At the estate, two young maids greet the trio as they pull up in the carriage. Clyde observed their resemblance to one another, and noticed small wings protruding from their backs.

Aithne exits the carriage as Clyde steps down from the front. The first maid eyes down Clyde, and steps forward. “Master, a wild animal has wandered in. Shall I dispose of it?”

Aithne chuckles, dabbing at the drops of sweat accumulating at her brow. “That would be quite alright, Meri. It seems I adopted a stray while out and about. He’s named Clyde. Instead, I need you to fetch Hayden- quickly.”

Meri bows. “Yes m'lady.”

Aithne turns to address the other maid. “Airi, go and grab two weapon kits.”

Airi curtsies. “Yes m'lady.”

Both of the maids scurry off to complete their tasks, as Aithne glances back at Clyde and Alistair.

“You two come with me.”

Aithne leads them to the front courtyard a short distance away. Alistair seats her at an ornately fashioned wrought-iron table, as Aithne cradles her left arm. Weary, she looks up at Clyde. “I really hope that you have the potential I think you have, Clyde...”

A very tall, astute-looking man runs over. He is wearing robes with a medium shield attached at the hip- though his size makes it resemble a buckler. “m'lady! You called?”

“Yes, Hayden. I need you to heal me.”Aithne turns to Hayden, holding out her left arm.

Hayden bends down, removes the bandage to expose the wound, and gently places his hands over her arm and casts heal.

Clyde looks on mesmerized as Aithne’s arm is restored and healed.

Hayden stands tall again. “Is that all, m'lady?”

Aithne sits back contentedly. “No. I will need you to watch over a skirmish between Alistair and Clyde. They will be going until first blood.”

Hayden glances at Clyde, noticeably dismayed, then looks back to Aithne. “Did you buy him because he-”

Aithne holds up her hand. “I bought him for no other reason than I wanted to.”

Airi comes back while holding four short swords, two medium shields, two greatswords, and two pole arms.

Aithne turns her attention to Clyde and Alistair. “There will be five bouts: single short sword, florentine, sword and board, pole and great.”

Clyde picks up one of the swords and examines it. “But… This is a real sword. Are we… supposed to kill each other?”

Aithne chuckles behind her hand. “Of course not. The first to remove one constitution will win the bout.”

Clyde thinks back to the rules that Will taught him.

Constitution, or HP. It covers your entire body, head to toe. Getting hit by an arrow, weapon, or magic will remove one point. There are some class effects that can bypass it. If all the constitution points are removed, then the wounds will deal damage to your body. Aithne lost one constitution point in the fight with the bandit, which is why that bolt went through her arm. She could have died… How was she so calm and collected? Does that mean, when the men were attacked, the first attacks did nothing because of the constitution points?

Clyde nods to Aithne. “Seems simple enough. Do I even have constitution, though? I don’t have a class, do I?”

“You do not have a class, but even peasants have 1 constitution.” Aithne leans toward Clyde. “Just be mindful not to strike after removing the first layer of constitution.”

Alistair takes a sword with his right hand from Airi, and stretches his arm. “Grab your sword Clyde. Single short will be first. Just one bout for each category.”

Clyde grabs a short sword from Airi. “Please take it easy on me, Alistair.” Clyde asks meekly, as he raises his sword up out of habit.

Alistair taps Clyde’s sword with his.

With that, Alistair takes one step back and quickly shuffles in to go for a stab.

Clyde quickly knocks it away and ripostes with a downward strike toward Alistair’s head.

Alistair twists his body to evade, and kicks with his back leg, knocking Clyde to the ground.

Clyde rushes to stand back up and ready his sword.

Alistair rushes in again, throwing another stab. Clyde, once again, goes for the riposte.

Alistair grins. “Got you.” He feints his thrust and draws it back, instead turning into a downward strike toward Clyde’s head.

Clyde tries to step out of the way, but it’s too late. The strike hits him with a great force to his left shoulder. Clyde could definitely feel the blow, but it didn’t pierce his skin or break his bones.

He looks at his shoulder in amazement and gives it a wiggle. “Woah! Did the constitution nullify that? It felt like I had plate armor covering my shoulder.”

“Alistair wins. 1-0,” Hayden announces. He then steps behind Clyde and promptly heals him, restoring his constitution before returning to the sidelines.

Alistair steps back briefly. “You are quite skilled to be able to counter me. I was not expecting that.”

Clyde wipes his mouth, revealing a huge smile on his face. “And that was a nice feint. Fool me once, shame on you.”

Airi brings Clyde an additional sword to dual wield. “Thank you, Airi,” he says, shifting the weight of the swords in his hands to get a feel for them.

Alistair pulls out the second sword on his belt, and prepares his stance.

Hayden looks at Alistair, then Clyde, and raises his arm. “Ready?” They both nod. Hayden brings his arm down. “Fight!”

Alistair keeps both of his swords in position as Clyde does the same. The two exchange steps back and forth, as if dancing with one another. Both of them look for an opportunity to strike, but find none. They continue flowing in and out of each other’s ranges for minutes.

Airi fidgets in anticipation until she can take it no longer. “Stop step dancing and fight already!”

Alistair glimpses back at her, briefly breaking eye contact with Clyde. Seeing his opportunity, Clyde dashes in to close the gap.

Alistair snaps his attention back, he steps in and goes for a thrust, but Clyde swats his thrust away with his offhand, making Alistair cross his arms. His swords tangle, and Clyde follows up with a right side swing to the arm.

Alistair is taken aback. “Crap! I can’t follow up or block!”

Clyde hits Alistair hard enough to make him lose his footing.

Hayden nods, impressed. “Clyde wins. 1-1” Hayden gets behind Alistair to heal him.

Alistair scoffs. “You are unrefined, but your raw athletic ability and reflexes are outstanding.”

Airi gives Alistair a medium shield before returning his second sword to his belt. Clyde gives his second sword back to Airi in exchange for a shield.

Once more, Hayden asks if they’re ready, and both nod.

“Fight!”

Clyde steps in and sweeps a leg shot.

Alistair blocks it with his shield, and reacts with a shot to Clyde’s exposed right shoulder.

Clyde easily blocks the strike with his shield by bringing it up.

Back and forth they threw shots, stepping in and out of each other’s range. Over and over, they struck each other’s shields, which resonated out like volatile drum beats. They baited and feinted, again and again.

Alistair, tiring of the repetition, began his decisive move. “Enough of this child’s play!” He steps back and rests his shield at his side. It screamed I’m wide open.

“Okay!” Clyde rushes in.

Alistair spins, catching Clyde off-guard, before throwing his shield right at Clyde's face. Clyde blocks it with his own, covering his vision in the process.

With Clyde’s vision obscured, Alistair slashes both of his legs. Clyde could once again feel the blow to his left leg connect bluntly, as if covered in armor. But the second hit was different. He felt Alistair’s sword slice through this skin, severing the bone.

Clyde stumbles backward, putting weight on his right leg, which buckles underneath him. He glances down at his leg, and his eyes widen at the sight.

His leg is no longer in one piece. The calf is separate from the thigh, only attached by a thin sliver of dangling skin.

“Wait, what the fuck,” Clyde breathes, as he quickly goes into shock, his heart beat becoming a slow thump that bounces around in his brain.

Hayden rushes over, blocking Clyde’s view of his leg with his body, as he begins his healing incantation.

Clyde was just beginning to feel dizzy when Hayden pats his shoulder. “It’s alright. You’re okay now. Take a look.”

Clyde looks down on his leg and lets out a long, relieved breath. His leg is completely restored. He stands up, but wobbles at the knees, still a bit dizzy. His thoughts race back at full volume. Oh my God. HOLY FUCK- my leg was just CUT OFF!

“Oh, don’t be soft.” Alistair chides, as he throws Clyde a spear he picked up while Hayden tended to his leg.

Hayden, now back in position, calls out, “Alistair wins. 2-1.”

Clyde takes his stance and keeps eye contact with Alistair. Hayden shouts “Fight!”

Alistair takes a step in, but Clyde thrusts his spear up to his throat. Alistair backs up.

Everyone on the sidelines could tell that Clyde had changed his demeanor. This was no longer a friendly spar, to him his life was on the line.

Alistair tries again and again to pressure him, but Clyde is more alert now than ever. He sweeps away Alistair’s stabs and blows swiftly, like they were dealt with a pillow. It was almost as if Clyde had become the master fighting a novice.

Alistair takes a brief reprieve, and draws his head back in awe. “Never have I seen someone so well-versed in spear play. Your distance and range control are the best I've ever seen.”

Changing stance, Alistair puts his polearm straight up, steps in, and brings it down with as much force as he can muster, but Clyde takes a step back and avoids the strike. Still in shock, Clyde doesn’t try to counter, but remains defensive.

Alistair pins Clyde’s spear to the ground with his own and rushes toward him. He chokes up on his spear, and gets in range to grab him.

Clyde attempts to retreat, but it’s too late.

Alistair tackles him to the ground, hovers over him, and stabs him with his spear.

Clyde experienced the blow to his side, but of course, there was no pain. He could feel the protection that the constitution gave him leave his body. Alistair pushes off Clyde and walks away.

Hayden holds his hand up. “Alistair wins. 3-1. Alistair has won the skirmish!”

Clyde stands up, calling after Alistair. “What about the greatsword? This isn’t over yet.”

“Yes, it is.” Alistair states plainly, returning the spear back to Airi. “Learn basic arithmetic.”

“Alistair.” Aithne says.

Alistair turns to face her. “Yes, m'lady.”

“This isn’t about winning or losing. I want to see what Clyde is capable of.”

Hayden gives both Clyde and Alistair greatswords, and returns to his position one last time. He looks back at them.

“Ready? Ready? Fight!”

Clyde rushes toward Alistair and puts all his strength into the blow.

Alistair parries the blow, but could feel the resonance of the strike inside his hands. He puffs out some air as he pushes back. This kid hits harder than a troll.

Alistair lurches forward and hits Clyde in the stomach with his pommel.

Clyde bends over from the pain. It hurt, but he didn’t feel his constitution leaving, nor was any wound dealt.

Alistair then steps back, and brings down his greatsword, slamming it onto Clyde’s back. This time, his constitution disappeared.

Clyde falls to the ground on his knees.

Hayden again rushes over to heal Clyde.