Sisters 3

An was now in a position and status to attend social events, but that society was very gender stratified. There was no in-between.

After chatting with David and Lucille, an found it easiest to present as a refined gentleman. People focused on cultivation and weapons should be either young women before marriage or men of any age.

So An went to her first society dinner in 55 years. No one knew their family around here so they could get away with claiming Lucille had a brother.

Lucille was a pro, introducing David sr, jr and An.

“My brother’s been in a Sword sect, as well as the 7th Expeditionary Army, he’s still getting reacquainted with our society.”

From that day forward An worked on his decorum, remaining a Swordsman but being a steady training partner for David sr and jr and  serving as senior cultivator of the branch when required.

For a long time he didn’t show interest in anything more. The journey to Peak Shimmering Sword cultivator was a long one, and he wasn’t often pushing himself to that utmost level.

When he met Tim, he found something uniquely familiar, someone gifted with swords who was not part of that strongly Yang style.

He began to define his An style and teach it to Tim, who was early shadow swording.

Tim’s mother was 82, just 24 years younger than An, and they became friends until something more happened years later.

An invited Tim and Julia to stay at his house. David was pleased and approved the new residents.

David Jr had started over in Swords and was now an early Iron cultivator while Sr was 1st step Shimmering.

They were a growing Mecca of Sword cultivation in the region with regular visiting swordsmen.

An had refined her style and was 13th step shimmering cultivator.

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Lucille presided over her sister-brother’s marriage to Julia. Surely her new sister-in-law knew that her husband was once an ordinary girl.

Both David senior and An were called away to a serious military confrontation at sea.

She invited Julia over often. The woman only had twenty years perhaps to live, her son would live for hundreds of years but she was not a cultivator.

The war might well keep their men for ten years.

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When David Jr was called away by the Main Family, Lucille was worried.

When he returned with An, they were carrying a casket.

“Mom, I’m being told our branch is being folded into the main one. My third cousin is marrying me.”

The woman married her son, to take control? As a widow, Lucille would only have a minor interest in the family.

“The war is still going on. Will you go show them what a polite queen of fans can really do?”

()

They took care of Tim and Julia and bought a new house that Lucille’s daughters could stay at too. The settlement with the Burroughs made Lucille an Onahni once more.

Though their styles were completely different Lucille learned a lot from how An looked at battle. She upgraded her fan throughout this period as she became a Battle Maiden in truth.

When the war was resolved, Lucille’s charismatic way and prestige got them an honored position in another city. 

Julia, Tim, An and Lucille moved to the city,

Lucille didn’t know the names of these high levels of Etiquette cultivation, but she broken through a new boundary.

As part of their assignment Lucille and An worked close to home.

Julia died at 93 years old, and Lucille counted herself proud to be family.

Life moved on, Lucille agreed to became an Elder of the Orange blossom sect and Tim began traveling with An.

“We will stay in touch.”

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An established a traveling school of Swords. Those who joined followed them as they worked on various assignments.

Tim regarded his adoptive father warmly. He had never expected the Sword cultivator to be like this.

The school settled for as six months while An prepared for Elemental Sword cultivation.

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The Orange Blossom sect’s cultivation list was more of a tree. Lucille was the most advanced combat Professor  of the sect.

Teaching combat to young ladies who might not need it was satisfying, if they did need it they really need it,

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The school grew in the decade An was in seclusion. Men and a few women had stayed while the school stopped traveling.

Tim was sparring with one of the newer students. 

An had shown signs of being a bit different than they said, when their guard wasn’t up.

It took a minute to recognize An.

“Everyone gather up.”

Kids and adults alike, sparring and practicing stopped as everyone gathered.

I was born a girl, Anna was my name. I grew up knowing that Swords were a male weapon, Ohnani’too rough for the fairer sex. But the first time I tried a sword I knew I had to find a way. So I cut off my hair and pretended to be a man since then.

An’s normal sword routine commenced but gleaming light stuck to her blade and flashed. The light gathered and loosed as she maneuvered.

It was weird that his mom’s boyfriend was actually a woman but it was only An that gave him a chance to live a longer life than his mom.

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Lo: They’ve made me an emeritus teacher, I teach a quarter of the mandatory sessions plus all of the advanced combat.

Ao: I went back to calling myself Anne. 140 years later. Reached Elemental Sword cultivation. Only the few girls at my school and Tim are left.

Lo: I may have an idea.

Ao: come back to the Orange blossom sect to see:

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Orange Blossom Addendum for Violent Girls?

Anne had to go through the full first year Orange blossom sect program before she could teach.

Her sister was a saint to do this.

Lucille was a teacher so she had a house on Sect property and Tim was able to stay with them and pursue their own interests.

The first years dinner party, Anna remembered hearing her sister talk about this. Her ability to change appearance at Elemental Sword cultivation was substantial. She looked much like the other girls, and her sword sheath was enchanted to look like a closed umbrella at first glance.

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Headmaster Wynn examined the first year ladies and their hosting job. Of course any of the teachers could find many improvements that could be many, but it was adequate for the firsties.

The new students of the addendum made their umbrellas look quite the fashion.

She turned to the invited guests. Many were alumni and their spouses or adult children. A few were local gentlemen and ladies.

One of the men seemed interested in Teacher Ohnani’s sister. Too interested. The very offense against etiquette lead to the headmaster to react. But Miss Ohnani’s umbrella was now a sword pointed at him.

The spell the man had attempted to cast backfired.

How do you react when a guest crosses the line? Swiftly and with respect to the other guests.

She took the man  and brought him back to her office with host magic.

Later she talked to Teacher Ohnani. “How strong is your sister?”

“I look at her the way most teachers look at me. She’s way better. She protected my husbands family honoring their cultivator service requirement. She’ll protect the Sect too.”

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Lucille acted as Special Administrator of the Addendum while Anna was its first teacher. Tim even became a trainer-assistant.

The addendum was quite small but word of mouth gradually increased its size

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“There is no shortcut to advancement in the Sword. As these sparring sessions continue and you practice in your own time, some of you will find shadows following your sword. 

After much dedication, shadows begin to collapse into an aura of Iron around the sword, which makes attacks stronger. About shimmering and Elemental sword cultivation, if anybody reaches such heights you have accomplished more than almost all men who choose the sword.

The sword strikes. The sword protects. Remember both.”

()

“Forgive me, milady,” the stranger said.

Wynn was suspicious of the sword wielding man. “It is I who should apologize. Our sect and all Orange Blossom Land is restricted to women only.”

“Do you have a she-sworder?”

“Excuse me?”

“A woman who uses the Sword. I would like to see her.”

“ I will bring them out to see you.”

She used her fan teleportation to go to the addendum and explain the situation.

The new sword trainees insisted On coming with Anne Ohnani. 

Anna stared at the strange man and he stared back.

The man’s sword moved and an afterimage was left.

Anna parried the strike easily. The man struck again and again, climbing beyond her own martial power, but Anna resisted each strike, and finally responded with her own. Her sword contained flowing waters and the man was tossed and cut like a violent wave crashing 

He barely began to stand when Anna landed her leaping strike turbo her blade to knock him unconscious instead of dead.

She turned, can we return the gift? His sect really shouldn’t have.

Anna’s students watched as she left.

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During the 3 years of the addendum 13 swordsman got offended by she-swording and were stopped. Tim stopped two of them. Anna’s students stopped 2 more, and she dealt with the other 9.

Wynn was going into semi-retirement and asked Lucille to take her place. She didn’t expect her to decline,

“We would never take away your students, but we are starting fresh. With our new Graceful Sword and Fan sect.”

“Let’s stay in touch. There may be a few pointers I can share.”

“I expected us to be invited to socials about, never.” Lucille said. “You’ve seen the reaction to the addendum. We won’t be entirely women. My sisters path shows me that if a man wants to try the fan etiquette path so be it.”