Training Day (Ana)

[Zandelia]

Crimson Edge Camp - Spring 12th, Av 512


Zandelia sat upon the floor, legs crossed now so as to provide a more stable and relaxing position of sedentary action. She had been awaiting a new arrival within the Crimson Edge for a little while now, her eyes closed as she took many a deep breath in through her nose, exhaling softly through her mouth. It was a good technique that she had grown accustomed to in her short but brutally revealing stay on the isle of Mura. She had been told that is was called something specific but had not really been concentrating on the naming, but the practices. Meditation, she thought it was. At any rate, she was composed and poised, her heartbeat a faint thumping in her ears as the world around her grew louder, noises never noticed before rearing up in her auditory perception as loud as a shout. It was that prospect that had garnered her interests to begin with, the ability to control her hearing levels to that degree a useful addition to her armory of skills.

It is a shame then that darkness keeps intruding upon the stillness of thought required she mused to herself, the thought almost distant in nature – a ripple across still waters that reached the insides of her skull and bounced back in an infinite variety of patterns.

She let the thought drift away, echoing into nothingness as the still black returned to her mind despite the efforts of her past to intrude. It was a difficult concept she had been taught the rudimentary basics of, that to achieve the correct mindset required a relaxation rather than an effort. It was not something that came naturally to her, a woman possessed of an active mind and whom greedily indulged in mental puzzle games. Still, she kept up the regular breathing, slow and steady as she tried to maintain the balance. Her back was straight and her head faced forwards, not bowed as some would assume – that she had been reprimanded for. She let her body become an intricate series of connected webs – energies she had been told they were. She was not sure she believed in it but it was a useful mental crowbar against the lockbox of tranquility.

“And then,” she breathed to herself softly, “we manipulate” she spoke the action out loud as she had not quite picked up the ability to imagine her energies slowing, redirecting to certain portions of her body, without some form of physical reaction. Speech was the least destructive to the enterprise.

She tried to interrupt their flows, to recreate the webbing of light within her as if she were a goddess herself. It was a slow process, though told to her as if it would be quick with enough practice. She cut off a flow here, moved another there. Eventually she had a number of energies flowing to 7 key parts of her body – though what the reason for the number and position was she had not been told. She only knew they were in a line, vertically, down the center of her body. Two were in the head, one in the throat and the other four were located mostly in her torso, with the last one at the base of her spine. She found the concept laughable, but what she found rewarding was the ability to think in selective ways – a benefit she had gleaned by herself, though unsure of whether it was a common occurrence or not. Still it afforded her the ability to consider her information, analyze and rekindle their patterns and connections without distraction.

Useful indeed… she thought to herself as she began her task of vacuum-like thinking.

It was then that she became aware of a presence and was forced to abandon her endeavor without much progress. Still, as she opened her eye she felt a little refreshed and relaxed – almost as if the practice had rejuvenating qualities.

[Ana Sol Starris]

Resting a cheek on one of her knees, Ana sighed quietly as she remained seated at the entrance to Wrenmaes tent, looking out it and waiting for the first rays of light to appear to signify it was morning. Staring, somberly at the flap void of any feeling or emotion at that moment, only the feeling of strain on her eyes and skull was all she could feel at that moment. What did she do during the night, waiting for the morning, every night for the past gods petching week? Nothing, she sat and thought, pondered and wondered then sighed and rubbed her eyes as they drooped from her sleep depravation. What did Ana think of all night? Most of it was how to try and proove she wasn't useless to Shroud, she would be something one day and she'd rub it in his face the first moment she could; and she would enjoy it thouroughly. Pushing it at his face and litterally bitch slapping him with it, even thoughts of violence invaded her mind towards Shroud, how she wanted to strangle him at times for his cold demeanor and apathetic ways. Though these thoughts were entertaining, it would essentially in every way, shape or form harm Wrenmae.. and Ana liked him, more than she cared to admit. After all, he was the one to take her in at the beginning of the last season.. But these were thoughts, Ana didn't have the heart to even try and make them real.. Not like Shroud, she knew what he could do.. Head tilting and vision beginning to blur, Ana caught herself by jerking her head up and pat patting it with both palms of her hands. Rubbing her eyes and finally deciding to get out of the safety of the tent and stretch, only then did she welcome the light of a new day. Raising arms up high, she tensed her muscles to achieve that familliar feeling of life in her limbs, standing on her tip toes she tried to stretch more. When she stopped, her vision began to darken over, swaying slightly to the side. Blinking quickly and spreading apart her feet for better balance , Ana waited for her vision to return. The dismissal of hearing returned again and everything was normal. Looking around, Ana began to make her way towards Zandelia's tent to only see her already outside it. Sitting and looking rather disconnected from the world around her, Ana aproached her slowly and cautiously, for today was a training day and here Ana was. Standing at a distance of a yard and a half away from the woman to watch her, she was breathing evenly and slowly as if in a trance. Head cocked to the side, Ana wondered what she was doing.. But thought better than to disturb, the look on her own face would say it all; whats she doing?

[Zandelia]

oocNote for ST. Cost of all practise weapons = 5gm and 50 sm

Zandelia’s consciousness swam back into view after a few moments as she levered herself upwards and back to her feet, all too aware that her younger pupil had managed to get over close to her indeed before detection. It was a telling rule for future caution she was taught then and there. She was relatively safe within the Crimson Edge camp, she knew, however she was not beyond assassination if someone truly wished it. If Ana had been upon such a mission then Zandelia would have been dead already. No, she took note and knew she would learn from this morning’s complacency and would not do it again. She liked to live after all, or at least she saw no reason to end her life all too eagerly. Instead she took a moment or two to look around the pair of them, their still forms surrounded by a number of tents, their structures forming a crude clearing for their use.

No, no threats today...yet she thought to herself, aware that paranoia was a useful tool when harness well but not sure she was the best at judging such usage.

She looked the young girl up and down and her gaze was able to penetrate the physical fairly easily, the data there for all to see if they were merely disciplined enough. She was tired, terribly tired indeed if the dark circles that coated her eye sockets were anything to judge by. She seemed well balanced but altogether lethargic, a fact that would not put her in god stead for the regime Zandelia had in mind for her. Still, she looked to have spirit of a kind and within her amber eyes crackled a fire Zandelia knew well enough to see it was well worth harnessing. Still, she shook her head and turned to go back into her tent, fishing about until she brought out three lengths of hardened wood, crude but effective, cheap but able to pay dividends ten times over.

“Are you sure you are ready for this Ana?” she asked the girl, her tone firm and solid, “I am not the easiest of instructors” she finished, allowing her one chance to retreat and decide it was better to leave. Silence reigned for a few moments as Zandelia’s hands gripped the wood.

“Very well, then we shall begin in earnest” she stated, looking Ana in the eye with her single, emerald green orb to let her know there was no backing out now, for at least this day.

With that she threw one of the lengths of wood to the ground in front of the girl, the dust disturbed and curling around the length of a practice short sword, the weapon the girl had asked to learn with. Zandelia would have been the first to admit she had little knowledge of the sword, however she had asked for basic instruction from Mok and Cade in order to prepare. She knew what to do for Ana, however, and the most direct approach she could muster would be the corridor Ana would walk through. She would learn how to use it in practice, Zandelia using her tonfa in response, the other two pieces of wood for herself – practice tonfa. Zandelia saw little percentage in drilling, repetition and shouting out commands. In Sunberth you wither fought or you died and she would drive that into Ana’s mind today if it was the only thing she hammered into it.

The world does not wait for you to practice, it lunges for your throat and demands action. It’s the only way to live she thought as she pulled her cloak from her shoulders and threw it to the floor.

“Pick it up, feel its weight, the balance. Know that you cannot hurt me and so you can d what you like, all I ask is that you try your damned hardest and that you aren’t a waste of my time,” Zandelia stated as she walked out into the pen and set her tonfa ready for action, “get a good grip on it and take a few swings at me, any way you like. Better to get a feel for it first before the real instruction begins” she grinned at the last words, a small smile as she stood, resolute and prepared.

Let’s see if you have any strength within you then, little girl she mused to herself.

[Ana Sol Starris]

Aprehension crawled into Anas mind, not moving as Zandelia got up on her feet to look around. Following suit, the smaller girl flicked her eyes about to scan the area also and found nothing was near that could possibly be trouble.. This was the Crimson Edge camp after all, so Ana didn't know why her higher seemed to be paranoid. Or maybe she was trying to make Ana paranoid on purpose.. The smaller girl eyed the taller woman with slight suspicion. The camp was suppose to be safe, right? Of course it was, no one would dare attack this place with the barbarians here, or so Ana hoped as she itched an area of her arm out of nervousness.. "Are you sure you are ready for this Ana?" Zandelias tone made Ana tense up out of her thoughts, nodding to her instructor slowly. Not once taking her own gaze off the woman, nor did she step back, Ana was going to do this- she had to learn to be useful, she had to train to become what she wanted to be. Knowing, full well that life was filled with danger and with the first oppurtunity to present itself to Ana; to live longer, self defence was an extreme need. Ana couldn't allow being pushed around like a child by Shroud, or thugs.. Or any threat that crossed her path, Ana wouldn't have to run away like she would in the past. This training, practice, experience was going to help her be what she dreamed of being. Ana watched her instructer toss something in front of her towards Ana, blinking, her eyes flicked away from Zandelia to the item now laying there in the dirt. Bending to pick it up, Ana gripped the 'blade' of the now dusty wooden practice shortsword. Eyes widening, she muttered something akin to "oops" at the silly mistake and quickly found the hilt of the wooden sword. Ana had no petchin' clue how to hold this thing, she wrapped her hand around the wood tightly then eased up a little, turning the weapon around to find the direction that fit comfortably with her hand. Raising it up, gripping tighter and then bringing it down low feeling the weight of the item, the balance it held. Ana wondered what a real weapon would be like, but dismissed the thought as she was not ready for that most likely. One step at a time.. Thinking to her self as she turned it over once again, to get a better feel of it in her dirt encrusted fingernailed hand. With her other hand, Ana held the blade part to examine the wood closer, the blade was lighter than the hilt that was for sure. A ghost of a smile crossed Anas lips as she moved it around more, it felt right in Anas hand.. The strange sensation about it excited her. Swinging it about for a bit of practice as Zandelia had said, Ana noted the blade once again, was lighter than the hilt. Giving her instructor a look of curiousity then to the sword, was this how it was suppose to be? Flailing it about pitifully, Ana wasn't sure what exactly to do with it but weapons were weapons and certainly meant to be swung about. But probably not in the manner Ana was doing so. Satsifyed with her observations of the weapon, Ana followed after Zandelia and raised an eyebrow, "Yeah.. I didn't think someone like me could hurt someone like you.." Ana agreed with her. Meaning what she said, Ana knew she wouldn't have to worry about harming her intructor.. It put her mind at a little more ease at this thought. It left no room for hesitation in the little thiefs mind, but with no hesitation brought over confidence and stupidity. With that, Ana lifted her arm and swung a tad slow at her instructor with the utmost seriousness in her demeanor that she was not going to make this a waste of time, making her look rather foolish with her clumsyness as Zandelia would counter her move and cause Ana to drop her weapon. Hissing at her hand as it stung, Ana would then pick up her weapon for another try, eyes furrowed, and swung out again, her foot work was not so poor from practiced sneaking that was picked up rather quickly her first year in Sunberth but it was not the kind of footwork most likely expected for battle. Even if it had some use, it would not help her if she couldn't even keep the damnable weapon in her hand. OOC : ^^;; You'll have to help guide me through this Zand.. I'm not exactly sure how to write out fighting/sparring..

[Zandelia]

As Ana looked over the wooden lathe, inspecting it in detail and feeling it out for its purpose, Zandelia’s own single orb began to dissect the young woman and she was troubled with what she saw before her. The girl was obviously agile enough for the use of such a weapon, however she lacked little raw strength that Zandelia could see, a fact that would set her in poor preparation for true combat. Battle, however large or small, was just as much about speed and strength as it was endurance and agility, the four fusing together to transcend and become much more, the beat of life itself. No, Ana was not ready for anything approaching a duel let alone combat, but she would be one step closed after the session if Zandelia had anything to say about it. She smiled as the girl as she swung experimentally, batting the strike away with a sideways slap of one tonfa and rapping her hand open with a smart overhand twirl of the other.

“Always keep a good grip on any weapon lass, otherwise you’ll end up with your guts on the ground!” she barked, her low not overly harder than her words, but enough to lend credence to an immediate correction by the girl.

It was then that Ana sent another experimental swing at Zandelia’s waist – a simple and horizontal strike. It was a tame and uncontrolled thing, more momentum than power behind it if she were honest about it. It was easy enough for Zandelia to lean backwards and let it pass by in front of her without a single contact – the sound of air being sliced by wood. Ana was now leaning forwards and twisting round her own axis of gravity fast, a fact that would be immediately punished by any foe, and also by Zandelia herself. She stepped forwards slightly, using a spin of her right tonfa to keep the girl moving around in her strike, the clacking of wood upon wood a death knell. Her left tonfa came around to smack into Ana’s forwards knee, rapping the back and forcing it down into the ground. Her right tonfa was lined up along her forearm once again as she mimicked a killing thrust with the butt of it to prove her point before making it.

“Never compromise your guard, ever girl! You make wild swings and half-hearted attacks and you will be punished. I catch you doing that again and you will be you hear!” she growled as she shoved Ana back onto her feet.

This will take a lot more work than I thought Zandelia sighed inwardly as she watched the rumpled girl gather herself back together again.

“Lesson one and two Ana, control and grip. You keep your hands, both of them, on the damn blade as hard as you can without compromising movement. Watch. You keep it that way you keep your weapon, you can keep on fighting,” she told the girl as she whirled her tonfa about her torso a few times in overlapping circles to prove the point, “and if you don’t maintain control of your movements then you leave yourself open for attacks” she finished, this time her movements less disciplined with her weapons and leaving intermittent gaps in her twirling defences.

“So, even the best can die to sloppy form and poor grip. Remember. Now, let’s show you how to grip that thing properly and we can begin properly. The few bruises you have are to keep you knowing what punishments lay in store for the undisciplined” she grinned as she made her way over to the girl.

“You hold your weapons with both hands girl, firm but subtly loose too. Too hard a grip and you are rigid, cannot move properly in your hands. Too loose though, and you get what I gave you earlier. Now, you place your stronger hand closest to the pommel and your weakest one slots in just beneath it. The flesh between your thumb and forefinger is the place you grip from, the shape forming a cradle for the grip of the hilt and your fingers and thumb wrapping around it solidly” she stated, suiting her actions by showing Ana on her practise lathe.

She allowed her to take the weapon back and try to grip it properly, the way Zandelia had shown her and Mok had shown Zandelia previously. It was a simple thing, but one which mattered. Too many people, according to the barbarian at any rate, tried to grip a sword with staggered grips where the hands did not compliment each other properly, throwing off the strength of both the weapon and the wielder. She had shown Ana how to do it properly now and only consistent practise would ingrain such knowledge – practise she would no doubt get often with the Crimson Edge. Now she would need to be shown how to stand properly.

“As to the basics of footwork, you have good form there but far from perfect. You are over balanced and keep crossing your stances” she began, pointing her tonfa at her legs, “you put the wrong leg forwards too often and you should never cross your legs as you’re just asking to be pushed over. You keep stale stance at all times, the strongest leg forwards and weakest on the back – provides strongest way of not being pushed back” she stated.

“Keep your legs vent ever so slightly and face the front leg forwards and the back leg to the side. If you need to advance then step your back foot up behind your front one before moving the front one – do NOT cross them over. Not at your level of abilities” she continued, “your hands stay at your waist, just in front and so that the tip of your blade is pointing up at an opponent’s eyes. You remain there, balanced and ready, all movements beginning and returning to this state” she finished.

“Now, show me” she chuckled as she stepped back and watched Ana try to get a feel for what she had been told verbally in the physical manifestation. Zandelia purposefully did not show her stance visually so as to let Ana try and naturally feel it out for herself first – corrections would come if needed.

[Ana Sol Starris]

"w-whaa-ah!" With a startled voice, Anas balance was compromised as she felt herself fall fowards, the fact a tonfa was coming straight at her once again made her right foot gravitate towards the ground to catch said awkward movement, to no avail. Zandelias weapon came crashing on her knee and Ana felt her body shudder and kneel, looking up at her with widened eyes as her instructor mimicked a death blow. Anas eyes had remained opened, unblinking and watching the weapon, her mind too frozen to react properly to the attack. Heart hammering against her chest as she felt her breath catch in her throat, a not so good feeling as Zand got the thief on her feet again with a shove. Flinching ever so slightly at her instructers barks, Anas bruising knee was enough to make her leg spasm in periodic shivers. The pain throbbing within the signs of a heavily bruised knee, she listened, thoughts of backing out invaded her mind but she shoved them down. Ana would do this, she wouldn't back down, she could do this; no problem... The last thought however, Ana was not so sure about as she nodded her head to signal she understood what Zandelia had said. Though, Ana wasn't too sure she really did comprehend; placing both hands on the hilt of the practice weapon, Ana clenched tightly onto the wood with a hope she was now doing this part right, "c-control and grip.. alright." Watching Zandelia come closer with a wary eye, her instructers grin sent a chill up her spine. Listening to what her instructer said, and watching what she did carefully. Grimacing further, Ana realized she was not gripping the correct way and thus made amends by loosening her grip around the hilt with her hands. But for the most part they remained tightly around the wood out of pure nervousness, the palms of her hands already becoming sweaty as she shifted them about to copy what Zand was doing. Placing the hilt in the wedge between thumb and forefinger, while wrapping her palm around it now. With a deep breath, Ana did the same for the other hand but below the first, she didn't actually know which hand was her strongest or weakest; she used them both rather eqaully. Upon hearing footwork, Ana seemed to brighten up; this was a subject she was good at as she used it daily. Though after hearing Zandelias wording, Anas confidence seemed to plummet as she was doing it wrong still. Could she do nothing right? There was a flicker of anger in her eyes as comments from Shroud in the past began to bound about in her ears, but she held back her tounge for the most part, this was training; failure was to be expected at first, right? "I do alotta sneaking around.. Would that help my footwork.. or..." The thiefs cheek twitched ever so slightly, before shaking her head as she complied to follow her instructors orders "right, you know what you're doing." Placing her left foot fowards and her right foot backwards, Ana repositioned the weapon to be at her waist and pointing at Zandelia. The stance was awkward, everything about it screamed shoddy footing and it would be easy for Ana to cross her legs at any moment when she moved. But she would try, thats what mattered, she had to try to not walk stealthily for once. It was a laughable thought, Ana relyed on calculated footsteps for survival after all. Her voice was the epitome of uncertainty as she looked to each side of her body to see how it looked to Ana herself "like this?"

[Zandelia]

“Yes, like that lass, just like that,” she told Ana as she mulled over the girl’s question about footwork, seeking to come up with the right answers for her, “and as to the footwork and stealth..”

As she did so she used her hand to test the strength of Ana’s guard, using the palm to slap the blade either side, on the flat portion, to see how easily it moved. It took a few tries to make sure that it was stable enough for Zandelia’s satisfaction before she grunted and nodded slightly. She had been told by Mok that it was an essential part of one’s guard, the fact that it had to be firm but also have a little give in it. She had informed him that the small amount of give is what was used to cushion the blows of an assault and stop the sword being jarred from one’s hand. The tonfa being her primary weapon, she could relate to and extrapolate upon that fact easily enough.

“Well, think of combat in the same way as stealth, in the wide sense. When you sneak, follow someone, you need to assess the situation first. You place your feet carefully, precisely, so that you are not noticed. It is the same with combat except that you are already seen. You are just as precise, however you sacrifice stealth and gain speed and strength instead” she tried to rationalize it out for the girl.

“The art of fighting begins with your feet, believe it or not. I can spin my tonfa all day long, but if I’m standing wrongly then I can be pushed over, or backwards, by one strong attack” she stated, taking a few steps backwards and more into the open in front of Ana. “Let me show you, attack me as strongly as you can lass” she told her pupil as she pulled out her tonfa and stood in a casual stance, as if she were not fighting at all.

It took Ana a few moments to register what Zandelia was asking her to do, but once she had caught on it was a simple affair to launch herself forwards, her strikes somewhat improved this time, and flash her wooden practice lathe towards Zandelia. With her footing merely shoulder’s width apart and far from stable she was forced to take a step backwards as she brought her own wooden tonfa around in a crossed form, the x-shape forming the means by which she blocked, forcing Ana’s weapons downwards. Ana had not hit her but had forced her backwards, and gained the initiative. Zandelia smiled and pulled backwards and she nodded at Ana.

“See? Unstable footing means lack of strength, means less effective combat. You die. So learn it well if you are wise, and practice it often,” Zandelia spoke before deciding to continue on with the lessons, “and now we move on to the next series of basics – drawing and sheathing. For this we need a real sword and scabbard for you” she spoke as she retreated to her tent a little, entering and exiting with a recently purchased short sword in her hands – metal this time and complete with a scabbard.

Let us see how she handles the true weight of it, whether she can do it properly. If not then she will need practice and a petching lot of physical conditioning she thought to herself as she threw it at the feet of Ana, as she had the wooden practice lathe, albeit more carefully this time.

“Before we can do that you need to decide where you want to wear it. You need accessibility, swiftness of the draw and the possibility of getting in a strong attack out of the draw movement also – so choose wisely. Most favor placing a sword on either side of the hip, so I would start out with that first lass. Once done I want you to practice standing casually and moving into the stance I showed you, all in one fluid movement. You’ll keep doing it until it comes with little difficulty in terms of the process” she stated simply, eyeing the girl. "Each time you will the sheath the sword and return to the start. To sheath you need to place a hand around the top of the scabbard and use your thumb along the flat of the blade to guide it in smoothly" she finished.

“You never know, it could save your life” she finished as she watched Ana set about her assigned tasks.


oocI know this seems like a little filler post, but it's because it is required for the next part I want to teach you. Also, it is a concept that many people don't think of (I think) even thoguh it is a very basic part of using the sword

[Ana Sol Starris]

Ana held her ground against Zandelias hand against her wooden weapon, the first hit tilted to the side by more than half, the second was better, and so was the third; a firm, but loose hold on the weapon. Setting into a frown, she listened to her instructers words and found them.. Simple, easier said than done. But sneaking was getting easier for her every day, she had been taking a sick pleasure from stalking behind people without their notice, completely unaware they were being robbed until they felt her fingers fumble on the item. Even then it wasn't that, but the fact her stealthy footwork could be used for combat also brightened her features, but now she would have to alter the technique a bit.. To suit the lethal dance of a fight. Footwork would be no problem, none at all, now if she could just have the guts to actually hurt someone with the weapon and effectively. The thought of blood made her stomach roll, pushing the images out as quickly as they came, blood shed was probably not a good thing to think about at this moment.. Maybe it was too late, she looked at Zandelias posture, eyes furrowing in confusion, then widened in realization. Could she do it? Yes, yes, yes, she stepped fowards and with her weapon in both hands, level with her waist she began to swing much more fluidly at Zandelia. Her instructer dodged easily, forcing Ana to step backwards, then brought her own weapon down onto Anas, the tip dug into the ground as the student shot her gaze up to her instructers face. Nodding, feeling somewhat ashamed of herself for not picking that up right away as she straightened up. It took her a few seconds, Zandelias words rung in her ears beforehand, Ana returned to the stance she had taken. Though this time Ana would check her footing and stance, it was when her instructer came out with a real weapon, the small woman seemed to jerk herself away when it landed in the dust. She had been taken unaware, she didn't think Zandelia would have gotten a real weapon, wow! Childish eyes widened in amazement, graditude at the one eyed woman, nodding feverently in reply "alright" Ana set the wooden weapon on the ground then picked the real one up. What was one to expect? Ana certainly didn't expect such a weapon to weigh so much, she felt the weight in her hand as she held the item by its scabbard. Staring at it in awe, curious as to the blade, she gripped the hilt and firmly held it under the gaurd in one hand. Unsheathing it partially, Ana examined it further, the sheen of the metal was amazing, what a piece of art! Ana couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship placed into such a weapon, though the blade was quite simple, a simple weapon, silly, simple things easily amused the small woman.. If Zandelia were to hit the weapon in Anas grasp like before, she was certain the sword would be yanked clean from her hand. "So, a hip.." Ana asked, looking at the scabbard then to her instructer with confusion... How... How did one place a scabbard on themselves? "uh....How do you put a scabbard on?" The question was stupid, but she wasn't versed in weaponry and its equipment so maybe it was acceptable for her ignorance but that didn't stop her from feeling dumb... When Zandelia showed her how to do so, the scabbard and sword rested on her left hip. When the item was assembled to her person, Ana began what Zandelia had asked her. Gripping the hilt again, the gaurd rested above her fisted palm where it was held securely. Straightening up, she appeared casual, then sliding her feet into a familliar, stealthed stance, panicking.. She realized she had forgot to pull the weapon out. Ana repeated the casualness again, sliding her feet apart and pulling at the weapons hilt. The scabbard followed the blade jerkily, again Anas face resembled irritation as she had forgotten another detail, returning to the casual stance once more. The small woman gripped the hilt, placing her thumb onto the flat of the blade and gripping the top of the scabbard with her other hand. Sliding her feet once more, Ana pulled the blade out slowly but little difficulty now, her feet were just as slow to get a feel. Sheathing the blade, she began to repeat the same process until Zandelia deemed her good enough to go to the next asignment of todays training.

[Zandelia]

“Good,” Zandelia finally interrupted Ana after she had been sheathing and drawing her new sword repeatedly for some time, “you seem to be getting the general idea of the motion. Practice will do the rest in time I think, as with anything. Remember the drawing motion though as it can be turned into an immediate, and oftentimes unexpected, attack when you are experienced enough. Better to kill a man when he is not ready than to give them time to prepare” she finished as she stood, hands upon hips, and thought through the next section of Ana’s training.

This part will be a little new to myself even. I have little experience in the sword and what I have garnered to teach Ana with came from both Mok and Cade. Hopefully it will suffice as a foundation, she can build upon it at the very least she thought as she sighed, hoping she could prepare Ana enough to use her in the future, without great injury.

She had let Ana feel out the sheathing, drawing and scabbard placement herself for a good reason – the fact that it was a highly personal affair and what suited one person would not by extrapolation suit another. Zandelia had changed the positioning of her own weapons so many times now that she knew all too well that what worked in that regard was something that grew organically over time. What she would teach Ana now would require some demonstration, however, so she took the wooden practice lathe from its position upon the dusty ground and dragged it into her firm grasp. She also took a few moments to grab a small buckler style shield she had bought the girl too, walking it over to her rather than throwing it this time, placing it upon her arm and showing her how to grip it firmly – arms through the straps and left hand gripped upon the small metal handle for strength. After, he came to stand once more before Ana, her gaze seeking to penetrate her form, discern her inner thoughts and weaknesses. She gave up upon that triviality and set about the training, picking up her own practise buckler now merely for demonstration purposes.

“Time to teach you what you really came here for then lass, how to attack and defend,” Zandelia gave the wooden lathe a few experimental twirls with her wrist as she sought to feel it out a little, “but forget any ideas about flourishing it about. We begin with attacks, simple and controlled. If you leave here waving that thing about then you’ll get killed and I don’t want my time being wasted – it’s valuable” she stated in a simple but firm manner.

“Watch and repeat what I do afterwards. You will be doing merely drill motions, and few of them at that. When you get bored remember that to survive is to live through much boredom” she finished as she shifted into the same stance she had taught Ana.

Zandelia shrugged her shoulder a bit to loosen them as she held her practise lathe in her right hand and shield upon her left, holding the shield close to her body and slightly in front of her torso in the position she had been shown. She planted her feet in the defensive stance, sword hiding behind the shield slightly as she gripped it firmly. From there she smashed the shield forwards and to the left a little, opening up a small space within which to thrust her lathe forwards and into the gut of an enemy. She returned fluidly to her original stance ready to do it another three times so that Ana would get the movements in her mind at least. The next motion involved stepping to the right and bringing the shield fully out to the left now, as if deflecting a blow towards the ground. At the same time she lashed out a a diagonal cutting attack, slashing form shoulder to left knee before jumping back into the original stance once more.

“Those are the first two simple moves, thrusting and slashing attacks designed to be controlled and precise. These build up both strength and correct movement, not to mention defensive tactics and survivability by learning to counter attacks, wasting an enemy’s strength before cutting them down. Without those you cannot hope to be in control and to not be in control is to die. Learn well” she stated as she took a slight breather.

Zandelia then placed the shield upon the ground, sliding it to one side with her foot gently – its presence no longer required for the drills she would show next was more about fluidity of movement and technical sword use. The swords lathe was held in one hand and her stance reversed now, right foot forwards and left foot backwards – proper footing less of a priority than the motions of the weapons alone this time. She started with the sword out in front of her, blade diagonally upwards and left hand upon her hip now. The lathe went through simple triangles of movement. It began with a rolling wrist motion that allowed her to bring the lathe down in a vertical chopping motion that ended with her hand outstretched a little and just at chest height. From there she rolled her wrist again, bringing the lather around in an horizontal attack to her right, flowing across to her left and ending in front of her, blade pointing slightly down now. She reversed the motion quickly then, performing the same motion but bringing her arm across her body to attack with a backhand across to the right.

She repeated the motions several times, feeling her muscles complain is she performed the rudimentary triangles, they exercise doing its job upon her own abilities – small as they were. She stopped then and let her arm fall to her side, loose and aching slightly.

“That is the second drill you will be practicing. This helps to condition fluidity of movement, so I am told. Begin” she ended with as she stepped back to watch and see how Ana would perform.

[Ana Sol Starris]

In, Ana sheathed her sword ; return, the small woman slid into a casual stance as she sheathed; grip, she held onto the hilt firmly whilst holding the scabbard with her other hand; pull, easing the weapon out as fluidly as she could and as fast as she could; stance, with feet spreading apart she moved her arms and hands accordingly to the place they were suppose to be. Shortsword to the waist and pointing out, repeating these steps for a time until Zandelia gave the okay to stop. Breathing in, out, normally but slower, her concentration on the tasks at hand were the only ideas floating around her mind. Though a bead of sweat began to drip down her forehead, the weight of a real weapon was to be reckoned with- especially if you were just practicing with a wooden weapon beforehand. The weight of the sword was suprising to Ana, but she handled it accordingly, she looked at her instructer and nodded at her words of wisdom, they made sense. Why let an enemy get to you first? Actually, why let them know your presence in the first place..? Head on fights didn't sound too apetizing to the little thief as she preferred to remain unoticed. Perhaps the element of suprise would work well for the smaller woman, after all she was stealthy and understood the topic of remaining unseen. It was her survival tactic after all, the reason why she had stayed alive for so many years was due to that one skill she picked up quickly. Her feet had the knack of being light, and her fingers sticky but nimble, there was simply no other way the thief knew how to survive by. Labor would never do, she was too small and weak for that, she couldn't cook nor heal, in fact her only abilities lay in the world of subterfuge and larceny. Useless in a sense, maybe actually learning how to fight was a good idea.. Smiling at the thought, running had also been another tactic of survival, but if she could fight.. That would mean no more running, no more cowardice when faced with danger, a chance to be useful in the face of trouble. But she was just learning.. Certainly a novice couldn't be of much use to anyone if they remained flimsy with their swordhand, that what training was for, right? To get better to be of use? Watching her instructer pick the wooden weapon up and then leave once more to bring out what seemed to be a shield, Ana in her casual stance, shoulders slumped, feet apart only slightly and her chin held to the ground at an angle with her eyes looking fowards, upwards, watching and ever observant. Straightening up and letting her instructer help her get the feel of the buckler, Ana was amused by the item, never would she have thought she'd be learning how to use one of these. Gripping the handle of the buckler, feeling the metal, getting a feel out of the leather and the weight of the item. Noting the womans behavior after Zandelia had retreated to grab her own practice buckler and begin examining Ana with her eyes.. Eye, Ana felt a chill run up her spine as she herself was being studied, feeling that nervous jitter return to her demeanor Anas hands began to shake ever so lightly on the hilt of the sword and the handle of the buckler. Nodding slowly to Zandelias words, loosening her grip on the hilt then tightly, as the more experienced woman continued on. Simple, controlled movement, it was understandable.. But she had no idea what a flourish was, so she didn't let the word bother her. Later she could ask what a flourish was, but right now was probably not the best of times... Or maybe it was? Ana frowned as she thought about it then finally decided now was not the time. Zandelias demonstrations were carefully examined by the smaller woman, watching the movement with her eyes and taking the same stance, buckler held firmly, perhaps a tad flimsily but still in front of her with the sword held aloft at her side. Once Zandelia was finished, Ana began the task of doing as what was demonstrated beforehand. Returning to a casual stance, sheathing the sword and holding the buckler to her side Ana would then grip the hilt, pulling out whilst lifting up the buckler in a defencive stance, arm extended to hide the sword in her right hand and then shoving her arm to the side, opening up, pushing the blade fowards slowly at first and then retracting her arm back again whilst moving the buckler to be in front of herself again. Ana repeated these steps until she was faster seeming, pausing, she dug into her mind for the next motion before doing so. Returning to a casual stance, she sheathed her sword and held the buckler once more to her side, gripping the hilt and pulling out again and moving the buckler in front of her in one jittery movement. Bashing the buckler to the side then thrusting the sword fowards, retracting her sword arm and readjusting her buckler to be in front of her she would then take a step to the side, letting her arm become a wall. Ana smiled at the thought of perhaps that could be a mans face being crushed, potentially breaking a nose, shaking the thoughts off she kept to the task at hand, bringing the sword up and swinging diagonally down, the effort of the exhertion was showing in her face. Such a weapon, such a defence, they both weighed so much more than what the little thief anticipated and they were making the muscles in her arms ache. They were unused for the most part unless for pilfering items off people, the exercise being put into them now would proove to be useful later on. Becoming stronger was Anas main goal, to proove she could be of use, she could be strong if people just gave her a little lifting of dilemmas on herself. Breathing in and out slower, face set into a determined stare as she returned to the same casual stance and sheathing the weapon, this time Ana pulled the weapon out and brought the buckler in front of her again, feeling the movements out as she bashed the buckler to the left, opening her front and then thrusting the blade fowards into the gut of some poor imaginary bloke as Zandelia had shown her before. Pulling the buckler to be in front of her with sword returning to its lofty position at her waist, she then stepped to the right and then brought the buckler to the side as if it were acting as a wall.. Shrouds face envisioned in her mind as she did so, it took alot of effort to refrain from giggling at the thought, his nose being broken, crooked and angled, what a thought that was as Ana brought a diagonal slice down with the shortsword. Ana repeated these exercises a few more times, by the time she had gotten to the triangle like drills, Anas arms were crying, aching, they almost seemed to be weeping from the effort. Sweat beaded across the small womans forehead, feeling it collect under her clothing, her armpits, behind her knees, her neck, basically anywheres that could persperate. Taking in a big breath of air, letting it out, she began on the task of doing the triangle exercises. Sheathing the shortsword again Ana then set the buckler on the ground, feeling her arm almost give out from the strain, it tingled as she did so, the release of such a weight had made it feel much lighter than it did before. Moving a few steps away from it, Ana then stood in her casualness and then gripped the hilt of the weapon again, gripping the scabbard with her free hand and then pulling out as smoothly as she could. Cheeks beginning to redden from the exhertion, Ana released the scabbard and held the blade in front of her at an angle, hand held aloft at her side just for balances sake, it felt strange to just leave the limb hanging at her side instead of lifted up like she had it now. Bringing the blade down in a downward movement, trying to mimic what Zandelia had shown her, twisting her wrist slowly so that she could get a feel of directing the metal into a horizontal slash, then bringing it up and down, making the triangle, Ana couldn't help but feel she had screwed that bit up.. It was the last technique Zandelia had shown her and it was the last technique Ana had tried out. Looking to her instructer almost worridly, wondering if she had anything to say about her performance.