Leocon didn't spend much time wipping the cooties off in fear of infection though, as he made his way back to his own house. He walked in through the front door, as Ariwen met him from the kitchen.
"Welcome home, dear." Ariwem smiled.
"Hi mom..."
"Is everything alright?"
"...Y-Yeah...I guess..." Leocon studdered.
"Hmm...Well, if you say so..." Ariwen smiled still, and returned to cooking dinner. "So how was your day at school?"
"It went okay," Leocon answered, "We started learning about enhancing magic, and how it can help people..."
"Are you having trouble with it?"
"Not really...I just don't find it that interesting..."
"Oh?"
"Yeah...I mean magic is fun and everything, but I get worn out fast when practicing it..."
"Well, that's because you're elvaan... That's why I've been talking to Jholis, and he said he'd agree to train you on physical means of combat as well, help build you up to the standards of an elvaan's strengths! How does that sound to you?"
"Really!? That sounds great! Then I can keep Trility safer a lot easier!"
"Trility?"
Leocon paused for a second, not realizing entirely what he had just shouted in glee.
"Yeah...Umm...Because there are a lot of nasty baddies out there that can hurt her, and stuff..."
"Ahhh. Well, that is true." Ariwen snickered. "Now, go get cleaned up, dinner is almost done!"
"Okay mom!" And with that, Leocon dashed for the back restroom to clean himself up.
A few days later, Jholis, Ariwen's paladin friend, met with Leocon outside of the gates of Windurst. He handed Leocon a wooden sword and shield, and taught him the proper way to use them both. Trility and Ariwen both stood in the shadows of the gate, looking onward as Leocon picked up the lessons very fast. Within an hour Leocon was already giving Jholis a workout.
"Very good, Leo! I'm impressed!" Jholis grunted as he held his Temple Knight shield up, deflecting Leocon's swings. Trility's heart fluttered even more for the young boy, watching him take up the sword and shield so bravely and skillfully. These lessons went on for a few weeks, and Leocon learned more and more on the basics of sword combat. After the first month, Jholis had bought Leocon a real sword to start working on his muscles.
These lessons would carry on every day for one year, until the day when Ariwen vanished...
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