Flashback What We All Have In Common (Raust)

[Namorin Xalvratos]

Summer 494 AV

Namorin found himself at the Kendoka Sasaran for a prearranged laken training session. The youth had some experience with his wooden laken, but nothing that would really help him beyond know how not to stab himself. His father had felt that it was time he actually get some training. So it was that he had arranged for another youth to teach him. A youth that showed some promise with the Laken.

The ten year old Namorin walked into the practice arena looking around for his teacher. At ten years old Namorin was tall for his age, but not yet near adult height. He was also skinny as a rail. He was an Akalak though so he was strong, but his body’s only hint to that strength was the lack of any fat. His golden eyes had an intensity to them made people feel like he was looking into their thoughts. His face though showed his emotions as his lips easily smiled or frowned often without any thought.

Namorin stood to the side of the room stock still his gaze sweeping across the room looking for Raust Benjamin. About all he really knew about the older boy was that he would taking his trial soon. Well the room had a number of people who could easily fit that description. He wasn’t to worried though. His instructor would either show up or he wouldn’t, but Namorin, despite Charlain urging him to pace, stood still. He was nervous but wasn’t going to show it.

So he stood there watching and waiting his hand resting on the hilt of his wooden laken sheathed in leather belt. He knew that soon enough he would begin to learn.

[Raust Benjamin]

Raust usually didn't do things to help people unless it somehow benefited him but it was his racial duty to train the younger akalaks in the art of the lakan. For those well-trained in the art of using the Lakan, it is almost as if it is an extension of one's arm. Raust would teach this boy that the lakan must be used with precision and ferocity that is unheard of with most other weaponry. One had to fast and quick with the blade to make up for it's lack of length compared to longswords. Raust was far along the process and would take the rite of passage soon, and the boy was full of confidence. Things never really changed for him.

Raust entered the Kendoka Sasaran wearing nothing but plain cloth pants and two metal bands that looked so small compared to the massiveness of his biceps. Raust might not have been as tall as other akalak but he made up for that in his bulk and brawn. The midnight-skinned warrior wanted to have perfection in his body and in his mind, but the two warring souls within himself seemed to be incessant. His dark soul seemed to speak louder every day while his lighter side seemed to take a backseat but provided a order in Raust's life that was much needed. Without it, he might already have been a Ceraleun by now. At this point in his life, the two have not nearly become more comfortable with each other like later on.

"Hey, boy." he said simply, sweat glistening off his muscle-bound body. . His wooden lakan rested on his hip before Raust aggressively pulled it out. He wasn't going to take it easy on the young boy in front of him; not any easier than the person who trained him."Show me what you got." Raust said, skipping all of the pleasantries.

[Namorin Xalvratos]

Namorin contiuned to stand there waiting looking around him and watching others practicing with their weapons of choice. Most like himself used the traditional akalak weapon. The Laken was a special part of the culture, all Akalak men have a Laken, made of steal, blood and djed. It was a shorter weapon, about the size of a large dagger. The blades were similar to each other but had been customized for individual taste and personality. To Namorin it made sence. Lakens were conected to its owner in a special way. So each Laken should be unique as each Akalak was unique.

Namorins thoughts were interupted as his instructor showed up. The older boy marched over with out any preamble or any real introduction. The expression on his face was one of business. He clearly was here to teach not to make friends. Namorin quickly took in his instructor appearance. He was taller then Namorin, but any Akalak about to take their trial should be taller then Namorin. Despite being young and not having hit his growth spurt he could tell that his instructor wasn't one of the tallest people he had ever meet. Namorin did notice thought that the shirtless man was one of the most muscular especially for being so young.

Namorin blinked in surpise as his instructor suddenly yanked out his wooden laken. This man really was here only for business. Well what ever he wanted to do. Charlain mutter in there mind, but other then being annoyed and offended at the older boy's behavior Namorin couldn't actually say what it was Charlain had mumbled. He didn't stand there stairing though. He did as instructed and pulled out his own Laken and held it in his hand. While he had ever had true laken lessons his father and grandfather had shown him te proper way to hold it. They said he was to young to really learn yet but it was better to break bad techniques before they became bad habits.

The yout held the blade so that it was a part of his arm. It was to be an extension f his ar, he had been told, but he didn't hold it so tighly that he wouldn't be able to adjust the angle of the blade. Of course he didn't know that was why he held it that way. He then dropped into a similar stance he had seen his father and grand father take when ever they would pratice. He spread his legsso they were about shoulder with apart. He wasn't realy balanced on his toes like his father would have been, but he had never been taught that.

He then began to show te older boy some of the moves he had seen the men of his house do during their private practice. He just did te simple ones. Some basic blocks and cuts. They weren't perfect but they showed that he had paid some attention despite his youth. Charlain had always pushed them to practice what they saw even if tey didn't understand the technique. Namorin was still to young and inexperienced to understand that some times technique could only be pased by word of mouth as some one had to explain what your body was doing that was so subtle you could see it.

He would continue the base swings until he was told to stop.

Word Count 563/7385

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