“So you want to be a warrior?” the first words I heard from my trainer.

“YES S-SIR!” I stammered, afraid my voice was going to crack and ruin my carefully composed facade.

I think back to the days of my youth, growing up a young troll in the hills a few leagues from the city of Galplen.  My mother always said I would be somebody someday, if I tried hard enough.  So I spent the days learning the forest and hills of the countryside.  My friends and I would try to run along with the horses that galloped upon the road leading to the city.  We spent time dodging the svartalfs and other creatures that mom warned us about.  We picked up sticks and branches to play “warrior”, or practiced sneaking a fruit from the Myrkwood forests’ trees, claiming we were rescuing the realm relic.  Those days passed too swiftly and bring me suddenly to this day.  My mother passed away a few month’s ago and I have to learn to make my way in the world.  So here I am to volunteer my service to my realm.

Galplen was a wondrous sight, filled with merchants, it even had a tavern that also housed a powerful healer.  There was a realm stable near the gates of the city, and guards that made sure the beasts of the forest did not get to close to the city.  Little did I realize, this was a mere country village, filled with lean-tos and a central fire-pit, compared to the city of Jordheim, the vast metropolis central to our realm and built far to the north.

My trainer looked me right in the eye and said, “Here is your Training Sword & Training Shield.  Go out into the nearby forest on bring me the pelts of five lynx cubs.  This way I can assess your combat skills.”

I slung my pack across my back and hefted my new sword, and began hunting for these felines.  Remembering the occasional glimpses of them during my childhood, I didn’t remember them looking that dangerous.  I spotted one chasing a forest rodent and began my stalk, the hunter became the hunted.  I neared the lynx and it appeared indifferent to my presence, as I struck it with my sword however, it became an enraged beast.  We battled for several minutes before I finally slew the rapacious beast.  Only four more to go.  I arrived back in town several hours later, bleeding, covered in scratches, and a few bites.   I handed him the pelts he requested and wondered if this was what I truly wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Then he said, “Well done, young warrior!” 

I stood up straight and puffed out my chest with pride and said “Thank you, sir” with no trace of hesitation.  Yes this is what I want to do.

 …to be continued