Solo Getting Seriously Serious. IV

[Medhozic]

23rd Day of Winter, 513AV. Lethava was waiting for him. It wasn't a coincidence - they'd pre-arranged another meeting.. or rather, the Benshira had, after their little issue a few days back by passing down written messages to him from people that were, to Medhozic, complete strangers. It was a very unorthodox method to say the least, but it got the job done. He sat in the edge of the Bronze Woods, just within view of the North Kabrin Road, around the same area that they'd been working in the previous meeting. The Benshira had a small cloth covering around his stomach where the puncture had been, bulging out underneath his usual studded armour. Apparently it carried herbs and kept them pressed to the wound to stop infection - he'd told his patron knight that it was just a scratch from working with the others and he'd actually been congratulated for showing such hard work. Perhaps scars and wounds were badges of honor in these places.. although he doubted how having one allow themselves to be mutilated would be much honor to be gained. More losing it than gaining - to show that one is weak and wear a badge of such a thing for the rest of their lives.. it was foolish, which was often why he found himself honestly unable to believe that many of the Kelvics and humans that he came across were happy, almost prideful of the wounds they received in battles... idiotic. "Are you feeling any better." There were no hellos, no real greetings. "I'll live." As hard as it seemed to believe, the Ethaefal actually cared for the Benshira. The boy-squire had proved himself to be a touch above the usual rabble of squires and other creatures that roamed about the city. He had a bit of intelligence about him, a balance between arrogance and acceptance that was almost affable - to show that he had competence in what he knew but he would not overshoot himself and goad about his victories. He was rough around the edges, of course.. the constant battling for victory that would sometimes lead him a little too far, but that was acceptable. It was a mistake that many made. Many who were far more intelligent than he, as well. "You helped with that, bringing me back." "I was the one that caused the injury in the first place." "No you didn't - it was an accident, it could of easily have been you that would have been harmed.. if I could lay a blade on you, that is." "I'm sure that given another shot, you would have." He was being honest - his endurance wasn't exactly fantastic. "In that case, let's see if you're right." He seemed almost eager, regardless of what had happened the last time. The boy had brought along his weapons, as per usual. A dagger was offered to the Ethaefal and taken - the boy took up the long-sword and searched for a suitable spot to take up aim and prepare for the oncoming attacks. Medhozic had been getting better.. the boy could see it too apparently. Their battles at first had been very one-sided, with the boy winning using his superior range and the speed that came with the momentum of the heavy object. But as time progressed and experience built, the attacks became more easy to understand.. moving up closer to the blade meant that the boy struggled to comprehend the very swift movements of a much lighter blade, and the Ethaefal himself could move quicker.. and evade all of the heavier and even the lighter thrusts and attacks. It wouldn't be long before he'd be able to manipulate the boy's blade as easily as his own, given its weight.. he should have been able to push on the flat edge, although admittedly it would require great timing and balance.. "Begin." And with that, they were off once again.

[Medhozic]

The long-sword came down from above in a swoop, but he stepped aside and stopped the Benshira from raising the sword again with his free left hand, while the right one poised the dagger just below his neck. He was getting better at taking advantage of larger weapons.. since the heavier ones were always the easiest to stop, once they missed the first blow. That's what he thought - there was still one thing he'd forgotten about, and hadn't even considered until now. The fact that putting himself so close to the boy-squire had given him a perfect opportunity to hook one leg under his body and yank back, tripping the Ethaefal and pushing him down onto his back where the long-sword lowered down in front of his face. "Petch." "Haha, come on Med, I'm not done yet." Oh, the boy was just asking for more. They both readied themselves and took off again, but this time the dagger was the first to act with a swift jab to the stomach, but it missed as his target moved off a few steps to the right and suddenly the long-sword was over his head again. It was soon turning into a dance, stepping forwards and back in tandem, circling around each-other with blades flying, but nothing making contact.. until a particularly hard swing from the long-sword sent it spiraling horizontally towards the Ethaefal, who ducked.. only to have a knee strike him in the chest and throw him back and off-balance long enough for the sword to once again lower itself and stop just on his shoulder in what would have been enough of a strike to lose his right arm. "Petch." He should have seen it coming, really. Now there were two that he'd lost. "Something up?" The boy actually seemed concerned, as if he wasn't performing at his best for some unknown reason. It was almost more humiliating than the losses, for someone to think you simply weren't doing as well as usual.. when the truth was that you simply did suck. "Nothing. Continue." They took stances for the third time, and this time, he switched it up a little. Shoulder-length apart feet pointing right this time, with the right arm pulled back and ready to strike, left arm held out forwards. The dagger, therefore, was in the hand furthest away from Lethava and the free hand closer. He wanted to meet side-on. The boy-squire wasn't really sure what was going on - neither was the Ethaefal. Experimenting and all that - couldn't hurt in the end. "Begin, then." There was hesitation. Uncertainty that suddenly broke and the long-sword stabbed forwards with both of the boy-squires hands trying to their upmost to keep the blade aloft.. except they couldn't, because Medhozic's free left hand slammed into the forearms of the boy-squire and pushed the stab aside, while delivering one of his own that he could not avoid and stopped just before his solar plexus, with the tip touching the fabric and hanging teasingly. A very quick engagement. They tried it again, and this time, he tried it with the opposite side - the dagger still in the right hand but this time his body faced left, so that the blade was closer to Lethava, and his free hand was further away, a complete switch. The boy-squire Benshira was more cautious, though. A quick horizontal slash came forwards from the long-sword, but the Ethaefal skipped back and rushed forwards soon afterwards, just as a second strike came down from above. He moved the quicker of the two and caught the forearm, like before, with one hand while the other held the blade at his left breast, just below the collarbone.