Dual Swords - Xanta (self-mod)

[Xanta'Kun]

4th Ioannolia of Cryxatum, Summer of Era XI PF

Xanta entered the appointed building of the Circle of Seven Battle Institute at the appointed time, and quickly found the appointed room right next to the entrance. Inside, his instructor waited. A Mousai of indeterminable gender waited with two short swords hanging from its girdle. Xanta almost smiled, the little guy was so cute, but decided such a thing would be an affront to his master, and not a good way to open the lessons.

"Serale," the mouse-like creature squeaked, "I am Master Riiesh. Before we even get started, I realize that to your eyes I may appear 'cute' or 'harmless', but I assure to the eyes of another Mousai I am a deadly weaponsmaster. That said, I would like to welcome you to my class and express my eagerness to teach you. First of all, have you any experience with swords? I will not begin to teach you dual swords if you cannot wield even one."

Xanta explained that he was proficient in katana to the intermediate level, and had a kriss, which he wanted to learn to dual wield. Upon mentioning he was a former student of Fenn T'qui, the mousai squeaked its approval. "Fenn is a fine swordsman, so I am sure you know your stuff. Now, I am sure you are eager to begin, but for a few brightenings we will be using swords, so you needn't bring them. We will go over technique and theory behind two-weapon fighting. Knowledge is an invaluable weapon."

The small rodent went to a shelf of dusty books, all archaic and falling to bits. She laid one out on the desk in the corner. "I am positive that Fenn taught you the theory for single sword fighting, so I will not teach it here. You should already know it. First thing's first..." she began. She went over the concepts of defense and attack with two swords, how one was like a shield as well as an offensive weapon. After a couple candlemarks of discussion over the concepts of dual swordsmanship, Riiesh released him for the brightening.

[Xanta'Kun]

The next brightening, before Xanta could even take a seat, Riiesh had him recited what he had learned the previous brightening. He managed to remember most of it, and what he couldn't the mousai helped him with hints and gestures. After he had spewed it all out, she took another dusty tome off the shelf of decrepit books.

"This book shows several different ways to combine attack and defense using your two swords. For the beginner level, we will only go over the two most basic. The first requires that you use your stronger hand for attack, your weaker for defense. Now, are you left or right handed?"
"Right," Xanta replied.
"Then you will wield your katana in your right hand, and your kriss in your left. Since the kriss is intended primarily to be a defensive weapon anyway, that is the only real choice. Now, this should be very easy to learn, because it is simply adding to your current knowledge of single sword fighting," Riiesh squeaked. She was a very animated creature, accenting nearly every one of her words with some paw gesture or another.

"When you would block with one sword, you would still do that, but with your defensive hand, in your case the left. With your right you would seek to strike a blow while your opponent is caught unprepared. Likewise, when you attack, you will try to anticipate a counterstrike and block it with your defensive hand. Do you understand?" Xanta nodded that he did, and the mousai continued reading out of the book, covering the finer points of when to defend and attack and with which hands.

After Xanta had demonstrated to her that he had clearly learned the material, and could tie it in with his knowledge of single sword fighting, she released him for the brightening.

[Xanta'Kun]

When Xanta arrived the following brightening, he was pleased to see that Riiesh had a shortsword in the scabbard strapped to her side. Hopefully that meant there'd be a little swordplay. Unfortunately the mousai's first move was toward the dusty, old bookshelf with the rotting tomes of knowledge.

"Firstly, let's go over the theory again. And then, to your delight, I am sure, we'll try a bit of it. Okay. Now, when you are defending, what are your objectives and interests?"

Xanta replied that they were to block and search for a counterattack simultaneously. Riiesh squeaked her approval. "And when attacking?" Xanta then told her it was to seek out a damaging blow and anticipate a counterstrike.

"Good," Riiesh said, throwing the crumbling book on the low table in the corner, "Let's try some of this out. Now, since we're not using armor, I'm sure it's needless to say that you shouldn't actually hit me, nor I you. I'll do a slow-motion series of strikes, and you are to block and attack accordingly, and slowly as well. Let's begin." Riiesh started by slowly swinging her sword towards Xanta's head, and he blocked it with his kriss, then swung out slowly with his katana in the same motion, guiding it's arc towards her exposed midsection.

"Very good, I am pleased to see you have taken your lessons to heart. Now let's continue, and as we progress the combinations will become longer and more difficult, but don't stop until I say."

The two carried on for quite a while, with Riiesh attacking, Xanta blocking and counterattacking, then blocking the counterstrike and returning a blow of his own. After they had been at it for a couple of candlemarks, the mousai let him go.

[Xanta'Kun]

"Now, when wielding a weapon of any kind, even your fists, it is important to keep your balance. Did master T'qui teach you the corrolation between balance and power?" Riiesh asked, beginning the brightening's lesson.

"We did practice balance very often, but I never learnt of a relationship between balance and power," Xanta explained. Riiesh nodded, indicating that she had suspected as much. "Very well," she began, "I shall teach you. I am sure you know that being off balance not only detracts from your ability to attack, but it can also weaken any attack that you do manage to get off. Balance is essential to being able to land a powerful stroke. For the basics, you never swing with the same arm as your leading foot, it lacks any power."

Riiesh stepped towards Xanta, and landed a punch on his shoulder, swinging with the same foot she led with. It lacked any sort of power. She then stepped again, this time using the opposite fist, and though it didn't do any damage, it was significantly harder. "Point taken," Xanta said.

"Now, take a sword and practice this, so you can feel it for yourself." Xanta did so, and was surprised at the noticeably different gouges he left in a practice dummy. He didn't physically feel much difference, but the evidence was before his eyes. For the rest of the brightening, Riiesh began teaching Xanta to develop his proprioceptive skills with regard to swordfighting.

[Xanta'Kun]

Xanta returned to the combat halls again, prepared for another day of practice. He of course practiced whenever he could find an excuse to, but working with Master Riiesh always helped more than anything. Riiesh was in the room again, sharpening her short swords, the light from the window glinting off the freshly scraped metal.

"Serale," Riiesh said absently, not even looking up. "Unfortunately Xanta, I have to admit that since you already know basic sword technique, there is only so much I can teach you at the basic level. Perhaps if you come back to work with me on a more advanced level I can teach you some more specific moves and techniques. Therefore, we will practice what you have learned so far, to hone your skills and try to increase your ambidexterity. I am required by the school to teach you for a while, so yes, you must continue to come. Anyway, let's begin."

For several candlemarks, Xanta and Riiesh danced their deadly circles, all four swords moving in every direction and yet not managing to sustain injury, which was a good thing. Xanta worked up a good sweat, and by the end of practice, he could feel his lack of energy. He was bombed. With a curt goodbye, he left Riiesh's classroom for that brightening and headed off to another night at the Inn.

[Xanta'Kun]

The next day Xanta was tired and sore. You'd think I'd eventually get used to this he thought to himself as he washed and dressed. It payed off though, keeping him fit despite all the hours he spent working behind a bar at the Inn. He went out to the stable where Shadow was kept. The horse was still standing, asleep. Xanta took out his brush and started brushing, which caused the horse to jump in alarm but he soon settled after he realized it was Xanta.

After feeding Shadow and the dogs, Xanta set off at a trot for the combat halls. Master Riiesh was there, as ever, and the two talked for a while as the Rodenti finished her morning meal. The the dueling began, and for candlemark after grueling candlemark, Riiesh pushed Xanta to the limits of his knowledge regarding dual sword wielding. They seemed to do so little, yet Xanta tired so quickly. Riiesh just knew how to work a student to the bones.

After the two were finished, Xanta gladly took a seat and a dipperful of water. His gills ached from the lack of water, and it's cool wetness soothed as it descended his gullet. After he had caught his breath, Riiesh and he talked some more about whatever came to mind. Once Xanta convinced the Mousai to come visit him at the Inn that night, he left.

[Xanta'Kun]

The next brightening was no less grueling, although the basics of dual sword wielding was finally starting to come naturally to Xanta, just like his katana skills did. Riiesh was a twister of fur and steel, but Xanta could tell she was still holding back. She was one Mousai he wouldn't want to face in battle. Not until he was at least and expert.

The two battled on and off, occasionally stopping for Riiesh to point out some fundamental errors or to congratulate. Xanta would do his best to rectify those mistakes, but Riiesh often stopped him for the same reasons. But again, he was only achieving his basic status, and mistakes were expected, even welcomed. It meant that he would have more opportunity to learn.

After the final duel, around midbrightening, Riiesh had some things to say. "After a couple more brightenings I'll begin your exam, to see if you are competent enough with two swords to graduate my class. I have no doubt that you have the skill necessary, so don't let me down." Xanta was excited. Achieving new skills was always exciting to him.

[Xanta'Kun]

The class was dragging on, and the cycle wasn't even up. Luckily for Xanta, Riiesh expected him to finish just outside of the cycle. Unfortunately she was required to teach him for at least one cycle, it was instituted by the Co7. Even more unfortunately, she admitted there wasn't too much more she could teach him at the basic level, he having already learned the care and handling of swords. That was nearly half the material.

Nonetheless, Xanta returned brightening after brightening, doing his drills and improving his handling. This brightening was no different. He had improved a lot since he had first come to the mousai's classroom. As the two weaved their dance around the room, the brightening grew late, and it was time for Xanta to go. It had seemed to be the shortest brightening yet.

Xanta left.