The Training

Myra called to him. "Velkyn'uss..." she didn't know his name and she was beginning to remember a little more of her mother's language as the days past. Everywhere she went her 'hidden one' seemed to be with her. At first he had seemed a malevolent force. But now... protective. And, in his own way, he had offered to train her in the way of the blade. Myra mused to herself, how would Mord'sythe react to know that the one he had 'designated' to train her would be secondary? Mentally shrugging, she gathered the few items she would need.
He would meet her behind the shrine of Justice. It would be best if none saw her. If none knew what she was doing. She passed Dobbs and a female chatting off by the Winery, smiled and waved... continued on her way. As she rounded the to the back of the shrine, "Velkyn'uss" came into view from the shadows. With a nod, he planted a small stone into the dirt. The gate soon arose and the two departed into the deadlands, where her training would begin.

********

None the worse for wear, Myra stepped through the gate near Yew. She was to meet Q'wellen in front of the Justice shrine for her "first" training session. With a devilish grin, she made her way toward the shrine. Just maybe she'd surprise him.

She had, at that. He commented how her style seemed somehow familiar, yet altogether different than anything he himself knew. She only smiled, determined and focused on her task. They went back and forth for hours. Neither giving ground. Myra taking as much as she could. Her style was agressive, it was true. Each time she scored a hit a 'beginner' should not have been able to make, Q'wellen upped the level of the training. Soon their 'training' session seemed more like a true battle. He attacked, she countered. Turning it back on him, he parried. Spinning. Dodges. The more she focused, the more intense he became. They spoke as they fought. Each spouting different ideals of battle.

As they continued on, Myra enjoyed the challenge. Then something changed. Q'wellen's attacks came advanced in speed and power. His eyes no longer had the blaze of a good challenge of the blade accompanied by wit... But held the distant look he often got when he fell into the Bladesong. He wasn't intent on killing her, but steadily wearing her down. And he did just that. Myra conserved her energy. Some part of her telling her she should snap him out of his 'trance', another part enjoying the challenge too much to stop him.

As she grew tired, and clumsy... her basic training skills no match for his.... she decided it had gone far enough. "Q'wellen..." He didn't respond. She tried again. "Q'wellen......." this time, her voice was more insistent. Still nothing. Her lips formed into a thin line of grim determination. Springing forward she dove between his feet, twisting over. The cut on her back would likely get infected for skidding on the ground, but that was the least of her concerns. As she landed, she brought up her feet. Having come out behind him, she planted her feet on his rear and kicked out. The end result was that he ended up sprawled face first in the dirt.

She rose into a crouch, watching him. Sometime during their fight, she had drawn a second blade to strengthen her faltering defense. Q'wellen had come out of it, however and she soon relaxed, rising and sheathing the blades. It had been a successful first day of training. She would be ready.

"One week..."