3rd Day of Summer, 511 AV
Elhaym yawned atop her perch, legs dangling from a stretch of stone fencing within the courtyard. The sun would rise soon, and by rights she should be asleep. Her uniform was rumbled and damp with sweat, a byproduct of an entire day spent within the Pavilion. Her schedule was a bit different than most Acolyte's, yet most of her days were spent precisely as she had today. She traced the horizon with her eyes, sighing. She wasn't going to wait much longer. As if on queue, a familiar form strode through the open gateway and into the courtyard.
"Good, you came." the young man said, his posture carrying a sense of ease and awareness. He held a thin bundle in each hand wrapped in cloth, and tied with a red cord.
"Tomo, what is this about? I'm tired." Elhaym groaned, hopping down from the fence and striding towards him. After a few steps she straightened her back and imitated his swagger. She would not be outdone!
"Take it." He said in that same tone, tossing her one of the bundles. Just like him to ignore her questions and act so high and mighty. She had heard he would likely be summoned for his Awakening soon. He didn't have to act like he was already a Shinya though. Elhaym somehow managed to snort in disgust and sigh at the same time, but she unwrapped the cloth. Inside the bundle was a wooden practice sword comprised of several thin strips of wood bound together with a thin cord. She'd seen it's like hundreds of times during her weapons training.
"What...?"
"Three nights ago, I saw you in the Monastery with a sword. You were waving it around like a bludgeon and looked a fool, but you were trying. I've noticed you no longer put your heart into your training with the tonfa. Why have you chosen the sword, but not begun using it in the class room?"
"Oh gods." Elhaym said, turning her head to the side. She was sure she had been alone out there. She really had tried, but her training had dissolved into jumping around and performing imitations of techniques any serious swordsman would have laughed at. It had been fun though. And now, embarrassing. He didn't seem to be judging her though. As much as she disliked those beady little eyes and that silly looking shaved forehead and top knot, Tomo was a friend. He had been there for her in his own way since the first day she arrived. Especially the first day. "I feel connected to her when I use it. It gives me… hope. Like a reminder of what I might be able to do. That's all."
Elhaym didn't have to explain who her was. Tomo knew her past well enough. He studied her for a moment, then nodded in acquiescence. "If you insist on learning the way of the blade, I can't abide you doing it so... halfassed."
Tomo grinned as he spoke the last bit. Elhaym raised her eyebrows at his words; had he ever said anything that wasn't fit for the dinner table with every grandmother in Lhavit present? She didn't think so.
Tomo tossed the cloth aside and held his blade aloft, settling into the smooth two handed sword stance she had witnessed him use countless times. She mimicked his readiness, holding her wooden blade loosely at her side. Her body was turned slightly, with her left arm in front of her as if a shield while the blade lounged to her right. Their stances couldn't have been more different.
"Interesting. Someone has taught you the Lioness Lays in Wait… I thought you knew nothing. Show me what else you know, Elhaym."
Elhaym wasn't really sure what he was talking about, but he seemed interested now at least. She was tired for truth, but Tomo was a peerless swordsman among the Acolytes at least and a chance for him to show her some of his techniques was not to be taken lightly. He at least would not punish her for failure the way the instructors did. With a shrug, she stepped forward and brought her sword in a quick arc that would slice through his left shoulder. Her eyes couldn't even follow the movement as their weapons locked and moved in circles, but in an instant she held nothing and her blade rattled on the ground.
"Guh, that was familiar…" she grumbled, if a thought could grumble. Bending to pick up her blade, she stepped back and resumed her stance.
"You will not learn if I allow you to make mistakes that would cost you your life in a real battle. Again. Devise a way to retain your blade."
Elhaym nodded. She could appreciate this kind of teaching. She remembered speaking those exact words to him when he approached her about learning her way in the martial arts so many months ago. She flew forward, a guttural cry indicating her assault.
"Good, you came." the young man said, his posture carrying a sense of ease and awareness. He held a thin bundle in each hand wrapped in cloth, and tied with a red cord.
"Tomo, what is this about? I'm tired." Elhaym groaned, hopping down from the fence and striding towards him. After a few steps she straightened her back and imitated his swagger. She would not be outdone!
"Take it." He said in that same tone, tossing her one of the bundles. Just like him to ignore her questions and act so high and mighty. She had heard he would likely be summoned for his Awakening soon. He didn't have to act like he was already a Shinya though. Elhaym somehow managed to snort in disgust and sigh at the same time, but she unwrapped the cloth. Inside the bundle was a wooden practice sword comprised of several thin strips of wood bound together with a thin cord. She'd seen it's like hundreds of times during her weapons training.
"What...?"
"Three nights ago, I saw you in the Monastery with a sword. You were waving it around like a bludgeon and looked a fool, but you were trying. I've noticed you no longer put your heart into your training with the tonfa. Why have you chosen the sword, but not begun using it in the class room?"
"Oh gods." Elhaym said, turning her head to the side. She was sure she had been alone out there. She really had tried, but her training had dissolved into jumping around and performing imitations of techniques any serious swordsman would have laughed at. It had been fun though. And now, embarrassing. He didn't seem to be judging her though. As much as she disliked those beady little eyes and that silly looking shaved forehead and top knot, Tomo was a friend. He had been there for her in his own way since the first day she arrived. Especially the first day. "I feel connected to her when I use it. It gives me… hope. Like a reminder of what I might be able to do. That's all."
Elhaym didn't have to explain who her was. Tomo knew her past well enough. He studied her for a moment, then nodded in acquiescence. "If you insist on learning the way of the blade, I can't abide you doing it so... halfassed."
Tomo grinned as he spoke the last bit. Elhaym raised her eyebrows at his words; had he ever said anything that wasn't fit for the dinner table with every grandmother in Lhavit present? She didn't think so.
Tomo tossed the cloth aside and held his blade aloft, settling into the smooth two handed sword stance she had witnessed him use countless times. She mimicked his readiness, holding her wooden blade loosely at her side. Her body was turned slightly, with her left arm in front of her as if a shield while the blade lounged to her right. Their stances couldn't have been more different.
"Interesting. Someone has taught you the Lioness Lays in Wait… I thought you knew nothing. Show me what else you know, Elhaym."
Elhaym wasn't really sure what he was talking about, but he seemed interested now at least. She was tired for truth, but Tomo was a peerless swordsman among the Acolytes at least and a chance for him to show her some of his techniques was not to be taken lightly. He at least would not punish her for failure the way the instructors did. With a shrug, she stepped forward and brought her sword in a quick arc that would slice through his left shoulder. Her eyes couldn't even follow the movement as their weapons locked and moved in circles, but in an instant she held nothing and her blade rattled on the ground.
"Guh, that was familiar…" she grumbled, if a thought could grumble. Bending to pick up her blade, she stepped back and resumed her stance.
"You will not learn if I allow you to make mistakes that would cost you your life in a real battle. Again. Devise a way to retain your blade."
Elhaym nodded. She could appreciate this kind of teaching. She remembered speaking those exact words to him when he approached her about learning her way in the martial arts so many months ago. She flew forward, a guttural cry indicating her assault.
