66 Frost 110
Frost had been really tough on the boy, what with all the weird exercises he had been put through which made something more normal a welcome change for him. A welcome change for him, but not for his father who absolutely despised the idea and yet could not prevent it because he had already given his word that he would not interfere with his son's lessons. At least not until the next year which was the deadline he had for the teacher to get his son to a satisfactory level of proficiency or end up, well, dead. Dead! Not unalive. Youdu was not going to harm a man because he educated his son in an unbecoming fashion but that did not mean he could not try to ruin the man's reputation among the community so he could no longer show his face in public so, as living as dead. That was how he would put it which made him muse on the fates of those drafted into the Dead Legion. While their deaths in the warrens were already a certainty save for three exceptions so far, who would be better off? A man who dies violently in the service to his country or a man who may as well be dead because he would be shunned in the community he had put so much into. No, Youdu had no such power to move the whole of society in Kalzasi but he still had some sway within the various duelists it housed.Axes, swords, spears, knives, running, swimming, grappling were just among the things of his very comprehensive curriculum but they were scraping at the bottom of the barrel now. The spear may be a bad weapon reputation wise for the duelists but at least it could be used in duels but what about bows and arrows? Maybe one or two people have succeeded in using them in duels if Youdu was giving it the benefit of the doubt but as he does not remember hearing of its use, they surely have not gotten far with it. If not in duels just where did the teacher he hired expect his son to use the bow and arrow at? As a hunter in the woods? That was a job for the slayers and speaking of, it was far more likely for a noble to hire a troupe of slayers to hunt for them what they wanted, if it was hunting for materials and carcasses of course because it was too big an undertaking to trouble themselves with it. If noble had to hunt at all, it would be for sport but Shuai's sport should be in dueling where the bow and arrow would prove useless for. Then not hunting or dueling, did Shuai's teacher expect his boy to become a soldier? Youdu would never approve of that!
Yes perhaps if his son was ever in the army, a bow and arrow would keep him far enough from the dangers while being able to make his contribution for the force. In using the bow and arrow his son would most definitely return home safely but considerations of safety aside if he ever did Shuai should use a more acceptable weapon to take him into the fray and get the glory. But that was it for thinking about the bow and arrow, now Youdu was sure enough he would not let his son learn this weapon at all. Damn whatever promises he had made. Was anyone going to question the head of the house in his own estate- other than his wife of course, good morning, hun. His wife with him was not amused and then interrogated him on his motivations and intentions. Though she too had reservations for her son learning how to fight at such an early age and was quite outspoken against it she had come to learn that it was necessary to give Shuai a degree of independence. Nonetheless while she did not stop her husband from doing something rash, she at least cautioned the man to observe Shuai training and his progress of before making any decisions he could not take back.
After all, while Youdu did not pay too much attention to the going ons within the house, the madam knew from the other inhabitants of the estate that Shuai had grown quite fond of his teacher and she did not want her husband to put the son in a position to have to decide between the two prominent figures of his life. Assuring her he would not he then had the help set up breakfast and invited both his son and his master to have it with it. It was only polite for the guest to at least indulge in his host's invitation though so far, the two duelists have had their relationship strictly as the service which could be provided for Shuai, and the boy who was the center of the day's confrontation was dragged along with the man to breakfast before they started the day's training. What were they learning today? "Didn't I tell you father? I'm supposed to learn how to use a bow and arrow today. The master said it would help me get stronger because the stronger people were more effective with a bow and arrow than the people who were accurate. I always thought accuracy would be important so I'm lucky I have my master to show me how I'm wrong." That was interesting, Youdu too thought that the bow was better with the more accurate and seeing that his son was more concerned with strength he tried to influence the days plans. Continually bringing up the whole strength and accuracy debate to try and get his son's training to be on something else, anything else and he would even accept the polearm this time, which in turn was answered for by the teacher always with a good reason for why that thinking flawed.
It was fortunate that the confrontation between the two duelists used their sharp minds instead of their sharper weapons or things would have gotten ugly. And though for those capable enough to see within the lines, they would easily be able to tell despite the amicable atmosphere of the host and the cordial manner of the guest, there was this tense situation ready to break out at a moment's notice. Shuai was not one of those people and was content to simply enjoy his breakfast end engage in the conversation. Youdu paying attention to his young son was always something the boy enjoyed. Shuai was firing on all cylinders to answer all his father's questions about his training, the man becoming more obvious in his hints there were better weapons his son should be putting efforts into mastering and though some of these statements gave him pause his teacher came in with an answer one better than the last. The confrontation between the duelists have now been taken one stage further as now even party lines were drawn.
Shuai's mother finally arrived to breakfast fashionably late- purposely late as she had not expected her husband to be so persistent in this. The head of house Chisuo was certainly very free and maybe she now had her chance to force on him even more commitments. But not that day as she had no intention in getting involved with, whatever this was between the two men and the child they were trying to impress their vision upon. The kiss on Youdu's cheek seemed like the bliss of family life but not with the sharp barb accompanying it, her warning from earlier in the morning repeated once more. "You aren't going to join us mother? Father was just talking to master about my training and I think I might want to try throwing some knives instead of shooting arrows. It sounds a lot cooler!" though not practical as his teacher reminded him, Shuai was still not strong enough to throw the weapon far. He needed a lot more strength and at least the bow would help him make up for that. The fight between Youdu and his counterpart would never rest it would seem and remained strong, the madam was glad she had already decided to give breakfast with the husband a miss, but for one moment of peace when they found a common enemy.
A crossbow? Really? What in the hells woman! This was the reason why a woman had no place in a fight. Of course this was not said out loud as the two men only gave polite laughs, the gentle way of telling someone they were no longer wanted but remaining nice which was why Shuai was not even aware of the men's new enemy. The madam Chisuo really knew what buttons to push to control her husband but the worst of it was Shuai actually considered it. "Do we have a crossbow? Maybe I want to try one if mother thinks its something I should learn." Both men quickly tried to dissuade the boy in their own way. His father pushed the point that the crossbow used no strength and would be no good for his son's goal while his teacher brought up the point that it was a peasant's weapon since it did not need much training to use- using the bow would take him much further and allow him to beat his opponents while the crossbow might give him the opening to attack while they laughed at them.
The woman knowing that she had overstayed her welcome gave the fondest of her farewells, she would definitely love to stay and chat with you boys but I have places to be and things to do so don't wait for me. Shuai you listen to your teacher and you, make sure you teach him well like your own son alright? Honey, you play nice with them and remember it's their time together and you can fix another playdate with our boy alright? Don't let your jealousy take over, he's only Shuai teacher- and he loves him- but not as much as you his loving and supportive father. A stylish exit, the specialty of the modern day noble woman but admits all that warmth the last message to her husband was clear and she did not want to hear about anything insane going on in her home just because the two bull headed men were so intent on crossing horns.
A loving husband with the utmost respect for his wife but with an opponent who had entered so far into his own territory, he was far too clouded by the challenge to heed the woman's warning. What did women know about duels and warfare anyway? Father and teacher continued with their repartee, the only way either of them could have their fight in front of the boy. At least that was until the conversation shifted from the weapons the boy was to use to the weapons they themselves used in a fight. Each boasted about their performance in the best fights of their lives but to their credit were not quick to hide the lessons they have taken from their worsts. Boy, you should have seen me in my prime, they could not help but repeat but maybe Shuai would have his chance to watch them one day. After all they were still living and healthy, the perfect examples of the belief any fight you can walk away from is a good one. Shuai thought a little about the conversation between the men, actually a lot as by the furrowing of his brow they had to ask if something was the matter with him. Then he asked the fateful question.
"Why can't you fight now? I will re free you guy's for you. Yes I mean referee. I just need to make sure you don't break the rules right?" That was simplifying it but keeping it simple for Shuai was a good thing. But they really should not, or should they? If word got back to the madam Youdu would be in the doghouse for a long time and the teacher really should not be letting his personal grudges get in the way of his students lessons. Both adults started to give excuses to avoid the physical confrontation until Shuai pressed on, "who would win in a fight?" Right it was settled then, he was going to referee their match. Doing the best he could to memorize the rules, feeling he had done all he could he asked the two men who had already retrieved their weapons "are you all ready? Wait I thought you shouldn't have your weapons out before I say go? No cheating!" Youdu was really raring to go and teach the man a lesson. It was his only regret this was not an official duel to the death so he could get rid of this thorn in his son's side once and for all although even in an actual duel like that, could he really draw blood in front of his son when he was still in his impressionable age of innocence?
The match went surprisingly fast- surprising because for most of the time both duelists were keeping their distance, posturing and taunting. Was this how real duels were? It was kind of boring actually. Then the action began, Shuai despite taking his responsibilities as the referee watching the fight did not even catch the first move- the first few exchanges. Both men were jumping around making it so much harder to watch and then the match ended in one strike. One strike because after taking the hit his teacher immediately conceded. In a real duel to the death he would have lost in finality.
But it was all for the good of the boy right? That was the last blow and the most effective which had made the victor feel like the loser that day.