"When I first herd you had blessings, I thought you were a noble"
"Huh? Where's this coming from"
It's the middle of winter now, turns out the 'reverse snow globe effect' has a limit. I've gotten used to calling it that now, after seeing the small glass bowl miniature it was hard to think of anything else it resembled.
Unfortunately due to the weather I've been stuck inside for over half a season now, well since halfway through Harvest season that is, so a full seasons length.
Right now Ota and I are sparring with wooden maces and bucklers in one of the many connected buildings attached to the tower.
It was a rather huge building, made of mostly wood, stone and glass. The stone itself was used to hold a secret, giant and practically indestructible dragon scales used in the foundation at half of the impressively tall walls.
White crystal lights and high windows illuminated the interior to a perfect brightness.
The crystal technology here, while rather basic, was made easily available thanks to Dragon Mort's connection to the Nala Mountain Range Alliance and trade route that allowed this city to act as a neutral hub for settlements and nearby Kingdoms.
This hall was built to train a generation of individuals that might become strong enough to surpass someone like Enda.
People with the potential to become something far greater or wield the power of a relic.
"You know, having blessing usually mean your're a noble?"
Despite the towers origin of Enda needing a lookout as the dragons body was disposed of, over time it grew into separate buildings and connected to last through this very weather.
I really, really wanted to take a look at the city from outside at this point, the closest I've had is from the hot spring rooftop.
Enda placed a enchantment in order to stop peeping toms, although I could tell we happen to be so far up it would only really be possible from nearby hills a quarter day walking away. Sadly that obscurement worked both ways, making looking down on the city a blurry mess.
"Really? I didn't know that"
"Yeah, apparently those aren't very strong, but still useful, even if they lit on those laurels they have to be trained to use that power"
"Huh, I'd say my blessing isn't that strong to"
The ability to feel out someone's intention by looking at them is handy, but it's not exactly easy to focus on those indications in the middle of a fight.
Only a god knows how the other blessing I have works, after testing how it worked with Eyebore we couldn't pin down what it's benefit was meant to be.
When I first met Enda on the bridge back at Tyrants rest she told me her staff was able to tell
"Alright! Alright! Time for a break you two!"
I was out of breath again, both of us had worked up a sweat now. I couldn't tell if Ota was infatigable like Enda at this point. Sure she was perspiring as much as me, but her breathing remained ceaselessly steady up to Arisu calling the break.
"Are you two even trying to land a hit?"
"It's not easy, she keeps blocking perfectly"
"That's because she's focusing on defending and you're not learning"
"Please show me then, without your speed"
We are both restricted already, neither of us are allowed to use magic during training as Enda had been teaching us both magic on different levels.
Ota was learning how to stay calm and not give into anger through a steady mind and steady hand, to take in the fight and not give into bloodlust.
I was learning how to fight without magic as I relied on it too much for everything, be it offense, defence or utility.
"What say you Ota? Want me to kick your ass again"
"Try me"
I would call what happen at the fort whiplash more than an ass kick.
I passed Arisu my training mace and buckler as they both moved to the middle of the training hall.
"You know, this place was once part of a school, a place of learning that took about nine years to rebuild after it burnt down. Without quick thinking that hellfire could of destroyed far far more"
Hellfire, a blaze that cannot be put out through magic without perfect elemental casting like Irmin's rain. A terrifying thing to even think it could happen inside a city like this.
"What does that have to do with fighting?"
"Enda believed with enough time you would both improve and learn from each other. Unfortunately you have both failed in that second part. Today I will teach you how your strengths can be used as a weakness"
Well now I was interested, even if I didn't understand what she went.
Ota and Arisu placed themselves in a fighting stance we always start with, knees bent, buckler up, mace at the ready.
"Say when Touji"
"Right then. Get ready, fight!"
At a steady pace they grew closer to each other looking like either could strike at any time.
"You look good in those sporty pants by the way, I got them made just for you"
"Oh, uh, than-"
Just as she began to respond Arisu used her buckler to flick Otas to the side who was taken by surprise, as she began to recover and move her mace to block Arisu swung from overhead aimed straight for her head.
In an instant right as the maces began to make contact Arisu released her grip on the mace while stepping back throwing her buckler right for Ota's face.
All the training weapons have a small leather ring to holster and carry around. Arisu was using that to her advantage, grabbing that ring as a fake out.
Out of what I expected her to do, a fake out wasn't on the list of possibility. I was waiting for the direct hit, maybe a feint or even a throw.
It was all playing out in slow motion right before my eyes, the buckler hit her face, and she recoiled back. Leaping forward Arisu then hit her stomach in a quick jab and tripped Ota by using her right foot in one swift motion.
As Ota fell slid around maintaining the momentum lunge preventing any injury, but I really doubt a fall like that could cause one to either of us.
"If you don't think I won, then know this, I could of let you fall, or whacked you in the back, maybe even-"
"You made your point, argh, you won fair and square"
She won in two hits and kept at a speed I could move at.
"How did you learn to fight like that? Such a strange way to beat someone"
"Because I started from the bottom, lower than either of you. What I showed you I learnt after a season of fighting anyone willing at the duelling grounds, it's a place on small hill boarding a forest just outside the city, I'll take you both in Rise... or the rising season? Whatever you call it"
"Rise is fine"
"They call it 'first seed' at tyrants rest"
"Man, why can't this damn world be normal and just call it spring, for the love of god the seven seasons is confusing enough"
Certainly off topic, although I'd not thought about how it would be like in other worlds. I fail to see what that has to do with training, but she likes to be as vague as possible.
"Sorry, uh, that was unrelated. Ota, when we told you to control your emotions it wasn't to kill them off completely. Enda and I know you are able to control your emotions... at home..."
"What?"
"That relic, your newfound core. It's a part of you and the stronger your emotions, the greater its effect"
Arisu gave me the rundown on that relic however she hasn't used it very much so far a few weeks back. Our aura had strengthened to the point we could spar without any padding, I still didn't get how it worked though.
I can't complain, we each got a cool set of 'gym wear' to the best of Enda's recreation. It was 'essential' we wore them while training. Ota seemed to like her new attire, I mean, it combined her preferred clothing colours in a fashionable and attractive way.
Black with white streaks on side and legs of her hot pants alongside the same design on her crop top. With matching sporty shoes of course, honestly that seemed like the most expensive part of the outfit.
I got the male version.
I don't know who to thank that we get to train away from prying eyes.
If I got seen by any of the Orphans... they would get the wrong idea with matching clothes.
Why am I worried about that?
At least it felt more appropriate to what Arisu was wearing, lose grey puffy 'sloth' pants and her white hoodie, she didn't bother with any shoes or socks.
. . .
"It might be hard for others to learn how, I don't think that'll be the case for you. Back to the fight, did either of you learn anything?"
"Not to let my guard down?"
"That I can throw weapons?"
"Not quite, first; words can be used in many ways outside of casting. Taunting and getting your opponent to lower their guard are for from the only applications speech can take in a fight. Secondly; weapons, armour, equipment and the like are all disposable. Your life is not, at least as a Human and Oni. Do not be afraid to learn how to use those tools of war in ways outside of drills"
Maybe I should experiment a bit more...
"Did you read that in a book"
"You could say that. I can read as fast as I can coo- oh"
Her ears peaked upright to alert and a terrifying smile plastered her face. I've seen ugly smiles before, hers was just straight scary.
"I'll... be right back. You two keep at it"