Tag Archives: Tales of Glory

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #22

The rest of the day was tough, a little tougher than Metcalf expected.  She went back to the Stream Quarters to train with her friends.  They couldn’t go back to the Training Center yet.  Midterm was still a week away.  Most of the crowd would still be there until a few days before the deadline.  It would be way too crowded.

They had to train outside for now.  It was incredibly uncomfortably cold but this was the life of a desperate student.  Besides, her body temperature would eventually rise as she worked harder.

Her friends all tried their best to teach her everything they learned that day.  Even after the sun went down and the street lights came on, they were training.  None of them wanted to let Metcalf fail the Final.  At the same time, Metcalf respected their effort.  She didn’t want to let any of them down.

The care was touching, but the cramming was incredibly intense.  They had all taken especially critical notes and were all really hard teachers to boot.  While they each had a few lessons for Metcalf, she had to endure lessons from each of them.

The lessons came so fast.  She hardly had time to remember what she was learning.  By the time they were done, Metcalf had to meditate on what she had learned.  The Final that she remembered was much more than simply knowledge based.  The students were expected to learn and use the significance behind what they learned.

Metcalf figured early that this was one way the students were expected to fail the Final.  Trailing students would have a hard time learning the basic concepts let alone knowing how to use them wisely.

Her training and meditation continued long into the night.  Before she knew it, the day had ended.  It was already hour two!  She was going to get less than a few hours of sleep tonight but that was life.  There was no way she was going to miss her early meeting with Master Fu.

—–

After the alarm and rushed preparations, Metcalf used all but the last of her energy to make it to the Palace on time.  Everything about her clothes said that she was ready to train.  Everything about her face said she was ready to sleep.

The door opened as she knocked.  It was unexpected, but she was a little too tired to be surprised.

Obviously invited in, she entered Master Fu’s apartment to see that everything had moved.  The large bookshelf, the furniture, the work spaces, everything in the large apartment was in a different place.  Strangest of all, Master Fu was nowhere to be seen.

Metcalf left the room.  She checked its place in the hallway and the room number to make sure she was in the right place.  After confirming everything, she turned to walk back into the room.

She stopped at the sight of two thick bladed swords pointed directly into her face.

Holding the swords was Master Fu with a stare and a happy grin.  “Gotcha,” she shouted as she put her dual falchion swords away.  However, her face quickly shifted to a frown as she looked at Metcalf’s exhausted eyes, “You alright?”  She motioned, inviting Metcalf into her apartment.

“I’m sorry Master Fu but,” Metcalf tried and failed to hold back a yawn as she walked in, “tired.”

“Yah,” Insula said seeming even more like a teenager especially wearing her cloth training gear, “I’d be tired too if I stayed up all night training in the cold.”  The door closed behind them as they kept walking into the apartment.

Metcalf nodded in agreement.  She was sorry about her thoughtlessness but then thought again.  How did Master Fu know?

“Cameras,” Insula said catching Metcalf’s questioning eyes, “We keep track of people of interest.”

As she was absorbed by the couch, Metcalf had a chance to look at the room again.  Only now, she saw that the Master of the Stream Quarter had planned a good prank on her.  Completely remodeling the room was a good trick to surprise her.  Then she used a stealth attack.  A plan like that would take a good deal of effort to pull off.  She did it for her to show what could be done.  “I’m sorry.  I lost track of time.”

“Don’t worry,” Insula said, “get some sleep.”

Needing no more invitation.  Metcalf sunk into the couch and went immediately to sleep.

#1 – Lost and Found #21 – Lost and Found #23

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #21

Glory City Palace: Master Insula Fu’s Quarters

“Well, seems you got a hint of bad luck,” Master Fu said giggling as she took a sip of tea.  Sitting at her window, she leaned back and looked out at the traffic.  The sun was just beginning to set.  She liked watching the distant red and white lights move in different directions.

Insula Fu was usually willing to help a student in need but Metcalf’s issue was beyond her.  “Sure, your friends can help you study.  They should help you,” she said thinking.  She turned to Metcalf and lowered her voice almost to a whisper, “I think you’ll need it.”  Then in her commanding voice she finished, “Still, I can’t tell you anything about the Final.”

“Yes ma’am,” Metcalf replied politely, “I understand that.  I was just hoping to learn something about stealth tactics while I prepare for the Final.”  Metcalf stood in the middle of Master Fu’s living quarters trembling slightly.

The Quarter Masters apartment was quite clean, the only clutter being near apparent work areas.  Two matching broad bladed falchion swords were displayed above the main book shelf that took over the main wall.  The shelf was completely filled with books.  There were also several inviting chairs and a couch in the center of the room.  Metcalf remained standing because she was not yet invited to sit.

She had to remember etiquette and rank around the Stream Quarters Master.  Master Fu was easy going towards everyone but would easily become upset if Metcalf addressed her lightly.  She was a Founder and deserved her respect.

The respect went beyond the principal-student relationship.  Founders were a higher level of Crisho and the remnants of a great war from long ago.  Students at the academy were selected from the rare few Commoners around the world showing promise in one of the accepted forms of energy: magnetic, thermal, mechanical, or electrical.  The most gifted of students could fumble around with a second type of energy.  Master Fu’s lineage gave her control of all four energies simultaneously.  It also gave her a very long life.

Her appearance made it particularly hard for Metcalf to remember protocol.  The visible aging of Founders slowed dramatically at about twenty years.  In effect, Insula looked nineteen but could easily be about sixty.  If it weren’t for her well known position, Metcalf would mistake her for one of her friends.  At just under five centimeters, her height didn’t aid her image.

“Oh, my mistake,” Insula replied.  She turned to see Metcalf still standing in the center of the room.  “Oh, please sit,” she said motioning for Metcalf to one of the more comfortable chairs.

Metcalf needed no more invitation and headed straight for the couch.  Insula held her hand over her tea cup.  Using her thermal skills she made the tea the perfect temperature, and then gulped down the rest of it.  Setting the cup on a table, she moved to the soft chair near the couch.

Suddenly, Insula started asking her about random things: why Metcalf wanted to learn about stealth; her favorite foods; her life on campus. They started chatting and after about twenty minutes of talking, Insula suddenly said,  “I think there could be a class before my morning preparations.”

Metcalf’s eyes opened wide at the possibility.

Seeing Metcalf’s excitement, Master Fu decided to warn her, “This class, plus what you’ll have to learn for the final will be a very difficult load.  I’ll train you like an advanced student.”

Metcalf couldn’t help but stand and bow in excitement at realizing what Master Fu was saying.  The Quarter Master was going to take the time and train her personally.  The honor was very great.  “Thank you Master Fu,” she said as she bowed.

“I had nothing to do in the mornings anyway,” Insula commented, “I’ll see you at hour five.”

“Yes ma’am.  Thank you.”  Wait, five hours after midnight?

#1 – Lost and Found #20 – Lost and Found #22

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #20

Manna raised his gloved finger, pointing quickly at the three goons to his right.  With that motion came the opening of his bell sleeved robe.  From the opening shot nine slender iron spikes.  Obeying his magnetic skills, they shot faster than the goons could see.  Before the goons knew what was happening, they were stuck.

Each four millimeter long spike had its unique target.  Targets they each hit perfectly; inside the shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the attackers’ swinging arms.  As they attacked they were instantly frozen in pain.

The spikes were covered in rust.  Manna kept them that way.  When he needed to defend himself, he wanted his attackers to remember not to take him lightly.  He wanted to cause as much pain as possible.  Following suit, he twisted them in place with a thought.  He then caused the spikes to flip upward.

The defense only took an instant.  Right after their attack began; the three had dropped their clubs and could not move.  They were trying not to cry in pain but the spikes had hit major nerves and veins.  Blood was flowing.  Rust was invading their wounds causing additional harm.  After this battle, they would need medical attention no matter what.

They could only hope that the battle ended favorably for them and soon.  They could not participate further.  In such pain, they were stuck in a position that caused the least pain.  Frozen in place they could only watch and hope that the others would finish Manna off.

The other three goons were oblivious to their comrades’ condition.  They continued their attack.  The goon that had done all the talking swung his club.  Manna deflected it easily by raising his left arm.  Instead of the cracking of bones, the goon heard the sound of vibrating steel.

Off guard as Manna parried the attack, the goon looked for another way to attack without letting go of his club.  The thick L-shaped pry bar hidden under Manna’s sleeve spun in place, hooking the weapon.  Now temporarily under Manna’s control, it moved to defend Manna from the other charging attackers.  It got in their way as Manna circled around the surprised goon.

Wasting no more time with this one, Manna did an open hand strike with his right hand.  He was too far to connect, but the thick L-shaped pry bar hidden under his right sleeve made up the difference.  The short flat portion struck the goon with full force directly in the teeth.  Amplified by magnetic force, it shattered his lips and teeth ripping his front teeth from his gums.  At that, the goon let go of his club and grabbed his mouth.

Manna’s pry bars took their correct attacking position.  He held them by the long end promising the greatest reach.  The now moaning goon landed on his back from the force of the strike.  Still holding his mouth, he started to crawl away hoping not to be a target.

The last two goons had crowbars.  As they swung, Manna used his Magnetic skills to stop the steel tools in the air.  Off balance and confused they turned to see what was happened.  At that point, their own weapons beamed their heads knocking them out.

Having mercy on the first three goons, Manna commanded the spikes to return to him.  After the initial agony, they felt the relief of freedom but realized Manna’s spikes could easily strike them again.  They took this opportunity to run away.

Manna now walked to the moaning goon.  The spikes hovered in the air alongside him by an unspoken command.  The goon crawled away perhaps hoping to prevent more injury.  When he saw Manna approaching, his eyes turned fearful.

The hovering spikes slowly approached the goon’s face.  Instead of attacking, they merely wiped themselves on his collar cleaning off most of the blood.  As they worked, Manna leaned over the goon and said, “I will convey your message to Guy as soon as I see him.”

The spikes returned to Manna’s sleeves as he walked away.  He took of his gloves and the pry bars were tucked into the back of his robe again.  He left the alley thinking about the battle that happened in the last half minute.

“I have to give Bluegill a call.”

#1 – Lost and Found #19 – Lost and Found #21