"So, want to spar with me?" he drew his Longsword. "Also, would this engagement allow Magic, or not?"

"No magic this time, Just swords. Wooden ones at that, I'd rather not kill you. You have obvious magic prowess over me and I don't feel like being outclassed by a demigod brat."

"I'm older than you," Linus said, "although I must admit that I don't act like it." He then took a wooden sword, and went to the practice field. Then, a naugthy thought came over him.

"Hey, if it's all right with you, how about a bet? For each blow that hits directly, one of us has to shed an article of clothing; a pair of shoes count as one article."

"Youre a strange one, but agreed. Against a more skilled opponent I would've said no; but I know without a doubt you can't land a single blow." James smirked cockily, drew his sword and took up his stance.

[i]I'll be winning either way,[/i] Linus said, before circling his opponent, then suddenly rolling to James' left, before crouching and slicing at the man's boots.

(2-3-1=6 vs. 1-1-5=7 
James barely beats it.)

James saw the attack coming and with quick movement of his ankle caught his attack with the bottom on his boot."He's fast" James thought to himself. "His speed is almost exactly the same as my own, But I'm confident I can outsword him." He followed up with a downward strike aimed directed at Linus's cranium, looking to end the fight quickly.

(3-4-6-4-5=22 vs. 4-4-1=9
significant damage)

Linus felt an explosion of pain overtake him, as the wooden sword clashed against his head. Ugh! He did not expect that happening. Staggering back, the Demigod tried to regain his bearings; before, first, taking off his overcoat, leaving him in his undershirt, before going back and feinting at James' front, then trying to hit the other man's hand, hoping for a quick disarm.

(Linus 4-5-3=12 vs. James 4-2-2=8
Slight hit.)

James caught the attack with his bracer, bracing the impact with his forearm muscle. He felt a slight ache when it connected, but nothing more. He rolled away from his opponent and paused to take off his shoes. He approached Linus again, shoes in hand. James threw the shoes at Linus, hoping to distract him while lunging and stabbing at his already weakened head.

(James 1-2-5-4-5=17 vs. Linus 6-3-1=10
moderate hit.)

"Ow!" Linus screamed in pain as he drew back again, his head swimming with pain once more. Stepping back once, twice, the swordsman took off his undershirt with one hand, stalling for time while the cool wind on his newly-bare chest brought focus to him. If James should strike, then he would duck, and bring up his knee against the man's arm again, attempting a disarm. If he didn't, Linus would rush, then, throwing himself to James' left side, strike a blow against the other man's left shoulder.

(Linus 3-6-4=13 vs. James 4-2-2-5-6=19
Blocked )

James took a defensive stance and blocked Linus's attack against his shoulder. He then side stepped and whipped the side of his sword at Linus's ribs; making sure to try for a fracture.

(James 1-2-3-6-6=18 vs Linus 3-2-3=8
Significant damage)

Linus barely parried, the top half of his sword breaking and flying off into the air. Snarling with rage, the man took off his shoes, leaving him in his socks; he knew that he had to keep attempting to disarm that man, and so he tried the same ploy James had made at him, throwing his shoes at the man's head, before rushing at him; yet another feint - the man would duck, thrust the broken bottom half of his sword at James' face, and, when the Half-elf made to duck, use his left wrist to grab the swashbuckler's sword hand; as long as he didn't grab the blade itself, it wasn't cheating.

(Linus 1-6-2=9 vs. James 3-1-4=8
Slight failure)

James saw the shoes coming and tried to catch them, but they clipped his hand. Anger by the pain in his fingers he tried to kick Linus in the chest, but his opponent spun sideways and backstepped; avoiding the attack. James took off his socks, getting ready to attack again.

(James 1-2-5-1-1=10 vs. Linus 6-3-4=13
Success)

Emboldened by his success in barely avoiding James' onslaught, Linus would crouch down again, attempting a spinning kick at James' legs.

(Linus 4-4-6=14 vs. James 5-4-2-1-2=14
equal)

James tried to counter by slamming his knee into his attacker's head, and he connected. But Linus's leg caught James in the shins and send pain up to his joint. "Good thing he still has a conncusion; my blow was far more severe." James thought to himself.

"Orgasms are good for headaches, and I will be having one to your naked body...or mine, soon," Linus couldn't help but give a half-hearted boast as he took off his socks, before, with bare feet, rushing at James yet again, then jumping high at the last minute, kicking at the man's chin.

(Linus 2-6-2=10 vs James 5-4-4-6-2=23
Significant hit)

James saw the kick coming and headbutted Linus's ankle with all the strength in his neck, putting as much power into it as he could; 'I'm getting really tired of this fight." James thought, getting frustrated. When the blow connected he saw the ankle bend at an unnatural angle and heard a snap, meaning he had broken it.

With Linus' ankle broken, his mobility was finally compromised, meaning that he won't be able to fight. So, he instead said:

"You win, I yield."

After the fight was over, Shumacher nodded and looked at Linus.  "Well, he's definately skilled enough, but you are the one who's in charge of the team, so I'll leave it up to you."

"He's in," Linus said offhandedly. "In the meantime, do you have a healing potion so that I can go to the bathroom, and not just because nature calls." 

Shumacher walked over and grabbed Linus's head and ankle, no doubt causing him pain, and feeding Ki into them, willing them to fix themselves.  After about 15 seconds he stopped, releasing the now healed areas, and stood up.  "I can't do that when you go to retreive the sword for me, but I'll fix your training injuries if you want.  After all, I was a doctor and an army medicbefore becoming a city guard.

Linus nodded, then took off the rest of his clothing, going back to the house to look for the bathrooms, unashamed of his naked form.

James collected his clothing on the ground and placed it back on himself, feeling slightly sore. He trodded off after Linus in the direction of the washrooms to clean himself of the fight's sweat and grime, and to shave.

"An unorthodox method of keeping score, but it works." said Schumacher as the man walked away.

When Linus and James got back he nodded to the three of them.  "You should stay here tonight, so that you can get in more practice.  Feel free to go shopping with the money I've given you, but be back before nightfall.  I have something I wish to teach you, and tomorrow you can go and find your Cursed and bring them here so that I can teach you that which you will need to get the sword."

He looked at Sarah.  "Are you planning on going with them in this quest?"

"Of course," she said.  "A quest to overthrow a Demon Lord?  It will make a wonderful story, and I'll need to be there to get the details."

"In that case, allow me to teach you something."  He walked over to her placing his hand on her left shoulder.  He then sent a trickle of Lightning through it.  "Control this magic." he told her.  "It shouldn't be able to hurt you."

She willed her arm to stop twitching and lifted her arm.  "Good," said Shumacher, "now point your palm at the practice dummy and concentrate on throwing the lightning as you do your Holy Chaos blasts."

(Exceed 15 to learn: 2-1-3-6=12)

She willed the lightning in her hand to form in her palm, but just as it got there it shorted out, causing slight burns on her palms.  She jerked her hand back and looked at it. "Ok," she said, after seeing that it wasn't that bad.  "Let's try again."

(4-4-2-1=11)

Again she attempted it, this time burning herself slightly worse. "Damn it." she cursed as she shook her hand.  A few seconds later she lifted her arm again.  "Ok, let's try one more time."

(6-5-1-3=15)

A tiny bolt of lightning jumped from her hand and struck the dummy.  Though it caused no visible damage, she was sure it connected.

"Good," said Shumacher.  "Now you can protect yourself a bit better.  Just practice that while you stay here tonight."  He looked at the two fighters.  "If anyone at the market asks, I hired you as guards, and the money is for better equipment."

Linus nodded, not knowing whether it would be a good enough pretext. Nevertheless, he was going to have an opportunity to use his Divine Blessing! Putting his clothes back on, he prepared to go.

James gathered his share of the money, roughly five thousand; and prepared to depart for the market. It'll be nice to get some better equipment. He thought excitedly to himself.