Master Guardian

[Zenophoenix]

Master and Apprentice

Kaine had spent the last week traveling from Akasha City all the way to Genesaris. He had been relieved of his Guardian duties by another person, the Flame Guardian, Flare. He didn't really care, seeing as how he had always been nomadic. He came to Genesaris per a request from a person wanting his services. His sideline hobby was training others, necessarily to become a Guardian, but just a general training course to learn how to fight. Of course, it was never really structural, but he has trained a few of his closest friends in the arts of close and long-ranged combat. He perused the letter over again, the person wanted him to come to Genesaris by airship and come to Aelindra City.

The airship's whirs came to a slow halt as it hovered above the landing strip. Kaine was relieved that it was over. He was uneasy about air travel. Although, the hostesses were polite and the food was well... edible, there still was his fear that the airship would be attacked. Yeah, of course, it was an asinine fear but it was just one of his small quirks. The airship landed and all of the passengers poured out of the seats and Kaine followed them all of the way out of the entrance. He glanced around at the terminal and left. He was determined to get to Aelindra before nightfall.

He walked toward Aelindra City, fortunately he arrived there in the early morning so he had plenty of daylight. He continued down the paved road and finally reached the city gates. After being escorted in by the City Guards, he took a quick look around the city and waited in the City Square for his newest Apprentice.

"I guess I can just wait here for them. If they live here, then they should be around here somewhere. Besides, I don't know this place too well. He thought, seating himself on one of the benches nearby.

He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, ignoring the stares and gawks from the passerby. Aside from the people, the place itself didn't seem half bad. It would be a nice place to live, once he decided to settle down.

[Aleksei]

When he had sent word back that he had read and accepted the letter asking for his services, plans were being layered down. There was very little consideration taken for the side of the apprentice, especially since one had to make a proper living to carry on. You can live without a title before you name, but you can't live on dirt alone. Hopefully this man proved that he was worth his own travel and her own personal time that was going to be put in all of this. There were no other aspects to be found, she wasn't a proper princess that carried wealth in just her pinky, and she was hardly close to the standards of a lady. Final option, hoped it worked.

She had set out early in the morning to meet the Master, donning her best attire. At one point she had been an apprentice, but sadly the teachings were something she could not withstand or even afford. The black tails of her current shirt flapped against the ground, the corners cut in decorative ways to represent lace. There was a slight breeze, so she found a comfort in wearing the long sleeved garment. The white of her pants seemed to glow against the morning sun, sadly all that hard work in cleaning won't matter at the end of the day.

Kushial sauntered to the city center, looking around with deep aqua hues which twinkled in examination. It didn't take her very long to spot the man, especially since he was someone that she had never seen before.

"Kushial."

She extended a dark gloved hand towards him, offering a name and later a reason. Strands of dark hair splashed against proud shoulders, shifting from black to dark red. He could easily see the youth in her face, but the creases of her eyes showed she was a hardened individual.

[Zenophoenix]

"I'm Kaine, pleased to meet you. But we have no time for idle pleasantries." He stood before the girl, stoic in stature. "The fact that you have decided to come here means that you are prepared for the rigorous training of sword, manners, and honor. I will not tolerate any insolence or any derivation from the training. In time, you will learn the skills necessary to protect yourself, loved ones, and your land. Now, I will ask a few questions of you. First, what do you hope to accomplish at the end of our training?"

He crossed his arms and stared intently at her as he spoke, conveying all seriousness in his messages. He was not one to waste time and definitely not one to idle by through life. But, he was glad that there was some seriousness and intent behind her eyes. He respected that. But by the end, she would hate him, she would thank him, and above all else, she would aspire to surpass him.

[Aleksei]

He may be in a hurry, but she wanted to take a few seconds and examine the man so she could at least remember his face. Obviously young, but she was probably an ant to his hill, so age had no reason behind any of this. After examining him she rolled his words around in her mind, picking at every little syllable to make sure she would answer his questions correctly. She understood that the right answer never fit the situation. After lulling in her thoughts, she nodded her heard, happy with her own answers.

"Everything in myself and hopefully down the road I will find something in you as well. There is no stopping to what I want to learn, what I wish to acquire, and what I will accomplish."

Her voice was a steady tune, showing her control over the femininity her sentences held. Kushial crossed her arms beneath her breasts, tapping her fingers atop her elbows. He was going to be a hard rock to move, but she wasn't going to crack under his teachings, she wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. They were going to stand toe to toe, and they were going to exchange words, but she was going to learn to respect him.

"Next question."

[Zenophoenix]

"Everything in myself and hopefully down the road I will find something in you as well. There is no stopping to what I want to learn, what I wish to acquire, and what I will accomplish."

He nodded as he heard those words. A better apprentice she could not have made of herself. Simplistic, determined, and resolute. Strong-willed as well. Reminding him of a boy he once trained who died after enduring his training. Of course, it wasn't by his hand, but merely a lapse in judgement. He had specifically asked him to use caution whenever engaging an opponent and never fight without just cause. Well, he couldn't save everyone, but he would train this young woman and tax the extent of her abilities.

"Do you have any fighting expertise at all?" He asked, condescendingly.

[Aleksei]

She caught that condescending tone in his voice and held onto it. She wanted to know if he looked at her like a poor little girl or did he just see another apprentice he can run through the ropes. Either way he wasn't any bigger than the rest of the boys she has spanked for their insecurities and informality. As a teacher he was going to push her buttons and she was going to push back, hopefully exceeding the line of his judgement and calm. Kushial smirked though, showing that she was enjoying this, finding his gruff and rough attitude a comfort. So she moved forward a little, standing tall in her five foot and three inches.

"I'm fair in hand to hand combat, small weaponry, but when it comes to a sword I am illiterate."

She didn't have a fear in explaining her faults, hiding them wasn't going to help her any. Besides, he was sent here for a reason and that was to help her in all of this. She needed to provide for herself, his teachings were going to assist in this. Now if they remained friends after all of this, that was another situation. Hell, she wasn't even sure if she could withstand him for another day but Kushial was going to bite her tongue.

"You?"

[Zenophoenix]

Kaine couldn't help but stifle a bit of laughter. The nerve of this girl, asking him whether he had any combat expertise. But to be fair, she did have a right to evaluate him as he was doing her.

"I'm fair in hand to hand combat, small weaponry, but when it comes to a sword I am illiterate." He had let the sentence repeat in his mind again, slowly drawing out a teaching style for her.

"Alright then, Kushial. I am a Master Swordsman and an Intermediate when it comes to magics. Most notably, I have somewhat of an expertise in destruction and alteration magic."

He grasped her wrist and opened her palm, noting that what she said was true. He could see slight bruises on her knuckles and felt the tension through them. She had some knack for hand-to-hand combat. But she definitely needed some sword skills.

"I see... you must have some experience, but merely fighting with your hands will not be enough if you do not have an instrument to channel your power through." He let her hand go and turned his back to her. "Let's go, we have to prepare for your first stage of training."

He put his arms at his side and proceeded to exit the city gates. He knew she would follow him, resolute in the fact that she actually wanted to learn from him. If she got through successfully, then that would be one less person he would have to protect. If he could help people defend themselves, then he wouldn't require so much of his time to have to play hero.

[Aleksei]

She studied his face a little more as he grabbed her wrists to examin her well earned marks. Before he had done so she removed her gloves, stuffing them away for a moment. In her younger years she tried to pick as many fights as possible with the local boys just to get a rise out of them. No one liked to get beat up by a girl, let alone one that carried no title. Getting older though she lessened her beatings some and tried to actually understand the skill of throwing a punch.

She had been practicing with a knife, but there was a large difference between that a long sword. Just a sword has never really perked her interests and no one really seemed interested in teaching her. Kushial had no intentions on learning from just anyone, and Kaine was a test right now.

Kushial put her gloves back on, wiggling her fingers to make sure they fit comfortably before following him towards the gates. He was quick to his word and was apparently ready to get to work. She didn't necessarily expect his abruptness, but if this was how he worked then she'd play along. Gathering the long, dark strands of hair she gathered it to the back of her head to keep it out of her face. To her, her hair was a way to show that she was still a woman and didn't want people to forget that.

"I know a little magic myself."

Figured she could just throw that out for his own sake of interest.

[Zenophoenix]

Kaine abruptly stopped, just as quickly as he began to go. She knew magic huh? He had wanted to gauge her abilities, both physical and magical.

"I know a little magic myself."

He chuckled again, and turned to face her. This girl knew magic, and she could fight bare-handed. Both were skills that could help her, but this still was not enough. If she were facing a warrior of his caliber, then her "little magic" would do nothing more than slightly bruise her foe. There were some things he needed to know about her abilities. As much as he didn't want to get personal, magic is and always would be a touchy subject.

Some magi channeled their magic through their emotions, others channel it through their bodies, involving no emotion. Some still, like himself, channel it through an "instrument" such as a sword, a gauntlet, and unique to his own prowess, a breastplate.

He turned around and faced Kushial.

"That's an interesting development." He said, crossing his arms once again. "It seems I must add magical offense and defense to our "itinerary" training schedule. But first, what magics can you perform and how much experience do you have?" He finished his statement, turning back around and heading towards their destination.

[Aleksei]

She stopped when he did, standing some steps in front of him as he explained his interest in her magic. The magic she weilded was more of a comfort blanket than anything else. It knew when to come according to her emotions, but it now only started to protect her when she learned control. The first time she discovered her little ability it had back fired, landing her a day and night full of staring at a wall. That was some time ago and he asked her a question, probably wanting it as soon as possible.

"Perhaps magic is a word used too freely, but I've dabbled in necromancy though I'm not fantastic at it. I'll be lucky enough to revive a weed, if that. Manipulation of water and sound, both which I'm fair at. Something else, my own energy."

While speaking she had rubbed her hands together, prepping them some. Taking a deep breath she lfited her hands, drawing them apart as if she was welcoming a hug. The space between her hands appeared letters scratched into the air, glowing softly before disappearing just as quickly as they appeared. She took another deep breath, nodding to herself in satisfaction before looking at her teacher to see his reaction. It may appear that she had done nothing but a pretty little light show for him to clap at.

But that was him to decide.

[Zenophoenix]

Kaine raised his brow as the letters disappeared. Another mental note to keep in the back of his mind as she performed. He was actually impressed. Her chosen disciplines, although seemingly weak, could very well accentuate the sword skills she would soon learn.

"Perhaps magic is a word used too freely, but I've dabbled in necromancy though I'm not fantastic at it. I'll be lucky enough to revive a weed, if that. Manipulation of water and sound, both which I'm fair at. Something else, my own energy."

Her own energy, she would definitely need to master Manaflow, but that part would come up later. Now, he would begin the first part of his training: the basics of Swordsmanship.

He continued leading the girl until they reached a forested area where they were secluded from would-be passerby. No one got his lessons for free, even if they may have overheard something inadvertently. He pulled a branch from a nearby tree and handed it to her.

"Here, use this. This should be worthy enough for your talents. Besides, you wouldn't be able to handle anything sharp. Might cut yourself at this level." He tossed the branch to her and watched as she stumbled to catch it. She was so uncoordinated.

"Your first part of this extensive training is to learn the ways of the sword. This encompasses more than just hacking, slashing, and thrusting. This also involves patience, tactics, and bravery. In order to master this, you must devote everything to it, no shirking off or complaining or wanting to quit. You do not quit, ever. If anything, you rest and try again. For this exercise, I want you to strike this tree and make a dent or a scratch, using the branch that I have given you. If the branch breaks, then select another one and try again. A true swordmaster can defeat any foe with any weapon, including a simple blade of grass. Now, I'll stand here and await your progress."

Of course it didn't make any sense, but the real test was of her patience and of her perception. To dent a tree trunk, a person would need to be able to observe their environment and find something strong enough to do it. A branch should suffice for now. She would be able to wield a sword once she proved that she could perform this exercise. Patience, Kushial, use patience and perception and this should come easily to you.

[Aleksei]

She never did like the look or feel of swords, but she honestly didn't give them a full on try before judgement. They were an obvious weapon that either hung from the waist or on the back for some fashion she was unaware of. Just like a person they came in every shape and size, depending on what the holder wanted to use them for. Kushial assume she was going to use one to protect herself and whoever else was in her company. For now she would swallow her anxiety and listen to the Master.

She may have stumbled to catch the branch but she wouldn't let him see that it annoyed her. Coordination wasn't something new to her, but when there was something heavy in her hand it tends to make a person lean. The branch was just an awkward shape and length, she still caught it though and kept her pride. She examined the branch a little more to burn some thinking time.

It was slim, a little heavy at the end pointing towards her and it would probably break with one slap on the tree. She could probably find a better branch and not give this one a single try. Though she was here to learn a little patience and probably stop all her judgmental thinking in one clean swoop. So with a couple more gropes to the stick she'd do as instructed and start hitting the tree. Kushial took her couple of sword lessons and threw them to the wind as she stationed her body before the tree. Looking at it like a great foe and started hitting it.

Kushial had started at a reasonable pace, wondering if she could make a scratch on the tree but it looked a little bleak. No matter how hard she hit it, the branch kept bending and the tree kept laughing at her as she tickled it. Her face showed her distaste for this little game, and her arms were asking for a quick break but she insisted they kept going.

Out of frustration she gave it one quick hit, the letters that had disappeared earlier came back by running up the length of her arms and to the tip of her fingers. With a small and might burst of energy she dented the tree ... a little.

[Zenophoenix]

Aaah, yet another development. The art of the Enchanted Blade. Kaine thought as Kushial surged her magical energy up the length of her arm and to the tip of her fingers. Although a seemingly unorthodox way of mastering the concept, she had managed to dent the tree. Which meant that she was ready. Now Kaine could design the perfect role for this would-be Sword Maiden. The Mystic Swordsman, a person who can utilize magic and use it to augment their sword abilities.

But he could tell by either her drive or her overall demeanor that she had never had much experience with a sword. He still couldn't help but be admired and even awestruck by her determination. It was only the first exercise, but she did it with vigor and courage and persistence. He walked up behind her and patted her on the shoulder and peered at the dent.

"Not bad, I see that you used a bit of magic. It may not be very potent, but it did manage to cause a dent. He said, smiling at her. "You've passed the first exercise. But don't get relaxed just yet, now its time for exercise number two." He stepped back and summoned his twin black and white daggers, smirking as he did it. "I see you do well with a stationary target, but I want to test how you will fare when your opponent is constantly moving. Catch me if you can. Land a hit with that branch and you'll prove to me that you're ready for the next step." He planted his feet in the ground and readied himself for a sprint. "Ready... GO!" He took off sprinting, hoping that she could at least keep pace.

Alright, Kushial, I see you have strength. But now, I need to see endurance, patience, and drive. One strike is all you need to pass.

[Aleksei]

She was determined to pass these little tests and move on to the bigger picture. What patience she had was worn thin by smacking the tree around a little, only to dent it some. She knew that her magic was stronger than that, it was just being drowned beneath her need to give proof she could do this. He was talking to her like a teacher and a prodding friend that knew how to poke the right buttons. His smile riled her some, feeling like he was just trying to tease her before getting to business.

He summoned his own weapons which caused her to look down at her hands for a brief moment. she wanted to be able to do that without as much as blinking an eye. He did it with such fluidity it made her wonder if what she saw was correct, but he ran off before she could give an answer.

Kushial drew in a deep breath before starting off after her teacher. His pace wasn't as horrible as she expected it to be, for all she knew he could run like the wind and leave her in the dust. She kept hold the branch as she chased after him, huffing as he kept his one or two steps ahead. Now was the time to show him that she had a nice control over her physical power, and maybe that would show him he shouldn't be throwing those smiles out so graciously. She shifted her body off to the far right, throwing her arm forward to shoot those invisible letters towards his feet. If they connected he would feel a warm sensation run up his legs to drag him down like quick sand.

[Zenophoenix]

Kaine tripped up as a warm sensation tingled the bottom of his feet, he attempted to shift his direction but failed and plummeted to the ground. His sword clanged as they flew from his hands and dissipated. She had outsmarted him again. To have such weak magic, she sure was resourceful with it. He recognized the magic type, there was no element associated with it but it had a profound effect. It must belong to the Alteration, seeing as how she altered the synapses in his legs. He couldn't figure out what type of magic she was using, but it didn't make any sense, she was resourceful with her magics, but she wanted to learn the sword. If anything, she should be receiving instruction from a mage or a arcane master.

He got up and dusted himself off again. "Well, once again you pass, but I have a question. You have been resourceful, but your successes have been due to your magics. Why wouldn't you just find a mage or something? Oh and I saw the way you eyed my Conversion technique, interested? No need to be, a person with strength of your calibur couldn't even wield a regular sword, why would you even dream of wielding a Summoned Blade." He said shrugging his shoulders.

He stood and crossed his arms, contemplating the next step in the training. But it would all depend on her answer to his questions.

Magic, or Swords, pick one Missy and stick with it. You can't survive being a jack of all trades, yet master of none.