Gotta fight gotta strike...

[shorterinperson]

WHO: Alanna and anyone who wants to learn to fight
WHAT: Training
WHERE: The Training Field
WHEN: ALL THE TIME :|
WARNING(S): None

Sir Alanna's routine is stringent. She wakes before dawn to stretch for about an hour. Then she eats. Then she heads to the stable to feed and clean her horse. After that, she heads to the training field, where she stores duplicates of her favorite weapons as well as spares for anyone who might want to use them.

She starts with the sword, running through one-person 'sets', demonstrating for anyone who might be there so early in the day. Then she practices with her axe, then the knives, then finally the bow and arrow. By lunch time she's covered in sweat, but she doesn't bother to shower after her meal. She heads straight back to the field so begin proper lessons, whatever is called for that day.

This is her routine, every day, unless something horrible happens to set things awry. If the sun is shining, Alanna is training or caring for her horse.

Comments

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura wasn't quite sure what he was doing at training, but he was expected to show, and show he did, feeling horribly out of place in his sweater, jeans and sneakers, and worried that he was going to not be able to keep up the charade of not being the him that was expected. But he was going to try!

[shorterinperson]

On the training field Alanna knew her place to a tee. She had been a student, a teacher, and a knight, and this environment was like her home. So of course she noticed instantly how out of place Bakura looked.

She set down the sword she was working with and walked over to him with purpose in her stride.

"What would you like to start with? We've got all sorts of weapons to choose from."

[shiromadoushi]

"Eh? Aaa..." he faltered. "...something light?" he guessed, feeling even more out of place as he moved to cover the faded scar on his left hand. Between that and his arm, there was very little chance he could manage anything two handed, he was sure!

[shorterinperson]

She wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't tried to hide it, but she didn't say anything either. He was here to learn to protect himself. If he had a disability she was sure to find out about it eventually, and if he didn't then it didn't matter.

"I could start you with knives. That's as light as it gets," she suggested, moving over to the little shed where they kept their equipment.

"We've got a few throwing knives that aren't very well balanced and a handful more designed for close combat."

[shiromadoushi]

In Bakura's minds eye, the scar was far more noticeable than it was, still the relatively fresh months old version he expected, instead of one that had been healing for over 3 years, the disconnect between memory and reality still rather high.

He hesitated, looking more and more unsure about the whole idea. "Aaa... m-- maybe the throwing knives....?" he suggested, not at all liking the idea of close combat.

[shorterinperson]

She handed him a rather large pile of the things (all sheathed, of course) and pointed to the range, where there were targets for him to practice with.

"I don't guess you've ever thrown a knife before?"

[shiromadoushi]

"Never... I've only ever used them for cooking..." he admitted, awkwardly attempting to hold the pile. It was a delicate balance to keep the weight supported more by his right than left...

[shorterinperson]

"That's alright." She walked him over to the target range and showed him the basic grip. Of course when she threw it from this range, she hit the bullseye no problem.

"Now you try."

[shiromadoushi]

There was a long, awkward moment as Bakura hesitated before very timidly unsheathing a knife and trying to mimic her grip. Deep breath, Bakura Ryou, just try, you can do it!

He closed his eyes a moment, taking in that deep breath, a very faint shimmer of white light building around him as he pulled together his focus. Opening his eyes, he focused on the target a moment before flinging the faintly glowing knife at the target.

Much to his utter surprise, it also hit the bullseye, not far at all from Alanna's knife. How...?!

[shorterinperson]

She raised her eyebrows and nodded in approval.

"Nice shot. You should keep your eyes open, though, and your grip still needs some work." She went to retrieve the knife and handed it back to him, hilt first.

"And you should try it without any spellwork. You might not be able to rely on your magic on the battlefield."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura blinked a few times. "...Spellwork...?" he repeated, utterly clueless to what he had actually done.

[shorterinperson]

She frowned.

"The knife. You enchanted it before you threw it." How could he not know that? It wasn't the sort of spell one worked simply by accident.

[shiromadoushi]

"I did?" Bakura blinked, eyes widening slightly before he looked down at his hands, and then the knife. How had he...? Did that mean he really did have magic in this world? He'd found the white mage robes with his things, but he didn't think that that meant...!

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan sat at the side of the practice field, not wanting to distract Alanna when she was training. He watched intently, head tilted to one side, and kept his knife safely across his knees.

[shorterinperson]

It didn't take Alanna long to realize she had an observer. When she saw the weapon in his lap, she set her sword down and changed it for a knife. She knew a few sets for knife combat, and she went through them meticulously. Maybe he would join her if he saw how simple it could be.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

The sight of Alanna trading her sword for a knife like his made sit forward, fingers curling around the hilt of his knife.

Oh! He could do that!

With a grin, he bounded to his feet, wanting to try too.

[shorterinperson]

She pretended not to notice him for the most part, but couldn't suppress a small smile. She made sure to move a bit slower and make her movements clearer, so that he could copy them.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan drifted closer, being careful to follow Hawk's lessons and stay out of range of her knife. After a moment, he changed the way he was holding the knife, small body drawing itself down to be a smaller target.

[shorterinperson]

She watched him from the corner of her eye, noting the way he stood and how he held his knife. He had some experience, that much was clear. But everyone could use practice and discipline.

She moved into a second set, this one more focused on swiping and then defending.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan paused, watching her for a long moment before copying her actions. He was fast and sure on his feet, leaping back with his defensive moves while keeping securely on his feet.

[shorterinperson]

Seeing his speed, Alanna slowed down even more. It was important that he not miss anything because he was overeager. It could mean the difference between life and death in a fight against a more skilled opponent. Power could come later; discipline was first.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

While by no means an observant boy, Faolan was quite attuned to body language. He got the hint and slowed down, taking the time to place his feet and hold his arms very deliberately in the way that Alanna did.

[shorterinperson]

When he had the motions down, she broke from her stance to help him, moving his foot here, adjusting his arm there.

"You should practice at home, too," she commented, hoping it wasn't presumptuous of her.

"Until you can do this in your sleep."

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan looked at her in confusion. "Lying down when asleep," he answered.

[shorterinperson]

"Then you'll want to be prepared, now won't you?" she countered, not bothering to explain the figure of speech. He was probably paranoid enough anyway.