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 Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:23 am
Ala was concentrating more on blocking the attacks, so when Haruki said something about moving, she realized that she'd hardly budged. Maybe shifting some would help? She moved a foot with her next block. Hey, that was easier.
Unfortuantly, that thought brought her another hit. Darn it, she should be focusing on the attacks, not daydreaming! She redirected the next jab and started to move to block another swipe and almost tripped over her own feet. Okay, so she'd forgotten to change her stance again.
Recovering her balance, Ala tried to remember to both block and move.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:37 am
Well she was trying. He had to give her that. Trying didn't mean succeeding though, and it certainly didn't mean he was going to go easier on her to lower to that level. Haruki truly believed that pushing people to their limits by whatever means was the way to force them to grow to that level.
Wether it was good, or not.
Still, she was doing a bit better than when she was standing like a stone statue. There was a definite flow to battle. She might just be picking it up now. Or... not. She'd nearly tripped over herself that time. Well, there was more practice to be done. She'd figure it out eventually. At least that was his hope.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:42 am
Ala might have been doing better if it weren't for the fact that every mistake she made caused her to get more and more irritated with herself, which, in turn, caused her to mess up again. The girl frowned, trying to keep a flow going to the blocks.
She was improving, some. Most of the time she remembered to move as well and was starting to miss less. She was breathing heavily, slowly wearing out. She probably would have been sweating, if it weren't for the lack of those glands.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:53 am
And that, was why Haruki liked to keep everything in perspective. Losing your calm meant losing all clear thought. That lead to your downfall. Mind you, this wasn't keeping a positive spin on things. It simply meant to look at it for what it was and not make it into more or less. It also meant never letting anything go to your head. Which was what Ala was doing.
After a few more swings the teacher stopped, tapping a finger against the wood in his ahnds as he watched the girl. She hadn't completed to his standards yet, he wanted her to be better before he let her off the hook. Still, she needed a rest, he wasn't trying to run her to death. "You may have a five minute break. However I suggest you get ready at after four minutes and forty-five seconds. You will be expected to block an attack at after exactly five minutes." With that said he walked over and plucked up his book before flipping to the page he'd been at.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:02 am
Ala was glad for the break. She walked over to plop down on the grass next to her dragon. Bob grinned widely at her, his tail wagging a bit. She frowned and shoved at his shoulder before leaning against him. She just rested there for a while until her breathing slowed back to normal.
She still had some time, so she thought about what she was doing wrong. She had to remember to move her feet and keep her balance. And remember to also block the attacks and how.
Sighing, the girl got up and headed back to where she'd been standing earlier. She took advantage of the time to shift her feet about some before she'd have to expect an attack from the teacher.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:09 am
Haruki was counting off the time in his head while browsing over the pages. The book, however; was only getting partial attention. He couldn't be slacking off on the job, which would be reading in his case. As it was what he did in his free time.
So as the he counted off the fourth minute he once again snapped the book closed and traded witht he ground for his staff. Back to work. Hopefully she thought about what she was doing wrong in her free time. If not, she might end up with a few new bumps on her head.
Fifty-eight, fifty-nine. Five minutes. With that he quickly swung the staff at the girl's side to signify the beginning of round two. "Think and plan ahead. How best can you move from one form to another as you're blocking the current attack. If you're one step ahead of your opponent you can block an attack easily." Well, easier.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:15 am
Crack! Round two began with the sound of wood hitting wood. A good start, at least. Ala tried to put what the teacher said into practice, trying to figure out where she could go next. She had a string of four blocked attacks in before Haruki managed to add another bruise to the ongoing collection.
Ala frowned as wood contacted with flesh. She managed to block the next attack, though. Perhaps she wasn't letting it get to her as much. Or not. The next attack struck as well.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:21 am
Good, good, good. Oh maybe she had really thought about it and... Nevermind. He was obviously giving her too much credit there. Well just keep trying, she was gettign somewhere. closer to being to a standard he could at least leave practicing onher own.
And hope that perhaps she was better at magic, or that using a staff just wasn't her forte. Though anything could be learned with practice and effort. So if Alaqua was failing to defend herself it was her own lack of effort or good sense. So more practice wouldbe needed for the time being.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:29 am
Well, if Ala didn't meet Haruki's expectations soon, she'd no longer be grey, but black and blue. And very sore. The girl was wondering if the teacher would ever let up and let her leave.
She got another string going, this time of three, then one following it of three again. Then she missed two in a row. Alaqua was starting to get a bit frustrated. If Haruki didn't end class soon, she might be walking out on another battle class. Well, okay, Lilly technically walked out on that class...
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:38 am
Technically the bruises wouldn't show through her fur, but Haruki had to admit. Perhaps it was time to let her go. She was blocking more now. Getting hit... a little less. He didn't want to have to leave her in the infirmary overnight and explain to a parent, but there would be another lecture.
While he gave her a bag of ice.
It wasn't as if he could keep her here forever practicing. He had to make lunch for Revon later. So, seeing as there where some time constraints he'd let the girl off. But she'd better practice.
After a few more swings he halted before turning to pluck up his book without a word until he was back upright and holding outhis hand for the other staff. "You could use more practice." Was the greeting she got. What a treat for al the effort. "Let's get you a bag of ice while I explain a few things in particular you could practice."
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:42 am
Ala blinked at the rather abrupt end to the class. Startled, she handed over the staff when requested. Well, she figured she could use more work. But, she nodded and motioned for Bob to get his lazy rear in gear and follow them. The dragon gave a huff, but stood and walked over to where Ala was standing.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:50 am
"You need to practice keeping your coordination of course. If you have natural ability with climbing I would assume that your coordination would be better." which was why he'd thought she'd do well at this. "However, that is not all you should work on." He led them to the supply closet for medical supplies before leaving her outside to retrieve an icepack and bring it out for her.
"You need to concentrate only on what's before you." He assumed she was thinking too much about her last battle classes bad ending durring the class. "If you assume that things will go poorly from the start they are bound to go poorly in the end. This is called a self fulfilling prophecy. You can bring your own downfall upon yourself." It was Haruki's thoughts that she just needed to keep her mind on the target and stop worrying quite so much. She should want to improve yes, but if she became too distracted with that she would never reach her goal. "So think about those things while you practice. Also, do not be afraid to to try something new. Don't stick to only what I taught you, try new methods. I simply gave you a base to work up from."
Well, now that that was done. He needed to return the staves and go get Revon to head home for lunch. "Now, with that in mind. Remember to practice and you are excused as soon as we reach the lobby." He wasn't about to let her go wandering around in the building.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:57 am
Alaqua frowned. Coordination for climbing and for fighting were different. Climbing just meant going from limb to limb; you could see your entire path. In fighting, things changed and were more unpredictable. And you were doing more things than just reaching for the next limb.
The girl took the ice pack and applied it to one of the several bruised areas she now had while she listened to Haruki talk. Well, she'd keep that in mind when she practiced at home. And she planned on practicing. There was no way she'd not do that. Besides, she wanted to come out of the next battle class with a considerable fewer amount of bruises.
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