comes.His thoughts were scattered as voice outside spoke his name.  A figure appeared in the doorway.  “Training with your son, are you?”  Kaiythus stood nearly six inches shorter than this elf, but was certainly no less the fighter.  He was slightly annoyed at the interruption and at the impatience in the other’s voice.  Clearly he could as well do with some training.  How he would have liked to tell him so, but he instead replied “He is quicker with the blade than I could imagine.  He has come quite far for one so young,” replied Kaiythus.  “Well, I hope his instincts are as quick and his wit as sharp,” the elf cut back.“That remains to be seen,” Kaiythus answered simply.“Are you prepared for our raid Kaiythus,” the elf asked him.  Kaiythus paused a moment, before reluctantly responding.  “Yes, Evrynn, I’m ready.  Let me just retrieve my equipment.  I will meet you at the bottom of the hill in five minutes.”  The taller elf departed, again leaving Kaiythus alone.  There was something he did not like about Evrynn and found him hard to trust.  He unfortunately had no choice in the matter as Evrynn was the king’s military advisor, and thus the commander of the elven forces in Silver Pine.Kaiythus broke away from his thoughts, retrieving the remaining equipment and replacing it on the racks running along side the walls of the training room.  He would need a few supplies as well as his weapons and armor.  Orc encampments had been popping up along the edges of Silver Pine.  At the present, there was no real indication of the orcs’ intentions, but the elves would not allow an orcish presence in their land.  He therefore expected merely another raid on the orcish encampments, but he would not be caught unprepared.  Kaiythus departed for his hut to prepare a few things before leaving to meet Evrynn.*******Kaelin dashed along the path after leaving the practice room.  Leaves fell across the path, as the weather was again becoming cool and the days short.  Though short, it wouldn’t be long before the cold season had come, leaving the trees bare and the ground covered in frost.  Kaelin hardly noticed the cold, however.  Hot and sweaty he flew down the path.  He was exhausted from practice, but the anticipation of the afternoon’s activities had somehow reminded him of his remaining energy.  His mother was at the temple and his father would likely be departing on another raid upon the orcs.  His mother, therefore, would not see his father this afternoon, so Kaelin could explain his absence at the temple as being due to a long practice, which was partially true.  He had found a cave not too far away that he believed had been used as a shelter by some gnolls at some point.  He was eager to explore it, but knew that neither of his parents would approve.  Gnolls were not commonly seen around the evlish city of Silver Pine, but Kaelin had heard enough stories to want to avoid them.  Or so thought his parents, anyway.  In truth, he was somewhat frightened, but at the same time was anxious to battle one to see who was really the better.  Either way, he was curious about the cave, inhabited or not, and there wasn’t a better opportunity to explore than now.  Kaelin increased his speed and soared along the path, but had only travelend a short way before colliding with another elf coming the opposite way.  Though Kaelin was not fully grown yet, most elves could not have launched him backwards the way this one did.  Kaelin looked up, irritated, the other elf’s eyes meeting his with a dark stare.  He at once recognized this elf as the king’s military advisor and his father’s commander.  “One should be more respectful of his elder, young one.  You nearly drove me from the path.  Would you prefer that I were to fall to the side, injured?  Who then would lead the raids on the orcs?  We would be overrun and you would be to blame.”“I’m sorry, sir.  I’ll be more careful next time,” Kaelin replied, keeping his anger in check.The elf’s eyes cut through Kaelin, making him feel weak and defenseless.  “You would be sorry if you were cut open and strung out by an orcish warrior.  You indeed should be more careful or there may not be a next time.  With a final humph, the elf strode away, leaving Kaelin sprawled out along side the path.Kaelin knew well of Evrynn’s importance in Silver Pine.  He as well knew of his father’s dislike of Evrynn.  He did not really know why his father disliked the commander so, but judging by his own encounter moments ago, he did not have any reason to like Evrynn.  He pulled himself up from the path, noticing his sweaty clothing was now dirty and torn as well.  Despite that he was not going to the temple, he would need to return home quickly and at least find some other clothes.  He would have to repair these later.  His thoughts again returned to the gnoll cave and his curiosity pulled him back along the path.  It would only take him a moment to reach home and change, and then he could be off for the caves.</blockquote>

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