“All right miss before I can really start to teach you. I’m going to need to know what kind of knife you are wanting to wield.” The ghost of Jim Bowie told the teenager.

She had a blank look on her face. “Are there that many types of knives and fighting styles?” She asked in surprise. “Almost every type of martial arts groups have their own style.” He said as he thought. “But it can be broken down into a few types. There are single-edged fixed blades, double-edged fixed blades, throwing knives and then folding knives and switchblades.” “That seems like a lot to learn,” The teenager replied. “Do you know every one of them?” “Nah I was more known for a single-edged fixed blade. After everything happened through the world kind of grew, So through the years I’ve gotten to see a few things around here. In the fifties, the switchblade was all the rage.”He said holding up a hand, and a knife appeared there. “This is a fairly good example.” He said manipulating the image. “The blade is spring-loaded to fold outward, but it has the limitation that the pivot is weak,” he said emphasizing where the blade fold was. “Then you can only attack in a slashing attack, the blade is likely to fold on you if you try to stab into a person with it.” “So its a fairly weak weapon?” The girl asked her teacher. “I wouldn’t carry one, also they are illegal in most places you might need a knife.” He replied. “What would you recommend for a woman to carry?” She asked thoughtfully. “Well, I’d recommend a fixed blade single edge knife for a novice. You’re less likely to cut yourself and over time you will learn to use it better and move up to a double edge if you expect to be killing lots of things. Let me see your hands.” He said reaching out to her, Victoria reached up to him and he closely examined them. Then she could see he was thinking carefully. He cupped his hands together, closed his eyes and concentrated. Suddenly a bright glow sprang up between his fingers. Victoria looked away and when she turned back the apparition was holding onto a knife wreathed in light. “Something like this.” He said The knifes blade was about three sixteens inch wide on the spine about an inch wide at the base with the tip broadening out to two inches. “we call this a clip point, it's good for camping and chores and pretty good at gutting a person.” Jim said matter-of-factly. He grasped the blade in his huge hand and spun it so that the blade was facing the rear and then spun it again so the blade was brandished before the man. “You want to move the blade easily to cover multiple areas you are engaged in." Victoria nodded. “So I need to focus on movement?” She asked. “Yes, you need to stay in motion. For a small slip of a girl like you, it's foolish to slug it out with a foe. A moving target is harder to hit.” He told her emphasizing with his own dodging and weaving. “You move really fast,” Victoria said as she eyed him. “Even then I got carved up good a time or two.” He stopped moving, then rolled up his sleeve. “You can still see my scars.” He said gesturing. As she looked, Victoria saw a latticework of scars on the ghost's skin. “I’d have thought your scars would have gone away after you died.” She remarked. Jim laughed. “Nah, they are a part of me. They are part of who I consider myself to be so even in death—” She nodded. “Interesting.” “Now about that knife?” He asked her. “I thought I had one this morning. There was a gnome I killed. He had a short sword that for me should have been the right length, but I think the police took it when they searched my house this morning.” “Miss, you are right interesting. The police already?” “It wasn’t that interesting.” She grumped. “Well, I have an Idea. At least for here.” He said taking the knife. And then grasping Victoria’s hand. “Here take this and I want you to extend your mana into it. Try to cast a spell and extend it into the knife.” She looked at the blade and concentrated. “Okay, what's that supposed to do?” She asked. “I want to see if you can maintain the structure of it. This room has the greatest concentration of mana in the city. If you can you’ll have a blade to train with.” “Okay.” She said as she tried focusing her energy dart spell into the daggers form. She felt the energy shift in her and then saw the form start to go translucent. “You’re losing it,” Jim said. “Just relax. Let the energy flow naturally.” Victoria tried to relax as he said but found it hard. Then she felt something click, and the blade became more solid, though it was still a pale imitation of the blade Jim had shown her. “That's a good start. Now we can get started with your grip.” He said as another larger blade appeared in his big hand. “You want to grip the handle firmly.” He said extending his hand for her to see. She tried to hold it as he did until her knuckles turned white. “No, too hard. Watch.” He said as he took the blade in one hand and then opened his hand on the handle, then closed it again. “Think of it like grasping an egg. Too hard and you will crush the egg and too soft and it will fall out of your hand.” “Maybe like a firm handshake?” She asked. “Yes, like that.” He replied to her. He observed her grasp of the handle and smiled. “Good. Now This kind of blade is good for slashing and stabbing. I want you to try a few slashes like this.” He said and showed her a cross-cut slash to the right and down. “This will usually be your strongest attack as you get all of your muscles into it.” He said. Victoria noticed how graceful he was as he moved. “You aren’t extending fully.” She said as she examined his moves. “Good catch. You don’t want to over-commit. Watch.” He said as he showed her the same attack again but then he overextended and she could see his body start to lose its balance. He recovered but if she followed up the inevitable conclusion. “If you had lost your balance, you’d have opened yourself up to an attack.” She stated. “Exactly.” He then began working on different stances and footwork. “Keep moving. Your enemy will keep after you. A still target is a dead target.” After a mere half-hour, the teenager was panting from exertion, but she was gamely trying to follow her teacher's instructions. “Enough,” Jim said. “Too much more and you will do more harm than good for your training.” “Do you think—” Victoria said panting. “I did okay?” “You learned enough for one shot. One night will not make you a master,” he said putting a big hand on her head and ruffling her hair. I expect to see you every night.” “I don’t need to be a master. I just need to not cut off my own fingers.” She quipped with a smile. The big man smiled at her and then pointed at the knife. “You can let that go now.” The teenager looked at where he pointed and gasped as she caught sight of the mana dagger she held in her hand. “I forgot I even had that.” She said and chuckled. She let the knife go and it dropped out of her hand then clattered on the ground. “What?” She said looking up at the bewildered ghost. Jim scratched his head. “I have no idea.” He pursed his lips, then looked at her. “Do you have any messages?” At his suggestion, Victoria started scrolling through the logs. She saw that she was gaining attribute points toward advancing at a significant rate she started from the last message; You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Endurance 0.01 You have increased Endurance 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have learned the martial skill blade proficiency! You are now proficient in using small blades and short swords. You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Dexterity 0.01 You have increased Strength 0.01 You have learned the spell, Phantasmal Blade! You can shape a phantasmal blade for your own use. Base magic damage 6 +1 per level. The phantasmal blade can be wielded or thrown. Phantasmal blade not to exceed 18 inches long. “Jim—” Victoria gasped. I just learned a new spell. She said looking up at her teacher. “Best workout ever.” She said reaching up and hugging the ghost.