Chapter 121: Disciplines of the Blades

Tristan trained in archery until his shoulders felt sore, before going back to his room and throwing himself on the bed. 

Although it was a tiring day, Tristan's elf body doesn't seem to have the need for much sleep.

As he was lying there, he thought of what Master Ortiz told him about meditating to help increase his understanding of Katra.

Tristan sat in a lotus position and once more started to chant the second stage Katra words. Unfortunately after only an hour of repeating the words he slowly felt sleepy.

"This mantra seems effective to put me to sleep," he thought to himself.

The next day, when he returned to the warrior hall, he was taken to a room where two masters were already waiting for him. He glanced at the sheathed blades hanging on their hip, and thought.

"Finally, it's time for sword art."

Tristan introduced himself, and so did the two masters. 

One was named Master Myrin, a green haired female elf wearing tight white leather garb, a silken shawl and two short daggers hung on both sides of her hips.

The other was named Master Haldir, a man wearing a black hood attached to a simple leather armor of similar color. His ash brown hair was tied up in a single ponytail placed on the right side of his shoulder. A long one-handed sword was hanging on his left hip.

He turned to look at Tristan and gave a cordial nod.

The two masters are known experts in the elves' two main close combat weapon disciplines.

Although there are perhaps many derivations, the basics of all known elven close combat lies in two techniques, that is, the two-dagger 'Dance of Blades' art and one-handed sword 'Blade Song' art.

At first glance, the two weapons required for Dance of Blades looked like simple daggers, but upon close inspection, it was similar to a smaller version of a one-handed sword, except with serrated edges to increase the power of each strike. Meanwhile, the one-handed sword has a slightly curved blade, making it look more like a sabre.

The Blade Song is a legendary style, normally only taught to elite elven warriors. The style relies on speed and accuracy, with emphasis on slashing attacks dealt with dizzying precision targeting the enemy's vitals.

The style received its name due to the unique sound produced by the curved edge as their wielder swung the blade in wide arcs, and the master's disquieting tendency to sing a rhythm corresponding to his thrusts and parries only reinforced the image.

The original form of the Blade Song was created when elven warriors decided to combine their love of dance and song with their beautiful fighting style and preternatural grace.

It results in a beautiful yet haunting style, and each fighter moved in accordance to the rise and fall of the ritual song. The slow, sorrowful reminder of fallen brethren became an opening to lead towards a fast, thumping beat to remind each soldier to fight to their fullest. As the moves were based off ritual dances, it provides ease of motion and confused their enemies

The two masters nodded at Tristan, faced each other, and pulled out their weapons.

Clank! Clank!

The two moved as fast as lightning, each strike blurring their body. Master Haldir the Bladesinger gave an imposing opening strike, while Master Myrin parried the attack with a single dagger.

Serene watched them spar and told Tristan how fortunate he was to have a chance to watch the two masters performing their skills to him. As for Tristan, he watched, transfixed with their movements. It was an eye-opening experience for him.

From the movements, both arts appear to have a similar origin, but with two slightly different variations.

The Dance of Blades art could be studied by any elf with time and perseverance, but in practice it tends to see more female practitioners than male.

No one could remember who founded the style, nor was there any surviving records about it except by former masters passing the techniques down to their students, but the truth remains that the style was more popular among elven women although any warrior with more speed and ability than strength would greatly benefit from this style.

Dance of Blades resembled the Blade Song at a cursory glance, as both see the battlefield in a set of rhythms and moved in accordance to the music, but where Bladesingers impose their song to overpower the opponent's combat song, the Bladedancers move in a whirling motion, their blades cutting through the air with tremendous speed and power.

Each graceful twist and turn of their body keeps the twin blades in constant motion, forcing the opponent to continuously parry and dodge the knives. Thanks to this, they will find it difficult to draw a line of attack, giving the wielder of the art a perfect offense and a strong defense.

After the two finished their impressive display, the two Master were ready to guide him.

Unfortunately, as impressive as it looks, these two blade arts were really not easy to master. Not for a beginner like him, and just like the unarmed art and the archery, both arts would require an understanding of Katra to master.

The training that day starts from the most basic of the art of blades.

Three basic attacks: slash, thrust, and strike. Meanwhile, the three basic defenses were: parry, block, and dodge. 

Tristan just realized even the most basic could really make a difference in a sword fight.

He patiently learned both arts and at the end of the day, a similar notification came to his mind.

[You have learned the basics of the dagger techniques]

[You have learned the basics of the sword techniques]

Both arts are fascinating for him. Unfortunately, both arts are not possible to perform using his large claymore sword. 

He wonders if he should start using a different weapon

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Written by Avans, Published exclusively by W.e.b.n.o.v.e.l,