A Short Story
Because I'm not getting any inspiration for my real stories and can't get to sleep...
Closing his eyes, Hythe let his hands drift up, right one not far from his chin, the other level but extended out slightly. All his muscles were relaxed, yet ready to spring into action with the fluidity and grace of flowing water when called upon. His knees were bent ever so slightly, weight fading more on his back right leg, yet not so much to prevent quick movement to all angles. It was textbook Sharenda posture, the fighting style his clan had used for generations. Taking a deep breath, Hythe launched into the kata.
"You are of the House of Comvarda... the blood of Hyrule's greatest kings flows through your veins. Nobility, honor, poise, courage... these virtues are not optional for one of your station. Fate dictates what destiny awaits each man, but it is up to you to decide what you will do with that fate... I trust my son will not disappoint..."
Hythe's right hand ball into a fist as it fell waist level, left arm whipping up and around in a blocking motion. He then shifted his forward left leg back, right arm puylling up and around in a second blocking strike. Sliding into a more squared stance, Hythe's left arm shot out, chest high for the blow. He pulled back the arm immediately, crossing with a right straight at chin height. At this point he would have fulfilled the basics of the defensive kata, but he was well beyond basics. Flipping into a back hand spring, Hythe landed in a pitcher perfect image of his original starting stance. This time however, the right hand whipped out and around for the block, left leg sliding back as he did so. The left arm crossed in a blocking strike as soon as the right had finished passing in front of his body, even as his legs bent into the horse stance. Hythe paused only a moment, to find the center in this new position. Legs squared, weight equally distributed over them, arms a few inches from his sides, bent at the elbows so his fist were straight out before him... classic Horse Stance.
"You a brother of the Comvarda Clan. Mistress Aniee, Master Gijen, Master Kaji, Master Bratek, and even the great Mistress Impa are among your ancestors. There is no room for weaklings amongst the Shiekah, and even less in our clan. You will become a master, and you will become an elder... or you WILL bring shame on us all."
Hythe eyes opened for the first time. Defense be damned... it was time to show what he was made of. Giving a cry, Hythe's right fist shot out in a fluid strike of razor precision and measured strength. As the right pulled back, Hythe let his left fist strike forward, this time not pausing as long after the strike before pulling back to his stance. There was form... now came speed. With a few sharp cries to punctuate the movements, Hythe's hands flew into level punches so fast it was a blur even to his own eyes. As soon as his rythem had been established, the combinations began. Only slight variations, a hint of hook and twist to the blows that continued to pulmult the imaginary spot in the air before him, but it was enough to show some diversity. After a barrage of the lighting fast combo, Hythe decided the time had come to surprise the ones watching his every lithe movement. His hands continued their fast paced attack, even as he shifted from the open Horse Stance back into the angled Sharenda Stance. Whipping about suddenly, Hythe launched into a flurry of kicks, their form, speed, and precision all at a level beyond anyone watching could have possibly suspected. And Hythe knew all too well just what was expected...
"The Hero Line, you idiot... why, Link, Reese, Zinus, Cajus... you know, the ones the peasants tell bed time stories about? Their our ancestors, all of them. Well, brother, that means either you or I get to be the Hero this time around, and there is no way in Dark Void I'm gonna lose to an idiot like you... but just try to keep us from looking bad..."
It had all been perfection to this point, even beyond perfection, but that wasn't enough. He had to do more! Was he not Hythe Comvarda, descendant of kings? Was he not Hythe, best of the Comvarda Clan? Was he not Sir Hythe, inheritor of the Hero Legacy? He would not be constrained to anyone else's pathetic view of "perfection!"
Falling back again, Hythe adopted the Taraja Stance of his clan's long dead ancestors. There had been several "masters" of the art, but not since the death of Mistress Impa had there been a true master of the most deadly art in the Shiekah training. He actually heard the ripple of a murmur spread through the ones watching him. Of course they were suprised... who would dare risk jeprodizing their Eldership Evaluations over an Art long considered dead?
Only the greatest would have tried it... and Hythe Comvarda needed, had to be, no, WAS the greatest.
"The time has come to face reality as fate has presented it... your sister will be no true master of any Art..."
"Her injuries were too great, and though her Spirit Force might help her remain a Sage, she could never take on the burden of Hero..."
"You will be the one who will represent Comvarda Clan at the Master Trials next season, our soul student."
"Son, I urge you to earn your mother's love, and my respect..."
Fijin, Ran Hook, Jab, Jab, Straight Left Jab, Straight Right Jab, Left Hook, Right Hook, Ran Hook again, Snap Kick, Head Kick Follow, Rijin, Whirlwind Strike, Nerve Jab, Jab, Jab, Jab, Roundhouse, Back Hand Spring... the bare fact that he had made it this far with flawless execution was something that caused the watching Masters and Elders rise to their feet. But now the time had come to show them all something that the Shiekah would speak of only in whispers for years to come... he would complete the full Taraja kata. Shifting all his weight back onto his right foot, Hythe's right hand fell back to waist level, left out in front. Closing his eyes Hythe stilled his soul for a millisecond that seemed to last a lifetime. He just had to channel that power... out of his soul... down his arm... into the fist as it hooked forward... Just that, and his father might respect him... his mother might love him... his life might actually be worth something... And he did it. The small, tell-tail whiff of Spirit Force steam drifting off the hand let everyone who had reasonably quick eyes know...
Hythe had just become the first Shiekah to preform the Kensi Strike in over two hundred years.
They no longer waited in silence... this was not something to be ignored. The brothers, sisters, and even some of the master and mistresses, were either slamming their fists on the stone, yelling out in surprise and excitement, or pointing wildly off, as if to draw attention to the very thing everyone was watching.
Hythe whipped the right arm out and around, left swinging out in a blocking motion. A useless part of the kata... as if anyone could actually survive a direct Kensi Strike... and then it was over, back into the starting possession. The Shiekah watching him screamed in excitement. The few Hylians around were more reserved, obviously hesitant about the stir this act had caused in the gathered warriors (and obviously relieved that Hythe was in fact a member of one of their OWN Noble Houses).
And there it was... he was now Hero, Master, Elder, and Prince... everything that was require of him.
Yet somehow, standing before the hullabaloo he had just caused, Hythe still felt empty...
Closing his eyes, Hythe let his hands drift up, right one not far from his chin, the other level but extended out slightly. All his muscles were relaxed, yet ready to spring into action with the fluidity and grace of flowing water when called upon. His knees were bent ever so slightly, weight fading more on his back right leg, yet not so much to prevent quick movement to all angles. It was textbook Sharenda posture, the fighting style his clan had used for generations. Taking a deep breath, Hythe launched into the kata.
"You are of the House of Comvarda... the blood of Hyrule's greatest kings flows through your veins. Nobility, honor, poise, courage... these virtues are not optional for one of your station. Fate dictates what destiny awaits each man, but it is up to you to decide what you will do with that fate... I trust my son will not disappoint..."
Hythe's right hand ball into a fist as it fell waist level, left arm whipping up and around in a blocking motion. He then shifted his forward left leg back, right arm puylling up and around in a second blocking strike. Sliding into a more squared stance, Hythe's left arm shot out, chest high for the blow. He pulled back the arm immediately, crossing with a right straight at chin height. At this point he would have fulfilled the basics of the defensive kata, but he was well beyond basics. Flipping into a back hand spring, Hythe landed in a pitcher perfect image of his original starting stance. This time however, the right hand whipped out and around for the block, left leg sliding back as he did so. The left arm crossed in a blocking strike as soon as the right had finished passing in front of his body, even as his legs bent into the horse stance. Hythe paused only a moment, to find the center in this new position. Legs squared, weight equally distributed over them, arms a few inches from his sides, bent at the elbows so his fist were straight out before him... classic Horse Stance.
"You a brother of the Comvarda Clan. Mistress Aniee, Master Gijen, Master Kaji, Master Bratek, and even the great Mistress Impa are among your ancestors. There is no room for weaklings amongst the Shiekah, and even less in our clan. You will become a master, and you will become an elder... or you WILL bring shame on us all."
Hythe eyes opened for the first time. Defense be damned... it was time to show what he was made of. Giving a cry, Hythe's right fist shot out in a fluid strike of razor precision and measured strength. As the right pulled back, Hythe let his left fist strike forward, this time not pausing as long after the strike before pulling back to his stance. There was form... now came speed. With a few sharp cries to punctuate the movements, Hythe's hands flew into level punches so fast it was a blur even to his own eyes. As soon as his rythem had been established, the combinations began. Only slight variations, a hint of hook and twist to the blows that continued to pulmult the imaginary spot in the air before him, but it was enough to show some diversity. After a barrage of the lighting fast combo, Hythe decided the time had come to surprise the ones watching his every lithe movement. His hands continued their fast paced attack, even as he shifted from the open Horse Stance back into the angled Sharenda Stance. Whipping about suddenly, Hythe launched into a flurry of kicks, their form, speed, and precision all at a level beyond anyone watching could have possibly suspected. And Hythe knew all too well just what was expected...
"The Hero Line, you idiot... why, Link, Reese, Zinus, Cajus... you know, the ones the peasants tell bed time stories about? Their our ancestors, all of them. Well, brother, that means either you or I get to be the Hero this time around, and there is no way in Dark Void I'm gonna lose to an idiot like you... but just try to keep us from looking bad..."
It had all been perfection to this point, even beyond perfection, but that wasn't enough. He had to do more! Was he not Hythe Comvarda, descendant of kings? Was he not Hythe, best of the Comvarda Clan? Was he not Sir Hythe, inheritor of the Hero Legacy? He would not be constrained to anyone else's pathetic view of "perfection!"
Falling back again, Hythe adopted the Taraja Stance of his clan's long dead ancestors. There had been several "masters" of the art, but not since the death of Mistress Impa had there been a true master of the most deadly art in the Shiekah training. He actually heard the ripple of a murmur spread through the ones watching him. Of course they were suprised... who would dare risk jeprodizing their Eldership Evaluations over an Art long considered dead?
Only the greatest would have tried it... and Hythe Comvarda needed, had to be, no, WAS the greatest.
"The time has come to face reality as fate has presented it... your sister will be no true master of any Art..."
"Her injuries were too great, and though her Spirit Force might help her remain a Sage, she could never take on the burden of Hero..."
"You will be the one who will represent Comvarda Clan at the Master Trials next season, our soul student."
"Son, I urge you to earn your mother's love, and my respect..."
Fijin, Ran Hook, Jab, Jab, Straight Left Jab, Straight Right Jab, Left Hook, Right Hook, Ran Hook again, Snap Kick, Head Kick Follow, Rijin, Whirlwind Strike, Nerve Jab, Jab, Jab, Jab, Roundhouse, Back Hand Spring... the bare fact that he had made it this far with flawless execution was something that caused the watching Masters and Elders rise to their feet. But now the time had come to show them all something that the Shiekah would speak of only in whispers for years to come... he would complete the full Taraja kata. Shifting all his weight back onto his right foot, Hythe's right hand fell back to waist level, left out in front. Closing his eyes Hythe stilled his soul for a millisecond that seemed to last a lifetime. He just had to channel that power... out of his soul... down his arm... into the fist as it hooked forward... Just that, and his father might respect him... his mother might love him... his life might actually be worth something... And he did it. The small, tell-tail whiff of Spirit Force steam drifting off the hand let everyone who had reasonably quick eyes know...
Hythe had just become the first Shiekah to preform the Kensi Strike in over two hundred years.
They no longer waited in silence... this was not something to be ignored. The brothers, sisters, and even some of the master and mistresses, were either slamming their fists on the stone, yelling out in surprise and excitement, or pointing wildly off, as if to draw attention to the very thing everyone was watching.
Hythe whipped the right arm out and around, left swinging out in a blocking motion. A useless part of the kata... as if anyone could actually survive a direct Kensi Strike... and then it was over, back into the starting possession. The Shiekah watching him screamed in excitement. The few Hylians around were more reserved, obviously hesitant about the stir this act had caused in the gathered warriors (and obviously relieved that Hythe was in fact a member of one of their OWN Noble Houses).
And there it was... he was now Hero, Master, Elder, and Prince... everything that was require of him.
Yet somehow, standing before the hullabaloo he had just caused, Hythe still felt empty...
posted by Czar at 4:14 AM
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