The Ashes of the Phoenix (Open)

[Ryuzaki]

The mercenary was gathering throwing daggers... Brilliant. He was utilizing his resources. How promising! Ryu smiled as Vincent gave his quip and then instantly ducked as the choreographed throw came. But... No dagger came. The enemy had exited the building.

Instantly alert, Ryu reached into his cloak and removed some moss from a skin, stuffing a little into his wound to help fill the cut and prevent infection. The numbing properties would also make it easier for him to ignore the pain... It would be essential in this fight. Without a second's delay, the assassin stepped onto the table and grabbed a rafter, pulling himself up and pushing through the thatch to get onto the roof of the small cottage. He then moved to the rear, and, peering over to make sure Vincent wasn't there, swung himself over and eased himself onto the ground, wincing slightly. Now... Ryu moved counterclockwise, to the east side... And then... to the north side.

"Hah! That would have been a good trick."

Stepping away from the wall, Ryu bared his twin swords, his eyes boring into Vincent's.

"But far too simple. If one's opponent flees without cause, it is a trap. Had you then gotten onto the roof, you could have ambushed and easily dispatched me. Remember that. Your baiting is well crafted, but you lack the follow-through to make the snare deadly."

The assassin closed the gap.

"Now I must not let you continue to plot and scheme. You have proven that you can think... Can you fight? Let me test your metal and your mettle, Vincent Silverhair."

Ryuzaki swung first his left, then his right blade, feeling them hum through the air.

"These are very light blades, Vincent. That means that they do not carry as much force as a broadsword. They do not crush bones or cause wide damage. But they are keen. Very keen. They will slice like a surgeon's knife. Deal with them as such; parries need not have a lot of power behind them. Be aware of my speed, and you will be able to defend more effectively."

The assassin struck, his left hand flashing diagonally down while his right raised. If he met flesh, he would then follow his downward slash with a horizontal with his right hand... If Vincent dodged, he would move into a whirlwind strike. And if he parried, then he would... Deal with that problem accordingly.

[Vincent]

Vincent waited keeping on the alert but Near never followed him. 'Blast' he thought to himself. He must be doing something else, but what? Suddenly Near revealed himself on the other side of the building his eyes, boring steel daggers. As Near closed the distance he offered a lesson to Vincent. If he had taken the high ground, as he assumed Ryu must have, he may of gotten an edge.

The initial assault was met with Vincent practically leaping out of the way. The blades swung hitting the building instead of Vincent but Near was persistent and offered perhaps too much insight to the boy. He had an idea, I reckless and stupid idea but an idea that could work.

"If the blades are so fine for slicing flesh but metal can parry easily then hows this!?" As the two blades came in for a simultaneous high and low strike Vincent moved close and let the blades strike against his gauntlets keeping his body protected but creating a wide opening.

This was it! Now, or never! Sure he was going easy on him but this could be a definitive match winning move. He hoped at the least. He was still certain the man had more tricks. Moving in to steal Near's footing he slammed the dagger in his right hand to Near's left shoulder and followed up by continuing to push in an attempt to off balance Near and leg sweep him. Should it work he could quickly mount a fallen opponent and bring the dagger to his neck. Or so he hoped.

[Ryuzaki]

As the assassin's left blade met Vincent's arm, Ryu smiled. But instead of meeting flesh, they met metal, and Ryu nodded, impressed, even as he moved to respond. The young swordsman had gauntlets to protect his lower arms... Similar to Ryu's hidden iron blade.

As the cross-body dagger strike came in, Ryu raised his right forearm and felt the heavy force of the dagger blade come down upon his hidden iron. The sharp clang rang out, and as the mercenary swept his foot towards Ryuzaki, the assassin leaped backwards, back-flipping and landing on his feet, wincing again as the sharp pain from his leg wound shot up through him. He couldn't afford to do so many acrobatics.

"You're not the only one protected, Vincent. You fight well, but in a very straightforward fashion... Who taught you?"

Ryu stood, his blades at the ready, while he offered a final lesson in the lull between bouts of fighting.

"You have done well to injure my leg; since I rely on speed and agility, you have hampered me. That last backflip was very painful. I won't be trying it again. So now that you've eliminated my ability to simply run all around you... Now what? Now you need to keep the offensive up, Vincent. You would do well to allow me no time to rest... To box me in and use your power to overwhelm me. I don't wear much armor... That is how I can move quickly. So if you simply whale away, undoubtedly you'll strike a nerve... Or a muscle... Or something."

Then, moving quickly, Ryu dashed to the left and entered the cottage, pulling the same trick Vincent had. But when the assassin flattened his back to the wall, he focused his energies and let his breathing grow measured and slow... And soon his body faded from sight, becoming invisible in the hazy light. How would the young swordsman react? Had he ever seen the power to shade oneself from the gaze of the masses? If the fly walked into the spider's web... He would be caught unaware, and the battle would be won.

[Vincent]

Blast! He used a very tricky maneuver, but Near completely eclipsed him and brought it to a swift halt. Near offered a modicum of praise but the truth of the matter was very clear and plain to see; Near had completely outdone him in this fight. The pace was completely set by Near and no matter how hard Vincent tried to change it he continued to play into his opponent's hand. It may be a tough spar with a few times of true skill but the reality stared at him. It was little more than a lesson and testing grounds to Near.

"If you must know, I am self taught. Each of the scars I carry are the teachers I have had." A tad dramatic and perhaps not completely true it was still no lie. The boy really had no masters but he did watch others and gained pointers from many swordsmen and women. Even a fist fighting monk once, but that was a bit more of a spiritual aid.

Near rushed away into the building despite having the advantage still. A final test perhaps? One Vincent would not fail. To enter headlong would mean an obvious defeat. Near knows what he is doing and he won't allow him to rush in headlong. Just as well if he followed the advice of taking the roof entrance Near should expect such an entrance now that it was brought to his attention. It had become a game of cat and mouse but the mouse had the audacity to think himself the greater beast.

A mere moment in thought felt like an eternity. He had two daggers on hand and his reaver inside. Looking around he found some branches but nothing too great of note. If he only had some way of driving him out. He could think of nothing short of lighting the building on fire, so that option was out. He never had been the tactical type. After a moment more he thought of an idea.

Climbing onto the roof, he brought a large bundle of sticks with him. 'This is a terrible idea' he thought to himself. Finding the hole that Near had previously climbed out of he slowly started to roll the sticks in letting them clatter and fill the room a bit. If he was lucky this could offer some sort of indication to Near's location. If it did he would strike from above with a knife throw and a leap. If not... perhaps rushing the door... no, window would be best. It did look to have a steeple.

[Ryuzaki]

Self taught?! Inconceivably good...

Then a clatter almost shocked Ryu out of his Shade trance... What was that? A... Stick? Bah.

Then another stick clattered down. Was the swordsman trying to bury him? What a foolish tactic. Letting Shade fade for a second, Ryu called out to the swordsman on the roof.

"Vincent, Vincent... Dear child, sticks and stones will not break my bones... Come fight me. The door is as good an entry as the roof, so suit yourself as to which you choose. Either way, I await you... We will finish this battle! Come.... I am ready! I challenge you! Enter!"

Yes. This was prime. He was a mantis, waiting for his fly to buzz into his trap. Or perhaps a spider. Maybe even a coiled snake. Either way... He had fought through his battles, he had overcome his hurdles. Now he was the teacher. He had been a student long enough. He would be a student longer still. But now, he would teach Vincent the meaning of skill... He was a disciple of agility and cunning. He fought with surprise and grace. Vincent was yet budding... And in that impressionable young mind, he would water the seeds of success. Vincent would become a fine swordsman... And he would grow to see the world as Ryu saw it. How perfect. There was naught to be said or done... Now all he had to do was wait and strike. Vincent was at his mercy; the battle was simply a matter of an elegant end.

[Vincent]

The stick idea worked!? But it was so absurd! Oh well, if it works you do not question it. Just as Vincent had drawn the attention and gained sight of Near he was ever so quick to, vanish? Was he seeing this right? Wait what? How? Impossible! "What kind of trick is this!?"

Vincent quickly backed away opting to accept the door invitation. Vincent was rather surprised. He could not fathom a man vanishing before his eyes the way Near just had. With this it was official, he lost the duel. Had it been a real fight he could simply take the time to run away but here? No.

Reluctantly, Vincent slowly sidled his way into the building keeping his back pressed to the wall. In case Near tried anything else he would keep at the ready, praying his reflexes could counter. He did not count on Near simply accepting a verbal announcement of defeat.

"I yield." He said loudly so there could be no mistake. "I have no idea what kind of skills you possess but it is obvious you have me at your mercy here." He kept one dagger up to his chest, ready to defend and one he used to replace his missing knife in its sheath.

Vincent looked around a bit. The room was dusty alright. The dust swirled around in the draft and the smell of it was enough to make the nose physically ache. 'Where is he' he wondered. "I think this is enough."

[Ryuzaki]

"Well chosen."

The assassin revealed himself, a few feet to the side of the swordsman. His swords were held high, but he did not strike; instead, he meshed them together into one blade and sheathed them.

"My knives, please?"

Ryu set to work cleaning and bandaging his leg wound for real, replacing the moss and wrapping the puncture with cloth before securing it with hide strips. The gash would heal, and he would once again be ready to go... Beautiful.

"Vincent... I salute you. Well fought. You had me thinking. THINKING! Do you know how much of a rush that is? To have a foe who you cannot simply overwhelm by sheer force of intellect? You are amazing, dear Vincent. You have true potential. Now you must simply refine it. Separate the rock from the ore, and then smelt it. Throw yourself into the furnace, so that the fire might form you anew."

The assassin smiled and extended a hand to the swordsman.

"I salute you.

If you need it, I have healing herbs and cloth for bandages. Also wine to dull your pain and good food to eat. You have my thanks and gratitude for such an inspiring performance of sword. You have shown me true steel within you. Vincent! I hereby name you Vincent, the Rising Phoenix! You will join Ryuzaki, the Soaring Dragon... As my apprentice and my pupil. You are worthy!"

Ryuzaki had no idea if the name would be suitable to his young study; he simply picked what felt right in his head. It sounded perfect for Vincent.

[Vincent]

Like a shadow Near revealed himself. The dust within the air swirled in a sort of view of him just before he came to sight. The blades went away and now it was back to business. Vincent was admittedly upset with himself for losing but it could not be helped.

"My knives please." the words snapped Vincent out of his own self chastising.

"Right." Vincent began to hand them back. He had not noticed but he had a death grip on the one. Looking around he retrieved his reaver before going back out to find his own knife. It took a moment but sticking out of the grass was a bloodied blade. "There you are." He wiped it clean before returning it to its sheath.

There was something very off-putting about how Near addressed the fight. He was not angry over his leg, rather impressed. There was a certain... carelessness? about his opinions. Like fighting and killing were how he felt alive. It sent a shudder up Vincent's spine. Near was not mentally stable. Sure, Vincent loved a tough match as well but this... this just seemed different.

"A Phoenix huh? I don't know if I very much like Phoenixes right now," He gave a hollow laugh. "That bird is nothing but trouble. Still... odd you would use a Phoenix actually." Vincent had a skeptical look. Was it mere coincidence or had this man known more about his adventures than he initially realized? No, he could not, lest he would have known he was innocent.

The idea of being this man's pupil still sickened him and perhaps it always would but it was a necessity. "So, where to first, master Near?"

[End Thread]