A crisp, early morning woke the siren. She had slept in a tree not far from a group of buildings. The previous day's observations led her to believe it was an academy of some sort. Military most likely; Eaire was quite amused and astonished when she was able to enter the building freely. No one had come to stop the blind elf that walked down the halls as if she could see.

Some who watched her could have said she was on a mission. Perhaps Eaire was; she wanted a weapon and she wanted a spar. A clumsy student had come before her, methodically dropping items. Eaire simply followed the clatter until she came across the armory. It was a vast room, no doubt. The echoes sketched pictures in her mind, and her feet confirmed them. The siren ran her hands over the weapons. There were the axes, short and stout. Then the spears, the tridents, the bows and daggers. Eaire passed all of them until her fingers ran across the glossy, familiar edge of a sword.

A faint smile lit her face as she pulled it from the wrack. The blade curved, no doubt beautifully. Any sword was beautiful to a kensai but this one had a sense of deadliness that captivated her. With her hands as a guiding force, the sword rose in a near perfect curve, both quick and elegant yet with purposeful grace. Its ring was nigh perfect. Eaire's smile grew.

Feeling properly equipped now, Eaire found her way out of the room with the sword tucked firmly in the crook of her arm. A bloody bandit on the road who didn't know not to attack a siren had stolen her last sword. No one would steal this sword. Assessing her thoughts, Eaire knew this sword was worth keeping; the kensai had already bonded with it.

Eaire continued down the hall. Having mapped this out on her way up, Eaire needed no guidance. She knew the way out just fine. Eaire had lost her sight nearly fifteen years ago and was quite accustomed to the darkness. She let her ears, her feet and her sensitivity to vibration guide her. She passed through a set of doors and suddenly felt hard earth on her feet. All around her there were shouts of young men and ringing metal. An arena perhaps. Eaire moved off to the side, holding her hand out until the palm touched the cool surface of the building. Then, using that as a guide, Eaire walked around until her knees hit a bench. Cautiously, Eaire sat and listened.

*Walking the halls of the academy, just scanning every room to see how students were doing, he had noticed that the door to the armory was open.* Here we go again, another student who can't learn to close the door after grabbing their appropriate gear...something seems wrong here.

*He looked around, scanning each weapon and piece of armor. He noticed that there were fingerprints on the weapons he had just polished, then noticed one of his more favorite weapons was missing. He gritted his teeth and looked around the quarters more intently for any new faces.

After a few minutes of searching, he a woman walking to the outdoor arena with the sword that was missing in her hand. He was quite irritated, but figured it was better than her trying to leave with it. He broke into a run towards the arena.

When he reached outside, students acknowledged his presence with nods and waves. He smiled falsely and waved his hand to them all, then walked over to the woman who held the newly polished blade in her hands.*

Excuse me miss, but I'm afraid to inform you that you cannot just go around taking weapons without permission. Now I'm going to ask you either to hand over the sword, or if you don't want to hand it over, you'll have to prove that you're worthy of such a fine weapon.

"I beg your pardon?" Eaire turned her blind gaze toward the voice that had spoken to her, as she sat awaiting a free arena. "Is that not what they are there for?" The kensai was not about to hand over her sword, now that she had become so accostumed to it. Instead she held her gaze steady and gathered every shred of information that was possible.

"Indeed this is a fine weapon," Eaire then said after a moment of brief silence. "I have not practiced in many weeks and I'm sure I wouldn't fare much well against any," It was not a concession, nor a challenge. She held the sword firmly against her with her fingers burning on the hilt from the grip. She could feel the weight of the sword against her palm, the balance of the blade and the fine tune that the weapon carried. It was a fine weapon, indeed.

"But perhaps... if you could guide me to an open arena I would be more than happy to show my worth. I believe there is one over there?" Eaire gestured her hands faintly in a direction where she no longer heard the ring of metal resounding. It didn't sound too far away, for most of the other ringing had stopped as well, as if people were finished... or staring. Eaire didn't know which, nor did she care to.

The kensai stood silent then, awaiting an answer and still trying to piece together the setting and the atmosphere. The man sounded irritated that she had taken the sword and Eaire thought about why. She looked straight ahead in his direction, un-self-conscious of the scars across her face. Surely if what she heard in his voice was true, then he was a reasonable person. Then again, Eaire could have be seriously misjudging the person before her.

((eeks, sorry for taking so long...))

*He was going to dismiss her from the academy and take the sword back untill he saw how sincere she was about training. He shrugged and offered his hand.* Sure, I can lead you to the area that just opened up. I am more than eager to see how you fare. Again like I said, prove your worth with that sword and I will have no problems training you myself.

*When he said that, the students gasped and started whispering. Never was an outsider given the chance to train under him, and not many of the students found this fair.* Mr. Takamura, are you sure you can trust her? I mean she just came in here and took a sword from our armory without even asking for it, and now you're going to train her? *one of the students in the crowd asked*

Yes, that is exactly what I plan to do. Her intentions seem pure, so I have no problems giving her what she has requested. If any have any problems...well keep them to yourself. *His hand still outstretched to the lady.* Shall we commence?

Sounds cascaded into her ears from every direction as Eaire silently listened to every whisper that played upon the wind. She knew their doubts, knew the reasons for their doubts, and was neither surprised nor offended by any of them. Inface, the psion actually allowed a small, almost timid smile to spring her lips into a curve.

She reached for where she knew his hand to be now and allowed herself to be guided to an open arena. Her feet felt out the ground beneath the leather of her boots as it changed from soft and grassy to hard packed earth. All at once new sounds and smells fell about her and Eaire curiously began picking them out while reorientating herself. There was enough about for her to know her surroundings though foreign they were.

The sword fell from her grasp under her arm into her grip with the tip down, hovering over the ground. It was an easy clutch that allowed her fingers open for manuevering and at the same time firm enough that one would have to be strong to pull it away. Eaire shifted to both feet and her balance evened out. She waited patiently, listening to the sound of boots upon the earth and the rustle of fabric from those nearby. The glances from those around her seemed like small beams of energy that which she was acutely aware of. Suddenly there was a flash of unknowing in her mind and Eaire frowned. "Mr. Takamura," she said, imitating the pronunciation of the student who had called his name. "What is in the far left corner of the arena?"

*As they reached the open arena, he let go of her hand and drew his sword. Twirling it around for kicks, he popped the sword into the air, the blade spinning and singing in the air before the tip slammed into the ground, the blade less than a quarter in the ground. Smirking, he looked towards the far left corner of the arena and saw nothing out of the ordinary* It's just dirt, grass, and a tree...unless I'm overlooking something.

*This girl may be a challenge to teach he thought to himself, for being a blind fighter is no easier than fighting with only one arm. Another challenge he had to overcome and yet another challenge he will be determined to succeed.* We shall begin your training as soon as you're ready