I''m OK. His hands found no wounds. I''m OK. There was no blood. I''m OK. Looking up to the sky, stars twinkled through wet eyes, he felt relief. I''m OK. He felt pathetic, succumbing to the immersion. This world is not real. Death is not real here. Pain is not even real here. He wiped his eyes and scanned the area, hoping that no one had seen him crying. There was no one. Not until white glitter fell from the sky and formed into the half naked form of Butler. It was seeing this that made him realise that he too was bare chested and without his possessions. ''Butler, what happened?''


    ''I am a kid.'' Ragen admitted, accidentally. ''It was awful.''


    are a kid, aren''t you?'' He scratched his chin. ''I thought you were just some odd player character, but you''re a real kid.''


    Oh no, I didn''t mean to say that. ''No, that''s not-''


    Please don''t ask. Ragen began to walk to the city.


    At this time of night the coaches at the academy were gone from the yard, though the training equipment, the sparring rings, drill yard and practise dummies were free for use. Ragen eyed the empty yard. I can practise without anyone seeing. ''Butler, can you get me my new armour and sword?''


    Ragen took note. I need to find better equipment, but first: I''m alive! And while I''m alive I can learn how to fight properly. He approached the hanging dummies and took a short sword from the rack, confident that the other weapons were either too heavy or too advanced for him to use. This blade was straight and double edged, though it was blunted for sparring. Ragen took a swing at the dummy and struck it on the right, then he swung and hit the opposite side. His wrist felt weak with the weight, but he would get used to it.


    He continued to swing and hit for a minute more, by the end he was panting and struggling to attack with any strength. He switched to his left hand and tried to practise with that, though this was even worse as he had no coordination what-so-ever. This is terrible. He switched back to his right hand and slashed at the dummy again, only able to produce one more strike before having to rub his arm of its aches.


    have to finish it?''


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ''Fair enough.'' Ragen strapped the leather chest and back armour to himself. At least he could do this. He buckled a wrinkled belt around his waist, then he slipped tattered brown leather wrist bands over his hands. He looked at himself blankly. This armour didn''t save my life the first time, how is it going to now?


    He''s using his body to increase the power. He''s moving into his opponent... ''He charged me down, got close.''


    I missed my chance, but I know what to look for. I know what to do. Ragen picked his weapon back up and gripped it tightly. The two started again with Butler thrusting out with a quick stab. Ragen was caught off guard, this was the first time his partner had attacked this way. He jumped backward and waved his sword wildly, fortunately making a hit on Butler''s blade and parrying it to one side. Butler used the motion of the parry to change into a circular overhead strike. This is the time! The same as before, his body is open! Ragen could see the critical targets, head, chest and stomach, but before he could charge and counter-attack, Butler''s sword was striking Ragen''s with a metallic clang and disarming him as he had done before.