Mihai Sala
Rookie
Dantalion#7767 - Dandy - Dante
Posts: 31 
|
Post by Mihai Sala on Feb 14, 2018 22:12:28 GMT
"It's a boy," the doctor said holding out the red child screaming and still covered in its mother's sac.
"Let me see him," the father grabbed him from the doctors grasp. The child's head bobbing as he was still unable to support it himself. "What a fine set of lungs. He will surely grow up to be a strong soldier just like his father."
The doctors took him back and cleaned him and thus Mihai's life began. His fate already decided by a single sentence. 'He will surely grow up to be a strong soldier just like his father.'
His youngest memories were of his father yelling at him. He was maybe four years old and he couldn't hold a wooden sword properly. Not to mention all he could do in his mind was swing it around randomly. He knows his father probably hit him even in those years even though he doesn't remember.
Rather he remembers more the first cut his father gave him. Straight across his left arm. He was chastised and told he should defend himself. He couldn't though. It took two hands to even begin to lift up the sword his father gave him. He was only six after all. He ended up fainting from blood loss rather than seeing a doctor immediately.
His father constantly called him weak. His words hitting the boy hard as he kept trying to please his father over and over again. Only to be beaten down, bruised and bleeding for all in their manor to see. He saw the servants pity and it made him hate being weak all the more. Yet there was nothing to do because he was weak and powerless.
Years of this abuse passed until his father was called away to duty. As a commander in the military when they called he answered. Thus Mihai was left to train by himself his only desire to impress his father when he returned. He studied his schooling and when he wasn't doing that he was in the courtyard sword in hand trying to swing it without it tumbling from his ten-year-old grasp.
His mother knew his pain. For years she hated the man and had even begun to refuse to sleep in the same bed as him. She rose to the challenge to help her son. She wanted to see her husbands face as well when he returned to find his son better in swordsmanship.
We will start his story here under the guidance of a loving mother. One who wants him to be strong and kind despite his father.
|
|
Mihai Sala
Rookie
Dantalion#7767 - Dandy - Dante
Posts: 31
|
Post by Mihai Sala on Feb 14, 2018 22:15:16 GMT
Mihai struggled to get his sword to bear. The tip arcing ever downward as he gripped the hilt tightly with two hands. His fingers turning white at the strain of just holding the sword let alone swinging it. He did a downward sweep then tried to swing it sideways to little avail as he was pulled off balance by the metal.
He caught himself his sword tip hitting the ground making him flinch. If he chipped the blade again his father would surely do more than bruise a few ribs. He was quick to inspect it making sure the blade wasn't hurt.
"Why don't we try with something smaller," a sweet and recognizable voice sounded behind him and he turned quickly to his mother. She held a rapier in her hands and another was strapped to her waist. The blade was thinner than a normal sword and kind of looked like a giant needle.
"But father doesn't consider that a sword," Mihai said uncertainly.
"It can still kill," she said taking his sword away and handing him the other one. "The technique may be different but the overall concept is the same."
"Now come at me," she smiled as she set his sword aside and drew her own. Mihai looked to the sword in his hands uncertainly but he couldn't deny the fact it was lighter and easier for him to move.
"Okay," he said gathering his courage expecting to be just as badly beaten by her as he was his father. He lunged forward feeling her tap his sword and move it away easily. The sound echoing in his ears and he closed his eyes prepared for her follow up attack. Only it never came and he peaked his eyes open only to see her sad face looking down at him.
"You shouldn't close your eyes," she reached out and patted his head even as he flinched at her touch. "I'm not your father. This is practice, not punishment. We need to show your father what a proud, strong, and brave son you are."
"Okay," he said butterflies starting in his stomach. He wasn't going to be hit and that alone made him feel relieved. He took a deep breath and backed up a few steps.
His mother watched him prepare himself again. Then he attacked and she swiped it to the side, he pulled back then tried to hit her with the side. She blocked it and wrapped her blade around to the other side and began making the sword circle together. She could see his faint smile of amusement as his sword went around in a circle unknowing how to stop it.
He was still so innocent despite his father's abuse. He never yelled or screamed or turned that abuse towards the maids. It ended with him but she didn't know if that would last. His gentle heart that took all the abuse given to it without a complaint.
"What now," he asked looking at her with questioning eyes. Normally he would never talk while training let alone ask questions. His father always told him to figure it out. This was his mother though and he felt it was safe.
"Well, when it gets like this. You," she changed the angle slightly and pulled up as she thrust out disarming the boy. Much to his shock and dismay as he watched the sword clatter to the ground. His sad look as he stared at the sword on the ground was enough to make her chuckle. "I'm sorry dear but right now you looked like a sad little puppy."
She picked it up handing it back to him. She took her finger to his red cheeks as he held back tears. Then she kissed his forehead. "Shh, it's okay. You just have to learn is all. That is where practice comes in, right?"
"Right," he said a little put out but her kindness while teaching him made him happy. This feeling was unlike anything he had when his father taught him. He actually wanted to learn for once. "Will you teach me?"
"Of course dear. As long as I can," she said knowing his father would return in a few months. She stood and their practice began again this time with him trying to disarm her.
|
|
Mihai Sala
Rookie
Dantalion#7767 - Dandy - Dante
Posts: 31
|
Post by Mihai Sala on Feb 14, 2018 22:15:52 GMT
"Again," said the panting boy. His arms shook and he didn't want the training to end. They had gotten word his father was returning after six months away. He didn't want him to return and he wanted the days to last forever so he never would. He didn't care if he had to be tired or ready to collapse he just wanted to stay like this with his mother.
His mother understood his feelings all too well. She held her rounded belly and shook her head. "That's enough for today. You need a shower before dinner dear. Let's go freshen up."
"But I'm not better," Mihai practically shouted. "I can't even land a hit on you, a woman."
"Do you want to hit your mother," she said frowning. The boy becoming lost for words at her anger. "Do you want to become your father?"
"No," he said his voice wavering with held back tears. He said something he shouldn't have. He was sorry but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Whenever his father was angry the word sorry just made it worse. And though in these six months she never once laid a hand on him he felt this sense that she would.
She reached out to guide him inside, watching him shy away his body shaking. His fear apparent and her sorrow deepening. Her husband abused him so and even her gentle touches could make the boy flinch in an unseen pain. It would only get worse she thought as she felt her churning belly again. The son in her belly a new and ripe victim when he was old enough.
She wanted to take her children and run. Her cicisbeo and them going to another country and starting over. She grabbed his head refusing to let him back away farther as she pulled him into a hug. His head coming up to her elbow as she squeezed him tightly not wanting this moments reprieve from his father to end either.
"Always be a good kind man," she said giving a small smile. "You have endured a lot and you'll endure even more. I'm sorry. I can't help you or stand up to him. I can't do anything but call the doctor when you need him."
She wanted to run but her husband was military. Her father and him were good friends and in the end, a man who worked as a gardener couldn't make them enough money to run away and live comfortably. She hated this place but it kept food in their bellies and a roof over their head. They wanted for nothing except the lack of pain.
Mihai didn't understand fully why she couldn't do anything. Yet he understood the fear of his father. He felt that was the reason she couldn't intervene when he wanted her to. She was scared of him as well and he definitely wouldn't mind hitting her too. He didn't want to see her hurt.
"It's okay, I understand," he said hugging her back. The gesture bringing tears to her eyes. This young boy so kind to even accept the fact no one will stand up for him. She felt all the more terrible for allowing this to happen.
"Go get washed up for dinner," she said rubbing his red cheek just the faintest hints of overflowed tears on them. He nodded and pulled away rushing inside and out of sight. Leaving her to hold her belly and hope the man came back too injured to actually do anything.
|
|
Mihai Sala
Rookie
Dantalion#7767 - Dandy - Dante
Posts: 31
|
Post by Mihai Sala on Feb 15, 2018 15:30:51 GMT
The door opened and his heart beat faster. Not out of excitement but fear as the tall man entered the home. The butler stepping up to take his overcoat to be washed and hanged.
"Welcome home," the boy's voice echoed in his ears and the sound of his own mothers greeting overlapping his. He raised his bowed head to see his father staring at him.
"I expect you not to have slacked while I was away," his voice rumbled like thunder and his mustache curved ever downward giving the already frowning man a permanent look of anger. Short blond hair adorned his head and glaring blue eyes locked themselves onto his family.
"I practiced every day," Mihai responded to his father.
"Today I'll relax and watch you. Tomorrow we train together again," the man walked straight past him and that was that.
He clenched his hands as dread set in. His mother had been teaching him more with the rapier than his sword. Once his father realized it there was no going back. He looked back at his mother as she left the hallway her face like still water. He couldn't ask her what to do. He was good with the rapier now though and probably better at it than with his real sword. Maybe if his father saw that he'd be okay with it.
The day started passing agonizingly slowly as he anxiously awaited the moment for practice. He even went out a half hour early for it. His stomach churning as he fingered the needle-like sword he had grown to like. He gave it a few swings trying to get time to pass by faster as the promised time came.
"What is that," the voice boomed and the boy froze like he had been shot. "That is not a real sword boy!"
"It can still kill," his voice was almost a whisper. His desire to face his father and convince him it was a good practice disappearing in an instant.
"Speak up, you're a man aren't you," he was walking over and it took all his strength to not just run.
"It can still kill," his voice was louder but the resolve weak.
"Can it now," the venom in his voice was not to be messed with. The man unsheathed his own sword. "Go on try and kill me then."
Mihai paused his resolve already having fled. His eyes watered slightly and he rushed forward. The blade aimed to pierce him right above the hip. In an instant the sword was gone, his hands were numb and the sound of gravel against metal greeted his ears.
"You dumb ass," the man bellowed. Using the flat of his blade he slapped the boy right across the face. On the ground now his face aching he threw his arms above his head and huddled there back up.
"Did you learn nothing," he yelled and the flat of his blade hit the boys back. His wind going out of him as he felt the searing pain. Again and again, the blade hit him it's edges digging in with some of the hits tearing his shirt and staining it red. All the while words of anger ringing in his ears.
By the time it was over it felt like he hadn't heard a word. The world was numb just like his body. He was kicked over on his side and told to stand. He did so instinctively the pain from his body nothing but a dull ache that would grow painful again as he regained his senses. He didn't even hear the question spoken to him at the end.
"Yes, father," the words came out automatically.
"AS for you," the man pointed to his wife. "I know you taught him this. If you weren't about to give me another son I'd be laying you out on the ground as well."
She stood strong despite his poisonous words. He passed her and went back inside without another word. There was nothing to say between them.
Rather she looked to her son apologetically as he stood there head hanging low. The bruise on his face already forming and taking up half of it. She turned on her heel and went in to call the doctor once more.
|
|
