Back, back! hopefully back to our almost weekly updates, during break I will push out more chapters. Break for me is from the 21st of December to the 7th of January. I know i will have break homework, gotta love those AP classes, but still, more time to write!
Also, for MOST of the chapter, excluding the end part, I had a friend revise it, a Beta reader of sorts I guess, so I'll dedicate this Chapter to T-Muffin. You know who you are.
Alright, to answer my new reviewer.
I don't know why I always end in cliff hangers, lol, i guess its just my writting style. In the upcoming chapters, i hope the major arc of the story will come in. The Henesys village "thing" was 10 years ago i believe, when Alex was 6. It wasnt really all that long ago when you think about it, so the people who were involved wouldn't have grown old and died, just progressed a decade in their age. That is a big factor in the future events, and it completedly shaped Alex's personality. About any character's sexual orientation and such, I will leave that up to your wandering mind. I do however, have the first "romance" scene written out, it involves Alex and someone else who i won't name, and im guessing that to be out in the early twenty chapters. If it really is bothering you that much, PM me and I'll tell you. Maybe.
Enjoy
Chapter 17
The duel lasted a good half hour, both parties never backing down from the challenge. Swords clashed as serious blows were exchanged and absorbed, countered and parried. It was as if the formidable cutlass and the ligneous blade were completely immersed in their own exquisite dance, a promenade no one else knew or had seen before, but a pattern they could feel. Each opponent grunted and growled in exertion, trying to take the metaphorical lead and finish off the prolonged duel.
In every way the swords were elegant, their appearances were the exact reciprocals, perhaps even border lining bestial. Alex's imperturbable face dripped with sweat, her shaggy blonde hair effectively sticking to her face. Instead of the normally calm collected pulls of air her chest regularly pulled, Alex's autonomic nervous system had sprung into effect, her sympathetic division forcing her breathes to come in sharp and shallow to match the fast beating of her heart. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, sweat saturating her training outfit just as it had lain besiege to her face.
The blonde's arm muscles pulled and contracted with exertion, and after her action packed day, even a dueling fanatic like Alex knew she was closing in on her limit. Steely blue eyes met hardened browns ones. If her accurate grasp on perception had not faltered, it seemed her adversary was nearing that inevitable breakdown as well. The younger girl smiled slightly, a challenge in the small facial expression. It was received and answered by a feral grin from the older boy.
Surprisingly or not, few if no words were exchanged in the duel, save for Mark's starting words. In fact, the only conversation, if one could call it that, was the primitive noises coming primarily from the deep throats of the clashing warriors. Grunts, of effort, pain and sometimes admiration seemed to be some of the only utterances over the eerily quiet practice court. Of course, the clang of sword snaking up to meet sword crashed through the courtyard, but the biting insults and jaunty remarks were left where they belonged, to the inept and self conscious. Because of this, Alex's respect of her friend's older brother only grew, continually rising as she studied his form profusely during the engagement of metal. Without a doubt, she was sure he had done the exact same thing, and even now continued to scour her way of fighting for even the slightest opening.
Jackie and her mother watched on with extreme interest and astonishment on their face. A larger crowd had formed behind them filling into the seats to watch with respect and what seemed like a small touch of envy. The crowd seemed to accept the fighters' silent plea of silent, not ushering any sound except for the occasional hushed whispered and gasp of shock. A fiercer battle had not been seen on the Henesys training areas in ages.
Alex tried to blink the sweat from her eyes, knowing removing even one hand from the hilt of her sword would be a stupid and fatal mistake. A small opening flashed before her vision again, as she watched Mark's progressively slowing arms hesitate between his block and counter attack. Our blonde knew what she had to do to finally put this friendly bout to an end, but what she wasn't sure of was whether or not she had the strength, skill or precision to do it.
Clash
She thrust her metallic sword forward, bracing herself for the returning pressure she knew would hit.
Clang.
Her arm muscles faltered for a split second, almost folding under the parry. She couldn't, wouldn't, last much longer. And there was his slight hesitation, waiting for her in all of its frenzied glory. Alex prepared her aching arms for her final attack. It was now or never.
A two handed sword was that on basic principal: A sword wielded by two hands. It contained a long enough hilt, had enough weight to require, and was generally constructed for both hands. A two handed sword was longer, stronger, and more powerful then its one handed counterpart. The only downfall it seemed, was the 'two' handedness it necessitated. So you can imagine the shock of spread through the bystanders like an invisible wave when Alex's wounded right hand dropped quite uselessly to the side as she agile darted forward without hesitation. Abandoning the double hand approach, Alex's arm burned with intensity and strain as the bulky metal shot forward in a foreign and awe inspiring, unorthodox, one handed approach.
Mark grunted slightly in panic and amazement, thrusting his wooden samurai sword forward in an attempt to stop the inevitable, an embarrassing defeat at the hands of a young girl. Alex panted heavily, eyes focused on the unique samurai weapon currently awaiting the chance to plunge into her unarmored chest. Mark had a slightly cocky look on his face, triumphant in his apparent victory. That was, until he registered the cool steel biting slightly into his neck. His eyes widened n astonishment and the smirk was erased off his face in a new record time.
"It seems there will be no winners tonight."
"Apparently not," Mark grumbled, quite unhappily. A trace of bitter resentment could be filtered from his voice, before looking up to smile at the younger fighter.
Alex removed her blade from the crook of Mark's neck, quickly sheathing the sword after she felt Mark withdrawal. She returned his smile before rolling her shoulder, trying to silently ease the over strained muscles.
"You know," Dark chocolate eyes held a slightly amused glint, "I'm not going to be satisfied until we have a rematch?"
"I look forward to it, as long as it isn't tonight."
He guffawed loudly before answering her half question in a friendly tone.
"Well of course not tonight, young one, but most definitely in the future."
"Young one? You act as if you are an old man. But with that stamina, maybe you are."
Alex was forced to duck as Mark swatted at her head playfully.
"And I look forward to it," Alex couldn't help but grin as Jackie walked over to smack Mark on his uninjured arm and shoot daggers at Alex, who happened to be trying to perfect her 'innocent' stare.
All that did was cause Jackie to scowl deeper at her friend. Alex could have sworn she heard muttering about bakas and stupid blondes.
Mark and the blonde wandered over to the crowd of people still hiding behind the spelled fence as if one of the warriors was about to raise their sword in fury, screaming and kicking for a rematch. A couple bowed, still gripped by the fierce duel that still took place, while most just stood there, staring up with awe filled eyes.
A small group of young boys were chasing after each other, trying to mimic the battle moves. They giggled before running down the street, pausing once again to fight their mock battle. A taller youth tried to pull off Alex's one handed thrust, accidentally dropping his poorly crafted two handed wooden sword. Unlike Mark's, this one had no metal core or hilt. Alex bent down to pick it up and handed it back to the now blushing boy. He ran to catch up with his friends, jumping into the faux fight while grinning widely. Suddenly they took off down the street, leaving Alex to turn back around and face the gawking crowd. More giggling and silliness ensued in the background, further down the previously empty street.
A water bottle was thrust into Alex's hands, and she took it with a sliver of a grateful smile before gulping the contents greedily. The same happened to Mark, who also devoured his well deserved liquids, clutching the canteen with all his remaining strength.
"Where is your house?" Jackie's mother asked her after she had finished her drink. Alex mumbled and pointed half heartedly down the street.
"Jackie will walk you home. We wouldn't want our newest guardian to fall victim to exhaust in the middle of the street. I'm going to take this oaf home."
The elder women pointed to her out of breathe son.
The young raven girl glared at her mother before turning to redirect the glare at Alex. She pouted and began walking down the street without looking back. Alex grinned her lopsided grin before following her friend down the abandoned road.
They had been walking for fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of silence.
"You can't ignore me the whole time, Jacks,"
Alex called out, using one of her nicknames for her angry friend.
The blonde heard a distinct huff and sighed to herself.
"Jackies! Comon!"
No response.
"Jaclyn Huang, stop ignoring me this instant."
No response.
A small smile lit up Alex's face as an idea played into her head. She sneakily picked up her pace, matching footsteps with her pouting companion. When she was within five feet of the girl, she sprung forward, snagging her into an effective bear hug.
"Leggo you baka!"
Jackie called out, teetering dangerously off balance. Alex grinned triumphantly before letting go of her friend.
"I got you to talk."
Jackie tried scowling, but after looking into Alex's face, couldn't manage to suppress her laugh. The grin on Alex's face widened, as the two girls continued down the street, towards Alex's empty house.
The next meeting was in six days, a week from the first. After her evening duel with the older Huang, Alex had bought a special charm from a magician. She moved out to the back of her house and performed the correct chant for it to work. Alex had managed to keep her family's traditional house, thanks to the help of an agreeable property manager who had taken pity on her. Normally, a young girl would have to live in an orphanage or foster care, but Alex was never normal.
The charm expanded the flat land of her backyard, erecting large fences and an enclosed table structure. This would be her training base for the upcoming weeks. While she enjoyed the comfort of the open public training yards, what she would do would cause too many people to stop and gawk. Alex needed all of her attention to be put into her technique. She wanted to smack herself for not thinking of it earlier. Besides, the training yard lacked the amount of equipment she had specially ordered, and when you trudged those heavy things to the sparring yard, something was bound to turn up "missing".
How was she able to afford it? Before their deaths, Alex's parents had been exceedingly successful in their field of work. Over the years the man and his wife had saved up a large trust fund, left to Alex and only Alex when they passed away. While their deaths came much sooner then anyone had wanted to expected, at least Alex had a basis to live and survive on. If she had been a regular girl, she could have hired servants and slaves, never working another day of her life. Instead of rough calluses on her hand, they would be dainty and gloved in the finest silk. Nor would there be any training yard but instead an area that would hold dinner parties and social gatherings in the backyard.
But as we have mentioned before, Alex was not a normal girl. That was why the trust fund remained in the bank, mostly untouched and growing interest, as she paid for the house and jobs items with her paychecks from the dojo she taught at. The blonde only delved into it when her salary couldn't afford the expensive training gear she craved for every once and awhile. It was her one guilty pleasure, and she felt sure her parents wouldn't have been too mad at her for it.
The backyard was littered with training dummies, practice weapons differing in size and weight, and target posts. Near the door to her house were weight lifting machines and other work out material. All of it looked slightly worn and well used.
Everyday since her duel, Alex would head outside an hour before the sun sneakily lifted its head out from its hiding spot on the horizon to spy on her. She would begin with numerous strengthen techniques, on her stamina, speed and muscle strength.
Afterwards her friends, Jackie, Rick and Jorge, would come over and force some brunch into her. By mid afternoon, the trio left her alone, sick of gossiping and chatting, and Alex would trudge back out to her personal training field.
It was then she worked on her new technique, starting with one handed axes and swords. She had to perfect her one handed approach, and added slight weights to the one handed weapons until they rivaled the two handed sword's weight.
After finishing her weights to the two handed swords, the blonde wanted to push herself a little more. She eventually adjusted to the weight of spears and pole arms, eventually mastering both.
After her weapons work, Alex would focus her energy on hand to hand combat, reforming her seemingly random attacks and perfecting her unorthodox fighting maneuvers. When thoroughly out of breathe, the next stage of her training was to run the training field numerous times, until at least five miles had been completed. The blonde would come back and dive directly into sword and hand to hand combat once again, also trying to work on her mastery of other weapons. She finished for good when the sun had gone back into hiding and the moon crept silently into the sky.
She loyally kept to this training regime, not all too different from the one she had been putting herself through for nearly ten years. The only difference was the single handed sword practice, which had been recently added to complete her technique. It was an excruciating routine, but it kept Alex's body in the best physically condition possible and helped her gain control over skills her year mates struggled endlessly with.
After a more exhausting then usually training Alex stumbled into her shower, flipping the cold water on. Eventually she added hot water to the mix, sighing in relief as it loosened her sore back muscles. She stood like that for a good ten minutes, letting the warmth pound into her back and slide down her skin, it held a soothing effect. Drying herself off with a towel, the blonde slipped into minimum sleeping attire before passing out onto her bed.
The only thing that woke her was the doorbell ringing the next morning, followed by a familiar loud knocking. Alex groaned into her pillow.
I wonder what the meaning is about? And whose that at the door!?
dundundun
not really a cliffhanger
next chapter out before christmas, that is my promise!
Like always, any questions, concerns or comments either review or PM me
Adios for now
-Dak