“Wait, what?” My words came out with utter bewilderment in my tone. How in the world would dancing help me when I need to fight a golem?

  “You still want to learn how to use the Halberd, correct?” Carmine asked in a gentle tone.

  “Yes?” I offered, confused.

  “Well, using a halberd requires one of two styles: Overwhelming Physical strength, or a continuous motion like a dance,” Carmine’s explanation was broken by a soft sigh before she continued. “Frankly, and I mean no offense by this; you are not physically impressive Kirin. Anything but that honestly.” She stated somewhat gently.

  “I… can’t argue with that,” I sighed out in agreement with Carmine’s words. “So you’re teaching me how to dance in order to fight with a Halberd?” I asked after a few heartbeats of silence.

  “Yes, I am,” Carmine said succinctly. She made a motion with her hands as she stood up, gesturing for me to follow her over to the cleared section of dirt. “And because of this deadline, I’m expecting you to be here every morning. No more free time in your mornings, alright?”

  “Alright,” I nodded to Carmine’s words as I took a position across from her in the clearing. The early morning sun cast a pleasantly warm light across my back, heating my frame with its soothing embrace. “Where do we start?” I asked.

  “Here,” Carmine said as reached her hand forwards. A large staff formed in her hands, one that was several inches taller than me. “This is what we’ll be using to teach you these motions.” Her tone was curious to me—She sounded torn over something, but before I could ask what she seemed torn over she spoke.

  “Kirin, I need you to promise me something before I teach you this.” Carmine spoke with a calm, endearing tone.

  “What is it?” I inquired with a raised brow.

  “What I’m about to teach you has not left my family since its inception,” Carmine said, letting out a soft sigh before she continued. “But frankly, I believe you are more apt to learn it than anyone else. My family, the Ferini Estate, have been known for our electric magic for generations. But I’m the only one with such an attunement in two generations, it was the last thing my Grandfather did to teach this to me.” Carmine paused for only a moment, letting the words sink in before she continued.

  “What I’m trying to say is this: You’re learning something very, very important to me, Kirin. You’re a good kid, so I’m hoping that through you this can live on if not through me.” Carmine said with a confident smile now resting on her lips.

  “Wait—Why can this only be taught to someone with electric magic?” I asked curiously.

  “Hm?... Oh, I suppose you haven’t been around mages long enough to inquire that from experience…” Carmine mused to herself quietly, nodding as she answered me. “Different attunements have their own unique specialties. While every mage is capable of the basics, such as flight, a burst of mana, or a shield, different elements are uniquely capable at certain things.”

  “For example; an electric mage would almost always be faster than an earth mage. But an earth mage would almost always be more physically durable and capable. In my own opinion, I see the base element of a person as the most basic reflection of them—And while it’s not a surefire method, it is a relatively reliable one.” After Carmine finished speaking I nodded. It made sense, at least as much sense as any other part of magic had made to me.

  “Is that why it’s so hard for me to make a shield?” I wondered aloud.

  “It very well could be. Just as a storm has explosive power, a storm lacks the ability to defend itself from an outside force,” Carmine answered with a slight nod. She raised a hand and gestured to the side of the arena before she spoke further. “Now, before we start, please step aside. The Thunderdance is easiest to learn when you can see what you are working towards.”

  “Alright.” I answered while stepping to the side as requested. Once I was well and clear of Carmine’s immediate path I set the end of the staff on the ground, leaning against it just a little to ease the subtle aches that still pervaded my legs.

  Carmine took in a deep breath, her right arm extended outwards with an ornate Halberd taking shape in her hands. The shaft was made of a dark brown wood flowing seamlessly into both extremes of the weapon. The tail end was capped with a great amethyst, one which was carved into a brilliant spike.

  The head was made of a pure, silver metal that gleamed in the sunlight. The sides of the axe head were adorned with several decorations—The most prominent of which was a great symbol taking the shape of a multi-colored flower.

  “Keep your eyes open, this is what you’ll be learning.” Carmine advised as she began leaning into her first motions. With a step that echoed like thunder, her dance began.

  Electricity sparked off of her feet as she moved, her halberd whistling through the air with her motions. A step, a spin, a slash—Every motion bled into the next while her velocity only added upon itself. Her speed was so immense that her body blurred, I couldn’t even see half of the moves she made!

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Every slight move Carmine made was elegant and deadly, twisting slashes that seamlessly flowed into parries and blocks. The tail end of the Halberd was constantly used as a kickstand, allowing for ornate motions to flow together in an even greater example of her skill.

  Her feet hit the ground like drums made of thunder, her halberd sung through the air with the whistle of electricity. Every instance of the dance was just as lethal as it was stunning, another spin, another overhead slash and finally she entered into the last motions of the dance.

  Her foot slammed into the ground, creating a small crater around the impact point as all of her energy was utilized in a solemn few motions. Her other foot stepped down not even a heartbeat later, forcing Carmine into a tight spin that accelerated to such a point that the edge of her halberd bent. When it finally came to a halt, it was with the spin arcing through the air in a final motion before slamming the blade into the ground—The pressure alone carved out a massive furrow in the ground before her.

  WIth a single sharp exhale, Carmine stepped back and returned her gaze over to me. She wasn’t even winded from the motions she showed off, without a bead of sweat on her face or a single sign of exhaustion she just smiled.

  “Ready to learn that?” Carmine asked with a soft grin pervading her lips.

  “How… am I supposed to learn that in two weeks?” I asked hesitantly.

  “Trial, error, sheer force of will?” Carmine offered with a hopeful tone. “You’ll get it, don’t worry.” She stated far more confidently afterwards.

  “Let’s start with the basics, alright?” Carmine said with a soft tone, her Halberd disappearing to be replaced by a similar training staff.

  “Alright.” I nodded my affirmation, walking over to take my position beside her. I didn’t feel ready in the slightest for Carmine’s teachings, but despite my concerns those lessons came anyway.

  “First, move your hands like this,” Carmine’s instructions filled my ears and my mind. Combined with the physical motions, time was drifting by like nothing else in the world mattered at all.

  In the northern city of Avernus, there was a gradual gathering of low-leveled elite soldiers. Gerald was just one of many fully anointed Mages within this gathering—Frankly, he couldn’t figure out why they were all here.

  Gerald was an average man, at least as far as Mages were considered. He was certainly taller than most of the people this far north. Frankly, when he was put alongside the average man this far north, he had to admit he certainly looked better than most. his well trimmed blonde hair and beard, framed his face meeting together with a well built body and his piercing orange eyes into a solid build that spoke for his presence.

  “Gerald! Glad ta’ see ya’ here lad!” A familiar voice called out to Gerald. It was one which brought a smile to the modest man's face—After all, how could he not smile when he saw his inferior rival?

  “Hank! How long has it been my friend?” Gerald spoke with his ever modest smile parting his lips. He reached one arm out, leaving it outstretched for a shake.

  “Too long man, far too long.” Hank answered as he closed the distance, his own arm met Geralds. Hank’s vice-like grip crushed down upon Gerald’s forearm before yanking, pulling the two into a warm single-armed hug.

  Hank was far less appealing to the eyes in Gerald’s own opinion. His long black hair sat like a wet mop over his shoulders, his silver eyes looked like that of a wretched snake—And yet Hank was anything but a snake. The poor man was so naive that he thought he was on the same level as Gerald Ulrich himself!

  “Have you heard about why we’re here?” Gerald asked with an all too modest tone, one that certainly didn’t befit a man as magnificent as him. But even Gerald had to admit when he didn’t know something.

  “Not a thing,” Hank answered with a shrug. “Only rumor I’ve heard spreading is that there’s some sort of magical beast out and about.” He offered a moment after, his grip finally loosening enough to allow the two men to part.

  “Magical beast? Is that not the job of those damned adventurers? Or have they run away and gone crying like always?” Gerald asked without any reason to hide the scorn in his tone. How could he? Those damned adventurers stole all the glory from the truly fantastic men, from men like him.

  “From what I’ve heard, it’s supposed to be a pretty strong one,” Hank answered with a grin. “Looks like they’re gathering up over there, shall we go and see?” He asked calmly.

  “We shall.” Gerald answered. With grace second only to a monarch, he regally marched towards the gathering of other soldiers.

  With the pair of them taking position at the back of the rank the very air began changing, a well adorned man marched forwards. His silver hair was not one of natural luster, but instead it was the proof of his age.

  “Isn’t that commander O’neille?” Hank asked in an undertone voice, bringing up a series of whispers throughout the ranks.

  “The White Wolf himself… maybe this is something worth my time.” Gerald said with a grin finding its way to his lips.

  “Gather up you worthless things!” O’neille shouted out. His voice commanded absolute respect, he was a High Mage. Truly, he was one of the only people in the country expressly stronger than Gerald.

  O’neille stood at the front of the gathering of soldiers. Every one of them other than O’neille was a fully adorned mage, capable soldiers on their own. They were all equal to at least two hundred soldiers without magic, and yet there were this many in one area.

  “You’ve all probably heard the rumors by now, but I’ll emphasize just to make sure you all know,” O’neille’s commanding voice accentuated every word that left his mouth. They especially accentuated when his eyes fell upon Gerald. “We’ve got an Unspeakable in the country, a buncha’ students of SilverSky ran into it and barely got out with their lives. Now we’re the cleanup crew being sent out to go and handle it.”

  “Is that understood?!” O’neille boomed out. Every soldier, even the vehemently sweating Gerald shouted their “Sir yes Sir!” in unison with a closed fist slamming against their breastplates.

  To some, Gerald may have looked terrified—But that would only be seen by an inferior man. In fact, he was excited! Or… that’s what he tried to tell himself.

  “Then move out!”

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