User:Cephas Storm/Gods of Halvyrn-The tale of struggle, hope, and courage

Greetings, I am Cephas Storm, and I am in the midst of writing a new book that I would like to share to all of you; so that you may help me with ideas and such. This story is about a great many things: persistance, love, courage, hope, and the idea has been with me for nigh on seven years now (I am 15). It spans 2 differant main series that will link evantually. Set in the fictional land of the Kyro Islands (An archepelego set a few hundred miles of the coast of Africa). But enough overview, I have written a portion of it for you to enjoy below:

K yle stood in the sparing ring, his Klaetr, a thin, curved, single-edged blade, held lightly to his side, eyes staring intently at his opponent.

Jasper Waiton.

Age sixteen. Two and a half meters tall. Ninety kilograms of pure, honed muscle.

Short black hair and intense brown eyes. He wore the same standard issue Blade Combat armor Kyle had, which only protected their chests and up to their knees. They both wore a belt of black and red around their waist to signify the rank of Blademaster, the second highest rank anyone could achieve. To finish it off, a shorter blade, known as the Faril Blade–which was used only in the direst of circumstances– was clasped around their ankles.

Kyle closely studied his opponent. Looking closely at form: In which hand did he hold his blade? Was he left handed or no? How tightly was the blade clasped in the hand? All the initial analysis his tutor, Yale Ugvre, had drilled into him for the past six years. His analysis made Kyle slightly nervous; Jasper’s form was impeccable. The Klaetr held at just the right angle, tip barelly brushing the cushioned mat floor, and he could tell the Jasper held his blade very lightly, prepared to attack at any angle.

Kyle’s gut tightened considerably, and he readied himself for a difficult match.

Looking around, he took in the massive gathering of children and adults alike. His eyes locking on to those of his sister and her friends. The girls smiled encouragingly at him. Except for Marie. She simply stood their looking at him blankly.

What was her problem anyway? Did she just hate him or something? She wasn’t like this in the Andromeda, was she?

Whatever the reason, he had more important things to deal with at the moment.

Like not getting pummeled by one of the most legendary youth Blademasters in all of the Kyro Islands.

“This is it, folks!” The booming voice of Drew Ford echoed of the massive walls of the gym.

“The face-off we’ve all been waiting for!” Drew paced at the left most edge of the ring, a mic held up to his mouth.

“On this side”—he pointed towards Kyle “We have Eridanus’ very own: Kyler Fate!” The crowd screamed in approval.

“And over here—” he gestured towards Jasper “—we have the legend of Cygnus: Jasper Waiton!” The crowd applauded again.

Drew turned to the two boys.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">“You know the rules. First blood wins.” Both nodded in understanding.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">“Ready!”

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle shifted the Klaetr slightly.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">“Set!”

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">He allowed his eyes to focus in on his opponent. Watching, waiting for any sign, any twitch of muscle, flicker of gaze, anything to indicate when and where his adversary may attack.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">“Fight!”

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">The moment the last words were out of Drew’s mouth, Jasper struck like a bolt of lightning, his Klaetr flashing in the air, aimed at Kyles left arm.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle was ready; and with equal speed, he pivoted to one side and slashed his Klaetr against that of Jasper’s, cutting the bladed path in mid-air.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">The Gym echoed with the sound of clashing metal.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Jasper backed off. Admiring Kyle’s skill and reflex.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">It was a test! Kyle thought to himself, understand that Jasper was trying to ascertain from the very beginning the level of his opponent. He had been pleased.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle chortled inwardly. “That was nothing.”

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Before Jasper could completely regain his bearings, Kyle took the offensive; striking quickly at his opponent’s left flank, with some certainty from his previous analysis that the boy was right handed, however, Jasper easily warded off the attack with a quick counter.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">But Kyle was prepared; and at the precise moment that he heard the Klaetrs ring against each other, he flipped around and bared on his opponent’s right side. His tactic took Jasper by surprise and the boy had to jump back to avoid be chopped in half.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Precisely what he’d hoped for. He smiled and pressing his advantage, launched himself at Jasper, and in a quick and precise set of maneuvers got his left foot under Jasper and swept the boy off his feet. His adversary let out a sharp cry of alarm as he lost his balance and began to topple over.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle gave himself no time to celebrate his small victory, he knew Jasper would recover quickly and if he did not end this match quickly, his enemy would win. If there was one thing he knew never to let his opponent have too much of, it was time. Time to think, to access, to learn. If your enemy knew you, you were as good as dead.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">On this foundation, Kyle, giving Jasper barely a split-second, leapt up off his feet, flipping his body in mid-air so he landed on top of the fallen boy. His sword was already aimed at the boys exposed shoulder, however, before his blade could make any contact with the boy’s skin, Jasper, in a show of expert skill, lashed his blade against Kyle’s and brushed it aside, forcing the blade at least a few centimeters into the matted floor. Moreover, before Kyle could get up and pull his blade out and escape his opponent, Jasper got his legs under Kyle’s chest and with a growl kicked Kyle violently off, flinging the boy into the one of the sparing ring’s posts. A sharp pain jolted through Kyle as his back slammed against the post, eliciting a hiss of pain.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle, knowing that he could not stay down, quickly rose to his feet just in time to block a side sweep from Jasper’s Klaetr, he tried to go offensive but the boy would not let him, bombarding Kyle with strike after strike after strike, slowly trapping Kyle against the post he had hit a moment before.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">This needs to stop. Kyle thought desperately, blocking another blow, this one aimed at his abdomen.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">He needed to get out of here or he knew for sure he would be defeated.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">He watched closely, trying to find an opening in Jasper’s defenses.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">There! Only bestowed on him by years and years of fighting, Kyle saw, as Jasper was going for another side strike his Klaetr was angled a little bit off and if Kyle could hit it just right… The blow came and came it hard and fast. But just at the right moment Kyle brought up his blade, turning at a precise angle so he could get the desired result. The Klaetrs rang off each other and Kyle saw, with glee that Jasper’s blade, having been twisted as it smashed against his own, had went falling to the mat.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">This was his chance, he needed to end the battle right here, right now.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle gritted his teeth, and with his remaining energy brought his fist smashing into Jasper’s right shoulder.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">A sickening crack split the air as his opponent’s arm was dislocated and the boy was flung back at least a meter. Jasper’s eyes were wide and Kyle could see tears slowly making their way down his face.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">The crowd was wild now, some cheering others protesting against his act, but Kyle couldn’t think about that now. He launched himself at his adversary, bringing his Klaetr out to win the day.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">However, Jasper already had his Faril Blade in hand and blocked Kyle’s attack with a quick flick of his wrist. The boy’s right shoulder hung uselessly and every time the boy moved he grimaced. Kyle could tell it hurt.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Trying to end the fight, Kyle delivered multiples blows in quick succession at the boy’s weak flank, but somehow Jasper managed do defend against every one of them, flipping, dodging and bringing out his Faril blade to protect himself.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">And then Jasper spoke for the first time, and Kyle somehow knew it was all over.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">“You’re finished!” The boy screamed, his eyes flashing… something. Kyle had no time to even think about this before, with uncanny skill Jasper grabbed Kyle’s wrist, the one that held his Klaetr, and twisted with all his might. The blade fell out of his grip and Kyle’s vision began to blur. The sensation of bone grinding against bone was his whole world. So much pain, so much searing pain it almost crippled him. But he would not give up, not now. He couldn’t. Trying with all his remaining energy and consciousness Kyle aimed a kick at the boy’s knee, trying to fell the boy, however his attack was slow and weak and Jasper maneuvered around it easily. Then the boy did something astounding: still holding Kyle by one hand he jumped over the boy and flipped himself around in midair so his feat jammed into Kyle’s back, sending the boy slamming to the ground and letting yet another crack lash through the air. A cry of agony tore out of Kyle. His whole body felt like it was on fire and he felt shards of something piercing his back. How was this even possible? Was his spine broken? Had Jasper just broken state-of-the-art body armor and crippled him? The thought made his mind go numb with fear.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">No! He thought desperately. He needed to get up, to rise and to win. He tried to move his leg and instantly a cry of torment escaped him. He tried to arch his back. To do anything. Every attempt resulted in a sensation like somebody pouring lava into his veins.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Tears rained down from his face and a screeching, tormented cry escaped him once more.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Then everything went numb.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">The crowd was berserk with screaming, yet they seemed so far away, like distant wolf calls in a dark wood, a dark, dim forest.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Kyle felt his hand being pulled behind his back and the sound of bones being shattered from the pressure and then he felt the cold touch of the Faril Blade against his skin.

<p style="margin:0in0in8pt;">Then the pain was too much, and all went black.