Solo [Bronze Woods] Better then before

[Drake Reinhold]

12th, Summer of 513 AV --------------------------- Drake woke up from his sleep suddenly, from a nightmare. Looking around his room he noticed that it was just that, and he wiped the sweat from his head with a sigh. Looking out his window he saw that it was still dark, but really early. Drake swung his legs over the bed and onto the floor. He then put his hands up and rubbed his face, then ran his fingers through his hair. "Wow, these nights just aren't getting better..." Drake says to himself quietly not wanting to wake up the people in the rooms that are next to his. Drake stood up and stretched reaching up closing his eyes, once he did that he cracked his neck and fingers than he went to he chest. In his chest, Drake took out his regular clothing and slipped it on. He then took out his new bought sword, some food, and some water. He kept digging in the chest for his gauntlet, unluckily not finding it. He closed the chest and looked around his room for his gauntlet, rubbing his head. He looked under his bed and then near his pack and finally found it. Picking it up along with the pack he brought them both to the chest. Once he did so he put the items in his bag and then tried to remember if he was forgetting anything. Not thinking of anything, he nodded and put his backpack on heading to the door. He opened it and then left the room, closing the door behind him. He quietly started walking to the end of the hall not wanting to wake anyone up, then he walked down to the lobby, and then out of the apartment. Drake walked onto the street and started walking towards the gate, to the woods which he had been before training with friends, and having good times. He was hoping to get his sword skill up, as he was pretty bad with it and needed to get better as sword would be his second option for offense attacking. There were a few people out late at night, and mostly all the people that would be out were trouble makers or beggars. Drake couldn't stand them, when they had an opportunity like everyone else, but instead mooch off people. He crossed a few other people as he reached the gates, heading into the forest which he knew so well.

[Drake Reinhold]

Drake got into the woods and started walking to the small area where there aren't any trees and is a good spot to practice. Trying to remember his way there, he tripped over some bushes and cursed under his breath when he did. He seems to be getting lost because of the dark. He keeps walking around for about another ten minutes, then he finally finds it and walks into the middle of the clearing, smiling at his accomplishment. He goes to the nearest tree which was quite large and he sets his bag down. He then cracks his neck and kneels down, opening the bag and taking out the stuff he brought. He first takes out his gauntlet and his sword and sets them on the ground. Once he does that he closes his bag and stands back up. Drake thought about it for a little bit and thought that he had quite a bit of experience with his gauntlet, but not enough with the sword. So he decided to use the sword and get better with that before training with his gauntlet. He picked up the sword and studied its new clean form. Drake was quite happy with the weapon and couldn't wait to use it. He put the end up to his eye and looked down it, seeing that it wasn't bent or warped. Drake started taking swings in the air messily, without good form. He noticed this and sighed. He tried it again and slashed horizontally then came up around and down. He saw that he was slow in doing so and needed to get better with form first. Drake tried standing a different way and then did the same thing with the sword, only to see that it made him slower. So again, he stood in a different way planting his feet to the ground. He swung his sword and to his surprise was faster. He smiled and then looked around for something else to practice on. About ten meters away from him was a dead tree which was about six feet high. He walked to it and put two hands on the handle of his blade. Drake then got into the same position that he was in previously, and started swinging at the tree. He swung down at one of the branches to its left and then across to the right. He looked at what he had done and saw that it really didn't to much, all he saw were a couple of scratches on the little tree. Drake took a deep breath and got into the stance. He closed his eye. He swung his sword vertically down, then horizontally across and went into a defensive stance all quickly. He opened his eyes and say the little tree cut up into two pieces. Drake smiled at his success. He was getting better, slowly, but surely. Drake didn't have much to work with in this little field, so he had to use anything he could find. Drake went to his backpack and took out a half slice of bread. Looking at it he thought that this would have to do. Drake then walked to a rock and set the bread down. He then walked away from the rock about ten feet away. Drake got his sword positioned at his right side with two hands on it, took a deep breath, and started charging toward the bread. Drake ran at the bread then lifted his sword above his head and then swung down when he got to the rock, stopping and looking down. He had completely missed the bread, and hit the rock about seven inches away from it. Sad by his defeat, he thought he would have to just keep trying until he finally got it. So he went back to where he started, and thought that maybe the stance wasn't right. So he got into a better position with his hands on the sword and his right foot out. He charged at the bread and swung... He hit the little piece on the end of it. Drake smiled then ran back to get into position. He got into the same stance, thinking he would hit it spot on this time he ran at it, swung. Missed it again. Drake didn't understand and was getting discouraged each time he missed. He thought he would try it one more time. He walked into position. Put his right foot out, and his left foot to kick the ground and send him running. Putting his right and left hands on the sword, Drake took a deep breath. He then started running towards the bread, once he got close he swung the sword above his head, and then sliced downwards. CLINK. The sound of the sword hitting the rock. He looked at what he had done. He sliced the bread in two. Happily, Drake smiled at his success and picked up the bread, starting to eat it with the sword at his side.