Light From Shadow: The Darkness Within by J.A. Fernie

Author:J.A. Fernie [Fernie, J.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UK Book Publishing
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Blood trickled from the gash below Ruevanlynn’s right eye. Crouched down on one knee he wiped away the blood and sweat from his face, attempting to catch his breath.

“I need to take a break,” Ruevanlynn gasped.

Joldack used his wooden training staff to flick Ruevanlynn’s across the simulation room floor.

“We don’t rest. We can’t rest. You may have breezed through the simulations, but you know you need to defeat me to complete your training,” Joldack replied, taking up a fighting stance with his staff held behind him in his right hand, smiling in anticipation. After a few moments of eyeballing, Ruevanlynn reached for his staff that lay on the floor in front of him. Rolling the handle into his hand with his fingers, he used the staff to take his weight as he pushed himself to his feet.

“You’re enjoying this far too much,” he snapped as he strained.

Sweat slowly dripped down the muscular and heavily scarred back of Joldack, a red rag ribbon acting as a sweat band, tied at the back and lying flush against his forehead.

“You have no idea.” He smirked.

Twirling the staff through his fingers, looping it behind his body, Ruevanlynn brought the staff forward and charged.

“Ahhh,” Ruevanlynn screamed.

Swishing and swooshing from Ruevanlynn’s missed strikes could be heard. Joldack pivoted on his feet, dodging each swing of the staff, with his held tight along his back. Ducking down, his torso moved parallel to the wild horizontal swing, causing Ruevanlynn’s momentum to take him to the floor. His leg muscles convulsing and collapsing, from the stress of the high intensity training. Slap! Joldack crashed his staff against the backside of Ruevanlynn, throwing him clambering on all fours, attempting to get to his feet.

“That’s enough for today,” Joldack stated.

Enraged, Ruevanlynn made one last unarmed attempt to charge his teacher. Anticipating the attack, Joldack stepped to the side, tripping Ruevanlynn with one leg. Slap! Crashing his staff against his back. Hurling Ruevanlynn splayed out, flat on his stomach, on the sweat-soaked floor.

“Yep, Mumma Rue is done now.” Closing his eyes, his breathing was deep and fast.

Lactic acid in his muscles caused his whole body to feel like a dead weight. Placing his staff in the rack by the doorway, Joldack turned to face the exhausted and defeated Ruevnlynn. He looked around the black marbled cuboid simulation room. The orbs of light on the wall glowed blue as the shine of the black marble burst through. Although he could not show it, he was happy with the progress that had been made since the training had begun.

“Pick yourself up, Rue, I need to show you something.”

Using his elbow pressed against the floor, Ruevanlynn rolled onto his side and rested his head in his hand.

“What’s the point, boss man? I’m obvs not going to be ready in time.” He jumped to his feet, anger and scorn bubbling and mixing together below the surface. “I ain’t staying here when you go to save my best friend.”

Joldack smiled, moving towards his student. “Do me a favour, put your staff in the rack and follow me.

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