It's been two days since Jasper had announced that he would begin to train Jaune in the art of stealth, CQC, Tracking, and marksmanship. To Jaune, it was a lot to take in and absorb, until now Jaune's father had attempted to train him in the arc sword style which every male must be able to perform. Unfortunately, he has been unable to perform to the Jupiter's standards, only furthering his father's disappointment.
Sitting on his bed Jaune would shake his head as if to remove the stressful thoughts flowing through his skull. Getting up he would walk to his dresser and open its uppermost drawer, inside would be a neat stack of comic books he had collected over the years; either trading with kids he knew in the neighborhood or by his grandfather getting them for him on his way to his poker game.
The collection consisted of 32 various comics with 1 complete set of X-Ray and Vav which consisted of 12 comics in total. Grabbing a random comic from his pile he would flip the book over and gaze at its title to see if it would interest him, glancing at the top he could see the title clearly, it was The Huntsman, his second favorite superhero! Cracking open the comic his eyes scanned the pages taking in the words and the pictures as he would imagine them moving and truly speaking. Besides his grandfather, reading was his only escape from loneliness.
Whenever Jaune read he would get lost in the pages and forget his surroundings which usually lead him to some serious trouble with his mother. It was because of this lack of attention that he was surprised when he felt his book was nabbed from his hands, looking slightly scared that his mother had seen him reading before bed he prepared for the worse.
Only to let a breath of relief that it was Jasper.
"Good thing I'm training you Jaune, I could have easily attacked you seeing as you weren't paying any attention to your surroundings" Jasper chuckled before tossing the comic on the dresser.
"Sorry grandpa, I usually get too into the story" Jaune rubbed the back of his head in the embarrassment of his mistake. Looking back up at his grandfather he would again look confused as to why he was even in his room. "Wait...why are you here anyways? It's going on 10:00"
Jasper simply knocked on his head lightly "Didn't I tell you that I was gonna be training you? I can't do that while your siblings are awake and with your mother watching like a Hawk"
Jaune slumped his shoulders, he had thought his grandfather was simply joking about that stuff! He was no good in the terms of combat and he was weak for the most part, taking all this into consideration he was quite skeptical about his grandfather actually training him. "Seriously?! We're training every night?! But won't mom get suspicious when she realizes I'm not in bed?"
Jasper shook his head pointing in the direction of his parent's bedroom "No matter how intimidating June is she is still susceptible to exhaustion. Shes always in bed ready to sleep by 9:25 every night" he then pointed toward the patio which still had a lamp lot "And Jupiter is usually outside smoking and listening to the radio during this time. He doesn't go to bed till about 10:30 so that leaves us a total of an hour to head out of the house before they notice any of us."
Jaune shook his head in apparent understanding but in all honesty, he was barely grasping why his grandfather wanted to train him.
"Ok, I understand how we're gonna slip past my parents but where are we gonna train?" Jaune questioned his grandfather further, attempting to understand the plan better.
"Follow me, I'll show you." With that being said Jasper would turn and begin to walk towards the kitchen as quickly and quietly as possible. Jaune pursued, keeping close to his grandfather's heels as they crept through the dining room into the kitchen and out the back door.
Feeling a surge of adrenaline from his rebellious act, Jaune felt his heart race and his blood rush through his veins as he started jogging forward to keep pace with Jasper speed walking. After a short jog/jog both the Arc men stopped in front of what appeared to be the makeshift training ground that Juane had to use when training with his father. The ground was a mixture of dirt and sand, scattered around the small training area were various homemade dummies, their wooden bodies standing a firm with various scratches and chips littering the head and torso.
Jasper inhaled, taking in the scent of the fresh pine coming from the mountain and the dew of the moist grass, he stretched his joints popping in relief of the pressure of age. Turning his head he looked at his grandson with a knowing smirk as he opened his arms and began to speak.
"You smell that Jaune? It's the smell of freedom, the smell of great possibility and potential."
Jaune cringed as he looked behind him, Jasper was quite loud and if he was caught outside of bed at this hour hid father would kill him.
"Shhhhhhhh! If dad finds out we're out here he'll kill us!" Panicking slightly he would whisper yell at Jasper hoping he would lower his voice.
"Jaune my boy, these grounds are fat enough away from the house that a Faunus would have trouble hearing us! Not to mention we have the sounds of nature to block out any of our voice carrying off the mountain echo."
Still being cautious Jaune would still nod in silence, rubbing hands together he would shift in place unsure of what to do now. He looked at his grandfather for some kind of guidance or instruction.
"Alright we've established you lack talent in the use of the arming sword, it may be simple but have you tried a shorter blade?"
With that being said Jasper left for a weapon rack that contained various wooden armaments. Grabbing a wooden blade about 2 feet in length with a handle about 4 inches he tossed it to Jaune to try out. Swinging it, Jaune would start to adjust to its weight and feel as he inspected the blade. Turning it in his hands he certainly felt more at ease with this than what he thought he would be.
"It's a lighter blade so it should help you with quick swipes and thrusts. However, due to it lacking the reach the arming sword has you'll have to get in closer to your opponents"
Walking over to a dummy, Jasper would push it forward a bit, motioning for jaune to stand in front he would cross his arms and watch.
"Get in a stance in front of the dummy."
Walking toward it Jaune would roll his shoulders slightly loosening up his joints and body. Now in front of the dummy, he would bend his knees slightly while squaring his shoulders and lining up his blade perpendicular to the center of his chest.
Watching this, Jasper would walk around Jaune, scratching his chin he would you his toe to tap Jaune's left leg signaling him to scooch it back. Doing so, Jaune slid his left leg back while straightening his knee slightly to adjust to the change, this was then followed by Jasper tapping his shoulder while straightening his back.
"Your stance resembles Longsword users, much like your fathers. The short sword isn't built like an Arming sword, its made for short and quick attacks that wear the opponent down, with its lack of reach it makes up for in weight, being considerably lighter you can perform more coordinated strikes and combinations."
Nodding, Jaune adjusted his stance as he moved the blade toward the right, perpendicular with his shoulder he loosened his muscles in his right arm so as to allow quicker movement.
"Very good Jaune! Alright, when I say go I want you to strike the dummy...GO"
Quickly taking a small step he swung the blade with his body hitting the dummy across the chest.
"Hmmm good, but it was sloppy. When slashing you tend to use your body to add more force to your swing, but that's only for longer swords. Your blade is made for quick combinations of strikes and stabs."
Jaune listened closely taking in as much info as possible he would return to his stance and take a deep breath, holding the air in his lungs he would exhale and begin his assault. Taking a step forward like before, he flicked his wrist down slashing the dummy, once he felt contact with it he would pull back and slash again and again.
Clapping Jasper looked on with pride as his grandson had performed great.
"Magnificent Jaune! It seems all you needed was a change in style! Your attacks were performed well but they lack thought and precision. Each strike should be times and planned. But well have to focus on that tomorrow, you still need your rest."
Nodding jaune could barely hold in his excitement and joy as he began to walk alongside Jasper.
"So, what now Grandpa?" Jaune turned his head to look at his grandfather with anticipation for the next day.
"Now?" Jasper looked at Jaune before smirking.
"Mr., now I'll make an Arc out of you"
SECOND CHAPTER IS DONE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Doing this chapter was rather difficult in the sense I kept doubting myself and my skills ay the time but after some inspirational quotes and crushing Gandhi in Civilization, I was able to get on the saddle and ride it out. Hope you guys like it and drop a comment on any advice or comments you have.