Thursday, April 6, 2006

   ReIncarnation Part II

Okay, here's the rest of Chapter One, presented in widescreen and surround sound(where available^_^):

Hirocho would not be playing today. This, he assumed, would be his final lesson to his ex-pupil. With those words, Hirocho lunged.
Rikkan was ready, however. He began a move he invented himself. The wind which he controlled and would manipulate for the rest of his life became a blade around his right arm. With this weapon he parried the great weapon that Hirocho carried. The blast of wind that followed blew Hirocho off his feet. Once again, he fell to the ground.
“What!?” Hirocho inquired loudly after collapsing on his back. He straightened up quickly and was back on his feet in a second. “What…was that?” he breathed.
Rikkan, still turned around, answered. “That was the Wind Saber.” He swirled around roughly and faced Hirocho.
Honda Hirocho was stunned. He had never seen that art before. He, who had read dozens, possibly hundreds, he had lost count around sixty-five, of books related to the abilities of the elements and he had not at all heard of a wind art that could create a blade of sharp air around one’s arm. The skill was supposedly impossible, or was it? Here stood a child of only sixteen years, and was it completely impractical to suppose he had made his own spell? Hirocho had doubts, but the evidence was right in front of him. After all, Hirocho thought, he was the son of Telmerand’s most powerful man. He had a right to be a prodigy, right? Somehow, Hirocho didn’t think so. Then again, he had a lesson to teach. The boy must be shown respect. Hirocho smiled, a real one this time. In the end, he was still a nelfit, eh? Still, he mustn’t hesitate this time. The boy had a few tricks up his sleeve and Honda Hirocho, Commander of Daemon’s Armed Forces and Senior Educator of the Daemon Train Camp, would not fall for them. Rikkan must be stopped.
Hirocho laughed out loud. Rikkan, who was expecting a fierce attack, hesitated. He had never known Hirocho to laugh in the middle of a serious battle before. He raised the Wind Sabre, on guard, hesitant to attack. Hirocho raised his transformed arm. “The tests that we gave you,” he began, “were complex and beyond your skill level. For that reason I believe that you had assistance.”
Rikkan’s interest was piqued. For one of his stature to be accused of such a heinous crime as interference in the trials was extremely unwise. On the other hand, as his royal standing of this moment was reduced to almost nil, the accusation was actually well met. Rikkan’s forehead creased with annoyance.
Hirocho continued. “Also, as your obvious betrayal shows, you, Rikkan, are not fit to carry the title of Linfael!”
Now the tables had turned. Rikkan, the royal son of Lord Valter, the supreme ruler of Daemon, had been challenged of his right to bear status as a soldier in the Officer’s ranks. As the tradition goes, the accused must do non-lethal battle against the accuser. If the accused is victorious, he or she is removed of all charges and the accuser is shamed.
Rikkan made a thoughtful face. After about a minute, he spoke for the first time. “Are you sure about this, Honda?”
Hirocho’s eyes bulged. The impertinent whelp had called him by his first name! No one save Lord Valter himself addressed Hirocho as “Honda”! Surprised by his sudden rage, Hirocho calmed down. So, the boy wants to anger me into an unsolicited attack, huh? Well Hirocho will see to it that the boy gets his past-due lesson in manners. He laughed again. “Of course I’m sure, Rikkan! Your laxness has disgraced your entire family! What will your brother think?”
“My brother?” Rikkan repeated. He hadn’t thought about his brother’s opinion, though he hadn’t seen him since he was relocated to the Daemon headquarters, far up north.
“Yes, Rikkan. What will Ryoku think?” Hirocho continued. “He, who shares your thoughts and feelings. Your twin!” He roared.
Rikkan was silent. Then, after a while, he said, “Ryoku… would agree with me. Reviving the seals is the only way to save this world from my father’s madness!”
“Then you will not change your opinion?”
Rikkan shook his head. “No. My decision is final.”
“Then,” Hirocho assumed a fighting stance. “Prepare for battle!”
Rikkan hesitated, and then he too took up his battle stance. “Honda Hirocho,” he began, “I hereby accept your challenge!”
The wind was still. The guards were completely silent as the two warriors regarded each other, pacing slowly in a circle. Then, in a rush of movement, their clash began.




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