[Open] Of Gifted Blood

Critical · Apr 23, 2014

"Everchangeable..."

He quietly repeated Einar's title to himself. It was certainly a strange one, to him, and his mind immediately started to wonder why he had such a title. What was forever changing about the young man? Jacob's first guess? Shapeshifter. Probably not too far off from the truth, he assumed.

"Yeah. Maybe some general pointers then? I'm sure anyone who has held a sword for more than a day knows more than I do. Like..."

Jacob took a few steps back away from Einar and took up a stance once more. His feet were apart and he put his left side side toward Einar, with his reverse-gripped sword raised up in something resembling a defensive position. Replace his sword with a knife and he might have looked ready to start a knife fight or something. He wiggled his sword to emphasize it.

"Maybe you could tell me if it makes any sense that I'd rather fight with my sword like this. I mean look at this. I got a sword but I'm fighting with the sheathe, and even got a damn lock on this thing so my sword doesn't fly out."

Clockwise Dream · Apr 23, 2014

A sheathe can be weapon as well, if used correctly. he said, looking over the man's stance. I've known man who could use both at the same time, attacking with a blade and defending themselves with a well made sheathe for the found it easier to carry than a shield... he said, remembering many examples of what he had just said. However, if I were to guess as to why you find it easier to fight like that, I would say that it in your case, it comes from the head. Assessing the man once more, he nodded, thinking that he was probably correct. However, it was also possible that he was not, for he had just met the man today, and while they were once those who could look at the way you handle your spoon and be able to tell you how you will fight, he never could master the patienc for that. He would much rather fight a man to see how he fights.

You are a teacher, correct? he assumed, thinking that there was no way that Jacob could ever be a student.... though he himself was 600 old and technically classified as a student. He just didn't take any classes except history. I assume that you hold it like that for, in reality, you don't really want to hurt anybody...However, if I were to attack you... he said, the silver of his sword shifting into something a bit more deadly as he launched forward at the man.

Critical · Apr 23, 2014

"Huh. So I'm not being totally weird..."

He felt a little bit better about his sheathe-heavy combat style, or whatever the proper phrase would be. Knowing that someone else, or at least one other person, had practiced such a style made him feel like he was not being a total oddball about his sword. Though, he still thought it was strange that he ONLY used the sheathe sometimes. The way Einar described it, these other sheathe-users used in conjunction with their sword, instead of JUST the sheathe.

Then Einar gave a more elegant explanation: Jacob did not want to hurt anybody. It made so much sense, and Jacob chastised himself for not figuring that out sooner and by himself. Yes, swinging his sheathe may have left a big groove in the ground, but blunt force trauma was more reasonable than getting sliced open.

While he slowly nodding in agreement, Einar launched himself at Jacob, sword raised and ready.

"!!!"

Jacob thought he was done for almost immediately, and reacted without thinking. He even closed his eyes reflexively. But the rest of him moved expertly. Still only using his sheathe, he moved into blocking position and caught the strike, holding it at bay with only one arm. The speed of his block created a small burst of air from where their weapons connected. His eyes flicked open, trying to see what had happened. For the moment, he was holding Einar at bay.

"W-What are you doing?!"

Clockwise Dream · Apr 23, 2014

Don't sound so scared. Einar laughed, taking a step back and restarting the sword into the scabbard that was still lying on his back. I am only showing you what you can do.

Pleased that his theory has been proved as correct, Einar took to explaining it in more detail to the man.

I have no deeper knowledge of this, for I have never trained for a priest or a mage, but the powers such as these often tend to shape themselves around the man wielding them. For example... he said, drawing his sword again while hoping that Jacob won't take the move the wrong way. He had put it away, in the end, so he would appear less frightening, but the words were never his forte, and he thus, as always, took to explaining by hands.

I have a soul that is always wondering. he said, looking up, his eyes no more green, but blue, of that deep colour that could be taken as green under a certain light. Always changing. And that's why I am able to do this. he said, sending a rush of power through his arms and into the silver of the weapon, making it dance between the shapes again, until it settled on a bow, just so he could be sure that Jacob would see a difference, for to an inexperienced eye a sword is a sword, and there is little difference between the types.

You see? he asked, spreading his arms, the bow in his left hand being almost as tall as he was. That's why I guessed that your power also shaped itself around you, and considering that you are a teacher at the island full of students, you're first instinct would be not to truly hurt them. Correct? he did not need an answer to that question, for it was fairly obvious. However, once your life was at danger-or at least you thought it was, I would not have really hurt you-you held me at bay. And that is something, believe me, for in six hundred I haven't had a man who could stop my strike at his first day.

Critical · Apr 23, 2014

How could Jacob NOT be scared as he held sheathe against attacking sword, and his attacker laughed in his face? To his knowledge, good guys did not hand out vaguely hostile advice while cackling in the face of their victims. So what if Jacob was rather steadily holding his ground against Einar? He still had a sword a few inches from his face and he was still as inexperienced as ever. Unless his body chose to take over again, he was pretty stuck.

With a great sigh of relief from Jacob, Einar backed off and put his weapon away.

"You got a really strange way of demonstrating things, pal."

Jacob just his arm and sword flop to his side as Einar explained himself, only to have them spring back up when he started drawing his weapon again. This time he jumped back a bit and put his hand near the grip of the sword reflexively.

"Woahwoahwoah..."

Even as Einar morphed his weapon into something, a bow, Jacob was reluctant to let down his guard just yet. A bow was mildly less intimidating at that range, but it had also been sword not a few moments ago, and Jacob wanted to be on guard for any more tricks the young man possessed. He listened though, and heard everything he said about his observations.

So there was more confirmation on how his new abilities had grown and shaped themselves. He was still a defensive swordsman it seemed and, more to the point, Jacob had impressed Einar. But a bit of that didn't quite meld with Jacob.

"Wait. Six hundred years? You mean you've been around for six centuries?... And I'm the first to do something for you? Wait. So what are you then?"

Clockwise Dream · Apr 23, 2014

A bit, perhaps. he said, still smiling, at Jacob's comment his demonstrating skills. However, I have found out that it is also the best, for it is only at the time of danger that the man displays his full potential.

Morphing his now-bow-once-sword back into its original shape, he placed the dagger back into the smaller scabbard on his hip. That was probably the only disadvantage of his power, that the sheath wouldn't change with the sword and he thus always had to carry at least two-for the dagger and the sword.

And ye, six centuries sounds about right. he said, thinking it over in his head. He had lost count somewhere around his four hundredth birthday, and then he had lost track of his birthday as well, so he wasn't exactly sure. Give or take or decade. he added, shrugging his shoulders.

During that time I have trained many man to serve as my own, however, I have never seen any of them stop my attack at their first day of handling the sword. Thus, as I have said, you got some impressive skill there. he smiled again, before adding. As for what I am...Well, I really don't know. But I do prefer the Everchangable.

Critical · Apr 24, 2014

"He'd BETTER be able to handle that thing!"

An old, gruff voice called out to the pair.

"If he's anythin' like his mother, he oughta be able to slice the wind in twain!"

Jacob was the most surprised by the older, slightly hunched over figure approaching him and Einar on the field. It was his father. He was an old man with salt and pepper hair, a back that showed how much he had worked in the fields back home, and even darker skin than Jacob's. Unlike Jacob, the older gentleman had some thick, but well-groomed, facial hair and his fashion sense made him look like he was dressing for cooler weather. Jacob's smile, however, was obviously inherited from him.

"Dad?! When did you get here?"

The older man stopped beside the two of them and patted his son's shoulder, eyeing the new sword in his hand.

"Pretty much just got here. But I felt the wind shift and I knew it had to be you."

The aging father looked at Einar and nodded.

"The name is Issac, and I suppose you've been testin' my boy here? Tell me, what have you seen him do so far?

Clockwise Dream · Apr 25, 2014

Einar. the man introduced himself in return once more, casting quick glance to Jacob, before looking back to Issac as he spoke. And it wasn't exactly a test... It was more of an...observation., he added before he proceeded to narrate each move Jacob had made while he was watching him, each move described to the finest detail such as balance as speed. He never made those observations consciously, but the years of training both himself and others have left a trace so deep on him that not even a century of time could erase it.

I believe that I have already said this thrice, but what he has there is an amazing power. he added at the end of his narration. It goes up to the point that it has already shaped itself around him even without the conscious effort of it.

Critical · Apr 25, 2014

Issac dutifully listened to everything Einar recalled for him, and silenced Jacob every time he tried to speak up about something. Jacob had too much respect for his father to go against him, for the time being at least. It gave Jacob a chance to try and parse out what his father was up to anyway. He had mentioned his mother, whom had seemingly abandoned the both of them when he was just an infant, and that came as surprise.

Jacob had never given his mother much thought despite the fact that she left the family literally overnight. Issac had offered to let the boy know about her, but young Jacob had not shown much interest and was content to be raised by a single dad. For possibly the first time in all his life, Jacob was honestly curious about his mother. Was she the missing connection when it came to his new abilities?

"Look. Dad."

When Einar was finally done, Jacob wasn't about to get interrupted again.

"It's great to see you. Really. But there's a reason you came, and it was to tell me what all of this sword business is about. And mom? What does she have to do with this?"

"She has everythin' to do with this, or most of it anyway. SHE is the reason you can cleave the wind with yer sword. I'm mostly surprised it took ya this long to discover it."

"You act like I come into contact with swords on a daily basis. What if I never touched a sword ever, huh?"

"Heh heh. Yeah... I was kinda hopin' it'd manifest in some martial arts and that you'd get in a fight eventually. But yer always such non-fighter... But from what Mr. Einar here said, it sounds like time hasn't dulled the Moon Blade style at all."

Jacob raised an eyebrow.

"Moon Blade? The hell is that?"

"It's your sword style. The same style your mother used. It's real name is 'The Blade That Cleaved the Moon'. Comes from a legend about a swordsman who once cut the moon in two, and that's we have half moons."

"..... Wow. That sounds really dumb, dad."

"Hooo~ You'll see how dumb it is after I ask Mr. Einar here to put you through some more paces.

"W-What?!"

"Mr. Einar. I need to personally see my son's skills somewhat, and he needs to learn to respect his lineage. So do you mind givin' him a little duel? Try not to kill him, but don't be afraid to hold back."

"DAD!"

Clockwise Dream · Apr 25, 2014

Einar listened carefully to this line of thought between father and son, thought he did not intrude, for it had seemed rather personal and important, and there was no room in it for strangers. He did however raise an eyebrow when the particular name of the stile was mentioned. It was certainly...interesting. And as far as the legend itself goes, the world was full of them, each nation creating their own stories around the things they had all feared or respected. Sure, time has changed most of them, no one knew that better than him, however, in their core, at their beginnings, most of them were true. And how somebody who thought a bunch of fire breathing students at daily bases could not see that was simply beyond him.

Do not laugh at the lore. he said, thus, drawing his dagger and turning it into sword once more, lazy smile finding its way to his face at the very mention of the fight. For most of it was true. Somewhere, somehow, sometime. he said, launching himself at the man again. This time, he let himself go completely, knowing that Jacob could at least block him. Beside that, he also had some basic knowledge of how the man would fight. Thus, he went to his left, then, sidesteps quickly, he placed himself behind Jacob's back and aimed for his currently unarmed right hand side.

Heh, for all we know it, some of them could be about me by now. he said quietly.

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[Open] Of Gifted Blood

Critical

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