Chapter 3: Years Pass
Four years passed as Taliyn grew up in the Guild. Dedicated to becoming stronger and more skilled in all forms of combat and weapons. As well as dabbling in his share of Will training. Master Pard taught history and the lessons of becoming a Hero. What it meant and how one could become a Hero of Albion.
Master Dirk was strict and knowledgeable about the Will inside every human and creature. For he taught how one could harness the essence of Will from the very air if needed, but only as last resorts. For doing so causes more problems than one of their age is able to deal with. Taliyn studied how to wield Will, the instance of his spark in the cave those years ago was rare.
Dirk was surprised to see someone with the gift like his. No required focus to use Will, but his control was weak. He needed to train more before he could make much use of his powerful gift. Which indeed frustrated Taliyn as learning to master his Will was instrumental to becoming stronger. Although he had the gift of being a conduit for Will, his ability to produce it was lacking. He had a feeling it was because of Dusk that it was like this, for whenever he tried to draw out the power of Will, she seemed to glare at him.
Then there was Master Quincy, the melee weapons trainer and retired Hero before the Great War. Which Master Pard explained it as the war that was fought against the forces of Darkness long ago. Many lives were lost, but with Heroes from the age passed and the power of the Arch Stones they were able to turn the tide. Pard spoke of many different heroes that wielded weapons and the powers of Will with such grace and strength that they were looked upon for guidance and followed their examples. For the war was costly as it took most of the lives of the great heroes of old.
Quincy was in his later years but even that couldn't stop him from mopping the floor of a student with an old training sword. Several students had been beaten by the old man, including Taliyn himself. One student was able to put up a better fight than most and that was Bran. He was built like an adult with the power to back it up. His favored weapon of choice was actually strange for he decided to try to use a rapier rather than something to compliment his strength. But with that said weapon he was able to strike swiftly and nearly hit Quincy a few times.
But that was quickly dashed as he would have the weapon knocked out of his hand every time as Quincy would slap the boy's hand with his sword. "Power doesn't come from brute strength or fast attacks, but through a combination of the two. A rapier is fast and light, but lacks power and wouldn't survive a strike against a shield with the added power Bran uses." As he picked up the rapier and struck an armored dummy with the same speed and power Bran was using and watched as the front part of the blade shattered. They all were stunned as they watched the blade's tip crumble and break off.
Bran was embarrassed by the display, but Quincy handed him the broken blade and smiled, "That being said, use the rapier to its full strength as in weakening your opponent with small slashes and nicks. Humans are tenacious and durable, but beasts and monsters even more so." He held the broken tip in his hand and with a quick motion threw the piece in between the gap in the armor where the neck would be. "Strike vitals and weak spots for the most damage, this is where your strength should be used at its fullest. You may rejoin the group now Bran," he gestured for him to sit back down and Bran bowed returning to his spot.
As their day went on, Bran still felt embarrassed but Kora was next to him cheering him up. His smile returned after she chopped the head of Roran. His body rippled a little but he had thinned out as the years passed. Having curbed his eating habits as he was put under another master meant to keep everyone fit and healthy. Though he still had somewhat of a belly it wasn't as bad as when he was younger. This is when they came to Taliyn's favorite thing to train in, his uncle was the master of ranged weaponry and guile tactics.
Master Marcus, a man always clad in black armor day or night. He was seemed to move without being seen doing so. Like a phantom gliding across the ground without making a sound with his footsteps. His uncle was known as the guild's spy master and reconnaissance agent. Though that wasn't needed as much as the war had ended a few years before he was born, or so he was told by his uncle. He would inquire about his parents but would avoid the subject or deflect it with a different question. He didn't know why he would do that even for all these years but he knew he would have to find out someday.
Their training consisted of using the environment to their advantage. Anything from dirt, rocks, trees and their limbs as a way to defeat opponents. Fighting fairly was only for the knights of the kingdoms, honorable duels that only were for showboats. "In a real fight, anything went as long as you were the only one standing. Don't forget to use the knowledge you acquire along your travels." Taliyn had worked hard in this field as he thought the usage of stealth and subterfuge was more his style. For with Dusk, he had an extra pair of eyes no one else could see which gave him a huge advantage.
Taliyn was usually the one picked out the whole group to hide the best he could in different locations. Be them in a building's rafters, in the shadows of darkness, or even within the foliage of the forest. The only one able to find him was Kora when she used her gift, but it left her vulnerable to attack when she wasn't connected to her own senses. So she had to learn to identify where someone would hide. Taliyn even went so far as to disguise himself as someone else for the day to see if anyone noticed. It wasn't hard for some to know who he was, but others didn't know right away which was what he was attempting to do.
These training days would repeat every day of every week and month. As two more years passed, Taliyn was now 16 years of age going on 17. Able to take the trials set by the masters of the guild when he reached his next birthday. He had toned out his body even more. Slender but physically built, Taliyn could compare his strength to Roran who was no slouch when it came to brute strength. He picked a spiked club as his preferred weapon as well as some heavy armor. But that was when Roran was younger not now when he took his trial and succeeded on the first attempt. Though he was able to surpass Taliyn's power control of Will he still barely passed it.
Over the last two years he had spent time with the three masters of his uncle, Quincy, and Dirk. Trying to learn how to draw out his potential before he reached the age of 17. When one would complete the Trials, they would be assigned to a Hero near a specific area of the land of Albion controlled by a specific kingdom. They would spend the next two years with their mentor and teacher before they would be ready for their final test. When Bran passed his, he was assigned to Bowerstone, a town far to the east past the Duskwood. A place of mysterious beasts and Hobbs, lots of Hobbs.
Roran was sent to learn from his father up in the north, in the snow cap mountains. To hone his skills that his father would pass down to his son. When it came to Kora, she instead of taking the trial she was taken in as a Seer in training. For her powers grew over the years allowing her to see possible futures that could come to pass and she would tell Taliyn about them except ones that seemed to be a little too personal. For the two grew close, he wasn't sure if he and her were a thing, but having to watch her leave with the Seers, left a pain in his chest. For the location of their training area was kept secret to prevent others outside from interrupting the new Seer's training.
This all happened over the course of the two years as Taliyn was beginning to understand what his connection to Dusk and his Will meant. She was an embodiment of his Will taken a conscious form. Or at least that was his guess, though it was his best guess as they were usually called Will Ghosts. Great mages whose body died yet their spirit lived on as their Will kept them alive, but they needed to feast on more Will from another to survive. But the only question for him was the fact Dusk had been with him for as long as he could remember. As most Will Ghosts were aggressive and would drain someone dry leaving an empty husk.
Which is why he guessed that she was something akin to being his Will made manifest. For when he was training by himself trying to use the power of Will to freeze a cup of water. Dusk would come out of his shadow and hold her hands over the cup and do it with him and the whole of the cup would freeze. He wasn't sure how, but whenever he tried to use Will on his own without the help of Dusk, it would end in failure. But with Dusk it together, it seemed his Will was stronger than an adapt mage for his age.
They tried to find a happy medium to avoid questions that were already asked when he accidently changed Master Dirk's cat into a lion which bit Dirk and chased him around like he was food. Both Dusk and Taliyn would work together and combine their efforts if it was important enough. Though for the time being, when Taliyn needed to use his Will he would ask for it from Dusk. Allowing him to cast spells around his age group's power. Though this only made Dusk tired and sleep for a few hours before returning to working condition. As drawing too much power made her tired but not Taliyn himself.
Which made it more possible that Dusk was his Will. His power manifested into a creature he could see and that could interact with but no one else could to her. Unless he wanted to count the one time when he wanted to see what exactly she could do to the world around her. Where she once possessed a large hornet and attacked others of its kind. This however, drained her quickly versus just letting Taliyn take care of the wasps rather than control one. But that was when he was 14 years of age. Now she was able to hold onto a creature like a wasp for longer, not forever as the wasp would eventually die from either damage or for holding in Dusk for too long.
She didn't drain its Will like a Will Ghost would, but just holding in her essence was too much for such a creature to withstand for too long. He had inquired if she could enter him and reunite or something along those lines, but she tried but would be immediately rejected of his body. Like some force was keeping her from entering his body and staying. This proved to problematic as when it would be his turn to take the test he wouldn't have full control of his Will like other mages. That is when he would try to have Dusk herself cast the spells for him, they may be volatile when working together but at least he could preform the actions needed and she could make the magic actually happen.
Taliyn was afraid to ask Master Pard or anyone about Dusk for no one still seemed to not see her. He did wonder if other Will Ghosts could see her as she was his Will. He thought about bringing it up to Master Pard after he completed his trials as it was almost a couple weeks out. This also was his chance to try and head back down to the catacombs that were beneath the guild's building. There were other paths he had yet to explore as they were only trying to find an exit when Kora and him fell down the hole.
Dusk and Taliyn made a plan to sneak into the armory and borrow a sword to use for potential dangers. He would need to use every trick he could to remain invisible to the other guild members. Not having armor on or protective padding only his normal attire, he had to be careful not to get hurt or questions would be asked. He planned to go to the catacombs in a few days time as he needed to be around for his training.
"Taliyn, focus," Master Dirk said as he watched him create only tiny sparks without the help of Dusk. Dirk would walk over and show Taliyn how to preform the Lightning Spell as a crackling blue bolt of lighting would shoot from his hands. The dummies he was hitting were singed with the blue bolts until he stopped casting his power. "That is how you cast the Lightning Spell, now again." Taliyn sighed as he clasped his hands together in an almost prayer fashion. This was his signal to Dusk to prepare to cast the spell. As his desire to cast the Lightning Spell was summoned, Dusk could feel the energy required to cast the spell as they both thrust out their arms. Her arms charged with sparks of electricity and from above the four dummies a bolt of Lightning crashed down on the helmets of each one.
Dirk widened his eyes and then looked at Taliyn who quickly made it seem like he was tired. "That was outstanding! Not only did you hit all the targets, but you also hit them in a way a normal creature or human would expect." His praise was repeated for awhile seeing if he could do it again, but he would again make it seem like he was out of energy by only making the sparks come from himself. Which seemed to annoy Dirk, "Ugh, a fluke or maybe a once in a while chance with you. Fine, you are dismissed." Taliyn bowed and headed to his next Master.
Quincy smiled as he saw Taliyn approach, "Well if it isn't the young Morgrave, come to be put into the dirt by your teacher again?" Taliyn smiled before walking over to the weapons rack.
"Master, it would be in my best interest to try to win one fight with you. Bran did when he was my age before his test and beat every other person but you in his Trial." He looked at the sword, a basic broadsword, dulled for training purposes as wooden weapons weren't used late in this stage of training. It was customary to have each student get used to feeling the weight of the weapon they were to master. Taliyn chose the broadsword as fit the best in his hands, as well as he had practiced using another reinforced stick as his off-hand.
"Why did you pick up such a small thing to have?" Quincy asked, looking at the choice of the stick. Taliyn just walked into the training circle, did a few warm-ups swings using both the sword and the stick. He had a reason for picking the stick, for it was about the same size as the torch in the catacomb. Taliyn thought the Torch wasn't just an ordinary torch as it was in a pedestal meaning it had to be special. Or at least with the fact he heard whispering of a bone chilling voice before he retreated from it when he was 10.
He turned to Master Quincy and bowed, "Master I have a question." Quincy raised a white eyebrow and grunted at Taliyn. "Is it possible to infuse Will into a weapon? Like, if one were to say cast a Fire Spell but focus it through a weapon, is it possible?" Quincy thought about it.
"In theory, it is possible. Yet I have yet to see anyone else do it in my years as a Hero. Most that have the power of Will no matter how weak or strong, choose to focus on spell casting." He scratched his beard, "Why do you ask?" Taliyn explained that his Will was more complicated to understand so he had random spurts of powerful casts, yet most of the time his casting was short ranged or short lived. This made Quincy nod, "Then maybe for you it would be something to try working on. As you said, random spurts of powerful magic isn't something to rely on so having a back up option would be a good idea."
Quincy walked over and grabbed a real weapon, a broadsword much like his own. Taliyn blinked as he didn't see him grab a training sword other than a wooden one to use for teaching. That is when he heard him say, "Why don't you give it a try, every time you fail, I will hit you with this sword. I want you to try infusing it with your Will." Taliyn backed up quickly as he felt a presence emanate from Quincy that felt like death. Even Dusk had to retreat to a safe distance.
"That human is serious, you sure you don't want my help?" Dusk asked, her four eyes looking at him as she floated next to Taliyn. He shook his head, telling her that he would be fine. Shrugging, Dusk went over and sat on the fence. Her floating body seemed to cause the fence to move a little but not enough to be noticed. Her lower half was a wispy smoke that always seemed to move on its own without her control. While her upper half was more humanoid looking though no visible signs of her being a woman. Though he did wonder why his Will took the voice of a woman's.
"What are you looking at child, focus on your opponent." Quincy dashed forward, quicker than an old man should be able to move as he was on the other side of the ring originally. Now he was not a few feet away from Taliyn, the speed at which he moved was inhuman. But knowing how heroes were much stronger than the average human or humanoid creature it only made the feeling he got more intense. Ducking out of the way, Taliyn dove to the side and recovered quickly as he could Quincy already moving towards him. Taliyn didn't have time to think or act as he had to rely on his reflexes in this fight. Dodging a downward strike to the sand Taliyn sidestepped the attack and prepared his own.
Taking a step forward he could feel his body move and advance quickly. Preforming the Dash, a move where one would infuse their body with Will to move quicker than the eye can track. He now had entered the combat range for his sword to swing down on Quincy. However, he was way more experienced than Taliyn which gave him the upper hand. Raising his sword he deflected the blow from coming close to him with nothing more than a simple flick of his wrist.
"Come on boy, focus, use your Will and funnel it into your strike." Quincy switched his grip and used the pummel of the sword to jab Taliyn in the chest and shove him back several feet. This attacked caused Taliyn to tumble and roll through the sand. Dusk chuckled as she saw Taliyn end up laying on the ground with his head buried in the sand. Quincy saw this and sighed, "Get up boy, you aren't giving up on this are you?" Taliyn stabbed the sand with his sword and got up slowly wiping the sand off his face.
"Not even close," As he stood and got back into a ready position Taliyn took a deep breath. In his mind he wanted to have it work, even for a brief moment, just to see if he could focus his Will into using magic this way instead of casting spells and let Dusk handle that. Charging in again and again only to be knocked back down over and over again. He could feel his body bruised and possibly a broken rib. Quincy didn't look tired regardless of how much strength he was outputting. This was an obstacle that Taliyn couldn't jump unless he could get the theory to work.
He thought again of his Lightning Spell, his natural ability to cast spells without the need for a focus was allowed him to do any magic in the first place. Raising his sword one last time as he was barely hanging on by a thread of strength. His hands were shaky, his breath labored, and legs heavy. Others in the guild that were spectating the fight felt bad for Taliyn as when Quincy got serious, he showed no mercy.
Drawing every ounce of strength from his body Taliyn once again charged in dodging Quincy's attacks just by hairs breath away. Advancing close and getting within the threat range for his sword. It was now or never, if he couldn't bring his Will to respond to this last chance he would have to give up on trying to learn this technique. Using the stick to parry Quincy's sword away from hitting his body, Taliyn brought the sword down to strike the old man's shoulder.
'Please, WORK!' He cried out in his mind, as he did, the subtle feeling of lightning jumping from his hand and up the sword. The sword had a light blue glow around the edge as it was close to striking Quincy. But in that moment Quincy suddenly whacked the sword out of Taliyn's hand and then landed a blow the back of his head knocking him out. The sword flew towards the wooden gate and as it touched the blue glow from the sword it shattered. Taliyn was out cold so he didn't see or hear what happened but Dusk did.
"Well done Taliyn, you are learning to use your Will your way. Turning around to look at the gate and those that were around the area looked at the sword that still was glowing recede and vanish. Dusk for a moment thought the old man was looking right at her before his eyes drifted towards the sword as he picked it up. "Get him to the infirmary and patch him up. Tell him to see me when he wakes." With that, people carried Taliyn away as Quincy picked up the sword and inspected it.
"One day his sword could cleave through mountains, but his power is still not his own." This time he looked at where the fence bent, and now she knew that Quincy was looking at her, or rather through her. He smiled and tapped the fence causing the sword to snap and crumble in his hand. "Seems my student has learned my technique without even knowing I made it." With that he walked away and grabbed his cane and returned to the guild.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Xander_Everflame
Xander_Everflame The longest chapter I have done thus far and I think it was right to do so. As I still needed to flush out a few things and even in the next chapter other stuff will be flushed out before we hit the trials and progress the story to the avenue of adventure!
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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