Rowaini Musketeers: One For All and All For One

[Shayuri]

Jacen continues to play a conservative game...he's behind now, and he knows it. Keeping his guard up, he circles slowly, watching Jean's body, his sword, his eyes...waiting for the minute tells that telegraph another one of those lightning fast series of blows. He has a feeling that Jean must leave himself open just before striking... Moving that fast, with that much concentration...there'd be no time to think of defense. He'd rely on fear to keep his foe at bay...fear, and the sheer speed of his motion.

So he waits, until he thinks Jean's just about to attack, and then launches a quick attack of his own...praying that his instinct isn't guiding him to strike an instant too soon, or too late...lest the window be closed and the match be lost!

(CE 2, AC 18, To hit 19! http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1433076 )

 

[Rystil Arden]

Jacen continues to play a conservative game...he's behind now, and he knows it. Keeping his guard up, he circles slowly, watching Jean's body, his sword, his eyes...waiting for the minute tells that telegraph another one of those lightning fast series of blows. He has a feeling that Jean must leave himself open just before striking... Moving that fast, with that much concentration...there'd be no time to think of defense. He'd rely on fear to keep his foe at bay...fear, and the sheer speed of his motion.

So he waits, until he thinks Jean's just about to attack, and then launches a quick attack of his own...praying that his instinct isn't guiding him to strike an instant too soon, or too late...lest the window be closed and the match be lost!

(CE 2, AC 18, To hit 19! http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1433076 )

*Jacen's attack hits squarely. It was a perfect strike. It was easy--almost too easy. Jean must have realised that Jacen's attack was going to hit at the last second and didn't even bother to defend. Which means...Oh no! The Twin Waves technique crashes down, from too close now for Jacen to defend. One hit, two. And that means...*

"Darsanne wins, two bouts to one."

"Even so, that was a marvelous attack you made," Jean compliments.

"Wow! That amazing!" Marie exclaims, finally exhaling a breath she had been holding during that last bout, "Jacen, I know you lost, but you were still just incredible! To spar with an initiate on a nearly even level."

*She runs up and gives Jacen a hug, caught up in the excitement, then realises what she's done and blushes, extracting herself and backing away.*

"Uhh...that is...I mean...you were great, Jacen."

"The lady is right. That was very well done, young one. Have you ever thought of becoming a Blademaster?"

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen slides his blade back in the sheathe, a little flushed, be it from effort or Marie's impromptu hug. "Thanks, Marie," he says with a grin. "I felt like a novice learning the forms all over again though."

"No dishonor to lose to you, sir," he says to Jean with a grin. "To be honest, I haven't heard much about Jurai Blademasters. Clearly my education's been lacking. That manuever is amazing! It takes everything I have just to block it!"

"So how -does- one undertake Blademaster training?" he asks.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Jacen slides his blade back in the sheathe, a little flushed, be it from effort or Marie's impromptu hug. "Thanks, Marie," he says with a grin. "I felt like a novice learning the forms all over again though."

"No dishonor to lose to you, sir," he says to Jean with a grin. "To be honest, I haven't heard much about Jurai Blademasters. Clearly my education's been lacking. That manuever is amazing! It takes everything I have just to block it!"

"So how -does- one undertake Blademaster training?" he asks.

"The Jurai Blademasters are a secret order founded centuries ago. Young men and old who seek to perfect the art of their blade have joined the order over the years, including some of the greatest swordsman in history. Our school emphasises calm clear thought and a bond with one's blade, until it becomes much like an extension of your arm. It is said that the greatest Blademasters and their blade can become one for a very brief time in a vorpal hurricane of steel and soul," Jean explains, "Though we have not seen one of that skill in many years."

"To be considered, you must impress a current Blademaster of Initiate rank or higher, and then you can take a test at one of our Training Halls."

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen nods and says slyly, "If only there were such a man hereabouts, that I might try to impress...perhaps with a duel of some sort..."

He gives Jean a hopeful look.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Jacen nods and says slyly, "If only there were such a man hereabouts, that I might try to impress...perhaps with a duel of some sort..."

He gives Jean a hopeful look.

"Duly noted," Jean laughs, "In truth, I would be willing to sponsor you for the Novice test based on the displayed quality of your swordplay, your intensity, and your concentration."

"B...but! I had to train for six months before I could take the Novice test. How is..."

"And it is that attitude that causes you to defeat yourself, young Novice. Your eagerness to learn will make you a great Blademaster some day if you can learn to control the negative aspects of that zeal," Jean replies, then turns back to Jacen, drawing a small flat disk from his pocket with a beautiful stylised emblem of a blade amongst blossoming flowers on one side and a simple blade with 'Darsanne' in flowing script on the back and handing it to Jacen, "Take this token. With this, they will know that I have sponsored you to take the Novice test. This is good for whenever you feel the urge to learn more about the blade...and about yourself. Come now Guillaume. We should return to the party. Let these two continue out here."

"But he's..."

"It is true that it is dishonourable to teach the blade to a gentle lady, Guillaume, but I don't think that is what Jacen was doing. Teaching her the basic steps to avoid attacks is not too very different from learning a new dance, and maybe it will help her stay safe some day. I know you just want your sister to stay safe."

*Guillaume sighs and follows Jean.*

"Wow, Jacen. They said you were talented, but...you were just moving slowly and taking it simple when you showed me the moves earlier, weren't you? I have to admit, watching a swordfight like that gets my heart pumping. So...so I, uh...I'm sorry about before. I got caught up in the moment."

 

[Shayuri]

Jacen looks up from the token, his eyes still a little wide.

"What? Oh! Right...no, think nothing of it." He smiles and waves it off. "No harm done. I'm sorry if I caused any trouble for you. I didn't realize how...er...strongly certain ideas are kept here. But! Maybe I can make it up to you."

He tucks the token away, taking great care to secure it so as not to lose it.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Marie looks relieved. She gives him a quick hug.*

"Thanks for understanding!" Marie smiles, "What did you have in mind?"

 

[Shayuri]

"Well! I..." Jacen stammers a little, taken off guard by the hug, but he doesn't seem offended. Just flustered. "I seem to recall a certain woman who...might be able to use a certain Musketeer's invitation to visit the capital..."

He grins.

"If it would help you go there, then you will have it. It would be cruel of me not to help after describing the gardens to you."

(Phear my color changing! I read back a bit and realized I'd accidentally picked the wrong one recently. )

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Well! I..." Jacen stammers a little, taken off guard by the hug, but he doesn't seem offended. Just flustered. "I seem to recall a certain woman who...might be able to use a certain Musketeer's invitation to visit the capital..."

He grins.

"If it would help you go there, then you will have it. It would be cruel of me not to help after describing the gardens to you."

(Phear my color changing! I read back a bit and realized I'd accidentally picked the wrong one recently. )

(OOC: Obviously his colours were slowly coming closer to Marie's )

"Oh, I totally forgot about that!" Marie exclaims excitedly, "I love gardens! Here, can I show you around our garden while we're here? We have a gardener, but I like to plan horticulture sometimes, and I do the gardening for a lot of the flowers myself."