Another Day, Another Lesson [attn. Valadin]

[Silas]

Valadin continued to impress Silas with his antics, pulling off a complicated triple feint just as Silas moved in to counter his combination, using his own injuries to his advantage to try and lull him into a false sense of security, before blazing upward to try and split him in two with a swift Low Wind Rising.

It might have even worked, had it not been for said injuries. As it was, as flawlessly as the tactic was executed, whether he noticed it or not, Valadin was slowed by just the faintest amount by the battering his body had already received, and the fatigue that caused. And even the smallest decrease was enough for Silas to capitalize on. Silas swiftly took a massive step backward with his left leg, bending backwards almost in half as the sword swung up, millimeters from his face, even knocking some loose strands of hair out of place with the breeze from the attack. Almost regretfully, he stepped forward with the same leg, using the momentum of his rising to spin into an almost-pirouette, as he spun into The Falcon Dives, smashing the quarterstaff into his opponent's shoulder blades, smashing him face-down into the ground.

Silas let out a long breath as the Void left him. The fight was done, for now, though given what had happened, he wouldn't mind if the boy decided to challenge him again once he'd trained a bit.

"You are a slippery bastard, do you know that? I like that. Do you know how close you came to hitting me with that last attack? Superb- if you'd just been a half-second faster, I'd have a very sore hip right now. As it is, you have more than impressed me, with one small exception." He took a step back from the Soldier's prone form, his staff once again held casually, non-threateningly. He smiled warmly, genuinely, as Valadin tried to compose himself.

"I'd recommend visiting the infirmary after this- you've taken a worse beating than I usually dole out- I apologize for that. I don't usually get so heated, but there are some things that get under my skin, as you saw. Can you stand? If you desire, I can help you to the Yellow Hall and get you the assistance you need."

OOC: Wonderful! I love how Valadin fights- he'll be a terror in the Yards, I guarantee. Anyway, great job in this spar! I really got a feel for Valadin and how he reacts to the kind of adversity he was just put through. You're welcome to wrap this session up, and I look forward to seeing more of your writing in the future!

[Sean]

The Captain General’s commendations was met with pained appreciation. Lurching to his feet, Val dismissed the offer of aid with the shake of his head,

“Thank you, Master Silas,” he replied in a barely steady voice. Hot pangs of agony seared through his spine though he willed himself to remain upright. Glancing down at his tunic, he saw the tears and splotches of dirt that would likely make the garment unusable in the future. An inward sigh at the loss of a piece of clothing from his limited stock was brushed from thought as he bowed stiffly, carefully measuring the movement to avoid agitating his injuries. “I will seek you out when I’m better suited for taking on that…urm, staff of yours. If you don’t mind I’ll…I’ll make my way to the Infirmary.”

Without waiting for a response, Valadin straightened and made his way towards the Healer’s tent stationed on the far side of the Yards. Most of the watching crowd nodded approvingly as he moved past them. The Gaidin had already taken to barking orders to the stragglers, yet they too observed him coolly with sidelong glances. As he hobbled through the melee that quickly resumed around him, there was an atmosphere of respect that could be seen in the way spars would pause in order to give him the quickest route towards to his destination.

More than once a cuff on the shoulder nearly sent him toppling to the ground, but Val weathered it with a smile and a noncommittal wave. An Accepted approached him, a slight girl with a thin waist. Unlike the Captain General and the others who called the Yards their home, she would brook no protest while firmly taking one arm and instructing him to lean upon her. Val considered resisting her, but the fight left him when another Accepted with an even sterner glare gripped his free arm. Together the two moved in perfect unison as if carrying the wounded to the Healing areas had become second nature to them.

“You fool Drin’far’ji and your so-called ‘honor’,” the stern Accepted griped. She was an older woman likely in her middling years. Unlike the girl, the woman was of a stouter build; a figure that was no stranger to manual labor. Whether that was hauling bales of hay or slinging rebellious young men over her shoulder Val couldn’t be certain. Her hair was speckled with dots of grey though the practical bun she sported spoke to a very particular attention to detail. “Hurting yourself like Borderland barbarians then claiming to need no help, pshaw! Your honor be burned!”

Val was about to respond to explain that he was a Soldier when the younger Accepted spoke. Her voice was sever and unexpectedly commanded respect; from both him and the woman, “Silla, if you know what’s best for you, that kind of talk will never fall from your lips within earshot of the Yards. Is that understood?”

The words cracked like a whip giving Silla, the older Accepted, little room to do anything save for reply with an acquiescing nod.

“There is something to be said for courage. All great men and women are similar in this aspect,” the girl continued without looking at either of them though somehow Valadin felt the words were intended for him. “Without courage the Shadow would take our world. Just never forget that courage and foolishness are separated by a fine line of caution; don’t throw your life away when there’s still so much to do. It’s the same as giving up.”

“Y-y-yes, Accepted,” Valadin answered though she said nothing in return.

The Healer was a hen of a woman. A yellow shawl draped over her shoulders she squawked to assistants to bring herbs to administer to those already in her care. When she finally took note of Val, her expression darkened for a moment and he feared that she would send him to the Master of Soldiers for punishment. Instead she clucked to the two Accepted to seat him on cot where he would remain for the remainder of the day, his chores left undone.

One day Master Silas, he thought as he lay in his bed later than night. One day, I’ll stand beside you as a man of duty. I’ll make you proud.

OOC: Thank you for the awesome thread, Master Silas. I might request an actual training thread every now and then in the meantime, but I expect the next challenge will come when Valadin has been Raised. Hopefully the sting of defeat will have lessened some. Also, if you’ve ever got an urge to start a thread, please send me a request; I’d be too happy to join in.