For her the cool-tongued, her the tranquil-hearted,
Whom evermore I follow wistfully
Whom evermore I follow wistfully
Sharp mahogany irises remain unblinkingly fixed on Zavien for the dual purpose of anticipation and evaluation. The focused and intentional redirection of his nervousness is a good sign, and his form is solid, if a rather standardized configuration. Good building blocks. She wonders if he is self-taught or if he’d learned from family, or perhaps a hired tutor or martial arts class?
His first blow would be yet more proof of standardization if it stood alone. Many hopeful recruits have stood before her and flourished their swords only to pause as if believing a spar should be entirely sequential, expecting her to respond with a block and a singular strike of her own. As if war is remotely predictable or structured. So Anju angles her sword to catch the first strike, neatly angled so that her own blade won’t cut her even if his strength had managed to force it back against her thigh. The sweep is far more impressive, and would certainly work on some of the other less experienced recruits - but Anju has trained herself out of unnecessary evasion, and will not be so easily put on the defensive.
Instead - given his back is protected against her weapon - Anju moves fast and hard into the space just behind his knee that naturally opens as he swings his leg out. She braces in a wider stance to not be swept from her feet but willingly takes the hard, concussive connection of his strike to her calf. It’s worth it for the proximity advantage while he’s less stable, and Anju shoves hard with her shoulder and elbow to try and force him back harshly - or perhaps even down onto the floor if his reaction time is lacking.
His first blow would be yet more proof of standardization if it stood alone. Many hopeful recruits have stood before her and flourished their swords only to pause as if believing a spar should be entirely sequential, expecting her to respond with a block and a singular strike of her own. As if war is remotely predictable or structured. So Anju angles her sword to catch the first strike, neatly angled so that her own blade won’t cut her even if his strength had managed to force it back against her thigh. The sweep is far more impressive, and would certainly work on some of the other less experienced recruits - but Anju has trained herself out of unnecessary evasion, and will not be so easily put on the defensive.
Instead - given his back is protected against her weapon - Anju moves fast and hard into the space just behind his knee that naturally opens as he swings his leg out. She braces in a wider stance to not be swept from her feet but willingly takes the hard, concussive connection of his strike to her calf. It’s worth it for the proximity advantage while he’s less stable, and Anju shoves hard with her shoulder and elbow to try and force him back harshly - or perhaps even down onto the floor if his reaction time is lacking.
through waters yet uncharted
ANJU
