章 14: Chapter 14

With a groan Alvar rubbed his tired eyes and took in his surroundings. Grey walls, filled with shelves of various sizes all packed with books on different topics. He had read them all over the years but knew that the knowledge held within was nothing but a drop of water on a hot stone compared what he was about to learn, at least he hoped so.

In the flickering shadows caused by the smouldering remains of the bonfire in the living room of the house Alvar set up and put his feet on the cold wooden floor after which he stood up all the while trying to find his balance. With a yawn the lad stretched himself upwards causing a few of his joints to pop out of their sleepy state. Afterwards he went into the silent living room since all the other inhabitants of their house were still asleep and grabbed himself some breakfast consisting of nothing else but oatmeal and on apple.

After gulping down his breakfast with a tired expression Alvar walked back into his room, grabbed himself his clothes and after putting them on stepped outside into the cold morning air, observing his breath that came out in clouds of white vapour all the while.

With a deep inhale Alvars spirits finally decided to come to life and with a small smile he took in the silence and peacefulness of the early morning. He had always loved the atmosphere at that time of the day but he just found it so exhausting to sacrifice his sleep in order to witness it every day. But maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. After all it would always stay special to him like that…

While mulling over those thoughts Alvar began his track over to the training fields of the warriors. It was located near a small patch of forest, containing all kinds of different environments, which Alvar suspected weren't there by coincidence.

On his way Alvar passed by the still sleeping houses where in some cases small shadows danced behind windows, possibly other people that had to get up earlier then normally usual as well in order to prepare for the day.

Soon Alvar arrived at the training grounds and began to wait for his instructor that was soon to appear. Not to disappoint Sjorn briskly walked onto the training grounds and Alvar wondered immediately about the things his instructor was carrying in his arms.

Sjorn held a patch of clothes under one arm while carrying a basket on his shoulder. At his hip he had bound a sword in its sheath. All in all Sjorn looked like a mule overloaded with stuff.

After Sjorn had walked over to Alvar and nodded at the lad in greeting he dropped everything he was carrying onto the ground which to Alvars surprise caused a slight shaking of the ground up to his positions two meters away.

"Morning lad! Hope you've rested well since you'll need it. First of all put this on. This will be your training wear until you grow out of it which is when you'll get a new one. From tomorrow onwards you'll only appear in those clothes when you come here." Sjorn said while throwing a bundle of brown clothes over to Alvar who nodded in reply.

Taking off his clothes without hesitation Alvar for the first time took in every piece of cloth he had been given. Said clothes were all brown in colour, made from a scruff material which fit tightly onto Alvars body like a second skin. Though after putting on the part for his upper body Alvar was a little gobsmacked when he discovered that the pants weren't pants at all in the first place. No, instead they were a kilt that reached up to his knees. Wearing that piece of clothes was something he would definitely have to get used to. For his feet he had two boots that covered his feet up to his knees with a protector at the front in order to shield his shins.

After Alvar had put all that on he looked over to Sjorn who mustered him with a critical eye for a second before he nodded, seemingly satisfied, after which he grabbed the next few items on the ground before giving them to Alvar.

"Those are weights you'll be wearing to simulate the weight of your future armor. Of course we'll start light but you better get used to the weight as you'll be continuously wearing that for the next year, even when you're taking a piss or sleep at night. Treat it like your second skin if you will." Sjorn said to which Alvar nodded in understanding.

Only once Alvar put on the weights for his upper body, arms and legs did he grimace at the realisation that the coming year would be pure torture, not to mention that the weights would increase in weight over time!

Sjorn who was observing his charge couldn't help but let out a sadistic grin at the grimace that had formed on Alvars face.

"Next is this. A practise sword made from steel. Though it is not a normal practise sword as you'll soon find out." Sjorn said after which he stretched out his arm with the sword held in it, giving it over to Alvar who promptly took it with shaking arms from the weights on them.

Though once he took hold of the sword and the supportive grip of Sjorn disappeared Alvar buckled over forwards under the swords surprising weight.

'Of course the damn sword had to be heavy as fuck as well…!' Alvar grumbled to himself in thought while grunting under the weight of the sword in his arms. After fastening the sword with its sheath at his hips Alvar looked back towards his instructor who still had the same sadistic grin on his face.

"Alright, now that you have everything lets get this on the road!" Sjorn called over before he began to hurry Alvar all over the training grounds seemingly hours on end which ended with Alvar soaked in sweat on the ground while his instructor hadn't even started breathing heavily.

Before Alvar could rest enough though Sjorn ordered him to stand up and take out his practise sword. Leading his huffing charge over to a wooden training dummy he instructed Alvar on how to properly swing his sword which he soon came to enjoy immensely even though the task was hard as hell with all the weights on. Though Alvar knew straight away once he had made his first swing with his blade, he had picked the right profession and he was happy as hell he did!