Book 4 Chapter 16

Sounds of indignation and anger rose along the mountain walls of a small valley not too far from the one that belonged to Dun’s Clan. Fire and smoke smoldered and drifted while water and ice pierced and splashed. As each attack left another scar on the make-do training ground, Tirr watched the confrontation with a sigh.

Below the rock he sat on, Iesa and Lin worked their way around the terrain, launching shots at each other from between cover. Looking down at them, he felt his lips tighten into a frown. Their combat abilities could only be referred to as… inadequate.

He sighed again, watching as Iesa cursed and unleashed another ball of fire towards the hidden water priest. A sheet of water rose to meet it, creating an explosion of steam and hot air. Yet Lin didn’t take the chance to press forward or even look for an opportunity to attack. She simply retreated further, escaping through the trees and brush.

Glancing over at Iesa, Tirr couldn’t say she was any better… After the fireball basically exploded in her face, and despite the disorientation it caused, she continued to press onward blindly, waving her hand to disperse the steam as she called tauntingly. “What? Is Miss Raindrop afraid of a little heat?” Come on! Come out already! You can’t run and hide forever!”

Tirr wanted to praise her confidence, but couldn’t help but note that if Lin had properly attacked, it would have been game over. He had to admit it simply came down to a lack of experience. Neither woman had really directly faced combat before. Especially this kind of one vs one, blessing-focused combat.

Iesa had been a castle guard who had faced some light training but had never actually seen a battlefield before. Even after Tirr converted her shard, there weren't any opportunities for her to learn. The biggest fights she had ever been in were probably the fight in Rasor Castle and the brief skirmish between Rasor and Lutel. She never had to put her life on the line, pushing her body and mind to their limits to survive,

Lin was even worse, having grown up in the Water Temple’s sheltered walls, Tirr wasn’t sure she had ever been in a fight before. Though she had grown from being under Nerida's tutelage, she lacked his apostle's quick mind and decisiveness.

In the end, their sparring sessions became a reflection of those inadequacies. Iesa pushed ever onwards, ignoring her own defense and safety as if she was invincible. Lin retreated further and further as if she expected a shield wall to appear and let her cast her miracles in peace.

The result… Iesa would always gain ground early, pressuring Lin nonstop with repeated attacks. But her carelessness would leave her open, allowing the few attacks Lin did send to strike deeply, disorientating or wounding her.

Lin faced the opposite problem, for every attack she did succeed in sending there were a dozen more she could have sent. Over the past few days, she had lost more than she had won simply because she let Iesa take the momentum and never did enough to stop her...

Seeing the outcome become clear as the red knight cornered the priestess once more, Tirr yelled for them to stop. He waited for them to climb up towards him, their faces showing a sharp contrast. Iesa’s delight in her victory. Lin's frustration and disgust. As the young god sent his blessing of life through them, healing the superficial injuries they had sustained, he lectured them sternly.

“Do you know why you lost Lin?”

Lin’s face was full of contrition, “I know I should have been more aggressive my Lord, but I couldn’t find an opening…”

“When you can’t find one, then make one! You had a chance when you blocked that fireball. Instead of trying to fall back you should have gone forwards or even tried to circle around. Taking advantage of the enemy's sight or lack thereof is important…”

Iesa let out a snicker as she looked over at the downcast Lin with a prideful look. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long as Tirr turned to her as well… “And you! It's fine to take the momentum and be aggressive, but you can’t forget to keep an eye on your surroundings and keep your defenses up. You had plenty of openings that Lin could have used to win,”

Iesa frowned, kicking at the ground awkwardly as she spoke up, “But I knew she wouldn’t… I kept up the pressure just right!”

Tirr shook his head, “You say you know, but you only got away with it cause Lin isn’t used to fighting face to face with people, somebody with more experience would have already killed you…”

The young woman could only nod in understanding, her prideful look gone as she reflected. “Yes Sir…”

Tirr looked at the both of them looking down at the ground and sighed again, “Go do your prayers for today, tomorrow will switch things up a bit since you’re getting too used to each other…”

Both women agreed and said their goodbyes, leaving Tirr alone as they left. He watched them go before turning to go find his other trainees.