Chapter Twelve: Odis the Swordsman

As the Floating Castle landed, Alice and Zirian boarded a carriage, heading for the castle. Damien and Astris waved goodbye.

"I hope she'll grow into a fine woman for one of those princes." Damien said.

Astris nodded. "It's too bad she didn't know what a vow would do to her future." She and Damien said there goodbyes as he took off in the Floating Castle.

She waited for it to fly away as a white and silver carriage rolled up. "Mistress, are you ready to go?"

She nodded, a hint of anger behind her eyes.

Alice and Zirian arrived at the castle, getting out once through the gate. Zirian allowed Alice to bathe and sleep for the remainder of the day.

Alone in her room, Alice decided to extend her wings for the first time in a while. She expanded them, expecting the same beautiful black wings she always had, but was met with a different sight.

Staring in the mirror, she saw her wings. They were still black, but some feathers were burning, although she couldn't feel it. The broken halo symbol on her shoulder was burning as well, emitting a warm light.

"What the hell?" She said. She had no idea what was happening, but it wasn't affecting her in any way. She rubbed song one of the wings, touching some of the burning feathers. 'What's happening? System, do you know what this is?'

- ... -

- No -

- Change of Unknown Origins -

She put away her wings. 'I should hide these as long as possible.' She laid down, falling into a nice slumber for the rest of the day.

She woke up to a knock at her door. Leaning up, she said to come in. Zirian walked in, followed by Cecile. She held in her hands some new clothes and pieces of metal.

Alice tilted her head. "What is that for?"

"You're training with Odis begins in four hours. These are you clothes for training. You'll train for five years."

Alice did the math. "Won't I be fourteen by the time I'm done?"

Zirian nodded. "Cecile, show her how to put on the draconian metal please." Zirian walked out, leaving the room. As Cecile helped Alice, Zirian walked to an inconspicuous bookshelf in the library. He moved some books and injected some celestial energy into a sword emblem engraved in the back of the shelf.

He watched as the bookshelf opened up, leading to a passageway. 'I feel like this is a cliché, but it's just so cool.' He thought to himself. He walked through and injected more energy into another emblem, closing the bookshelf.

Walking a bit, he ended up in a room with a futuristic world map, and multiple people running around with papers, files, and whatever else. On the wall furthest from his entrance, their was a giant sword engraving in the stone.

A man walked up to him. "Grand Knight, we have a new report about what's happening in the western Human Kingdom."

Zirian nodded. "Well, let's hear it."

Back with Alice and Cecile, Alice now wore her new clothes. "These are pretty nice."

She wore a red long sleeved shirt, black shorts, and brown fingerless gloves. On her chest sat a plate of draconian metal, on her sleeves, gauntlets and spaulders, or shoulder pieces. On her legs she had thigh guards and a few pieces of metal on her sides.

Her hair was in a pony tail as she walked with Cecile to a training yard in the castle.

Royal Knights were training as they walked through the grounds.

"What's the princess doing here?"

"Don't worry, it's not of our business."

Alice continued following Cecile until they saw a short man beating a knight. "You call yerself a Royal Knight? The princess'll learn more than you have in ten years! Now get off the ground and get back to training!"

The knight stood up. "Who do you think you are to beat me? Captain, why won't you stop him?"

The man known as Captain, walked over and slapped the boy. "He is Odis. The old general of the army."

The short man nodded. "Now why don't you train like the kingdom is in trouble!"

"Yes sir!" The knight bowed, and went back to training, ashamed of his attitude to such a legend.

"That was violent." Alice said. Odis turned to face her and chuckled.

"Princess I assume? People treat me with respect because of my accomplishments, and I beat them so they can hope to achieve the same. Walk with me."

Cecile left her and Odis, and Alice followed Odis to a sword rack. "What are some of your accomplishments, Master Odis?"

"Just Odis, Princess. One of my stories is a bit exaggerated, but I fought a dragon once to save Queen Satin."

Alice asked,"Was it powerful?"

Odis nodded. "Aye. It was the most dangerous foe I ever fought. It's what took my eye and apprentice. We're here."

He asked Alice to pick from the swords on the rack. The choices were a great sword, a rapier, a short sword, and a longsword.

She tried her grip on each one. The great sword was a hassle, the short sword was... short, and the longsword felt kinda normal.

"A rapier, eh? A fine sword, and a better partner. Their's a reason these are favored by the elves. These swords are double edged blades, and if made with draconian steel or a celestial crystal, they can carry the power of their wielder. You may see a vision with certain swords, as each one is special to itself. Like a person these things we call weapons. Each one has a life and a role.

Would you like me to tell you about the others before you choose?"

Alice put down the rapier. "Yes please."

"A great sword is the favored weapon of the Orcs and Demons. While it is large, with the right body type and strength, it can be the most powerful. A great sword crafted from draconian steel, and only draconian steel, can use the rage of it's wielder to increase its damage output.

A short sword is the soul sword of the dwarfs and myself. Unless a dwarf hybrid is born, the short sword is the only one dwarfs use. The fact that the blade doesn't limit maneuverability as much as the others is why it's favored by dwarves. Most dwarves also spend time making weapons and armor for other races, so they need a weapon they can quickly use to get the upper hand.

Even so, this sword has its advantages. It can be dual wielded, and a short sword made of dwarven steel and a celestial crystal core has the ability to increase the agility of the wielder. Of course dual wielding doubles this effect.

Lastly the longsword, favored by humans and some Demons. The longsword is reliable in many situations, and can be used to skewer multiple opponents. It has two advantages: it can be used to boost a wielded defense by ten fold, if made with two celestial cores. It also allows the user to put some of their fresh blood on the blade, increasing their over all power by twenty fold. This commonly results in death.

People have tried making the different swords in multiple ways, but these are the best.

Still want the rapier?"

Alice nodded. "I think it fits me the most."

Odis nodded. "It's rare for a princess to learn the art of a sword. Usually they learn magic, or something like a bow. If they learn at all.

Take the rapier and meditate with it in your room for a few hours. Come back when you're done."

Odis left, back to yell at more Royal Knights who were slacking.

Alice looked down at the rapier in her hands. It was in a red leather sheath. She walked back into the castle and to her room. Closing the curtains on her window, she sat down at the center of her room with the rapier on her lap.

'So do I just sit here? Mediation is not something I've ever done...' She breathed in and out slowly, and decided to clear her mind. She began to hear the rapier slowly pulsing, like it had a soul.

She looked down at it, and it wasn't moving. Alice slowly removed the sheath and looked at the blade. It was long and sharp, as she cut her finger running it along the blade.

The wound healed shortly after.

'Was that my imagination?'