Midnight Doomsday

Chapter 1: Reunion

Danver Harbor, Artemis, April 23, 2012, 12:30 Hours

To summarize, this place is known as the defense district, Danver Harbor. A place full of brick buildings and factories. Smoke clouds the skies, ships arrive and sail away, and crowds of people are nothing short of war veterans.

One could say that this would be a "retirement home" for the veterans. Although, it's not entirely rare, more like "uncommon" to non-veterans here. This place has been known to be one of the most industrialized places in all of the country. People would train and work very hard as respect is earned.

However, through the busy streets and smoke lies a grassland behind an ex-general's weaponsmith business, who went by the name Jeremy Townsend. His business wasn't big, but better than nothing.

It was thanks to the legendary Combat Forms that weapons like swords, axes, and other melee weapons are still in use today.

Of course however, there are more people who prefer to live without them, Townsend for example. He never thought that he'd need a Combat Form to become who he was born to be. He watched as his young 16-year-old apprentice had failed to perform a specific move in one of the sessions he's been giving him.

"Wrong again." the Ex-General claimed, "You still have quite a lot to learn, Young Helmer."

Alexander Helmer, a growing man, had been practically living with the former general ever since he took him under his wing. Wasn't too far into the past as it was merely two years ago. However, nevertheless, Townsend was the closest thing Alexander had to an uncle.

The boy had been training with swords for a long time, leaving his body built from resilience, and a mind of sharpness.

"It's difficult," he defended. "I've been training for this session almost all day now at this point!"

"A lesson is pointless without pain, and repetitiveness," Townsend replies. "How do you think your father and I survived the war?"

"Good point."

Alexander sighed and then continued mastering the technique on both his right and left hands. He was ambidextrous.

To those that don't yet know what that means, being ambidextrous means that a person is capable of using both hands just as efficiently as the other. It's effectively using both hands as opposed to having a single dominant side.

In fact, being ambidextrous denotes that the brain hemispheres are symmetrical, which is something that is quite rare.

Since then, Alexander had decided to start training with two swords, learning dual wielding.

"After you master this move," Townsend calls. "We will spar soon. Will you be ready?"

"Be my guest," Alexander replied. 

Alexander wiped sweat from his forehead, beginning to feel them sting his eyes just a bit. He then drank from his bottle of water.

The young man had been known to have a bit of an...arrogance in him. And it could get him into some trouble at times. And of course, Townsend was pleased to somewhat embarrass him. And Alexander wouldn't ever be too happy to welcome it.

And soon enough, it was time to spar with his mentor.

Townsend was strict, but fair in ways. He made sure not to push his apprentice too hard, for knowing that he wouldn't be too good after that. And also, pushing a peer too hard would only push him away from his mentor, leaving a gap in their bond.