fandomhigh | Basic Sword Skills [Thursday, Period Three]

The large collection of weapons was gone this week. Instead there was a rack of oddly-shaped practice weapons. There were a few variations in size and length and shape, but all of them were too thick and oddly rounded. Not all that blade shaped, really. Max stood in a stance of relaxed attention, his hands grasped loosely behind his back and his eye critical as his students began to arrive.

"This week," he announced loudly, "we will be examining the skills involved in footwork. I talked about this with some of you," he shot Serena a quick glance, "last week, but today it will be our primary focus. Sword work, like most forms of fighting, is heavily dependent upon your ability to move in the direction you need to whenever you want. Of course most effective attacks require you to push most of your weight in one direction or another to either provide power or reach or both."

He looked around to make sure everyone was listening. "For today, however, we're going to focus on simply staying centered and mobile. Which is why we have these." Max's grin as he waved at the odd practice weapons was the sort of darkly amused expression that tended to be found on people who were dearly anticipating getting a good laugh at everyone else's expense. "The reason each of these blades looks odd is that they're designed to shift their balance points unexpectedly. As you move the blade you'll find that it is highly unpredictable and you'll have to both pay close attention and maintain a centered stance in order to keep it under control. Extend yourself too far on a strike and the blade may very well pull you over."

"So everyone grab a blade and find some space. I'm going to go over a few standard movements and you're going to practice them, remembering to focus on the way you move your feet and commit your weight."

Once everyone had a blade Max ran through a half dozen or so very general attacks. The sort that would be at least somewhat useful with any weapon. "Now practice those," he ordered as he began wandering among the students correcting their mistakes.

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"Hopefully I'll be less enthusiastic when I'm not in the middle of a song-and-dance routine" Karla looked absolutely appalled at the idea of ever being in that same circumstance ever again, "but duly noted, sir."

"Every time you move you need to have a specific purpose. A block, a dodge, a strike... It helps avoid wasting energy with unnecessary movement."

Karla nodded, concentrating. She'd called in a notebook and pen so she could keep track of everything Max said.

Max chuckled at that. He wasn't used to having such studious students.

It was amazing how seriously someone would take lessons, if they had firsthand knowledge that this might be the only thing that stood between them and a Fate Worse Than Death(tm).

"Okay," she said, finishing up that line. "Anything else?"

"At some point we should sit down and figure out what your abilities bring to the table. I imagine there are some things you should be working on that most of the rest of the students can't do."

Karla nodded once. "I'd like that," she said quietly. "I'd like to become as effective with a blade as I can."

"You're never going to be a powerhouse," Max grinned as he looked her up and down. "But that's not necessary to be deadly."

"I'll train you," he promised.

"I don't need to be a powerhouse," Karla replied. "I just need to be to be able to keep myself alive." She slanted him a grin. "Though I wouldn't say no to deadly, if it's being offered."

She held out a hand. "I'll be a good student," she promised in return.

"Well, then, let's see what we can make of you," he chuckled as he stuck out his own hand and the disparity between their sizes was emphasized.

A smile flitted across her face as her hand was engulfed in Max's, suggesting she was noticing the same thing. She was tall, but skinny.

Who knows what she'd intended to say when she'd originally opened her mouth. What came out however was: "Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a girl and her will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive"

The song came with the oddest desire to start running up and down tall staircases.

"..." Max managed eloquently.

"I think maybe we should continue this another day," he suggested.

The magic of the island let her go after the chorus.

"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger."

As soon as she could stop singing, Karla sagged against a wall, looking pained. "Maybe you could loan me a sword instead?" she asked. "Falling onto one sounds like a remarkably good idea right now."

"It's not," he shook his head. "Getting stabbed hurts. A lot." He'd know.

"Yeah, but with a belly full of agony, the only thing I'd be singing is a Healing web, which would be a bloody lot of comfort right now."

Oh well. At least she couldn't get any more humilated, forgetting that ~~her terrible mun~~ Fandom didn't work that way.

"Thank you for today's lesson, sir," she said with a bob of her head. "I think I'm going to tell valor to bugger off and enjoy a nice long bout of discretion in my cabin."

"I think that you've got the right idea there," he nodded.

And hoped he didn't end up doing something similarly embarrassing himself.

Basic Sword Skills [Thursday, Period Three]

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