A Professional Touch [Professional Longsword Training, Amaranth]

[Thracyn Caldor]

Third Brightening in the First Cycle of the Month of Pontius, Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV PF

The air was damp and cold as Thracyn Caldor stepped out of the squat stone building housing his apartment near the headquarters of his employer. He took a second to adjust to the still-biting winds that whipped through the city streets even now, late in winter, then set off for his destination, the training complex housed within the stone citadel of the Protectorat du Paix. His thoughts, perhaps inevitably as he set out on a new course of training, reverted back to his first class with the longsword, and in particular to his first instructor, Lieutenant Jasmine. She had been an excellent teacher, as well as an obvioulsy talented swordsman, 'Swordswoman', he mentally corrected, and he wondered if she might be teaching this next class as well. Of course, there was no way to be sure, and the young sergeant quickly put such thoughts from his mind as he strode through the grounds and towards the training complex.

He had dressed to fit the occasion, in old uniform pants and shirt and his regular leather boots. As an afterthought he had donned the elven steel cuirass he had salvaged from the Piper affair as well as bringing both of the elven steel longswords he had found, sheathed in their leather-wrapped cases on the cuirass' back. He had not thought to wear the armor, only to bring the swords, but after reconsidering he had donned the piece. He had a feeling he had better get used to fighting in the weight of armor, and what better way than to spend a solid three or four cycles doing just that?

Thracyn pushed open the door of the training complex and shut it with an invisible sigh of relief, thankful for the blast of heat that was evident as soon as he was back indoors. Shrugging out of the dark navy cloak he had worn on the walk over he nodded to fellow guardsmen and recruits and stepped forward to the desk in the center of the room, clearing his throat slightly before addressing the uniformed man sitting behind it.

"Serale. I'm Sergeant Caldor, here for intermediate longsword instruction."

[Amaranth]

The dwarf behind the desk glanced up as Thracyn approached, his eyes squinting behind his flashing spectacles as he stared down the young man. Sergeant Caldor might have been a hero among the younger recruits from his work with the vampire business... but the balding dwarf in the blue and gold uniform was clearly not impressed. But as the dwarf opened his mouth to speak, a strange thing happened. Instead of the gruff voice that one would expect, a rather feminine voice came from the dwarf instead... it became quickly apparent, however, that the voice wasn't coming from the dwarf at all, but rather from behind Thracyn. "It is good to see you again."

Lt. Jasmine looked the same as always in her usual uniform of blue and gold with the insignia of her rank boldly displayed there. Her auburn hair was tied neatly at the nape of her neck while her blue eyes sparkled with the easy friendliness she always seemed to radiate. "Are you ready for your longsword training? We'll have to go out into the courtyard which is unfortunately outside... but we won't remain cold for long." After waiting for Thracyn's response, Jasmine would then lead the young man back out the door and into the training courtyard. There were recruits and other members of the Protectorat milling around there, either taking part in training of their own or watching their peers.

Jasmine moved easily through them, the sword at her hip seemingly part of her body as she made for a clear space where she could instruct Sergeant Caldor in relative peace. They would be one-on-one on that brightening rather than the group training Thracyn had received in his basic. "You have been well, I trust?" The woman made light conversation as they finally arrived at their little section of the training courtyard, her eyes flashing merrily as she sent Thracyn a warm smile.

[Thracyn Caldor]

The dwarf's expression on Thracyn's arrival was not exactly disparaging but the young Medonian thought he had an idea of the thoughts running through the grizzled veteran's head. His newfound....well, it was certainly not fame, but reputation, perhaps, with the younger members of the Protectorat had certainly come with its' fair share of criticism as well. Thracyn still remembered the letter he had received after his recovery, congratulating him on a job well done but also promising a quick end to his career were he to ever disobey direct orders again. That part, of course, was not an official part of the 'story', but its' import had not been lost on the young sergeant.

With this in mind he nodded respectfully to the dwarf when something strange happened. A light contralto, pleasant and familiar, spoke where he had expected to hear a much deeper tone. He turned to find the source of the voice standing behind him and he smiled genuinely when Jasmine was revealed.

"Lieutenant," he offered with a salute before he nodded in response to her salutation. She looked the same as she had when she instructed him in the summer, though it seemed like much more time had passed than a few months. "It's good to see you as well."

"Are you ready for your longsword training? We'll have to go out into the courtyard which is unfortunately outside... but we won't remain cold for long." Jasmine said with a smile as she awaited Thracyn's response.

"I'm ready," he replied and he easily fell into step besides Jasmine as the pair left the warm confines of the training building and wound their way through the crowded courtyard. Recruits and older guardsmen were drilling with a variety of weapons across the flagstone surface, while a fair number of men stood to the side watching the action. Thracyn followed Jasmine as she led him to a relatively peaceful part of the yard and nodded in the affirmative in reply to her last question.

"Very well, thank you. How have you been?"

The pair continued to talk politely until Jasmine came to a stop in a mostly empty part of the courtyard and turned to meet Thracyn's eyes with a smile. He met her gaze and mirrored her expression with a small smile of his own.

"Ready when you are, Lieutenant."

[Amaranth]

Jasmine's smile was positively sunny as she unsheathed her blade, caressing along its length with her bright eyes before letting the sword hang casually at her side as she regarded Thracyn. "I have been well," she replied with a quick wink before finally settling down into the seriousness of the pending lesson.

"Before we do anything else, I would like to see your ready stance... just to make sure it is sound. Your stance is like the foundation for a building. Without a good foundation, you will surely fall... and die... and we do not want that happening, hmm?"

Stepping back, Jasmine would watch Thracyn closely while he did as he was instructed, being careful to note his foot placement, balance, and arm placement as well. Nodding as she inspected him, the woman then flashed the other a bright smile. "Very good. No offense meant of course... I just wanted to make sure you hadn't picked up any bad habits since our last lesson." Her statement was flavored with another wink, marking it for the jest it was in case there had been any doubt in Thracyn's mind. "And now..." Jasmine continued, raising her own blade before her. "I want you to come at me as though I was a foe."

[Thracyn Caldor]

Thracyn watched as Jasmine drew her sword with an almost liquid smoothness and let it hang casually by her side as she began the instruction for the brightening. She seemed loose and at ease and he nodded in the affirmative when she asked to see his ready stance, drawing one of the pair of elven steel longswords sheathed on his back and assuming a classic guard stance, feet shoulder width apart, one foot slightly advanced, his sword at an acute angle to Jasmine. He waited while she circled around him, noting the positioning of his body for a few moments before she reappeared in his field of vision with a smile.

"Very good. No offense meant of course... I just wanted to make sure you hadn't picked up any bad habits since our last lesson." Her statement was flavored with another wink, marking it for the jest it was in case there had been any doubt in Thracyn's mind. "And now..." Jasmine continued, raising her own blade before her. "I want you to come at me as though I was a foe."

"Yes ma'am," Thracyn smiled at the Lieutenant's command then took a pair of steps back before he raised his sword in salute, then immediately moved to the attack. He stepped forward with his right foot and swung his sword downward from his right in a diagonal slash across his body, planning to string together a series of slashing attacks using momentum and direction in his favor as he continued to step forward with every fresh swing.

[Amaranth]

Being of the female gender, Lt. Jasmine was bound to have less upper body strength than the sergeant, but she had been in the business of sword slinging for enough ordinations that she knew how to twist her weaknesses to her advantage. Light and quick, she darted into the fray, meeting each of Thracyn's blows with her own sword, though never directly. She wasn't foolish enough to try to get beneath his slashing sword... he would be able to easily overpower her that way. "Good," she breathed, feinting towards the right before slashing her sword towards the other's stomach. "Learn to string together not only a series of the same move, but a combination of different ones... and also, do not forget your footwork." As she spoke, Jasmine flitted around him, remaining just ahead of his attacks as she forced the man to move about their small corner of the courtyard.

Footwork was her speciality, after all.

"Everyone has a weakness... find it. Use it against them. Also use their strengths. I know your strengths and weaknesses, but what are mine?" It wasn't a question that Thracyn had to answer aloud, though he could if he wished it. Jasmine was just trying to make him think.

"Think ahead. Predict the next move. Keep thinking, keep moving. Do you know where I'll strike next?" As the last words fell from her lips, Jasmine jumped backwards, twisting her body to strike out at Thracyn's left side in a quick thrust.

[Thracyn Caldor]

Thracyn managed a nod of acknowledgement as Jasmine spoke and set his mind to work on what she had told him while his body went about the business of pressing the attack. Strengths and weaknesses - well, Jasmine was obviously much more experienced than he, a huge adavantage in and of itself. Besides that she was lighter, faster, more agile and quicker on her feet. As for himself, though he had gotten himself through some tough spots in the preceding months Thracyn knew his skill level was not on par with Jasmine's. His footwork too, at least in comparison to his instructor's, left a lot to be desired. In his advantage, however, were a number of things, including a longer reach, greater strength and endurance, and, he thought, a few less eras under his belt than his instructor.

Of course, he'd never ask.

Jasmine's words broke through the train of thought running through Thracyn's mind as she again expertly parried one of his attacks, the sound of steel clashing a sort of exclamation point.

"Think ahead. Predict the next move. Keep thinking, keep moving. Do you know where I'll strike next?" As the last words fell from her lips, Jasmine jumped backwards, twisting her body to strike out at Thracyn's left side in a quick thrust.

Thracyn had already decided after the first thirty seconds that the ususal methodical combinations wouldn't do him any good this time around. He fell into a guard stance as Jasmine jumped away, intending to circle around her and try something different, but Jasmine struck first. Her quick thrust towards his left surprised the young sergeant before his instincts kicked in and he sprang to his right, away from the lightning quick attack.

If he successfully avoided her jab he would attack again, attempting to close in and bring some of his strengths to bear.

[Amaranth]

OOC: Gah, I'm so sorry about your wait.

IC: Jasmine merely smiled as Thracyn avoided her jab. Remaining light on her feet, she began to circle around him... until the sergeant made his move. He was closing in on her and closing fast. If she got underneath his blade there was no way she would be able to keep up the fight for long. Lifting her sword in a defensive stance, the lieutenant then began to move back in a slow retreat, circling around to the right even as she did so. She would catch any slashes Thracyn tried to make upon her blade, her eyes flashing good-naturedly as she plotted her next move.

It came in the form of her strategically giving Thracyn an opening. Stepping back, Jasmine lowered her blade slightly, almost as though she was about to attempt another thrust. Should the man take the bait, she would wait for him to lunge forward before stepping out of the way at the last second and catching him on the back with the broad side of her sword with a resounding clash as her blade met with his cuirass. She did not wish to hurt him -- merely teach him.

The beauty of fighting was that there was rarely time to think -- only to act. It had to be instinctual. "Come now, sergeant. You can do better," Jasmine teased with a smile. She knew she wouldn't be able to bait him so easily next time. He would be waiting for it. So it was that Jasmine went on the offensive. Darting forward, she executed a combination flawlessly -- vertical slash across his chest, feint to the right, horizontal slash, followed up by a jab to the stomach. She wanted to surprise Thracyn, to push him outside of his comfort zone. He had to stop playing by the instruction book if he wanted to become a great swordsman.

[Thracyn Caldor]

Thracyn advanced as Jasmine withdrew expertly under his flurry of blows, parrying and moving to her right as she beat aside his blade. He moved forward to press his attack, still seeking to use his advantages against the lieutenant when he saw what looked like a slip in her expert guard. He seized the opportunity like a hungry dog seizing a bone and thrust forward with a long step, seeking to score a hit on Jasmine's protected torso with the tip of his blade. He had not counted, reacting instinctively as he had, on the slip in Jasmine's guard being a ruse, and as he lunged forward he was just able to see the lieutenant sidestep neatly out of his way before he felt and heard the ring of metal striking his steel-protected back.

He stopped and swirled back around to face Jasmine again, a small flush creeping up his features from exertion and a hint of embarassment. He took her teasing rebuke with a nod and a terse smile of his own before the woman immediately shifted to the offensive and came forward, her sword flashing up in the winter sky as she slashed vertically across her pupil's chest. Thracyn's own blade came up to parry a heartbeat later and the sound of clashing steel rang through the yard. Despite his parry Jasmine advanced, her speed and footwork a masterful display to the sergeant currently under her charge. She moved to the right but Thracyn ignored the bait she offered and he was ready when her horizontal slash came in, as quick as lighting it seemed as he again attempted to turn a parry into a disarm by moving in closer to the lieutenant when their blades crossed.

She disengaged skillfully and shot a quick stab towards his stomach, which the guardsman countered by quickly twisting his body around and placing his right foot behind his left to let her blade go by. Thracyn then beat her sword down and away with a strong downward swipe, hoping the force of his parry would pull the lieutenant forward a half step and perhaps if he was lucky somewhat off balance. Either way he knew he would not win this battle standing on the defensive or by sticking to the orthodox. Swordsmanship, like so many other things, was instinctual, and the young sergeant simply needed to stop thinking and let his instincts take over.

He would follow his last parry with a quick thrust towards Jasmine's chest as he turned to face her full forward again, followed by a horizontal slash from his left and then an overhand chop over his right shoulder.

[Amaranth]

As Thracyn thrust his sword towards her chest, Jasmine jumped backwards, bringing her own sword up to clash against his in a sharp ring that vibrated through both their bodies as she deflected his blade with a hissing metallic zing. In response to his overhead chop -- ever wary of becoming trapped beneath a blade -- the lieutenant merely jumped out of the way again, probably much to her pupil's annoyance. But before any more blows could be attempted, Jasmine called a halt to the exercise. "That'll be enough for now."

Slightly panting with exertion -- Thracyn had given her quite the workout -- Jasmine flashed the other a bright smile even as she sheathed her sword. "Good, very good... I think that's all for the brightening." The woman's expression was cryptic as she gazed at Thracyn with her warm eyes, a small smile playing about her lips. "But on the morrow, meet me outside the gates of the city. Early. We will continue then."

Without another word, Jasmine then turned and left the training courtyard, her ponytail swinging behind her as she walked. Thracyn might be slightly confused by her methods but he would see where she was going with this new strategy soon enough...

* * *

The next morning, Lieutenant Jasmine was waiting outside the gates of Jaedaxia, cloaked against the chill of the season and leaning against a gnarled tree. The scent of the sea was heavy in the air as the wind whipped about her slender form, throwing her hair into her face as she waited for her student to arrive. The previous brightening she had been fairly easy on him but he would not receive similar treatment that brightening. She was all business... and she intended to send Thracyn home thoroughly sore and worked to the bone.

[Thracyn Caldor]

"That'll be enough for now."

The lieutenant's words brought a sudden halt to Thracyn's motion and he nodded in acknowledgement as he sheathed his sword with a practiced motion. He took a deep breath then another, the cold air almost painful in his lungs after the workout Jasmine had just subjected him to. It had been an illuminating experience indeed sparring with his instructor and he was almost sorry she had called a halt to the day's proceedings. Almost.

He returned her smile with one of his own as she spoke and he wondered briefly about the unreadable expression which flitted across her face for a few moments when their eyes met. Outside the gates? Thracyn's natural curiousity immediately took hold of this break in the training routine and he was already wondering what the lieutenant had in store for him on the morrow when he snapped a hasty salute in response to Jasmine's departure and soon left the training ground himself, his stomach growling in hunger.

**

The next brightening Thracyn arrived outside the city gates at half past the fifth candlemark, hoping this agreed with the lieutenant's idea of early. It was not the young sergeant's favorite time of brightening to be up and about and he covered a small yawn as he looked around for Jasmine. He saw her immediately, leaning against an old gnarled tree, and strode over through the pre-dawn chill clad as he had been the brightening before, save for the addition of the heavy-weight cloak the Portectorat had issued for the winter months, which he had wrapped gratefully around his form at the moment. He came to a halt some five paces from the lieutenant and nodded in greeting before he spoke.

"Good brightening, ma'am." He chose not to add anything else for the moment, best to keep silent and see what the Lieutenant had in store for him before speaking again.

[Amaranth]

"Good brightening," she responded softly with a polite smile aimed towards the other. "Shall we dance?" A rather odd question... but her meaning soon became apparent as she unsheathed her sword and took a ready stance, gesturing that Thracyn should do the same. However, she did not make a move to strike him and hopefully he would hold off on striking at her as well. "Our blades will not be meeting at this moment in time," Jasmine explained as a chill wind picked up from the north, stinging her cheeks to a pale pink shade. "I do believe you need more experience in fighting on different terrains, sergeant... which is why we are here. If you do not keep your balance, then you will surely die... and not everywhere you fight will be the level ground of a training courtyard. When I circle, you shall circle. When I advance, you retreat. When I retreat, you advance. I want to keep this same distance between us -- no more, no less."

Without any further instructions, Jasmine then entered into a retreat, backing slowly up the softly rising hill behind her as she kept her warm eyes locked onto those of Thracyn. Her body remained centered the whole while, despite the awkwardness of her going at such an angle (and backwards, no less), and when she finally felt the ground begin to level once they were towards the top, she suddenly changed course and circled around so that her back was turned back towards the gates of Jaedaxia, leaving Thracyn on the even ground at the top of the hill. But that time, Jasmine pressed forward so that her student would be forced into a retreat, though slowly at first. She didn't want to send Thracyn toppling backwards with a sharp blade in his hands.

"If your legs began to burn, that is good." He would have to expect some type of muscle fatigue, since he was using many of his muscles in ways he hadn't before. It was tiring work moving uphill and downhill, around and around without pause in a constant ready position... but that was the point of the exercise -- to build Thracyn's endurance.

[Thracyn Caldor]

Thracyn's lips quirked at Jasmine' seemingly innocuous question though her meaning became clear soon enough when she drew her blade in a smooth seamless motion. Thracyn nodded at her gesture and did the same though he did not move to the attack, as it was rather apparent that Jasmine had something else in mind for this brightening. He listened as she explained what they would be working on for the brightening, and Thracyn found himself agreeing with his instrctor's words. Practicing on different terrain seemed eminently sensible and he waited for the lieutenant to finish laying out what she expected from him in the following exercise before he nodded in the affirmative to show he understood.

"Yes ma'am," he said by way of reply before the brightening's exercise began.

Without another word Jasmine retreated and Thracyn advanced, careful to keep the exact distance between him and his instructor that she had specified. His thighs burned a bit, but not excessively, as he slowly matched Jasmine's pace up the hill, pressing his imaginary attack while keeping focus on his foot placement and distance. When the terrain seemed to flatten and Thracyn glanced around and could see the pair had reached the top of the hill Jasmine suddenly changed course and circled around again. Thracyn matched her steps and found himself facing the city gates while his back was now ot the downslope of the hill. Jasmine advanced and he moved backwards with measured strides as his intructor pressed forward.

The wind was a relief to the young sergeant as the muscles in the back of his thighs began to bunch up under the unfamiliar strain. He was silently thankful that Jasmine didn't seem to be pressing him too hard, indeed she seemed to be giving him time to adjust to the new sensations before advancing too fast. Thracyn grimaced slightly and his legs shook just perceptibly as the angle of the hill steepened and Jasmine seemed to increase her pace, but he gave no other outward signs of his discomfort as the lieutenant spoke again, "If your legs began to burn, that is good."

"I must be doing bloody amazing," he grunted by way of reply as the exercise continued on.