[As soon as he says that, a flash of light that comes from the sheet music engulfs everything in sight-- when it recedes, Shu finds himself watching a different scene. It's night-time at the square--
“And now, outside of the original plan, we have a duel between Zink, our head man-at-arms, and the carver…er, the swordsman Eugeo! You are not to lower your opponent’s life through direct strikes. Is that understood?!”
Zink, a young man about Sol's age loudly draws his sword from his waist, and, a bit later, Sol reluctantly draws his. His sword is blue and beautiful, and it's easy to tell it's not a normal weapon. In fact, the villagers gasp.
Zink seems to be overwhelmed by the aura of the sword. His head tilts back briefly before he regains his posture. With an even more hateful glare than before, the young guard jabs a finger at Sol and says “Does that sword really belong to you, Eugeo?! If it’s borrowed, I have the right to force you to use a different—”
Sol interrupts with righteous fury. “I got this sword in the northern cave, so it belongs to me now!”
The crowd murmurs, and Zink seems to be at a loss for words. But he doesn't push the issue any further. He spits into his palms and holds his sword up high. Sol, meanwhile, holds his blade perfectly still at eye level, draws his left side back, and crouches.
The villagers watch in silence as the big man Shu saw overseeing the preparations raises his hand high, then brings it down as he commands, “Begin!”
“Raaaah!!”
Zink is the first to charge. He bellows and races forward to deliver a vertical slice from overhead.
But then, his sword changes directions in midair, and he goes from an overhead swing down to a sideways swipe from the right.
“Y-yaaaah!!”
The shout is rather inferior to Zink’s, but Sol expertly sets his sword at the right shoulder. The blade glows deep blue. He makes one earth-shaking stomp and slices at a sharp forty-five-degree arc. Sol’s attack, which comes out a single pulse later, shoots forward with lightning speed, striking Zink’s sideways swing from above. The guard's steel blade shatters miserably.
The villagers marvel and applaud the flashy and unexpected conclusion. Zink and a man who seems to be his father retreat in stunned disbelief, and the music starts up again.
There is another flash of light-- and now Shu will find himself back in the main square, where he was. Except now, the light of day is gone! The main square is extremely crowded, and everyone is chanting something-- it seems to be a prayer.
The fiddler is gesturing wildly at Shu to get up onstage, even as she prays.]
Imagination: When he looks down at the sheet music again, Shu will find that everything arranges itself in front of his eyes so that it makes sense for him, and he can hear the music in his head, as well as the lyrics, when he looks at the paper! It's an uptempo folk song about the Stacia, the Goddess of Life, with witty references to the Taboo Index. Every repetition ends with the same lyrics, something about the greatest blessing being that of rest days because then people can drink and dance all night "and that is Life for me!" It's that sort of song, it might belong in a tavern but even the witty parts are absolutely innocent in their intent.
Shu will be able to sing this song perfectly and even if he changes the words, everyone will love it (as long as he doesn't contradict the Taboo Index), because I once again botched the roll to make things hard for people. Nadeko is bad.
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“And now, outside of the original plan, we have a duel between Zink, our head man-at-arms, and the carver…er, the swordsman Eugeo! You are not to lower your opponent’s life through direct strikes. Is that understood?!”
Zink, a young man about Sol's age loudly draws his sword from his waist, and, a bit later, Sol reluctantly draws his. His sword is blue and beautiful, and it's easy to tell it's not a normal weapon. In fact, the villagers gasp.
Zink seems to be overwhelmed by the aura of the sword. His head tilts back briefly before he regains his posture. With an even more hateful glare than before, the young guard jabs a finger at Sol and says “Does that sword really belong to you, Eugeo?! If it’s borrowed, I have the right to force you to use a different—”
Sol interrupts with righteous fury. “I got this sword in the northern cave, so it belongs to me now!”
The crowd murmurs, and Zink seems to be at a loss for words. But he doesn't push the issue any further. He spits into his palms and holds his sword up high. Sol, meanwhile, holds his blade perfectly still at eye level, draws his left side back, and crouches.
The villagers watch in silence as the big man Shu saw overseeing the preparations raises his hand high, then brings it down as he commands, “Begin!”
“Raaaah!!”
Zink is the first to charge. He bellows and races forward to deliver a vertical slice from overhead.
But then, his sword changes directions in midair, and he goes from an overhead swing down to a sideways swipe from the right.
“Y-yaaaah!!”
The shout is rather inferior to Zink’s, but Sol expertly sets his sword at the right shoulder. The blade glows deep blue. He makes one earth-shaking stomp and slices at a sharp forty-five-degree arc. Sol’s attack, which comes out a single pulse later, shoots forward with lightning speed, striking Zink’s sideways swing from above. The guard's steel blade shatters miserably.
The villagers marvel and applaud the flashy and unexpected conclusion. Zink and a man who seems to be his father retreat in stunned disbelief, and the music starts up again.
There is another flash of light-- and now Shu will find himself back in the main square, where he was. Except now, the light of day is gone! The main square is extremely crowded, and everyone is chanting something-- it seems to be a prayer.
The fiddler is gesturing wildly at Shu to get up onstage, even as she prays.]
Shu will be able to sing this song perfectly and even if he changes the words, everyone will love it (as long as he doesn't contradict the Taboo Index), because I once again botched the roll to make things hard for people. Nadeko is bad.
Every flower in the village disappears.