Ding* You have gained the Abilities; Bolster Fle -

Micky dismissed the System notifications before they could pull him out the music, he didn’t want to anything to detract from the simple act of playing with someone else. The warmth and scents of the warehouse drew Micky back into his past. Memories of sitting in a woodshed playing with old friends before University and work pulled him away.

“That young man, is the essence of a true Bard” said Mattheo softly. “I trust you felt it as well? The ability of music to transport us beyond our physical selves.”

“Yeah” responded Micky, his voice choked tight. “I know exactly what you mean.”

“Good, when you have gained the ability to find that transcendence yourself it won’t matter if you play alone in a warehouse or before a crowded house. You will take others with you. It is the greatest gift we can offer through music.”

“I’d never really thought about it like that before. Music has always just been a hobby, something I enjoyed doing. Not whatever that was.”

“Do not sell the music, or your own talent short” the older man reproached him, before standing and stretching out his back. “Now the hour gets late, and I’m due a whisky or three before I perform. I shall return four days hence to examine your progress.”

Micky rose and offered his hand. “Thanks mate, this has been brilliant. I owe you a whisky at the very least.”

“Only the one?” Mattheo asked with one eyebrow raised. He turned and collected a small rucksack before putting his violin into a velvet lined case.

“Maybe a couple more mate, good luck tonight.”

Following Mattheo out of the warehouse towards the central building Micky noticed that the sun was creeping towards the western horizon. On stiff legs after both Ingunn’s training and staying seated for so long he headed into the reception area.

“Oi lad, you get those abilities sorted?” Algernon bellowed from inside his office, having heard Micky approach.

“Yeah, a grabbed a couple. Mattheo is a brilliant instructor. I’ve gotta say I enjoyed that more than running with Ingunn.”

“If you thought that that was hard you’re in for a BLEEP surprise tomorrow. It doesn’t get any easier an she’ll be expecting you to improve tomorrow.”

“Isn’t that just BLEEPING wonderful” Micky sighed. “Right, I’m gonna head home before I pass out mate. Tomorrow after breakfast right?”

“Bright and early boyo. Now you're all officially signed up you can get a cot out here if you want? It’s not much but it’s free.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I quite like where I’m staying now. The food doesn’t light me on fire and the company is excellent.”

Algernon fell back with laugher at this. After more than a minute he was able to compose himself and continue speaking. “Banji took you to that Narasimhaan place didn’t he? If you thought it burned going in then I wish you luck. Might help you run faster though.” Having delivered this sage advice the peals of laughter returned, rocking him back in his chair.

Algernon’s raucous laughter echoed in his ears as he began the walk back towards Ma Dukes, the evening air cooling around him.

Ma Duke was bustling around the kitchen cleaning up the remains of dinner as Micky walked into the boarding house.

“Welcome back boy” she called out as he entered the kitchen. “How was your first day?”

“Equal parts amazing and terrifying Ma” he replied with a weary smile. “I met a Class trainer and it was amazing to just play with someone else. On the other hand the physical training may just kill me.”

“Nothing comes easy here Micky” she said with a serious look at him. “The System gives us gifts and a chance, but it’s up to us to seize that chance.”

“I’m gonna give it my best shot Ma. For now I think I’m gonna grab a shower then collapse into bed before my legs give out on me.”

“If you collapse at my kitchen table I will have Opal princess carry you right to your room” Ma Duke threatened with a smile the reached all the way across her craggy face.

“I’ll do my best not to make that a habit. I’m not sure my pride can take another hit like that for a while.”

Rolling the control crystal as high as it would go Micky luxuriated under the downpour of the shower, the heat easing some of the knots in his hamstrings and calves. Stumbling across to the narrow bed Micky was asleep before he had a chance to pull the covers over his body.

The next three days blurred by in a haze of grueling physical effort and individual practice with the Vaixcell. Ingunn was a brutal taskmaster, but her methods achieved results and Micky saw an absurd level of progress, far faster than a human on Earth could have achieved. He felt the runs become easier and the calisthenics more natural. Both his Might and his Grace improved markedly, to 9 and 11 respectively. At the end of his fourth training session she uttered three words he was sure would haunt him in quiet moments.

“Better. Tomorrow weapons.”

Micky approached the training grounds with trepidation, walking slowly to delay the inevitable.

“Morning Ingunn, shall we begin with a run?” He asked hopefully.

“No. Today we fight. Grab a staff.”

Walking to the rack of weapons Micky picked up one of the six foot staves, noting that the ends had been wrapped in padding and sack cloth. “Hey, I don’t mean to question you, but how am I going to use this? It looks like it needs two hands and I’ve got that” he gestured to the Vaixell leaning against the chest of his belongings..

“I don’t trust you with a blade, first we practice timing and balance.” Micky stood open mouthed, shocked at hearing more than three words at a time from the laconic dragebarn. “Hurry.”

Micky picked up the staff and held it away from his body. “So, uh what do I do with this thing?” He asked as Ingunn approached him slowly, her own staff slung under one arm.

“Block.”

“Sorry. Wha-“

Before he could complete the sentence Ingunn slid her hand down the staff and swung. The leading edge dove towards Micky’s head as she pulled hard, powering the strike with her right hand. *Crack*. Micky managed to desperately interpose his own staff between the wrapped end and his ear. The shuddering impact reverberated up his arms and wrenched the staff from his hand.

“Hey! Wait a second” he shouted in alarm as a second strike swung in and clipped his hip, toppling him to the floor.

“Lesson one. Hold the damn staff.”

“What the BLEEP is this? I thought you were supposed to be teaching me how to do this BLEEP. So far all I’ve learned is I like you even less than I thought” Micky grumbled from the dusty surface of the training area.

“I am. Lesson two. Everyone gets hit. It hurts. Now get up and copy me” Ingunn said before taking a wide stance.

Grumbling to himself Micky rose to his feet and collected the staff. Attempting to copy her he spread his feet. “Like this?” He asked with ill grace.

“Better. Move your hands apart. Unless you’re blocking or striking there’s no need to choke the staff. You’ll burn your arms out that way. Now watch my hands.” Again her hands slipped down the staff until her right hand was inches from the bottom. “Where is the strike going to come from? Watch my bottom hand. It’ll show you where I’m going.” With exaggerated slowness she pulled the bottom of the staff towards her right side.

“Uhh, the left side right?”

“Good. Now block.”

Again the staff swung in almost too quickly for Micky to follow, but this time having seen the direction of the strike he was able of defend himself with a touch more certainty.

“Better. Now I’m stronger that you. A straight block just pulls you into me. What should you do instead?” Ingunn asked as she drew her staff back.

“Run like buggery and hit you with a lightning bolt from across the room?”

The first hint of a smile he’d seen from Ingunn snuck across her face before it was quickly banished. “Not bad. Not helpful here, but not bad. Deflect the strike, guide it away from you rather than stopping it dead. Follow me.”

Three hours of morning training passed in a whirl of blocked and deflected strikes. Trips and holds were introduced, as well as something Ingunn called Glima, which was a form of freestyle wrestling from the dragebarn ‘verse. Exhaustion overtook Micky and he felt his movements become sloppier and Ingunn’s harder to anticipate. Blessedly she called an ending to the training shortly after that point.

“Not the worst. In a few more weeks I may trust you with a knife.

“I’m pretty sure you’ll kill me first” gasped Micky, sinking down onto his haunches.

“Perhaps” Ingunn said before continuing on with her own training.

Staggering over to the spigot as he caught his breath Micky checked the system notifications he had been suppressing during training

*Ding* Congratulations, you have learned the Skill Quarterstaff Combat - Novice (1)

*Ding* Congratualtions, through training and hard work your Quarterstaff Combat Skill has progressed to Novice (3)