10th Bell. 21st, Summer, 514AV
It was a pleasant day in Spring with the midday sun shining bright above. Birds chirped on the rooftops, yet they were barely heard over the roars of the Dragoon’s soldiers at the Proving Grounds. Alistair had grown used to the noise a few months after joining. This was his second year in the Dragoons now, and a lot of things had become second nature. Being thrashed by Eleuia during training, for example.
“Come on Alistair, is that all you have?” Eleuia taunted. “This is nothing.” She closed in the distance, slashed at him lightning fast. Alistair didn’t dare blink, he stepped forward, swung, and barely managed to parry her blade away. She anticipated that, her kick arrived before Alistair knew it. It hit him square in the ribs and he fell with a pained grunt.
Training was necessary, Alistair had realized that long ago. Was the pain necessary as well though? The throbbing in his side felt like it had been charged by a warhorse, he breathed but nothing went into his lungs. Was she even holding back? He staggered back up to his feet trying to regain his breath. Eleuia had no sign of letting him rest.
“I told you the first day you got here, don’t watch the sword; the sword is not your opponent. I am. Watch my movements, my steps. Where are my limbs?” Eleuia thrusted her sword out without warning. Alistair - still panting for breath - spun back in a clumsy half-crescent to avoid it, just barely stepping out of the blade’s reach. He had only just learnt of the footwork a few days ago, the lack of practice was evident. She lashed out with a hook kick right after, Alistair ducked, only to have a debilitating pain impact his chest. Her fist bashed into him after she spun back around from the momentum of the kick. It felt as if he had been crushed by a warhammer. He collapsed right onto the ground, gasping for air. It felt as if he lungs ceased to function. Alistair found the answer to his previous question - No. No, she doesn’t hold back at all.
“Use your eyes, read my movements. Watch my limbs, my arms, my legs. Look at my eyes, where am I aiming for? Where will I strike next? The moment you ducked without looking you lost sight of my attack. If I were some Daggerhand wretch you’d be dead ten times over by now. ”
Alistair could only grunt in acknowledgement. The wind was completely knocked out of him. He writhed on the dirt, staring aimlessly into his instructor’s boots. The corners of Eleuia’s mouth raised into a pleasant grin as she watched over him. “That being said…You have improved since our last session. You learn quick Alistair, sharp mind and quick insights, but skill only comes with practice.” She picked up the sword at his side and returned it to the rack, along with her own. “Take a break, seems you need it.” Eleuia teased. Alistair grunted again. The pain from the kick was still there at his side. If Eleuia’s the more patient of the two, I’d hate to ever be taught by Itzel. He thought to himself.
It was a while before Alistair was ready again. The two returned to their positions, five feet apart from each other with their weapons ready.Watch her. Observe her movements. Alistair reminded himself. He kept his eyes fixed on hers. Eleuia’s eyes were a deep ocean blue, sharp, piercing. The eyes of a warrior. None of them moved, she blinked first.
Now.
Alistair dashed two steps forward, swinging into an upslash. “Taking the offensive now?” Eleuia remarked. She near effortlessly spun and countered with a slash to his ribs. Alistair saw it coming. He parried the swing and thrust out into her guard. Eleuia ducked, twirled into a hook kick again, the exact same move as before. Not this time, Alistair smirked. He stepped back to avoid it, feeling the wind of the blade graze past his face. His left leg shot forward and he brought his blad toward her neck. “Good, you’re learning!” Elueia laughed. She caught the blade with her sword guard and slid it outside of her shoulder, forcing away Alistair’s sword. He spun with the momentum, and before he could do anything else made a slight trip over his own foot. "Shi-" he gasped. His balance was only lost for a mere moment, but that was all Eleuia needed. She stepped to his side, placed her leg behind his and - in one clean motion - swept him off his feet. A dull thud and some risen dust later, Alistair had his back flat against the ground again.
Three sparring sessions this lesson, and all three ended with him on the ground.
"Still a long way to go, Alistair." Eleuia laughed while she pat the dust off of her legs. "Definitely better than when you first joined. Hell, even better than our little spar just earlier, but still a long way to go."
“Come on Alistair, is that all you have?” Eleuia taunted. “This is nothing.” She closed in the distance, slashed at him lightning fast. Alistair didn’t dare blink, he stepped forward, swung, and barely managed to parry her blade away. She anticipated that, her kick arrived before Alistair knew it. It hit him square in the ribs and he fell with a pained grunt.
Training was necessary, Alistair had realized that long ago. Was the pain necessary as well though? The throbbing in his side felt like it had been charged by a warhorse, he breathed but nothing went into his lungs. Was she even holding back? He staggered back up to his feet trying to regain his breath. Eleuia had no sign of letting him rest.
“I told you the first day you got here, don’t watch the sword; the sword is not your opponent. I am. Watch my movements, my steps. Where are my limbs?” Eleuia thrusted her sword out without warning. Alistair - still panting for breath - spun back in a clumsy half-crescent to avoid it, just barely stepping out of the blade’s reach. He had only just learnt of the footwork a few days ago, the lack of practice was evident. She lashed out with a hook kick right after, Alistair ducked, only to have a debilitating pain impact his chest. Her fist bashed into him after she spun back around from the momentum of the kick. It felt as if he had been crushed by a warhammer. He collapsed right onto the ground, gasping for air. It felt as if he lungs ceased to function. Alistair found the answer to his previous question - No. No, she doesn’t hold back at all.
“Use your eyes, read my movements. Watch my limbs, my arms, my legs. Look at my eyes, where am I aiming for? Where will I strike next? The moment you ducked without looking you lost sight of my attack. If I were some Daggerhand wretch you’d be dead ten times over by now. ”
Alistair could only grunt in acknowledgement. The wind was completely knocked out of him. He writhed on the dirt, staring aimlessly into his instructor’s boots. The corners of Eleuia’s mouth raised into a pleasant grin as she watched over him. “That being said…You have improved since our last session. You learn quick Alistair, sharp mind and quick insights, but skill only comes with practice.” She picked up the sword at his side and returned it to the rack, along with her own. “Take a break, seems you need it.” Eleuia teased. Alistair grunted again. The pain from the kick was still there at his side. If Eleuia’s the more patient of the two, I’d hate to ever be taught by Itzel. He thought to himself.
It was a while before Alistair was ready again. The two returned to their positions, five feet apart from each other with their weapons ready.Watch her. Observe her movements. Alistair reminded himself. He kept his eyes fixed on hers. Eleuia’s eyes were a deep ocean blue, sharp, piercing. The eyes of a warrior. None of them moved, she blinked first.
Now.
Alistair dashed two steps forward, swinging into an upslash. “Taking the offensive now?” Eleuia remarked. She near effortlessly spun and countered with a slash to his ribs. Alistair saw it coming. He parried the swing and thrust out into her guard. Eleuia ducked, twirled into a hook kick again, the exact same move as before. Not this time, Alistair smirked. He stepped back to avoid it, feeling the wind of the blade graze past his face. His left leg shot forward and he brought his blad toward her neck. “Good, you’re learning!” Elueia laughed. She caught the blade with her sword guard and slid it outside of her shoulder, forcing away Alistair’s sword. He spun with the momentum, and before he could do anything else made a slight trip over his own foot. "Shi-" he gasped. His balance was only lost for a mere moment, but that was all Eleuia needed. She stepped to his side, placed her leg behind his and - in one clean motion - swept him off his feet. A dull thud and some risen dust later, Alistair had his back flat against the ground again.
Three sparring sessions this lesson, and all three ended with him on the ground.
"Still a long way to go, Alistair." Eleuia laughed while she pat the dust off of her legs. "Definitely better than when you first joined. Hell, even better than our little spar just earlier, but still a long way to go."
