At a table out back of the house, Teo and an elder gentleman were talking and drinking wine. Sarah was inside the house preparing lunch. Next to Teo sat a scrawny ten year old boy, who was listening quietly. His hair was short and black, part of it hanging over the side of his face, covering his right eye. His eyes themselves, were gray in color, just like his mother's.
The child, of course, was none other than Rane.
Teo asked the older man sitting cross from him,
"So, Raijin, how are things with that dojo of yours eh? Any promising new talents lately?"
Raijin sipped his wine before answering. "Indeed, we've been getting some rather promising recruits lately. The popularity of my dojo increased when the public found out that our swordsmen were being scouted by the royal army. Speaking of recruits, I brought one of my disciples with me."
Raijin jerked a thumb over his shoulder to the boy standing behind him. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, with a wooden sword strapped to his waist. He was two years older than Rane, and his gaze seemed rather intense for a boy his age. Clearly, his training had hardened him somewhat.
Teo nodded in approval. "Not bad. He looks rather competent. I imagine he could put up a fight even against swordsmen who were a few years older than him."
Teo himself was a swordsman in his younger days, but had given that up for a quiet life in the countryside with his family. But in reality, he wasn't half bad. In fact, he was almost on par with some world famous sword masters, who were said to be unparalleled in battle.
Raijin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Indeed, he's not bad. He does show some promise. Perhaps you'd like a demonstration?"
Teo took a drink of wine and said, "Sure! let's see what he's got!"
Raijin looked to the boy behind him and instructed, "Jean, form one. The first three strikes."
Jean nodded in response. "Yes, instructor Raijin."
He then moved into an empty spot in the yard. After taking a balanced stance with sword in both hands, he swung three times. First a horizontal slash, then from the momentum of his first swing he pivoted and gave a whirling backhand, followed by a lunging downward strike. The moves were well executed, and with the momentum of his final strike he crossed a distance of about three feet.
Teo chuckled after watching. "Not bad kid! You've got decent form there!" Raijin himself smiled approvingly, until something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. He glanced over and noticed Rane staring in Jean's direction. At first he appeared to be spacing out, but his eyes showed an intense focus.
Raijin raised an eyebrow. "Eh? Say, Teo, have you passed any of your skills on to Rane there? He looks quite interested in swordplay."
Teo waved a hand dismissively. "I haven't, no. I've been more focused on his education since I can't send him to a school in the city. Actually, the boy's never even touched a sword before." He then glanced at Rane. "How about it son, want to give it a try?"
Rane was still staring at Jean intensely but he nodded without saying a word. He stood up to meet Jean in the field, Raijin passed him a wooden sword as he did so. Jean stepped aside to give him space, frowning slightly as he did so. To him, Rane's movements seemed uncoordinated, clumsy even, and all he was doing was walking. How could he possibly handle a sword?
With a hint of concern, Jean started speaking, "Do you need me to show you the moves again? It might be easier if-"
Before he could finish his sentence, he was cut off by a sudden gust of wind. Rane's body had become a blur as he performed the same three moves Jean had earlier, and with his last strike, Rane vanished from view entirely. Shocked, Jean turned his head, wide eyed to relocate Rane - he was now standing on the other side of the field. The momentum of his lunging strike had carried him across twenty feet!!
Stunned, Raijin and Teo dropped their wine cups, and Sarah, who had just stepped outside with a tray of food, dropped that as well. The four of them looked at Rane in utter surprise. and shouted in unison:
"...WHAT!?!"