What Did that Tree ever do to You?

[Vincent Stefan]

Third Brightening of the First Cycle in the Month of Cryxatum in the Season Summer;
Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV
Post Fractum. The Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne

It was morning, the kind of morning that a person would rather stay in bed. However, this day Vincent knew he needed to get a move on. There were times when a person just needed to start moving and this was one of those times. It had been several months since the half elf had practiced his sword fighting, and he was beginning to get a bit off.

Moving down the training area circles, the half elf soon found one that was empty and set up shop. pulling his sword the half elf stepped out into the center of the circle and fell into himself. Finding the flow, the point that all motion was timed, all actions one, was a hard thing to located. One needed to have there very mind set to there surrounding, tree cover, proximity to walls, low land, high land, all had there place. Yet it was death, should a person loose there position and find themselves trapped against one or the other.

stepping foreword, blade out before him the half elf began to swing first in a slow ark then picking up speed until his blade was a bluer of motion. Step, right slash, flash down, back left parry, Drive down right, left up slash sideways, slow and start again. So began a dance of sorts a movement of the blade, each place calculated to do different damage on several types of opponents. Size was no mater here, it was up to the swordsman to compensate for such items. NO the only problem was speed and accuracy and that was what Vincent was working on today. Any person could hit a opponent once or twice in a fight, however, if you could learn just what hight a back jab, or swinging ark would be at it best, then you have the advantage even if you can not see. For feel alone would be all you need. It was for this reason that Vincent was never burdened by his left eye.

As the wind began to pick up, so too did the half elf's dance of the blade. Time was not important anymore, not duty and responsibility. NO, all that was important now, was the flow...."Like Water"

[Vincent Stefan]

Switching up mid swing, Vincent began a new set of movements utilizing lower slashes and two handed swings. The half elf had never used a shield in his life, to him they were cumbersome and provided nothing more then useless wait. However, even he found the value in there blocking power. That is before the half elf had learned how to block with a sword just as effectively. The trick was in the movement of the blade itself. All Vincent needed to do was get the enemy's blade to pitch downwards into the ground.

To accomplish this the half elf needed to be able to move his way out of a binding of his blade in such a way as to catch the blade of the enemy while not opening himself up to attack. That was where the swinging he was preforming now fell in. It trained him on the movement of his arm, grater range of movement meant grater area of defense and block. Low thrust, parry swing, downward thrust parry. No matter the movement the half elf would only need to flick his wrist and he should be able to get out of it. At least in theory, However many times before Vincent had learned that not all actions are posible to train for...some come with experience and plain luck.

[Vincent Stefan]

As the last set of maneuvers ended, Vincent took a step back. Precision was important. However, the ability to hold onto ones blade was just as important and at this training, some hour into this, The half elf was almost unable to hold onto his bade at all. Slumping down to the ground, Vincent began to wonder why he was being so hard on himself right now. Was it because he believed he was slipping or was it because he felt that he was loosing control of everything else.

Sword Fighting was all he had really, thought Vincent as he sat there on the ground caching his breath. It was the only thing he proved over and over that he was decent at..everything else in the end was secondary to the ability to weld a sword. Yet, for all his posturing, the half elf had to face facts he was not an expert only decent and one day he would come across someone that could and in the end would kill him.

Jumping back to his feat, the half elf moved over to his things and withdrew a set of sand bags. Tying them off on each end of his blade, to add more wait to it. Vincent again went back to his place of fluid motion and the set of swings and cuts that distinguished the style. Though the movements were in themselves fluid, there endings were not, as the wait almost immediately began to throw the half elf off his mark.

Yet, Vincent did not give up, he needed to be able to stop on a dime, but he also needed to have the strength to continue on, even after long prolonged battle.

[Vincent Stefan]

As the sweat began to bead on the half elf's head, he contiued the practice for a few more swings and then slumped yet again to the ground. Taking a few moments to catch his breath, Vincent could not help but hear the sound of feet crunching soil.

"I see you are practicing, your SVord. Care to see Vhat you can really do." Said a voice from behind. Vincent did not have to turn to know full well who it was. Migeria was just predictable some times. Turning to address his scout, the half elf noted the set of wooden katana and a wooden broadsword in the man's hands. He had already know the Half elf was going to say yes. With a nod the man tossed the wooden blade over. Vincent snatched the blade in mid air, and after throwing his normal blade away. Assumed a defensive stance. The elf scout, soon was in one of his own both swords in hand. One curled back the other out foreword. "Vhen you are ready" Remarked Migeria. Though Vincent could not see threw the scarf that obscured the man's face, The half elf could sense the man was smiling. This was going to to be fun. swinging his practice blade a few times, twirling it back, forewords...and then falling into a perfect forewords attack stance. Vincent signaled he was ready, and the fight was on.

Running in Migeria swung his left side sword inward while he kept his right, up. As Vincent predictable defended the elf, then sent the right into the blade as well forcing the Provost back. Yet, Vincent was not about to be undone that way, planting his foot firmly he placed all the strength he could into his blade, and swung. The fast Migeria was not a fool, and lunching himself onto a sumer salt landed a few feet away. The elf already back into the stance he had originally taken.

This time however, Vincent was not about to let the man have his fun...charging in Vincent swung low which Migeria blocked with his right blade pushing the blade to the side, and at the same time bringing his left, side blade down....Yet The half elf had been waiting for this, dropping to a crouch Vincent wet out with his left leg to take out Migeria's Right.

Placed off guard Migeria danced off his right foot, threw his left side blade, flipped, turned mid jump with his left hand and landed on his feet, Right side blade to bier on Vincent's neck. However Vincent had plans of his own and brought his blade up on a swing that took Migeria's a the hilt, the sock sent the man's blade back and jumping up with all his force the half elf placed his shoulder into Migeria's chest sending the man stumbling back....Yet, before Vincent could go in for the kill Migeria jumped, Flipped, Pushed off with his left hand and came up a few feet away, next to his discarded blade.

Reaching down the elf picked it up and went again into his stance. "Round Tvo" Remarked Migeria. Vincent only smiled, as the two men again went back at each other.

[Vincent Stefan]

it was an hour later that the two men stopped, such was the furry of there practice. In that time each scored a number of hits, though if there was to be a victor it would be Vincent. The half elf had managed to brake one of Migeria's blades, creating subtle victory at best. Standing there now, both men swaying from the effort they had exerted, Vincent had to wonder what possessed him to fight so hard against one of his own. The answer came all to quickly, the need to test ones strength. Vincent could feel it even now, the Thrill of the fight, the excitement of a worthy oponent. Nothing was grater, nothing should be.

it was as the sounds of the world returned, Vincent noticed the number of men who had begun to gather around the training circle. In truth, the half elf was not surprised. The men always did look for these chances to see what there commanders where made of. Vincent just hoped they would not be disapointed. It is hard to keep respect as a commander when your me think they can do better then you can.

walking over to where he had placed his effects, Vincent all but fell onto the ground. He was tired, too tired to be exact. inspecting the training blade, Vincent noted that several places where cracking in the the items wood, weekending the weapons overall strength. though, at the same time due note had to be placed on the fact that such weapons where not intended for the use, Vincent had just placed this one blade threw. For there could be no mistake, he and Migeria had just had a mine war.

Shuffling over to where the half elf was sitting Migeria, flopped down on the ground to Vincent's right. To the elf's credit the swordsman did not appear to look too warn out. however, Vincent knew better...or at least he hoped the man was warn out, otherwise the half elf would need to start working out more. "Vell that vas interesting." Remarked Migeria as he inspected the only practice sword he had left.

"indeed" remarked Vincent, to tired to carry a conversation. For a time both men just sat there catching there breaths. Finlay it was Migeria who broke the silence. "Vell as much as I haVe enjoyed this little battle, I need to get back to Verck. My Shift starts in a fev hours." With that the elf, got up and began collecting his things. "Ve Vill haVe to do this again some time." From the look that crossed Migeria's eyes, Vincent could tell the swordsman wanted such an encounter to be sooner rather then later.

Left alone on the empty training field now, Vincent considered what next, to do. Finding that taxing he ended up just sitting there. The morning was still young, there was time to consider actions later. For now all the half elf wanted to do was catch his breath.