Sword of Shadows (Solo)

[Blythe]

Timestamp: Spring 42, 512 AV

It was a small room, but it was a strangely empty space nonetheless. Considering how the rest of the city seemed to come tumbling down, spilling in one corridor after the next. But this place wasn't like that, the only thing that seemed to be diminishing in the least were the slender wicks of the candles stacked in the corner. Wax dripping down the sides; pooling at the base, much as the shadows crawled silently down the wall. Like freshly applied paint; drooping, waiting to dry. The candlelight flickered, glowing a warm orange, causing the elongated grey forms to dance; to rejoice. The edges of the Konti's lips curled into a half smile as she took notice of it. As the glow was reflected in the soft lavender pools of her eyes.

Blythe's pale fingertips brushed up against the hilt of the katana, a gift from her teacher. A gift which now, always remained at her side. Its end tapped against her side as she tousled it. Her fingers circling the hilt hungrily as she silently considered where the woman who had given it to her, Kariha, could be now. She shrugged, as her mind wandered, supposing she was out trying to get the two of them some food, or perhaps, otherwise helping with the relief effort. Sighing, for she knew she should get back to doing the same, Blythe's features fell. She had been working to help the people here for days, and was rather tired. She was in no mood to help, although she knew everyone needed it, and it would be the proper thing to do. Sighing heavily once more, the Konti determined that perhaps it would be best to give herself a break, so she'd find herself in better spirits, and resolved that she'd practice Kariha's art for a time before returning to the forefront.

Slowly, her finger's twisted around the hilt of her sword. Gingerly, she pulled the white katana away from its sheath, sending its special, metallic ring, its signature, into the still air. Blythe's left hand traveled across her form, settling beneath her right hand, upon the hilt. All of her fingers curled into her palm, save for the thumb, which was directed towards her other hand. Swiftly, she raised the sword, holding it level before her. Her arms bent at the elbows, even as it cut her in half. Her right foot slid forward, easing into the knee. Her left foot remained planted firmly in place.

The shadows glided over her. The flames flickered and hissed. Wax dripped into white pools as the Konti took a cautious, half a step forward. Her sword rose a few inches, as her flesh began to tingle with anticipation. It was time to begin.

[Blythe]

Higher and higher the end of her katana soared, until it was well over her head. The orange light of the candles shining against is sharpened point, as her right foot slid forward even farther, into a sort of lunge. Her left foot inched behind, as she swept her sword down, on a slight angle, towards her left hip. As the sword's point dipped towards her toes, Blythe would point her toes at the ground. Her right foot would sweep in a circle, gathering dust as she followed through the motion with her sword. The weapon would stop towards her middle, as she stepped back, as though narrowly missing the edge of her imaginary opponent's blade. As soon as she had caught her breath, and her heart in her throat, the Konti stepped forward rapidly, bringing her sword up, high over her head. The sword resting on a vertical line past the shimmering scales, and blonde strands. The loose ends. It twirled slightly, a scorpion's tail waiting to sting.

After a moment of standing unnaturally still, of scarcely breathing, Blythe's arms would fall, as though being dragged towards the center of the earth by a great weight. As though she were a magnet, and it had a pull she couldn't help but be attracted to; give into. Swiftly they dragged the sword down, cutting past her center, before rising towards her right shoulder, as she turned her body around, by repeatedly stepping with her left. As her body moved, she drew her blade towards the opposite shoulder, as though motioning to decapitate another. And as her body stalled, so did her sword, for but a single breath, before she swung it back from whence it had come, and then, cut it across her middle, diagonally, towards her opposite hip. From there, the Konti strode forward, as she slowly brought her sword to its center. A simple, defensive stance, as she waited for the shadows to dance.

The dark outlines curled into themselves. Cowering in the corners. Tendrils; wisps of their essence, circling the floor. Their tongues lazily licking Blythe's ankles as she glided across the floor, her sword rising into a loftier position, as she willed her light; the might of her weapon, to overcome. Slowly, she brought it crashing down, its point coming to an end between her feet, slowly, it rose again, from the ashes. The dark dust that tried to mar its beauty. To stain the metal. Slowly, the woman's body turned, as she brought her right hand down in a counter-clockwise fashion, and her left hand up towards the area where the right had once been, effectively, turning her blade on its side. As she swept her body around, Blythe forced the blade to follow, cutting through her opponent's middle. Severing the ties for a time, before she swung the blade back up, bringing its point right next to her head, around eye level.

The woman paused, as her heart hammered out a tune for her to play to. She could feel her chest rising and falling all the more rapidly. Feel her breath clogging her throat, as wisps of white escaped her. She had never realized just how cold it could get within the inner reaches of the castle. Even this time of year, when locked away from the light of the world. When locked away from warmth; for there were no windows. No way to come to realize how much time had passed, if it were still day, or if it had given way to night. Not unless you truly studied the candles, or they bothered to go out. But even then it'd be quite a formidable task, to come to know just how long one had been alone. Silently taking part in an art which was fading away into the nether reaches in the world, so that other things, more practical things, could spring into life.

For what place did the knowledge of wielding a sword have now? What place did it have amongst the rubble, and those fighting for life? What good could it do when everyone was trying desperately to preserve their own life, and the lives of their fellows? What good could it possibly be, to know how to cut everyone down?

[Blythe]

Blythe shook her head, tousling her hair. It tickled her back, helping to ward away the unpleasant thoughts. Even so, they couldn't be completely shaken. Drawing herself up, the Konti soon returned to a simple, starting defensive stance. She took a deep breath, in through her nose, and out through her mouth, before falling into the light of the flickering candles. Her right leg came forward, and the woman, lunging into it strained to extend her left leg. Forcing it straight in support of the lead, as she raised her sword high over her right shoulder, before sweeping it down towards her hip, and then back up towards the left shoulder. The blade fell on an angle as she swept it across her head, and then brought it back to her hip. Her left foot slid forward, bringing her legs closer together. When they were no more than a foot apart, Blythe pointed her toes, and circled around. Her left foot dragging across the darkened floor as she drew the sword slowly out to her side before bringing her foot to a halt. She could feel her toes falling as she brought her sole against the dust. On top of the shadows which curled around her sandals, weaving through her toes.

Blythe's right foot came forward, leading her into another series of steps. Her left foot shuffled behind. Slowly, her sword rose, nearing her hip, before the blade turned, and ran for her left shoulder. Then past it, its tip rising above the Konti's head as her right leg twirled about her slender form, turning her body back around, as she cut her sword across her body vertically, to the other side of her head, before shuffling forward again, towards the room's farthest wall. Away from the door. The shadows seemed to run over her as she brought the katana directly down, bringing it more towards her center as it descended, as soon as it touched down, the sword ripped through the air. Rushing up, as though it had hit the sea's darkest depths, and had decided to kick back up, so as to reach the surface. The blade flashed as it soared over the Konti's head, her wrists straining as she forced it high. It rose to as lofty a place it could go; amongst the wispy clouds of darkness.

The woman took a deep breath, as her heart hammered in her chest, and she brought the blade back down, before forcing it out to her side. The metal running vertically to her form, on a diagonal from her middle, down towards her right foot. Swiftly she twisted, lifting the blade a little as she swirled. Her hair rising off her shoulders as she danced around the room, blowing the candles over with the wind she cast. The air she sent ricocheting off the walls and all around the room. She could feel her hair spinning as she kept on circling, twirling from one end of the room to the other, feeling always as though she were Kariha, her mistress, although far less graceful. After a few moments, she forced herself to stop. Gasping, she could feel her chest rising and falling all the more as her eyes widened, and her hair came crashing down on her shoulders. She could feel its weight, making everything seem so heavy as the world around her spun. Refusing to release the past motion until it had satisfied itself. She thought, as she stood, waiting for it all to pass, that she could just make out the shadows joining in. Holding hands with her sword as they all shimmied across the room.

Finally, everything stopped rejoicing, and all became very still and heavy. Blythe's heart began to slow down, as did the subtle rise and fall of her chest. Her palms felt sweaty, as they gripped the hilt of her gifted katana, a little less tightly now than before. She pulled one hand away and wiped it off on her dress, before repeating the process with the other. She could feel the cotton cloth clinging to her skin, as she returned the white katana to its beginnings. She could feel several beads of sweat gathering on her brow. Feel the candles growing in intensity, becoming an overwhelming heat, despite the original, cool nature of the room doused in black.

More, her mind hissed, willing her to begin again. Sighing, the Konti progressed.

[Blythe]

Blythe's toes came off the ground just as her katana began to rise, crawling towards her mane of blonde hair. Her heel slid against the deep grey stones, leading her front away, as the sword came down towards her left hip. Her left foot shuffled forward, closing the gap between, as her toes fell back onto the floor. Slowly, her body turned into her left side. Her shoulders curling protectively as she raised her weapon past her right shoulder. Her left foot slid around, turning her body one hundred eighty degrees. Her sword remained, a watchful parrot upon her shoulder for a moment, as she glanced from left to right, before her foot swept around, twirling her another half circle. As she moved, her sword came down towards her middle, slicing across, horizontally, past her hip. When the sword came to a deafening halt, it remained for but an instant, before it was pulled back into the center. The Konti then, pulled her feet a little closer together, before stepping forward again.

One foot directly after the other. Clipped, chopped swings of her sword commenced. Slicing always, diagonally, from one shoulder to her middle, and then back to up. Sometimes, falling to the bottom before forming silent "V" shapes. It was as though Blythe were slowly hacking away at an opponent. Driving them back from whence they had come. Her wrists twisted over and over as more sweat appeared on her brow. She could feel her heart going faster and faster, her body beginning to ache from the strain as she reached the end of the room, and rapidly turned. Sweeping her sword around in a wide arc, before repeating the hacking motion. It was mind numbing, but she supposed it would be good to practice, considering how often one would block another with their blade with subtle twists of their sword. Twists like this.

After several more chimes spent practicing the same motion, Blythe brought the white katana a little higher, raising the sword far over her shoulder, before bringing it back down. The sword seemed to slam through the air, slicing it mercilessly on its journey towards her feet. When it came to its low, the woman manipulated her hands, turning the katana's point on the ground. She drove it down, lightly, finishing all. She gasped for breath as she stared out into the room, at the fading candle light. She could feel trickles of sweat pouring down her brow as she raised her hands, one final time, and sheathed her sword. That was quite the training session, she thought, as she backed towards the door. Exhausted as she was, still resolved to offer a helping hand to those in need.

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Blythe Skills Weapon: Katana- 5 XP Observation- 3 XP Philosophy-1 XP Lores A Break From Chaos Training By Candlelight Is a Sword Needed In a Time Like This? Comments : Awesome solo Blythe! I think Normally I would have gone 3-4 XP points for a weapon if one simply swung it around like you did, but you wrote it excellently so I decided 5 points would be sufficient. If you have any questions go ahead and shoot me a PM!