Board Thread:Short Stories/@comment-26383377-20160826195230

"Up, left, swing. Step back, one two. Be nimble in your movement. Aim true, and strike hard."

The young recruit was fighting off an onslaught of attacks from his fellow Squire, listening to his superior's guidence. He moved his sword up and deflected the attack, exposing his face, and recieving a punch to his jaw. Followed by a swift kick to the belly, which sent him to the floor. He groaned as he held his head, his friend came over and offered a hand. "Come on, Ecius. Looks like I'm winning the bet." He chuckled.

Ecius snarled, but accepted his friend's help. He stood up, and turned to his superior, "He used his off hand to strike, Sir Arthus! That's not part of the rules!"

"Currently, you fight a friend, an ally. But once you reach the mantle of knighthood, you will face many an enemy who posses no such rules." Arthus planted the tip of his longsword on the floor, resting his hands on its pommel. Arthus was wearing his full suit of armor, as per usual. Arthus's armor was his second skin, and grew accustomed to its protective embrace, He only removed it when he slept, or when he decided to bathe. Arthus raised his arm up, and the two younglings turned to face each other. They raised their swords, and let thier bladed touch. "I'm winning this time, Lucare." Ecius muttered beneath his breath.

Arthus then dropped his arm down. And the two immediatly stepped back and took defensive positions. The swords clashed against each other, blade met blade. And whenever Lucare attempted a decietful strike with his offhand. Ecius was quick to dodge and counter with his own.

The two danced across the field, their hands changing grips every time the situation required it. They Were an impressive sight to any commoner who would be wandering through. But this was the Emerald Fort, all the knights who passed by the duelling couple during thier patrol simply remembered the time when they needed to endure that as well, which would usually bring a nostalgic smile to their faces.

Ecius raised his blade up above his head and brought it down upon Lucare, who raised his sword as well to deflect the blade. But upon impact of the two's swords, Ecius quickly moved forward, positioned the top of the guard of his sword against the bottom of Lucare's pommel. And in one swift move, he threw Lucare's sword upwards and smashed his pommel against Lucare's chin. Sending the sword flying away, and Lucare toppling to the ground, grasping his chin.

Ecius grinned, feeling a sense of victory, he pointed his sword at his fallen foe. "Aha, look who's losing the bet now?"

"That will be enough." Arthus concluded, picking up his sword and sheathing it. He walked over to the two, and grabbed Lucare by the shoulder, helping him up. "You need to remember something too. Once you perform a distasteful manouver, like the one you've shown here, you set the grounds in which your battle is performed in. You declare to your opponent that you have no rules in battle. And once you admit to that, your opponent will treat you accordingly." Arthus patted him on the shoulder, gently shoving him towards Ecius. "You two should return to your quarters."

"Yes sir." The two said in unison, though Lucare slurred the words slightly. They both turned and headed towards thier quarters, but not before dropping thier practice swords in the according barrel. Which was already nearly filled with used swords.

Arthus sighed happily and placed his hands on his hips, watching the squires walk off. "I'll make fine knights out of them." He smirked, turning around and walking off. He had a wife to return too, and he was looking forward to the following night. 