Eaglecrest

Jin

“Today’s the day”, I announced to the barracks, “Finally”. Not even a year has passed since I was informed of my status as a chosen warrior who would finally end the war between the kingdom of crests and the land of warlocks.
“In all my years of teaching, I have never come across someone as adept as you, my boy”, my trainer, a legend known as Fyor Eaglecrest stated proudly. Fyor clasped my shoulders.
“Henceforth you are worthy of the legacy of the name ‘Eaglecrest’. Our kingdom’s fate is in great hands.”
I stood in silent shock and awe. Until only a year ago I was nothing but a simple farmhand. Then a group of the council’s mystics approached me on a simple summer’s day with a missive from none other but the royal council themselves. The council was made up of three royal families: Wolfcrest, Hawkcrest and Elkcrest. Only members of those three lineages, as well as very unique legends are allowed a name containing ‘crest’. Fyor had earned the title Eaglecrest after numerous impossible victories in the name of the council. As the mystics explained, I had been chosen as Fyor’s successor in the most crucial conflict yet, a battle with the land of warlocks. Fyor had taken it upon himself to train me personally for an entire year in preparation of this day. In that time I had evolved from a farmhand to a formidable warrior, that much is true, but I had never even considered being honored with a crest of legends.
“Come now, boy. You never falter in any of the training challenges or traps, but a mere name halts you in your tracks?”, Fyor grinned.
During my combat lessons, my master had set up a multitude of hidden weapons to attack my blind spot, in order to properly prepare me for combat against a magic user.
“Jin Eaglecrest”, I murmured to myself with glee.
“A worthy name for a worthy champion. Have you prepared your mind for battle?”
“Yes, sir!”
Fyor helped me into my battle gear. I was quickly equipped with reinforced plate armor that would make most men unable to even lift a finger. The armor itself could be used as a lethal weapon, as spikes protruded from the arms and a horn extended from the helmet. I dashed through the training area one last time. Traps and obstacles I had struggled with in the past were breezed past with uncanny agility.
“Ready, sir!”, I announced brimming with energy. Fyor clasped his hands together twice. The same mystics I last saw a year ago entered the room and began a traditional chant, a song told to assure victory. Such is a treatment reserved only for folk heroes of the kingdom of crests. After the end of their song, when the mystics had left, Fyor stepped forward. He had picked up an ornamental adornment and attached it to my chestplate. “This is the emblem of Eaglecrest. May it guide you to victory and eternal glory.”
Freshly invigorated and with an undeniable destiny of heroics in mind, I exited the barracks directly to the outside of the kingdom’s border.
After a brief hour long march, I arrived at the location of battle. I found myself in a forest, brightly illuminated by the blazing mid-sun. Here, the destined battle’s prophecy I was told a year ago was to be fulfilled.
“A lad to be found, by duty unbound,
a farmhand once, the evil confronts,
standing his ground, he shall be crowned”

All my training was bound to pay off, the kingdom of crests were to be protected by my very hand. Not a shred of doubt lost itself in my mind.

Thirty paces ahead of me, shadows began coalescing into the shape of a human.
“Are you my enemy?”, a distorted voice asked.
I saluted, placing my fist on the emblem my master had given me. “My name is Jin Eaglecrest, the chosen protector of the kingdom of crests. It is my duty to combat you. However, it is my honor to request your name first, warlock.”
The shadowy figure began morphing into a fully fledged human. “My name”, the warlock began as his voice became more and more clear, “is Ebiron.”
Ebiron wore a hooded cloak over a leather one-piece. Pockets and satchels were stitched everywhere into his clothes. Containers for spell components, no doubt. I had been informed about spellcasting, but this was the first time I saw it in reality. I briefly knelt to the ground, taking off my helmet to face my adversary.
“Ebiron, as the bearer of prophecy, I must adhere to our duel. That being said, on my honor, I will only strike once you are ready.”
The warlock eyed me with confusion. He pulled back his hood, revealing pointed, bejeweled ears and jet-black short hair.
“Your knightlihood has my respect, but you are risking giving yourself a disadvantage. Very well, I am prepared for battle. As soon you draw your weapon our duel shall commence.”
“So be it.”
I rose to my feet, bowed once before Ebiron who drew his hood, and equipped my helmet again. I reached to my sides, gripping the hilts of two shortswords.

In the same instant my unsheathed blades met sunlight, Ebiron began grabbing materials from one of the pouches. A quick incantation made the powders in his hand explode around him, before almost magnetically covering his body fully in a silver glow.
From my studies in magic, I recognized this spell as a boost to physical attributes. I dashed toward Ebiron. Within a mere second the distance was gapped and a sword accelerated toward the warlock’s head. Ebiron leapt back, impacting with a tree. “That’s it then. I will honor your name”, I rushed to victory.
My strike did not connect with Ebiron. Roots from the tree had sprung up, intercepting the blow. Using my offhand, a quickly executed slice aimed at his left arm. He was forced to dodge, removing his hand from the tree. In the same instant, the roots disappeared and my right arm was freed. Bringing down my blade, I sliced through cloth and partly into the upper left arm of Ebiron. A glowing orb demanded my attention. I barely managed to cross my swords in front of my chest to block the attack. The orb extended from the warlock’s chest before exploding violently, shoving me back severely even while guarding.
“You remained standing. Impressive, warrior.”
Ebiron clasped his hands together briefly, lights connected his fingers as he pulled them apart. He turned his right hand to point at the ground and closed his left hand to a fist, which became fully encased by glowing white light. His right hand radiated with flashes of blue. Arcs shot from his fingertips to his knuckles.
I was not aware of a spell of this type, but it appeared to take a lot of concentration. Spotting this weakness, I charged forward. Just before I reached striking range however, I stopped out of nowhere. Every instinct of mine was telling him to guard. The light around Ebirons hands had vanished. Surprised, I leapt backward trying to understand what was going on.
“Too late, warrior.”
Runes appeared all around me in the air, electricity arcing between them. Unable to avoid them mid-jump, I turned my upper body slightly, raising my left sword into the lightning. The energy focused on my blade for but a heartbeat. Using that moment, I launched my sword at Ebiron with inhumane speed. It pierced his right shoulder, electricity surging into the warlock. The spell fizzled out of existence as he fell to his knees.
He drew a ragged breath: “Unexpected. But acceptable.”
With shaking hands, Ebiron unbuckled five satchels, emptying their contents on the ground.
“I underestimated you, Jin Eaglecrest”, Ebiron coughed as he laughed. He forced himself to his legs. Unsteadily holding his balance, he raised his right leg before stomping it to the ground. A myriad of dust arose around him. Closing the distance, my blade slashed through the dust, but found no impact.
“Haaah. That’s much better”, Ebiron stated while floating above me. A sense of relief washed over me. This was precisely what I have been told to expect.

Multiple runes and sigils appeared around me, all attached to the ground or surrounding foliage. Each rune on its own had enough power to kill me, but I have been meticulously trained by Fyor Eaglecrest to avoid such a fate. I took a glance at Ebiron. He had repositioned to the top of a tree's branches, no doubt trying to heal from my sword being embedded into his shoulder. This trap set-up was merely a way for him to bide time.
I closed my eyes for a moment, taking in all of my surrounding sounds and scents. A faint odor of brimstone, a weak tone of crackling energy. I found a safe path using my speed through the traps, detonating the slower ones and avoiding or blocking the quicker ones. Within a few seconds I arrived at the tree. A single fell swoop was enough to topple it. Ebiron jumped to safety. I used the still falling tree as a ramp, closing in to my target with bounding leaps. This process repeated twice until I finally caught up to the warlock, blade pointed at his neck.
“You've fought well, Ebiron.”
“And you've given me enough time to retreat, Jin.”
Shadows grasped at Ebiron's form, absorbing parts of him away with them every split second. Without hesitation I jammed my sword into the leftover parts of his torso that hadn't disappeared yet.
A soft silence befell the land as the spell ended.