communicate?” The blade backed off and spoke again so the others could hear. “In spite of your intelligence, Sam, your inability to accept your surroundings is your greatest fault. The gods have made a mistake. You are a waste of my moments. Return me to Bassorine! You’re useless!”
Sam was speechless. This world was throwing his mind some serious curve balls, and he was not even swinging the bat. He watched the sword float away. It was leaving. He regrouped and chased after it. “Hold on a moment!”
The sword stopped and hovered above the ground, eye level with Sam.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I had no idea I was doing something wrong. I also had no idea you could speak. It’s not like I talked to swords every day when I was on Earth. I would still like to train with you. I’m sorry for my ignorance.”
The sword pulsated a hotter red. “For such a brilliant man, you spend far too many of your moments apologizing for your ignorance. You had to apologize to Soresym as well. I hate to admit it, Sam, but I believe you are pathetic.”
After a long, awkward silence, the sword turned to place its blade beneath Sam’s chin once again. “I might allow you to train with me if you ask properly.”
Sam dropped to one knee. As he started to speak, he realized he still did not know the sword’s name. He improvised as best he could. “I’m sorry ... umm ... sir, for my ignorance. If you’ll allow it, I’d appreciate the honor of training with you.”
The sword held its position for a long while, observing Sam’s demeanor as he kept his head bowed. The light emanating from the blade went from red to white. “Your apology is accepted.” The weapon redirected its point at BJ. “Barthom Jonas, you will beat the ignorance out of him. Teach him humility, and ensure his Peaks are filled with suffering. I want his education to be pounded into him.”
BJ dropped to his knees, along with Mosley, and lowered his head. “I shall do as you command. Thank you for blessing me with this opportunity.”
The weapon floated toward Mosley, stopped, and lowered to a position that was eye level with the wolf. “If it’s your responsibility to watch over this human, teach him to respect what he doesn’t understand. Stop failing in your duty.”
The wolf nodded, “Your message has been received. I will do better.”
With that, the sword returned to Sam and descended back into his hand. The pulsating stopped, and the blade went cold.
“ Thanks a lot, Sam!” Mosley growled. “Perhaps you could think before you speak from now on. You made me look bad, and don’t apologize for your ignorance. I don’t care, and I’m not in the mood to hear it.”
The wolf turned and trotted a few steps before he stopped. “I’m going to check on Shalee. BJ, please train this fool!” Mosley’s green eyes found Sam’s. “And one more thing, I’ve never met an incompetent genius before. You’re my first. You’re stubborn and hardheaded. You remind me of a cub. I dare say you’d be considered the weakest of the pack if this was the Peak of your birth.” Mosley turned and ran toward the village.
BJ shook his head, stood and motioned for Sam to put the sword on his hip. “Until you name the blade, you cannot train with it.”
Tossing the virgin swordsman a wooden stave, BJ laughed. “We’ll start with these. This will hurt you far more than it’ll hurt me.”
Helga’s School of Magical Studies
Helga walked into the training room. She smiled as she saw Shalee sleeping. Mmmm, I remember what that feeling was like, she thought. The sorceress leaned over and shook her student to wake her.
Shalee struggled to open her eyes. When she realized Helga was in the room, she tried to explain what had happened.
Helga listened, smiling as she saw the excitement on Shalee’s face. After a brief series of moments, Helga motioned for Shalee to stop talking. “There is a reason you’ve been given these feelings, Child. It’s the staff’s way of motivating you to master it. As you learn how to command it, you’ll make many mistakes. We all have. You’ll try to use more power than you’re strong enough to handle, and there are consequences for these choices. I should know.”
Shalee pushed her hair clear of her face. “Will the staff reward me every time ... ugh ... I mean, every moment I succeed and do something correctly?