PM to join Learning the Basics (Alexander Faircroft)

[Firenze]

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12th Bell, Winter 48, 515 AV

Continuation...

Waving off the apology she gave him a smile, “It’s okay, I don’t mind.” It was nice that he’d offered to let her pick out the weapon to train with, there were so many different ones she wasn’t sure where to start. Looping her arm through his he led them back to the Pits.

While on the way back he spoke to her of how he remembered his Gods. Eyes watched as a leather strip with charms on it were slipped over his neck and placed in her palm. Turning the little charms in her hands she looked at the icons depicted on them. It was very interesting to see. The wood was smooth against her fingers.

There were quite a few with trees on them, another with a sun and another with what looked like scratches on it. She fingered through them all, there were so many. Reaching back toward him, the necklace grasped in her hand she gave it back to Alex. “There are so many, I think I would have a hard time keeping them straight.”

Turning the corner to the Pits they made their way across the barren training area. It was nearing the noon bell and it appeared most people had thoughts of food on their minds instead of practicing. Walking over to the rack of weapons she eyed each one trying to figure out what they could work with. She’d have to pick something that he was carrying on his person so she let her eyes rove over the mass of weapons attached to his body.

Glancing between Alex and the stand she rested her hand on the only one she was familiar with besides her little dagger, a simple long sword. Unsure of the difference between the one strapped to his back. The one he was wearing appeared to be a bit larger but that was all that she could tell. Picking it up, the long piece of metal heavy in her hand, she tried to get a feel for it.

She held it tip toward the ground and tried to balance it in her hand, unsure if she was even holding it properly. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it wasn’t her own sword and didn’t expect it to be perfect by any means. “Can we work with this? I’ve seen a wooden one before but I’ve not actually gotten to work with a metal one. Just take it easy on me,” she chuckled, turning to face him, grip tight on the leather wrapped handle.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

As soon as the loop of the gods symbols was placed back in his hands he felt much more together. Something about that simple loop of sigils felt like it belonged with him. She darted off a little towards the weapons rack Alex followed behind her. He’d have to pick up a weapon from the rack which was severely blunted or else risk harming Firenze. Though when she picked a sword from the rack and asked for lessons and not a spar against him picking a blade similar to one of his own he smiled lightly. “Alright then Firenze let’s see how you’ve got control of it.” Alex gripped a hold of the bastard sword at his side. A good foot and a half longer than her own sword but still it was similar enough to impart the basic motions.

The steel of his plate hissed softly against the wooden edge of the scabbard. Whirling the length of steel about him in simple swipes. He smirked stepping up next to Firenze the sheer weight of his weapons would slow his motions down a little but given the extra range and the precision he’d gained form fighting pycon squires over and over he was used to it. “Right Fire, let’s just review the basics.” He stepped into stance, normally he’d have his shield paired with this and peer the blade over the edge of the shield but here he modified it lightly, keeping his arm in tight he placed his left hand just beneath it, not touching the blade to allow him access to it to empower a strike or use the free arm to strike as a secondary weapon. His blade was kept vertical and tight to his body to allow an easy swinging position for powerful strikes.

“This is the basic stance I use when I don’t have a shield. If I did it’d be a little different.” He chuckled and held the stance for a second to allow fire to try and copy it. If she couldn’t or asked for his help he’d help her into the stance. “And from here you can make three basic swings. A big overhand swipe, a short swipe across the middle or a low swing at the legs.” Once she was in stance he’d walk her through the steps and motions of the swings giving her a simple set up, to try and take a swing at him.

[Firenze]

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A feeling of embarrassment washed over her as she slid her left hand to the base of the handle, her right hand to just below the cross guard. It hung at a downward angle away from her body as she watched him pull out his sword. “Why is yours bigger?” she felt silly asking the question but figured it would be the only way to get an answer.

Unsure of where to stand she shifted, waiting for instruction. Her eyes watched as he moved and then took what looked to be a position. He directed her to do as he was doing and she shifted her feet to try and mirror what he was doing. “Am I doing this right?” She didn’t know if her feet were in the right position and it felt slightly awkward. The longsword hung awkwardly at her side.

It had been awhile since she’d held anything other than her dagger. The weight of it bringing back memories of Sunberth and Dor’gen. It was slightly different holding heavy metal rather than a light wooden practice sword. He’d taught her a few things in their brief time together. How to hold it and how to swing, but she didn’t recollect ever being showed how to place her feet.

Perhaps it was a good thing that her and Alex had met. Now she felt as though she could learn to protect herself. Before with her bondmate she realized that she’d always run to him for protection, that she’d always depended on him for helping her. This time it would be different. Especially after the most recent events.

It didn’t make her care for him any less, he’d always be remembered by her. She just felt better knowing that she was going to learn to do things on her own. He’d proven that he wasn’t always going to be around to help her. Not having been there when she was attacked in the alley in Sunberth, Bitzer had been. He wasn’t in Zeltiva when her stepfather has threatened to kill her mother and taken her instead. Most recently he hadn’t been there when Vinicus was killed, the wolf had been.

Until that moment she never realized that although he was her first bond, it wasn’t as deep as she’d thought. He’d been there when she’d been attacked by the bear and taken her under his wing… until he’d vanished and broken that bond. The ache and sadness, she realized, had shifted. Unsure of when it had actually happened, it had transformed into an acceptance and fondness. Nothing more, nothing less.

Shaking her head, the quick thoughts flying, she tried to clear her mind and bring herself back to the present. They weren’t playing with wooden toy swords and she needed to be on guard, just in case he wanted to teach her a lesson.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex whirled the blade around him a little and heard Firenze’s voice cut through his motions. Why was his bigger? What? Oh the sword. He caught himself on the question. “The reason why mine is larger is because it’s a different type of sword but follows much the same fighting style as the longsword.” Alex smiled and stepped over it was true his sword as a good foot longer than the sword she was using. Alex lifted the sword up and then as she looked at him with a stern expression like she was trying to mirror his motions. He sighed as he heard her ask if she was doing it right. He flipped his sword in his hands and stabbed the tip into the sands. Letting the blade sand bolt upright and straight.

“Right so, if you’ll permit.” Providing he had her permission he’d start to move her body into stance. Lifting her arms up lightly so her elbow was in line with her shoulder directly out to the side. Using his foot hs push her leg forwards and out slightly to widen her stance and secure it He’d press down on her shoulders a little to get her to crouch, and lightly push on her back to straighten her up. A simple fix to her stance but it would more than likely feel awkward and the sword heavy however it was better than how he learnt, having to hold the stance for a hour whilst being repeatedly struck with a wooden steel core sword over and over again. Once he’d finished he’d step back a little and let her get used to it.

“It’ll feel awkward for a while but that is the basic and best way that I know of at least to hold a sword. Right, now.” He’d say whilst picking up his own sword and mimic the stance. “I want you to take a swing at me. Try to hit me from that stance and you’ll see why it’s so effective.” A small smile of pride in his own teaching and how he’d been taught. He held firm and felt a calling back to when he’d been taught how to fight initially. His mother’s basic instructions with a dagger and his father’s simple teaching on how to aim. After that it’d been left up to him, but here he was able to learn and ask questions of the masters. Learn how to strike and defend with a repeated motion not a vapid space of learning how to use a weapon in a void.

[Firenze]

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Nerves made her hands shake slightly, sweat slicked her palms as she gripped the handle of the sword. She watched the sword whip around and land tip down in the dirt. A resounding ring from the metal met her ears. A nod was given when he’d asked her permission to move her into the proper stance. His hands rested against her body, gently tipping her elbow up, the pressure was felt in her shoulder from the weight of the sword and an unfamiliar hold.

His leg brushed against her backside while the foot moved her own, large hands rested on her shoulders. It was the strangest feeling and although it was foreign it wasn’t entirely uncomfortable. Her head followed him, looking for acceptance that she was now indeed in the correct positioning. Brows raised, she gave a smile, “Better?”

After he’d picked up his own sword and was in the same position as she he instructed for her to swing at him. The last time that she’d been told to do that was with a wooden sword and her rear end had almost met the ground. Taking a deep breath she swung out and down toward him, she feared that the wild swing would hit him but it was met with a loud ting as his own struck.

Pulling the heavy metal back her shoulder began to feel the burn from the added weight. With a large smile she asked, “Again?” Giddiness rose to the surface but the initial caution still rode alongside. Resuming her starting position she prepared herself. Another swing and another sweet resonating ting. The vibrations of the swords kissing ran the length of the blade, through the handle, into the hands that held it and along her arms. It was the strangest feeling she’d ever known but unusually thrilling.

If he felt that she was sufficient or could judge if she needed to change her tactic she’d wait to make her next move. Leaning on him to learn and understand what might work best should she need to fight with something so large.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex nodded at her comment before allowing her to take the first wide swing towards him. A large arc that spoke of a lack of familiarity with the blade…It wasn’t too long ago that had been him. Alex caught the edge of the blunted sword she held with the tip of his own. Several inches from the very point he pushed the blade back with a practiced form. He reset allowing her to do so as well. At her comment or rather want of confirmation that she could strike again he nodded and swung his blade out to meet her wild strike again. Connecting his blade against her with a firm hand.

“Right. Don’t swing wildly. Pick a target and aim for it. Go for the head. Or the legs. Both are viable targets that are especially effective against armoured foes. Like me.” Alex smirked but knew full well that someone worth his salt with a blade would protect his head and legs. “But make sure you don’t give away where you intend to hit. Decided on the point of attack and look elsewhere. Most people read your eyes before attacking, or defending. It’s why knight wear helmets. Not only for defence but to aid that fact.”

Almost as if to prove his point he stepped in with his right foot bringing his blade around over his head in an arc and towards her own, His eyes however were locked into hers. He stopped the blade a good five to six inches from the point of impact. He had no intent to strike nor to hurt, but the speed of the motion may have given her a little to think on.
“See what I mean? Now try attacking me in the same way and I’ll see if I can block.” Alex gave a small smile and stepped back is blade across in front of him diagonally the length of it cutting across his form. He’d set up a parry position and from her could counter Fires wide sings with a good amount of practice, however one or two might slip through depending on if she’d taken note of what he was teaching.

[Firenze]

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Cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he corrected her swings. It was true that she was not familiar with the sword by any means. The only training on a wooden one that had a slightly different weight to it. While the one she was currently holding was heavier the newly taught stance was helping to alleviate some of the tension on muscles she wasn’t used to using.

The instructions he was giving her were quite useful. Picking a target wouldn’t be so hard. Head or legs, that could be doable, if she could get the sword to the target she was aiming for. He took it a little further, instructing to have her look away from where she was trying to swing the sword. Unease rested in her stomach. Swinging toward something you were watching was something that sounded feasible. Just look at it, focus and swing, that didn’t sound too hard. Only now he wanted her to look away from where she was going to try to swing, hitting the target might be harder than would be anticipated.

Her eyes locked his as they stared he’d swung. It startled her despite trying to be prepared for anything that might happen. Jumping just a tick she tried to keep herself still as he stopped the movement, she didn’t want to get into the line of fire.

Although his reference and example had startled her it did help for her to see what needed to be done and try to mimic what he was doing. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly she focused on his face. The dark eyes that reflected back at her, the mess of charcoal colored hair that waved around his face. The weight of the sword and the leather on the handle under her grip. Clashing of others practice sessions filtered in, distracting her slightly from her moment of focus. Taking a few more breaths she closed her eyes for a tick and then refocused them on him.

Bringing the sword out she swung down, away from where she was looking and towards his legs. The woosh of the blade cut through the air, a slight ting was heard. Perhaps from the tip catching on some metal? Or something else? She tried not to drop her gaze as she focused on his. The blade was brought back to the resting position once she’d followed through with the swing. Her stance was proving to be quite useful as she didn’t lose her footing, the balance of what Alex had taught proving itself.

Once comfortable, she tried again, this time her gaze dropped to his legs. Her swing was a uncomfortably wide and it would felt in the morning but the resounding clack of their swords kissing was satisfying enough to make up for it. Bringing it back around she dropped the tip into the dirt, her right hand held it in place as the left rubbed on the aching shoulder. It pained her, not just physically, to see how out of shape she was.

“This thing is pretty heavy…” her eyes scanned the metal covering his body, “how do you haul all that around and all your weapons?” Fingers worked into the muscle trying to get the tension to release. Rolling her shoulder a couple times she picked her sword back up and readied herself. Feet slid into the position he’d shown her.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex was ready for the strikes, heck he was even ready to return them but, Firenze wasn’t a vastly skilled opponent. Not like the knights and squires he’d fought almost daily. He watched her. Perhaps he should have been more thoughtful with his words. She swung her sword low, bringing it towards his shins. His arms followed suit as he brought the flat of his blade across to clatter against the edge of her training blade. Despite having no prior training according to her, she was handling the stance he’d shown her and her footing easily her blade control was excellent as well. But he was trying to impart another lesson.

She reset her stance and Alex’s blade found its way back in front of him. She brought her gaze low this time and swung high. She tried to mask her movements too literally. Alex brought his own sword over to catch her blade against the flat of his again, the sharpened steel he carried ringing in his hands from the impact. All the while his eyes never left her own. He should have perhaps told her that.

She dropped the tip of her blade into the sand beneath them and gripped her shoulder. She spoke with a sound of annoyance. Apparently the sword was heavy. Who’d have thought? How did he move in everything he carried though?
“I’ve had some time to practice…Took me a half a season to adjust to the armour, another fifteen days on top of that to learn how to balance out my weapons and another fifteen on that to learn how to minimise the noise it made.” He spoke calmly and flipped his blade in his hands. “Also Firenze, you’re learning well and it’s my fault I told you right but not the entirety. It’s something my patron taught me. When you’re fighting look your opponent in the eye and smile. Never let anything but a smile show. No matter how much pain you feel, smile. Push through and hold your eyes on theirs and smile.”

Alex lifted the sword in his hand again and held it low to the ground. Proving his point again through doing rather than explaining this time he stared her in the eye and smiled. Like before where it was a friendly warm and welcoming smile, this one was much the same except there was a cool undercurrent of calmness to it. Strange and out of place. Whilst holding his gaze against her he took a sharp turn step into her space. Eyes still locked with hers. A simple move even for a beginner, but utilized in this manner was just plain unsettling.

“See, if I’m looking you in the eye, and smiling. It’s hard to tear your eyes away because you’re wondering when my expression will change, isn’t it?” The coldness dropped from the smile now as he spoke again. “On another note how’s your shoulder? Looks like you may have hurt it from the repeated swings. D’ya wanna take a break?”

[Firenze]

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While she took a momentary break Alex had explained how he’d managed the gear and weapons. It was interesting to see someone so ladened with weapons walking around. It was something that she was not used to. It wasn’t a bad thing per se, just… different. Her eyes scanned the gear that he carried around and wondered if he would someday teach her of the others.

As she inspected the weapons he told her that she should be focusing solely on his eyes, not dropping them when she changed where she swung. That made more sense. Perhaps it would make it easier for her to focus better on where the sword was swinging in her peripheral vision.

Her eyes moved back to him as she got into position. A strange look came over his face as he started at her, a smile began to lift the corners of his mouth. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to intimidate her or just show her how she was supposed to do it. It wasn’t so much that he did intimidate her more so looked slightly creepy. As though he were about to try to slice her in half or something, and enjoy doing it.

For the short time that she’d known him, his personality didn’t really seem to fit the look that he was wearing. It was almost as though he were putting on a show. If she were a foe and they were in an actual fight instead of training then she might have been a lot more worried than she currently was. However there was a touch of hesitation, wondering if she did actually know who the true Alex was.

After he’d shown her and resumed back to a more natural look she tried again to mimic him. Closing her eyes for a moment she took a deep breath to relax herself. Bringing the memory of the woman in the alley to the forefront. When her eyes opened again she rested the golden orbs on his green ones. Her face impassive as she could make it, no smile on her lips, her expression as blank as she could make it. Flat eyes, with the memories of the death dancing in them focused intently on him as she curled the edges of her mouth upward slightly.

It wasn’t her normal easy going bright smile with flashing teeth but something darker within her. She let herself remember the darkness that she’d felt and what had haunted her for nights thereafter. Wanting to use that to get into what she felt was more of a warrior’s mindset.

He’d asked if she wanted to take a break, “No, we can keep going… perhaps in a bit,” she spoke briefly, wanting to do it quickly because it caused her to break her concentration. Taking another deep breath and resetting her stare again she brought the short sword up. She set her stance again and waited for him to take his.

This time she kept her eyes on his, the corner of her mouth upturned. Bring the weapon around she swung toward him. The sword wasn’t anywhere near hitting him but if he were to swing out they would clash together.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Fire tried to mimic what Alex had done, the smile and look of black malice that he held. She did a good job. If Alex hadn’t known her to be a jovial and rather cheerful person he would have thought he was in serious trouble with that look. Even as she returned to the face after his words of her wanting to take a break, which she didn’t something about it still felt a little off. Something behind her eyes spoke of a time he’d rather forget, rather much further leave behind him and not have rear its ugly head. Alex tilted his head and looked her in the eyes again, the piercing jade green orbs of his meeting the molten gold of hers.

Again that calm flowed from him, as the smile crept across his face but this time all the light and nicety he’d show seemed to face as that smile grew. Inside he had no intent to harm her. After all he was both a member of the order and this was a lesson. Alex stepped into her space as she swung. The weight of her blade clashing against his own as he shifted his to guard it with the middle of the sword. His eyes never leaving hers, even as his teeth appeared behind that smile there was still nothing but cold hollowness to it. Like an empty suit of armour before her. He stepped in closer and then within range of her swings. Eyes still held against hers. He brought his sword back aiming to swing at her blade flat looking to bring it forwards with a large arcing slice. None of the restraint in his motions from before there he started to have his arm move.

But as he did instead of bringing his arm up and around to strike her his free hand the one he’s kept away from the blade would come up instead and attempt to poke her lightly in the stomach. If it worked, then his face would fill. The hollow emptiness filling with light and the smile becoming one of good meaning. A sincerity and calm happiness to him.
“Don’t forget Firenze.” He’s speak with an even but light tone. “Always keep an eye open for other weapons. If I’d had a dagger, or even my shield, that could have seriously hurt.” An honest word he’d speak but only if what he planned had succeeded. If it did not then that emptiness would remain. His free hand sailing past her midsection with an open look of a fist. Like he was attempting a strike from below.