The Mixszt Chronicles

Book 1 of the Mixszt Chronicles tells the story of a young man named Mixszt (pronounced "mist"), who lives in a grandiose castle with his mother and father. The castle plays host to a large festival, which is crashed by a group of thieves called bandits. Mixszt, after watching his father thwart their heinous attack, is inspired to learn to defend himself with a sword and shield. In his two years of training under his father, Mixszt develops his strength and skill, and earns the right to leave the castle for the first time in sixteen years. Mixszt continues his training at a weapons academy, learning how to defend himself against other weapons. Mixszt proves himself quickly at the academy, joining the Elite class of students in the sword and shield discipline. However, he has to endure increasingly aggressive attacks from the same bandits that broke into his castle, starting with one on one attacks, escalating to full-on ambushes with sharpened weapons (which are prohibited inside the academy). Feeling unsafe, Mixszt leaves the academy after a year of training to explore the land, catching up on sixteen years of confinement within his castle walls.