Inner Strength (OPEN)

[Stigma Wyatt]

She's both lost and also empowered by all these words.

"I i-inspire YOU?" she asks, baffled by this. She takes a moment to blink in surprise before looking down at her feet.

"I...want to be inspiring." she decides. For a lot of people. And she wants to believe it as well.

"S-so if you believe in me...wh-what should I do? I don't know how to get better..."

[Caelan Xander]

"You're already doing it. You are working hard and practicing!"

[Onides Une]

Oni nodded agreeing with Caelen.

"Yeah, so lets keep trying. Oh also there is a class going on this week that can show you how to get started with swordsmanship Cabal has everything at your disposal to study and get help. Especially since a lot of us got these heart weapons it is in high demand and turn out cannot get up to roughly twenty percent of attendees... What I mean is you are not the only one and as long as this is what you want to do then you are already better than someone who puts in nothing. Like I did my first two years here, never too late to start and not possible for you to be the worst. Statistically speaking and... Literally." she said that to Rose before turning back to Caelen.


"I suppose you wouldn't know any tips for us?"

[Stigma Wyatt]

She blushes and shifts side to side, as usual, very unsure of the proper reaction to compliments.

"Classes...okay..."

She would have to look into it, even though she feels like she knows nothing about this place. She's always just done what Elias tells her. It was hard suddenly having to rely on herself to find...well anything.

"I could use a few t-tips...I don't want to wait! I want to get started now!"

She balls her hand into a determined fist!

[Caelan Xander]

"I don't really know how to use swords. I've always just used my fists."

He'd manifest his own Qi weapon. Knuckles with hearts on them. Holding up his hands with them for the ladies to see before he'd stand back up off of the ground.

"But physical conditioning is important no matter what you choose to study."

[Onides Une]

You can almost see the sparkle in Oni's eye with those knuckles

"Strangely... That is badass and adorable." she admitted out loud. "But he is right, just keep swing and build strength. It sometimes will hurt but keep a steady and comfortable pace. That and a little patience before you know it, time will have flown by."

[Stigma Wyatt]

"How should I swing this sword..?" she asks, mostly because she felt like she was doing it all wrong. She looked like she was trying to catch butterflies with a net.

[Caelan Xander]

"Um. I'm not really sure. Perhaps she can show you?"

He'd motion toward Oni since she had a sword!

[Onides Une]

Took her a moment to realize they were looking to her. "Oh... Um... Well I've done a lot of reading. For sure I can at least show you how to hold it."

She pointed to her legs and would begin. "Feet shoulder length apart." while she did that Oni would come behind her placing both hands on each of Rose's shoulders. "Lets straighten your back and pull your shoulders back just a bit."

Nonce that was done she would bring her sword back and grip it to demonstrate. "Do you use your left or right hand to eat with? Which ever one it is hold the handle just under the guard as close to there as possible. Your other hand goes about center right behind it."

She spread her own feet and held the sword low on her body before lifting the top off the blade off the ground. "Lift the tip of the blade until it is leveled with your opponents eyes or heart. Until you get used to swinging it that will be easier for you. Also maybe swing your body more so than the sword itself to keep it from carrying you away. When you get used to the weight and its swing you'll actually be using a much wider stance and be able to hold it with one hand at your side. You'll suddenly look like a cobra waiting to strike. Which can be pretty scary no matter how small or cute you'll actually look." She looked at Rose and grinned.

She took a step back and bent her forward knee shifting her sword as it sat on the ground showing a more gladiator stance than what she has to use.

"Are you understanding?" she wasnt sure if that was a lot all at once or not.

[Stigma Wyatt]

Rose looks towards Oni, practically with stars in her eyes. There was hope for learning SOMETHING.

Even though she jumps when Oni places her hands on her shoulders, Rose does her best to follow instructions. Straightening up was always a challenge, and you'd almost think her bad posture was just permanent. That's how shaky and awkward she was.

"U-umm...I use both..." she admits. "But I like left more..."

She holds the blade in her left, a bit unsure about wielding it with just one hand. Then again...if she was going to use the Dragon Scale blade and her Heart's blade at the same time...she'd have to get used to it.

She raises it up...way up to point at Cael since he was the only other person there she could kinda visualize with, then starts to do some weird rocking at the mention of swinging her body. She was probably not getting that part right but by god she was trying.

"A c-cobra!" she nods, her entire posture shaking because these were not stances she was used to whatsoever.

"I-I think so! C-Cael are you s-scared?"

She doesn't even wait for him to answer. Originally she was just trying to feel good about her progress. BEING A COBRA. But then she felt bad about the idea of frightening someone else.

"IF I AM I'LL STOP I'M SORRY!!"

[Caelan Xander]

He blinked as Rose lifted the blade at him, asking if he was scared while she trembled. Before he could even answer though she was already apologizing! Which made him feel kind of bad for her.

"Nothing to apologize for. I wasn't scared. It's all good."

[Onides Une]

"You are doing good people can usually tell your intent to kill. If you hold a sword like that to a person and not a practice dummy make sure you do intend to hurt someone." she guided rotating her shoulders so Rose was facing the dummy and not Cael. Maybe for the best.

"Of course you are wielding this intending to hurt or even kill someone right?" Oni wanted to know if she was prepared because she remembers when she herself wasnt and it got her killed.

[Stigma Wyatt]

Cael's words were a relief. She was only trying to practice looking...um. I guess you can call it menacing and not 'Rose looking like she's about to pee herself in fear'. Still, a good move on Oni's part with turning her towards a dummy. She had no idea that's what those were there for...but it all started to make sense.

"W-well not at first...th-the killing I mean."

She didn't mind if she had to injure people, but she knew the finality of killing someone despite being unable to die herself. She'd seen Elias kill more than enough people to learn that.

"I can...d-do it if I have to..."

[Caelan Xander]

"Well, hopefully, it doesn't come to that."

But Cael too knew the finality of killing people. There were places in the world where it was kill or be killed, and in those places, Cael knew which one he'd rather be.

[Onides Une]

"That is a fair and good state of mind to be in." Truly.

"Alright. Now slowly approach the dummy and guide your blade where you want to hit. Feel the muscles in your arms shoulders and remember to put your whole body into it and carry your swing with your upper body gather than just your arms. Practice like that, work of getting faster before you work on hitting harder. Strengthening your body has to be built before you can bring out the weapons optimal use."

She froze a moment realizing that she sounded like her mother suddenly. Her Mom was a skilled fighter and pushed Oni to the brink she kind of grew uneasy to the idea she might become like her. She back tracked here thoughts and hoped she hadn't been too forceful on Rose.