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[smitesevil]

[ Sanger shows up on the Warp Band network one fine day, looking completely grim and serious as he usually does. ]

My master always said that if swords can be kept sheathed, all is right with the world.

[ And if they must be drawn, destroy the enemy with great prejudice, but that's not the point here. ]

Yet it hardly seems that way. Though there is no great enemy to fight, there are always rumblings of something more to come. Enough that I can hardly abandon my duty as the Sword that Smites Evil and put my blade aside.

[ A pause. He seems to be gathering his thoughts. ]

So what is there for a sword that must keep its edge to do during times of peace?

Comments

[windyflower]

T-That's not...!

[Oh goodness, now she shouldn't stop giggling at how blunt his answer was!]

That's not what I meant! I meant that you should use it to exercise with! Although, if you want to make sushi with it, that's up to you!

[smitesevil]

Ah!

[ a beat ]

There is nothing to worry about there. I am keeping up with my sword practice. I have simply reached a point in my training where just dedicating more time to it is unlikely to help me improve.

[windyflower]

I see, then it sounds like you might have reached your potential with sword training.

Although, I wonder if there is anyone else who owns a sword. I wonder would it be possible to ask for their advice.

[smitesevil]

If you could point me towards one I would be eternally grateful. There are always new peaks to reach, and they might have discovered something I could not.

My master used to say that "a true master is an eternal student."

[windyflower]

[She gave a giggle] Your master is right because people are always learning! But in that sense, it means that no one is truly a master huh?

[Hmm...] Although, if you can't find someone, I suppose the alternative is to teach someone how to use the sword?

[smitesevil]

The first step to mastery is learning that it has no limits. There is always a greater peak to strive for, and this applies not just to the sword, but to all things in life.

[ That said though... ]

Teaching someone does have its appeal. I am still nowhere near my master, but even teaching can be a way to learn.

[windyflower]

Then how do you feel about me learning how to use the sword? Although, I'm not sure how much I can pay you but I am an engineer! Perhaps I can play you by making something in return?

[And if Sanger can hear very closely, he can hear her Pokemon muffled screaming in the distance]

...Or is that not allowed?

[smitesevil]

There is no reason to disallow you I can see. Your arms and legs both appear to work, so you can swing a sword.

[ Although she does seem to be on the skinny side, which suggests her physical conditioning isn't quite up to par, but it's hard to tell with the Enlightened, and strength is something that can be developed anyway. ]

[windyflower]

So does that mean you will teach me? Even if I don't have much I can offer you?

[But he does have to wonder. While she might not be the strongest person and given how ill she can be, she wondered if this was a good idea or not. But even then...]

But thank you so much! I promise that you won't regret this!

[smitesevil]

An earnest spirit is far more important than gold and treasures. Somebody who thinks they can buy mastery is one I have no interest in passing any of my skills to.

[ Sanger nods and gives a rare smile. Perhaps she wouldn't be the next in line to master the style, but his is hardly so exclusive that it must stay hidden away, kept only within a small line of disciples. ]

[windyflower]

[For a few moments, Fuuka didn't respond. Instead, she just looked at Sanger before she gave a chuckle]

An earnest spirit? I don't know about that! I think I'm more of someone who doesn't really have much to offer so I don't know what else I can do to repay you back really!

[That and she’s not someone who thinks very highly of herself]

[smitesevil]

You can repay me by learning well.

[ He'll also take free stuff too, but mainly learning well. ]

[windyflower]

[Blink blink. ...What]

I-Is...that really it? Just...nothing else? Now that doesn't seem very fair, it feels like I wouldn't be doing my fair share when you're doing all the work!

[smitesevil]

Learning is hard work, but if you insist, I will take some of the fruits of your labour. I do not know what it is you can make, but I trust that you can come up with something useful.

[windyflower]

Well, I can maybe anything out of techology? Although, I would need to take some time to find some scraps of metal and see what I can make out of them!

But is there anything you want or should I just make anything?

[smitesevil]

I do not need a new weapon, but apart from that...

[ He takes a moment to think. ]

Ah, how about something that is not for war? I do not know much about it, but I am sure you can come up with something.

[windyflower]

Oh, I wasn't...!

I wasn't going to make something that was made for war! I was thinking maybe perhaps like a new lamp or something that might be useful!

[She mumbled to herself. Goodness, the last thing she could ever do is make something that could hurt others!]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that!

[smitesevil]

A new lamp? That might actually be nice.

[ His room is really threadbare right now, so furniture would actually be incredibly handy. ]

[windyflower]

Then it's okay? A lamp is fine by you and...you don't want me to make anything other than that?

[Just to double check!]

[smitesevil]

We shall make do with a lamp for now. I do not believe most teachers are paid all at once, right? If you find my teaching satisfactory, we can discuss further payment.

[windyflower]

I believe so? I'm afraid I never done this before so I'm not even sure what I'm suppose to do!

But when do you want to start? I'm ready whenever you are!

[smitesevil]

I am always ready.

As long as I do not find myself off fighting far away.

[windyflower]

Oh! Then um...is there a place you want to meet up?

I'm not busy myself so I can be ready and go wherever you want to go!

[smitesevil]

For sword training, we require an open space and swords. I can acquire the blades for us, but do you know of any such space that can be rented?

[windyflower]

Um...well, we can use the forests if you like? That seems to be a place filled with a lot of space we can use!