(This post was written by myself , Daimayo and Imehal)
North of Wing City - A temple at the base of the mountains
It had been several weeks since Kento had joined up under the Patronus' cause, and many weeks of hard work and persistence in getting him ready to face the trials ahead.
The afternoon at the temple was pleasant enough, despite the chillingly cold weather, and the light layering of snow over the ground. However, the glare of the sunlight against the white covering, left visibility painful at best.
Rynhart was seated atop a large rocky outcrop, at the edge of the steep hill, playing a catchy little tune on his flute, while the others engaged in more vigorous activities.
“Watch your footing,” came the rumbling growl of the dragonborn warrior, stepping forward with a powerful backhanded slash of her longsword towards Kento's midsection. Taima was seeking to use her larger size and strength to force Kento back across the treacherous terrain, slick with snow and ice, and littered with rocks.
Kento was far from a beginner, but fighting on such icy ground was difficult for even veteran warriors.
Stepping back and trying to resist the urge to look at his feet, Kento didn't attempt to block the heavier blade, moving quickly out of reach of the swing... he'd been playing defensively for the entire sparring match, his outclassed ability with a blade and the feelings of intimidation that he couldn't resist letting control him every time he looked at Taima's larger frame keeping him from attacking.
The blacksmith had already almost fallen twice now, slipping on a sudden patch of ice, but each time Kento blocked the dragonborn's blade, the jarring sensation numbed his fingers a little bit more. Steeling himself, he sidestepped away from the side that she held her blade at, and lunged in an attempt to thrust his sword into the leather armour that she wore... he didn't want to be pressured into continuing to walk backwards, opting to circle and push her back with the stabbing of his blade.
Parlina had taken her place beside Rynhart, naturally assuming that the pleasant tune coming from his flute reflected accurately his temperament. Not that she was paying terribly much attention to him, as interesting a fellow he was. No her aquamarine eyes were watching the slanted combat between Kento and Taima. There had been a few sessions like this already and she liked being present for more than one reason.
Little green spirits floated within a few feet of the combatants, not interfering but acting as her eyes and ears. Other than observation and gaining insight onto better cohesion for the group, the druidess was sitting on the sidelines just in case anything went wrong. When this had all first started she had felt constantly nervous for Kento but now, Parlina often just felt a sense of pride. He was not exactly fighting toe-to-toe with Taima but it was a vast improvement over the entirely defensive nature of previous sessions.
Her smile was infectious, leaning forward with her chin in her hands.
The resounding clang of Kento's sword against Taima's shield echoed down over the rolling rocky hills, but Rynhart did not seem disturbed, his eyes closing as he became lost in his musical piece. The lively tune was almost invigorating as it seeped into the minds and souls of those that listened to the notes.
It would be difficult to place whether the effects were magical in nature, or merely inspiring, but Kento's reservations against his larger opponent were a concern that would need to be addressed. His fear was keeping the courage Taima had witnessed previously, locked away, and Rynhart subtly sought to coax that back to the surface.
Not that anyone would be aware of what it was he was doing, as the clash of steel against steel continued to fill the air.
Kento barely noticed the tune, swept up in the fight now... Although he was focused on the sparring match, the young man couldn't help but feel some pride in how quickly he knew he was progressing in his training. Kento was still no match for his larger mentor, that much was sure... but he was also beginning to make a few attempts to attack.
The thoughts elated him as he stepped forwards again, pressing the offense and unwilling to relent the momentary respite from dodging and sidestepping. Feeling his heart pounding, he swung his sword at the dragonborn... his hesitant attack growing slightly bolder. Kento began to smile as they sparred. The weeks of training were paying off.