PART XV - THEY ARE MADE OF WOOD
“They are made of wood,” Callie said, looking disappointedly at the ‘swords’ being handed out to everyone.
“Of course they are,” Major Celeste said with a laugh. “We don’t need anybody cutting anything off on the first day.”
“Right! That comes tomorrow,” Lena added, lightening the mood.
The Rangers had finished working on their shooting practice, and had now joined with the Bladedancers, Bladeweavers and a new class Callie hadn’t heard of, the Duelists. As far as she could tell, they were a Scout Specialist class that took on a Striker role, similar to Pixyl and the Bladeweavers, but using two real swords and specializing in ambush tactics and stealth. There were three of them, two male Elves and a female Cat-based Beastkin.
“Alright, all of you listen up, please,” Bladeweaver Trainer Olin said, addressing all four groups of recruits. “We are not sparring today. Today is only to get you all used to holding your swords and swinging them around. I know several of you have sword fighting experience, but not today. Just do what we tell you. There will be plenty of time another day to experiment.”
The Major and the Duelist trainer, an Elf named Cylanae, started pairing everyone up, making sure that everyone’s partner was a different class.
“I’m putting you two together,” Celeste said, pointing at Callie and Pixyl, “because you’re both short. Pixyl, no beating the snot out of her!”
Each matched pair of recruits spread out while Reynard and Cylanae both took the center ring to demonstrate. A few swung their wood swords around to feel the weight, while the Bladeweavers were practicing calling and dismissing their Ethereal Blades. Olin had only allowed them to start doing that a short time ago, and the novelty had yet to wear off.
“Now watch!” Cylanae ordered. With a very lazy arc, she swung her right sword roughly towards Reynard. With equally slow speed, he used his own right sword to intercept the Duelist’s with a loud clacking sound. Cylanae repeated the action with her left, to which Reynard dutifully responded with his. Next, Reynard attacked, first right, then left. They set up a slow rhythm, Reynard calling out a number for each part of the repeating exercise, showing in near slow-motion how a sword worked. 1-2-3-4…
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“This is it, this is all we want you to do for now,” Olin said as the two trainers continued to demonstrate, Reynard still calling out the slow, numbered cadence. “Learn how the sword feels in your hands, how much of an extension of your arm it is. Don’t get cute and try to hit each other, just hit each other’s swords. Call for a stop if you need to. Bladeweavers, if your mana reserves get low, stop and we’ll get you a potion. Fortunately, the channeling for our blades doesn't drain much.”
“Again,” the Major said with authority, “do not be trying to hit each other! If you do miss a block, and get hurt, we’ve got healing available. Stop your actions and ask for it.”
It took only a few minutes, but soon all pairs of recruits were swinging in rhythm as Reynard continued to call out a loud cadence. The other three Trainers walked among the trainees, occasionally correcting an action or offering input.
Callie and Pixyl dutifully played along, both occasionally rolling their eyes at the simplicity of the motions. 1-2-3-4. Over and over Callie’s wood swords would spark against one of Pixyl’s green powerswords. Getting bored, at one point Callie attempted to add a flourish in one of the swings, blocking Pixyl’s as usual, but then attempting an immediate strike with the same blade. Pixyl caught the change-up easily, but so did the Major. She cleared her throat and shot them both a stern look and a shake of her head, forcing them to return to the metronome-like rhythm.
“We’re adding another piece,” Reynard said. “If you hear ‘left’, you both take a step to the left, and if ‘right’ go the other way, as if you are circling around the center.”
The rhythm continued, each beat leading to the clacking of wood on wood or the static of power blades, occasionally interrupted as each pair would dance left or right. 1-2-right-3-4. They kept this up for several minutes, with the right and left shuffle added randomly to the sequential beat of numbers.
Olin’s next change started to mix up the numbers, breaking the rhythm. 1-4-left-2-3-right. Each sequence was now random. Several students were tripped up initially, missing a block and getting thumped, but nobody really got hurt, the training armor doing its job. Pixyl had no issues with blocking all of Callie’s blows, which was good as she was the only one without her armor and would get a good bruise if she missed said block. Soon though, everyone was back in sync, even with the chaotic cadence being called to them now.