The sky was a crisp blue ocean with waves of early orange light, flocks of geese flew overhead parting the delicate wisps of cloud with their calls to one and other. There was a gentle breeze that had been carrying a few fallen leaves around for hours, it blew the blades of grass which covered the training field which still glistened with a few drops of morning dew. It was early but the sun had risen and continued to drift from the eastern horizon, casting brilliant golden rays between the trees and their leaves. The ground now knew a beauty that could only ever be captured just after the sun broke through the wooded canopy. A squirrel jumped between the most extrusive branches, it’s cheeks brimming with nuts ready for burying. It paused on the end of one branch to watch a small figure stood in the middle of the training field between several wooden posts.
Crack!
The sound of metal against hard wood reverberated around the calm morning. Splinters were shot into the air over and over again with every strike Shinzo made into the wooden posts. He held one butterfly sword in each hand, turning slowly with his left arm outstretched and his right hand close to his head. He held this defensive guard as he circled one of the posts. ‘Wait, wait.' He told himself in his mind. ‘Now!’ As this shot flew through his mind the boy sliced forwards with immense speed. He began to weave in and around the poles, hitting each one in quick succession. A bead of sweat grew upon his brow, but that would not be noticeable to anyone watching as his movement speed between each post seemed almost unnatural. ‘I have to keep pushing myself’ he thought again as his teeth pressed into one and other inside his mouth. ‘Right, then left, then left again and another right.’ His eyes smouldered with the fire of frustration as his limits continued to creep up on him. To onlookers it would seem like this boy was just holding light itself as the rays of sunlight reflected off of the polished metal surfaces of the blades. His hair flew back as he dashed between each target, his focus was definite, there was to be no wavering. He could not afford to keep his training easy, there was nothing to be gained from taking things slowly. Shinzo had to go faster, and so he did. He continued to push his limits, dancing between the posts with as much finesse as he could muster while still accelerating.
Classes would not start for another hour yet, but this was Shinzo’s routine, he had to keep it up if he ever wanted to rival the abilities of his uncle, the one who had gifted him these swords. ‘I have to at least get another fifteen full katas before lessons begin. They won’t be happy if I’m late like last week, and I won’t be happy if I have to stop before I’m finished like the week before that.’ The boy grunted, forcing himself to keep going, the flurry of blows made many marks on the faces of the wooden posts, but to anyone looking there would be blade marks covering the entire surface of each one. After about another minute of constant blade work, Shinzo came to a stop, his breathing heavy. He took one last deep breath to centre himself and then raised both blades out in front of him, arms slightly bent, as he readied himself to begin his next sequence.
WC: 595
Crack!
The sound of metal against hard wood reverberated around the calm morning. Splinters were shot into the air over and over again with every strike Shinzo made into the wooden posts. He held one butterfly sword in each hand, turning slowly with his left arm outstretched and his right hand close to his head. He held this defensive guard as he circled one of the posts. ‘Wait, wait.' He told himself in his mind. ‘Now!’ As this shot flew through his mind the boy sliced forwards with immense speed. He began to weave in and around the poles, hitting each one in quick succession. A bead of sweat grew upon his brow, but that would not be noticeable to anyone watching as his movement speed between each post seemed almost unnatural. ‘I have to keep pushing myself’ he thought again as his teeth pressed into one and other inside his mouth. ‘Right, then left, then left again and another right.’ His eyes smouldered with the fire of frustration as his limits continued to creep up on him. To onlookers it would seem like this boy was just holding light itself as the rays of sunlight reflected off of the polished metal surfaces of the blades. His hair flew back as he dashed between each target, his focus was definite, there was to be no wavering. He could not afford to keep his training easy, there was nothing to be gained from taking things slowly. Shinzo had to go faster, and so he did. He continued to push his limits, dancing between the posts with as much finesse as he could muster while still accelerating.
Classes would not start for another hour yet, but this was Shinzo’s routine, he had to keep it up if he ever wanted to rival the abilities of his uncle, the one who had gifted him these swords. ‘I have to at least get another fifteen full katas before lessons begin. They won’t be happy if I’m late like last week, and I won’t be happy if I have to stop before I’m finished like the week before that.’ The boy grunted, forcing himself to keep going, the flurry of blows made many marks on the faces of the wooden posts, but to anyone looking there would be blade marks covering the entire surface of each one. After about another minute of constant blade work, Shinzo came to a stop, his breathing heavy. He took one last deep breath to centre himself and then raised both blades out in front of him, arms slightly bent, as he readied himself to begin his next sequence.
WC: 595