the_campus | ANNOUNCEMENT 005

[Interesting... Henry's expression is fierce and the non-existent opponent he's facing would surely have been torn to shreds by now. It's less like watching someone wield a weapon than it is seeing natural movements. How long has it been since he's seen anyone wield such a thing?]

Don't you usually need an opponent to do that?

A real opponent certainly helps, but lacking that, this is enough of a way to practice or work off some anger.

[Henry gives a final parry, then turns around, planting his sword blade-first into the ground and leaning on the hilt. He's definitely worked up a sweat and is breathing a bit faster, but he's far from exhausted himself.]

Good afternoon, Spirit.

[He lifts his hand in an idle wave, an amused look on his face.]

Heh heh... Your physical endurance must be quite high! You don't even look honestly tired. It's too bad... I'd like to see how you held up against a real person.

I've marched alongside my army, fought in wars right by the soldiers, and dueled very often for sport, for honor, and for survival. If I didn't have such an endurance, I would have been left behind long ago.

[Henry laughs a little at that, leaning forward on the sword more.]

You're welcome to try and spar with me, if you like. I brought a spare sword I found here to test the make and challenge myself a little.

[Bakura just stares at him.]

I don't know how to use a sword. At least not like you. The most I can do is use it like a bar.

A pity. It's quite good for keeping in shape.

[He stretches out a little, letting his back pop and rolling his shoulder a bit.]

Swing like a bar or not, you're still welcome to try it. If for nothing else than to work the kinks out of your body some.

Heh... this body could probably benefit from it. Fine, then! I'll take you on. It's not like I've any reason to be concerned.

[Striding over, he settles himself in front of Henry.]

[Henry leaves his sword where it is for the moment, fetching the one he left against the tree. It's Ryou's sword, in fact; Henry had been telling the truth about testing the blade and challenging himself, but it almost feels like fate that the Spirit is coming to see about it.

He wonders just how much Ryou has managed to hide so far.

Bringing it over, Henry offers it, sheath and all.]

See how that feels in your hands. I'll adjust your grip as needed.

Hoh? You really were prepared...

[He takes it from him, grasping the hilt and unsheathing it. It's an eerie feeling. For a moment he pauses, feeling the weight of it dubiously. It might seem like he's a little thrown-off, but it's not because it feels familiar. It doesn't, not really.

It's because the weight of it is odd.

Comfortable, even. Like Henry just happened to pick a weapon that he could lift well. He doesn't know much about swords, but he knows they come in different weights. A vague memory occurs to him.

I don't need useless things like this! a voice seems to call in his memories, and he vaguely remembers tossing something aside. That's right... he's always been more comfortable with short weapons or long-range projectiles than with swords. That's why he never bothered to learn before.]

Heh... like I expected, it's totally different from holding the types of blades I know.

[The way he holds it is entirely amateur.]

But I'm surprised... the weight seems pretty easy to handle. You must have a similar type of tolerance to me, even with your higher strength.

Hah!

[Despite the bark of the laugh, Henry sounds good-naturedly amused rather than mocking. He nods at the blade in the ground.]

Try lifting my sword and then say that.

...?

[He does - and lifts it with some effort, despite Ryou's body probably having been unable to normally. It's obviously uncomfortable to him though, and he lets it sink back down again.]

Eh?! That's so much heavier... But then, why does this other sword have such a good weight for me? It seems odd... Though I don't know much about swords, it feels strange for you to have a sword that just happens to be easily usable for someone else.

Or were you planning to give it to someone later, once you've tested it?

[Henry's face remains the same as ever, but inside there's a wide grin. Bakura doesn't recognize it. That's a very, very good sign.]

Ryou had wanted to exert himself, so I had been thinking of at least showing him the basics so he could spar with the air. Even if it's not polished, it's still exercise, isn't it?

I'm surprised the one I picked up felt so comfortable, admittedly. Perhaps I had a bit of help with that... but either way, I'll be sure to pass it onto him later on.

[Henry moves over, adjusting Bakura's hands once he grips the smaller sword again.]

Here. You space your hands like this.

[He scoffs a little, taking the bait. Right, as if Ryou could ever learn to fight...]

That idiot would probably stab himself in the foot if he tried. It might be better not to teach him something like that... Anything that puts him in range of something sharp sounds like a bad idea. Why do you think I always take the dagger away before I let him out on his own? Even if he never takes it out of the sheath, he'd probably find a way to hurt himself on it.

[Huh, so that's how you hold it... Interesting. Though his grip is confident, there's no skill in it at all. He's just mimicking what Henry's suggesting.]

Huh... Weapons this long are pretty awkward, huh? Even holding it like this is strange.

[Oh Bakura. If only you could see into Henry's head.]

He does seem a bit... clumsy at times. Perhaps I should think on this a bit more.

[His voice is affectionate, a father teasing his son. He picks up his own sword, taking a few paces away and turning to face Bakura.]

First, let's see if you have any natural talent. Come at me!

'Natural talent'? Who do you think you're talking to?

[Heh. Of course... like all humans, he can't commit to something easily.

Lifting the blade, he handles it more like a long knife than a sword.]

I'll do my best!

[And with that said, he strikes out at him, unhesitatingly. He may not be skilled, but there's force behind the blade, and his balance is fairly natural - if a little thrown-off by the longer weight. He has the potential to be good, if he bothered to try, but it's clear he's never bothered with it before.]

[Henry doesn't reply to that, eyes suddenly sharp and cold as he watches the swing. His own blade snaps out, parrying the strike fluidly and in a way that makes it almost seem easy. The force does send a slight shock through the metal, enough to make Henry take notice...]

Not too bad. Sloppy and rough, with holes, but you've handled a blade besides a knife before.

[He doesn't attempt to strike back.]

[Impressive... his own eyes narrow at that, but not with malice. Compared to him, this man has much more experience.]

Ore-sama?

[He laughs a little.]

If I've wielded a sword, it was probably before I lost my memories. There wouldn't be anywhere near the level of skill you know of behind it. After all, I've seen those blades. They're made for quick kills rather than defensive or long-lasting battles.

[His arm aches from the parrying.]

What's the hold-up?

The body can remember what the mind forgets... and it seems the soul can remember what both the mind did and the body doesn't know. That's an interesting bit of information, I must admit...

[Henry tilts his head.]

I'm waiting on your strikes, Spirit.

Then you just plan to defend? How boring... Fine, then! But you better give your all to defending, if that's what you plan to do.

[Drawing back, he attacks again, from a different angle this time. Striking from higher, the weapon no less forceful, but little more skilled than before. What Henry said about holes has been acknowledged; he's trying not to leave himself open in the strike, even if Henry's waiting.]

Did you know about the three parts of the soul? It's only natural! If my personality was passed on, my memories are still there too. I just can't access them.

[His all to defending? Henry quirks an eyebrow, a cold grin crossing his face even as Bakura strikes. Rather than parrying, he swings his sword up in a way to block it. His position shifts forward and to the side, almost as if he's trying to side-step the blade...

And then his foot steps between Bakura's legs and he pulls it outwards as he finishes the shift, intention on yanking it out from under him and send him to the dirt. If it works... well, Bakura will find a blade dangerously close to his throat.]

I wasn't aware souls came in parts.

-!

[He hit the floor in surprise, freezing at the blade against his throat. Despite the coldness in Henry's expression, he's not afraid. Henry wouldn't destroy his host over something like this. Still, it's impressive.]

...heh.

[His lips twitch into a grin and he bursts into peals of laughter that seem to come out of nowhere to suddenly fill the air.]

You're tricky, as I expected! I'm glad. Heheh... but it's true. I'll tell you, if you want.

[Lifting his own sword, he uses it to try to push the blade away from his throat.]

[Henry moves the blade at the push, taking a few steps back to position himself again.]

You told me to put my all into it, didn't you? Sometimes, you have to a bit tricky to stop a duel quickly... or without a death.

[He casually shifts his grip on his sword, nodding a bit.]

I would like to know, yes.

[Climbing to his feet, he adjusts the sword in his hand, trying to remember how Henry told him to hold it.]

Heh heh... I don't like people going easy on me, so I appreciate it. Even if I get beaten into the ground, I'd rather you kept doing your best.

The soul is divided into three parts. There's the 'ka', which is a reflection of one's true nature and resides forever in what could be considered a mirror world. The other two parts are held within the body. You might not consider them both parts of the soul, but they are regardless.

The part held within the Ring is my 'akh', which permanently resides within the body normally. The 'akh' contains all of the personality and memories, everything that makes a person into a person. It's the 'true self' that all people hold!

[This time, he tries to keep aware of where his feet are as he strikes out, ready to jump back at any sign of the same trick.]

I won't be beating you into the ground for the sake of your body, but I will be happy to not hold back any more than I feel necessary for that.

[The information is... strange. Egyptian ideals are certainly different, but perhaps not entirely bad so.]

And the third part?

[Henry steps back slightly, parrying the other blade to the side and moving to hit the side of Bakura's arm without burns with the flat of his sword.]

[-! Nice move... This guy really is skilled.]

That's the 'ba'. You could consider it the part of the soul that's required for 'life'. That's the part that is consumed if you've been sinful... because your soul and body will be destroyed if the 'ba' is damaged. But the 'ba' isn't tied to the body like the 'akh' is. It's essentially a life force that cannot be seen.

[This time, he doesn't give even a second's hesitation before whirling to try to knock the blade away with his own, striking up and out.]

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Incoming hovertext because I am a dork.

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