"Wisp what?" Cyran couldn't help but wonder about the name.
"Wisp walking. It's a self made technique and believe me, the next time you see a swarm of wood wisps, sit and watch. The name is a work of art."
He would believe that when he sees it, Cyran thought. Yet, he could not argue with the results. This footwork has been the bane of every sparring session they have had and if it meant that finally the playing field could be slightly more in his favour then Cyran would spare no effort to master this technique.
Even in his younger years, Cyran gave an almost obsessive amount of dedication to honing his swordplay and athletic ability. His dream was to succeed the hero that his Father represented and become a shield for his people and to help him in that endeavour, he needed to be more determined than anyone. This held especially true for his Fathers lessons. They were not easy.
"Okay. I'll explain my process as I go, you copy and we will work from there." Virion released his blade from Cyran and moved to stand in front of him, seamlessly sheathing his weapon in a way that showed his mastery. Virion slowly drew one foot behind him and planted it firmly on the ground.
"So first off, positioning is important. You'll never successfully wisp if you don't lay the foundations of your footwork first. Then I want you to focus on your exit point."
To Cyran's eyes he could see the air around his Fathers legs slightly shimmer with a green hue. He had never seen that happen before. Or rather, he never noticed.
"Did they always do that?" Cyran wordessly mouthed.
"This part is kind of hard for me to explain," Virion continued, "you just wisp."
True to his word, his Father flickered before vanishing and then reappearing a distance away. For Virion, pulling this technique off was as easy as breathing. He was regarded as a martial prodigy in his formative years before adventuring and he only continued to refine his skills. Inventing a new technique unique to a warrior was also uncommon. Many of the residents of the Movarrian Kingdom were versed in magecraft and had no need for physical prowess when a simple fireball blew everything up.
"Dad, how did you make your legs glow like that just before you wisped?" Cyran asked.
"How did I what? Glow? What do you mean?" Virion looked visibly confused.
"Just then. Before you wisped, if you're sure that is the right name for it, your legs shimmered a green colour. What is that?" Cyran needed answers.
"No idea, I didn't see anything. You're probably still in shock from seeing your old man in action," Virion replied, elbowing his son in the arm before gesturing for him to try.
When it came to sword techniques, Cyran had always been able to mimic whatever his Father threw at him upon seeing it for a few times so he took his stance brimming with confidence. Drawing his leg behind him and planting it firmly just as his Father had done, he focused all his power into his legs and exploded forward.
Or so he thought.
He flailed his arms wildly, the shocked expression of only dashing forward 5 feet instead of the 100 he expected was clear to see on his face. Falling forward and burying his face into the soft grass surrounding the Oak of the Sage halted his momentum and the thud was the last sound the forest heard for a while.
Until that silence was broken by Virions booming laughter.
"What a mighty attempt that was! Almost too mighty! Baahaaa, your enemies will quake when they see your earth eating technique!" Slapping his knee, Virion almost keeled over laughing adding insult to injury that this was the closest he had ever gotten his Father to the ground.
"Thanks Dad for inspirational speech for your stupid technique," Cyran sulked. He hated not being able to accomplish his Fathers teachings on the first attempt. Even worse, he had no idea what he did wrong.
"Ha! When you master this, you will eat those words. I promise you," his Father pointed at him rather enthusiastically.
Readying another stance, Cyran looked at his exit point so intensely that he could have bored a hole into the tree beyond his gaze. Rather than take off blindly, he checked his legs.
"No glow," he thought right before his second serving of mud pie.
Another howl of enjoyment came from his Fathers direction who, this time, was holding his sides as if they might threaten to split open.
"That will never get old, by the Sage I wonder if he looked at this the same way," Virion was just regaining composure when his son sat up abruptly, angry at his latest failure.
"He? Who do you mean?"
"Oh uhh... an old adventuring buddy of mine. Pain in my ass and strangest guy I have ever met. Anyway, there was nothing wrong with your physical movements. Your foot placement was fine. There is a part of this that I cannot teach because I simply have no words to explain it. Don't worry too much though," his Father announced, "if you had pulled that off on the first attempt then you would have bested me without even swinging your swords."
The news that even his Father, Sentinel of the Woods, had trouble with this and even made an ass of himself in front of someone else did wonders to console Cyran's battered pride and ego. If not now, then eventually he would be able to make his Fathers unique technique his own.
Slipping his arm back into his battle robe, Virion offered a callused hand to Cyran who promptly accepted.
"That is not an easy technique to learn so that will be all for today. Don't forget your previous drills son and do not be too disheartened. Failure is the catalyst of growth and if this level of skill is finally enough to be a hurdle for you then I have no doubt that you will make a damn fine warrior of the woods. Maybe even a Sentinel like your old man. But then again, pigs will fly!" Cyran felt a huge, weighty palm pat his shoulders as his Father walked back towards the village.
Without looking back, Virion waved one muscular arm in the air, "see you later son!"
Turning to face the Great Oak the young elf sighed.
"That jackass, being so damn great at everything and all," Cyran grumbled, "I have two days left until the selection begins so I guess I have one more thing to worry about. Brilliant."