[Flashback]Not the Patron(Markus)

[Wystern]

Wys was in for a slight surprise at how quickly Markus moved the chunk of metal in his left hand. Evidently this is what Mason drilled into him. The kid was alredy better at using a shield than Wystern, and it looked like he was only going to improve from that point on. Still, He didn't feel jealous, to each his own, Wystern was more of a sword specialist anyway, that was his art, his life, his job.

Wys had to stop his own the lunge or he would get hammered in the ribs. Even with plate present, it still wouldn't tickle. He shifted the weight to his right foot and threw the shield arm back. The weight of the metal nearly yanked the shoulder bone out of the socket, but it gave Wys the few inches and seconds to grab the katana.

He dragged his right foot to the back, leaving a mark on the ground they stood on, and with the given momentum, pulled the hilt out, towards the incoming shield. At this point he was demonstrating what he was trying to teach, with the advantage of his sword's far more rounded nature.

Only when the sword's handle and the shield collided did Wys realize that the entire maneuver was completely unnecessary. His left arm didn't feel too dandy and with that he got nowhere. On top of the fact that this was all a simple training exercise.

"Did you ever catch your master with that one?" Wystern said smiling."Get ready to swing again."

[Markus Andres]

Markus was impressed with the way Wystern blocked his attack. Using the quick drawing skill to block the shield. That really was an effective move and Markus was quick to jump away from the opponent. He didn't want to be in close quarters when he managed to draw his blade completely. Markus only had his shield as a weapon when he was really close to the opponent and he preferred being able to whack away at them with his blade. "Only once... I woke up 10 chimes later when he struck back..." Markus said with a grin. Why was he telling it to this man? Why was he talking about one of his most embarrassing encounters with his master like that? It didn't make any sense. Markus shrugged away the feeling and sheathed his blade. This time not looking down at it when he drew the blade. Both his eyes focused on the trainer. Wondering just how he was going to make his attack fast enough to hit his trainer. Mentally going through the draw motion of his blade. If he loosened one of the straps on his belt, it would make it more flexible, allowing him to draw it further out to his left. Perhaps meaning he could strike in the same motion he pulled out the blade ... But any such strike would be terrible weak and leave Markus' right side completely exposed. He didn't like that idea. HE would just have to do it the old fashioned way. With increased speed. Markus' hand shot down to the blade, pulled it out and quickly reversed the swing midair to seperate his trainers head from his body. Expecting him to block the attack with ease.

[Wystern]

"I know the feeling, my friend. My master was teaching me what I'm teaching you now. Let's just say that you should never ask him about that scar on his nose if you ever see him," Wys replied with a mischievous smile. "All the laps I ran around Syliras that day; I thought my feet were going to come off."

As Markus disengaged, Wys flexed the shield arm, trying to relieve the tension and get the blood flowing again. He then slid the katana back in the sheath, leaving his main hand empty for the upcoming trick. Wystern flexed his fingers, grabbing the thin air a few times, until he heard his knuckles pop. He then grasped the shield with both hands, trying to aim the edge to meet perpendicular to the blade.

Wystern was rarely in a scholarly mood, but if there's anything he ever noticed in combat, it was the simple physics where two equal forces cancel out each other where they connect, and repel each other in the opposite way, if the angles are positioned correctly. Otherwise, steel will go wherever it wants to, and that wouldn't be the desired effect.

As Markus swung the blade, a little faster than anticipated, Wys slammed the shield into the sword and again as it rebounded. Then, in a few seconds of the force being knocked away, he tried to throw his hand for the part of the blade that was right over over the hilt and pushed the sword against its wielder.

Wys smiled, it worked the same way it always did. The main point of those blades was to crush first, and cut second, that's why they were never razor-sharp. And that is why his hand wasn't severed on the ground right now. "So, where do we go from here, squire?" Wys said playfully, while trying to turn the blade on its owner with his shield behind it.

[Markus Andres]

As Markus had expected, Wystern blocked the attack with his shield. But what he hadn't expected, was the quick fingers grabbing his blade. Forcing the sword back on Markus. Markus who was still only 15 years old and still hadn't developed his full muscle mass, was having trouble fending off the knight's maneuverer. Markus gritted his teeth and felt the daily-masters playful tone ignite the fuel that powered his anger and strangely enough, his inner tactician. It was perhaps his anger mixed with his desire to beat this arrogant man into the ground. Markus saw the shields. Saw the lost fight for his blade. Saw a chance however unlikely. Markus stepped to his right. Slammed his sword to his left, almost throwing it in that direction. All meant for one thing. Throwing Wystern's left arm away. Markus would slam his left arm forward. Keep his enemy's shield where it was. Perhaps even mislead him to believe that was the main attack. When today's master might be surprised to find Markus' right hand come hooking above the two shields, where it had been hidden behind and be aimed directly for the side of Wystern's face. There was probably some sort of honor code he broke, but he really didn't care. His master had taught him to use everything to his advantage when it came to combat.

[Secret]

THREAD AWARDS Markus Andres   Skills Skill Gain Notes Shield 2 Bastard Sword 2 Rhetoric 1 Observation 1 Tactics 1 Unarmed 1   Lores Sword: Quick Draw (Basic) Shield: Hides Sneak Attacks Knightly Duty: Not Whipping Out One's Weapon in Public   Notes Well done, would have liked to have seen it finished, preferably with Markus bleeding and crying. Just kidding. Or am I? Wystern   Skills Skill Gain Notes Leadership 1 Teaching 1 Shield 1 Katana 1 Observation 1 Rhetoric 1   Lores Knightly Duty: Training Squires Squires Can Teach Knights a Thing or Two   Notes Well done, too bad Dimitri couldn't get a piece of Wystern.