30th Day of Spring, 506 AV
"It's heavy." The boy said, his voice pressed by the heft of the thing he was trying to swing about.
"That's the weight of responsibility." Came a husky tone in response.
Elias cocked at eyebrow at the man, then at his sword, turning it over in hands and inspecting it. "What? how did that get on there?" He smirked.
"I was being philosoph- shut up and put it down, and be careful."
The lake was pretty today. The quiet hue of the lazy, gentle waters was a sight so peaceful and serene that poets and artists alike only dreamed of such inspiration. Set beneath an afternoon sky of blue, Syna, in all her glory, left a cascade of brilliance for all of Ravok to behold. When one united the glorious day with the cool, swift breezes that shook the budding trees and renewed natural spirit around the lake, it was as if Rhysol himself had taken a day off bless the land with a celestial nature. Birds called for mates in a cacophony of beautiful choruses, and it was all set against the fresh smells that spring brought in its wake. It was just... nice.
Elias did not have time for nice.
A small, frail thing in comparison to his uncle, the young boy made for an odd sight. His clothing was dirty, ruined from the day of toil and hardship, and his hair was all a mess, long enough to hide the bruised cheeks and tired eyes underneath. They had been running and exercising for a good bell before now, and he had all too often found himself slipping in the mud, or just being impatiently pushed into it by his mentor. He knew it had all been a test, though it had gone unspoken since they began. He put the elaborately decorated sword back into its sheath with a small pout of disappointment, and handed it back to the man who then promptly put it aside. It had been a gift from Torian and Elias's eyes could hardly ever look away since first laying his gaze on it. The man had finally relented after their run and showed it to him as they rested.
He looked at the old man now, big, strong and with a perpetual look on his face as if he had just caught a whiff of shyke. Elias hadn't let his uncle perturb him, regardless of how hard he had pushed to anger the boy. He was excited for this. His father had been hinting at this day for weeks, and after his mother had explained she needed to know he'd be more than ready for the real thing, she had summoned Torian's brother to help him learn the things neither parent had time time to impart at the moment. He knew, now more than ever, that he was finally going to get his chance, and it all started with impressing his uncle.
Caiden Caldera produced two wooden shields and a set of dull, iron blades. "Your mother tells me you have been pestering them for your chance to take the petitioners test since you were eight." He said with the typical rasp in his voice that Elias had grown accustomed to. He tossed one of the blades to the boy and followed it with a shield, the result of which ended in a loud clatter and a grumble from the twelve year old.
"I've been swinging a sword since then, uncle, I am ready." The man smirked and raised his weapons just as soon as Elias had armed himself. "No, you've been playing sword. Don't think what you've done so far makes you at all ready for the real world, Elias." The boy scowled. "I'm going to train you as my instructors trained me and all the other hopefuls who come scratching at their door. For your sake, I hope you're folks taught you something at least."
"I won't fail, Uncle, I won't-" Elias was interrupted as the action that followed next took the boy by surprise. Stationed as was he was on the rocks by the lakes shore, he figured he was safe. How wrong he was. A sudden flurry of movement from Caiden caused Elias to panic and in the course of the next few seconds he felt a shield slam into his own, the force knocking him off his feat and sending him tumbling into the water.
"I was just as cocky once..."
