Wolf in The Desert of Ice

Training

A week had passed before Shiek had managed to forge a blade that satisfied Bull.

The day after, when Shiek headed to the forge, Bull was there, next to him, a giant blade the size of a normal man. "Today we start your training, Here" He spoke, throwing a bundle of leather to Shiek. Inside there was the rusty scimitar which he had brought from the cave.

"It's a good weapon, but it has a twisted ego. I don't know where you got it but be quick to forge yourself another one," Bull said while getting up and retrieving the giant sword from his side. "Now come and try to hit me with it" He continued moving to the open space behind the forge.

Shiek had never wielded a sword, let alone fought anyone with one. As he approached Bull with his scimitar in one hand, he looked at his opponent. Bull was tall and broad. Still, even with his strength, he couldn't possibly wield that gigantic weapon quickly, so Shiek decided on a quick overhead strike

.

He readied and dashed. He found himself faster than what he was used to. This caused him to miscalculate and panic, making his strike weak and inaccurate.

CLANG,

His sword had hit Bull's, but within the time Shiek took to react, something came flying from his left side, hitting the young man under his armpit straight in his ribs. The next thing Shiek knew was pain. He could feel his ribs shattering upon impact as his body was forcefully lifted from the ground, and it was sent flying. Air escaped him along with his breath as he felt blood pooling in his mouth.

As he landed, he spat the blood out. He could feel his bones healing faster than usual, the pain dissipated. "How. . . How am I healing so fast," the boy asked from the floor. "The tea I served you, it had King's root in it, King's root allows any being to heal several times faster than usual if taken consistently, that along with your enhanced healing. Most people take a couple of minutes to get up from a strike like that under the root's influence. But you only took a few seconds, Seems like I will need to be harder on you. Now Get up"

And Shiek did he got up, he returned to the same position that he had before, this time he took his time to look at Bull. He was holding the giant sword in one hand, using the blade's length to keep Shiek at a distance; this time, he would try to feint his opponent using his speed to dodge Bull's block and hit his side.

And once again, he dashed, swinging this time at the giant sword, but there was no contact Bull had swung his blade downwards towards Shiek's feet. "He's full of openings", Shiek thought, dodging the blade by hopping over the swing, but once again, while he was mid-air, something came out of left field, this time to his face.

Bull had seen Shiek's swinging towards his sword, and knowing that he would try to use his quickness, he baited him into jumping before using his free hand to punch the young man when he could not dodge. He felt his disciple's jaw breaking as he was violently thrown to the ground by his punch. The boy's bloody face quickly healed,  going back to its normal appearance. "Your thinking he's right. You are fast, but you are inexperienced; swinging for your opponent's weapon to bait them into blocking might work on a rookie but against veteran stuff like that wont do anything. You did well to dodge my strike, but jumping is never a good idea in battle as you cannot move in the air. Also, you focus your vision too much. Two times I hit you with my fist, both times, you never even considered the possibility of a counterattack from me. Your weapon is not your only resource in a battle. Your body is a weapon too, now again."

This time Shiek did not dash but slashed at Bull a couple of times before falling for a bait and getting cut across the chest by his blade. This time, he did not heal. "Cold iron. Stops shifters and beasts from healing, I made this sword to train you. You will not learn if the pain goes away in seconds."

" Your healing will return overnight; now go upstairs; there is a room for you, bandages there, dress the wound, then learn to read the human language, and books in the room. Tomorrow same time we will train again."

"yes, sir", Shiek replied. For the first time in years, he had a wound that would not heal quickly. It hurt and he was bleeding, but he understood Bull's reasoning, every time he got hit it hurt, but it was gone in a couple of seconds, but this cut would not heal. The pain he felt was real and permanent. He headed to his room, it was small with an actual bed and a small window, near the bed, there was a cabinet with clothes inside and books on top of it. There was also a tiny box with bandages and medical supplies near the bed, along with a note

"Shiek, There are three books in the cabinet, one is for learning the human language, the second is about footwork and swordplay, the third is about all the important stuff that you need to do before, during and after a battle. That one is a collection of my experiences. Take good care of it. Next training come without a shirt. I don't want to ruin your clothes and continue forging. Make yourself a blade you like. We will have breaks on the 10th day of each month. Use that day as you wish.

BULL"

Shiek gave a small smile after reading the note. Bull was gruff and abrasive, and he did not like to talk, but in the end, he really cared for him as a disciple.

Oki had followed her routine for a week now; today, something caught her attention during her lecture with the general. On the grounds below, a huge man holding a similarly huge sword was fighting a younger man outside the window.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize that the young man was Shiek. His tanned skin was darkened. He was dirty, covered in ash and dirt, his white hair tied in a long and tight ponytail,  his physique more toned and defined. She concentrated on the fight below. Shiek was holding a scimitar the same he had hidden in the cave, she thought. The general quickly noticed his only student's distraction, but as he gazed down the window, he did not recall her to his lecture, but instead, he also decided to witness the fight.

Oki looked as Shiek dashed towards the big man just to get his strike blocked. She looked horrified at the sight of the man sinking his fist into Shiek's chest, sending him flying. At this, she had gotten up. "Wait. Your friend is fine. Bull won't kill him. Besides he is ok" the general said as Shiek got up. "Now, back to our lecture, remember he is training so hard so that he can be with you. Don't let his efforts go to waste". "Did you not see that general ?!  He broke his ribs shattered them with one punch, I could see that from here. That is not teaching it is torture!."

"Bull's teaching is . . .  Peculiar, but I am sure Shiek is going to be Ok now back to the lecture. Remind me how is the political situation in Reynir?"

Oki huffed and scoffed but replied, "Reynir, the united kingdom of man, made of four Duchies rule by four dukes. Under them, each duchy is divided into 6 counties. The counties are ruled by counts. Even though there are clear superiors and inferior nobility, each territory has a lot of freedom. Dukes cannot impose rules on counties only on Counts. Dukes also usually hold counties themselves. Every three years, all counts come together to propose new laws for the duke to enforce. Every five years, all the Dukes gather to discuss problems and innovations in front o the King. For now, the King holds strong authority over all of Reynir. He is respected by all of the Dukes and most of the common people. The Dukes also seem to have be in a stable relationship with their Counts, after the shifter insurrection Reynir is in a period of peace. Most territories have not been affected by war but the southeastern counties near the Goshegid hills which are now struggling to keep the Beastmen in check due to the lack of shifters in the area." "Good, good. That will be it for today. I should probably inform you that Shiek will now have a free day on the 10th day of each month. I believe that to be in a couple of days," The general said with a smile. "Thank you, General", Oki said before excusing herself.