“I…I….I challenge you do a duel!” The young man yelled. Diego sighed at the challenge.
Another young swordsman coming to find him to prove himself powerful. “What a bother.” Diego thought. “I can see the flaw in his stance, and the way he holds his blade is mediocre at best”. Diego takes a drink from his cup, and takes his hand off his Odachi.
“You aren’t ready…go home, train for a few years…and then maybe something will have killed me by then”
The young man’s face distorts in anger. “I won’t lose to a washed up boludo like you”. He says, before he runs towards Diego, sword in hand. He swings downwards towards Diego, who easily sidesteps. The young man responds with a leg sweep, but Diego already was jumping. The young man doesn’t see the kick. But he is not deterred, he continues rushing forward. Diego counterattacking every attack with a slap or a well placed kick.
The young man reminds Diego of a childhood memory, of his father teaching him how to swing a sword for the first time. Knowing how to use a weapon was necessary for survival back home in Curico. Whether it was the ruffians down by the dock, or strange sea creatures, your life depended on the blade. ” I wasn’t much better than he is now. He has potential….perhaps with a few lessons he could even be considered good.”
“Are you ready to give up friend? Maybe join me for a drink?” The young man’s onslaught is paused by this comment…did Diego get through him?
Suddenly the young man disappeared from Diego’s view, only to appear behind him. A magic swordsman. The young man swings his swords in a sideways slash, ready to cut Diego in half. Sure of his victory, he didn’t notice Diego finally unsheathed his Odachi. “That’s odd…is that my body?” Is the last thing the young man thought as his head hit the ground.* “Another swordsman who uses magic as a crutch for poor skills. If only he had listened to me”*. Then again, Diego was once like this. Back when he was known as the Fisher King of Valparaiso, and he could hunt down anything found in the lake. He always resorted to magic whenever possible, never honing his skills. It wasn’t until he fought that thing where Diego had to begin relying on his own skills..
“What a shame” Said Diego, as the body finally drops “Now who is next?” Diego turns to the comrades of his now dead opponent, who all run in fear at the sight.
“Ah, quiet at last.” Diego sits next to the headless body, pouring some of his Sake. “Thank you for the battle. May you find what you are looking for beyond the storms” Diego drinks and heads out on the road again…
