“Haa. Hyahh, ya!”
The clashing of blades could be heard, the sound of fists being caught and kicks being blocked within an echoing tunnel. The tunnels of Vulfax, where the clanging of metal on metal roared. Down the bends and passed the torches it grew louder and louder as it went deeper into the tunnel system. Rock crumbled as at once the sound of a blade slamming against the rocky surfaces could be heard with a loud scrape.
Another kick was heard being blocked followed by the sound of shuffling feet. The sounds originated from a rather large cavern as three people danced around with weapons drawn. Elise flipped backward with a toss from her right hand with a katana in the left. Landing upon both feet she swung out, the edge meeting the edges of two other weapons held by Thomas and Destiny.
Destiny held a small hand ax while Thomas wielded a simple set of twin daggers. The two flipped backwards away from Elise who remained stationary now, breathing a little coarse as they moved. She coughed once as her katana raised up in front of her. Destiny smiled slightly with a nod.
Thomas gave a nod, “Well parried Elise, I’m actually amazed.”
“Thomas,” she coughed before letting out a sigh, standing firm again with normal breathing once more, “I’m a very quick learner. Blocking isn’t that difficult once you wrap your mind around it.”
“Did she really just insult me Destiny?”
“Only if you consider it an insult Thomas. She wasn’t insulting your intelligence directly I don’t believe.”
“Well so long as- wait, directly? Destiny!”
“Allow me to speak my thoughts on the matter Thomas. It’s only offensive if you let it offend you. Now what’s next?”
“Well you could try and come at us?”
“Hmm, alright let’s try that then.”
Elise shot forward quickly, her torso ducking left as her legs continued to move. With but a leap she spun into the air twirling around as she came at both Destiny and Thomas. Destiny took a jump back as Thomas raised his blades. Elise swung her own.
CLANG
Her katana locked with the twin daggers as she came down, the force driving him back at once with a slight skid of the feet. With teeth gritted he stepped forward at once with a push back. Both held point, Elise forcing the katana down with one hand on the hilt only while Thomas continues to hold back with both blades.
“Good lord you’re pretty strong,” he grunted pushing back.
“I walk kilometers a week carrying water for the clan and other things, why wouldn’t I be?” she quickly remarked back pressing Thomas harder.
“Ha what’s wrong Thomas? Going to let yourself get beat by a girl?” Destiny laughed.
“Shut up Destiny I’ve got this. What the wha-”
All at once his footing was lost resulting in him stumbling back. Another crash down into his daggers sent him dropping as Elise held her katana’s tip above Thomas’s throat as he crashed down. A smile rested upon her face as her eyes seemed to dance, “Distraction is the number one danger in battle.”
“Yeah but letting little Miss Nothing fight is just as bad,” came a laughed followed by several others.
Attentions turned and focused upon an approaching group. Several entered the room putting Elise on edge quickly, “Why are you here Gulfer?”
“We came by to see little Miss Nothing flop. Also we came to report that Rusty got his face beat in by Sacho again.”
“Again? Doesn’t he ever learn?” Elise growled.
“Rusty just keeps on challenging Sacho, I don’t get why he keeps challenging someone he can never beat. I suppose anyone who could beat Sacho though would go at the top of Rusty’s shit list,” Thomas grumbled.
“That’s a reasonable assumption, him and his- huh?”
“Elise?”
“{Anyone who could defeat Sacho would not only be better than father’s second born, but also would be responsible for defeating an Elite. That would be recognition for sure. Would I stand a chance though?} Hit me harder guys!”
With shrugs, both Destiny and Thomas flew back at Elise with weapons flying, clashing with her katana. Her katana swung with blinding force, slamming against both their weapons as both blocked together. She held stance, feet planted, both hands on her weapon. She looked down at the ground with half closed eyes as the two pushed at her.
At once she flipped backwards, kicking off of Thomas. Onto both feet, she blocked as Destiny shot in and swung. A block. She stumbled back as Thomas swung in too, both knocking her back. Her katana practically flew from her hands, her right holding tightly right at the edge. Both swung again, nailing the ground as Elise spun round to re-wield the weapon.
“{Not good enough, not good enough! Ugh, I’d need a plan to defeat Sacho, a damn good one. Dammit, of course not. I don’t have the experience to take down someone who isn’t a newling. At best I’d just get one hit or maybe two. Come on, think back Elise. You’ve had plenty of good advice thrown your way as of late. What was it that Vulper last said again? Ah yeah, he had said to not worry as much about my body, to train my mind.}”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe1FPoySYV
“First is that you don’t focus as much on your body. Train your mind first and foremost.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzh09yfoYZ
“Why is that?”
“Need you even ask? A warrior can have all the strength in the world but if they lack an ideal mind then that power is meaningless. Smarts of course also play a factor in proper battle. For example again, if a person is up against an opponent stronger or smarter than them. Might I recommend figuring out proper strategies or focusing exclusively on outsmarting your enemies?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO6jQ3V72o
“{If I lack the experience or strength, I need to out think them. That’s one of the things he was getting at right? Strategy would be the key. But that’s basic to fighting. On the plus side if I find something good it would probably work. Most in this backwater hellhole would take me lightly, that’s the key I need.}”
Her mind flashed, drifting back. Mental pictures popped into her head, pictures of the novels of her past. Herbs, The Art of Healing 101, Crackpot Crackers to Herbs, Canada’s Wilderness.
“{Hemlock,}” she thought with a blink, “{That could work but what if I’m unable to land a hit? No wait. Distraction. Right, I’ve had it in this battle. I got at Thomas while Destiny called him out for being beat by a girl. He lost his stance because of distraction. Sacho wouldn’t take me seriously at first if we fought, he considers me lesser than Rusty- no but he’d know something is up if I challenge him out of the blue, right? No, no, my profile is that of a weakling. He’d think nothing of it!}”
Her head perked up. Ahead of her stood both Thomas and Destiny, both out of breath. Her eyes darted off to the side, then right back towards them. Her eyes remained at the ground, at their feet, “{Concentrated Hemlock with plenty of binding agents. I could use that and take him on to insure that- but what if I don’t need. No, I will. I need to keep Lucy’s words in mind too. So few within the clan would be honorable enough to take the defeat, I will most certainly be needing that. That’s it, it’s all there!}”
A smile perked up as her eyes returned to life. Thomas and Destiny looked at her, an eye raised a piece. They turned heads, exchanging expressions to one another, then exchanged back to Elise. She stood there, smiling, standing with utter confidence.
“I’ve figured it out, the perfect sequence,” Elise spoke aloud.
“Figured what out?” Destiny questioned.
“I know how to beat Rusty and win over the clan potentially, and it all lies with me defeating Sacho.”
“Sacho, are you nuts? Even Rusty can’t beat him, he’s tougher than you!” Thomas spat.
“Tougher yes but not smarter. Not to be too arrogant but I doubt Rusty would consider tactics other than brute force. Distraction, alternative weapons, side objectives. If I can win over Sacho, I’ll prove that I’m not just some worthless pawn that can be easily thrown away. Plus, I might have enough recognition so that people leave us alone from now on. And yeah, I know it’ll work. I just need to play my cards proper and hope Rusty doesn’t beat Sacho before I do. I’ll need only one more day of training and preparation, then I’ll be ready.”
“What, you think barely over a month of training can beat Sacho? Man you are crazy,” Thomas laughed.
“Dunno, I think I know what she has in mind,” Destiny giggled, lowering weapon, “Good for you Elise. Come on, let’s wrap this up.”
Her katana swung with true force, right into their weapons now raised. She flipped forward, launching off the ground with a single kick. Her other leg flew, foot crashing down on Thomas’s right shoulder, as he stood to Elise’s right while Destiny was to the left. His neck and head flopped and his arm scrunched up, his balance lost as he tumbled off to the side. With a roll, Elise landed and turned with her blade swung right into Destiny’s.
Thomas lay on the ground with a cough. It was at that moment that Elise acted, kicking at Thomas’s hand to send a dagger right up into the air. Caught with her free hand, Elise used it to block Destiny’s ax. The butt of her sword’s hilt slammed into Destiny’s ax-holding hand, sending it flopping out. Another kick and Destiny flipped back and crashed. Both lay on the ground, heads up, looking right at Elise who stood with a smile.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRezjNkRDd
