Chapter 1

Hi sorry haven't posted in a while but that's normal so I think it's going to stay like that but I'll try to post more often no promises though. Also POV switching is coming soon as new characters will be introduced. And to award your waiting here's a fairly lengthy chapter

Arthur's POV

I sighed I was In front of the dojo my dad recommended

"how did it end up like this"I said exasperated

I looked up at the very oriental style building on the front it said Tou No Ryuu with a picture of a dragon eating a sword with the other end going through its back. I couldn't help but think what kind of stupid dragon would eat a sword anyway it got what it deserved.

"Well I guess I should stop staring and just enter" I said unenthusiastically

I swung open the doors and saw a scene that just farther encouraged me to leave. There were about twenty muscular guys all armed with plastic long swords all surrounding and attacking a pretty redhead girl with long hair and two one handed swords in the middle. The girl was easily deflecting there blows and doing some crazy flips and dodges I thought you only saw in movies. And in the back were a couple other muscular guys in the back laughing.

I watched as slowly everyone in the room was moaning in pain on the floor except the girl standing in the middle sighing. I was just standing there stunned no matter how pretty she looks she was really intimidating right now. I began to tiptoe away without anyone noticing. I stopped there was a real sword in front of my neck right now if I had stopped any later my head would join the guys moaning on the floor. I didn't want to turn around as I could feel the huge killing intent behind me.

"State your business here" a female voice said

I knew it was the girl I held my hands up.

" ugh i...I'm just here to practice swordplay my father recommend this place" I managed to sputter out

.I wasn't informed of this how do I know your not just another Theif trying to steal the dragon katana" she said

"Well I have a letter from my dad to the master of this dojo he said it should let me in" I said kind of awkwardly.

She began to read the letter she ripped it

"Ehhhhhh" I yelled "

"this isn't enough proof to stop me from slitting your throat" she she said

I began to reach into my pockets have a pen in there I'll distract her with it and get away. I was about to pull it out and book it when a door in the dojo swung open and an old muscular guy walked out every one stopped moaning and stood up it respect. Even the girl sheathed her sword I was just about to leave when the old man spoke.

"hey area you that old man James son" the old man bellowed

I stopped finally someone I can explain my situation to

"yeah i had letter from him but this girl (i struck a glare at her but she was unaffected) ripped it"I said with a bit of anger in it he laughed heartily he picked the pieces up and amazingly he pieced it together in seconds.

" Ah yes Arthur right" he said

"yeah" I nervously said

"you didn't inform me of this" the girl said angrily

"sorry I was informed not that long ago" he answered with a smile.

"Well Arthur your dad may or may not have told you but to get in this dojo you need to pass a certain test the test is mostly the same but since your that person son and your adopted I'm going to change the test to see if your worthy to be his son" he explained and smiled mischievously.

"So what's the test"I asked slightly worried about the "changes

"Don't worry all you have to do if is land a strike on her (he pointed to the red head girl) and she wins a round if she knocks you down or you forfeit" he said reassuringly as he pointed to the girl

everyone else in the dojo burst out in argument

"master isn't that way too unreasonable"

"yeah we've trained a longtime and 20 of us can't land a hit"

they all screamed as I listened to what they were saying I felt less and less confident it was true I watched those 20 trained swordsman get easily dispatched by her.

"Now now you get unlimited tries if you can't land a hit today you can come back tomorrow too" he said as if he had complete confidence in me

" That doesn't help me AT ALL" I yelled.

"the test is a bit unreasonable" the girl agreed

"SEE EVEN SHE AGREES"I yelled again

"but if master Ryuu asks me I will comply" she added

I grit my teeth everyone here is expecting me to fight her I can't back away now

"don't worry if your anything like your father you should be fine" the old man said with a smile

"But.. But Im adopted" I exclaimed

" you should be fine according to your father you'll figure it out" the old man said and patted me on the back.

Damn that old man calm down Arthur just calm down you can't back out now so just go with the flow. I sighed I wasn't the kind of guy to just go with the flow I always wanted to be in control to understand but that's impossible

"okay hand me sword and let's do this" I said calmly full of determination

"oh finally accepting your fate" the old man said seemingly amused

I was passed a sword it was a plastic European long sword "why does this dojo use European swords even though it's clearly Japanese

"you know you can't win right" the girl said

"I know but I've got to try" I said drawing my sword

the girl drew her two swords too. I decided I should try to figure out the power gap although I already got the gist I was a totally newbie and have never touched a sword and she's some kind of professional with that thought I charged and went for a quick diagonal slash

"too much extra movement she said as she parried it with one sword and stabbed me in the chest with the other.

I grunted in pain

"give up and save yourself the pain"she said

"I'd love too but sorry I can't go back home defeated my dads going to laugh so hard and I'm way too proud for That to happen" I answered

"have it your way" she said and shrugged I decided to keep trying till I land a hit.

56 tries later

"arghh" I grunted

after being defeated for the 56th time ... Or was it 59 ahhh whatever I tried everything switching weapons spear, dagger, great sword ,Warhammer, axe, two handed axe, morning star, rapier,'katana,'falchion, scimitar, mace and even a damn flail. I can't believe they even have this many different kinds of training weapons I decided to stop and think about how beat me and the differences and the ones I can over come I should make up for my lack of skill and strength with strategy ... Hmm what else might as well try two swords that's one thing I haven't tried yet and having two swords seems helpful as even if I managed to knock down one sword or block one she has another she can strike me with when my guards down I sighed I looked around everyone stopped watching and started to tell me give up after the 27th loss

"just quit it man you can't beat her 1 on 1" 20 of us can't even"

"it's really late just head home please"

they all said but the old man still stood there smiling

"pass me two swords please" I said

and everyone face palmed

"she makes it look easy but it's not your swords can collide you can loose control of your sword in your bad hand and hit yourself she can use brute strength on your bad hand and control it and on and on" they said

"and plus she's ambidextrous"

they all said "I'm ambidextrous too I said with a smile

just as everyone was about to argue the master interrupted

"you heard the boy pass him a second sword make sure there one handed" he ordered

I picked up my second sword and began with my strategy.

I used minimal movement and left an opening on purpose she went for a stab which I parried with very small strength the sword flung behind her. I used the second sword to parry her other sword I grabbed on of her armies and struck her other sword to create an opening. I slid under her and turned around and used all my strength to try to slash her in the back "nice try she said as she used both swords to block to powerful but she had forgotten the second sword that was flung behind her in the beginning. I picked it up and attempted stabbed her in the stomach. But with her lightning reflexes she almost blocked the blow. But I slowed her down a few seconds by putting huge pressure on her two swords so I managed to stab over her defensive stance and force her to take a couple steps back and drop one of her swords. I cursed under my breath that was supposed to be my win.

I go into an offensive stance that I got from her and start to circle her other sword ready to pounce. Sadly she didn't take the bait and just readied her grip and stance. I charge and kick her sword behind me while I'm running I've actually become quite decent at sword fighting from learning from mistakes and copying her stance and moves from constant losses. I take a stab which she dodges and counter attacks I've learned even before my losses got to double digits that. I can't match her speed. So I form a defensive stance and predict where her blows going to land and parry she changed direction last second and goes to slash my side I take my second sword and barely block that blow and her sword nicks my side. I can barely keep up with her even when she has only one sword I have to end this quickly or I'll get tired and get overwhelmed. So I start to form a new plan she watches and seems to see that I'm up to something and says

"don't think I'm going to fall for one of your petty tricks again I was just... Caught off guard"she said angrily

"well i really don't think I'll be able to pull off the same trick either" I answer honestly

I run at her and start attacking furiously I notice she's parrying very carefully. She knows I'm trying to pull something I grin I'll use that to my advantage. I let one of my swords get blown behind her I feel some relief I almost didn't manage to get it behind her I deflect her blows and go around her to grab my dropped sword she expected that and slashed where I was going to go grab it. I slashed at the opening she made but she quickly deflected it. My sword flew across the room I was unarmed she quickly went for a finishing blow. I grinned I grabbed my sword that was now directly behind me And stabbed her in the chest from below. Everyone went silent for a few seconds and then everyone burst into applause. I sighed this better be worth it I looked around and everyone was cheering except the master and the girl. The master just smiled and the girl was in shock and as soon as she saw me shot me a glare. I held my hands in the air but then the old guy started to speak.

"congratulations Arthur you are now one of my disciples and now I shall introduce myself I'm master Ryuu and the girl you fought AND defeated he added as if to anger the girl in which the girl responded will a glare which he just laughed off her names Amanda Pyra quite the beauty eh" master Ryuu whispered and those lazy guys in the back are my other best David, Matthew, frank' lee and Daniel I have two other bests John and rob but they are out competing with another sword clan" master Ryuu said.

"Why didn't you bring them all they all seem capable" I said

"only two were allowed and we chose by drawing names out a hat"master Ryuu answered

well it's 8:30 and everyone should be getting home now your daily training will start tomorrow we'll everyone you can leave now" master Ryuu yelled

and everyone began packing and leaving I was about to leave when I the Amanda grabbed me on the shoulder and said

"rematch tomorrow"

I sighed

"I really don't think I'll win I just got lucky today with a good strategy" I said

"so you acknowledge my superior swords skill" Amanda asked

" yeah" I nervously replied.

It didn't seem like I had a choice on my answer I sighed and started to walk home. I've sighed so much today must be a depressing day and a depressing day today was

Hope you enjoyed did you like the longer chapters or enjoyed the shorter ones let me know - frostus