"I'm only watching." Ryan joins us on our walk. He didn't agree to test. He knows it's beyond him yet.
My strikes are good enough, but I don't know if they only look good enough. "Jessica gets to go first." I motion to my friend.
Hydrangea grins at me. "Being a gentleman, huh?"
"No? She requested it first. I'm more of a tag along. I would wait a bit longer before asking if she didn't ask already."
Hydrangea seems to understand the meaning. "Let's go Jessica."
I sit down next to Ryan as Jessica shows Hydrangea the strikes in open air first. With Hydrangea's approval, a sheet of paper comes out. It truly is just a sheet of paper. The blade is dull, though. Slicing paper with a dull blade?
The fact Jessica just uses a downward strike to slice the paper in half? That's impressive. All Hydrangea did was hold it for her. It looks easy even. It doesn't sound easy. But Jessica made it clear, confidence in your abilities should be enough. This isn't meant to be hard.
"It sounds easier after watching her do it." Ryan whispers. I nod.
We watch as Hydrangea has Jessica show off every strike against the paper. She's not successful with all of the strikes. Some the paper was just ripped out of Hydrangea's hands. Others left the paper not sliced, but ripped apart. Neither of those would be considered passing. This is knowledge. And proof of Jessica's skill level. We've only been here a few days.
"Next." Hydrangea calls out. Jessica high fives me in passing. She'll be off to see the swordsmith once my test ends. Let's see if I can join her.
I step up to Hydrangea. I give her a bow before claiming space. I can offer strike that look good. I've been practicing this more than others realize. It was something I was allowed to do. Although not with a sword. The strikes just line up nicely with various rituals I was taught.
"Someone's been practicing."
I smirk at her. With the final strike, I slice my sword away. "So?"
"Let's try the paper. You didn't quite have Jessica's smoothness, but I can see why you requested to try." Hydrangea holds up the paper in front of me. We're in the arena in case I manage to slice her instead of the paper. I could imagine someone not ready for this doing such. Or if someone ready got distracted during. If you're not used to certain activities, this would be more difficult. I'm very used to a crowd, heckling, and various distractions. What else would a crown prince have to deal with?
I exhale focusing on what I need to do. The paper isn't a real enemy. I just need to hit it right for the sword to be sharp enough. It's not so much sharpness, but speed and angle. If my angles were wrong for my rituals, I wouldn't be able to handle them. And speed is just something you increase as you go normally.
Confidence. Confidence in myself. Confidence that Hydrangea won't move the paper or make things harder on me. Confidence.
I lift my sword up. A downstrike would be the easiest because gravity helps. I won't have to help gravity for the angling. My body would naturally want to use a downstrike. This is the perfect strike to use. To succeed at.
I hold my sword a loft for a moment before letting the movement take the sword down and through the paper. Seeing the sliced sheet has me shocked actually. I didn't think I'd manage such a feat so quickly.
Hydrangea holds up the two pieces of paper. I cut it in half. Like I'm supposed to. "A dull blade is still a blade. Angle and speed really increases it's chances of damage. Some monsters will make your sword feel dull or dull your blade while fighting. Always remember that angle and speed are important."
"I'll also aim to keep my weapon sharp." I wait for her to hold up another piece. If I just don't injury Hydrangea during this test, I'll consider it good enough. In many cases that's all you need: good enough. Slicing one piece of paper makes you good enough to move on.
I wince when I didn't succeed at my basic wish. Hydrangea shakes out her hand as the welt heals. The blood left will need to be cleaned off soon too. But the healing of the arena will allow her to continue. I whisper an apology while continuing my test. She knew what could happen. That's why we're here.
Finishing my strikes has Hydrangea step back. She calls Jessica to my side. "Impressive, kids. You pass the first swords test. It will not be the last. But we can move on to showing you upkeep on the sword." She looks to Ryan near us. "You cannot join us. I expect you finish within the week, Ryan. Prove yourself."
"I can't compare to them. They're aiming for all the weapons. I'll be happy with a few." Ryan rolls his eyes and heads out of the arena.
Hydrangea waits for him to leave us before walking us to a far door. "The swordsmith currently working out of the halls is Adam White."
"A White?"
"Yes. He's the unmarried one." Hydrangea offers. I don't know all my nobles and it seems I really should. Perhaps I need to get a few books for study myself. She stops at the door to the smithy shop. It's empty. "Stay here a moment. I need to find him." She walks off.
I lean against the wall to the shop. We weren't told to go inside. I can guess a few reasons why. "How long before we get our own weapons?"
"Within the training period. That's the normal if you succeed at this test within a week of entering. That's why Ryan was told that. We should be qualifying for our own personal swords." Jessica knows things.
I only nod at the new information. Will the knights offer me a specialty sword or will the royals? I close my eyes recalling the various weapons my father has about. Many were specialty made for him. Because he was successful with something.
Jessica taps my shoulder. I look to her. "Looks like people are rushing to somewhere."
"Think it's a problem?" I watch as a knight quickly moves near us. "They're not bothering us."
Jessica frowns a moment. She grunts. "Let's go see."
I nod. We'll get our chance to meet the swordsmith soon. We did pass. That was the requirement. Whatever is happening is probably getting Hydrangea involved. It's probably a situation a golden red would need to be involved with.