27 Erebus (1/2)

After Dubh had left, I looked around at where he had left me. It seemed like the recruits didn't get much. Also it seemed like there weren't many. Looking around, I had only found twenty beds, ten of those were occupied. It looked like there was only one trainee squad here at the moment. I would have said it was odd, but I don't know much about the rangers, to be honest, unless you were or are a ranger, I doubt, you would know much about them.

It took me a while but I finally decided on the bed I would sleep in. It was the most hidden and out of the way of all of the beds,. iIt also wasn't near any of the other occupied beds as well.

I took off the leather armour that I had left on as well as the sword. Took the dagger out of its sheath and placed it under the pillow. This was in case Dubh did come in the middle of the night as he threatened. Then after getting into the bed, I quickly fell asleep, all of the previous days fatigue and exhaustion finally catching up to me.

As it turned out, it wasn't Dubh who came in the middle of the night, but Erebus. ”Adoh, get up. That's not much to do here for you, but if you are here you can be useful.”

Slowly waking up by the shaking on my shoulder, I first thought that it was Dubh. So along that line of thought, my hand went to grab the dagger under the pillow. I found nothing.

”Oh, looking for this.” He held the knife in front of me. ”It is an odd trait to keep weapons on you while sleeping, especially when you are friendly. Even more so for someone as new to the army as you.”

It was at that point, I worked out it was in fact not Dubh but it was Erebus. 'If I got my dagger and attacked and hurt him. Lucky I didn't. If I did the consequence of attacking a superior is death'

Thinking about the punishment, a cold sweat formed on the back of my neck. Seeing me begin to sweat, Erebus looked at me oddly. Then looking down he saw the dagger in his hand.

”You think you could have even made a scratch on me. Now that is funny. Kid come with me. I will show you why.”

He took me out and onto the plateau outside of the cave. I was able to get my armour back on though and I got my dagger back. Just before I left, I went back and grabbed my sword, nearly forgetting it.

Seeing me run back to grab my sword., Erebus just had a look of disbelief. I heard him muttering, ”How can he forget his sword, especially after showing the intelligence of sleeping with his dagger.”

On the plateau, it was just us. I had my sword drawn and he had nothing. ”So you don't want to get a weapon or anything. You could get hurt.”

”Kid, you are about two hundered years early and missing a dragon if you think you can hurt me. Now come.”

I ran straight at him, with the intention of not allowing anytime to get into any position or cast any magic. As expected I arrived before him extremely quickly. I started with a stab, which he dodged, then followed with a slash at his torso and head. Both of those he dodged. After my third attack, he retaliated, this was with a normal looking punch to my chest.

My whole body and every sense I had, if I knew they existed or not screamed one thing. Dangerous. I jumped back, to get out of his range which would be limited, considering he had no weapon.

”It seems your reflexes and senses are at least good kid, though try harder, I am unarmed after all.”

'Damm, if all of his attacks make me feel such a sense of danger. How will I be able to stay in close quarters long enough to land a hit. Unless I don't stay in for long.'

I quickly looked around trying to find anything that could help me in my fight. There was nothing, just the empty, flat plateau.

'If I go all out, I could maybe force him back and at least touch him.'

”comhlacht a fheabhsú.” I felt the familiar feeling of mana cover my body. Without any warning, I sprinted straight towards him. When I was about one metre away, I threw my sword at him. As I expected he was able to dodge the sword. Though by the time he had turned towards me again, I was right next to him with my dagger in hand.