A Peaceful Morning (Blythe)

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

OOCYeah well I have a feeling mine isn’t going to be all that much better. But I will try for it… She teased; and he was enjoying it. Harmless fun was indeed a little something he had been looking for. Everything around him had been so serious as of late. His time with Lym was all based around medicine and treating those who were ill. He was working under a stressor there with her. He never knew when she would really need him and his skills nor when she would not. It was all somewhat confusing for him but he accepted it. She was his teacher and he the pupil. As far as ease; he had never done something just because it was easy. No; his life had been about doing things the complete and somewhat hard way. But he had learned much from doing things this way. Through doing everything the hard way. He had toiled and felt like he really had worked for everything he got. He never felt entitled to anything. If he got something it was because of his hard work alone. He came to and saw her shooting forward. His mind was now assessing where she was going. His left side…it was open. This time he attempted stepping out of the way but her blade still met his side. And actual pain shot through him. He didn’t cringe, nor did he show the pain in any way on his face or stance. He merely let her retract and he nodded. “Well played.” The pain shot, what had happened to him? He again shot through all his memories. On the beach, with Gemtana. He had cut his side. It hadn’t healed completely yet and she had just hit it dead on. He didn’t want to disturb the training…and pain was pain. It mattered not to him he could push through. “Lets continue I think you are beginning to get the hang of this.”

[Blythe]

It seemed as though Serrif had reacted late; as though he had not recognized Blythe's intent, her subtle, and then rushed attack with the blade. Seconds after Blythe had launched her attack, her blade was plunging into his skin without the slightest of sounds, or the faintest of reactions from him. Was something wrong? Blythe wondered, he does seem a little distracted she thought, as she pulled her blade away from his flesh, and straightened her body out. He should have been able to dodge that easily, if not block it with his blade. "Thank you," Blythe said before she stood in silence for a moment. Only to begin pulling her left hand off the blade, before returning it to her side a few seconds later. And then allowing her right hand to drag the blade to the right side of her body. The tip of the blade dragged across the floor, so as to seem slightly more inviting to Serrif, and relatively approachable if not approachable. Blythe's lavender colored eyes raked up and down Serrif's body, as she took a step closer to him. "Is anything the matter?" she asked, the words rolling off her tongue like water over a rock. "You seem like you're somewhat distracted Ser..." her voice trailed off, "that is something you could have avoided, had you stepped to the left, or even to the right you would not have met with the tip of the blade." Blythe fell silent for a long time after that, her eyes sparkling, but betraying a certain level of concern for her friend. "Is there something on your mind Ser? Something you need to talk about? Or, am I merely imagining things?" Blythe asked. OOCSorry I (potentially) changed the focus of the thread. But erm... we was both struggling with the fight scene, it seemed. This pc is just to nice for that stuff. *sighsies*

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

OOCWell we’ll see what we can do Something was wrong, but in many many ways. He believed Angelique had done what Blythe did…only she wanted to physically distance herself from him. Now he was going to shut himself up to everyone. And distance his emotions from people as well. He wasn’t going to tell anyone anymore secrets. He was going to lie; that was all he felt he could do about it. He stretched some more and could feel his cut on his side throb. He felt the warm rush of blood down his side. It was a little blood, not as much to soak his shirt; but enough to ooze out. It would stop eventually he knew. “Beauty always distracts me Blythe. You know this.” He said with a smile as he centered himself again and ran a hand through his short black hair. “Come Blythe, we were just beginning to warm up.” She couldn’t know how destroyed he felt. How he had now seen how lonely he was going to be from now on. It seemed everyone was going to leave him; emotionally or physically. Blythe had done it emotionally. She closed herself up refusing to let him know her. That was fine; now he was going to do the same. He now knew why she did it; it was a defense mechanism. If you didn’t let anyone in they couldn’t hurt you. They couldn’t destroy you from the inside. He didn’t want to be vulnerable anymore. So he wasn’t going to be. He was going to shut himself up in a shell and harden himself. This was just the beginning of this realization. He nodded to her. “I’m fine Blythe; I’ll try not to get distracted again.” He readied himself and then got ready to train some more with her. “Ready Blythe?” He asked as he made his stance and centered his mind. In the back of his head he was silent. Ready to train with Blythe. He was ready to actually be of some use to her. He noted the concern in her voice and dismissed it. It hurt to do so; but he knew that he would have to do so many more times. He knew the process would hurt more and more. But maybe he would get used to it as time moved on. Maybe he would learn like Blythe to just be kind and at the same time just distance himself from people. A skill he would have to learn a little more. His mind died and his heart actually dropped when he thought about distancing himself from everyone. But he would do what he could. His cut at his side hurt; and he knew that he would have to do something about it. Lym would help him with this later. Maybe he would make another seaweed wrap like Gemtana showed him.

[Blythe]

Blythe's pale pink cheeks darkened, and grew warm. She was feeling slightly embarrassed by Serrif's words, certain that he truly had no idea how her people aged, and just how much older she was than he. Although, in appearance, their ages seemed to be so close. She could not blame him for still trying, even though it were only half-heartedly, could she? Blythe's eyes sparkled as her smile widened, "thank you for the compliment," she whispered, before growing silent. She seemed somewhat distant, or perhaps simply distracted by what Serrif had said, and his overall desire to keep helping her practice. Doesn't he have something else to do? Blythe wondered, or at least, something else on his mind? He still seems so very far away sometimes... "Ok Ser," Blythe whispered, "if you would like to keep on fighting, we may do so," she said, as she slowly raised her sword. She brought it a few inches before her, before she returned her left hand to its proper place, just a few inches below the right. Blythe slid her right foot forward, so that it was approximately one foot in front of the left. The left foot was turned so that it pointed towards the left wall of the pavilion, forming a ninety degree angle with the help of the right foot. From the waist up, Blythe's body followed the direction of her left foot. As of that moment, Blythe stood in a similar position to when she and Serrif had first started sparring. However, she wanted to try something new, the kasumi no kamae position. So slowly, she raised her sword so that it ran horizontally instead of vertically, at her eye level. The bladed edge of her wooden sword was pointing upwards, towards the ceiling. "Ready," Blythe whispered as she waited for Ser to attack.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Something else to do? He thought that all over in his mind. He didn’t know if he had anything else to do in the first place. He supposed Lym could use his skills, but she likely wasn’t expecting him yet. But the truth was that he could find plenty to do if he really wanted. But he would much rather spend time with Blythe. He hadn’t seen her in so long. She thanked him for his compliment and he saw that as usual she felt a little embarrassed by how he talked with her. Why does she act this way? He thought trying to trace the possibilities in his mind. She must not be very comfortable with him. And that was explainable to him in many ways. She is still uncomfortable with me. That was the conclusion that he reached in his mind. He felt distant and well that was mostly because he was indeed thinking over all kinds of things in his mind. He was trying more to bring up her self esteem more than anything else. Maybe if she started feeling good about herself she would start acting a little…better? Maybe she wouldn’t run away from emotional confrontations. He knew there was nothing he could do about her running away from him that one time. He had forgiven her for what she had done to him. But he also wanted to know that she wouldn’t do the same to someone else. He also wanted to understand her a little better; really understand who she was and what made her who she was. But that battle was almost completely given up in his mind. Maybe she doesn’t trust me. He thought that over in his mind and sighed mentally. Yes just because she wouldn’t share herself with him didn’t mean she wouldn’t share herself with anyone. Yes, he just had to realize that he wasn’t that person. That to her he wasn’t that special individual that she wanted to share herself with. A fact that he would have to come to terms with. I’m not that special. was the complex web of facts and thoughts that he came to. He knew this and accepted it. He looked to her as she spoke again and he nodded. Her voice a whisper; she readied herself. She was ready to spar. So he would do what he could, he would spar with her. He readied himself and figured he would spar with her. It was all he could do for now. He mirrored her stance. He was getting slightly better at this than he was only minutes ago. He didn’t know any of the names for these ornate positions. Although he knew that there were plenty of names for things that he didn’t understand or need. But maybe these names were there so people could remember all the things that they seemingly needed to know. To easily discern between one thing or another. He never really understood naming conventions. But he deemed that they had to serve a purpose of some kind. Otherwise they wouldn’t exist. She stated she was ready and he assessed how he would go about attacking her. He didn’t know exactly what he would do. He swung wide tapping gently the right side of her practice Katana. He didn’t know what else he would have to do. Nor how she would go about countering him; but he would have to be fast on his feet. And he knew that. Sometimes that was all you needed to know. What you had to do in order for events to just unfold. You just had to do whatever you felt you needed to do. He didn’t know just what would happen next. But that didn’t bother him.

[Blythe]

As soon as Serrif's arm began to swing, Blythe moved forward a half a step, and twisted her blade to the side, so that it ran diagonally, blocking her head a little better. There was a soft clicking sound as their two wooden blades met, and a small smile crossed Blythe's lips. Her eyes flashing playfully. "Oh Ser, please don't say you feel the need to be gentle with a Konti," Blythe began, her voice soft and somewhat melodic, playful. "That you're not really going to give a simple spar with wooden swords your all... because that doesn't make for a very good practice session now does it?" she asked, as she raised a single brow, forcing it to take on the shape of the wooden frame of a bow. As swiftly as she could, she rapidly lowered her hands a few inches, before bringing them up again, twisting her wooden sword around in a small circle, in the hopes that she could lure Serrif's sword away before she went into her own attack. "Especially when it makes you more vulnerable; during the times when you are supposed to be aggressive, but refuse. Or so we have been taught," Blythe finished, referring to herself and the other katana students. Even before she had finished speaking, she was bringing her sword down, slicing through the air as ferociously as she could manage, trying to bring it down on Serrif's right shoulder. The one he had left somewhat exposed to her advances. OOCSorry, I am kind of struggling to write this pc these days, and come up with new ideas. >.<

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif smiled with her words as his tactical mind slowly began to switch on. His mind began assessing the situation piece by piece. He knew he would likely not be able to keep up with her. But he would try his hardest. He wasn’t used to this type of sparring. He had only sparred a few times. Every move Blythe made was entered into his mind one by one. He then counter assessed them. He did pay attention to her words. How could he not? He smiled and spoke some. “Ah I do not wish to mar your beauty dear Blythe.” He was beginning to assess what she was doing with her movements. Maybe leading him to let her make a powerful attack on him. He brought his practice sword up to block. His mind was working hard but was pushing its limits. He again wasn’t used to these types of thinking. He didn’t know what she was going to do; and his mind was straining to try and figure out what she was up to. Every movement was added to what he thought he knew. He hadn’t sparred all that much; now with a Konti who seemed to know so much. And his mind strained as it was had betrayed him. He was slow and her blade bit hard on his shoulder. He felt it’s tap that was proceeded by a painful shock to his system. His brain registered the pain as it then screamed to him. The pain was burning and annoying him so very much. He was sure it was going to bruise up and hinder him even further. Seemed every single move she was making was landing right on place. But he didn’t flinch he merely closed his eyes some and sighed . “Again seemed I have much to learn, and you have learned much.” He said as he stretched out some and struck a pose. “Come,” He beckoned, it seemed all that training with Ildin had provided him with a very unique pain tolerance. One that allowed him to shrug off almost anything.

[Blythe]

Blythe giggled, "now don't you worry about that Ser. These are only wooden swords," she whispered, as her blade met with his flesh. She could feel the impact reverberating through the sword; tiny tremors making their way from the tip of the blade to the hilt, where her hands rested. The tremors caused a soft, tickling sensation to course through the tips of her fingers as she pulled the blade away from Ser's shoulder, and took a step back. She resumed her starting position, and simply stared at the man. "Any sort of wound you inflict with these things can be easily healed by those at the order, or if they are given enough time, they may do so on their own." There was a slight pause as Blythe steadied her blade. Her eyes boring into Serrif's own. "We both have a lot to learn," Blythe replied simply. "For there is always more one can do to improve themselves. To become as skilled as the one that taught them what little they know... it will be quite some time before either of us grows as skilled as Kariha. As graceful, and fluid in our movements as she." There was a slight pause, "watching her move is like watching the most skilled dancer with a blade in her hand; beautiful and deadly at the same time," the Konti explained. As he beckoned to her, Blythe simply nodded weakly. "As you wish," she whispered, as she leapt forward towards Serrif. As she did so, she swung her blade upwards, and out to the side; pushing the air that surrounded her out of the way with a gentle whoosh. At the very last second, she swung her blade inwards, towards the area just above Ser's right hip. If he blocked her advance, the momentum that had been built up from her lunge may send her tumbling in any which direction. Her feet still somewhat unsteady; not quite sure of themselves.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He smiled when she giggled; but he knew the true damage wooden tools could do even if they were training tools. He knew the terrible atrocities that were committed with wooden training instruments. The wooden part only let you beat someone repeatedly with all your strength if you really wanted to blow off steam. It allowed you to really wail on someone until your frustrations were gone. He had experienced this first hand; but here with Blythe he knew she didn’t mean it that way. No it was all in training. And he was indeed learning…that he couldn’t afford a close combat situation with anyone. That was why he had the bow and arrow, he was confident that if need be he could mark someone with an arrow at a good sixty feet away. She then spoke about how the order could heal any wounds she had. That may be true. He wished the order could do the same for him; but he hadn’t really ever asked anyone to help him. But he wasn’t sure how anyone would help him; but this was his problem. And that meant that it was his to fix as well. He would fix this when he had the knowledge. His body was beginning to disconnect. His arms and feet felt miles away from him right now. Which was indeed a strange sensation. He didn’t know where it was coming from…nor why. But he shook his head slightly thinking it would go away. And it didn’t. So he then focused on trying to push past it. That was all he had. He would have to in order to keep it all together. She explained how she felt about her Mistress. Serrif smiled focusing. He knew he felt the same way about Ildin. He would never be on the same level as she was. She possessed a kind of grace and skill that he could only fascinate about. He knew he wanted that level of skill. But he didn’t know what he would have to do to reach it. He only hoped that she would help him reach that level of skill; he wanted her to help him get there. He summoned what strength he had and he knew he didn’t have too much more left in him. He readied himself and his mind came alive watching and waiting for her. He knew that he would have to counter her in one way or another. He watched and held his blade firm in his hands. He did have one advantage over Blythe; raw strength and reach. He towered over her, and thanks to Ildin’s training his body had soaked up the training and fortified heavily. Making new muscle connections and reviving what was once there. He had been eating better than he had in the past, eating mostly fish from the sea; only accelerating his body building. He watched and her blade swung inwards and upwards toward his hip. He stepped forward and pivoted a little countering with all the strength he had. Moving energy from his hips twisting upward transferring the energy to his side and to his arms. Then with his swing he transferred the energy to her wooden sword to her body. Maybe this would throw her off balance. He didn’t know but whatever would and did happen he would indeed take advantage of it.

[Blythe]

There was a loud crack as Blythe's wooden blade met with Serrif's once more. The sound seemed to bounce off the blades, and across the bamboo matts, until it met with the walls. Where it seemed to finally settle. The Konti's eyes grew wide as she felt the force of Serrif's movements working to counter and unbalance her. She could feel her legs shaking, sending tiny ripples of nervous energy up the length of her body as she finally tumbled to the floor, landing on her bottom with a muffled thud. "Ouch," she muttered, as the wooden blade fell from her hand, and slid across the floor. The Konti placed her hands behind her, leaning into her palms. She knew it could only be a matter of seconds before Serrif's wooden practice sword was right in front of her; dangling just beneath her chin, threatening to swipe across her neck, her cheeks. "It looks like you won this round," she whispered, as her heart continued to pound in her tiny rib cage. Her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath, after everything that had just happened. Her palms were feeling sweaty as she stared up at Ser. "What do you say we call it a day?" she asked. "With a stumble such as this, it could only mean that I've tired myself out. No need to make it any worse, don't you think?" she asked, as she tilted her head slightly to the side, waiting. Staring into his eyes. OOCFeel free to wrap up, unless you just want to end it here. Whatever is easiest for you. And if you post... feel free to say that we both put the swords away and walked out together.