Zandelia watched Ana from the side, a small distance away but more than enough to find no danger from the learning girl. In many ways she was infinitely pleased with the younger woman, she showed a penchant for learning that would prove useful in her quest for survival – not to mention in Zandelia’s own desires to use her for the greater advancement of her cause, Crimson Edge or not. Howe3ver, there was a warning in her mind from many years ago that gave her pause for caution in pursuing such a conclusion with unabashed swiftness. She had learnt very fast indeed so many years ago, so fast in fact she had outgrown the chains of her domination faster than they could be replaced. Though Zandelia’s own methods were far more layered and less blunt than those she remembered being used on herself she knew when it was time to tread slowly.
I do not want her thinking she can find better elsewhere after all, her bond to me more one of necessity than anything so far. Delicate, fragile and indistinct. I must forge the bond stronger before she grows to individualistic to ever enthrall she mused as her practiced gaze took in Ana’s movements and techniques.
She was practical in how she performed the repetitions, but she was mechanical due to the fact that she was learning by mimicry, which in all fairness was to be expected for someone completely new to the weapon she was trying to learn. Experience and time would work their inevitable magic to bring her skills together to form a newly-forged masterpiece. Still, Zandelia smiled to herself as she was finally able to accept that the girl was ready for the more enjoyably useful portion of the lesson – practical application. She also noted how Ana seemed to exude a slight tentativeness, as if she were truly worried she were a failure, something Zandelia found endearing. She wondered whether it was more down to wishing to excel more than the desire to please her teacher. She could hope for both, though perhaps in vain.
“God, you are learning. You need to cultivate more fluidity of movement to be called competent but for a novice you learn quickly,” Zandelia pointed out in a semi-encouraging tone, “but your footwork could use work and practice will bring out the warrior within soon enough. Perhaps sooner than later” she grinned a little as she set about pulling her practice tonfa back into her hands, their familiarity lending her more confidence now.
“Now, on to something more enjoyable perhaps. Let us see how you move when faced with a real opponent – me. I shall not hurt you and I doubt you could hurt me. Still, practical experience is the only experience worth having. I shall attack and you shall block my attacks as best you can Ana, we will see how you do” she finished as she came to stand in front of the girl now, legs shoulder’s width apart as she gave her time to assimilate what was about to occur.
She set about twirling her tonfa around her in the circular guard she had grown so used to, the most basic tool in her repertoire. As she managed to get it going with some considerable speed she began to add a few flourishes here and there, a feint attack outwards with her right before smoothly flowing back into the guard movement followed by another with her left. It was the rhythm she would use against Ana and afforded the girl time to analyze and predict it well enough. Once she was confident the knowledge had been assimilated she stepped forwards and came within striking range of her pupil. She chuckled, a small thing but sounding slightly portentous perhaps.
“Follow the rhythm and you shall come to no harm, forget it and you’ll probably earn some bruises to learn by girl. They never hurt anyone. Begin!” she spoke out louder now. She decided to shout out her attacks along with her movements.
“To your left!” she barked as she lashed her right tonfa out in a solid horizontal bludgeoning of Ana’s shield, an attack easy enough to block and stop, wood upon wood sending shock waves down each person’s arms. Zandelia was used to it but she knew Ana would need to learn to cope with it sooner rather than later – better to learn with Zandelia after all.
“Right!” she barked next as she swiftly pulled her right tonfa back into her guard and snaked out her left one in a vertical attack to be blocked by Ana’s sword this time, parried and sent out to the side before being brought back into her guard.
“Good! Now we go on instinct and not words! Defend yourself girl!” she barked as she began to launch out her attack without speaking.
She kept up the rhythm she had first established for the first barrage of attacks – shield then weapon, shield then weapon. As Ana grew used to it and built up some confidence she shifted to shield – shield and then sword – sword. She then alternated at random and began to allow some attacks to come in at differing angles. A clip towards her legs to be blocked by the shield followed by an upwards strike to be pushed down towards the ground by the sword. She kept her pace slow and the strength of her attacks to a minimum as much as she could as she knew her skill far outstripped Ana’s and wished not to harm her untowardly. The volleys continued for some time before Zandelia relented and stepped backwards a few paces, sliding her practice tonfa into her left hand alone and nodding at the girl.
“You did well enough. How do you feel lass” she asked her, the first glimmerings of care for the girl being revealed into the open now.
oocHey there! You can use the examples I gave you and create your own on top of them. Feel free to control Zandelia as much as you think necessary to get the job done. We can stop here with your post if you want? Or we can continue. It’s up to you
Tis funny, otherwise it can go in for grading.. >.>
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