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 Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:06 pm
Nilah44:
The girl's excitement was noticed by Qoraekai and he flashed her a characteristic smirk. It was even better that she didn't fall down on their first test. As she reset herself, so did Qora. After that first in it a shove, he got into position as if he were trying to lunge at her and knock her down. Still, not with extreme force but still enough of a shove.
"After you have a good base from which to start, everything else is a little bit easier. If you're wielding bigger weapons such as a sword or hammer, or even a shield, you'll have to regain a new sense of balance as the weight of the weapon will need some getting used to as well as feeling as its an extension of yourself. For my way of fighting..." He said as he pulled out his daggers again. "It just lengthens my arms a little so no readjustment is needed."
As they continued, he would gradually increase the force he was using to further test her. She did very well and had a desire to learn which helped. Perhaps after this he could let her choose a weapon, though he'd probably need to get some practice ones...
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:06 pm
Aari eyed the daggers shown to her, and felt a small smile rise. Good. Her knives that she used should not affect what she learned here too much, then. Her knives... Her cheeks burned at the realization... She had forgotten about them in her panic, hidden under her skirt sheathed to her thighs. She really did still have a long way to go. For a while, she let the topic go and focused on getting her base right so that the man couldn't knock her back. She was getting better, but there was only so much a lady of her stature could resist!
Eventually, she did pull the knives out, giving Qora a bashful look. She was so silly to have forgotten about them... "I have been sparring with these. They're not very sharp, so you do not have to worry about one touching you. ...I did not expect to need them today." Her golden gaze shifted away. "I suppose I should have known better."
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:08 pm
Nilah44:
Qoraekai resisted the urge to hide his eyes. So she had been practicing with knives but probably hadn't started with the basics. He could tell she at least wasn't comfortable with them or confident enough other wise she would have at least tried to use them.
He shook his head. "In times of danger, you fall back to muscle memory. If you don't have the practice, you won't resort to it. You just need more practice is all. It's good that you at least have some knowledge of handing a weapon and have some yourself. "
Aari had some knowledge so it wouldn't be difficult to teach her. He suddenly noticed how dark it was getting in the alley. "Hmm. The streets aren't safe at night so you should probably make your way home, wherever that is. We can meet up again. Say in about a week? There's a small grove of trees north of here, we should be safe to practice there if you wish. "
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:09 pm
Brow rising, Aari felt herself relax a little. More practice. That was all. Raising her chin, she gave a firm nod. She was determined to practice, certainly.
Glancing around the alley, she couldn't help a soft groan. She was about to walk back to the camp empty handed... but, it was better than not getting back to camp at all, which had almost been the case. Halim would just have to wait a little longer. Meet up again? Unconsciously, Aari straightened her back. Qora was taking her seriously, and was willing to help! She would show him that it wasn't a waste of time! ..not that he had ever made it seem like he considered it a waste, but she was going to prove it anyway! "That sounds perfect," she assured with a nod. "Thank you, Qoraekai. I truly appreciate the training, and what you did for me today."
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:11 pm
Nilah44:
Qora smiled and shook his head. "It's no problem at all, I assure you. If someone was mishandling my wife I would hope someone with the knowledge of self protection would stand up and do the right thing." Irro probably wouldn't have been in the situation that Aari was and would likely fight back to some extent. He nodded to her. "So I'll see you north of town in a week." He winked at her but still waited for her to leave first. Whether she knew it or not, he would follow her from a distance on her way home. Not because he wanted to know where she lived, but because he wanted to make sure she made it home safely.
-----
A week later he hid himself in the grove. It was about mid day and he wasn't quite sure when Aari was going to show up so he had cleared his day to do whatever he needed to do. Irro understood of course so he was happy enough to spend the day lounging in the grove waiting for his pupil.
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:12 pm
A week had passed, and Aari clenched her hands as she approached the designated meeting field. For the sake of practice, she hadn't bothered sharpening her blades, and this time had the two of them sheathed around her hips for easier grabbing. She had wanted to get there early, unable to remember if Qora had set a time or not, but things around camp had been hectic that morning. So, it was a little after midday before she stepped into the grove, eyes looking around curiously. "Qoraekai? Are you here yet?" she called out, one hand on a blade handle. Get used to holding it when it uncertain situations...
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:13 pm
Nilah44:
A voice roused him from his small nap but relaxed as soon as he recognized the source. He watched her from the tree he was in for a few moments, glad to see a few small changes in her. The blades now on her hips and a hand hesitantly on them. He wondered if she had practiced in the past week since they had seen each other.
With a smirk, he dropped down from the tree behind her to see her reaction. "What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?" He teased.
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:15 pm
The silence made her purse her lips and sigh. Hopefully, he hadn't gotten tired of waiting for- The thud from behind brought a rather undesired reaction from her. Shrieking with surprise, she spun and stumbled backward. The hand holding the knife gave the handle a yank, but trembling hands made the knife flop right to the ground. That was when the voice registered, and she looked over to her trainer with a dark and hot face filled with embarrassment. "I am sorry," she murmured needlessly, bending to pluck up the fallen blade.
Did.. he really think she was pretty? "I hope I did not keep you waiting long," she offered, tucking the knife away again.
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:18 pm
Nilah44:
He tried to hold back his laugh but was unsuccessful. "I'm sorry I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. You came into this much better prepared though, so don't be flustered. Like I said previously, it just takes practice."
Qora leaned against the tree he had just been in a moment ago. "When I got home I realized I hadn't set a time. And, not really knowing how to find you, just cleared my day. No worries, I was enjoying the peace out here away from the city." He looked her over once more. "Are you doing okay?" He raised an eyebrow at her as a brother might to a sister.
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:18 pm
Despite still being completely embarrassed, Aari couldn't help a hint of a smile rising. That had to have been quite amusing to watch. Being told she looked better prepared despite it all was a confidence boost as well.
A little nod of relief was given when no time frame was clarified, her eyes widening slightly. He really was taking her seriously, if he cleared his day just for this. Okay? She opened her mouth to reply, but paused. Be honest... "I.. have been rather frustrated since that day at the market. I was there thinking I had made some progress, only to find out I have made almost none at all." Her gaze shifted away, brow knitting. "I know I still have much to learn.. but feeling myself freeze up like I had.. it has distressed me the more time I spend thinking on it."
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:19 pm
Nilah44:
"Then don't think on it." The oban said simply with a shrug of his shoulders. "If you're going to be upset dwelling on it, put that energy into moving forward and past that incident. Be grateful to the gods that it wasn't a worse situation and do what you can to make sure it never happens again."
Qora pushed himself up from leaning on the tree. "If you dwell on the past you have no room for the future."
He approached her again. "Now I think it's safe to assume you're ready to move on both from that event and in training? "
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:27 pm
Her cheeks flushed slightly as Qora spoke, but she pressed her lips and nodded. After all, it was the future she was there for. "You are absolutely right," she assured, making herself stand taller again. "Mistakes are to be learned from and grown from." She braced herself as she had been taught in her last lesson and nodded, trying to hold herself more firmly. "I am ready."
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:29 pm
Nilah44:
Nodding back to her, he mimicked her stance but a safe distance away. "Today, we're going to practice a simple thrust. Keep in mind your balance as you do so as the forward momentum will make your body want to move. Which, if you find it easier you can take a step as you do." Qora demonstrated just thrusting with one of his daggers and then once taking a step as he did so. "This is your most basic form of defense when using a weapon." He motioned for her to try it herself, ready to jump in to catch her to keep her from falling on a knife.
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:31 pm
A simple thrust. She could do that, right? After all, she had already done a little sparring! ...She got her butt kicked every time, but still! She pulled out one knife and watched the example. Okay. She tried to do it without the step forward, but she hesitated in reaching out very far. She reset and took the step this time, able to put a little more reach and force into the thrust. "Like that?" she asked, looking to Qora for his judgement.
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Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 2:32 pm
Nilah44:
After her second attempt, Qoraekai nodded. "YUP. That's it. Pretty simple. Make sure to keep a good grip so that your wrist doesn't buckle when you make contact with your target." He held up a finger then, asking her to wait a moment
He went around one of the trees and pulled out a small training dummy with a rope. Throwing the rope over a tree limb, he held the other end. "Not that I don't trust you. " He said with a smile. "But just in case."
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