Private Tales The Point or the Pommel

[Cormund Augur]

Cormund gulped. What else was he good at aside from throwing knives? He really couldn't say there was much.

"Aside from the knives I really don't have anything in the way of combat, not at the level of our peers anyways. I guess I'm an above average archer. I, uhhh... can cook fairly well? After the survival cooking class I went further into that on my own time, learned how to make a really exceptional chicken stew."

He could tell this wasn't all that impressive from the moment it left his mouth. Cormund wracked his brain for something better to say.

"Uhm... speaking of the survivalist classes, I've gotten pretty good at that. Making camp, building a shelter, fire, and whatnot. Was dropped out in the mountains and they actually had to come looking for me, heh. Made myself a cozy little place there, I miss it sometimes..."

Cormund quickly snapped back to attention after finding himself zoning out. Daydreaming was always a bad habit of his.

"That's all I can really think of, I don't have much time to get into much else. The extra magic control training takes up most of it."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Twirling her knife some more, Vittoria snorted as Cormund listed everything he seemed to lack in. "Disappointing is it not, that when you graduate alongside each of your cohorts, you only do so because the Republic discourages murdering the competition."

Her eyes fixed on the boy, her face falling into an expression that held no more amusement or calculation. Vittoria's facade was the reflection of the reality Cormund faced. It was clear he would struggle come graduation. The objective was not known, but given the last graduation held, it had felt tamer than previous years.

Vittoria knew this graduation would be different. That there would be more risks, and it would be a shame to rise to the top so easily.

"Above average archer. Master it." She said pointedly. "That would be something more than the others in our class. All eyes will be on us, I can tell you that. They are going to think this class is weak, even with me standing before you all. The faster the rest of you learn to better yourselves, the better you make me look, but not only King and I... you make yourself look a standout."

 

[Cormund Augur]

Cormund's eyes were focused on the knife before switching to her eyes to match her gaze. He tightened his lips, he always knew he was behind, but it wasn't quite hitting him that he was coming up on graduation. Did he want to stand out? Sure, it would help make his career as a Dreadlord... but did he even want to become one? Exile was always an option, after all. With the survivalist skills he'd learned, he could make it.

"Graduate, huh..."

He would have to find out what the actual graduation challenge entailed before he thought about any of that. Cormund realized how much he was zoning out and snapped back into reality.

"Master it, huh? I always thought I'd have to clear up my magic issue more beforehand but it might do well to work on that more. What do you think the challenge is going to be, any inkling or way of finding out without getting held back or killed?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria snorted. "Not all are capable of ever mastering their magic. Not even after the Academy. There is more to us than the divine we wield, and if you hope to survive anything as a Dreadlord, then you best work on other skills."

She placed her blade flat against the table, pushing it towards him. "These seem to be the right weight and wield for you. If archery bores you, keep up target practice." There was nothing special about the small dagger, nothing that would garner sentimental value to her. In fact, she had gone through many knives over the years, Vittoria always found a way to replace them. "Keeping busy with something new just might help keep your mind off... well, your mind."