Draken World

Chapter 5

Yamada woke up, with heavy eye lids, and heavier body. Scrunching his face, the searing and sharp pain brought him to his senses. He shot up trying to clutching his nose, feeling the intense pain in his gut, letting out a pained groan reeling back.

“By the Blessed, how are you up?” A woman said astonished, rushing over to help him. She gently coaxed Yamada into his bed.

“Where...where am I?” Yamada asked, with tears blurring his vision.

“The hospice, Grand Mage Urkse brought you here. Do not fret, you will be blessed, when the Blessed is free.”

Yamada forced himself up, the pain radiated out and shot through his body like fire. The nurse tried to push him back down to no avail. He clutched his gut, and shook his head, using the pain to fuel himself.

“Where is Grand Knight Gwyneth?” he shakily on his feet. “You need to lay down and-“

“WHERE!?” He yelled, his voice echoing through the stone walls.

The nurse went silent leaning away from him. She took a few seconds to compose herself.

“Most likely at the Keep, the sun is starting to set, and she will want to rest. So-”

Yamada marched off, his feet slapping the ground, and an anger burning in his core. He marched through the busy streets, garnering everyone’s judgemental gaze, with his bare feet trudging through the muddy streets, and a cheap Kāṣāya over the common shirt and trousers.

He made his way up the large winding path way to the second ring, and re-entered the stone courtyard with the squires. They all jeered and laughed at his broken and bruised face, resting their long and arming swords by their sides.

“What’s wrong Islander?” one of the squires asked, as if he was lost child.

“Where is Grand Knight Gwyneth?” He growled.

“Oh? What do you want with her?” Another squire said raising his eyebrows suggestively. The other squires laughed along, with Yamada clenching his fists.

“A rematch.” He growled. The squires went quiet, before breaking out in a guffaw, slapping each other, and reeling back. Gwyneth watched from the first ring, impressed to see Yamada walking about.

She leaned over the brick railing, staring down with her cape flowing in the wind, at the ready.

“Looks like you already lost your fight with her. Why don’t you try fighting something easier?” The squire said with a smile.

He was the same age as Yamada, with long blond hair split down the middle. While some people would consider his face to be desirable, Yamada felt he had a face that even a mother would punch.

“Something like you?” Yamada asked with a coy smile.

The squire brandished his long sword, angrily marching over to Yamada. “Watch your tongue, I slander, before I cut it out.”

Yssac stood next to Gwyneth, with matching height, armour and hair colour. If it wasn’t for his dark ebony skin, and much longer platinum blond hair, the two of them could pass as siblings.

Yssac’s cape had the imprint of a fanged tipped spear on the back, he was Grand Knight five years older than Gwyneth.

“I feel like you should be helping your new squire.” He said leaning his back against the railing, and peering down.

“He doesn’t need it.” She replied coldly.

“The poor boy doesn’t even have a weapon. At least give him something to defend himself.” Yssac said with a condescending tone.

The squire placed his blade up to Yamada’s throat, he grabbed the blade swiftly and tightly. The squire scoffed giving a smug smile, trying to pull the blade back. He frowned as the blade remained in Yamada’s grip, immovable.

As he struggled to pull his long sword free, Yamada stepped in, delivering a quick jab into the squire’s gut through the leather cuirass. The squire retched forward, coughing blood and saliva, releasing his grip on the sword.

He fell to his knees wheezing and clutching his gut. His abdomen continued to spasm and twitch, and the air continued to escape his body. The squire’s eyes bulged covered in red veins and tears.

The other squires readied their swords, ready to engage. Yamada stared the others down, the blunt long sword still in his hand.

“I feel like you should be helping your squires.” Gwyneth said with a smug smile.

Yssac glared down at the wheezing squire, with disdain.

“Where is Grand Knight Gwyneth?” He growled. 

The other squires stood firm and at the ready. Yamada twisted the long sword in his grip, and snapped the blade in two, like a branch. The squires all backed away, with shards of metal flying through the air. Yssac leapt off the first ring, at least 20 meters high.

"Always a showsman Yssac." Gwyneth muttered.

He crashed into the stone courtyard, kicking up a large cloud of dust. They all ducked down startled, staring into the opaque dust cloud.

Yssac emerged through the opaque dust cloud, with his cape lightly dragging against the ground. The other squires knelt down resting their heads on the hilt of their swords.

“You know it’s rude to not bow, in the presence of a Grand Knight.” Yssac said with a smile, towering over Yamada.

“Didn’t know.” He replied disinterested. Yssac kept his smile, with a vein bulging on his forehead, and he clenched his fists. The grinding metal caught Yamada’s attention.

“Why are you seeking Grand Knight Gywneth?” Yssac asked, dusting his off his pauldrons.

“I want a rematch. Do you know where she is?” Yamada asked looking around.

Gwyneth sniggered from above, seeing the rage, boiling to the surface.

“So a test of might is what you seek?” Yssac asked.

“I guess? I just want to fight her; because I didn’t know she was gonna hit back. I was unprepared, when she gave me this.” Yamada said pointing to his bruised face.

“Well, I am much stronger than Gwyneth. Test your might with me, and if you impress me, I will consider-“ 

“Pass.” Yamada said, looking up at Gwyneth smiling down at him. She gave him a wave, before pointing towards Yssac.

His large gauntlet wrapped over Yamada’s head. The weight of it, made his knees buckle, and he was thrown violently across the courtyard. “You dare to disrespect me!?” Yssac bellowed.

Yamada tumbled across, and crashed into the nearby armoury. Blunted steel swords clanged and banged over him, with wooden beams draped over him. He pulled himself out of the rubble, the pain in his back, made him dry reel.

Yamada gnashed his teeth, letting out an enraged roar, striking the ground, shattering the large stone slab. Yamada’s breaths were short and rapid, and he wore the scowl of a feral beast. “Is your armour made of adamantine!?” He asked, clenching his fists.  

Yssac opened his arms wide, showing off his silver breast plate, adorned with arcane symbol. He cockily approached Yamada, spinning around slowly to show off his armour.

“I am wearing armour forged from the master smiths of Dweorg! This is pure Orichalcum!”

Yamada picked up a stone chunk, as Yssac approached.

“Although I did have one of your people, paint over the grotesque, original colours of orange and bronze.” He said spinning around to face Yamada.

A stone chunk shattered against his breast plate, into fine dust. Yssac glared at Yamada, with Gwyneth laughing from above, covering her mouth.

“I should have asked. Is your armour stronger or weaker than adamantine?”

“I have one of the finest armour in Jux-” Yssac growled with his nostrils flaring, staring down at him.

Yamada cocked his right fist back, and stepped in with his left foot, planting it through the stone floor. In a blink, Yamada had closed the distance between them. Yssac’s eyes went wide in shock, as Yamada’s fist fractured his breast plate, and sent him flying back.

He crashed into the first ring, with large cracks radiating throughout the structure. Yamada shook his bloodied and scraped fist. Blood trickled over his knuckles, and seeped out from his palms. Yssac crawled out of the rubble, wheezing and gasping for air, holding his chest.

The Grand Mages rushed out to see the commotion, standing next to Gwyneth. She watched on from above, leaning on an elbow, resting her chin on it.

“What’s going on!?” Cin yelled.

“My squire is training.” The five of them shared a confused glance, before staring at her. “Your squire?” They asked cocking their heads to the side, in perfect unison.

Soel held her hand out, creating the emerald magic circle of earth. As the green vortex of vines completed, the damage to stone court yard and first ring quickly disappeared. The rubble and dust flew back into place, and the cracks disappeared.

“Is that Yamada?” Urkse asked, looking closer. “What the hell is doing here? He needs to heal! Especially for the sake of his new wi-“ Gwyneth yanked Urkse’s long beard, slamming his face into the brick ledge.

The other Grand Mages took a step back filled with curiosity, but too much fear to ask. Rai leaned in to Aerith’s ear.

“Was he going to say wife?” he whispered. “I think so.” Gwyneth snapped back glaring at them. The two of them broke apart, looking to the clouds, feeling her fiery gaze on them.

Yamada raised his trembling fist, blood dripping down his arm. The throbbing pain, radiated through his whole body. He took a deep breath, hearing the sound of heart thumping in his ears. Yssac stood up letting out a primal roar.

He reached behind his back, pulling the spear out of his cape. He wielded a long fang tipped spear, which stood taller than Yssac, with the spear tip made of Adamantine. The tip reflected the warm sun light like a prized gem.  Yssac flourished the spear, with each spin the tip sliced through the stone floor like cheap silk. “COME ON BOY! I WILL SHOW YOU HUMILITY AND RESPECT!” Yssac bellowed out, sprinting towards Yamada. 

Yamada raised his fists under his eyes, and bounced on his toes. Yssac rushed in throwing a barrage of thrusts attack. Yamada bobbed and weaved through each strike, like a feather in the wind. The others watched on fascinated and shocked, at Yamada’s deftness.

“I feel like we should be stopping this, before he gets hurt.” Rai said, watching on enthralled.

“Interfere and I’ll make you eat Urkse’s beard.” Gwyneth growled without looking at him. Rai shuddered and stepped away from her.

Yssac threw a mighty thrust. Yamada stepped to the right, and caught the shaft of the spear, with his left hand. Yssac leapt back, letting go of his spear, feeling the wind from Yamada’s fist brush against his chin. Yamada held the spear up, inspecting the master craftsmanship.

“Is this spear tip made of adamantine?” He asked.

“Yes, now give that back to me.” Yssac growled, clenching his fists and teeth.

Yamada dropped the spear, and let out a primal roar, striking the spear tip with all his might. A cloud of dirt shot up, and the stone courtyard exploded into rubble. Soel let out an exasperated sigh.

“Why do I even bother fixing this place?” she thought, burying her face into her hand.

“Um, I’ll ask the question we’re all wondering. Why the hell did he just punch a spear!?” Rai exclaimed.

The dust cloud settled and blood dripped like ruby rain over the pristine spear tip. Yamada snarled at the perfectly shaped spear tip, his right fist drenched in blood and loose scar tissue.

He struck the spear tip again, over and over, embedding the spear deeper into the ground, letting out a pained roar. Gwyneth leapt off the first ring, rushing over to Yamada. As he cocked his fist back for another strike, she caught his wrists, with his mangled fist dangling.

“Stop that, you’re not going to break Adamantine with your punches.” She said.

He fell down to his knees, slumped over, breathing heavily.

“Follow me, I’ll take you to a Blessed. They can heal you before that gets infected.” She said offering her hand out.

He was motionless, except for his ragged breathing.

“W..why aren’t I strong enough to break it?” He whimpered, choking on his words. Gwyneth knelt down beside him, watching the tears well up in his eyes. 

“Are you crying, because your hand hurts, or because you couldn't break it?” She asked softly, patting his shoulder gently.

The others gazed at her in stunned. “Is she...caring for him?” Rai asked shaking his head in disbelief.

Yamada shrugged her hand away, still trying to clench his mangled fist. He was silent, staring at the spear embedded into the earth.

“There are few in this world that can break adamantine with their fist. Would you like to become one?” She asked, standing up, and looking down at him with a confident smile.

Yamada perked up, his eyes blood shot and wiping his eyes.

“I don’t know why you want to be strong enough to break adamantine, but I can make you strong enough. I will warn you now, my training regiment is not for the weak.”

Yamada recited the Elven commander’s last words, in his head like a prayer. ‘That is a right only reserved for the strong.’

“Out of 100 squires, only two have become knights under my tutelage. Do you still wish to-“

“I’ll do it! I won’t stop till I can shatter it!” Yamada cut her off, his voice brimming with dedication, as he bowed to her. “Good, first lesson begins at dawn, after we take you to a Blessed, and get you the proper attire for a squire.” She said, giving Yssac a smug grin.