“Time to work through your rank 2 [combat] training, no more delay,” Gerran said, downing his last bit of coffee.

  It was early morning, and Andy had woken up sore but energized. He hoped he wasn’t too stiff to complete his [combat] training, since he hadn’t gotten a day to recover. Compared to the teaching he had received from Morwen, Gerran’s instruction moved at a break-neck pace.

  Andy wore his usual orange pants and white tunic with blue floral patterns on it, and Gerran was dressed in his plain pants and sleeveless shirt.

  “Now,” Gerran said, “with the first rank of [combat], we typically focus on maintaining awareness of your opponent’s position and responding to it. That’s how Morwen instructed you, correct?”

  Andy thought back to the instruction he had received from Morwen, especially her insistence that he use senses other than his sight to track enemies when they moved out of his range of vision.

  “Yes,” Andy said. “That’s correct.”

  “Ok,” Gerran said, “then for your second [combat] rank, I want to focus on maintaining awareness of various features of your environment. Follow me.”

  Gerran lead Andy out behind the bunkhouse, where there was a set of objects: several boxes of various heights from one to about ten feet, a set of monkey bars elevated about fifteen feet off the ground, and a giant seesaw with two circular platforms, about four feet in diameter, on either side.

  “A playground?” Andy said, blurting out his first thought before chuckling to himself.

  “I guess you could call it that,” said Gerran, “if by play you mean training.”

  Andy followed Gerran to the center of the course, where they stood facing one another.

  “Now,” Gerran said, “as you’ve already learned, your opponent can come at you from all three dimensions, and you can move in all three dimensions.”

  “Yes,” said Andy, nodding in agreement.

  “In a flat environment, it’s relatively easy to keep track of your opponent’s movements, and it's fairly easy to evaluate your own movements as well. Now, with a complex environment, like the one we’re currently in, it becomes a bit more difficult. Come over here.” Gerran gestured to the seesaw, indicating that Andy should step on one side.

  Andy stepped up on the seesaw platform, and it sank instantly, hitting the ground.

  “Now, you can easily step off the platform without jumping,” said Gerran, “but if I get on the opposite platform–” he leapt up onto the opposite end of the seesaw, elevating Andy rapidly.

  Andy almost lost balance as he was thrown about a foot into the air, but he caught himself on the platform once again, sinking into the athletic stance Morwen had taught him.

  Gerran, who had a heavy, hulking body, stood comfortably on his platform that rested on the ground. “See, now your possibilities for movement are much different. You could jump off and land on the ground, or you could move along the seesaw’s arm toward the fulcrum.”

  “But if you step off while I go along the arm–”

  “Exactly,” Gerran said, “you have to keep these variables in mind now. You aren’t on simple ground anymore. Your fighting tactics have to take these moving pieces into account.”

  Gerran stepped off the platform, causing Andy’s side to smash into the ground.

  Andy absorbed the fall gracefully, and, without thinking, he rolled into a standing position a few feet away from the seesaw.

  “Very good,” Gerran said. “I can see your work with [martial weapon] forms has paid off too.”

  Andy smiled inwardly to himself even as he kept his face stoic. It was true, he was starting to build a suite of skills, many of which were becoming second nature to him.

  “So, for your rank 2 [combat] training, you’ll face off against an opponent on this very course.”

  Andy realized that, if he was going to gain another rank of [combat] today, he’d need to spar against someone, like he had with Patesh at Morwen’s Grove. Would that be happening today?

  As if reading his mind, Gerran spoke. “I have a willing combatant who is also vying for a second rank in the [combat] skill, he should be here in a few minutes.”

  “A few minutes?” Andy blurted out.

  “Oh… don’t think you can handle it?” Gerran asked.

  “No, I can do it,” Andy said quickly. “I was just expecting a bit more training on the course.”

  “I like to think of myself as a good coach,” said Gerran. “And a good coach doesn’t waste time on things that seem to come naturally to his students. You seem to understand the principles of environmental awareness. Besides, your opponent won’t have had training on this very same course. You want it to be a fair competition, right?”

  Andy nodded. “Yes,” Andy said. “I do.”

  “Very good. Eat a light snack and let it settle. There’s a sparring smock in the bunkroom for you. Make sure to put that on. I’ll inform you when your opponent has arrived.” Gerran smiled before turning and disappearing into his house.

  Andy went into the bunkhouse. Quinn sat on his bed, apparently in meditation, and Patesh still slept. He found his sparring smock hanging on a peg on the wall. He removed his tunic and put the smock on. It was almost identical to the smock he had worn for his first [combat] trial, but the dots on it were red.

  He headed outside. There was a box on the picnic table under the umbrella, by the now-cold coffee kettle, that contained a few breakfast items: breads, dried fruits, and candied nuts.

  Andy took and ate a piece of bread that contained walnuts and had a slight taste of banana. It was an unremarkable but nonetheless pleasant flavor, but he ate it for its utility. He would need the sugar and carbs in a few minutes for his fight.

  He sat on the gym floor where he had a good view of the obstacle course. He studied it. The seesaw, the monkey bars, the boxes of varying heights… how could he use this environment to his advantage? And how might his opponent try to do the same?

  There were more than just environmental variables, too. A lot would depend on his opponent’s height and weight. A massive man like Gerran would launch Andy into the air on the seesaw, for example. But a lighter opponent might not. And a short opponent may not be inclined toward the monkey bars, but a tall one might reach them more easily.

  Further, Andy had to consider whether or not his opponent was a dancer or brawner. Andy hadn’t been trained in [acrobatics], at least not yet, but someone who was might be able to make use of the environment to dodge, maneuver, and somersault around. Andy was certain he couldn’t do that with ease, but he had to consider the possibility that his opponent might.

  Andy continued weighing different possibilities in his mind, looking at the course and mapping out potential routes of evasion, lines of attack, and other complications that might arise. He became lost in his thoughts…

  Gerran’s door opened, and he stepped out, dressed in full armor.

  “Andy,” Gerran called, “your opponent has arrived.”

  Andy rose and turned around. A young man dressed in a sparring smock with blue dots walked slowly in from the road, scowling at his surroundings. He had red hair tied up in a bun on the top of his head, and his facial features were fair. His build was slender but not frail, and he was about the same height as Andy.

  A man dressed in heavy, reflective plate armor followed behind. The man had a similar shade of red hair, cut short and balding at the crown, and a clean-shaven face.

  “Uncle,” said the young man in the smock, “The place looks like it belongs in the slum.”

  Andy remained seated on the gym floor. He could hear everything the two were saying, and they didn’t seem to take notice of him.

  “Well, we are on the outskirts of the city,” the man in armor answered, making a similarly disgusted face. “There are differing standards for architectural quality and… cleanliness out here amongst the ribble rabble. Besides, it’s the only gym that had an opening for a [combat] trial today, and we’ve got you on a quick training schedule. You will gain your second rank in [combat] and then we can depart.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Gerran approached them, bowing slightly. “Andy!” he called.

  Andy stood up and approached.

  “Andy, this is Braden, your opponent for the trial,” he said, gesturing toward the smocked man.

  Andy gave a slight bow, which Braden met with a sneer.

  “A pleasure,” Braden said disdainfully.

  “And this,” said Gerran, “Is his uncle, Neroth Pike, the captain of the Domestic Guard of Cresthaven.”

  Neroth Pike… Andy thought. I’ve heard that name before… I think Pliny mentioned him.

  Andy bowed slightly toward Neroth, but the man took no notice.

  “Let us begin straight away,” Neroth said. “We both have important business to attend to. As you may know, my birthday is being celebrated in the upcoming weeks with an arena event. My nephew here needs to gain his [combat] levels before then so he can bring glory to the Pike name!”

  “Of course,” Gerran said, showing no visible signs of offense or annoyance on his face. “That sounds like quite an event. Right this way.”

  Gerran led them to the course behind the bunkhouse.

  “Ugh,” Braden said in disgust as they arrived at the course, “this is nothing like the gym at home,” he said, looking toward Neroth.

  “I know,” Neroth said, “and it is a sad state of affairs that many people cannot afford the amenities you have access to, but remember, not everyone is like us, and not everyone deserves the quality of training you have access to. Not everyone has earned it like you have.”

  Andy noticed Gerran, who stood behind Braden and Neroth, roll his eyes slightly and inhale deeply before stepping into the center of the course.

  “Will the combatants please join me here,” Gerran said, pointing directly in front of him.

  Andy moved forward, taking his position.

  Braden also moved forward standing right in front of Andy. He wore a perpetual scowl, as if the whole ceremony was beneath him and he was just going along with it to get his [combat] rank.

  “Now, as the host of this match, I will remind you of the rules. This is a sparring match. It is not intended to be a fight. You are not attempting to injure your opponent, understood?”

  “Yes,” said Andy.

  His opponent remained silent.

  “This sparring match will be scored by Neroth and I,” said Gerran, mirroring almost exactly the words Morwen had spoken before Andy’s first [combat] trial. “We will use our best observation and judgement, and we will mutually agree on the outcome. The winner is the first combatant to score three points. In order to score a point, your palm must make contact with a marker on your opponent’s smock, or his head. When a point is scored, you will disengage until I instruct you to begin again.”

  Andy looked toward Braden. His slender build suggested he might have focused more on [acrobatics], but he couldn’t be sure.

  I have to be ready for anything.

  “Please shake hands,” said Gerran.

  Andy extended his hand, and Braden reluctantly extended his, sighing loudly. They shook quickly and inauthentically before backing up.

  Andy brought his hands up to his face and began to bounce gently.

  “That’s cute,” said Braden, scowling. He assumed no athletic stance whatsoever.

  “Begin,” said Gerran, stepping back.

  Immediately, Braden jumped forward with astonishing speed, blocking both of Andy’s arms outward and striking his chest. Andy barely had time to react at all.

  “That’s one point for Braden,” said Gerran. “Please regroup.”

  That was too fast, Andy thought. How am I going to defeat him? Maybe this really is beneath him… sure, he seems offended by the gym because he’s an asshole… but maybe he’s also bored. Andy caught his train of thought. No. Don’t get in your head. Fight. Do what needs to be done.

  If Braden had so easily broken his defenses with a simple frontal assault, then Andy needed to dodge immediately. Braden was not one to hesitate or to take time to read his opponent before striking. Andy had to be in motion from the beginning.

  “Begin,” said Gerran.

  Andy immediately rolled to the left as Braden launched forward and past him.

  Just as I predicted, Andy thought. He spun around to find Braden’s back turned to him as he stumbled off balance, surprised by Andy’s sudden movement and without a target to strike.

  Andy leapt forward, striking him in the back.

  “That’s a point for Andy,” said Gerran.

  “Now hold on,” said Neroth. “They’re supposed to be using the terrain. Andy didn’t use the terrain at all.”

  “Well neither did Braden for his first point,” said Gerran, shrugging. “They are both allowed and encouraged to use the terrain, but at the end of the day, the only operative rules are those of the [combat] sparring match, which I recited before we began.”

  Neroth growled softly under his breath, his face becoming red. “That’s not right,” he scowled. But he let it go.

  “That was supposed to work!” said Braden, approaching Neroth. “It’s what I was instructed to do. It worked perfectly for the first [combat] trial.”

  “Adapt, boy,” said Neroth, pointing toward the center of the course.

  Braden huffed and returned to the course in front of Andy.

  Maybe this guy just has one trick… Andy thought. Maybe he’s just been relying on shock and awe, on striking before his opponent is ready… If he did that successfully three times against an opponent, then he probably got his first [combat] rank quickly. He’s not used to working for things…

  “Begin,” said Gerran, stepping back.

  Andy leapt backward, giving himself more time to observe Braden’s movements. Braden leapt to the side, landing on the seesaw, before leaping again into the air, attacking from above.

  Andy rolled out of the way as Braden’s aerial strike landed on the ground that he had been standing on. He jumped onto the lowest box, then leapt over to a higher one, hoisting himself to the high ground.

  “You can’t evade me for long,” Braden said, smirking as he followed the same path Andy had, but with more speed. He leapt toward Andy.

  Andy attempted to dodge, but he realized he had nowhere to roll. He was on a platform several feet off the ground. He hesitated.

  Braden’s palm connected with Andy’s shoulder as he landed on the box. He pushed off, doing a backflip before landing again on the ground.

  “A point for Braden,” said Gerran. “Two points Braden, one point Andy.”

  “Well done, nephew,” said Neroth. “Impressive indeed.”

  So this guy has more than just cheap tricks… he has some skill.

  They regrouped.

  “Not so cunning, are you,” Braden said with a malicious grin.

  Andy observed Braden. His opponent was not poised at all, and had more than a little self-assurance, but he had misjudged him just a moment before and it had cost him a point.

  I bet he won’t be expecting this… Andy thought, sinking into his athletic stance.

  “Begin,” said Gerran.

  Andy leapt forward immediately, pushing forward with all his might. He felt the power in his legs that he had developed through [athletics] training, launching him into his opponent.

  Braden’s eyes went wide, “What the–” he attempted to block Andy’s attack.

  Andy pushed Braden’s hand out of the way and struck his opponent’s chest, using the same attack Braden had employed for the first point.

  Andy’s hand slapped against Braden’s sternum, catching him off guard.

  “That’s one point for Andy,” said Gerran.

  “That’s not fair!” Braden said, stumbling backwards and clutching his chest. “Uncle, tell him it isn’t fair!”

  “That wasn’t sportsmanlike,” said Neroth, addressing Gerran. “It was an uncharacteristically swift move, and relied on… deception and… trickery…” he continued, searching for words to justify his opposition to the point.

  “Two points Andy, two points Braden,” Gerran said flatly.

  “Uncle!” Braden said again, looking toward Neroth.

  “Finish him,” Neroth said quietly. “And we can go back to the palace and continue preparing for the arena.”

  He’s going to attempt the same cheap trick again… Andy thought.

  “Begin,” said Gerran.

  As Andy had predicted, Braden leapt forward. Andy dodged immediately and Braden fell off balance once again.

  Andy scrambled to get to his feet, but found his opponent was already facing him again. Andy leapt up to the center of the seesaw. With his [athletics] training, it was now easy for him to jump five feet into the air.

  “Come up here,” Andy said.

  “You rat,” said Braden, standing on the lower seesaw platform.

  Andy leapt backwards onto the higher platform, pushing it downward and launching Braden into the air toward Andy.

  That’s got him… Andy thought. He’s off balance and unprepared. I’ll just strike him as soon as he comes near me.

  Braden flew through the air toward Andy. At first, Braden appeared thrown off guard, but mid-air, he gained his resolve and raised his palm, bringing it down as he landed next to Andy.

  Andy struck at Braden’s chest. Braden struck at Andy's shoulder.

  They made simultaneous contact, each striking the other before they both rolled away in opposite directions.

  “That’s a tie!” Gerran called.

  “There’s no such thing!” said Neroth. “Only one can be the victor, and very clearly Braden is victorious.

  “Respectfully,” Gerran said, “that’s simply not true on either account. The strikes were simultaneous, were they not?”

  Neroth’s eyes darted back and forth as he searched for a line of reasoning to justify his contempt for Andy and his favoritism toward Braden.

  “It’s not… it’s simply not done.”

  “Ties happen quite frequently,” said Gerran. “I’ve operated this gym for many years and have seen it occur time and again.”

  “Well, I–” Neroth stumbled.

  “Does that mean that neither of us gains our rank?” Braden said.

  “No,” said Gerran, “it means you both advance in your rank.”

  “What?” said Braden, “But how can he advance too? I’m clearly the better fighter!” Braden cried, pointing toward Andy.

  “What is there to complain about?” Gerran said, taking a firmer tone. “You haven’t failed, you’re simply upset at your opponent’s success.”

  “Yes!” Braden cried. “He doesn’t deserve it, and I do!”

  Andy relaxed, letting his shoulders fall. It was over, and he was going to receive his rank. He didn’t care much whether Braden received his or not. They had both fought well, and as far as Andy was concerned, a tie was a just outcome to the [combat] trial that had taken place. He voiced no objections, but took a bit of pleasure in Braden’s bratty freak-out.

  “Sometimes the undeserving get lucky,” said Neroth. “You’ve got your rank. That’s what matters today. We have more training to do to get you ready for the arena.”

  Braden huffed. “I won’t forget this,” he said, growling at Andy.

  “Relax man,” Andy said, “we can both win.”

  “Argh!” Braden cried, throwing up his hands as he stormed off, Neroth following quickly behind.

  “Well, that was… interesting,” Andy said as the two nobles left the compound and disappeared onto the road.

  “Yes,” said Gerran. “I suppose it’s a fine introduction to the world of noble entitlement for you. But nonetheless… you did well. Congratulations on your second [combat] rank.”

  *

  Level Up!

  Level 5

  Skill Rank Achieved!

  Combat 2

  *