Condenscension

Chapter 1

The rain poured down onto the soil outside the old mansion located on the hill, high above the rest of the small town. Shane Exoustien held his sword at his side loosely as the blood ran down his arm, dripping onto the blade of his weapon. Sadly, none of the blood on the blade was his opponents. Instead, when he went for the strike against his seemingly unguarded opponent, he hit him with a strike of his blade, which he had swiftly, drew from its sheath. He had heard of the rogue warrior using the death blow sword style, but had never actually thought he existed. He was paying for his mistake now; holding the sword was taking up all his energy in his utterly destroyed arm.

The swordsmen once again moved as lightning, drawing his blade once again from its sheath. Shane was ready for this strike however, and quickly raised his sword with his good arm. The sound of metal clashing rang through the air as Shane’s foe’s blow glanced off Shane’s weapon. “Now’s your chance.” Shane urged himself as he leapt at his staggered opponent and made a vertical slash at him. The Rogue quickly rolled out of the way from the attack, and struck Shane’s remaining arm, cutting deep into it. Shane was now all but defenseless, as he quickly dodged another attack that would have removed his head completely. Once again, he and his opponent stopped, Shane had no idea what his opponent was doing, but he welcomed the short rest to plan his next move. Little did Shane know, his opponent was sizing him up. He watched this boy fight back against him, even best him once or twice. The Rogue smiled as he again sheathed his sword, but no strike followed this time. Instead, the man stood up, and began to walk away. Shane stared as the Rogue walked towards the gate of the old mansion.

As much as it pained him, Shane let the Rogue leave. He was greatly injured, and while he still had great defensive technique, with offense negated, he found himself in a loosing battle. “Why did he just walk away?” Shane thought. “He had me beaten.” He fell to his knees as the rain continued it’s soft pitter-patter around him. What seemed like decades was only mere seconds as a group of hands wrapped around his waist, and he was lifted into the air.

“I swear to you, your father will here about this when he returns.” The old butler threatened as he pulled Shane towards the old mansion. The mansion of Erick Exoustien, the greatest Samurai in all of Britain. No doubt the Rogue had come seeking Shane’s father, in an attempt to face him in a duel and take the title of champion for himself. Unfortunately, Shane’s father wasn’t there, and when the Rogue muddied his family’s name, Shane struck out in anger. Now he was in this predicament, beaten and bloodied. He felt himself laid down onto a bed, a welcome feeling, as the fight had exhausted him. The butler moved from the room, going to find his mother, leaving Shane alone.

He lay, thinking of what he had just witnessed. He shouldn’t be alive he should be dead. Why had he left him living? Shane continued to think hard on this until he eventually fell into a deep sleep.