"The name's Maelis," he spoke out.
His arms were folded as he stared at the boy.
"Now," he gestured lazily, with his finger pointing at the blade.
"Pick it up."
Nodding slowly, Riven focused back to the blade close to his lap.
His fingers lingers over the wooden blade.
The surface was worn, its cloth grip biting into his skin as he finally closed his hand.
He lifted it up...
And then staggered.
The weight pulled at his arm like a bar of iron.
Far heavier than any practice sword should be.
"What's this made of?!"
His body trembled, muscles screaming to hold it firm.
For a moment, Maelis only watched, silent, his eyes fixed on the boy's struggle.
"Haa..."
"It's just a standard wooden blade", Maelis said slowly.
His tone held no judgement, neither praise.
"It's just that, for someone so weak, even wood can feel like iron."
Riven clenched the hilt tighter.
His arms shook beneath the weight, every muscle straining.
'Iron...it really does feel like iron.'
Maelis's words hit like truth.
'What is this supposed to teach me? That I'm weak? That I can't even lift a sword properly?'
The thoughts battered his head as he forced himself to look up, meeting his teachers gaze.
The man leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, as his purple hair draped over.
"Come forward," Maelis flicked his finger, beckoning.
"Try to land a hit on me."
A pause flowed.
'Just like that?'
Riven's chest tightened.
The sword weighed him down, the wall pressing behind him...
There was nowhere to run.
"Huff...."
Taking a deep breath, Riven shifted forward.
Creak.
The floorboard creaked under his steps, as he raised the blade overhead.
Attempting to muster all of his strength, awkwardly in fashion; with tense shoulders, he swung down...
SWOO-
The air cut sharp as he crashed down....but stopped mid-way.
Resistance.
He raised his head, as the view of Maelis' grip on the instrument came too.
Two fingers was all it took.
"I was expecting worse."
A loose statement, his hazel eyes shifting at the comment.
'This---'
What was it he felt?
Shame?
He pulled the blade back, steadying himself into a solid stance.
Again he swung.
An attack aimed at the chest of Maelis, one that wasn't instructed....one that was sudden.
SWOO---
This time was worse.
Without even needing to hold it, he tapped the blade before it made impact, pushing it upward whilst Riven was still holding it; causing him to stumble backwards.
CREAK
"Your swings are loud"
"Loud with desperation, Loud with fear, and loud with intent."
'Huh.' The thought ran through Riven's mind, as small beads of sweat rolled down.
What did he mean?
"I didn't make noise or anything...unless you're talking about the air?", he huffed, chest rising up and down.
Maelis, chuckled softly:
"Not with your voice. With everything. Your grip, your breath, your stare; they spoke your move before your body followed."
"What?"
Confusion crept in.
It still didn't make sense for the boy.
Seeing this, Maelis picked up his own wooden blade leaning beside him.
His grip seemed relaxed, fingers loose around the handle.
"Watch carefully Silent."
A direct proclamation.
He shifted his foot forward.
There was no preparation, no tension building in his muscles, no glare or battle cry.
Riven had thought he hadn't moved at all....that was until a sharp gust of wind gazed his cheek, and a thin cut appeared on the floor beneath him.
SHOOOH! CHAK!
Riven blinked, eyes wide.
'What.... what was that...?'
A faint smile danced on Maelis's face as he tapped the sword on Riven's shoulder.
"A strike without intent. A strike without aura. Without existence."
"Tell me, how do you block something that isn't there...."
A short silence stretched as the smile on his face stretched wider.
His arms mirrored his expression, as his arms spread out...
"...This is Null Edge."
Riven's mouth felt dry.
The grip on his sword tightened, knuckles whitening as he stared at the line carved into the floor.
'I didn't...even see him move'.
"That's the look I wanted," Maelis stated, amused at Riven's bewilderment, as he fiddled with the sword on his shoulder.
"How...how did you do that?"
Riven wanted to know.
He had to...
"How did I not see anything...was it that quick?"
He scratched the top of head, as he struggled with the scene.
"It isn't about being faster or stronger," Maelis opened with.
He tapped his temple lightly, as his eyes met the boy.
"It's about emptiness. It's about leaving nothing for your opponent to sense; no fear, anger or blood-lust. The world reacts to things that only exist within it, so what happens when there's nothing to react to?"
Thump. thump.
Riven's heart pounded softly.
'Nothing to react to?'
"Try again," Maelis stated, as he walked in front of him. "But this time...don't try to hit me."
"What does that even mean?" Riven retorted in a whisper.
A light chuckle escaped from the older man.
"If you swing to hit, you've lost already. Swing without a desire, without a thought, without self. The sword simply moves."
A straight forward explanation...
'That's...impossible.'
But one that Riven had trouble with.
'...How can you even do that?'
Time seemed to slow as he stood there, baffled.
"..Haaa...."
He drew a short breath, as his feet parted against the wooden planks below.
'Maybe I just have to clear my mind....'
He turned his attention to wood beneath him.
Cold.
Delicate.
'...Is it like this?'
He drew another breath, as his blade fell forward.
swoo....
The swing was clumsy.
The blade trembled halfway down due to the strain on his muscles, as his wrists faltered.
Maelis didn't even bother blocking or parrying.
He simply stepped aside, letting it strike the air where stood prior.
"Ah--"
A grumble of frustration almost escaped, before it was cut short.
"Better," Maelis said, surprising him.
"Better?"
Riven questioned:
"But I missed entirely."
"Exactly."
The response had stunned Riven as Maelis stood there with a short smirk.
'He's messing with me.'
The thought came quick as he stared at his supposed "Teacher".
'How was that better?'
Before Riven could question his words further...
"You didn't swing with the intent to cut me. You merely swung. That's the first step. Ease your thoughts. Emptiness is not achieved in a day kid."
The words were simple....but they meant something deep down.
Riven lowered his sword as felt a strain burning through his forearms.
He hadn't really done anything yet....but it felt like progress.
Anything was progress compared to what he awoke feeling like.
Slowly, his breathing steadied as sweat dripped to the floor.
'The first step, huh.'
A small smile crept onto his lips.
Tap. tap. tap.
Walking over to the wall, Maelis rested a practice sword against it.
He stretched his arms as a small pull of wind filtered in.
"That's enough for now. You look like you'll collapse if we do anything more," Maelis said, no real emotion present in tone.
An invitation for rest?
Riven slumped to the floor as a result.
Pain ran through all over.
'What is this body?! Did this guy not workout?'
Walking around the room whilst Riven was lost in thought, Maelis dusted his hands, before turning to a counter in the corner.
"Tea time," he proclaimed.
Riven sat up at the call, slight confusion flowing.
Maelis, noticing his look, paused and glanced over his shoulder.
"What, you think people just live off of grit and stale bread? Tea is essential for the soul."
Riven didn't respond.
Maelis pointed to a shelf, it withheld a few clay cups among other appliances, whilst a stove and kettle laid further along.
"Me?" Riven asked, staring at Maelis.
"Mhmm," his teacher responded.
"Consider it training. Control, timing, Precision....all in one pour. Now...chop chop."
Riven stood up slow, dragging over to shelves and stove. "Great, so first I get told I'm practically useless. The next? I can't swing a wooden stick more than five times. And now I'm a tea apprentice."
The words muttered out low, but still carried along no less, as he offered a short chuckle.
"Heard that," Maelis responded quickly, as he seemed to be reading something.
Whilst looking for the appliances, Riven glanced at him.
With his sharp jawline, smooth skin and lazy confidence; coupled with his long violet hair tied up, he didn't look old at all.
Mid-30s to early 40's at best? Though his eyes carried a certain wisdom....above his age.
"Got something to say?" Maelis asked, still reading his book.
"Actually...yeah I do," Riven responded, garnering some attention.
He turned on the kettle, before turning back to the man.
In turn Maelis returned the glance.
Creak.
The floorboards seemed to creak as Riven stepped closer.
His lips parted momentarily.....before finally the words just flowed out:
"How did....you know I was a....Silent straight away?"
For a second, Maelis offered a blank gaze....
That was just for a second, before he smirked.