The Return (Part 2.)
He had been at it for nearly an hour and a half. Through the dark web his blade creates while it waves around, he manages to work in several other techniques. Once in a while shadows travel across the floor of the room, reaching out like dark fingers and wrapping around him. For a moment he disappears from the room and reappears behind the dummy. Green fire splashes from his right hand against the dummy, melting it in a horrific way, causing it to become malformed and disturbing. Unknown to William a very short man dressed in dark leathers watches him from a corner, a cape made from raven feathers is wrapped around him. He watches him with an interested gaze, noting every fluid movement the younger man makes.
Dripping with sweat William lowers the point of his sword to the ground. Panting heavily he looks at his handiwork with a tiny smile, clearly impressed with himself, "Not too bad man." He says aloud with confidence. Quite suddenly he is aware of the other presence in the room, he turns to the short man, "Enjoying the show my lord?".
Khaine, the King of Death answers in a dead pan voice, "Those dummies are expensive William." However his do eyes light up with enthusiasm as he continues talking, "Although you are doing well, better than I had expected."
William simply shrugs his slender shoulders, "It comes easily to me."
The king raises an eyebrow at this, giving him a peculiar look, "Yes… It is quite easy to hit a dummy isn't it? Perhaps you would like to train with me?" He flicks his left hand and a sword made of a strange dull grey metal appears there. The green runes on the sword glow dully as it appears. Other than the runes, the sword is very plain and seems built only to be functional.
The younger man's smile grows wider at the suggestion, "You know it!". Khaine nods at this outburst.
"You may go first William."
Wasting no time William strikes out at Khaine with a heavy side slash, his blade whistling through the air. As if anticipating the attack Khaines sword is in the way before it comes close, blocking it with a lazy flick and pushing it back to the side. He steps in close and with a heavy blow hits William in the jaw with his free right hand.
The hit forces William back a couple steps, staggering backwards. He rights himself and launches another attack, this one is a quick thrust that is once again batted to the side. With a smile Khaine tells him, "You are predictable William."
This seems to anger the boy and he begins to chop and hack at Khaine, each attack is blocked with the same infuriating lazy flick of Khaines wrist. Growing angrier William stops and shadows gather around him again, he performs a move called a shadowstep and attempts to appear behind Khaine. Only to find an empty space and struck in the back of the head by the flat of Khaines blade. The blow is powerful and knocks William down to the ground.
Khaine holds the point of the sword at William's throat, forcing him to stay on the ground. "You have much to learn young one, fighting is not simply attacking with speed and strength William. It is a way of life, you must trust all your senses. Not just your eyes." He pauses and his sword disappears. "You must feel the movements of your opponent, see the muscles move in their arms… The way they turn their head and body and meet them halfway." He smiles and holds his hand down to William, he takes it and gets up.
"Yes my king… I will learn."
Khaine shakes his head at this, "That being said… You must not underestimate yourself." He reaches out and grabs William's left shoulder. "Now, don't you have a tournament to get to?"
Hey! Special shout out to DubbleDuelSword for being my first review in quite some time. It's nice to know people are still interested in my work. That being said, I have to apologize for the lengths of my latest chapters. I'm still getting back into it and I hope you can forgive me :)