9:28 Bloomingtide/May 17th
I panted as I finished my tenth lap. The sun was high in the sky and I smelled like high heaven. I was able to run in this ridiculous armor. Every single time I took it off, I felt how light I was on my feet. Eren nodded in satisfaction and threw me the water skin. I finished it off and I wiped the sweat off my brow. I gave him the water skin and we went back into the castle.
"Good job. I was sure to think it would take time to master your armor but you've surprised me yet again. Of course you've only got so far with my expertise. For that, it's time to take the next step in your training; how to fight." Eren explained. I felt an anxious knot and I breathed out.
"I knew this was going to come sooner or later." I sighed.
"Yes it was." Eren said, going into the training grounds that are reserved for the squires and trainees. We went into the small armory and there were various wooden swords, generic shields, and training dummies. Eren passed me two wooden swords and they were extremely heavy.
"Holy shit, how can you even swing these?" I exclaimed. Eren laughed and shook his head.
"You'll get used to them. These wooden swords are not as heavy as the real swords." Eren described.
"Then why the hell am I using these?" I groaned, as I lifted each one.
"To build strength of course. Once we build your muscles in the arms with these, practicing with the real ones will not take too much time. Come, your training starts now. Jeffery!" Eren called out. One of the trainees that was with a training dummy came by. "You and she will start your mock battle. Don't stop until one of you gets disarmed or are unable to fight."
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" I shouted.
"Best way to learn is through experience of course! You should be grateful that I am overseeing your training personally." Eren announced.
"I'm beginning to really dislike you!" I growled.
"Less talking, more fighting. Begin!"
I was massacred. Ok that was a bit of a stretch but I got my ass whupped in a manner of speaking. I could barely raise the wooden swords to defend me let alone get an attack in. Jeffery knocked the swords out of my hand in no time flat. I have a few bruises on my forearms thanks to that. I hissed in pain and rubbed the areas where he hit. Eren tsked at me.
"Such horror. You have no stance, you left yourself wide open, and you didn't even get a hit in." Eren graded me.
"I told you I have no experience fighting." I mumbled. Eren pushed me back in the ring and gave me the wooden swords. He made me lift them up through force and put both swords in front of me. He shifted my feet and made me do a minor hunch.
"There, remember that stance. It's a good defensive stance to protect your vitals. Since you have no experience, then we need to get you focused on how to protect yourself. How to swing a sword comes later." Eren nodded at Jeffery and he went back in front of me.
"Oh come on!" I moaned.
"It's better to fill your days with experience." Eren smirked.
"Oh wipe that grin off your f-"
"Begin!"
9:28 Bloomingtide/May 30th
"Ow, ow, ow…" I hissed as I rubbed the Elfroot that Aldous gave me over my bruises and cuts. I was able to swing one sword but the weight through off my balance. It was a testy thing to use but at least I was able to swing. I looked at myself at the large mirror that Eren gave me to look at my bruises better. I was extremely surprised at the way I looked.
I never really saw myself after all this training. Most of the time I would take a bath and then knock out on the bed only to rise as soon as Eren pushed down my door. For once I was able to really look at myself. All the fat that was on my body was nearly all gone. Instead I was fit and lean and dark. The freckles were more pronounced on my face thanks to all the training in the sun. It felt good. I flexed and admired myself before rubbing more Elfroot on myself. The worst were my hands. I had blisters and callouses everywhere. It seemed like my hand was a gigantic callous.
I was sad at that if only because I really like the fact that I was able to keep my hands feminine looking even with my cook job. It was hard to do that with the high temperatures and constant hand washing. I was able to then but now…my hands look like man hands. Oh well.
I poked at my blisters as I wrote. They stung but every blister came a step forward with my training. In truth I was beginning to like it. I was never so interested back home. Really the only time I even held a knife was when I had to cut and prepare food. Being able to train with wooden swords gave me a sort of power that left me with an anxious bubble in my stomach, a good one. The thought that I'll have to fight against real people leaves me shaking. I really don't know what I would do in that situation.
I had to fight against that guy in Denerim but that was different. All I knew was what Rael showed me. What Eren was showing me was how to effectively kill someone. It wasn't a thought I really like having in my head. I guess I'll cross that bridge once I come to it. Until then, I had to do what I can and learn all I can. I can't be a burden to the future Hero of Ferelden.
9:28 Justinian/June 9th
"Halo you can't just keep telling me to keep away from everything. Spirits aren't good or bad inherently. All spirits can offer you something." I explained to Halo. We were near a lake while I was sitting on top of rubble while Halo huffed again. There were a few wisps hanging around, mostly out of curiosity.
'Demons. Danger.' Halo said for the umpteenth time. I groaned and rubbed my face in exhaustion.
"They only turn into demons because they expect you to. Wisdom can turn into Pride, Love can turn into Lust, and visa versa. You need to keep an open mind Halo. You remember Ardor? I knew he was kinda fishy but in the end was able to at least give me some sort of answer you know?" I said. Halo puffed out its chest before floating on top of the lake's surface, pouting again.
I was trying to convince him that yes the fade is a dangerous place but all spirits have knowledge that you can use. In the back of my mind, I knew that Ardor was some sort of desire demon because of the way I felt attracted to him but I ignored it and used my open mindedness in order to gain more info. Halo was having none of it though. It seemed that he was a very black and white type of spirit that only saw good spirits and bad demons.
It wasn't hard to explain its behavior away. If Ardor was right and Halo was a protection spirit, then it would try to protect me from harmful spirits but not all spirits are harmful if you don't think they are. Even then, I knew that I couldn't be so easygoing. I had to keep an edge here otherwise I might get in over my head. The fade was still a very new place to be in and it's more dangerous to me since I couldn't even use magic.
Instead, I tried to imagine the weight of the wooden sword that I used to practice with. The rivets on the handle, the smooth texture of the wood, the weight and shape of it. The first few times were odd pieces of it, not the whole thing. Eventually I had the whole sword and soon I was practicing my stances and swings in the fade. As I was going so, Halo kept on giving me small over the shoulder looks but never coming over to my side.
I sighed, putting my sword in my makeshift scabbard. I walked over to the lake but ignored the water. It didn't even ripple as I walked across it. Halo looked over before huffing again. I took out my hand and reached out.
"I'm sorry." I said sincerely. I bit my lip and closed my eyes. Then I felt a warmth on my hand. Halo had shrunk itself and settled on my hand. If love could feel like a physical object, Halo would be it. It was almost like I was able to feel what Halo feels for me. It was so beautiful I can't even begin to describe it. I started to tear up before I felt a goofy smile on my lips break out.
I woke up with tears in my eyes. I could feel the change in Halo and it made me feel fuzzy inside.
I got up and put on my armor in record time. I used cold water to wash my face and comb my hair. I came out just as Eren was about to knock on my door.
"Training…time." Eren had a shocked face. I giggled.
"Good Morning! Is it time for our ten laps around the castle? Considering that the sun isn't up yet, it is! Let's go!" I pumped my fist and taking the lead. I looked back and Eren gave me a confused look. "Well? Let's go."
"Did something good happen?" Eren asked as he stood next to me.
"Yes." I giggled.
"Are you going to tell me?" Eren asked.
"Nope! It's my secret." I felt my face flush as I remembered how Halo felt like. I felt the goofy smile before giggling again. "I'll race you to the starting point!" I sprinted through the main gate. As the guards looked at me with wide-eyed wonder, I felt that my feet were light as feathers. I went in front of the main gardens, panting but feeling good. From the small hill I saw the two moons retreating, which were so cool and the light of morning already dying the sky into pinks and oranges. Eren finally caught up and smacked me on the back.
"I don't know why you are so spirited but I'll use this to my advantage. 15 laps with a few water breaks of course." Eren nodded.
"Yes Eren sir!" I saluted. Eren raised his eyebrow.
"I'm not really sure why you are following my orders so readily but no matter. I might as well use this while it lasts. Now go."
9:28 Justinian/June 16th
"Gah!" I felt the breath knocked out of me again as Jeffery knocked me on my ass. It took him a minute though. I'm able to block his attacks for the most part now. That bout took 10 minutes because I was able to see his incoming attack which was a huge improvement. I coughed before sitting up, the hot sun on my head and my hair up in a ponytail.
"Not bad, you're starting to get better. Of course none of my brilliance has even shined in you." Eren helped me up. I rolled my eyes at him. Jeffery gave me a nod of respect. I rubbed my cheek from when Jeffery's sword hit me. "Here." Eren offered me some water and I drank my fill. "You are able to defend yourself but you should try attacking. Anxiety on the field can be the difference from saving a life to having yours snuffed." Eren explained.
"I know but even if I can lift these things, it still takes a moment to swing you know?" I sighed. Eren frowned.
"You said you were a cook, when you weren't using it how did you hold your knife?" Eren asked. I raised my eyebrow but I switched the blade from pointing forward to where I held the hilt and the wooden sword, with where the blade would be, is against my forearm.
"This way I won't accidentally stab anyone when I was walking through the kitchen." I nodded. It felt right to hold it this way.
"Then fight that way as well." Eren suggested. I frowned.
"Are you sure? Won't this actually hurt me instead?" I asked. Eren shook his head.
"Not unless you know how to handle it. With this the blade would be close to your body but it also gives you an advantage of using your fists. There are also benefits of being able to bring your fist close to your opponent and, with it, your blade. It can give you a clear way to the throat." Eren noticed my grimace. "Or your fist can do the talking. Jeffery, take a break." Eren came and got the wooden swords and stood in front of me. "Begin."
"You sure Eren? I'm not-" I started before Eren quickly closed the gap in front of us and had his wooden sword at my throat.
"That is how fast you can die. Don't hesitate and come at me. I would have hoped that you would learn with that small mind of yours but clearly that was giving you too much credit. Now you are going to train under my rules. Be ready." Eren said in a low voice. He walked over to where he was before and went into a stance. I gulped but I had to trust in Eren. I switched the other wooden sword to the way I was holding the other one. I had to start learning how to fight for real. There's no other way.
I got beat but I got up. I can see where Eren was coming from. Instead of following the blade in the other hold, I was following my hand this time. It seemed more natural to me. I decided to take Eren's offer and learn in this manner.
Beta'd by FearaNightmare
Shout out to KoraKendalls and Ojren for following/favoriting! Shout out to Chimera Spyke and Syutaku for reviewing!
Rainsfere: I'm so glad you're enjoying everything so far! I made sure to make Nia a real person with defects and plenty of weaknesses to make her likeable and easy to relate to. Here's seeing your continued support!
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