Solo The thing of most importance in a fight!

[Olaf]

10th of springtime It was hot today, the fact that his patron had asked him to wear the platearmor again and bring the shield and longsword with him as well wasn't making things easier. He was sweating inside the suit of metal and it felt as if he was slowly getting roasted in it. His patron however didn't seem to be as affected by the heat as he was though. He stood by the squire training ground with a wide smile on his face. “Right on time you are olaf! Good good. The armor is on well enough as well. You're learning quickly!” He said with a rough slap on his shoulder. Olaf couldn't help to smile as he was pulled into the man's positive flow. Despite the fact he felt ready to die in the heat. “Today we're going to work on your endurance. Knights have to be ready all time of the day in all type of weather. So no better way to get ready for it by doing some nice endurance training in this weather now won't it?” And the positivity was gone as olaf heard what his patron was saying. Forget getting stronger, he had a feeling he would be dragging himself home every single day after training. “But I'm not cruel, I'm not going to put my squire through anything I don't put myself through, so I'll be doing every exercise with you today in full plate armor as well. It's how the knighthood works. You go through the shyke together.” He put on his helmet and walked over to the place they would be using for training. Just a stretch of bare ground in the area with two white lines drawn on the stones. “The exercise is simple, we run towards the other side. Touch the white chalk line with our fingers and then run back and do the same. Just keep going for as long as you can. I'll be right with ya!” He got on the start line and olaf joined him there. “Ready? 3...2...1. go!” stonewall gleefully counted down and of they went. At first it was still doable, the heavy armor was a hindrance especially when turning around and he fell on his ass a few times as well thanks too it. But he managed. After the fifth lap though. Things began to get worse, he was sweating inside the armor, making the heat just get worse, it stayed trapped inside of his armor thanks to his helmet as well, so that wasn't helping either. By the seventh lap he was panting and he felt as if he was already at the limit of what his body could do. His patron however was just plodding along as if the heat and weight of the heavy platemail wasn't there. He turned to look at him. “Come on Olaf, just a lap or two more.” He encouraged him and kept pace with his squire that was slowing down. He didn't make two laps more, but he did manage to get halfway the eight lap before slipping, falling on the ground and his body just didn't really manage to get up. “Well, not as bad as I expected for a beginner with platemail on your second day of training!” He said with cheer in his voice as he bend down and pulled his squire's helmet off. Olaf gratefully took breaths of fresh air as he tried to get his breath back. “Why... we doing this?” Olaf managed to gasp out after a few minutes of rest. “Don't most knights focus on training their squires with weapons? It's what I hear in the dorms at least.” “Good point olaf. I'll ask a question that holds importance to the answer. What do you think is the most important thing when fighting?” He asked as he sat down next to him, looking at him. Olaf thought for a while. “Well, I would guess skill and equipment afterwards. The more skilled one will come out on top eventually. As will the one with the best equipment.” His patron just shook his head. “Really? What if somebody is a skilled man with his weapons and has heavy plate armor. But just like today it's hot! Or it's raining and the ground is a muddy mess? Would he still win? In almost all fights its not the one who kills the other who wins. But the one who is still standing at the end. Being able to deliver the killing blow while the other combatants are to exhausted to really defend themselves.” he explained. “So that's why I'm training you like this. I want you to be able to outlast the others.” He stood back up. “Now that's enough rest for now. Lets continue into beating you into shape shall we?” He said with a way to happy smile on his face as he offered him a hand. Olaf just groaned and took the hand. This was going to suck wasn't it? The rest of the early morning was spend mostly like that, in between running laps, more like dragging himself around then really running though, drinking water and gasping for breath during short but frequent breaks. When the time for lunch came through though his patron was thinking of something different. Well olaf, get yourself out of that plate armor for now. Endurance is a lot about being able to act and move for a long time. But it's also being able to push yourself through pain and being able to take it. Olaf was already not liking this exercise. He just knew it, You're body grows stronger when it's hurt. So that’s a big part of it. Yep, he wasn't gonna like it. Olaf stripped of his armor. His patron did as well, everything was gone except their pants. Olaf felt rather embarrassed to be honest. His patron was a bear of a man, build like he could go out and wrestle a wolf for fun if he wanted. Compaired to him he was rather shrimp. He pulled out a wooden training sword of a rack and motioned for him to pick up his shield. “Put on your helmet as well. Don't want to hit you on the head by accident. That just can't end well.” Olaf picked up his shield, put on his helmet and was about to pick up a training sword as well but with a quick movement his patron smacked olaf's hand. “Ow!” He yelped and hid behind his shield. His patron smiled. “Just focus on defense olaf! Now lets go!” Olaf didn't even have time to properly defend himself as his patron lashed out towards his undefended legs. Smacking them good, letting olaf yelp again in pain. “Protect your legs! Getting those taken out kills your mobility and there are quite a few important spots in your legs that bleed a lot! So take care of them. Or if you're fighting. Aim at them!” He said in a boisterous voice as he continued his onslaught. Olaf kept in mind the advice he got yesterday. He kept his eyes on his patron. Kept his shield angled to deflect, not to absorb the full force. He managed to block the first bow, backing away to try and get some distance in. Still sore and tired from the morning. His patron didn't seem to be feeling as sore as he was. Or as tired and kept on the pressure relentlessly. For every hit he managed to deflect, there were tow or three more that managed to easily knock his guard aside and hit him hard enough to leave nice big bruises. “Don't slow down! If you're tired try to push through it! In battle we won't wait for you if you get tired!” He yelled and with a few final blows he knocked olaf on his arse. His wooden sword at his throat. “Ergh..” Olaf just groaned as he tried to get back on his feet. But everything just hurt. He was going to feel this the next morning.. for the next few weeks. “I don't think we can get much out of you for the first few hours.” Olaf didn't have the energy to correct him. “So get your platemail back on and get some grub and some rest! I'll see you here back in the afternoon!” He said with a massive grin. Olaf just grunted and kept lying on the ground for a short while. Before pulling himself back on his feet and staggering towards his armor. Today was going to suck indeed.

[Xira Hezmek]

Waiting on the player.