Richard hated that the man made him doubt himself so much. The sun itself seemed to mock his walk through the narrow side streets of Tal Veron. There was a definite cloud over his thoughts.

And suddenly the man stood there in front of him, at the end of the alley. Richard was now very dark and not in the mood for more games.

"Sir, must you persist?"

"I have searched all the world and few are worthy of this honor," the man said softly. "Few have truely mastered the blade enough to be taught what I can teach you."

"And what makes you think you know that much more then me," Richard said, taking his modified stance of Leopard in the Tree. "According to you, I'm legendary."

"And yet not invinsible," the man said with a sad look in his eyes. "You have chosen the Path of Water, and in it you have proven yourself full of grit and endurance, and yet you lack some of what others have mastered."

Suddenly, faster then Richard had thought possible, the man closed the gap between them and had his blade out. Richard had enough time to draw his blade and take two steps back to get out of reach.

"You lack the speed and fluidity of the Air," the old man said, obviously poising to attack, teaching as Richard often did while fighting. Lion on the Hill was the best defence Richard could throw out right now. The old man's blade smashed across Richard's, knocking it out of the way before he closed the gap and gave Richard a shot to the chest that sent him reeling back. "And you lack the power of the Blades. I can teach you both. I can teach you balance."

Richard considered it all before his next action. He had never been rash, but he had never backed down either. This man had pushed his buttons, and given him a bruise on his chest that woulnd't soon fade. Richard had to give him one more test.

Richard attacked with Bundling Straw, but his first thrust was diverted and the man closed again, his punch laying Richard out flat in the alley this time.

"You may be on to something sir," Richard said, winded from two shots to the chest. "Might I have your name?"

"You can simply call me Master," the old man said, his sword sheathed like it had never been out, and his arm out to help Richard to his feet. "I will train you when you have time, which I'm sure you could make around your students. I am as flexible as with wind."

"So I've seen," Richard muttered, allowing the man to help him to his feet.

Edited by: Rodgin Kemph at: 5/21/06 5:47 pm