April Rosevolt
"What... no one can help the one they love without wanting something in return? No one can help someone just because they want to? Because you think it doesn't 'profit' that person? I don't know what world you come from, but ours does not rely on wanting something in return just for a good deed. He wants nothing in return, and neither do I. I've gotten what I wanted already," he snapped.
A brief look of surprised manifested as April was met with his reprimand. Touya sounded extremely offended when she’d suggested an ulterior motive, something he must’ve thought applied to his own actions. Not that it was entirely irrelevant.
“Mmmm, you certainly have, but I wonder if that’s enough to satisfy you?” she mused, sauntering over to where Touya stood. April paused besides him facing the other direction, and apart from the disparity in height, their shoulders were centimeters from touching. “I only wished to convey that charity doesn’t make the world go round and that I’m willing to repay the debt or help if there isn’t one. A volunteer that feeds the starving still needs food to eat.”
She let the matter drop, knowing better than to argue further with him on what essentially boiled down to a difference in cultural beliefs. This was his territory after all, in a manner of speaking, and her time with the other therians had shown her that their behavior tended to be unusually selfless. Still, the thoughts bothered her until Sharye pounced on her arms. The youth appeared much like a ghost and her body followed as it was jerked in the direction of the entrance.
“Wha-?”
"Come on! Let's go see Bordal," he exclaimed, practically dragging her through the doorway. His excitement was palpable at the prospect of seeing even the slightest bit of action. April frowned, recognizing the familiar youthful exuberance so commonly associated with trainees. Before the horrors of war touched them.
“Touya!” she yelped, instinctively calling on the therian for assistance. Touya remained unperturbed as he casually materialized out of the exit and tailed the duo.
"I forgot to mention, I sent one of the Therian's here to the closest town. I told them to give Reginald a message, letting him know about our position and what's going to happen. I can only hope that they'll be ready in time to join us. They should get it in the next few days."
“You sent him to meet Reginald’s contact?” she asked, more to herself than anyone else, “That’s good thinking. I just hope he’s successful in reaching them.”
By the time her sentence was completed, Sharye had successfully guided them within the premises of a training ring. The relentless clang of weapons was indication enough of their arrival, though any lingering doubt was erased by the permeating stench of sweat. Sharye’s hands finally relinquished their grip as the boy hurried to catch the attention of an intimidating individual. As tall but broader then Touya, Bordal was every inch the warrior she’d been led to believe.
Turning to address the intrusion, his eyes snagged on them, studying his new recruits with impunity. "Havantha, Havanthii. So, this is the woman hybrid. Isn't she a bit... small for you, Havantha?" he said, his voice rumbling deep with amusement. Her blood rushed to her cheeks at the insult, made all the more blatant by the fact that Bordal had switched to the common tongue. Years of ingrained military experience must’ve kicked in then for she somehow resisted the urge to retaliate with a crude remark.
Sitting on her anger for the moment, April told herself to wait until she was inside of the spacious arena before releasing it. “So, what are the rules?” she said, stepping a few feet away from Bordal and planting her hands on her hips.
Bordal slowly unsheathed his weapon as he faced her. She was so much smaller than him that he was partially afraid he'd break her in the first few swings. Her question was simple and he huffed slightly at first.
"Rules? Are you not a fighter yourself? There is only one thing a warrior must know. Honor. Fight to win, Havanthii. Leave the nasty tricks to those that are ruthless and have no sense of self," his deep voice rumbled from his chest as he spoke and he twisted his large sword around so that it glinted in the day light. The steel reflected half of his face, his one good eye trained on her. The other was pale, a large scar trailing over that side of his face telling that eyesight was gone from the side.
"Uoin," he said and motioned with his hand for her to come at him. In the meantime he stood still, his sword lowered and looking almost like he wasn't going to guard at all.
"Then please teach me well," she replied, undaunted by their size discrepancy. Her face scrolled up towards Bordal, her hair strung out and unrestrained by their usual braids. To all other observers, she looked like a frail kitten, and Bordal was the indomitable bear. Analyzing his posture, she was shocked to discover a complete lack of openings despite his casual appearance, though that only fueled fires of her anger. He was underestimating her.
Reaching down, she unsheathed the sword by her waist and hefted it gingerly. It had only been a month or so since she last used one, yet the experience now was entirely different. Somehow it felt lighter within her grip, it barely felt like she was lifting anything.
A contest of strength was likely to end in his favor, and she was certain he could match her speed on equal terms. Quickly, she came to the only conclusion available and bounced forwards. Her movements were fleeting as she easily covered the distance between them, bringing her sword around in a deadly arc. She didn't expect the first strike to hit so the moment their blades collided, she span side ways, favoring his blind side as she delivering a torrent of blows.
Touya raised an eyebrow as she came at him, aiming for his right side and then switching to his left immediately. Next to him Sharye snickered slightly, the youth leaned forward on the railing and grinned broadly.
"I knew she was going to do that," exclaimed the youth.
Touya sighed heavily. He would have thought that she would realize that when one has a weakness, they train to cover that more than anything else. In Bordal's situation he'd trained and learned that his blindness was a major point of interest to others. They thought that because he was blind he would not realize that they were going for that side. Thus the reason for training all of his senses.
Bordal batted aside her first strike and then watched as she shifted her body. He noted the movement easily, her body language had told him that she would switch sides the moment she struck. The large Therian turned and followed her, letting his blade take every hit that she delivered. He hadn't even struck back yet.
"Body language, Havanthii," Bordal said and once he'd taken the last of her hits, he finally swung out at her. He bent over slightly and leaned forward with his sword. The weapon swiped horizontally at her.
Much to her horror, fighting Bordal was like fighting a brick wall. Each of her strokes cut thin air, deftly averted by the aging therian. How preposterous. April's mind swam in discomfort, reeling from having been so easily rebuked. He was tormenting her purposefully and each gust of wind past her eyes and ears came with a surge of irritation. After the dozenth blow, she swerved back with a huff, her sword close to tatters from the force of their collisions.
Spontaneously, he attacked her, bringing his sword around in an vicious arc straight to her stomach. A searing pain coursed through her arms as she deflected the powerful blow, just barely avoiding disembowelment. She cried out in agony, unused to the fresh wave of sensations that jolted her wrists. Wobbling back in the dust, she teetered on the edge of collapse.
Don't stop April, attack, defend, attack. She found herself trembling as her eyes traced the movements of her opponent and she sprang back with a powerful thrust. Taking advantage of his lowered form, she ran past and vaulted up, using his shoulder as support. She managed to tumble and go with the fall, slicing his back at the same time.
The sharp cry stung Touya's ears and made him grind his teeth. Had it been any other situation he would have rushed in and killed the man who hurt her. However, this was training and Bordal was doing his job. April was a quick learner however.
Utilizing her body she vaulted over him, tossing herself up and over via Bordal's broad shoulder. This surprised the tall Therian and he was far to slow to turn around with her up in the air. As she came down, her sword followed and there was a nice thin gash down Bordal's back. The Therian grunted from the wound and turned on his heel to face her.
"Better, much better," he commented. Twisting his sword around in his hand he went at her again, "Use your body. Balance is key. Find where you feel most balanced. Your weapons will feel like an extension of your own body once you've done so. Fluid and grace gives you speed and power," he instructed as he attacked again.
April nimbly hopped up and around from her forward roll, bringing herself face to face with Bordal. In the time she had to study his moves, it was obvious he knew how to protect his blind spot. Fortunately for her, so far all he'd done was defend. Unfortunately that was about to change however.
There was no time to celebrate or consider his advice for he was upon her instantly. Bordal was frightening as he launched forwards, spinning his blade so fast there was nothing but a steel-blue whirl. It came down in a series of alternating swings, crisscrossing her sword guard. April's teeth ground as she blocked, twist and side stepped in a fervor of desperation. For a moment she managed to hold her own, sustaining only several shallow wounds, until her sword shattered under the build up of stress.
Shards of broken metal careened outwards, pattering the arena with tiny fragments. Astonishingly, instead of yielding like a normal opponent, April met the challenge head-on. Growling, she tossed the handle high into his face and then lashed out with a sweeping kick at his legs, praying to topple him.
The swords shattering filled the air, sparkles of steel went flying all over the dirt training grounds. One would have normally given up after getting their weapon destroyed, but April was no such person. Bordal, having pulled back after completely shattering her weapon, barely caught the jagged end of her blade as she threw it up at him randomly.
It was a good move and in the next instant, he lost sight of her. The woman dropped down and kicked her legs out, tying them up with his own. The power in her attack wasn't lost either and Bordal stumbled. Sharye yelled out in excitement from his spot and Touya leaned against his hand, a smile curving his lips. She'd definitely proved herself a worthy opponent to the Therian.
Bordal let his heavy mass drop to the ground, but he hardly stayed still. He used his mass and momentum to flip his body backwards and land with one knee on the ground, the other lifted. There Bordal knelt and eyed April from a distance. After a moment he stood and sheathed his weapon. Walking over to her, he offered her his hand to help her back to her feet.
"You're a good fighter with and without a weapon. I believe this training will not take you very long. However, human's steel still needs some improvement. Get fixed up via Grashath and then get to a smithery. Sharye can help you, find a new weapon Havanthii. We'll start again later today, if you're up to it."
"Thanks. I hope I wasn't too small for you to hit," she panted, graciously accepting Bordal's assistance despite the taunt. She rose up, tittering from the rush of her victory and adrenaline before returning to Touya.
April crashed over the fence, resting her elbows on the wooden post to remain upright. Gazing up from her heaving chest, she cocked her head side ways and grinned at him. "So, did you win your bet?"