Ranbu no Izayoi
The moment Arton returned from gathering firewood, Izayoi waited for him to stoke the fire before heading off to the wagon. She brushed Goug aside with a brief nod before retrieving two bundles from their supplies.
”Come.” She said in a commanding tone to Arton as she returned to camp, gesturing for him to follow. They went a ways away, though still in view of the fire. Izayoi tossed him the first of the bundles before unwrapping her own. When he opened his, it would reveal a wooden sword, crafted to the length and width of his own.
Of course, the moment Arton had the wooden longsword in hand, Izayoi charged, brandishing her bokken. She delivered two strikes, both aimed toward his chest. A stinging reminder to be vigilant.
Two stacks of cut logs rested on Arton’s shoulders as he made his way back to camp and set them down into a pile. It was more than enough to get them through the night. He immediately tossed a couple pieces onto the roaring fire, stoking it with a small branch he had found. His mind was drifting to thoughts of what he should put together for breakfast when he heard his name called. Arton nodded though unsure what she needed him for
“Right behind ya.”Arton caught the bundle with both hands and looked up curiously at Izayoi before he began to unravel it. To his surprise, there was a wooden replica of his sword inside. To his greater surprise, It was barely in his hands before the first strike struck his chest. Dull pain spread around the impact as he scrambled to parry the second one, making it only a partial success.
He took a step back to create some distance, pointing the wooden swords towards Izayoi
“I take it that was my first lesson?” It was time to see what he signed up for.
”Focus!”Izayoi didn’t let up, already closing the distance that Arton had made between himself and her. She’d beat the lesson into him until he’d internalized it. Just as had been done with her long ago.
”If you’ve time to posture, you’ve time to seize the initiative!” She snarled, raising her bokken with only one hand to bring it crashing down towards his shoulder.
His eyes tried to track her movement and anticipate her next attack, moving a fraction too slow to prevent her next attack. Wood cracked against solid muscle and Arton winced slightly. Any trace of his jovial expression dropped and determination flashed in his eyes.
The Sollan lunged forwards and imitated the opening two strikes Izayoi had done against him, figuring striking from above would leave an opening long enough. They were quick but it was clear Arton had rarely ever had to face an opponent of equal or greater ability.
Frankly, Izayoi wasn’t sure whether it spoke more to Arton’s ability or her deterioration that she’d actually had to stop and parry the blows. The Mystrel grit her teeth, Arton’s brute strength forcing her back more than she’d like.
Her foot shot up in a kick towards his knee in order to unbalance him, and Izayoi followed up by ramming her wooden sword hilt-first straight at Arton’s nose.
”A competent warrior uses all that they have at their disposal.” She lectured as she struck, her tone severe.
Arton restrained himself from smirking as he managed to gain some ground. He brought back the sword and was preparing another strike when Izayoi’s kick connected with his knee. The speed and force of the strike caused him to wobble and lower his head right into the hilt of her weapon.
He let out a small grunt as he stumbled backwards a couple steps
“Noted.” His sword was lifted into a guarded stance as he charged.
A heavy swing came from above, his left hand separating from the grip as it came down. The fingers curled into a fist as it tucked into his arm, preparing to shoot forward towards her chest alongside the blade.
Izayoi parried the sword in time, but Arton’s punch knocked her back, causing her to grit her teeth and push past the pain as she pulled herself up.
”Better. Now be faster.” She surged forward, striking at a swifter pace from here on out.
___
Back and forth they went, for nigh on an hour. By the time Izayoi called for both of them to lower her blades, both of them at least winded, Arton had landed at least a few blows on her. Of course, she’d managed far more in return, but the fact that it had gotten to this point was telling in the first place.
”We will resume nightly if we can. At least once every other day if we cannot, based on unforeseen circumstances. You are…not incompetent.” She nodded begrudgingly.
”Whomever taught you did an adequate job. Now, tell me what you believe you lack, based upon this bout.”Arton wiped a trickle of blood from his lip with the back of his hand, his chest heaving with deep breaths. Each bruise and welt on his body was a lesson he planned on taking to heart. A large smile creased his lips at what he considered high praise though it lost some luster at her request
”I was kinda hoping you would tell me…” He laughs nervously before sitting on a fallen log, knowing that wouldn’t cut it.
”I lack…decisiveness, I guess I should call it.” Too often his mind wanders to other thoughts than being present in the fight in front of him. The severity and ferocity in which Izayoi took down her opponents, he wanted to emulate that.
A nod. At least he already knew what he erred in. Fortunate that Arton wasn’t an idiot, else this would be much more difficult.
”Indeed. Mindset influences the flow of combat as much as physical conditioning does. Abandon all considerations aside from the fight. You are a hunter. Your foe: your prey. At least, that is how I was taught. When you have the initiative, capitalize up on it. When you do not, do everything in your power to seize it. Combat is won by whom controls the flow of battle more.”Izayoi remained standing, reaching for a waterskin and taking a long pull before continuing.
”You are, without a doubt, more physically well-conditioned than I am at this moment. I abandoned the sword for five years, after all. Yet I still controlled the pace of the duel. Consider your foe as something that must be felled. Consider the consequences should you fail. A warrior is a weapon, and your mind must be as honed for violence as your body.””Hunter. Prey…” He repeated under his breath as he absorbed the insight. Izayoi's words in the context of their fight gave him a fair understanding of what she meant. Arton needed to be a predator on the battlefield and seek every advantage he could.
He looked directly up at her as his lesson continued. Despite his defeat, this session had provided him with some validation. Arton was especially hard on himself and he sometimes forgot that he was indeed a capable warrior. It was this lingering doubt that seemed to hold him back and if he wanted to be better he’d have to heed Izayoi’s wisdom. He closed his eyes and crossed his arms in front of him before rising to his feet
”I look forward to next time, this was as great as I expected.” His gaze drifted to the dim light of the campfire in the distance
”Should we return to the others? I’m kinda beat.” He chuckled.
___
Arton returned to the warmth of the campfire walking a little stiff and with noticeable bruises illuminated by the fire-light. He gingerly lowered himself onto the ground where he took a long drink of water. There was no doubt in his mind as he rolled out his sleeping mat that he would have the best sleep he's gotten in awhile. Someone else would have to take the first watch because there was little chance he would stay awake much longer.
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