Inherent Legacies
Frost 1st, 123rd Year, A.o.S.
Snowflakes danced gently downward through the air as the Proving Grounds were emptier than usual. Though, sounds of blades clashing filled the arena, where a constant flow of swings and blows rang in vivid harmony. Rickter had been diligent with trying to keep up, and yet, no matter how quick his reflexes grew he still failed to perceive every swing directed at him.
Ishin was ever the relentless teacher when it came to his training, and while the wolf had no intentions of disappointing him, the sheer fact the old man could move was an astounding thing to observe. Left from the shoulder, another clash of steel against steel, right from the hip, the song of swords cried out once more, and then a follow up from the left hip!
Yet the moment Rickter brandished his bastard sword to counter the katana, he felt a secondary attack follow that last one, striking him across the abdomen before he could even stagger or react. Wha- fuck!! Once he finally reacted with his arms held over his gut, the wolf stepped back to refrain from bending his knees any. Ishin got him good with that last strike, as Rickter didn't even see the flourish of the blade.
"Well your reflexes are getting better, that is, when it comes to moving out of habit anyway." The old man lectured him as he rested his katana against his shoulder, the wolf thankful that the man had such perfect control over his own blade. "If that were an actual strike against you though, you would've been on the brink of death the moment you intercepted that attack."
"You move so quickly..." Rickter thought to reason as he rubbed the surface of his belly, feeling tender there as though a bruise was going to form soon. "How do you do it?" The wolf genuinely wanted to know, as if he could learn to be just as quick with his weapon, then perhaps nobody would be able to withstand his attacks. The onslaught he could unleash in just a flash of a moment would be outstanding, that is, if he could learn to simulate such swift strikes like his mentor.
"Years and years of practice and refinement, my boy." Ishin answered with his katana pointed outward from his body. "I've served as Kensei for over forty decades, half that time as one of Raxen's disciples. Much of the training with him has honed my skills sharper than any blade." Rickter's eyes widened at how proud the Kensei sounded, admittedly intrigued enough to wish to meet the Swordmaster himself someday. "You've got a long way to go if you even think you'd like to test your mettle against the likes of him."
"Not that I do, mind you, but if he taught you much then..." He didn't even have to finish that sentence, as the fact Rickter held a sheer appreciation for their level of swordplay brought a grin to Ishin's lips.
"To say His is a true art of the sword is an understatement," he added with a flick of his katana downward, "which you're not half bad as you are now. Your movements remain rigid as if you're trying to anticipate things, once your body moves out of habit, it becomes difficult to react to new tricks accordingly."
"To be honest, I just try to pay attention to what my weapon tells me." Rickter admitted with a glance down at his sword. "When I'm fighting and Howling Fang is struck, I sometimes get impressions on where to move next, as if the blade is trying to guide me through battle." Ishin raised an eyebrow at him then, before he finally groaned to himself with his brows slightly furrowed.
"So that's one of your little tricks then, is it? I knew it had to do something with your Reaving weaponry." The wolf looked to him curiously then. "It's one thing to pay mind to what your weapons tell you, but they will not always guide you to victory Rickter. Simply paying attention to them isn't what wins the battle, it's the will you carry as you hold those weapons which determines the outcome."
Ishin brought his katana up once more before turning it downward with his fingers, gradually sheathing the weapon in the scabbard at his waist as he stood straighter than before. "Much of what I have to teach you can improve your sword skills, but it remains up to you to refine the techniques you learn from this training."
"How exactly did you know about Tiberius?" The wolf decided to ask finally, curious as to the nature of Ishin's connection to the man. The Kensei lifted his head up with his eyes still on Rickter, somewhat looking down on the wolf as he folded his arms behind his back.
"Tiberius himself I knew little about, save for what Lord Raxen had told me prior. There were those before you unworthy of possessing the gift he'd passed down, and while I thought same about you when we first met, you proved an utterly stubborn fool who refused to die." The grizzled warrior admitted with a flat tone, his gaze still sharp as he remained focused on Rickter. "That power has already involved too many innocent souls, even before you came to inherit it yourself."
"But..." The blade he held slowly dematerialized as Rickter looked apologetically toward the Kensei. "If I could... would learning to control it help any?"
"To be honest, dear boy, those who came before had thought the same." Ishin answered plainly with an aversion to his gaze. "There were good people. People who did not deserve such a cursed fate, but even so, they went too far and didn't realize it before it was too late."
"Believe me, I never wanted this power..." The wolf admitted with his eyes averted to the grounds of the arena, the snow still falling around them as Ishin focused on Rickter once more. "I don't even know how I discovered it either. When I awoke from being abducted in Zaichaer it just..."
"You awakened and suddenly you could speak with your ancestors?" The wolf looked to Ishin agreeably, confirming the question with an intent nod in turn. "The last one I met who said the same thing, he was an odd fellow who thought he could change the world with that power. It did not take long until it wore him down."
"I... I don't know much about the ancestor I met, but he apparently lived in Zaichaer." Ishin looked at him fervently, as though he picked up on a detail that Rickter had yet to realize. "I only know him as some sort of investigator or something of that accord. Not sure how he died or how he inherited the Echo though."
"That's because plain and simple, that ancestor was either of a very distant relation, or perhaps the Echo itself named a different successor before your time." Ishin pointed out with a thoughtful stroke of his beard. "Regardless their connection to you does not matter, for they are bound to the Echo now that they have passed. As are the countless souls trapped by it."
Rickter clenched his jaw hard at that thought. Thousands of souls bound to a power they didn't ask for? What kind of person would ask for such power, and for what reason would Tiberius want it passed down through his generations? "Then I'll break that bond." The statement alone irked a look of surprise out of Ishin, before the old man broke into laughter in front of Rickter. "What?! You really don't believe me?"
"No, actually, I'm quite impressed with how quickly you drew that conclusion." The Kensei admitted with a wipe of his thumb beneath one of his eyes. Clearly, Rickter had made him nearly laugh to tears with that little statement. "Whether that can be done or not, I do not know, but that is exactly why I saw real potential in you boy. As slow as you are most of the time, you're still keen on upholding the beliefs you have. Not many who are given power would seek to destroy that power."
"It's not a power worth keeping if it entraps others," Rickter almost argued with a furrow in his brow, "a soul is meant to pass on and reincarnate when the body dies. If the souls of my ancestors are bound to this power, then don't they deserve a chance to be released and find peace?"
"Few who came before you felt the same, none of them ever found a way to carry out such will." Ishin remarked flatly though still with a smile on his face. "Whether you can or not, I've yet to see the truth in that. Perhaps there are some things that even I'm not meant to know." The smile on his face broadened a bit more, leading Ishin to draw closer and rest a hand on Rickter's shoulders.
"Whether or not you do learn to control this power, understand Rickter that with control comes untold dangers. You would do well to learn to guard yourself against it first, and then seek a way of releasing those bound to it." The wolf looked into his mentor's eyes with a humbled smile, thankful to have someone as wise as him to teach these important lessons. "That should conclude your lessons on swordplay for the day. Tomorrow, we'll resume by teaching you how to react to your opponent's moves. If you can learn to dodge or parry them instinctively, then your weaponry shall kick it up a notch for you."
"Thank you... master." He admitted feeling a bit strange, but also proud, to call the Kensei such. "I promise I'll work hard and learn everything I can from you." The old man scoffed before chuckling in response.
Frost 1st, 123rd Year, A.o.S.
Snowflakes danced gently downward through the air as the Proving Grounds were emptier than usual. Though, sounds of blades clashing filled the arena, where a constant flow of swings and blows rang in vivid harmony. Rickter had been diligent with trying to keep up, and yet, no matter how quick his reflexes grew he still failed to perceive every swing directed at him.
Ishin was ever the relentless teacher when it came to his training, and while the wolf had no intentions of disappointing him, the sheer fact the old man could move was an astounding thing to observe. Left from the shoulder, another clash of steel against steel, right from the hip, the song of swords cried out once more, and then a follow up from the left hip!
Yet the moment Rickter brandished his bastard sword to counter the katana, he felt a secondary attack follow that last one, striking him across the abdomen before he could even stagger or react. Wha- fuck!! Once he finally reacted with his arms held over his gut, the wolf stepped back to refrain from bending his knees any. Ishin got him good with that last strike, as Rickter didn't even see the flourish of the blade.
"Well your reflexes are getting better, that is, when it comes to moving out of habit anyway." The old man lectured him as he rested his katana against his shoulder, the wolf thankful that the man had such perfect control over his own blade. "If that were an actual strike against you though, you would've been on the brink of death the moment you intercepted that attack."
"You move so quickly..." Rickter thought to reason as he rubbed the surface of his belly, feeling tender there as though a bruise was going to form soon. "How do you do it?" The wolf genuinely wanted to know, as if he could learn to be just as quick with his weapon, then perhaps nobody would be able to withstand his attacks. The onslaught he could unleash in just a flash of a moment would be outstanding, that is, if he could learn to simulate such swift strikes like his mentor.
"Years and years of practice and refinement, my boy." Ishin answered with his katana pointed outward from his body. "I've served as Kensei for over forty decades, half that time as one of Raxen's disciples. Much of the training with him has honed my skills sharper than any blade." Rickter's eyes widened at how proud the Kensei sounded, admittedly intrigued enough to wish to meet the Swordmaster himself someday. "You've got a long way to go if you even think you'd like to test your mettle against the likes of him."
"Not that I do, mind you, but if he taught you much then..." He didn't even have to finish that sentence, as the fact Rickter held a sheer appreciation for their level of swordplay brought a grin to Ishin's lips.
"To say His is a true art of the sword is an understatement," he added with a flick of his katana downward, "which you're not half bad as you are now. Your movements remain rigid as if you're trying to anticipate things, once your body moves out of habit, it becomes difficult to react to new tricks accordingly."
"To be honest, I just try to pay attention to what my weapon tells me." Rickter admitted with a glance down at his sword. "When I'm fighting and Howling Fang is struck, I sometimes get impressions on where to move next, as if the blade is trying to guide me through battle." Ishin raised an eyebrow at him then, before he finally groaned to himself with his brows slightly furrowed.
"So that's one of your little tricks then, is it? I knew it had to do something with your Reaving weaponry." The wolf looked to him curiously then. "It's one thing to pay mind to what your weapons tell you, but they will not always guide you to victory Rickter. Simply paying attention to them isn't what wins the battle, it's the will you carry as you hold those weapons which determines the outcome."
Ishin brought his katana up once more before turning it downward with his fingers, gradually sheathing the weapon in the scabbard at his waist as he stood straighter than before. "Much of what I have to teach you can improve your sword skills, but it remains up to you to refine the techniques you learn from this training."
"How exactly did you know about Tiberius?" The wolf decided to ask finally, curious as to the nature of Ishin's connection to the man. The Kensei lifted his head up with his eyes still on Rickter, somewhat looking down on the wolf as he folded his arms behind his back.
"Tiberius himself I knew little about, save for what Lord Raxen had told me prior. There were those before you unworthy of possessing the gift he'd passed down, and while I thought same about you when we first met, you proved an utterly stubborn fool who refused to die." The grizzled warrior admitted with a flat tone, his gaze still sharp as he remained focused on Rickter. "That power has already involved too many innocent souls, even before you came to inherit it yourself."
"But..." The blade he held slowly dematerialized as Rickter looked apologetically toward the Kensei. "If I could... would learning to control it help any?"
"To be honest, dear boy, those who came before had thought the same." Ishin answered plainly with an aversion to his gaze. "There were good people. People who did not deserve such a cursed fate, but even so, they went too far and didn't realize it before it was too late."
"Believe me, I never wanted this power..." The wolf admitted with his eyes averted to the grounds of the arena, the snow still falling around them as Ishin focused on Rickter once more. "I don't even know how I discovered it either. When I awoke from being abducted in Zaichaer it just..."
"You awakened and suddenly you could speak with your ancestors?" The wolf looked to Ishin agreeably, confirming the question with an intent nod in turn. "The last one I met who said the same thing, he was an odd fellow who thought he could change the world with that power. It did not take long until it wore him down."
"I... I don't know much about the ancestor I met, but he apparently lived in Zaichaer." Ishin looked at him fervently, as though he picked up on a detail that Rickter had yet to realize. "I only know him as some sort of investigator or something of that accord. Not sure how he died or how he inherited the Echo though."
"That's because plain and simple, that ancestor was either of a very distant relation, or perhaps the Echo itself named a different successor before your time." Ishin pointed out with a thoughtful stroke of his beard. "Regardless their connection to you does not matter, for they are bound to the Echo now that they have passed. As are the countless souls trapped by it."
Rickter clenched his jaw hard at that thought. Thousands of souls bound to a power they didn't ask for? What kind of person would ask for such power, and for what reason would Tiberius want it passed down through his generations? "Then I'll break that bond." The statement alone irked a look of surprise out of Ishin, before the old man broke into laughter in front of Rickter. "What?! You really don't believe me?"
"No, actually, I'm quite impressed with how quickly you drew that conclusion." The Kensei admitted with a wipe of his thumb beneath one of his eyes. Clearly, Rickter had made him nearly laugh to tears with that little statement. "Whether that can be done or not, I do not know, but that is exactly why I saw real potential in you boy. As slow as you are most of the time, you're still keen on upholding the beliefs you have. Not many who are given power would seek to destroy that power."
"It's not a power worth keeping if it entraps others," Rickter almost argued with a furrow in his brow, "a soul is meant to pass on and reincarnate when the body dies. If the souls of my ancestors are bound to this power, then don't they deserve a chance to be released and find peace?"
"Few who came before you felt the same, none of them ever found a way to carry out such will." Ishin remarked flatly though still with a smile on his face. "Whether you can or not, I've yet to see the truth in that. Perhaps there are some things that even I'm not meant to know." The smile on his face broadened a bit more, leading Ishin to draw closer and rest a hand on Rickter's shoulders.
"Whether or not you do learn to control this power, understand Rickter that with control comes untold dangers. You would do well to learn to guard yourself against it first, and then seek a way of releasing those bound to it." The wolf looked into his mentor's eyes with a humbled smile, thankful to have someone as wise as him to teach these important lessons. "That should conclude your lessons on swordplay for the day. Tomorrow, we'll resume by teaching you how to react to your opponent's moves. If you can learn to dodge or parry them instinctively, then your weaponry shall kick it up a notch for you."
"Thank you... master." He admitted feeling a bit strange, but also proud, to call the Kensei such. "I promise I'll work hard and learn everything I can from you." The old man scoffed before chuckling in response.
"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Dialogue" Monologue
"Dialogue" Monologue
