A knight's resolve

[stupidhonor]

[1]
Ha! Hyaah!

[After dealing a lethal blow to a practice dummy, Sielje puts down her weapon. The knight is sweaty but for once, seems content. And the weapon in question is not her usual sword, but a long rod. A practice spear.]

Yes, I did not forget. I still have the arm for this.


[2]
Ahem. Do not misunderstand, it is not my intent to request my work done for me.

But there must be a better way to do this.

[Sielje is covered in paint, a large brush in her hand. In the background, her handiwork - a beginning of some kind of shape forming on a large mobile suit shield. A shape painted by hand, as half-empty cans littering underneath betray.]

I know there is a device of sorts for this kind of... purpose. But I know not how to operate it, and...

[She glances at the mess, embarassed.]

Comments

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje was holding the butt of the spear over her shoulder - ready to thrust it downwards to dissuade any further fierce Kijin attacks.]

... Ah.

[But this she did not expect. The knight leaps to the side, low under the flying weapon as she tries to tumble haphazardly.]

[rekindletheflame]

Got you

[As Sielje lept off to the side Astara managed to catch up to her weapon and grab it before it flew off to who knows where. She spins in place after retrieving her weapon, locating the tumbling Sielje and swinging the sword hard down towards the exposed Sielje before she could recover her stance after that roll.]

[stupidhonor]

!!

[Sielje can't get up in time! All she can do is interpose the spear in front of the falling blade while still on the ground.]

[rekindletheflame]

[The training sword slams into the shaft of the spear again. Unfortunately for Astara the flimsy weapon finally surrenders after having to deal with a Kijin swinging the weapon with reckless abandon, shattering as it made impact with the polearm. Thankfully she manages to shatter Sielje's polearm as well but with both weapons shattered Astara relaxes and offers the Knight a hand up.]

I guess we'll call this a draw.

[stupidhonor]

Ha... haa...

[Sielje takes deep breaths, still holding on to two parts of the spear. A few seconds later she lets go and makes use of the hand offered to get up.]

That was so close. You wield such power...

[rekindletheflame]

[Astara on the other hand hasn't even broken a sweat.]

Well, I did only catch you after you already wore yourself out training.

Besides you don't usually wield spears, right?

[stupidhonor]

Even if were I well-rested, I do not think this would go much different.

No, I do not wield spears. But I know how to, and I used to in the past...

[rekindletheflame]

Oh? What made you decide to take up another weapon?

[stupidhonor]

I trained with spear first because of its range and simplicity of its basics. It is a good weapon for a... novice warrior.

But the same qualities make it something that is looked down on. A commoner's weapon, not dishonorable but not befitting a real knight either.

This is how many feel. And I did too, so...

[rekindletheflame]

You stopped using it...

That's pretty different from what I was taught.

When I was growing up my dad always told me that a warrior must learn to use every and any kind of weapon.

[stupidhonor]

Learning basics is one thing, but mastering every weapon may be hard in just one lifetime...

Ynya too thought there is nothing wrong in fighting with a spear and told me of advanced techniques and advantages it has. But, I did not listen. I chose the sword, which was even harder to master, and trained. Eventually, I became as good with it as with the polearm.

But it is true. He was right, a warrior must not limit herself to just one weapon.