Chapter 7 Part 1: Sparing in the Clouds

Yissgull grunted as he slammed into the hard deck on the top of The Lina’s Flight. There were a couple of shafts, and one steep stair leading to the top deck perched on top of the air bladder as it was called by the mule woman. A strange term, but Xavos admitted voluminous sack of air did resemble the bladder of an animal both in visual and function. The views from that railed deck were spectacular. The rectangle was meant more for maintenance than the sunrise behind the acolytes, but was also a perfect location for sparring and training. The Arch Paladin was still a teacher even when in disguise after all.

The end of the world had interrupted his students' studies, but not finished them. Now that was dedication if the teacher in question could say so himself. The acolytes were still eager even if they could use months to recover fully from their ordeal. The impromptu cruise was still restful if a bit fitful.

Now that the boys had time to think on their situation, and the death of all they knew, even of those who had made it to sanctuary, they had time to gnaw on their minds. They needed the rest for sure, but they also needed a distraction so as not to be lost to their grief or worse madness at their losses. Training was the perfect solution. Competitive training like sparring was all the better for men at risk of losing themselves to idleness. Too much thinking with no action was the death of young men. A fact that the Arch Paladin had found true in most males of other races as well.

Thinking of the other races left a sour taste in the Paladin’s mouth. He tried to push his own demons down as he reached over to drag one of his more promising pupils off the deck. This was one of the few decks made of wood on the Lina’s Flight, and thus not as painful for the inevitable falls brought on from training. Still, Xavos checked the Yissgull over to be sure he hadn’t cracked anything important, or the deck for that matter. The Arch Paladin was a tad distracted, and was worried he might have applied too much force to his throw after dominating his way past his Victorian Scout’s guard using his momentum and leg to throw the young man to the deck disarmed. A simple trick his acolytes needed to master.

Paladins and their acolytes were blessed with inhuman strength, but they often faced opponents who still could bully them into the ground like a dwarf rolling over on a fairy. Knowing how to use an opponent's strength against them was key. That, and mastering such techniques meant you knew how to counter them when used on yourself. One often thought well of the underdog, but sometimes one was in the shoes of Goliath even when on the side of the angels. The tactics were the same when used against you after all, and the patrons of the light weren’t the only ones willing to study the art war and melee.

There again was a reminder from Xavos’ own mind bringing up the dwarves. How were the other races going to regain their Arch Paladins? Each race of light was allotted one. The state affairs wouldn't do. There was an express forbidding of their order to allow one chief warrior priest to ascend above the others for each represented the races and their needs.

To have one executive brother of the cloth lord above his peers was to make one race subservient to another in the Army of Heaven. Unacceptable, as each Paladin brotherhood was designed to take their own race, and intercede for them before the Almighty. Try as he might, Xavos would never be able to care as much for the elves, foxtails, or even the dwarves as well as the members of their own race could. That was just nature's realities.

The obvious answer was there, but Xavos didn’t care to explore the concept. He had enough trouble training humans of the varied subraces different from his own. Not all the kingdoms of man produced amiable warriors with easy contentable flaws like Antain. What man didn’t have some weakness for women after all? But now he would have to mentor races whose minds functioned and acted alien to his own on a fundamental level.

“I can’t believe I fell for that again Arch Paladin,” Yissgull sighed as took his teacher’s hand oblivious to the turmoil hidden far within his teacher’s soul. One became better at hiding their thoughts the longer they were forced to be at court. Xavos had enough practice to know he despised it no matter how necessary when in command.

“What Arch Paladin Yissgull?” Antain called from his sparring with Thoral across their makeshift sparring platform in the heavens. They’d already lost two sparring spears to over exuberant tosses. Some poor fish was about to have a headache in the endless ocean below.

“I mean, I can’t believe I fell for a simpleton's trick Boss.”

“That’s better Yissgull, and that’s why I keep using the throw on you. You always assume your teacher is going to be fancy. Never think your opponent is above the basics when given an easy target,” Xavos answered, and laughed despite the note of stress as he pushed the scout on to his next opponent in the ring.

This exercise was designed to keep the acolytes adapting to ever changing opponents. One group stood in a circle facing out as their opponents faced them. When the sparring duel was concluded the circle would shift so with very little rest the acolyte would face his next duel.

Not a perfect rendition of the randomness of skill one faced on the battlefield, but a close enough drill to prepare them for the bloodshed. The lack of rest was a reminder of what combat required. Though, Xavos was under the impression his acolytes were due for a rest. They were sweating despite the cool chill ever present high in clouds even in warmer climates.

“Be at ease after this spar gentlemen,” Xavos called over the clanking of wooden practice swords and spears. So saying, the Arch Paladin faced his opponent, and moved to disarm him in a rush. To the teacher's surprise Therizen managed to react fast enough to counter the attempt.

On one hand Xavos was filled with pride. On the other, he felt the need to smash this well into a pulp for blocking his attempt to leave the circle early. A victim of his own success if Xavos could say so himself. He was actually going to apply himself to win this spar. Good and bad for poor Therizen, but the Paladin was sure this would be a learning experience for him.

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