► Chapitre 5

[luxe_can_kill]

[At the grounds, Mitsuru is enjoying the spring weather... by setting rolled up tatami mats with wooden cores.  There's around 20 mats set up in the open. Mitsuru stands at the "starting point", with a new sword in hand. The hilt is the exact same as her rapier, but the red blade is broader yet shorter than her original sword]

This sidesword is heavier than my rapier... But I could cut and block with it unlike my original sword.

[How well it could cut, she's about to find out... She swung it a couple of times to get ready, then she began her assault. She lunged toward the first tatami mat and slashed it in three swift swings. Taking no breaks in between, she moves from mat to mat as if she is in actual combat. 

Hacking off the last standing tatami mat, she pants and looked behind her. There was a lot of hacked off tatamis, it was almost a scary sight if you imagine them to be chopped off opponents. She looked at the blade in awe, there was no damage to the edge at all. It was enough to make her smile]

C'est magnifique.

Comments

[wishmadeinfire]

<sub>[ Ashura had recovered from both the involuntary singing and his time in space. More than that, he just... needed to get his mind off some things. All these years... well, it was not something to think about right, was it? It was time to just enjoy nature, warmer weather

He hummed to himself, but he grew quiet as he came across Mitsuru, watching he work with her blade and finding himself admiring her form. His gaze followed the flash of the blade with the critical eye of a trained warrior.

When she finished, he came forward, gliding in red and gold silks, lighter now that the weather was turning from cold.]</sub>

You are quite the fair hand at the blade.

[luxe_can_kill]

[Mitsuru turned to look at Ashura. She smiled when she heard his compliment]

Thank you. I train myself regularly, I can't be too sure this place is not safe.

[wishmadeinfire]

I agree. And truth be told, we could use more people with the ability to defend themselves and others. I wish more people would take some sort of defense class, if not the blade.

[luxe_can_kill]

A defense class... [Mitsuru paused to ponder]

That does sound like a good idea, and I admit I have thought of it before albeit very briefly. We may never know when things turn ill, so it would be wise to teach others to defend themselves.

[wishmadeinfire]

Yes, that is my thought. They don't have to know how to kill, only enough to defend themselves enough for either help to arrive or for them to escape.

[luxe_can_kill]

Indeed. Come to think of it, this castle is very vulnerable from an assault. We don't have a military, or a government for that matter.

[wishmadeinfire]

Yes, that is true, but it is also true that the few times it has been attacked have been from within or from Castle induced enemies. The First Gens, to my knowledge, have not made an assault on the Castle itself in quite a long time.

[peacockherald]

<sub>[ It is not every day that you see a fair young maiden wielding a blade. It was not that women could not, where Vanyel was from, only that it was still quite rare. Many girls did not wish to try, though enough of them stood with the Heralds, and his own sister was part of the Army.

He was a fair hand himself, though he had grown accustomed to using his magic in battles against forces greater than steel. But he kept up his skills nonetheless. It would be foolish not too, and his reserves of magic were not as infinite here as they were at home, alas.

And what was more, he remembered this young woman, from beneath the trees. ]</sub>

An avid reader and a swordsman? An unusual combination, but you seem to make it work well.

[luxe_can_kill]

Vanyel, it's good to see you again. And you're not the first person to say that. [She smiles a little]

[peacockherald]

No, I suppose I would not be.

_{[He nodded his head and came forward, holding out his hand. ]}

Might I inspect your blade?

[luxe_can_kill]

Of course. [Mitsuru hands over her sidesword, extending her hand towards Vanyel to give him the hilt]

[peacockherald]

<sub>[ He takes it, examining the blade. He was not an expert, but he had been trained with light blades to fit his stature, as all Heralds were.

He turned the blade and felt the weight, nodding as he handed it back to her. ]</sub>

It is a well balanced blade, the steel seems sound too. It would be a coveted thing back in my world.

[luxe_can_kill]

It is made from expensive materials even in my world. The metal it is made is called Damascus Steel, it's very durable and perfect for swords. [She glanced at the blade and sees the patterns on the steel that looks like flowing water]

[asseenontv]

[Shatterstar had come outside to do some training of his own, but, well, he's not above a little watching. Call it tactical observation of a possible future opponent, though even he knows it's not really that. His admiration seems to be in equal parts devoted to the sword, swordsmanship, and swordswoman.]

Oui.

[luxe_can_kill]

[Mitsuru looked to Shatterstar as she was cleaning up.]

Ah, parlez-vous français?

[asseenontv]

Oui, un peu.

[He switches back to his usual default of English.]

I don't get much practice living in New York, though. My Spanish is far better.

[luxe_can_kill]

I see, that is where I am not quite as proficient in. My family's business does not have a lot of business relations in Spanish-speaking countries. However, I am proficient in Portuguese.

[asseenontv]

I know a fair bit of Portuguese, too - it was easy to pick up after Spanish. My partner is Mexican, so I get plenty of practice.

[luxe_can_kill]

Partner? I assume you were in the police force?

[not_nikkiheat]

[Kate watches Mitsuru in awe. She stays at a safe distance, and makes herself heard before she approaches, so as not to startle Mitsuru.]

That was incredible.

[luxe_can_kill]

Why thank you. It's been a while, Beckett.

[not_nikkiheat]

It has. It's good to see you. You've obviously trained a long time to get that good.

[luxe_can_kill]

[She smiles, it's nice to see a familiar face again]

I have been fencing since I was in junior high school, it became a hobby of mine. Though this type of sword is a little new to me, I mainly trained in the use of a rapier and dagger.

[not_nikkiheat]

You're really good. I've fenced casually, but I haven't really trained in it.

[luxe_can_kill]

I see. Maybe you could try it again? I assume you meant sport fencing with foils, so perhaps you could try with a real sword?