A dark gleam overcame Kai's eyes as he shuffled his feet to and from in a rising anticipaction of his training. He had only recently been assigned to a knight, and was more than just eager to meet him. He was almost burdened by the thought, as if it were weighing his focus down. The Elven pupils leered forthward into the encampment, where many other young warriors stood, spoke amongst eachother, or fought. This Kai enjoyed most; the impact of two steel blades, disposing of spark and fire as they jumped and slid across eachother repetitively before one would overcome the other's strength. Kai had already learned this to be called a 'parry' technique; a useful style in which one forces the other's weapon aside so that they are left open for a quick blow. This, Kai knew, would end more battles than simply fighting till the death later in his life.
"Haha! So you've come early, have you?" Suprisingly, the joyous voice rattled Kai's conscience, "Must be raring to go, eh? I'm glad to know that. Quite a few students just want to get things done; but I can tell by the look in your eyes that you want to bathe in your teachings. I'll be sure to take things slow, then!" The shaggy-haired warrior hummed a cheerful tune and drew his blade, pointing it over the yonder hills outside of the training facility, "Over far hills you'll travel. To prove yourself to my trainings, you must first destroy an opponent for yourself. In the plains, there is a line of rare beasts known as 'Fire Lions.' Legends say their fur turns to fire when they are near death, and their throat turns into a volcano of sorts. Therefore, it would be best to kill them quickly. Bring me back a single hide." He handed Kai a skinning knife camly, patting the equally sized Elf friendily, "If I see this blade nulled at the edge, you will fail. You must use the wooden sword you currently have. Only then, will you prove yourself to my tests."
Kai paused, considering the possible death he could recieve from immolation. "And if I die...?"
"Then you were never worthy in the first place."
"Hm. I accept, Knight. I will be back in exactly an hour."
"Oh? Is this truly spoken? These beasts are rare creatures. If you believe you can track one down and slay it within an hour, then I will commend you indefinitely on your advent back." He slapped Kai on the back with a hearty grin and sent him on his way with no more supplies than the knife, his clothes, and his flimsy blade.
Kai would assume proper control of his promise.
Having traversed the foot-hills just over-looking the training grounds, Kai made his way into the vast empty plains of Ardania. A plateau of artic winds; of little life and no gaurantee of survival. How awkward, then, it was to send a student out into such a frivolous land...especially with such a task that warranted no reassurance as to whether or not the student would lose his life. These absurd thoughts had prodded Kai's mind ever since the Knight spoke those unholy words; and only continued to toy with his attempts and plans. Would his vow be completed as he said it would be? This question shone high above all others as though it were an erupting star. He cleansed his mind of these second-guesses and convinced himself the quest set before him would be simpler than he had first proposed.
Quickly after his session of meditation, he dove into the plains, almost falling into a continuous somersalt as he climbed anxiously down the final cliff. Battle and blood awaited him in the fields below. However, he took no satisfaction in knowing that his temptations to slay and destroy would be soothed. In fact, his needs and standards only heightened. Now that he knew this Knight had a defined confidence in him--Kai believed more in himself than ever, as though he could defeat the Knight himself. The ambitionary notion was shown as a raised fist, accompanied by a cajole to the heavens. Kai knelt down afterward, as though performing a strange ritual. Stroking the soil through the greenery, he wiped two strokes on his bruised arms. Taking the skinning knife he had recieved, he slit the two places on either arm and bowed his head as he began to bleed.
"I pledge now...I pledge under the watchful eyes of the skies this very day. This very moment!" Kai crooed emotionlessly into his own ears, "I will never deny my rights as a warrior. I fight to the end. Under impossible odds I make my enemy swallow their own tongues in fear. This, oh wrathful clouds, is my oath!" Immediately he charged into the depths of the cold and unforgiving wasteland of lush farms and forestry. Warmth would lead him to the trail of the legendary beast...
Quarreling with his aching feet, he hollered his agony into the skies as he leapt the final canyon he would have to take notice of. A widespread ocean of sand laid out before him, brushing across his unguarded ankles and his violet-bruised countenance. Hushing his movements to a slight meander, he prepared his wavering blade. A creature had sensed his stench, and had only continued to hasten the trail for some time now. Kai had known this, but had not taken action. Instead, he had attempted to lead the beast into an open area where everything was visible. The Elf tapped his blade on the roof of his foot, and, as if on cue, a creature swept over his chest, lashing a claw through his abdomen. Three gashes now lined against eachother through his tarnished chest-piece, each gushing his crimson liquids.
Tearing off his chesting, he tied it securely around the wound and stole a quick glimpse of the beast who had ambushed him. To his dismay, it was not the mythical target he had set out for. "A plains-tiger? Damn it!" He burst forward, breaching the beast's mouth and sinking his blade into the creature's skull from the inside. The plains-tiger kicked back, lunging forward into the wooden sword while also knocking Kai from his feet. Hands off of his trusty weapon, he rolled to the side, avoiding what could've been a punished slash across his face. He hopped upon the tiger's body and clasped his arms around its neck, plunging his teeth into the creature's back. It howled and throttled about...but it did die, and in a rather quick amount of time.
"Foolish beast..."
