Only the Beginning (Faust)

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Continued from here.

Kalenel walked into the Fitness and Bones Training Center just as the moon began its descent, well prepared to begin his training. His instructor was to be Faust D'rinishad, one he had tried to mug less than a cycle ago. It was fate that made the two meet, and now they were possibly on their way to a long friendship. Although Faust was young, Kalenel was yet younger and looked up to him as he would a instructor or a older brother.

Warming up with some push-ups and stretches, Kalenel awaited his instructor.

ooc: Sorry for the short post, just trying to get things underway.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Unlike most training halls, the Fitness and Bones was not immaculately clean. The wooden floors dipped in certain places and at disruptive angles (the result of one of the facility’s heavier-set students), and the boards themselves bore occasional stains –mostly crimson. Much blood had been shed beneath the roof of Vortex’s chief training facility –much more would be in the days to come.

Standing in the hallway and turning as Kalenel arrived, the Prince of Har’oloth greeted the younger dark elf with a kindly smile. The sight of Kalenel reminded Faust of himself when he had trained here many patterns ago, patterns that had ultimately contributed to the legacy of all who had fought within this very hall. Though their names were unwritten in the Fitness and Bones records, they were engraved in the memories of other students, instructors, and teachers alike.

As would Kalenel’s soon enough…

“Ah, vendui. I hope that you are well rested. Today will be one to remember..” Faust said, uttering a word of welcome in the native tongue to remind Kalenel of their bond, one forged by their people’s history. Nodding in approval as his new student proceeded into a routine of stretching and menial exercise to prime his muscles, the dark elf simply waited.

When the younger Vysstichi was finished, Faust stepped before him.

“You aspire to be a warrior, no small feat, my friend. I can lead you down that pathway, but you must be the one to begin it…” He said, leading Kalenel to the back of the room where a weapons rack as wide as the entire wall was contained. Long swords, short swords, spears, staves, knives, daggers, bows, the wall showcased a seemingly endless supply of weapons from every corner of the empire.

“Take your time.” Faust bade, allowing Kalenel to familiarize himself with whichever item he needed before coming to a conclusion.

OOC: feel free to choose, remove, and describe whichever weapon(s) you wish to learn =)

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

The muscles along Kalenel's back and arms ached slightly as he rose from his warm-up exercises. He was in good shape to say the least, what muscle he had was tight and strong, and his endurance was average. To be great, he knew, would require much more than he currently had. That was the biggest reason he was here though, to go through the journey to better himself. And oh what a journey that would be...

"Vendui," Kalenel said with a nod, no smile coming from his now stern visage. There were times for the sly Kalenel, the one known to make others laugh or jab at them with witty repartees. Now though, it was apparent that Kalenel was here to become a warrior, and a great one he would become indeed under the tutelage of the legendary Faust.

The words of the warrior hit Kalenel Vamai'tai in his soul, making the hair on his shoulder and neck stand up. He was nervous, standing in front of a D'rinishad in the infamous Fitness and Bones. He pushed those thoughts out for the moment though, and gave a firm nod as his only reply.

Looking upon the assortment of weapons, Kalenel took in a deep breath. One, or better yet two, of the well-crafted weapons would become a extensive of his body within time. He needed to find the ones that he felt most at home with, the ones he felt the most connection with. Spears, axes, and the like would not do. Kalenel looked upon the bladed weapons with much excitment as he ran a finger along a bastard sword.

Too big...Kalenel intented to weild a weapon in each hand.

Kalenel wanted something smaller, but not too small to where he would give up a reach advantage. Over the next few minutes, Kalenel tested the design of blades of varying lengths. Some, such as short swords, seemed just right but lacked in reach.

The next set of weapons he tried were a pair of matching long swords, each just over a arm's length. After swinging each a few times, Kalenel felt more comfortable with this selection than any other he had tried. The blades were not difficult to manuever, and had a good reach. These were to be his weapons, and he would devote himself entirely to honing his skills with them.

Turning to Faust, with as stern a visage as ever, he nodded indicating he was whatever for whatever Faust would prepare for him.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Mythril-gloved hands folded over the dark elf’s chest as he watched Kalenel investigate the weapons rack. Tracing the younger Vysstichi’s movement from one weapon to the next with crimson eyes, the Prince of Har’oloth sported a small and amused grin when Kalenel finally determined to pursue study with the long sword, or rather, two long swords.

“Dual wielding…” Faust said with a chuckle. Bidding Kalenel to rejoin him in the center of the hall, the Vysstichi Lord nodded as the former thief balanced both swords in his hands, gauging their weights and adjusting accordingly. “No small feat, Kalenel. The art of dual wielding is not simple. It requires dedication, coordination, and dexterity. I’ve no doubt that you possess the foremost in abundance, but over the course of our time together, you will develop the latter two. I promise.”

Cracking his knuckles out in front of him, Faust’s gaze flickered to the blades grasped in each of his student’s hands before returning to Kalenel’s eyes. He did not speak at first, though he did incline his head forward in a short nod. In many ways Kalenel reminded him of himself, or at least that is what it seemed like as the younger scion of House Vaimai’tai stood with both swords in hand. Faust had stood in that very spot many years ago.

“Raise your weapons then, Kalenel, and prepare yourself.” Faust instructed. Without a word of explanation, the Prince of Har’oloth’s mythril-bedecked hands curled around the handles of the two long swords strapped on both sides of his waist: Soulseeker and Blood Winter. Drawing the fine blades simultaneously, the Vysstichi Lord held them casually by his sides, both tips pointed earthward.

No word of advice. No pointers. No suggestions. This was the method of House Kitrye’veresi’s fighting style, the reason that each fighter of the First House was so competent with the weapons of their choice. Their styles were developed on their own, guided by those who knew what they were talking about, of course, but inevitably determined by the successes and failures of live combat. The moves that worked were kept. The ones that didn’t were discarded.

Such was the purpose and value of brutal practice, to determine which was acceptable and which was not. Sometimes students learned the hard way, the bloody way, the way that oftentimes led to death in real circumstances.

Perhaps this was the reason that there was a widespread conception that all Vysstichi were strong. It was because the weak ones were dead.

“En'guarde.” Faust said, and the tips of his blades rose slightly.

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Kalenel's spirit never wavered from his decision after he had chosen his weapons. Even before he had fought with them once, the swords felt right in his hands. Kalenel was determined to be a worthy opponent to Faust one day, no matter what it took. This rivalry he held was not out of hatred or envy, but was more to prove something to himself.

Having already seen the dark elf's fighting prowess with one of his swords, Kalenel's eyes widened as he saw Faust draw two blades. He held his nerve though, quickly replacing his surprise with a stern gaze. This is what Kalenel had wanted for so long, the chance to become something more than what he was now. This was his chance, and he would grasp it.

Having been trained in Rhingroda, Kalenel knew how well he worked while in a mobile stance. Unsure of how he would fare with swords for the first time, Kalenel went into a basic stance with his right foot forward and balancing most of his weight on the back foot. Raising his blades, he held them perpendicular to the ground with his arms bent in front of him.

Stepping slowly toward Faust, the rogue took no time slashing toward Faust's midsection as best he could. To the masterful eye of the warrior, it was easy to see the slash was performed wrong, looking more like Kalenel had attempted to whip the blade. Kalenel thought nothing of it at the time though, his mind elsewhere.

He had yet to strike Faust from their last contest....

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Kalenel’s wild swing was easy to detect, and the Prince of Har’oloth merely back-stepped to avoid the range of the swipe. He could easily have batted away the former thief’s attack, but there was purpose behind the Vysstichi Lord’s decision. It was true that he was here to teach Kalenel the way of the sword, but it was an art that required more than using one’s blades alone.

The momentum of Kalenel’s swing would cause him to overexert himself, making him lean too far forward and subsequently compromise his equilibrium. To subtly warn Kalenel of this grave error, the Prince of Har’oloth spun towards Kalenel’s backside, meanwhile swatting him lightly in the back of the knee with the flat side of his long sword. “First lesson…” Faust began as he deftly came to a standstill two meters behind Kalenel.

“Balance is everything, my friend. Your legs, your arms, your torso, your head, your back…all of these must be in harmony with one another. Surrender one and you may surrender your victory. Never forget that.” He finished, briefly tilting his head forward which resulted in several strands of silver teetering over his shoulder and bouncing against the front of his chest.

“And this is precisely why a flawless stance is imperative.” To emphasize his point, the dark elf returned to his previous position, legs spread apart with the right foot an inch or so in front of the left. Both of the dark elf’s swords were held low near the ground. “Your stance is your base of operations, the control center for every jab, slash, parry, and block that you will ever perform. Failure to have a good stance will result in failure to accomplish very much at all. You must learn to keep your balance in all situations.”

Without warning, the dark elf dashed forward, left sword rising gracefully and scything out at Kalenel’s right hip. Faust’s right sword, however, leaped up high and chopped downwards at Kalenel’s left shoulder. The cohesion of these two attacks which, admittedly, was quite advanced, would nevertheless position Kalenel in a very awkward dilemma as it made evasion quite difficult.

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Kalenel quickly shifted his body around to face his mentor, having no anger at his failed attack. He was here to learn the ways of combat, and anger and pride would only get in the way of his training. Lifting his blades back to the ready position, Kalenel listened intently to Faust's words.

Nodding his head as Faust showed him the correct stance, Kalenel mirrored his position as closely as he could manage. If balance was as important as his mentor had said, then Kalenel would need to make sure to have a solid one. After looking down to check the position of his right foot, the once rogue looked up towards his teacher to begin again....

Swords came up quickly as Kalenel attempted to parry the sudden onslaught, stepping back on his right leg to position himself better. Kalenel's ambidextrousness was no small factor as he performed his parry. Moving his blades one over the other, Kalenel's right sword leapen up to defend his left shoulder. His left sword angled to the right to defend Kalenel's hip.

If his parry was successful, then Kalenel would attempt two quick slashes while he stayed anchored in his stance. After each slash, he would return the blades back at the ready.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

A grin flickered across the Prince of Har’oloth’s lips as Kalenel imitated his stance, one that had served the Vysstichi Lord for over a century. Despite the effectiveness of the traditional position for dual wielders taught at the Fitness and Bones Training Facility, it was not a technique suitable for everyone. Ambidexterity was imperative for success, and the unfortunate truth was that not everyone possessed it.

Luckily, though, Kalenel was blessed with the Haya-given knack for warfare that all Vysstichi wielded.

To the former thief’s credit, his blade met Faust’s in a resounding clash that resonated throughout the room. Praising Kalenel with a small smile, Faust’s opposite sword locked against Kalenel’s other seconds later. The two dark elves, it seemed, were locked in a momentary stalemate.

But that is exactly what it was, momentary.

Pushing into Kalenel so that the thief would be unable to withdraw his swords and return to a neutral position, the Vysstichi Lord’s crimson eyes met his student’s. “Good! I’ve not seen anyone block that on the first try in decades.” Faust’s congratulations were short-lived, however, as that smile of his transitioned into something more, something playfully devious.

“But as much as balance is important, so too it is critical that you never trap yourself…” Winking quickly, Faust pushed forward again, more so to press Kalenel backwards before the Prince of Har’oloth suddenly dipped low, tucking his swords by his sides as he swept Kalenel’s legs out from under him.

It would not be a painful fall, but rather a lesson to be remembered.

“Never allow an enemy to tie up your swords, and if he does, do not hesitate to relinquish one. You must never be fully dependent upon both weapons as there are many ways to win a fight. And as much as two weapons can be advantageous at times, so too can they be equally limiting.” Nodding again, the dark elf bade for Kalenel to rise to his feet.

It seemed that the duel was not yet over.

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Kalenel's lean muscles tensed as he returned the press Faust gave upon his weapons. This struggle was only short lived though, as the young D'rinishad found himself upon the floor. Putting away any feelings of pride, Kalenel quickly rose and went again into his stance. Although the actual training was physical, there were many mental aspects of fighting that Kalenel had better get used to quick.

Nodding at his master's words, the once rogue again prepared himself for another attack. Looking to use Faust's tactics against him, Kalenel put himself into a quick dash that would bring him quickly to the great warrior. Once he had Faust within reach, Kalenel issued two quick slashes. His left blade aimed toward the side and his right toward the head, Kalenel knew he would have to bring his blades back quickly after each strike to defend himself. If he saw the opportunity after his swords were back into a defensive position, Kalenel would let out a low front kick toward one of Faust's legs.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Kalenel was talented, perhaps more so than any of the students who Faust had trained here in Vortex. It wasn’t often that the dark elf opted to impart his knowledge to others, but he was grateful that of all people, Kalenel Vai’maitai was to inherit the Prince of Har’oloth’s safeguarded secrets of the sword. Indeed, Faust had not erred in agreeing to the former thief’s request to train him.

He would make House D’Rinishad proud.

Faust’s smile remained as Kalenel returned with two simultaneous slashes, both of which targeted vital points of the Prince of Har’oloth’s body. It was a fine decision, too, for it limited the Vysstichi Lord’s mobility and forced him to contend individually with both thrusts as opposed to simply parrying and counterattacking as he normally would have done. Clearly, Kalenel had placed much thought into the finely configured attack.

Kalenel was thinking like a true warrior already.

Soulseeker, the dark elf’s adamantite long sword, ascended to intercept Kalenel’s cut at the head, and Faust’s other sword angled vertically to meet the attack targeting his side. All four blades locked as they had before, and Faust almost led with a kick to remind Kalenel of his previous mistake, but apparently the newest member of House D’Rinishad had already learned from that blunder.

He beat Faust to it.

Disengaging and retreating backwards, the dark elf leaped away from the kick that would have tripped him to the floor. “Well done!” Faust congratulated, a wide smile plastered upon his face. “You are getting the hang of it.” He said, but before Kalenel could accept the compliment in full, the Vysstichi Lord wasted no time in re-advancing upon him.

The dark elf’s left sword snaked outwards and across at Kalenel’s belly, his other blade meanwhile crossing over that same arm and in an opposite swing and a few inches above the initial cut.

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Indeed, Kalenel was getting the hang of it. Perhaps it was the noble blood that ran through him that allowed him to excell at this form of combat, or maybe just the way fate would have it. Whatever it was, Kalenel enjoyed every second of his training with Faust so far and knew he would practice countless candlemarks on his own.

Happy with how the last exchange ended, Kalenel stayed focused and prepared himself for the attack he knew would be coming soon. Hoping to utilize his agility, upon seeing the attack coming his way Kalenel attemtped to hop quickly back out of the attacks reach. Keeping his blades up in case a blade did find it's way despite his efforts, Kalenel stayed on his toes to quickly re-engage Faust. The second Faust attack passed, the young D'rinishad would step in quickly and execute his own attack.

Slicing with with his left blade to the right temple of his teacher, Kalenel would look for any way to snake his other blade in for a thrust toward the left breast of Faust. Executing each attack as best he could, the still novice Kalenel would prepare himself to dodge or parry any attack being thrown his way.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Kalenel’s decision was, admittedly, one that the Prince of Har’oloth would have adopted himself. The lesson to be learned from the previous exchange, and Kalenel had learned it quite well, was that one’s entire body had to become their weapon, not solely the objects wrung in their hands. Too many warriors succumbed to this error, and they usually paid for it with their lives.

The slight incline of the dark elf’s head was his only form of praise to Kalenel, but it was one that the latter was receiving more frequently than most of Faust’s students. For whatever reason, the younger D’Rinishad had proved himself more capable than his former thieving ways would have predicted, and perhaps he was made of the stuff that would eventually transform him into a legend.

Eventually.

Intercepting Kalenel’s temple-aimed thrust with the slap from Blood Winter, the Vysstichi Lord dipped under his student’s secondary jab, the one aligned with his heart. Shifting under and to the right, Faust came up under Kalenel’s assault, the tip of Soulseeker leading the way and stabbing into the pommel of Kalenel’s sword, the edges of the adamantite blade grinding dangerously close to his fingers and threatening to pry the weapon from Kalenel’s grasp.

Would he relinquish his grip of the weapon? Or he would find some way to maintain control of it in the face adversity?

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Ignoring Faust's nod because of determination and not disrespect, Kalenel's eyes flared as the spar wore on. With the blades in his hands, Kalenel knew he would one day be great. Although not even a cycle into training, Kalenel loved learning and training in the ways of combat in and out of the Fitness and Bones. That determination, eventually, would make Kalenel great.

Having both his attacks fail, Kalenel quickly looked for another opening to try to exploit. Before he could do so though, Faust's mastercraft weapon sought to pry a longsword from the hands of the young Kalenel. Out of pure instinct, coupled possibly with the adrenaline coursing through the veins of the once rogue, Kalenel immediantly let go of the weapon and balled the hand into a rock hard fist.

In a blink of an eye, if that, Kalenel sent his fist straight toward the jaw of Faust. Even though he were a master, Kalenel hoped that he would be paying more attention to making his student relinquish his weapon than a swift punch flying toward his jaw line.

Whatever the outcome of the thunderous punch, whether it landed or was somehow avoided, Kalenel would quickly step back and prepare himself for any defense that was needed with the one blade he still held unto.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Kalenel’s decision, one that no student before him had ever made, won the acclaim of the Prince of Har’oloth, and that was an incredibly hard thing to do considering that Faust had taught more students than Kalenel had strands of hair. This decision, too, purchased him the situation that enabled him to appropriately counterattack and prolong the vicious duel.

All before him had made the mistake of trying to keep the weapon. Kalenel, it seemed, was already ahead of his predecessors by far.

The fact that the Vysstichi Lord was forced to awkwardly twist away suggested that Kalenel had caught him off guard, and this could not have been closer to the truth. Faust’s eyes widened in grim satisfaction as Kalenel’s fist arrived at a difficult angle, one that forced the Prince to withdraw from the engagement with a quick and hasty backpedal. He could have blocked accordingly, but sometimes retreat and returning to a neutral position was far more preferable than compromising one’s safety entirely.

Gauging from Faust’s stunned expression, it would be obvious to Kalenel that he had done well.

But how would he fare with a single sword?

Nodding slightly, the Prince of Har’oloth wasted no time in rushing at his student again, blade weaving in a blur of motion as one sword chopped above at Kalenel’s head and the other sliced in low just beneath the younger D’Rinishad’s abdomen. The pace of Faust’s swings had noticeably increased, a fact which suggested that Kalenel was already improving immensely.

[Kalenel D'Rinishad]

Keeping the emotion of joy over his somewhat successful counterattack contained, Kalenel's strong visage showed nothing but ferocity and focus as the dual wore on. The young upstart warrior came from a family of dual-wielders, with all males and females of his House Vamai'tai born with ambidextrousness to Kalenel's memory. He was now the last of his family, and cared little for the fact that he was carrying on his family's tradition. Kalenel would make his own name, apart from the surname that will always be associated with his crazed mother and matron Blisla. Yet, whether the fallen prince liked it or not, the name Vamai'tai would live through him. It would be his decision of what legacy it's last prince left though.

Kalenel quickly positioned his feet in a way to aid the now much needed parrying and dodging he would have to do. Ducking away from the sword aimed for his brow, Kalenel quickly would attempt to slap the other attack aimed for him abdomen, all the while lining up his next attack. As he ducked and parried, he would quickly bring his one blade back to thrust at the torso of the Prince of Har'oloth.