Terhune training arc

10:06] He'd not expected a lot of people and was even grateful it was mostly empty. After-all people had a habit of making him nervous. So, for now as he looked around his focus seemed to shift easily from the emptiness back to Signe.

"I don't think talking to people with crowns is a good idea." Which, to be fair it wasn't. Never really had been for the people of Sudsbury. "Still though, I'm sure that I'll be fine. I've met a few of the bigger kids around here. Sorta-"

He didn't want to say he'd came to practice his swordsmanship feeling a pang of embarrassment for once at probably how bad it was. Still he pressed onwards. "Well at-least the ground's softer here. Oh, I know of the mine I got lost in it. It needs more signs inside..."

He paused for a few moments then continued. "When I fought the monster I was really, worthless? When could you start teaching me?"
(Terhune)
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[10:09] Eager to start? Perhaps. Her eyes remained on him for a moment, perhaps sizing him up.

"We can start now if you so wish. Above all else though, this will take time. I can teach you many things, but refinement of your own mana and learning to wield it better will be what truly defines how powerful you become."

Still she led him towards the typical sparring fields, the grasslands south of the city gates.
(Signe Daman)
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[10:12] Followed along, luckily he'd taught himself most of his magic. So the idea of hard work wasn't new to him. Unluckily the idea of how to refine his mana was. Stopping across from Signe he'd raise a hand up, looking at the lightening-like burns of softly glowing green mana for a few moments. Then he looked back to Signe.

"How do I refine my mana? Just like- Think thin?"
(Terhune)
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[10:19]
{LOAD GAME}

[10:21] "Mmmm…"

She stopped, unsure of how best to explain it.

"Some of it is a skill you'll learn with time. It's like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it'll get, and the better you'll get at wielding it.

When I was your age, all I could use was a sword. Since then, I've learned to channel mana from the stars, and to manipulate the wind."

As she mentioned them her wings shone with starlight, motes of light like small stars whirling about her, wind picking up and filling her wings, pulling her slightly off the ground.

"For now, simply practicing with it will take you far."

Her mana calmed, as she drew her blade, handling it with ease but respect. She would not harm the boy due to carelessness.

"As will the fundamentals of swordsmanship. So draw your blade and show me what you can do."
(Signe Daman)
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[10:29] Terhune seemed a bit downcast at the talk of it taking a long time. After-all he wasn't super patient. Still though his expression lit up a little at the mention of wind magic. With a raise of his hand he twirled his fingers around. Creating a tiny cyclone that had a sickly green appearance. "I'm a wind magi to! I figured out how to do it when I was flying with a flying potion."

Practice make's perfect, well that wasn't hard to do! After-all he loved to practice it was a lot funner than just digging ore up all day. With a nod to his teacher the youth jerked a hand up to grip the handle of his blade. As he drew it the sounds of a distant thunderstorm echoed in the clearing. Each inch of the blade being drawn brought the sound of that storm closer until he pulled it free and the crescendo began to die down.

He held the weapon clumsily, shifting it to the side as he took a really rough stance. It was clear he'd been more used to chasing small animals with nets than swordplay.

Still it was a light, weightless stance, hinting towards a speedy boii.
(Terhune)
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[10:32] Her eyes took a measure of his stance, making some notes as to areas he can fix. For now though, she'd say nothing. She'd seen some strange techniques, and didn't want to fix something that functionally would either work itself out or could even aid him.

For her part she seemed to take...no real stance at all. It was intentional, a true style usage would thrash the child. She wanted him to learn through combat, not get beaten into the dirt. Her green eyes hardened slightly but otherwise she smiled.

"Well. Come get me then."
(Signe Daman)
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[10:35] {Lost Restrained RPB against Signe Daman}
[10:39] She was, actually impressed. True, his swordsmanship could use work, but he had learned some relatively advanced techniques and he was already weaving it between both wind and sound magic. The boy had a great deal of potential.

Her superior...well everything at this stage won out as was to be expected, her blade weaving around his and ending with the flat of the blade resting on top of his head. She'd stopped all the force before it hit, merely a light tap, but a pointed one.

Still, she was smiling.

"You have a great deal of promise young one. Let's begin on your stance."

She pulled her blade away and sat next to him.

"Speed is your friend, which you've already recognized. But you can't let your guard drop."

She demonstrated a more traditional guard.

"Or else you're gonna be wide open when you dash in. I know, cause I'm the same.

Secondly, loosen up your knees. You aren't sprinting. Swordfighting magi can be very much about endurance, and your ability to change direction in an instant. If you're tense you'll find that very hard."

Her instructions were curt but said with that same smile. She wasn't attempting to discourage him, merely pass on experience and wisdom.
(Signe Daman)
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[10:47] His style certainly wasn't the best in and of itself but when it came to the sounds of pure panic that echoed in his voice as they fought. The shouts of fear helping to keep space between them as well as he could at-least. Still, in the end he'd find himself a step away from being thwacked into next week.

The tap that struck him did a lot to ease his nerves and help him breath a sigh of relief. Her smile helped just a smidge as well. Bringing a curling smile to the childs own lips.

"R-really?" THe idea of having promise, considering the outright labeling as unfit by the Machine. Well, it surprised him a lot.

He perked up as the advice came, his gaze as steady as it could be. Absorbing everything he could in those moments. "Right, fast, I'm the fastest kid I kno-" he stopped, oh right learning. Those cloudy amber hues looked closely at the guard. "Right, keep it tight." He stopped for a second as he looked downwards a this knees. Mentally bending them a little as he took the advice to heart.

"Right, sprinting... Heh, didn't think about that." He then looked back up eyes wide as he waited for new wisdom.
(Terhune)
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[10:47] * You have been awarded 5 Roleplay Points! *
[10:53] He was an eager student, perhaps even better. It was, as much as she'd never admit this, adorable to see him warm up to her with the teaching. The stand-offish kid seemed to be a bit more willing to accept help than he might have let on.

"Your next step in your swordsmanship is going to be deciding what kind of style you're going to use. Much of this will come down to your mana and how you choose to express it, but given your love of speed..."

She stepped back to make sure he wasn't in reach of her blade, turning to the side and extending her arm, blade pointed in a forty five degree angle downward, protecting her legs, with only her side presented to a hypothetical opponent.

"This is one form of the style known as Garuda. Its a style that emphasizes speed and accuracy of your strikes. Very popular amongst magi nowadays. There are other variations, but all will focus on speed over defense or power.

I haven't mastered the other two, but if you're truly curious. There's a woman named Athanoti who is a practitioner of Ifrit, which is about attacking as furiously and quickly as possible. And there's a woman named Orca who practices Fomorian, which is about defense and outlasting your opponent.

There are a few more, but many of those are based in different types of elemental mana. There may be styles for wind or sound, that I don't know."

She paused, realizing she'd been rambling a bit. Shaking her head to get back to the point.

"You don't need to master a style now. Simply something to consider."
(Signe Daman)
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[11:03] The glowing green lines that decorated Terhune's body seemed to brighten as he watched the display of a proper Garuda stance. Of course he heard of the other style but truthfully if his expression was anything to go by? He didn't really listen to her explanations of them, only heard. His one track nature was put on display as he took a little step back.

The greatblade Thunder was nearly six feet in length, easily taller than the child and perhaps a reason why he was struggling. Both hands tightened around the frayed shark-skin hilt. Shifting the blade to his left as he himself took on a triangular style akin to Signe's own. To compensate for the length of his sword he simply extended it further outwards. The point resting a few feet from his legs.

He looked between the two of them and frowned. It was clear his legs where more open than Signe's own. With a grunt he shifted his stance ever so slightly, leaning lower, deeper into his guard. He shifted the point of his blade from the ground to a slight tilt towards his opponent. As if to test the stance he took a half-step backwards, the blade coming up in an arc as he thrust the point outwards.

Not the strongest defense but the threat of a counterstrike would do him some good at-least until he was old enough and hopefully tall enough to use the blade he wielded properly. "Garuda, that's it. I don't need to know the others cause I've made up my mind." His smile widened, this was good. He was learning a little and it was clear based on how he kept stepping out of the stance and then lowering back into it. That he understood the need for repetition.

(Terhune)
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[11:10] She nodded again, eyes roaming through his stance. The blade would be something he'd grow into, practicing with it now would likely make it feel lighter in the coming years as his body developed. For now it was a handicap, but it was one that would pay dividends, so she wouldn't suggest any shifts to his weaponry.

"The stance is one part. Its meant to direct and focus the mana flowing inside you into functioning a certain way."

She stood next to him, facing the tree out of her reach and adopting the stance once more. Her eyes began on him as she explained.

"Your mana empowers the parts of your body you tell it to, in the way you tell it to. For Garuda you're emphasizing your mana on speed, likely something that should come easily given your wind magic. When done properly-"

She looked to the tree and in the blink of an eye seemed to almost teleport through the few feet of difference separating them her blade cutting through a branch in that moment.

"-your opponent will have precious little time to react to your movements. For now, begin with the stance as you have been. Practice it till its second nature and you've found a comfortable grip that doesn't compromise your guard. Then, when that's easy, start to focus your mana.

Does that make sense?"

Her head tilted to her young pupil, curious to see if he'd absorbed everything.
(Signe Daman)
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[11:16] "Oh! Just like a sewer!" It struck him like a bolt of lightening. Realization over what his mana was. Just like the sewers had wider or narrower parts, just as it had grates or doors, so to did his mana. He took the stance evenly enough, shifting his grip so that the point of his blade was behind him.

His eyes focused before him as he focused the mana within his body. There was no pain or even strain as he did so. In fact the lightening-like burns across his frame began to glow a soft green as he flushed mana through them. No doubt far to much than he should but in those moments he had no thought to them.

His blade swung fast, but not as fast as the magi needed. The great weapon cutting through the air almost in slow motion to him but surely to the average non-magi it was a master's swing. He knew it wasn't what he needed so the swing continued it's arc and as it did his body shifted in a step. Repeating the strike on the opposing side. Trying to perfect the swing so that he had no faults or slackness in his swings.

Still, he seemed to be learning slowly. Each swing brought small mistakes in his footing or even on his grip of the hilt. Slowly he started to work his way through each mistake. After a few minutes he looked over at Signe. "Like this o-" As he spoke the words, the arc of his blade went to far and cast him off balance. Toppling the youth with it's weight and sending him to the dirt.

"Ouch, d-don't laugh I'll fix it." As he spoke his gaze flicked up to his teacher.
(Terhune)
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[11:23] She smiled but didn't laugh, sheathing her own blade.

"I wouldn't laugh at something like this. Your determination, your drive, both are admirable. I cannot see what Barsburg thought was unfit for service, as I rarely see such a drive to improve and succeed."

She wasn't one to give praise of this sort easily, but he reminded her of herself. Especially in his determination, the very attribute that she attuned to the stars with, and for.

"I know you'll fix it. You've shown me that through your actions. One step at a time."

There was a hint of pride in her voice. Seemingly not from her, though it was clear she was a proud woman, but pride in the steps her new student was taking. Nothing pleased her more than to see someone fail, and refuse to even let that slow them down. To see them get back up as if it was only a minor fall and continue onward harder than before.

The glow of her wings had intensified slightly in that pride, motes of stardust floating about the young man from her aura.

She remained at his side, watching his form, offering small corrections if any mistake seemed to be stubborn, but otherwise content to let him figure it out on his own.
(Signe Daman)
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[11:33] Terhune picked himself up quickly, his feet finding purchase under him in a flash as he hoped back up. Though, he didn't retake the stance just yet. Instead his focus settled upon Signe, listening to the woman's words. His smile only widened as he thought about Barsburg.

"I-I don't know they just d-didn't want me. I didn't think anyone did." His smile faltered just a little, in fact he'd come to expect the worst out of others but perhaps more so. He'd come to expect failure out of himself. After-all if even the Machine, which found a spot for every cog, didn't take him. What hope could he have?

Perhaps that's where his drive came from. A drive that was for the first time in since the Barsburgians took control of Osrona. Was being encouraged again. The paranoia remained, somewhere in his mind he was waiting to be laughed at but in that moment? On the surface? He was only smiling, tears springing to his eyes as he took in the praise, the confidence, in his ability.

Furthermore he felt... Calmed, just as he had when he'd met the spirit. When he'd named her Willow, it was that same feeling. Except this wasn't some otherworldly being that he was interacting with. No it was just a normal person of flesh and blood.

Shifting back he brought a hand up to his face, wiping away the tears and snot with the back of his sleeve. Then he took his stance once more and began to work on it. Approaching it with a slow, methodical, almost perfectionist approach. He'd spent enough time under the Machine to develop some of their best traits.

Perhaps, that understanding of the fragility of the world. Theat understanding of the harsh, emotionless, drive of the Empire. Which would serve as a guide for him in the future. That is if he survived long enough and gained the courage to fight a real battle.
(Terhune)
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[11:45] She continued watching him for a time, letting him practice time and time again before finally extending one of her claws, palm side up as if saying stop.

"Alright alright. That's enough for now. I know, you want to perfect it in one sitting. But you have to rest sometimes too. Or else you're gonna hurt yourself.

Now. I can be busy. Very busy. But, there's a cadet with a katana and a lightning aura named Sh'zar. He's another student of mine, and at about your skill and mana level.

He's also from a small town that was near Osrona, though he wasn't really familiar with the whole Barsburg thing. Still, he'll understand about trying to adapt to Myllenoris."

She could already hear Waylan telling her she had another student, as proof of her good mentorship skills. Something she'd protest about for sure.

"For now though. I need to rest, and you should take a break. You can practice again more on your own later."

Her gaze was stern, but the smile hadn't left her face. It wasn't a request but it wasn't a hard command. Somewhere in the middle it seemed.
(Signe Daman)
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[11:51] Terhune's eyes widened slightly, in recognition, he knew Sh'zar amusingly enough. Still, he didn't say anything just yet. Instead allowing his teacher to finish her conversation. Though, as she talked about him he realized that Sh'zar had been very stingy with actual details about himself. It was interesting hearing the truth.

Being busy though made sense. After-all everyone had a debt to pay back to society. The debt needed paid and elder magi where often the one's who paid the most. "I'll seek out Sh'zar, luckily I sold him some mithril a while back. He's not very good at bargaining but he is really." He paused his gaze still flittering away from time to time. "Intense."

After a few more moments he'd give a nod. "I'll rest, I promise." Of course it was clear that the definitions of rest where blurred when it came to those who'd not lived within the Machine's cogs. Still, he probably would sleep eventually. Once exhaustion claimed him in some degree.
(Terhune)
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[11:53] A nod greeted that response.

"Excellent. You can always ask me for further training. I can't promise I'll always have the time, but I will do my best to make some for you."

She did mean it, though she was incredibly busy with collecting money for Waylan's church and still doing guard duty. Yet, she'd sneak it in anytime she could.

"Alright, I'm going to head back into town Terhune, to get some sleep. I'll see you around."

But before she left she smiled slightly with one last comment.

"And good work today."
(Signe Daman)
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[11:54] Terhune's head bobbed in a nod, offering a wave to the older woman as she walked back into town. For him though his feet turned south and he walked further into the woods. No doubt to practice in more peace.
(Terhune)