The first lessons with blades were carried out very carefully. The swords were prepared so that they were not too sharp, but it was still a challenge to ensure that a bunch of 10-year-olds came out of class with their fingers intact.
“When holding a new blade, the first step is to feel its weight. Take the sword in front of you and hold it horizontally, with the palm of one hand on the hilt and the other on the end of the blade. I don't want to see any sword pointing upwards.” - Zer's firm voice reinforced the discipline needed in this simple movement.
“Now make small, subtle up and down movements so that you can feel the volume of the sword in both hands and especially its balance. Where is it lightest? Where is most of its weight? Put the sword back on the table, write down your perceptions and move on to the sword on your right, repeating the exercise.”
Most of the apprentices had never handled a blade in this way, and the mixture of fear and delight was visible in their eyes, which were full of surprise at each sword they tested.
“This blade is so light that it feels like I'm only holding the handle!” - whispered Halene to Quel while holding a rapier in her hands.
“Wait until you get to this one. I can't even tell what's heavier, this giant handle or the blade.” - replied Quel, holding up a huge Montante-style sword.
“With that one, I'm sure Quel would break the training dummy in half.” - commented Feara to the laughter of her friends, as she scribbled something about a dagger.
“Evaluations should be written down, not spoken.” - scolded Zer in a casual tone, but directed at the trio. “Yes, Master Zer,” the three replied in unison.
Whenever she called Zer “Master”, Quel remembered the agreement they had made on the day of her initiation as an apprentice:
“From now on, little one, we're going to play a game. Whenever we're in class together, you'll play a hard-working apprentice, and I'll play a tough master. And I'm going to do everything I can to challenge you, and you're always going to prove to me that you can do better than I expect, but it's all just a big role play. After class, you can always count on my hug, okay?”
She never understood why Zer's eyes watered as he said those words. She had loved the idea of the game and to this day the agreement remained, but with each sword Quel analysed, it became harder and harder to stick to her role.
Perhaps the years of growing up in the midst of so many swordsmen, admiring the strokes and resourcefulness of the older monks and apprentices, had created such an expectation in Quel that her body was screaming for her to raise her blades high into the air and deliver a few good blows. “The right way to weigh a sword should be striking something.” - she thought.
The girl made her notes as quickly as possible to get to the next sword, until she came across a Spatha model that balanced perfectly in her flattened hands.
Quel closed her eyes to feel the weight, and it felt as if her hands were empty, how well it balanced. She moved her right fingers to the top of the handle, leaving only her thumb underneath, and the other hand holding the tip of the blade. She felt that piece of metal was part of her, and everything was one, a song in unison that reverberated throughout her body - and she had to fight with all her might not to squeeze the handle and lift it.
A nudge on her arm snapped her out of it. It was Halene trying to get the line moving, but before she let go of the sword, Quel asked:
“Master Zer, how can a sword be so balanced?”
“There are extremely skilled master blacksmiths around the world. Their ability to understand metal and transform it into these works of art is admirable. It's a lifelong craft.”
The whole class was now looking at the sword that Quel was still holding horizontally in both hands.
“This model - said Zer, pointing to the sword in Quel's hands - is the work of Master Blacksmith Melin. It took him two years to create this special Spatha, not to mention decades of studying materials to form an alloy that would give it this light effect. I had the privilege of following the construction process up close. It's his own design, as well as others he's designed himself. You'll have the chance to meet him when we visit his forge.”
“My turn!” - and Halene smiled eagerly for Quel to return the sword to the table so she could test it, but as she held it, she felt nothing different. “It's an excellent blade, but there doesn't seem to be anything special about it.”
“All the elements for the construction of a good sword - explained Master Zer - focus on its materials, the way it is forged and the skills of the blacksmith, with one exception. The last element that defines the quality of a sword is the swordsman who wields it. The right sword will be comfortable for your hands, your height and your movements.”
“That's why you're exposed to so many different types of blades during your training. As well as learning different skills, you also explore which attributes will work best for your future sword of honor. Now keep moving around.” - concluded the master.
_________
“I loved and hated this class at the same time.” - said Quel to her friends as they left the room among the other apprentices. “Isn't it awful to hold a sword without being able to swing it in the air? What an agony.”
Halene gave a discreet laugh to Feara and commented, “Didn't you notice that half the class was terrified of not dropping the sword? You've spent a lot of time around swords, Quel, not everyone is so keen to go around cutting things up, but I must confess I loved it. I didn't know swords could be such delicate objects. I can't wait for us to visit a forge.”
“That sword from Master Blacksmith Melin... do you swear you didn't find anything special about it? I think it's the most amazing sword I've ever held!” - Quel exclaimed.
“It's an excellent sword, but it was just another sword among the others for me. What did you think, Feara?”
Her friend seemed a little disconnected and replied: “I have no opinion; I was almost falling to sleep. I'll need those long notes of yours, Hal. I must have written about three words per sword, if Master Zer checks the exercise, he won't be happy.” - and finished yawning.
Quel remembered that her notes weren't very good either. “I think I'll need your notebook too, Hal. These theory classes are...complicated, aren't they, Feara?”
“Don’t even tell me about it.” - and the girl agreed, yawning again.
“Will that Spatha be your sword of honor, Quel? The one that will accompany you on all your adventures as a swordswoman around the world?” - Halene asked excitedly.
The question caught Quel off guard.
She could have said yes - that she was looking forward to seeing that blade on the day the swords of honor were chosen. Or that she hoped to be one of the apprentices to win the final tournaments and have a sword of honor forged especially for her.
But Quel had never considered leaving the Monk Village. That possibility seemed frightening, and she could only reply reticently:
“Maybe.”
The Tales of Greenfar are originally written in Portuguese. If you find any major mistakes, please be kind and let me know 🌻
🔖 New chapters every Friday!
Next chapter:
Chapter 12
The village of the swordsman monks functioned autonomously in the heart of a dense forest of tall trees. Its tradition of training the best swordfighters in the world dated back centuries and today the complex was divided into three large areas: the monastery, with temples and houses where monks and novices lived and carried out their spiritual duties; …
What has already happened in Greenfar:
Prologue: The beginning of Greenfar
Chapter 1: Alone in the forest
Chapter 2: Marks
Chapter 3: Zelas
Chapter 4: The Chosen Ones?
Chapter 5: Storms
Chapter 6: Ghraul
Chapter 7: Ramira
Chapter 8: Almost 10
Chapter 9: In the search may we remain
Chapter 10: Finally, blades.