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Realm of Destruction
The Morning Practice

The Morning Practice

The sounds of swords hitting each other echoes through the training hall. Panting, quick footsteps, the girl has sweat beads rolling down her face, even as the teacher easily parries and counters her attacks.

"Don't step too far ahead Nerys, you are getting too impatient." The man advises the girl as he puts his feet next to her's and putting her in a defeated position, holding her main hand by the wrist and putting the practice sword against her neck.

He lets the girl go and takes a few steps back, bows in a respectful manner. He holds up his sword in his right hand and puts his left behind him. The girl catches her breath, she nods at the man. He returns the gesture, giving the signal for the girl to begin.

Her stance doesn't seem so perfect, and makes her quite vulnerable. The man takes the moment to teach. He takes a quick step towards her, and goes on to hit her sword moving it away and making her open for an off-hand, but the girl reads his intention. She moves her sword away, holds it with two hands up to her body and tries to stab him.

The girl not being quick enough the teacher blocks her attack with his sword easily, the girl stands parallel to the man both of them pushing their swords together and waiting for an opportunity. Thinking she found one she goes to sweep the teacher off his feet with her right leg. The man flicks his sword away and takes a step back evading her strong attack.

The girl puts her weight on her right leg, swings in a 90 degrees to kick him recklessly in a fast motion. The man not expecting the sudden attack, takes the swift kick to his chest knocking the wind out of him slightly. The girl proceeds to mercilessly attack, swinging the sword to wound her opponent's leg then circling the attack around changing the swing into a stab. And to both of their surprise the teacher got tricked by the feint. But just barely moved out of the way.

"Wow, you are getting better at this may i say." The girl retreats quickly and they go back to circling each other like lions as the man starts sweating while the girl is smiling.

"Where did the kick come from? Not a style i thaught you."

"Because you are not a woman Zillion! I saw women fighters use their flexibility in sword fights like Novian dancers when they were practicing!" They both laugh at the girl's comment making light hearted fun of the fighting style. True enough women fighters have to use their swiftness and flexibility to their advantage against men on the battlefield who have more strength.

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The girl takes a deep breath and re-adjusts her stance. Locks both hands on the sword's handle and holds it up to her face pointing towards her teacher, keeping her left leg straight forward and her right slightly bend supporting most of her weight.

"You sure you want the style of the wild cat? Thought the raven would fit you better, lady"

The girl smirks "I lose one sword harder than two light blades don't i?"

The teacher smiles "So be it." He starts walking towards her waiting for the attack knowing the wild cat is an attacking style. The girl suddenly swings around, gaining huge amounts of momentum, she swings her sword around herself in a sweeping motion towards his head. He put up his left hand that seemed to have a steel plating on it covering his left hand completely including his fingers, he uses it as a shield and hits her sword upwards. The girl on one leg from the swing, jumps away as the teacher counters with a quick stab, she raises the sword up to her face and puts her weight on her left leg this time.

She takes a quick kick to his left leg, he moves his leg away confidently, he swings his sword at her left leg that she attacked with. The girl confidently kicks his sword at the base of the blade with his other leg, kicking the sword away and she holds up her sword to his neck proudly.

"Maybe this style does suit me better." She smirks proudly. As she takes away her sword and takes a step back and holds it in her left arm.

He gets his sword and walks to the weapons holder and hangs his training sword as he is thinking deeply on her new fighting style.

"Be careful though, princess, a woman like you should not have such a style. The people might look down on you." He says while making a worried expression.

"I don't care what people think, i am not going to wait around for the enemy to attack me first when i can quickly take care of them my own!" Says the girl ignorantly as she puts the sword away as well.

"Fighting is a game of patience, not a test of skill." He says as he puts his hands together.

"Then what do you suggest my style should be?" The girl asks curiously

He leans in, smiles and whispers. "The Dragon."

The girl looks at her in slight disbelief and asks "The Dragon?"

"You know your father used the arts as well right? He could ask that old hag to teach it to you as well." Says Zillion shocking the girl slightly.

"He'd have me work as a maid before letting me learn the arts, Zillion." Says the princess in a discouraged voice.

"What if i talk to him? Maybe i could convience him." He smiles to brighten up the girl's mood.

"You could try, but i'm telling you it's no use!" She tries assuring him, and starts walking towards the door.

"We will see princess, until then take care." He bows slightly with his head as the girl walks away and waves at him.

The girl walks towards her room as she bumps into a maid.