Intensive training

In the months following the successful recovery of the crown of the Goblin King and the blood diamond used for evil, Amelia dedicated herself to training intensively for her trials ahead.

== Swimming ==

As a warrior she never had the need to swim, and now being a full Knight, her armor became her best friend and needing to remove it for swimming was not among her priorities. The thought of being in the water was almost the same as if she was a dwarf! She had never been in a lake, river or ocean. But it was a fear that needed to be confronted.

Official business had taken her to Solace, and the opportunity to put herself to the test laid before her. With careful planing, she looked for a good spot to lay her armor while she pretended to be swimming. 

It didn't take long for her to start feeling that anxiety of drowning. Her unskillful movements dragged her to the bottom of the lake where she just attempted to hold her breath, while pushing herself to the shore. After a few hours her skill increased same as her knowledge of lakes. She learned, the bad way, that there is a nasty Snapping turtle living in the waters of Crystalmir Lake that needs to be avoided at ALL times.

It seemed as tough the fish were laughing at her.

With not much left for the week, Amelia spent her afternoons mastering her new skill, while during the days she patrolled the forests in search of a known thief.

== Mounted combat ==

Another well sought ability of paladins is the ability to fight while mounted. In this endeavor the skill of both the paladin and their horse is measured in combat tactics. This technique is taught by the Patron Knight to their squires or their Knights at the Solamnic Plains.

Mounting her warhorse Stargazer, Amelia set to the task of at least not falling off during an assault to one of the training dummies. The first 2 tries were almost unsuccessful, but she managed to both keep her mace and  remain on her horse. The few next tries were a bit more successful to the point that she had to dismount to go set up the dummies ready for the next assault.

Amelia and Stargazer

After a long day of training, both Amelia and Stargazer went back to the stables at Solanthus with an increased sense of accomplishment. and with a few 'battle scars' to show, mostly just the horse attempting to trample the dummies instead of avoiding them.

== Sparing ==

Testing her combat skills with someone was the best way to know if her tactics were correct or not. Sparing with a furry and skillful fighter, such as a Minotaur, was the next step for Amelia.

The first battle was short but increasingly they became longer, taking some breaks here and there. Small things like bashing, dodging, parrying and kicking can make the world of difference between winning of loosing a match.