Chapter 7: All That Practice Finally Pays Off
It had been three weeks since Rune started having combat lessons with Vyra and now he was having another sparring match with Astrid and unlike last time, things were going better than expected. Rune and Astrid clashed weapons in the arena with Rune having a new air of confidence around him and how he fought. He readily blocked Astrid's swings and then parried her swing to leave her open for a strike, he instinctively swung his axe at her feet and she reacted appropriately by jumping over his blade. Rune went on the offensive with a swing to her left side, she blocked it and Rune fluidly maneuvered his axe over his head for a swing to her thigh.
Astrid was impressed by his combat skills and how well he handled his weapon now compared to three weeks ago. The two continued to battle until Astrid expertly ended the battle in one go. Rune was making head way but had gotten tunnel vision which Astrid exploited, she side stepped Rune's swing as she had predicted and the young teen rushed into his next attack. He swung for the head which Astrid wanted and she readily laid hold to his hand as she stepped aside and flipped him onto his back ending the match.
Vyra had a little smile on her face seeing her student perform well against her cousin, it showed that they were making progress. Her smile didn't go unnoticed with Sten spotting it and felt a bit concerned or should I say threatened by what he was suspecting.
"Good job" Astrid said pulling Rune to his feet. "You've improved quicker than I thought. I could tell you've been practicing" she added.
"You could say something like that" he replied with a little smile as his eyes wondered to Vyra then quickly back to Astrid.
"That was an entertaining match" Gobber stated.
"Indeed" Hiccup agreed. "That would round up today's classes, but before we relief you, I would like to announce that we would be having a mentorship program" he announced.
"A mentorship program?" Forde asked curious about this new development.
"It' something I and the other riders have been talking about and no better group to start it with than with you guys" he replied.
"But you still haven't told us what we're embarking on" Thyra said.
"Okay. The mentorship program is when we pair up new riders with older more experienced riders sharing similar qualities or the same dragon species to help them develop as riders and realize their potentials. Together, the newer rider gets a deeper insight into the dragon world through the eyes of another rider and get some key knowledge about their dragon and other things that relate to dragon riding" Hiccup explained.
"That sounds Interesting" Vyra said.
"It would. You guys will get the opportunity to ask us every question you could conjure about dragons one on one" Fishlegs said obviously excited about it.
He couldn't wait to pass on all his dragon knowledge onto another and mold him into dragon encyclopedia just like him.
"We will not be engaging in this program of yours" Tuffnut said as he got confused looks.
"What are you two talking about?" Astrid said.
"We do not feel the need to pass on our knowledge to anyone" Ruffnut started with everyone listening closely.
"Why?" Hiccup asked.
"Because we are getting our autobiography done and then anyone who would want knowledge from us can just read our biography and know what to do" Tuffnut explained.
Everyone had their faces down wondering how they got to this.
"Well that's great. So I guess I'm riding out with Hiccup then" Sten said proudly.
It would be a thing of honor to have the chief of Berk mentor him. That would definitely boost his social status and that would help him get Vyra for sure.
"Actually, I thought I'd take Rune under my wing" Hiccup said completely shocking Sten as his mouth dropped.
Forde and Thyra had a little giggle seeing the disappointment on his face.
"Quit laughing" he lashed at them as he tried to regain his composure.
Rune was every bit surprised that the chief of Berk, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, sought to take him under his wing. It was mind blowing.
"So Rune, what do you say?" he asked.
"Yes, it would be an honor" Rune said super excited about it.
"And I'll have Vyra accompany me. She looks like a rider who knows her stuff and having a Stormcutter like me means I could teach her a whole lot about her dragon" Valka said.
Vyra was also happy that she would get the opportunity to have one on one sessions with a legendary rider like Valka.
"I'll pick Forde, he has shown the qualities of a dragon researcher and I look forward to working with him" Fishlegs stated.
"Same here" he answered.
"Thyra looks like a solid choice for me. She's brave, strong and very passionate about what she does. All the qualities of a true warrior and I will help her be the best version of herself" Astrid said.
"Cool" Thyra commented.
"Don't worry Sten, I know you were hoping to get Hiccup but you've gotten someone better than him. You've got me" Snotlout said proudly, opening his arms to bask in his glory.
"Whatever" Sten said nonchalantly heartbroken that Hiccup had picked Rune over him.
"Then that settles it. See you tomorrow evening for class"
"Evening?" Rune said confused. "Why would we hold training then?"
"You'll see soon enough" Gobber said with a cheeky chuckle as he hobbled away.
Right after they were done Hiccup and Rune as well as the other mentors got talking with their trainees and scheduled meetings. Rune agreed to meet up with Hiccup at the Gobber's shop latter that day so that they could formally get things underway.
Right after Sten finished talking to Snotlout, he rushed over to Vyra and pulled her to the side to have a word.
"I saw you smiling at Rune today, don't tell me you have feelings for him" he said with a demanding tone.
Vyra pushed his hand away before responding. "I don't and even if I did, how's that your business?"
"It is, everything about you is my business" he said tryign to be real smooth.
"Ew" she said voicing her disgust and then walking away.
"Don't worry Vyra, one day you'll be mine. Just wait and see" he muttered under his breath before getting hit in the head by Eruptor snapping him out of his chain of thought.
Two dragons cruised in the sky flying above the clouds flying along a familiar route. Those two dragons were Sandstorm and Stormbreaker as Rune and Vyra decided to head over to their private getaway island were they could converse freely.
"What a day" Rune said exasperated by today's events. he laid back on Sandstorm.
"Tell me about it" Vyra answered. "Can't believe I'm going to get mentored by Valka" she said closing her eyes and clenching her fists.
It was such an exciting moment for her that she felt like screaming, but she refrained form that knowing that it would bother Rune. The two had become quite close these past few weeks together.
"And you, getting mentored by the chief. It's....."
"Unbelievable, I know" Rune butt in.
"You don't look excited"
"Trust me I'm excited, I'm just controlling myself right now"
"From what?"
"From SCREEAAMINNGG!!!" he couldn't hold it in anymore, he had to let it out.
"ME TOOOOO!!!!" she yelled as well.
The dragons weren't a fan of the screams as they shook their heads in discomfort and grunted.
"Guess you aren't a fan of my voice" Rune said.
Sandstorm grunted and mumbled in disapproval as they approached the island.
Rune and Vyra sat down side by side some meters from the edge of the rock taking in the serene view from up there. It was peaceful and quiet, the perfect place to clear one's head.
"You did good today"
"What are you talking about?" Rune said confused.
"The sparring match you had with Astrid today dummy"
"Oh that"
"Yeah that, what did you think I was talking about?"
"Nothing. I didn't feel that I did well at all. I thought I went down too easily"
"Not at all. Astrid is a master combatant and well, ….. you're you"
"What's you're you supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, nothing" she said with a light giggle.
"Now that means it is something"
"Really, it's not"
"But you're laughing so it does mean something"
Both of them were all smiles now.
Just as Vyra was denying the accusations thrown at her, Sandstorm and Strombreaker came running by as both of them were playing and brushed Rune and Vyra across the rock. The two rolled for about a feet or two but when they came to a halt, Rune looked up and found Vyra lying on top of him. Both their noses whiskers away from touching and their eyes were locked. Both began to breath slowly as their heart beats began to race until they synchronized, Rune felt a rush through his body as Vyra gently placed her hand on his chest. The two began to feel themselves get sucked together as she grew closer and closer until.
"So this is what you two are up to" Sten said angrily as he hopped off Eruptor. Forde and Thyra landed by his side.
He had a hunch he would find those two together and enlisted the help of Forde and Thyra to help him track them down.
Vyra and Rune quickly got up as Sten stormed towards them.
"Listen Sten there's an obvious explanation for this-"
Rune got punched in the gut and suddenly found it hard to breath, he knew Sten was strong and expected him to hit hard but nowhere near what he felt moments ago.
"What's wrong with you" Vyra lashed out as she swung her arm and slapped Sten on the face as the mark of her hand was imprinted on it in red.
Sten held his face and grunted and didn't want to harm her so he pushed her to the side.
"Stay out of this" he said.
As he turned back to face Rune, he was hit hard in the face with a punch to the nose. Sten took a step back holding his nose and it turns out Rune hit him hard enough to draw blood. Sten cleaned the blood that dripped out from his nose and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Oh no" Forde remarked seeing how fast things were escalating.
He did anticipate a fist fight but not a dance of weapons.
"If that's how you want it" Rune said holding the handle of his axe.
"Both of you stop" Vyra said but her words were too little, too late with the two males now destined for combat.
Sten drew his sword and Rune his axe as they let out battle cries and charged towards one another. Both held their weapons high and brought it down with deadly intent, the clash of their weapons produced a spark as their two eyes met once again.
"I'm going to make you bleed farm boy" Sten said with a mean look.
"Bring it on" Rune responded fiercly.
With the combat lessons he had taken, Rune was feeling very confident in his battle skills and a fight against Sten would only help him cement his status. The two swung their blades again this time with a louder clash, Rune the hopped over Sten's leg swing before his effort was blocked. Sten managed to open Rune up and got a clean kick to the gut pushing Rune back a couple of feet.
"Your not as hot as you seem farm boy" Sten taunted.
Rune hated that word, he hated it every time Sten called him farm boy and today he was going to make that end. He brought his axe in front of him as he spun it within his fingers then threw it up as he caught it with his other hand still spinning it then brought it to a stop and held it with both hands. His gaze was set on Sten, his eyebrows furrowed, his breathing intensified and a frown on his face said it all. Sten chuckled and raised his hand to taunt him to come.
Rune ran straight at Sten and brought down a powerful swing that almost hit Sten's swords out of his hand. Rune swung left, then right, then spun around for another swing to the right as Sten's steps began to recede due to Rune's direct approach.
"This is way more than seeing you two together" Thyra said which had Vyra confused.
"What do you mean?" Vyra said.
"This goes way deeper than affection, this is more or less about the underlying grudge these two have and this fight will settle it all" she explained with repeated clanging of metal drowning some parts of her sentence.
Rune began to swing straight at Sten with his strikes as his attacks put Sten on the defensive. Sten found it harder and harder to defend against his brute strikes. His sword was ultimately flung out of his hand with one strong strike and then Rune twirled around gaining momentum for what looked like the killer blow as Sten was left defenseless.
"RUNE!!" the three on the sidelines chorused as they all thought he would go through it and actually kill him.
Just as the blade of the axe was about to strike him in the neck, Rune stopped his swing. Even though his anger wanted him to put Sten in the grave, Rune wasn't that type of person and did it only to scare Sten. The other quivered and shook with terror as the axe came dangerously close to killing him and was as sweaty as an athlete that had just run ten kilometers.
"Now" Rune said looking Sten dead straight in the eye. "If you ever touch Vyra or as much as strand of hair falls from her head and you're the cause I will come to your house and skin you like a goat. You got that?" he said with a serious tone.
"Y-Y-Yes" he stuttered.
"And one more thing, don't ever in your life call me farm boy ever again. It's Rune, Rune Yakkerson."
Rune pulled his blade away from his neck slowly as he was certain Sten had gotten the message. Sten had almost died holding his breath with the axe next to his neck and exhaled deeply when it was taken away.
"Now get out of here before I change my mind"
Sten hurriedly got to Eruptor and flew away with his tail in between his legs. Rune felt a huge burden lifted from his shoulders after that and was in a joyous mood. Vyra walked up to him and hugged him, proud that he was able to stand up to Sten the way he did and glad he came out unharmed. Well, both of them if you exclude Sten's pride.
"Man, that was as intense as it gets" Forde said breathing a sigh of relief that no one was seriously hurt in the altercation.
"Yep. Had my heart in my mouth the whole time" Thyra added.
"But Rune, how did you get so good in combat all of a sudden?" Forde asked.
"Well let's just say I have a good teacher"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone