Flashback Practice with Father [Second Tier Home]

[Rickard]

Summer 15 509

Rickard was thrilled. After months of asking, his father had finally agreed to train with him! He had practiced swordsmanship with whatever he could since his first year. Now father was giving him a proper wooden sword! Even a shield! He felt like a proper Knight already!

Rickard bounced on his toes on the hard stone floor as his father explained exactly how it would go. "Safety... protect your... absolutely no... Proper technique..." He couldn't force himself to listen. Finally, he heard the words he had been silently begging for the entire time. "Ready... Begin!"

Rickard threw himself at his father with everything he had, slashing wildly with the wooden blade. His father effortlessly blocked or parried every blow. Rickard counted his attempted strikes... One two, three, four... Then the counterattack came. But he was prepared...

Breaking off his attack as quickly as he could, Rickard raised his shield and cowered behind it, narrowly turning his father's blow aside. He waited for the second strike, knowing it would hit home this time. Fearfully, he waited for a blow that failed to come.

"What are you waiting for?" said his father. "Weren't you listening?" The smile on Father's face told Rickard that he knew the answer perfectly well. Rickard bared his sharp teeth in a savage-looking smile, and began his assault again, this time calling out his actions. "One, two, three, four, block! One, two, three, four, block! One, two..."

[Rickard]

Rickard woke early the next morning, stiff and sore, to his father shaking him. "Father? Is there... Some kind of trouble?" He saw a sword in Father's hand, but... Was it... A practice sword? Why?

"Only a lazy novice! Do you think a Knight trains only when he feels like it? Find your sword and shield, pup!"

Rickard groaned involuntarily, then forced himself to smile, just a little. "Yes, sir!" He scrambled for his gear, and no sooner was it in his hands than he heard the words again. "Ready... Begin!"

Father called out the strikes as they danced back and forth in the bedroom, the kitchen, all through the Second Tier home. Rickard imagined the rooms were of some evil lord's castle, and Father was the king's right hand. "One, two, three, four, block! One, two, three, block! Block! Don't you dare let your guard down, pup!"

Rickard didn't.

[Sayana]

Rickard Skills: Skill EXP Weapon: Sword +1 Weapon: Shield +1 Endurance +1 Socialization +1 Tactics +1 Lores: Tactics: Preparing for a counterstrike Shield Points: Shield Points Earned Reason +1 Training Total: +1 Shield Point Comments : Cute little thread. Just to let you know, the typical minimum post length in Mizahar is about 300 words. So your posts are a little short right now but there’s always room for improvement. Don't forget to edit/delete your grade request in the grade request thread. However, make sure to keep the link so that the DS can review graded threads with ease. If you have any questions or concerns about your grade please feel free to send me a message (like really, I’m all ears if you feel like I missed something). Enjoy.