Keeping Up, While You Keep Your Word [Finished]

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin was helping Nani finish her chores in the afternoon on a warm day. The once aimless young women, now seemed to be quite driven, adapting to life in Karrasi very well. Outside of some awkwardness in dealing with so many strange people, her past as a shop hand was of great use as she aided Zeshin, Maia, and Issac with the upkeep of the tavern. Finishing wiping down the empty tables, Zeshin balled up his rag, and tossed it into the available bucket. "Whem, well I'm off, I wonder if Issac has left without me?" Zeshin said in an upbeat manner.

"Where are you heading off to so happy Zeshin. Dusk will be here soon and the evening rush won't be to far behind." Nani said smiling, walking over to the bucket of water, placing her rag inside, picking up the pewter bucket by its polished wooden handle. She had become used to Zeshin incessant idle mind, his wanderlust often propeling him to steal some time away from work to venture out into the village. "You know Lady Maia, she won't be pleased to see you gone before the rush.

"I'll be back jeez. Don't say anything thing about me leaving and I'll bring you back something." Zeshin said, digging his finger in his ear. His charming words, off put by his garish display.

"Really. What could you bring me back that's worth my silence Zeshin?" Nani said whimsically, half serious and half joking about her comment.

"I don't know, girls are weird, and you and mom do nothing but prove me right everyday. No seriously, Issac said he would show me some moves today, so I'm cutting out of work kinda early. I'll be back okay." Zeshin, taking the bucket from Nani, his hand rubbing against hers, the small indirect display of affection causing her to blush slightly.

"Promise." She said meekly, in a shy voice, playing of the joke between her and Zeshin at the moment.

"Yeah, sure thing." Zeshin said, unaware of Nani's blushing face. Emptying the pail, Zeshin grabbed his sword from the corner of the pub where he set it earlier. Waving goodbye to Nani, Zeshin exited the tavern to set off and begin his training with Issac. "See ya." Zeshin as he walked outside of the bar, and walked through the town.

[Issac Verro]

Issac was sitting under a tree in the shade of a secluded area in a small patch of trees on the outskirts of the town. Chewing on a piece straw, Issac watched dutifully as he waiting for Zeshin. Issac had anticipated this day, waiting to put the boys skills to the test, to see if he could help polish the power the young man displayed the night the ruffians entered.

Seeing a mass of blue hair approaching, Issac grabbed the sheathed sword at his side, channeling some of his Force magic into the weapon as he tappped the tree gently, causing an apple to fall. Catching the apple, he held it as the boy came closer, "About time you got here Zeshin." Issac eyeing the apple from his shaggy features. Issac remained seated, as Zeshin finally arrived at the spot where their lesson would begin.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Walking up, Zeshin could barely contian his excitment at the prospect finally being the recipiant of formal training by a seasoned warrior. Walking up Zeshin stopped several ffet in front of the seated and lazy looking Issac. From his shabby appearence and lazy mannerisms he did not appear frightening at all. But Zeshin knew differently, the grace and relative ease Issac used in the dispactch of the ruffians the night in the bar said differently. Both armed and unarmed Issac easily dispacthed his opposition, showing the boy he had much to learn if he were to continue to aspire to such hieghts.

But recently, Zeshin seen non of this from Issac, and began to grow slightly weary of the wandering swordsaman. If he wasn't eating of fixing something for Maia, he was typically sleep, or would stumble in around close, asking for drinks as he curled up in his favorite corner near the enterance of Karrasi. "So, what's up first, some quick slashes, or that leaping thing you did. Ooh or mabye we can spar for a while." Zeshin said eagar to get the ball rolling.

Too Zeshin's chagrin, he watch as Issac yawned and streched and continued to inspect the apple in his hand, seemingly ignoring the boys request. Frustration growing, Zeshin began to grow impatient. "Come on, why'd we even come out here if your gonna sit there like this was the bar?" Zeshin asked in a loud tone, folding his arms as he starred at Issac.

[Issac Verro]

"Zeshin... what is it you want from training with me exactly? I never got around to asking you back at the tavern." Issac said, ignoring the boy's questions blatantly. Zeshin was a capable fighter, despite being rough around the edges, and Issac could see that. But Issac's demeanor and attitude weren't there to be a hindrance, he was trying to invoke something from the boy. Issac was trying to anger Zeshin, to bring forth his emotions and have him utilize them to propel him in his training.

Zeshin seemed fully capable of dispatching the ruffians that attacked he and his mother that night. But when his anger peaked, he became something Issac could not describe a the moment. Issac had found out the nature of the boy after the fact, but he still had not seen a Dragon in his life, and could not understand how all that power, power described as legendary, could be inside that of a mere boy. "Training is like a journey Zeshin, you kinda have know where your going before you get there." Issac said, biting into the apple. "So... where is it you want to go?" Issac said, smacking as he chewed the apple in a very annoying manor.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin could feel his hands getting warmer as Issac continued to seemingly procrastinate and ignore him. As he stood there, Issac asked Zeshin an important question, inquiring about Zeshin's desire to train and become stronger. Zeshin had no answer for a moment, thinking about the subject, he began to grow more annoyed when he couldn't think of any answer he thought Issac would want to hear. "I have to grow stronger, you saw what happened at the bar, I was so weak, I couldn't do anything but get hurt. If it wasn't for you, my mom would be dead." Zeshin said to himself, continuing to think of an appropriate response.

Zeshin began to grow more irritated at the fact that the first question his master asked stumped him, as well as memories of that night. Issac's chewing of the apple didn't help to quell the boy's anger either, as Zeshin unknowing played into Issac's game. "I know where I want to go, your just stalling on helping me get there. I want to become stronger to protect people, and to become a better man." Zeshin said, unable to hide his anger at Issac's attitude. The grass on the ground began to dry a little underneath and around Zeshin's feet, indicating the boy's power began to spike, just as Issac predicted.

[Issac Verro]

"Alright kid... but... I hope your ready..." Issac said lazily, chewing the apple. Holding the apple in his hand, Issac took on last bite and looked at Zeshin, "Hey Zesh, your first test... is to catch this..." Issac said tossing the boy the half eaten apple. In no less than one second, the Inu-jin grabbed his sword from the ground with lighting speed, and with a quick draw of his blade, the apple was sliced in two before it was even a foot away from him.

He watched to see how Zeshin would react, if he would catch one piece, or try to go for both, obediently complying with his master's wish, although to catch two objects traveling in different directions would be nearly impossible for an unsuspecting person. But, Issac expected the impossible from this boy, and waited to see his response.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

As Zeshin could feel the heat his body began to draw, his tutor Issac seemed to sense it himself, going fro lax layabout to expert swordsman iun the span of mere seconds. As he seemingly trailed of in sentence, telling Zeshin to catch the apple, the boy was about to begin a voice his frustrations, and then he saw the split change in Issac's face. As he slightly furrowed his bushy eyebrows at Zeshin the apple that flew from his hand was rent in two parts, both flying in opposite directions at similar speeds.

Shocked at the small display of skill, Zeshin gathered himself quckly to comply with his master's task. As the apple halves flew at him Zeshin made a quick shuffle to catch one in his hand. Issac continued to stare and Zeshin despratly reached to catch the other, missing it by only an inch as the lunged for it, the fallen apple landing on the ground rolling past him. Perplexed a tthis, Zeshin looked to his instructor, half anger, half confused, hoping for an answer.

"What the hell was that? You told me to catch and then sliced the apple in half no more than a breath away from your face. How did you do that?" Zeshin asked, realizing he had a half of a half eaten apple in his hand, gagging as he tossed the fruit away, burning it with his magic to let of some steam. As the ashes gently fell to the ground, Issac stood to his feet towering over the boy, his hand on his chin in an inspective mood.

[Issac Verro]

Watching the boy closely while trying his hardest to maintain his lax personality, Issac looked on as Zeshin caught one of the apple halves that flew at him. It would seem that the boy would have had to have been pushed harder Issac thought, until Zeshin made a daring move at an almost blinding speed. Zeshin actually tried to reach for the second apple, which was most certainly within his grasp, as Issac grabbed a pebble, flinging it and discreetly knocked the apple out of Zeshin's way. Issac was most surprised to say the least at Zeshin, leaving him satisfied with his display.

Knowing that if he hadn't interfered, Zeshin would have most certainly did the nigh impossible for someone on his level. He would have caught the apple halves on his first try, and Issac could not afford to lose his prospective student to budding arrogance, not before he understood what effect this boy's magic had on his own. Standing to his feet, Issac placed his hand his chin, looking the boy up and down.

"It's like that night at the bar, where his speed and strength shot up so fast, he didn't even notice. This isn't just adrenaline from a fight, there is something about this boy, and not even he understands. Was his mother right? Is he a Dragon? From the looks of him, no... not really. But his power, his power says something totally different... He can't be like the 'Old Ones' that changed my people. Can he...?" Issac said to himself, finally turing to begin addressing Zeshin. "Okay kid, were about to go at it for a while. I want you to think back to that day in the bar. Think back to how you handled those creeps, and if I think your sandbaggin' me one bit, you'll pay for it." Issac said, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Go as hard as you can kid. You'll need it to catch up." Issac said to Zeshin, drawing his blade at a moderate pace, making the first slashes of the fight at his pupil.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin looked at the Inu-jin, who again purposely ignore his questions. But before the youth could get any angrier, his instructor spoke to him in a voice that almost sounded approving. It seemed Issac was moderately pleased with his attempts to secure the apple halves, and after he looked the boy over one good time his inspection was over, and he address Zeshin again.
Zeshin was given a warning, and then was promptly attacked, reaching to grab his sword.

Still sheathed, Zeshin placed it in the path of Issac's slash, the scabbard taking most of the brunt, as Zeshin pushed himself off with the excess momentum. Tossing his scabbard away, Zeshin grasped his sword in both hands, and began the ritual breathing to calm himself before battle. It would seem the sparse amount of training Zeshin had done with Peteo as well as on his own would have to suffice as experience, and backed by that Zeshin stood strong, his stance steady as he had firmly planted his feet into the earth, without sacrificing the ability to move within a moments notice.

Exhaling, Zeshin sped off in Issac's direction, swinging his sword down, then sideways for a diagonal swing, crashing into Issac's blade. Pushing on his sword, Zeshin tried to gain some ground on his opponent as well as put Issac in a position where he would have to back away, giving Zeshin a slight edge if the attack fell through.

[Issac Verro]

Watching as Zeshin approached, Issac braced himself as he saw Zeshin advance. Eying the youth's movement carefully, Issac saw the arc of his swing, carefully moving his sword into postion, blocking Zeshin's attack. Feeling the push on his sword, he saw Zeshin try to force him back, the boy's face giving away his inner thoughts of preparing to further attack after he gained more ground. Moving his arm which held the sword to the side, he turned Zeshin's momentum against him, sidesteping as he turned his sword to the side to slap Zeshin across the back of his neck.

Planting his feet a foot apart from each other, he sheathed his sword, and waited for Zeshin to turn back around, standing with his hand on his swords hilt. "Too much force... try again." Issac said bluntly.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin immediately assumed that Issac had reeled under his attack, attempting to advance in the small opening of his guard. Little did he know that the swordsman read his moves like and open tome, deftly moving his sword to use Zeshin's own momentum against him, the boy lurching forward unintentionally. As he passed his sifu, trying to gather his footing, he met with a slap to the neck from the flat edge of Issac's sword, turning his blushing face toward Issac in embarrassment. Having put his efforts into one move, Zeshin was disappointed to not have had the chance to follow through with his attack.

As he completely turned toward his opponent, Zeshin saw as Issac had already resheathed his blade in was in another stance, already prepared to engage Zeshin again. "Too much force... try again." Issac said to Zeshin, his base taunts further infuriating Zeshin. Wanting to rub his sore neck, Zeshin ignored his body's cry for relief and starred angrily at Issac. Breathing hard, Zeshin was trying to supress his anger, knowing that it would only hinder his ability to read Issac's moves. Beyond that fact, this was just a training excercise, and when those thoughts crossed his mind, Zeshin allowed himself to exhale, calming down significantly, looking down to notice the scorched grass underneath his feet. Looking back at Issac, he noticed the wily Inu-jin smiling at him.

"He must be reading my movements based on my emotions..." Zeshin wondering to himself, hoping to not give as mush away in his next engagement. "What was it Peteo said... 'show your emotions through your bladework...' or something like that." Zeshin said cooling himself down, to not give off any more signs of angst to be read by Issac. Holding his sword with both hands, Zeshin raised his hand to his face by the hilt, advancing toward Issac.

Then Zeshin noticed something about Issac's stance. Looking at how he held his sword, the curved part of the hilt faced down, allowing the user to draw his weapon edge toward opponent. "I wonder... I wonder if... the edges..." Zeshin said to himself, running at Issac, deducing his plan of attack. Raising his sword above his head, Zeshin began to motion towards striking down from above. "I gotta be fast for this to work..." Zeshin said as he continued his inner monoluge, "Gotta get hot without showing anger...". Trying to raise his magic, Zeshin clenched his sword and pulled from inside, reflecting on his teachers words and drawing strength from past transgressions. Summoning the same clam as he disposed of the ruffians that night, Zeshin burst toward Issac, crashing down his blade on the Inu-jin.

[Issac Verro]

Issac stood his ground as Zeshin burst toward him, unsheathing his sword to block the attack, Issac tried to push blade forward, but meet with quite resistance, underestimating the youth strength. "He's beginning to pull without the anger..." Issac said to himself, sliding his blade downward while shifting to the side to gain some ground. Issac was surprised to see that Zeshin anticipated this and was aiding the downward movement, pusing while Issac hilt grew hotter.

"Dammit..." Issac said, as he began to use his Force magic to cushion his hand from the heat, pushing the hot air away from his hand. Issac gaining his bearings allowed his blade to crash into the dirt, letting go of his weapon to strike Zeshin with the scabbard, leaping to the side after striking his student and his weapon closer to his position. Taking advantage of this, he grabbed weapon and re-sheathed it. "Nice Zeshin... just... a little more..." Issac goaded, after acknowledging Zeshin's progress.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Forcing more heat into the air around Issac's sword, Zeshin continued to press the advantage until he had his tutor's sword into the earth, feeling completed in his course of actions. He reached up to strike but once again Issac proved himself both too fast and versatile, as he met Zeshin attack with a counter blow from his scabbard on the back of his head, causing the youth to stumble slightly more from surprise than pain, as well as regain his ground while moving his weapon closer to his current location. Zeshin listen to the complement from Issac, and turned his attention towards his master's words, insinuating that Zeshin was to attack him.

Placing his sword at his waist with both his hands still on the handle and closing his eyes, Zeshin began to internalize his magic, seeing that his skill would not bridge the gap, but perhaps his latent powers could. Concentrating, Zeshin's hearing began to become more precise, his skin more susceptible to the change in temperature around his body as he began to radiate heat around himself, careful not to expend to much to burn the ground beneath himself. Opening his eyes, Zeshin's blue eyes began to shimmer, his cornea glowing as he turned his sword and positioned his feet, but remained stationary, indicating to his master that he would remain as such, until attacked, awaiting Issac's answer to this silently.

[Issac Verro]

Issac had watched Zeshin during the duration o the entire fight today, but this was actually what he had been waiting for, a move of strategy from his pupil. Zeshin had now composed himself, standing firm in his stance, his eyes glowing with the strange power he possessed, it now it seems it was he who beckoned Issac to attack. Issac tilted his head to the side to check the boys feet to see if this were some manner of feint, but sure enough he found the soles of Zeshin's feet firmly planted into the earth, small lines of heat coming fro the ground he stood on as it heated under the heat and weight.

"If that's the way you'd like it... so be it." Issac said in a gruff voice, crouching in a low stance, placing most on his back foot as he leaned back, his grip on his sword steady, and without excessive force. Channeling his Force magic to his back leg, Issac sprinted toward Zeshin, dodging to the side right in front of the youth to slash at his side several times with one hand in a series of attacks. Using his free hand he commence to attack Zeshin's feet with his scabbard before Zeshin would have the chance to adequately counter.

Issac intent was not to hurt his pupil gravely in this exercise, but he was hoping to instill a sense of fearlessness in the boy, hoping to show him that he should not try to outmaneuver an appointment who's speed you cannot match, but to meet them head on use your strength to your defense and offense simultaneously. another factor in Issac's decision to attack in this manner was to see if Zeshin would rely on his ability to spontaneously heal from light damage in battle, his 3 slashes cutting deep, and how they will effect his ability to counter.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

As soon as Issac had finished speaking he disappeared and reappered before Zeshin before a cloud a dust could rise from where his feet previously stood. His sword now draw, perhaps in the blinding transition from rear to facing his opponent Issac slashed at Zeshin, the first tearing through the youth's simple garb on his side, cutting into his flesh, as the blade moved like a steel viper, attacking with out remorse. Zeshin attempted to move to evade the attack, but was unsuccessful as Issac managed to trip up his feet with the scabbard the sword tore into him again, this time deeper as Zeshin began to feel his blood stain his shirt.

Zeshin flinched from the pain, but did not let it hinder him a he moved his blade to the flat side on his side where the sword would strike again. As he heard the metal clash, Zeshin clenched both his teeth and his hands around his blade, as what felt like a total torrent of adrenaline washed over him, pushing Issac away, a wave of fire erupted in the air from the quick contact of metal against metal as Zeshin pushed away. Ignoring his wound, Zeshin dashed toward Issac with similar speed, swiping his sword in a fiery feint with his magic as he loosened his grip with one hand. As Issac sought to evade the fire, his chest met Zeshin's fist in a swift, yet powerful uppercut, causing Issac to reel back in pain. Still pressing the advantage Zeshin continued forward, holding onto his sword when he was met with a fist seemingly have the force of a mountain conneted with his face, causing him to stagger, his clothes being torn to shreds by Issac's bladework.

After the brunt of Issac's counter assault, Zeshin fell onto his rear, his sword still in hand as his teacher sheathed his sword, placing it in his robes. As Issac walked over to the now partial dazed Zeshin, holding his chest with a smile on his face. Stopping in front of his pupil, Issac smiled dryly, "I think that's all for today, and I think I need a drink..." Issac said as he extended his free hand to the youth. Zeshin then relied that the session was over, and after a few seconds to gather himself, he took his teacher's offer and stood next to him.

After retrieving his casing and sheathing his sword, Zeshin checked his wounds, just to find that they were not as severe as he had thought. Zeshin then turned to see that Issac was leaving the forest, and Zeshin followed behind, happy to see he could indeed hold his weight, happy to find his progress was worth his teachers slightly brusied chest and ego.

[Issac Verro]

Issac sat in his own little cubby hole, his own private space in the bar enjoy a glass of spirits and a steak that Zeshin had prepared for him earlier. Taking in the ambiance of the environment, Issac watched as Maia, Zeshin, and Nani were all working dilligently, as he seemed to be loafing around. However, Maia had given a special task, bar hand by day, and silent enforcer by night, Issac's duty was to step in and ensure that her patrons were safe and happy people, and it was a job Issac relished in having given off the appearance of being a bungling of in performing his chores poorly, much to Zeshin and Nani's chagrin.

As the bar began to fill, 3 traveling monks walked in, followed a man with armor walked in, making small conversation with Zeshin. He gave off a similar aura to Zeshin, and by Zeshin's body language, he seemed to know the man, despite admitting he could not remember from where in conversation. Issac though to sit a the table with the monks, but reclined to finishing his meal and spirits on his lonesome.