Chapter 32 - Sir Syndil's Final Lesson
week had passed since Head Wizard Alamber had left for the capital of the Elves. For Danny, the past few days had seemed somewhat normal; he focused on training and attending the various classes of a squire. However, every once in a while, he worried about the news the Half-Elf might bring back when he did return.
This particular evening found Danny preparing himself for his final lesson with Sir Syndil. Despite his concern over the Elf's intentions, he was looking forward to the training session; Sir Syndil had helped Danny to nearly master a portion of the Ghostsight.
"If you don't trust that Elf, why do you keep training with him?" Alonso asked bluntly from across the room, while lying on his bed with his arms crossed behind his head.
Danny slipped his sword belt around his waist. "It's because I don't trust him that I train with him. The more time I spend around him, the more I might learn. Besides, if I refused his training, he might suspect something was wrong."
Alonso shrugged. "If I were you, I would've walked right up to the Pool of the Mageknight long ago, claimed what belonged to me and shoved it in Sir Syndil's face. I bet the Bonded of a Mageknight is much better than the blades we carry now."
"Things are already complicated without everyone celebrating the fact that I may be the Mageknight. And I like my sword well enough," said Danny, slipping his longsword into the sheath with a slight ring.
Alonso shrugged for the second time and added, "Whatever."
"Just ignore him, man," encouraged Chris. "Are you sure you want to do this? Our training as first-years is complete, as you know. You have no obligation to see Sir Syndil."
"I know. I really believe this is something I have to do."
"Do you want us to come with you?"
"No, all of you have done more than I could have asked of you. It means more to me than you'll ever know," expressed Danny, gazing at each one to make the point. "This is something I must do on my own." With one final smile, Danny exited the room, adding, "Enjoy your evening."
At the double doors that marked the exit to the first-year barracks, he found Calador waiting with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
"Your final lesson with Sir Syndil?" the Elf asked, even though Danny knew for sure that the blind Elf already knew the answer.
"…My final lesson."
Calador uncrossed his arms and took a step forward. "I know I do not need to tell you to be careful."
"If I've learned anything these past few weeks, it's to be cautious."
Reaching out, Calador placed a stern hand on Danny's left shoulder. "Be very careful," he said before moving past.
"I will," said Danny to Calador's back, certain that the Elf had heard him. With that, he exited into the cool night air, the breeze from the surrounding ocean carrying a salty smell. Alone, he traversed Army Avenue, making note as squires from various armies celebrated the end of the academic year, every army except for Dragon and Lion; they were both scheduled to compete for the Chalice of Light on the morrow, marking the true end to the training year.
Cheers and hoots surrounded him as he passed through a kaleidoscope of colors created by the dyed robes of each individual army. Passing the barracks of Dragon Army, Danny felt a desperate need to tell Sabrina the truth, but he didn't. Not that he could anyway, most likely Dragon Army was engaged in some last minute training before the final battle against Lion Army.
Before he knew it, Danny stood outside the doors that marked the training facility supervised by Sir Syndil. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his hand to knock. Before his knuckle could even contact the surface, the door swung open, revealing Sir Syndil and his ever-present smile.
Suddenly, a high-pitched tone marked the first of ten bells.
"Squire Firoth," greeted Sir Syndil, "right on time. Please, do come in." Stepping to the side, he gestured for Danny to enter as the smile widened upon his face.
Danny forced himself to obey, the familiar smell of sweat and steel greeted him as he stepped into the large room.
"This marks our last session together, Danny," said Sir Syndil, as he closed the door. The door shut with a loud click, as if to enhance the finality of his words.
"I'd like to thank you for all of your help," said Danny sincerely. "Truly, without it, I could never have mastered my ability."
"So, you think you have mastered it, do you?" Sir Syndil asked, taking a few steps forward and stopping within arm's reach.
Danny turned away from the Elf and entered the dueling circle. He felt uncomfortable in such close proximity to Sir Syndil in lieu of recent events.
"I can nearly hold the…" Danny stopped himself; he had almost referred to the named ability of the Mageknight. "Ability," he corrected with a quick turn of the tongue, "for a full day."
"Is that the full extent of your power?"
Caught off-guard by the question, Danny looked down and found himself at the center of the dueling circle, the stone marking Sir Syndil's secret hiding place just beneath his feet. "I don't know," he said, fighting to keep his tone even.
"Nor do I," imparted Sir Syndil, taking a step forward. "However, I have always found that the best way to find out where one will end up is to test him or her to find out their current level of expertise." At that, his right hand slipped over the silver hilt of the Bonded at his side and pulled the slender blade free.
The Ghostsight had become nearly second nature to Danny. He focused his breathing, causing the familiar apparition of Sir Syndil's future actions to take a noticeable form. This was the first time he'd ever seen Sir Syndil draw his Bonded; Danny was frightened as he slowly moved his hand down to the hilt of his own blade.
Sir Syndil moved in slow increments as he gracefully twisted his Bonded back and forth within his hand, the ghostly image created by the Mageknight's ability showed nothing more than a soft silhouette.
"Do not be afraid, Squire Firoth," he said, reading Danny's reaction. "We have dueled countless times and I only wish to see the extent of your progress."
"This is the first time you've ever drawn your Bonded," said Danny, taking two steps in retreat, tightening his grip around the sword at his side. His knuckles turned bone-white as he prepared to free it from the sheath.
Sir Syndil presented his Bonded before him, the slick steel of the blade catching the light and reflecting it in a brilliant rainbow of colors. A collection of runes, in a language Danny couldn't understand, was inscribed over the length of the ornate brand, from tip to hilt. However, Danny found its beauty easily interpreted.
"The name of my Bonded is Kryssagrim, and I present it as an honor to your hard work over the past few months. I propose one last duel between us to measure the extent of your progress. As you have not yet gained the privilege of a Bonded, I shall not use any of Kryssagrim's Awakenings."
Although Sir Syndil seemed sincere, Danny never relaxed his grip. "I accept," Danny said, with more confidence than he felt as he pulled his own sword free with the familiar singing of steel.
Sir Syndil's ghost flowed elegantly in a salute and then melded into an offensive stance, the Elf following in the exact movement a few moments later. "For the honor of the Light," added the Elf.
Danny returned the honor with a twist of his wrist, causing the naked steel of his blade to linger evenly between his eyes before swiping to the side. "For the Light," he said, stepping back into a defensive position.
"Are you prepared?" Sir Syndil asked.
"Are you?" Danny said in jest. He took one final breath to focus his mind, becoming somewhat excited. Despite Sir Syndil's newly discovered deception, Danny had come to relish his bouts with the techniques professor. In many ways, he looked up to the Elf as a mentor. Caught between conflicting feelings of betrayal and fondness for the Elf, Danny found himself quite confused.
Sir Syndil responded with a smile, reassuring the bond that had formed between them over the past few months. Seconds later, his ghost surged forward with the blade leveled to the right in an upward attack. Sir Syndil followed directly behind.
Anticipating the attack, Danny planted his right foot behind him, stepping back just at the last second, allowing Sir Syndil's attack to glide past his upper chest by mere inches. Danny felt the swift breeze of the blade as it passed before him. Believing that Sir Syndil had left himself exposed, Danny followed with an attack of his own, leveling his sword in a quick swipe.
However, the cunning instructor recovered faster than Danny had expected, and Sir Syndil's shining silver brand appeared out of nowhere, the swords meeting with a loud clang.
Eye to eye, knight and squire lingered a moment before Sir Syndil smiled and spun to the right, angling a low attack.
With the help of the Ghostsight, Danny anticipated the move.
This simple sparring went on for a few minutes as both got into a rhythm of blocks and blows. Then, just as quickly as he'd begun, Sir Syndil retreated, ending in a defensive stance just beyond Danny's striking distance.
"Good," said the Elf. "I believe I am thoroughly warmed up. Are you ready for the true bout?"
Danny couldn't help but return the Elf's smile as he stretched a tight muscle in his right shoulder. Testing the weight of his sword in his hand, he twirled it with a twist of his wrist and readied himself in a defensive stance. "Ready when you are."
Sir Syndil sprang forward, his speed almost matching the ghost that predicted his movements.
Expecting the move, he'd dueled with Sir Syndil now more times than he could remember, Danny stepped to the side and parried his opponent's attack downward. However, just as he felt the pressure of the blades making contact, Danny felt as if he was pushing down nothing but air. Then, in his peripheral vision, he glimpsed a ghostly light.
Moving instinctively, he brought his blade up to block. A forceful clang ensued as Sir Syndil's attack threatened to push Danny off his feet. Taking a few steps in retreat, Danny recovered as Sir Syndil pressed his advantage, the once-present smile upon the Elf's face reduced to an expression of surprising seriousness.
Sir Syndil came at him with a flurry of attacks, his movements coinciding with the ghost that predicted his advances.
Without the advantage of foresight, Sir Syndil forced Danny to fight merely with the instinct learned from the training he'd undergone over the past few months. However, what scared him the most was the grave look upon Sir Syndil's face. It was the first time he'd ever seen the Elf with such an expression, frankly, it frightened him.
Sir Syndil, as if unaware of Danny's fear, fought on with a frenzy of blade work, his attacks growing in a smooth flow of speed and strength.
It was no contest as Danny battled on a purely defensive level.
"Enough!" he yelled, rolling to the right in an attempt to put some distance between him and the crazed Elf. Holding his left hand pleadingly out in front of him, he requested a respite.
Sir Syndil didn't even blink as he turned on Danny, his face a mask of grim conviction. "Is this the extent of your ability?" he asked, twirling Kryssagrim with a blinding speed. However, he left no time for an answer as he surged forward, his Bonded leading the way in a sideways swipe that looked more like a streak of light than solid steel.
Danny barely dodged to the right, parrying the deadly attack away, watching as Kryssagrim passed within inches of his eyes. It was no mere practice blade that Sir Syndil wielded and Danny knew that, should even the faintest attack find its mark, he would take the full brunt of the blade. He wore no armor, only the white robes of a first-year squire. Panicking, Danny danced around the dueling circle, desperate to put as much distance from Sir Syndil as he could.
"Please, stop!"
Sir Syndil's eyes bulged with focus as he pressed the attack. "Show me your true power!"
Danny's concentration left him, the Ghostsight vanished from his vision. His muscles began to burn as his blade became heavy in his hands and his breathing quickened.
Still, Sir Syndil came at him. "Show me more!" the Elf yelled, angling Kryssagrim in a sideways lunge.
Danny limply parried attack after attack, his body failing as he reached his limit.
"There must be more!" Sir Syndil said, taking a quick step forward, twisting Kryssagrim with a flick of his wrist. The blinding sword danced in the light before carving a direct line through the air with a whistle.
With the last bit of strength left within him, Danny brought his blade to bear with two hands. The swords met with a resounding clang, the force nearly knocking Danny off his feet. His grip faltered, causing the sword to slip through his fingers, tumble end over end and embed itself in the brick beside him at a slight angle.
Sir Syndil didn't stop there, he reversed the attack and leveled Kryssagrim for a follow-up.
A ray of light passed within inches of Danny's neck as he fell backward, barely avoiding the tip of Sir Syndil's Bonded. Catching himself with both hands, Danny watched in sheer horror as Sir Syndil took a single step forward and raised Kryssagrim for the final blow, his eyes filled with determination.
Danny suddenly wished he'd listened to his friends. He regretted not being more honest with Sabrina. Wide-eyed, he found himself mesmerized by the speed and beauty of Kryssagrim. Defenseless, Danny closed his eyes to the brilliant light of the blade as it approached him, awaiting the inevitable.
However, the attack never came. Inching his eyes open, Danny discovered the silver sword at a standstill, leveled between his eyes. Looking up, he noticed that the smile had returned to Sir Syndil's face. Letting out a held breath, Danny said, "I thought . . . you were going to kill me."
"There is no need, Squire Firoth," said Sir Syndil, reclaiming his composure as he slipped Kryssagrim back into the sheath and offered Danny his right hand.
Danny hesitated.
"I offer you no harm, Danny."
Somewhat assured, Danny reached up, took Sir Syndil's hand in his own and hauled himself up. "What do you mean, there's no need?"
Sir Syndil's smile widened. "It is simply a manner of speech. I could have killed you if I so desired, but there was no need."
The explanation did nothing to comfort Danny as he retrieved his sword from the stone and hesitated before returning it to the scabbard. "You almost killed me," he said, turning on his instructor, his right hand refusing to leave the hilt of his sword.
"I apologize if I frightened you, Squire Firoth," said Sir Syndil, both of his arms outstretched in a sign of innocence. "That was never my intent."
"Then what was your intent?"
"Simply to measure the extent of your progress, you see. I needed to know the limits of your ability and now I can safely assume that you have reached the limited best of your training for this semester."
Danny's hand relaxed ever-so-slightly, it still remained fixed upon the pommel of his blade. "What else do you think I, with my ability, am capable of?"
"Truly, I am not exactly sure, thus the reason for our duel. However, I think I have learned enough from our sessions together to plan for next year, as well as the years to come."
"Plan for what?"
Sir Syndil took a few steps forward, standing just within touching distance.
Danny tensed, his right hand squeezing the hilt of his sword hard enough to turn his knuckles white.
"I give you my word, Squire Firoth, that I offer no aggression towards you this day or the following," said Sir Syndil, his arm outstretched in an offering of peace.
Danny visibly relaxed as the Elf's left hand lingered in the air, just before settling upon his right shoulder.
Sir Syndil's smile widened to impossible lengths, appearing fake and forced. Danny wondered why he'd never noticed just how phony the Elf's smile seemed, yet he was unable to process the thought fully as Sir Syndil began to speak.
"Tomorrow is the final duel between Dragon Army and Lion Army. They compete for the Chalice of Light. This marks the end of training for this year. For some, the life of a Knight of the Light awaits them. You, as well as others, must decide whether you will continue to pursue the path of a knight or return to your old life. In any case, you have progressed a great deal since your arrival and I can truly say that I have nothing else to teach you this year." With a slight squeeze of Danny's shoulder, Sir Syndil released his grasp. "Go, Squire Firoth, and rest. You have earned it. On the morrow, you will witness firsthand what it is to be a Squire of the Light. Should you choose to continue your training, you will find yourself placed within the ranks of an army next year."
Danny was confused as Sir Syndil ushered him toward the exit. For all the time and effort the Elf had spent in order to gain Danny's trust, he never expected to be let loose so easily.
"I look forward to seeing your progress in the years to come, Squire Firoth, should you decide to continue the path of a Knight of the Light," Sir Syndil said, as he led Danny to the door and opened it.
"Thank you, Sir Syndil."
"No, Danny, thank you," said the Elf, his smile almost appearing genuine.
Danny stepped clear as Sir Syndil closed the door softly behind him. Standing in the cool night air, Danny's confusion remained. However, more than anything else, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread. He had the feeling like he'd just failed a very important test.