The sun was slowly rising into the sky, a warm, golden disc filtering through the dense canopy of trees and clouds,dappling the misty open field of the Dukker keep. The morning air, far from the chaotic energies of the city and the forest, felt calm and pure. Here, on the perfectly manicured lawn surrounded by ancient trees, Lord Alaric, in his simple training tunic, stood with Aina and Elias.
"Aina," Lord Alaric said, his voice quiet but commanding.
"Today, we begin. You are ready for the first form of the Stellar Aegis Style."
Elias stood a few feet away, watching with interest and curiosity.
Alaric drew his practice blade, a heavy, unsharpened piece of steel, and it movedwith a fluid, effortless grace in a single arv.
"There are six forms of the Stellar Aegis Style.The 'Falling Star', the 'Twin Stars', the 'Dancing Comet', the 'Silver Nova', 'White Eclipse' , and its final form, the 'Black Star'. Each form represents a deeper mastery of the style's core philosophy of blocking and counter-attacking, with each level building on the principles of the last. The first form, The 'Falling Star', teaches a practitioner to use a block not as an end in itself, but as the first, inevitable step of a counter-attack, much like a falling star that leaves a brilliant, destructive trail in its wake.Remember," he continued,
"Swordsmanship isn't just about learning a series of movements. It's about mastering a philosophy. It's not who attacks first that wins but he who creates an opening from that one strike."
Aina nodded, her expression serious.
"The first form," Alaric continued, "is an aspect of this philosophy. It teaches you to use every block as an opportunity. A good defence is the first step of a good offence. You don't just stop an attack; you redirect it. You absorb its energy and then, in the same breath, you strike back. It's a symbiotic dance of defence and aggression."
Alaric showed her the movements, he asked her to attack him with her conjured metallic blades and he demonstrated a series of parries and ripostes that flowed into one another like water.
Afterwards he made Aina mimick his movements. Her motions were still a little stiff, but a faint, almost imperceptible red glow flickered around her blade as she poured her Flow into the technique.
Elias, watching her, was completely captivated.
He was enamoured by the very idea of a philosophy of swordsmanship.
Alaric watched his niece for a while, offering corrections to her firm with each stroke. Once he was satisfied with her progress, he gave her a firm nod.
"Good. Now, continue to practise on your own. Keep the philosophy in mind, not just the forms."
Aina bowed her head and moved to the side of the training ground, her blade swinging in perfect, solitary arcs.
Alaric then turned to face Elias, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he simply looked at his son, and Elias felt a nervous flutter in his stomach.
"Now for you, my boy," Alaric began, his voice a low, steady rumble.
"It's time we had a talk. You saw your sister just now. She is a Flow practitioner, and her training in the Stellar Aegis Style is a natural fit for her first Trait. But you, Elias, yours is a bit tricky."
The words were spoken without malice, but they still stung.
"It's not as simple as teaching you the same style, or any style for that matter." Alaric continued, oblivious to his son's hurt.
"Every Trait Class has others that oppose it. Teaching a style meant for one class when one day you may manifest an opposing one would hinder your development. And since we don't know what Trait you will manifest, let alone one that complements any of the four sword Styles, we can't proceed. If we do it anyway and you develop an opposing Trait it's going to hinder you from learning a new one while being useless to you itself."
Elias frowned. It was a harsh truth his father was telling him. But,it wasn't a situation that could not be easily remedied.He took a deep breath and spoke.
"Father," Elias said, his voice small but firm. "I get what you are day. But I don't think it's a big deal."
Alaric looked at his son,his heart begining to stir from his sons seeming determination.
"You can just teach me the Still Sword."
Alaric blinked, his expression a mask of pure surprise.
"The... the Still Sword?" he asked, his voice a whisper.
"How do you know that name?"
"Uncle Roric mentioned it," Elias replied simply.
A brief expression of disappointment crossed Alaric's face before morphing into a fond smile. He shook his head.
" That forest baboon.He never could keep a secret I wanted to tease the boy a little bit then give him this surprise. Tch."
' Aren't you going a little to far with that prank.' Elias thought as he smiled at his father, pretending not to have heard what he said.
Alaric let out a sigh then his face grew serious. He looked at his son, not just as a father, but as a Lord evaluating his heir. "You're right," he said. "The Still Sword."
Aina, from her position on the other side of the clearing, slowed down her training and drew closer, her ears perked.
Alaric took up a second practice blade. "This," he said, holding it out to Elias, "is a style for which a trait is not a prerequisite. In fact, a Trait would be a hindrance. The Still Sword is not about Flow, but about the absence of it. It's not about what you can't do, but what you can make of your inadequacy. It is a sword style based on the doctrine of Stillness."
>Journal Entry
My father says that as his heir, I will inherit his sword style, the Still Sword. He told me it is based on the doctrine of Stillness, but he also explained something I hadn't heard before about Trait Classes and their relationships. I am writing it down so I don't forget.
There is a natural order to things. As traits go against each other, they complement each other as well. It is a symbiotic relationship and a core law of existence. The first lesson I learned was that the Cosmic Class opposes Cognitive,Cognitive Class opposes Existential Class, Existential opposes Soulfire and Soulfire opposes Cosmic.It makes a kind of sense after all water and fire cannot meet touch each other. While with water and fire,the stringer one is variable these ones appear to be already defined. It's a very perculier 'Power Square'.
I just recently found out that the relationships between certain classes also complement each other. An Existential Class and a Cosmic Class support each other, creating a kind of synergy of Space and Matter. A Soulfire Class and a Cognitive Class also support each other, creating a strange mix of the Spirit and the Mind. All of this raises so many new questions for me. What is the purpose of these symbiotic and opposing relationships between the Trait Classes? Is it to create balance in the world?
How can I use this knowledge in the future? I'm sure if I'm able to find the answers I'll also find a way around my immortality as well. So for now I'm going to keep in studying this world and it's various intricacies.<