I am from an extremely prestigious family who are very strict on their rules. We must be perfect and the most ideal family. We must keep up our great social status, any strength we may have must be magic for females and more warrior like strengths for the males. In my home the thought of a female swordsman was appalling. I must always wear traditional kimonos no matter where I go, even to sleep or to the baths. If I want to stand out it must be in a feminine fashion. My options are to be a good singer, healer, dancer, I can play a musical instrument and most specifically I must always have the perfect hair and perfect face. I must always hold my tongue unless talked to. I must always walk with a perfect posture, I must never look at someone directly. I must always be a perfectly dressed and groomed like the most beautiful doll I am. Because that's all I am to them, a doll they can manipulate to uphold their precious social standing.
I wanted to be more, I didn't like the cushioned life I had. I wanted to be a fighter not some girl who had servants tending to my every need like a princess or a damsel in distress. I wanted to learn how to take care of myself, no matter the situation, to be my own knight. I hated being treated like a fragile porcelain doll, it's like they thought I was so delicate that anything could break me. The last straw was when my mother and father set up an arranged marriage with another prestige family line, the last person of the bloodline, the Yi's.
No, that wasn't me. So every night since the announcement of my engagement I snuck out to a local library, to read everything I could about defense. I became fond of stories and manuals of sword techniques. I learned there were two master swordsman in Ionia, one of them was my fiance Master Yi and and the other with the title of Yasuo the Unforgiven. It was a bit risky but I went to observe them often. I watched their practices, how they held their sword, how they swung it, their physical demeanor. I was really quiet when observing them but I had a strange feeling that they knew I was there.
I must've not posed any threat to them for they never approached me. But I took note in my mind every detail. The placement of their hands, small movements they made before doing a specific attack. I noticed Master Yi, often holds his sword over his left shoulder, his left hand above his right, even the way he swings his blade tells me he is left handed. I notice every detail while learning from them, everything from hand positions, to their body hair, to the small beads of sweat that glistened on their skin while they trained. They never trained together so I had alternate days, one day I would watch Yasuo, another I would watch my fiance.
Very occasionally would I watch Irelia. Sometimes I would stay in the library and watch recordings of Riven and Fiora. They often fight in the Institute of War. A place also known as the League of Legends. I found that Master Yi and Yasuo also take part in the fights within the institute. I became very fond of the idea of becoming a champion. To have a legend of my own. But all I had currently was my facade at a place I can barely call home. Just a pretty little face. I will strive to be more. But to become strong like them I must practice.
I started with lifting rocks as weights to strengthen my muscles. Tied weights to my arms and ankles to make me faster. I went out for runs to better my cardio. I trained on my own for a very long time. However despite my precautions, I would've been found out eventually. And I was. My mother discovered what I was doing four years later.
She wasn't too thrilled when she figured out what I had done. It wasn't lady like. A lady can't wield a sword. It's improper. I should be more like Karma, or Sona if I wanted to defend myself. If I wanted to be some type of fighter it had to be magic at least. Women aren't made for physical combat she says. I had enough. I left my home. I left my family behind. I refuse to be a doll any longer. I had to prove myself. I was a fast learner and I strengthened my body for years. I have been stuck in the shadows training , keeping it a secret from my mother and father for a long time. I never held a sword but I was able to mimic it by using branches of a tree. At first I wasn't that great but I got better. I was ready. I was ready to challenge these master swordsman.
I started with challenging Master Yi and his Wuju style fighting. He wondered why I had traveled all this way. He usually comes to my family to see me and to keep up appearances for my family. Two great families joined together in matrimony. I asked for a fair fight using bokken instead of real blades. I have been watching him for a long time and I know his fighting patterns. I know little movements he does before using a specific move. He was easy to dodge, knowing and paying attention to every movement I could. Know your enemy so you can attack accordingly. And that's what I did. I was able to disarm Master Yi. He was on the ground before me. Looking up at me as I held my bokken to his throat. I smiled, set my wooden sword aside and left. Some husband he turned out to be.
I had to look for Yasuo next. I will take him down and then will I be able to prove I can be as great if not greater than any male swordsman. I found Yasuo and asked him to duel with me. We both used bokken so neither of us actually gets hurt. He was a more troubling opponent being able to control wind. I had to counter that, so I created a counter, one that can cut his tornadoes in half therefor he doesn't get the upper hand. His wind wall will be useless since he is fighting another who won't use any projectiles. The fight was tough and there was no way I could win against him using only one bokken. So I grabbed another and we sparred, at the end both of our weapons have been knocked out of our hands at the same time. It was a draw. Unfortunately.
Every fighter has their own code, I have been piecing together some rules that I will live by and die by. Know your opponent. Keep your swords in a quick access place. If you seem to be losing in a real fight and not just a spar, do not give your enemies the victory of defeating you. Finish yourself, your knowledge will go with you. Positioning is everything. It's not how sharp the sword is, it's the skill of the person using it.