18th of Winter, 510 AV
It was well into Winter, the weather was extremely cold. I'tram was woken at the 5th bell past Midnight by a household slave, an early start to the day. He was instructed to get dressed and head to the courtyard to begin his training. I'tram couldn't help but become excited, he was going to learn how to fight! I'tram couldn't help but let childish images of him in shining armor, protecting the helpless people of Mizahar, fighting back hordes of monsters and barbarians single handedly. These images would soon be dispelled from his mind. When he stepped outside the slave quarters the cold hit him, almost like a physical blow, he felt it seep into his very bones and chill him to the core. I'tram walked to the center of the court where the household slave had instructed him to wait. He stood with a straight posture, hands behind his back respectfully, waiting for his trainer and possibly for his master to arrive.
A few chimes later the rest of the slaves arrived in the courtyard of his new master, Lantha Fandu. When all the slaves were assembled I'tram couldn't help but look at the rest of his accomplices. There was six of them in total, if I'tram counted himself. 4 males and 2 females They had all been picked up in Sunberth by Lantha, their new master when he came to Sunberth looking for slaves, for cheaper prices than in Ravok. The majority of I'tram's colleagues were humans but there was also a 6 armed female Eypharian and a blue-skinned Akalak. They were all in the same age group, the oldest being the Akalak 14 and the youngest being a small human girl aged around 10, why his master was training her I'tram couldn't comprehend.
It soon became apparent that their new trainer wouldn't arrive until he was ready. It wasn't long before I'tram began to shiver with the cold. An artic wind was blowing which felt like it belonged in Alvadas instead of Ravok. It was piercing, chilling him to the bone. His hands and feet were benumbed with cold, soon his nose began to run and his ears were as cold as ice. I'tram's legs became stiff and cold, not a bird chirped, instead they lay huddled together in their nests.
After waiting maybe 30 chimes the Akalak spoke harshly "Why does he expect us to wait out here, who does he think he is?!" I'tram was shocked, how could this Akalak dare to speak out against his master, it was rude, ignorant and in I'tram's mind little better than treason. His face contorted angrily and was about to speak out against the Akalak when suddenly a small pebble connected hard with the blue-skinned Akalak's lower thigh. He went down on one knee, letting out a cry of pain, the Akalak didn't have much time to recover though as a rough hand grabbed the back of his collar in raised him into the air with one arm, an impressive feat of strength, at least I'tram considered it to be one. "You little Shyke! You dare question your betters?! We'll soon have that knocked out of you won't we lads?" As he said this two athletic looking men stepped into view, judging from their amount of scars they had seen more than a few fights. It was clear they were twins from the massive similarities between them. Suddenly the leader gave the Akalak a hard slap across the face before throwing him to the ground and delivering an unrestrained kick. I'tram couldn't help but wince at the force behind it.
The lead trainer stepped in front of them, joined by the twins. He took a few moments to examine all the slaves, I'tram could see his mind whirring behind his otherwise expressionless mask. I'tram's heart skipped a beat when the eyes of the trainer fell upon him. I'tram did his best to seem unfazed and made himself look as tall and muscular as possible, which wasn't very effective. After what seemed like an age the eyes moved away from him and the trainer began to speak again. Welcome to hell slaves, for the next few years you'll be under our training. It will our duty to build you into the perfect fighting machine for Lantha, your new master. While under our tutelage you will obey, you will succeed, you will learn to kill. After saying this he paused for dramatic effect before continuing. "Failure to follow any of these guidelines will result in severe punishment or death" He stopped to let this sink in but the effect was ruined by a human boy, aged around 13 years old raised him hand timidly. The trainer looked at him sharply "Yes? What do you want?" The boy squeaked out a question I'tram usually would have found amusing but dared not make a sound less he be punished "W-what should we call you S-sir? "My name is Garrus and this is Ulf and Wulf" Not bothering even indicating which twin was which. "For the next few months, years if your talented we will be your Gods, we can be your salvation or your demise, depending on how well you do"
Suddenly Garrus began explaining their first exercise "Before we learn how to wield a sword or shoot a bow we must first learn how to fight with our hands, for what use will a weapon be if your disarmed or commanded to compete in a fist fight. This is what you're going to do, when we assign you to your partner you will fight him or her until your opponent is unable to continue fighting. We will be watching each of you fight and give you help and the end. Think of this as an examination of sorts."
I'tram was thankful he was paired against the boy who had asked Garrus the question earlier, the other males were far taller and stronger than him. Suddenly a command echoed across the courtyard "BEGIN!"
Judging by his opponents stance and awkward maneuvering it was clear he had never fought in his life, I'tram had a slight advantage. An idea began to form in I'tram's mind, which could end the fight quickly. I'tram began to taunt his opponent about his mother, luckily this worked and the boy charged at I'tram , fists flailing in his direction. The boy had fallen straight into his trap, he waited for the right moment before trying to pivot on his right foot, unfortunately he didn't finish the maneuver in time and took two fists to the face. Quickly I'tram raised his guard, blocking punches until he saw and opening before jabbing the boy's nose. The jab hit, making the boy's nose bleed, he instinctively brought his two hands up to his nose, a bad mistake. I'tram seized the advantage by sprinting at the boy, still maintaining a decent guard though. When he was in striking distance of the boy he began to punch but was interrupted when the boy let out a front kick, he was just feigning pain the entire time. I'tram fell to one knee, winded from the kick. The boy pushed him on his back and was about to stomp on his face, I'tram quickly rolled to the side, the leg hitting the ground where he had once been. I'tram quickly stood up, sliding backwards to avoid another clumsy kick he barely saw coming. The kick had left the boy in a bad position with him facing away from I'tram and having no way to block. I'tram opened his attack with a front kick and a volley of punches which he kept up until the boy fell to the ground. Even when he was down I'tram kept on going, each punch connecting openly with his face. When the boy began to cry I'tram could only get up and stand beside him awkwardly, he couldn't help but feel guilty for what he had done. He got up, certain his opponent was unable to continue fighting. The only pain injury I'tram had sustained so far were on his fists, they were cut and bleeding in many places but mainly they were just throbbing with pain.
He looked up from examining his fists, realizing that Garrus was storming over. He grabbed the boy and roughly pulled him too his feet "How are you expecting to win a fight in the pit if you start crying like a baby from a few hits! Start fighting!" and with these words he shoved the boy in I'tram's direction, the bout was back on.
The boy was more cautious now, not being baited by any of I'trams taunts. Annoyed by this I'tram realized he had to go on the offensive. He wanted this to be over as quickly as possible so he could return the warmth of the slave quarters. I'tram began his assault with a technique which had served him well just a few moments ago, he began simple front kick, I'tram wasn't expecting it to hit but to give him the momentum he needed, he was right the kick didn't land but the boy exposed himself by trying to block it downwards clumsily with both his hands. I'tram launched a volley of well-aimed powerful punches at the boy's face, each one connecting with a sickening thud. Each one hurt I'tram's hands immensely, he was sure he had broken something in his hand, or at leas It wasn't long before the boy was on his last legs, barely able to stand. I'tram brought his left leg back and unleashed a powerful turning kick, aimed just above the boy's hip. It connected with a solid impact and the boy collapsed. Garrus came over once again and checked on the boy, realising he wasn't getting up any time soon Garrus turned to I'tram. "That was a decent fight, even though you still would have been massacred against anyone in the arena, or even most people on the streets but it's a beginning. Tomorrow we'll go over your mistakes but for now your dismissed, get some rest and be back here same time tomorrow, then the training will really begin. I'll send the healer to your quarters to check them out."
Tired by the fight I'tram gladly went back to the slave quarters and warmed himself by the small fire, dreading the arrival of the next day.
OOCAny of the techniques I sent a link to thraoughout this thread are performed poorly, not reaching near the amount of force or speed, due to I'tram's age and skill level. They are just there to give you an idea of what he is doing.
