* thoughts*

~sound effects~

+++++

Chapter 12: Training again

They both moved to Brairan’s office, where he served tea, while listening to Neurons worries.

As Neuron told him about his difficulties of hitting the rabbits he nodded, and when Neuron finally came to stop, he began to explain.

“Well your difficulty of hitting moving targets, is, because you aren`t used to it, and second for it being more difficult to hit them is, because you have gotten too accustomed to the big targets, where you basically just have to aim at the middle of a big circle, which is relatively easy.”

“So what can I do?”

“We`ll have to change the targets at witch you are shooting, we`ll have to make them irregular, or even better draw them and fasten them to the targets.”

“Well, so that you know, I can`t draw”

“Oh, don´t worry, I know of one who can, just do what you won`t, and then come back tomorrow, then you will find a surprise” Said Brairan with a glow in his eyes that made him look years younger.

“Thank you, really. So for what I can do now, hmmm, oh, I know, can you tell me where the training hall is?”

“Why”

“I need to learn some close range combat, today taught me, that hitting something that’s moving is really hard, so if someone manages to block my arrows and it comes to a close ranged fight i`m probably screwed”

“Well, I can`t disagree”

“But, why don´t you go over to Warnton?”

“Häh?”

“Oh, I thought you knew already, but Warnton is quite the Weapon maniac.” He said with a grin “And he knows how to fight with them too, Warnton sometimes even goes to the training hall just to spar with the instructor there.”

“And you think he would teach me”

“Yeah, I think so”

“Good bye then, I can`t wait for tomorrow to come” he said while he hurriedly run outside

“Hi Warnton”

“Oh hello, back so soon?” and noticing the now empty quiver, “what happened, do you need more arrows?”

“No” and the whining began once again

-------------

“Ah I see, and Brairan recommended me to teach you?”

“Yup”

“Oh, I feel flattered, now come with me, I have something to show to you”

And with that being said, he went to a door leading to a small room, much like the one in the tailor`s shop, only that there was no table and the wall and floor where plastered with different weapons. Some looking so exotic, that Neuron couldn`t think of how they are being used, some were impaired, others looked like tiny pitchforks, well to sum it up it was paradise for a weapon maniac. But Neuron noticed something, “Why are there no Bows around”

“Kuahaha, I expected you to notice it, well it’s because the only weapon I have trouble with is the bow, and in this room I put only weapons I am able to use”

“Wow, you seriously are a maniac”

“Thanks, but now browse through and pick any weapon you like”

“You don´t have to say it twice” and with a grin on his face only children can show, when it’s time to unpack presents, Neuron entered the room

And Neuron eagerly began his task of finding a weapon for him, he swung every weapon inside, beginning with weapons he knew, like swords and daggers, but he couldn`t get accustomed to them.

So he now tried out two short swords which he could use due to his ambidextrous skill. They felt quite nice so he put them to the side. He separated those into weapons he may be able to use., and those he would never touch, like the heavier weapons, but it was not because he couldn`t even lift them!

So the pile with weapons he wouldn`t use grew steadily, but the other pile remained small, because he only put paired weapons there, because he thought it cool, fighting with two weapons, and on the other hand those were by far the lighter ones, but of course this wasn`t the main reason.

After he was finally done browsing through every weapon, and playing around with each he could lift, he opened the door and said:”Hey Warnton, I have chosen some”

“Finally!”

“Why”

“Two hours are long past, admit it, you played around with them didn`t you” ~Big Grin~

“No”, but at the glance he received he reluctantly admitted it

“Good, now let’s see what you have chosen”

And so Neuron showed him the pile of weapons, “Oh, I see, so you are going two handed, only that you know, this requires much concentration, and you have to move the weapons as they are one, do you still want to learn their usage?

“Yes I do”

“Good, then now take a weapon and attack me”

“Really, here?”

“Do it already!”

“Ok, but don`t die”

“Kuahahaha, just try to land a hit, I`m looking forward to it” and with that his demeanor changed, he wasn`t the easygoing Blacksmith anymore.

After witnessing this Neuron felt a shiver running down his spine,

*Ok, let’s start*

With that he now took the two short swords and charged towards Warnton, but he sidestepped him, and then neuron felt a sharp pain on his neck, before dropping to the ground.

“Don`t charge recklessly, when you use two weapons at the same time, you can`t use force, because each arm holds a weapon, so their strength lies in surprise and speed, try to distract your enemy with a wide swing, and then stab him in the side while he blocks, now do it” He explained, while he took a one handed sword.

Neuron soon tried it but still failed, because Warnton somehow managed to block both of his attempts to harm him with his sword.

“Good, now try another weapon”

“Really, I feel quite good with those”

“No, you should try out all those you chose, and then still more, till you find your most fitting weapon, and it can`t hurt to know how to use others too, so you can surprise your enemy, or take his weapon and use it against him, but the biggest advantage of knowing how to fight with all weapons is, that you know how your enemy can use them”

So they tried all other weapons, the fork witch Warnton named Sai, the daggers, chain and sickle, well he even had to use weapons he didn`t select, and Warnton also changed his weapon each time, Neuron did.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

After two hours of just getting hit and being lectured Neurons head began to hurt and so he sat down.

“Wait, I can`t go on anymore, how about a little break”

“Good, I think I know which weapon you should use, just wait here, I’ll be back shortly”

*huh, I thought each of his weapons is inside this room*

Soon after Warnton came back with a pouch over his shoulder

“Here” he said while giving him the pouch, “I haven`t gotten used to those weapons yet, but I`m sure I know what weapons you can use now, and this being those I can`t”

And while unpacking them Neuron noticed something

“So why are all those weapons throwing ones?”

“Ähm, this is a secret of mine, don`t tell it to others, especially not to Brairan”

“Promise”

And after umming and erring for a bit he finally spit out his secret; “I`m no good when it comes to aiming”

*That’s it, this is his big secret!* ~pffffft~

“Oi, don´t laugh, it’s quite hard to throw them, so that they get stuck in the target” he tried to justify his shortcoming

“Good, so how did you find out, that those are the weapons for me?

“I figured it out, after you nearly hit me with that dagger you threw at me before”

“Ähm, sorry”

“No no, don`t be, from that I finally found the weapons for you, but remember no one in their right mind would throw his weapon at the enemy when he hasn`t another!”

“Ok”

So now, choose your weapon

Neuron came here, to learn close combat, not to learn how to throw knives, but he found something he could use in that pile, that where two axes, but they where vastly different, than the battle axes he saw in that room before. The most noticeable difference was, the handle, it was much shorter, and curved at the end, also the blade was different, it wasn`t as big and the blade was also straight, and not curved.

Because they piqued his interest he picked them up, and swung them around, noticing, that their curved handle made it easier to swing them, and also harder to let them slip out of his hands, like what happened to him with one of the short swords, to his utter embarrassment. While swinging he noticed, that because they where heavier at the tip they could also hit harder than a sword, producing more force on impact.

While he swung them around Warnton was watching him *Not bad*

“So now let’s spar, try to hit me, but remember, when fighting with two handed weapons what do you have to do?”

“Using them as if they were meant to be together, and to circle around myself while fighting to distract the enemy, using one weapon to distract, the other to hit,…”

Like this he repeated all the lessons Warnton had drilled into him

“Good, now let’s see if you can also use those tactics while fighting”

And thus began their sparring, in the process Neuron even gained

* Axe mastery beginner Lv1

Increases attack damage +10%

Increases critical hit chance +3%

They switched between Neuron and Warnton attacking, while Warnton changed his weapon frequently and Neuron sticking to his axes. This was done to give Neuron the possibility to try how to use his weapon best to defend and attack.

After another hour of fighting Warnton told Neuron to stop.

“Now try out those other weapons, try the throwing knives for starters” After saying this Warnton brought a Target

“Did you steal it from Brairan?”

“Yup, and till today he doesn`t know who did it ehehe”

“So now try to throw those daggers”

Neuron tried, but he couldn`t manage any knife to stay stuck in it, either they landed flat on it, or with the hilt, so he changed the distance throwing them again, and it worked, they all hit.

*So apparently the distance at which they are thrown effects, if they get stuck or not, now to see what other weapons he gave me*

Now Neuron was throwing vastly different weapons at the target, like shuriken, darts, chakrams, kunai, each time he picked up a weapon Warnton would give him the name of it. The only weapon he wasn`t allowed to use was something called Boomerang, the explanation being, that this weapon was restricted for being used indoors.

After he tried out everything Neuron decided to throw the axes too, because he assumed that them being inside the pouch meant that they were also throwing weapons, although he only used them for close quarter combat.

While throwing them he noticed that it was quite hard to get them stuck inside the target. Because unlike the other weapons he threw they were the most impaired.

Like all axes they are heavier at the head, and thus the center while spinning lies there, and so they have a rather strange flying stile.

“Good, now lets train close combat again” interrupted him Warnton

And like this Neuron alternated between throwing weapons and close combat training, when finally

* New skill: throw: beginner Lv1

Increases damage by 10%

Increases accuracy by 3%

After he got the skill he noticed, that he didn`t had to pay much attention of his distance towards the target, because apparently the skill works as amplifier.

While training he also heard some noise coming from the archery

*I wonder what Brairan is up to?*

End Chapter 12

Comments are appreciated, as always

So, please tell me what you think of my FF, and if you have pointers, on how I can improve my writing, or other things, feel free to point them out.