Korv awoke the next morning happy and refreshed from his previous day’s ventures. He had met some more fine fellow townfolk, and caught up with his closest friend, which always warmed his heart and fueled his spirit.
While he enjoyed his morning brew, he read more writings from his fellow villagers and found much inspiration in their wonderfully crafted words. Perhaps in the near future he would visit more of them, but today, he must attend to his own tasks.
As he felt the warmth of the morning beverage course through his body, Korv began to awaken further and feel even more energized. He stretched his limbs intermittently and his mind slowly turned to his training.
Prior to training, Korv would begin to visualize the session in his head. He could see the iron bastard taunting him, beckoning him to try his luck. He could see himself hoisting the iron bastard in battle, handling it like a mere toy. The iron bastard existed only to serve him. It was the implement which he would wield when he crushed the skulls of those who stood against him. Aye, he would school this wretched little imp.
While Korv always tried to be a kind and gentle man, he knew the ways of the world, and he understood that there were times when a man must fight. He must fight for his honor, for those he loved, and for those who could not fight for themselves. A man could be gentle, but he sometimes had to be a beast as well.
As the warm elixir coursed through his veins and brought energy to his body, Korv stood from the table, cracked his neck, and set to taming his iron nemesis.
Korv went outside to where the iron lay. He looked at it with complete disdain and with a mighty heave, he lifted it above his head. The beast fought back valiantly, looking to take it’s place back on the ground, but Korv refused. He grunted aloud and pressed the beast above his shoulder repeatedly. He switched hands and repeated the sequence again. When he had pressed this stinking pig to his satisfaction, Korv threw it to the ground and spat in it’s general direction.
Next, Korv lay on the hard earth and began to push himself up from the deck repeatedly. As he pressed over and over, he did not see himself pushing up. No, instead he saw himself as pushing the earth down. He would master the earth just as he would master that bane of a hammer.
When Korv had sufficiently exhausted his muscles, he washed and prepared to move on with the rest of his day.
First, Korv had to visit the town treasury and withdraw funds, after which he must procure victuals!
Korv set out for the town treasury to secure an allotment of gold. He always enjoyed going there, as the attendants there often found him quite amusing. He would often regale them with tales of battles he had fought, or the strange characters he often encountered in his travels. To this day, they still ask him to tell new attendants the tale of his encounter at Sir Ronald’s of McDonald with a particularly fiery lass.
After his enjoyable interaction at the treasury, Korv made his way to the local market. Korv did enjoy his food, and always enjoyed perusing the fine selections on offer. But, as he was in training, Korv kept it in the back of his mind that he must limit the amount of delicious treats he purchased. No good to do all that training only to ruin it at the dinner table, after all!
After he had purchased his foodstuffs, Korv made his way back to the village, where he dined on a simple, light meal of roast chicken. He found that too heavy a meal during the day depleted his energy far too much, so he always tried to dine moderately.
Korv then happened to have the unexpected opportunity to speak with the young Sir Derrick.
Korv had known Sir Derrick for quite some time. He was a good lad, but one often prone to bouts of melancholy and defeatist talk. Korv always tried his best to encourage the young knight, as he was a smart and skilled hand.
On this day, Sir Derrick was again in one of his defeatist moods. He complained to Korv that he had been passed over for a place in the King’s Guard once again and that it was completely unfair. He told Korv he was contemplating returning to the life of a stable boy.
Korv asked Sir Derrick who had been chosen over him, as he hoped to gain some insight into the young man’s poor mood.
“Why, they chose Sir Alexander, Sir Jeremy, and even Lady Angelica and Lady Josephine,” he said glumly. “Can you imagine? They chose two women, yet overlooked me completely!” he bemoaned.
At this, Korv stopped him short. He absolutely could not take any more.
“Let me tell you something, boy,” Korv said through gritted teeth. “I know all four of those fine warriors and they are some of the best in the realm. Lady Angelica and Lady Josephine alone are more than a match for any of the King’s Guard. Clearly, you don’t recall how they alone were able to beat the Silver Beast of the River West when no one else could!”
Korv could no longer contain himself. This boy, while a good lad at heart, had no passion, no drive.
“Yes, boy! They defeated the Silver Beast and what have you done?”
The boy stammered, but Korv did not give him the chance to answer.
“Let me ask you something, Sir Derrick…Did you make your intentions to join the King’s Guard known? Did you seize any opportunities when they came your way? Or did you wake up bemoaning the start of yet another day, and trudge lazily from your bed with dreams of shoveling dung in your nimble little brain?”
“I, I, I..,” Sir Derrick stuttered repeatedly. Korv cut him to the quick.
“Sir Derrick, you lack energy. Vigor. A purpose,” Korv told him. “You are a smart and talented lad, but you have no faith in yourself. I can tell you until Hades freezes over, but until you believe it, it is all for naught!”
“If you wish to join the King’s Guard, then act like someone who wants to join the King’s Guard. Wake up ready to seize the day. Strive to be better, and instead of looking at others with jealousy, look to them for inspiration.”
Korv put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Sir Derrick, I too, was once like you. I had no faith and no belief in myself. Aye, even now, I am rebuilding myself after a hard fall,” he said with a soft smile.
“But, look around you, Sir Derrick. There is inspiration everywhere. Your kin, your fellow villagers, and if you look deep enough, you will even find it within yourself. It is there, lad. You just need to dig deep and bring it to the fore.”
With that, Korv and Sir Derrick exchanged solemn nods and parted company. Clearly, they both had meaningful journeys to undertake.
The Beginning At Last 
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