Category : Stories

Sub Category : Fantasy

Chapter 2: Lumin


Sounds of wood smacking against wood echo throughout the partly occupied courtyard. Grunts of pain and heavy breathing can be heard following the sounds. At the center are two boys. One who appears to be twelve with dark brown hair and stormy grey eyes. The other boy was only a bit older, bigger, and supposedly stronger. Both wore padded jerkins, yet the grey-eyed boy wielded a normal sized wooden sword with a small buckler. The older held an axe shaped wood piece.


Lumin gasped sharply as Geoff slammed the weapon dead center of Lumin’s raised shield. The pain was intense, but the younger boy stood his ground. Lumin swung his sword low aiming for the knee. Causing Geoff to buckle even a little bit so Lumin can shove the axe off and slam the shield onto Geoff’s face. Of course Geoff quickly raised an arm to protect his face, but still the big lad staggered backwards. Lumin took advantage of this opportunity by taking a quick step forward while thrusting his blade at Geoff’s chest.


If the thrust hurt the boy, Geoff didn't show it as a grin forms on the square-jawed face. “You hit like a bloody girl!” Geoff grabbed the wooden sword by the blade with one hand and with a yank Lumin was freed from it. Geoff threw the weapon to the side as Lumin began to look worried. Before it was like a game, but now it became something more. “It is just training Geoff! If that was steel with an edge i would've run you through!” Lumin countered the argument while backing up with a raised shield. Geoff scoffed before reaching out for the shield.


Lumin ducked under the arm and slammed the rim of his shield hard into Geoff's side. Making the large kid wince and hiss in pain. Lumin sprinted over to his sword, but he could hear the loud stomps coming from behind. The squire tumbled forward to grab the training sword while raising his shield just in time for an attack. However Geoff simply slammed his shoulder with the weight behind it. It easily knocked poor Lumin onto the ground dazed from the impact.


“That's enough for today!” A commanding voice broke the intense battle. Geoff had already raised his axe, ready to bring it down on the exposed lordling. But no more as the large kid sighed and lowered his weapon. Lumin sighed with relief as his stiff shoulders began to relax. 


“You're lucky to be a lord Stormbane. Normally i would've split your pathetic shield in half and break the arm behind it.” Geoff left chills running down Lumin’s spine after stating that. Not that Lumin doubted a word of it since the few times Geoff smacked the shield proved it. Lumin is thankful that his shield arm is just numb now from the pain, but he knew that come morrow it would be a world of pain.


When Lumin didn't exactly respond, Geoff grunted before taking his leave from the courtyard. Striding in from the side is a tall, lithe man wearing a steel breastplate over a leather jerkin. He had short golden hair with eyes like a pair of sapphires. Ser Richard Almor was his name and is anointed knight as well as master-at-arms of Storm Keep. The knight flashed a grin at Lumin who was getting up on his feet.


“Excellent performance Lord Stormbane. If he wasn't a big oaf you would've won a couple of times before he took you down.” Even though the words was supposed to be encouraging. The words felt like driving a dagger into Lumin's heart. Lumin gave the sword and shield to Ser Richard without really giving a word in response.


“I'm not lord yet. Besides it doesn't matter if i performed well because in the end i could've been killed at that moment.” Lumin gathered his words carefully even though technically he would've struck the fatal strike first. But if Geoff was taking the young lord seriously then chances were slim at best. Richard kept his grin as he took the training gear from Lumin before responding with confidence.


“True enough. But use this opportunity to learn what you could've done to avoid it. In the meantime your training is done for the day.” Those words caught Lumin off guard that he didn't know what to say. Normally in the mornings he spars with other squires and during the evening Lumin would sometimes spar with Argoth. Those moments were memories that Lumin cherished not because Lumin wins every time, but because the whole time they laugh when they hit each other. It was like their own game that Argoth can keep up with Lumin.


“Did something happen?” Lumin posed a question since this has never happened before. Of course Lumin is aware that his twin brother has been tutored in various boring topics such as other houses and history. Still it never halted their training in the least. Lumin can vouche that it proved to be helpful since Argoth has gotten better each time he loses. Lately it has gotten to where Lumin can barely keep up.


“Your father has assigned your brother to something important. Besides after that thrashing i think you should rest for now.” Richard responded in earnest. It was true that Lumin could imagine how his arm would feel. A sigh escapes from the boy's lips before speaking. “I guess. If something happens or if Argoth has time would you mind point him in my direction?”


The knight formally bowed with a smile ever present on his face. “Of course, i shall see to it once the job is done.” Hearing Ser Richard's words quelled the doubt that was rising within young Lumin. The lordling bid his farewell and began his descent of the Keep. It is mostly a fortress instead of a town, but it has proven time and time again that it is a great defense against invaders. Nearly eight hundred men garrison the Storm Keep while a hundred garrison in Overwatch and another hundred men in Port Skyright. The Overwatch is the main city within the Qlink Region.


It took Lumin about half an hour with the sun still hiding behind the peaks before the kid came upon the Nyrad Bay. The thunderous, white noise echo throughout the Keep was coming from the wide mouth of Mount Kaajin. Where lots of water constantly pouring out to form a waterfall that pours into the Nyrad Bay. Lumin quickly undressed himself before diving into the water. The cool embrace of Thanas was refreshing after a couple of hours worth of training. For some reason it brought peace to Lumin's mind and refreshes his body.


The boy spent a few minutes swimming and enjoying his time to himself. His mind was drifting away as Lumin began to think deeply. About what his future might hold, if his brother would really be his advisor someday, and honestly who would he marry in the future? In just two months Lumin's thirteenth name day would be here, and so is Argoth. They've already heard talk from their father that Edward was looking for suitors mainly for Lumin.


Then Lumin's line of thought was broken as something lightly struck his leg. The boy was startled as he yelped and tried to jump back. Emerging from the water was something completely horrifying. It was the face of a man. Eye sockets were hollowed with skin so tight on the bone and held a purple color on the skin. Immediately Lumin was terrified and screaming yet he could not hear his voice. His vision was set only in those hollowed eyes as Lumin desperately got back onto the shore.


- Chapter 3 will be available by next week.