Elise stood in a clearing, katana at her side, book in the hand of her other side. She stared straight ahead at Alto, whose nails were lengthened into wolf claws. Before him lay a pile of wood, splintered off into many pieces. Claw marks lay in many of the pieces.
A sliver stuck forth from one of his claws. Slowly said claws began to crackle and dry, going from black to dull gray. Soon as they continued to dry they’d begin to shrivel, and as they shriveled they’d begin to fall off one by one to reveal the ends of his fingers. All ten fell and landed atop the wood, while Elise just stood in place waiting.
Finally Alto began to move, stepping left, “And that is the importance of melee weapons. My claws are a part of me but as you can see they still work. They can block, they can attack, they can boost me in ways hand to hand alone can not. Now, take up that sword.”
“Take up?”
He face palmed, “Take it out and hold it.”
“Oh uh, alright,” she stated, placing her left hand on the hilt attached to her right.
She pulled it, bending her arm and body carefully pulling it from the sheathe. Once out, a simple twist of the hand, and then an adjustment. Both hands were placed upon the hilt as she held it out, angled between straight up and straight forward. Slowly she lowered it, pointing the tip right at Alto.
Alto nodded, holding out his right hand with hand outstretched, “How does it feel?”
“Heavy.”
“And do you think it should feel so heavy?”
“No, it isn’t made of much. I can’t honestly say why it feels this way. Let me guess-”
“That’s because it’s an extension of yourself Elise, one you have yet to earn the right to hold.”
“Ah, so there is some manner of mystic wonder to it.”
“If you can master the sword and master it as an extension of your being, it will become weightless. Now, go on, wave it around.”
She slowly raised it up, high up. Then she swung it down. Up, then down. Swift and simple chopping motions.
“Alright,” she said moving it side to side.
“Now try swinging it with force.”
Raising it up high yet again, it was swung down far quicker than before. It clattered along the ground, bouncing.
“Whoops.”
“Tighten your grip next time,” Alto stated as she reached down, double handing it again, “But not too tight.”
She swung again, this time without it flying off. Alto gave forth a nod, “Alright. Try some different swings.”
“Alright,” she mumbled, raising the weapon.
It was down, right, left, forward, diagonally right, and then down again. Crush, sweep, sweep,stab, slash, and crush. A bash came next as she thrust the blunt side forward. Then once more, with both hands, the weapon was held high, “Like that?”
“Perfect. Well, good enough, not perfect, heh heh,” Alto chuckled.
“Gee thanks.”
With that Elise begun to swing the weapon side to side again. Alto nodded, “Alright, play around with that for awhile until it sinks in. We’ll work on swordplay every three days or so I’d say.”
“Sounds good. You know Alto, I can’t thank you enough.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“I mean, I could’ve always done this myself or found a way to have my clan friends help but you’re helping me progress far faster I’d say.”
“Oh, well then yeah you’re uh, you’re welcome.”
“I just hope this’ll all be enough to actually make a difference.”
“Time will tell princess, heh heh. We can only vaguely guess at the future, not predict it.”
The two exchanged nods and smiles. Elise returned once more to swinging the sword around, left and right, up and down. A thrust forward, a turn to block with the blunt side, a few spins. An attempt at one handed was quickly made; though the blade quickly flew off as a result. Elise watched as it crashed against a tree, falling to the ground.
With a burst of laughter she approached it, her smile maintaining itself strongly.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOeabSylsE
