19 Set in the Routine (2/2)

Without giving Will time to wake up, he threw a practice sword at him. Without thinking, the shirtless Will caught the sword without looking, instead he sensed it with his aura. It felt as if he had a three hundred and sixty degree sense when it came to his new power.

As soon as the sword touched Will's hand, he was instantly alert to his uncle charging for him. Within a second, Michael's first attack was parried by his nephew's blade without even making eye contact. Will turned to meet his uncle's eyes as their blades connected.

Michael wasted no time in unleashing his frenzied barrage of blows, each one only meeting his opponents blade as his aura took over his defenses. Each frenzied blow took a fraction of a second to deliver, though to Will it all seemed in slow motion. Through his weight training and balance, Will was able to move as fluid as the water he collected at the lake.

Going back and forth, Will allowed none of the advances to meet their mark. While parrying the blows, Will searched for a sign of an opening. Every few seconds his uncle switched hands, trying to throw Will off guard.

Will had to watch everything around him not only with his eyes, but his aura as well. As long as the barrier held, his aura would help him parry each hit. But he wasn't looking for just defense today, Will was looking to finally land a blow.

If Will lost any ground, he would end up backed up against the tree, which would limit his movements. The only option he had was to push forward. He kept a clear head, analyzing his opponents movements. Within the month that he had sparred with his uncle, he noticed that he had a predictable move trying to push forward. He played this to his advantage.

If Will was going to succeed in his plan, he could not be predictable. Sacrificing himself for a few blows, he advanced forward. Taking a strike to his sword arm and his chest, Will could only feel just a little of the impact. He used his aura to dull the pain without losing stride. With no time to spare, he transferred a little of his aura to his feet, making two compressed balls of flames underneath each one. When they exploded, he was launched up, back flipping to the tree, he launched himself off landing behind his master, tapping him on the neck.

Drenched in sweat, the two of them stood there, Will's sword on Michael's neck. ”One.” he said to his superior with no humor in his voice.

With a smile on his face, Michael dropped his blade. He knew when to accept defeat. ”Good job William, that's how to apply your flame in true combat.” he said as he turned to meet Will's smile. ”Your flame is not an outside force, you should find ways to apply it to your combat style.”

Nodding to his uncle, Will dropped his blade. ”Time to eat?” he said in a giddy voice, finally he was able to sit with his uncle for a meal, he could already taste the bacon! It had taken so long for him to finally take a seat at the table, he started dreaming of the meals.

”Almost, but first I wish to show you something.” Michael said, understanding his nephew's haste.

Michael put his hand in his pocket and withdrew something. In his open palm, there was a cross pendant in his hand. ”Do you recognize this? He asked with a hopeful expression.

Looking at the pendant, Will went inside the cottage for a moment, coming back out with his own pendant on its chain. ”Jonathan gave me this before I left, it's just a symbol of luck isn't it?”

”No William, that is your birth right.” he said as he looked at the pendant. ”That is the Ragnos lineage blade.”

Will had to laugh at the statement. ”This?” he said as he tried to breathe. ”Am I supposed to stab someone with the long pointy end and hope for the best?” Michael smirked at his nephew only for a moment before looking at his own pendant.

As Will's laughter died down, he was wondering if he insulted his uncle seeing as he went dead silent. While watching him, he saw Michael shut his hand around his own pendant, orange flame protruding from it. Within seconds, the Orange flame grew in size until he was holding a full sized sword. The same sword Will saw Michael hold his own using against the wraiths. Looking at the pommel, there was a large orange jewel at the end of it. ”This is a lineage blade,” he said with a chuckle at his nephew's slack jawed expression. ”Though it's nothing compared to the one in your hand.”