Chapter 522: Five Blows From a Knight (Part Two)
Standing before Thane, Ollie’s cheeky smile had left his face as he flexed the fingers that still stung from striking the vampire knight’s chest. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought that Thane was wearing armor under his tunic, but the truth was that the vampire before him had strengthened his body until even a sword swung by a common soldier had little chance of harming his alabaster flesh, much less a punch from a kitchen boy.
"Now it’s time for a reminder," Thane said, wasting no time and striking out with the back of his hand, landing a blow on Ollie’s chest that was so heavy that a meaty -THUMP- echoed across the still water of the pond and Ollie stumbled back for several steps before falling to his backside.
"This blow is a reminder," Thane said formally. "No matter how high you rise, without your horse, without your armor, without your weapons, without your title, without your soldiers, you are just a man like any other. A man who can be beaten until he falls. Remember this blow and remain humble, even when you have donned your armor and your weapons and sit high above the masses atop your steed."
"I will remember," Ollie said, pushing himself up off the ground and coming to stand before Thane again. His chest stung with what would likely become a spectacular bruise, but compared to the vampire’s full strength, the blow he’d landed on the young man’s chest could barely be considered a light tap.
No sooner had Ollie arrived before him than Thane struck out again with the opposite hand, landing a second blow on Ollie’s chest with yet another resounding -THUMP- that was so loud, even the villagers in the distance winced at the sound of it.
This time, Ollie thought he’d prepared himself for the powerful slap, bracing himself against the impact and riding the force of the blow as Thane had once taught him, breathing out to reduce the pain of the strike. But it seemed like the vampire had anticipated all of those things and increased the strength of the blow to overwhelm the young man despite everything he had done.
"This blow is a reminder," Thane repeated. "It takes courage to stand again when you know you may be hurt for returning to the fray. Sometimes, your courage will win you the day, but whether you win or lose, your courage will bring you pain. Remember this lesson, and never lose the courage to rise again, no matter how badly you fall or how greatly you fear your adversary."
"I will remember," Ollie said stubbornly as he stood once again, staggering for a moment as he sucked in several deep, shuddering breaths before he returned to stand before the vampire once more.
"How many times is he going to do this?" Heila asked, fidgeting with the wand at her waist while her mind flipped rapidly through the healing incantations she’d learned that could be used on a person she couldn’t touch. The healing wouldn’t be as effective at a distance, but so long as no bones had been broken...