Loopbreaker

He didn’t flinch as Baxter stared at him.

“You seem confident, Sage skill or not,” the king stated.

“Tell me, my King,” Francis said. “Should I cower and hide like those in the towers that fail to come to the aid of their own people? Should I treat you as the mages have treated you? Should I tell the gods they have chosen poorly in giving me a tool to aid you and your men? I will not. You have prayed for help in the coming battle. Here I stand. Your throne sits silent, and there is no glow in those gems to tell you I am lying. If you desire to save the lives of your warriors, we need to act. It is on you to decide the path we take.”

A low grunt came as Baxter glanced at his wife, who nodded once.

“You… are right,” the king replied. “Nehemiah had more of a spine than I can remember in a long time when he came to announce your presence. Perhaps it is more than just the knowledge a Sage has entered our camp. Very well. I shall summon those you have suggested, and we shall meet in a different tent.”

“And my brother?”

“He has already been sent for. Are you certain you need nothing else?”

“Beyond a little food and drink, I am fine,” Francis replied. “Time is of the essence, and I need to train with Kels in a little while.”

“How can your training with him be more important than working with us in the tent on a battle plan?” Baxter asked, frowning again.

Francis knew he was walking on a tight rope, trying to speak so that no reaction came from the throne or the queen.

“You have a General and his daughter, both with minds for this, and they have prepared for this moment. There are advisors who possess extensive knowledge of spells, tactics, and other battle-related matters. Right now, you choose the path and we walk it. My only goal is to become stronger. Nothing else matters.”

He almost let out a sigh of relief as both gems stayed dull.

“Very well, Sage Francis,” Baxter replied. “We shall see you in a moment.”

***

As Francis entered the training tent, Kels started to laugh.

“There is the man with a pair big enough to cause a commotion in the whole camp!”

The knight’s blue eyes sparkled as the muscular man moved toward Francis, holding out his hand. “It is an honor to meet you, Sage Francis!”

“Just Francis, or I’ll be certain to always say Knight Kels every time I address you.”

Groaning, his trainer shook his head and smiled.

“Fair enough, Francis. As you requested, here is Healer Dawn.”

“Dawn is fine,” she said, giving Francis a nod. “Tell me, why did you request me specifically to be here for this?”

“I could lie and say that I know how much you enjoy healing warriors who try to injure each other for the slightest gain in skills, but I know that isn’t true. The truth is, I know you’re one of the best healers in this camp. You would normally be in the tent with the others working on a battle plan, but you won’t be near the army when they engage. That means I get my pick, so I chose you.”

She frowned and looked at Kels, who shrugged.

“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or scared that you somehow know so much about me. You do realize what you’re about to endure, don’t you?”

Grinning like a fool, Francis nodded. “I am well aware. Trust me, this pain isn’t that bad at all.”

***

Kels stood there, mouth open, as Francis slipped the last ring on.

“How? Even I can’t do that as easily as you did. The pain is always… awful.”

[ Pain Resistance Increased - 12]

“Mind over matter,” Francis replied. “Besides, I’m certain you’ll inflict far worse upon me.”

Laughing, the knight nodded and pointed at the weapons waiting for them.

Taking his shirt off, Francis moved sideways, always keeping his eyes on his trainer, who went to retrieve a weapon.

“It seems you are experienced,” Kels said. “For a moment, I thought I might get a free hit or two in.”

“One quickly learns that lesson if they’re smart,” Francis replied. “You okay if I forgo the shield?”

The knight pretended to swoon, laughing the entire time. “Did you hear that, Dawn? A warrior who doesn’t pick up a shield!”

Francis smiled and set his feet, anticipation rising-- he knew he was still outclassed. Yet inside, he knew there was a good chance he might get another point or two in the next few hours, which would make everything he would endure worth it.

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***

“STOP! Both of you!”

Francis dropped his sword, panting, as Kels held his forearm, stopping the blood that came from a small cut Francis had made.

“A skill! Excellent!” Kels exclaimed. “Who knew you were up for cheating?”

Dawn came forward, light enveloping the knight as she undid the minor damage Francis had done.

“Cheating?” Francis replied. “So says the warrior I know would attack any man or woman who doesn’t always keep their eyes on him. No, you didn’t expect me to have anything like that, and that mistake cost you.” Francis knew his tone was harsh, but the knight just grunted and nodded. “Knight Kels… I need you to train me so close to the point of death that Dawn here will never forgive you. We both know that unless I go all out, I won’t see any improvement at all. That means you can’t hold back. Even if this floor we stand on becomes covered with my blood, I will not back down.”

A smile appeared on the knight’s lips, and he nodded at Dawn, who groaned.

“He’s serious, you heard him. Don’t blame me for what happens next,” Kels said.

“I can’t bring him back from the dead, Kels. If you kill him, Baxter will kill you.”

The knight nodded and rotated his wrist, touching the spot she had just healed. “I won’t. You know I’m better than that.”

“Or so I thought,” she replied, walking out of the circle. “Yet he cut you, which I know you’re going to pay him back for tenfold.”

Laughter came from the Kels as he bent down and picked up his sword. “You sure you’re ready for this, Francis?”

Taking a deep breath, Francis set his feet and nodded. “Show me how good I need to become.”

***

Francis parried, shifting his weight and punching at Kels as the knight pressed the attack. His opponent moved with a grace and flow that he wanted one day to have.

Unlike the rhino-kin, which had simply pulverized him in a single hit, Francis was getting bled out by a thousand cuts.

Kels pressed him from every side, never letting him stand in the same place for more than a few seconds. The only break he got was when Dawn shouted out for them to stop, rushed forward, and healed him before he passed out. After that, he’d get right back to it.

The hours had been nothing short of constant agony, but the gains had been far more than he had expected.

His sword skill had now reached 47, and his Pain Resistance had just increased to 16 several minutes ago.

Every attack he made was parried, and when he found the strength to launch a Power Strike, Kels didn’t miss a beat — he deflected the powerful blow, negating the force behind it.

Francis had managed to land a few cuts and the occasional punch against the knight, yet almost all the blood that covered the tan floor was his.

“STOP!”

Dawn’s voice rang out, just as Kels’s sword slipped past Francis’ defenses, the tip puncturing his chest and finding his lung.

It didn’t take but a few seconds before blood was in his mouth. As the warrior pulled the sword free, allowing Dawn to work, Francis could feel the last bit of his energy starting to fade away.

“No more! He’s done,” Dawn said.

“Aye, he is,” Kels replied, pulling out a cloth and wiping his blade down. “Still… I’m impressed. For someone so young….”

Francis felt a bit of pride and was about to puff out his chest—but the pain of what the healer was trying to mend almost made him buckle. Every strand of muscle rejoined each other and only his level of Pain Resistance kept him from blacking out.

“Tell me, Francis, how did you manage this?” the knight asked. “I know the gods touch you, but…”

Shaking his head slightly, Francis frowned. “Kels, all that I can say is every bit of skill I have comes from being willing to die.”

“Oh, I can see your death wish,” Kels said.” What I really can’t believe is how you shrug off injuries that other men would fall from. I see the look in your eyes when my blade cuts or punctures you. I know that you feel the pain, and yet you push through it. Whatever willpower you have is unique. Most warriors I know would have quit long ago.”

“Would you quit?” Francis asked.

Kels moved his head from side to side, and Francis saw Dawn studying the knight.

“I have endured more pain than most, and yet I know in these few hours I would be at my limits to endure what I did to you. Honor would want me to say that I wouldn’t give up and stop but all the blood splattered on the floor makes me question that. If this were a real fight and my life were on the line, I would give everything, even to the point of death. Yet for training?”

The knight shuddered. “Those rings you wear… I know how painful they are to simply put them on. Yet you equipped them with less effort than anyone I have ever witnessed. Whatever you are, I am grateful to the gods for giving you to us. Have you visited the shrine to Egbus in the camp? Surely the god of war and battle must have blessed you personally.”

“Bah, that’s foolishness,” Dawn protested. “To have the skill that he does, only Thonia could grant that kind of wisdom and knowledge.”

Francis tried not to frown, but the truth was, he didn’t give a damn about any of the gods. None had ever answered his prayers or done anything for him, and even now, he wasn’t sure if they took active roles in the world. He still didn’t believe that one of them had orchestrated his acquisition of this ability.

If they cared, surely they would assist in battles like this… What kind of god stays silent and does nothing?

“I haven’t, but perhaps I might another time,” he said. “Right now, all I can think about is a small bit of food, a quick bath, and sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Kels nodded and gently patted him on the shoulder.

“Sage Francis, may we find another time to attempt this? Trust me when I say I take great pleasure in knowing you enjoy getting cut almost as much as I enjoy being the one doing it.”

“Fools,” Dawn muttered.

***

“Forgive me, Sage Francis,” a servant said. “But there is someone here to see you who will not go away.”

With a sigh, Francis nodded, sinking lower into the steaming tub of water, doing his best to stay awake and not pass out from exhaustion.

The young servant left and then the flap opened, Vella striding in. “Sage Francis.”

He was glad the water was warm, as he was certain his cheeks were probably red, caught off guard by her sudden presence and his vulnerable state.

“Captain Vella… should I ask what was so important I had to stay in a tub and risk becoming as wrinkly as Nehemiah?”

She chuckled and studied him. “Perhaps I wanted to catch you off guard as you did me earlier today, but to be honest, I have a question. Something came to me as we were about to end this long night of planning.”

“The others are all still in there?” he asked, sitting up and sending water over the edge.

“They are,” Vella replied. “Each of us has taken what you have said and not held back, offering advice and tactics I haven’t seen… ever. And then it hit me. The answer seemed simple, but no one else had thought about it and you never mentioned it, so I wasn’t sure if it would change anything.”

“And that is…”

“The other army only fights when we fight, so do we have to attack tomorrow? Can we put it off for a day or even a week?”

He felt his eyes widen and realized that the simplest thing had evaded him all this time. While he didn’t know how long they could put off attacking, each day would give them a chance to prepare further. Francis was pretty certain that it would change everything he knew already, yet he didn’t care. Each opportunity was a chance to see if something else worked.

Laughing, he shook his head and stood up.

“That’s brilliant! Vella, you’re a–”

He paused, seeing her eyes and the direction of her gaze and faced the hardest decision of his life.

To slink back into the water, or stand proud before a woman who towered above him.