Hone your Edge [Closed]

At hearing about how not learning to use her cursed sword would be putting wholes in her training. Placing gaps in her training that could be lethal. She bit back a sigh. Nothing to it I guess. I'll just have to learn to use this stupid thing ... at the very least it could help me out against facing other Shini or sword users.

"Then I guess I should start learning to use this dumb accessory then," Niji'd say with a grimace, "at the very least it'll help me learn how to best go up against other Shini. And how to deal with problems they can represent if my coming here goes south for me with them ... not that it should. I mean they 'lost me' at the hospital for a year ... still don't get how a Shini can get placed in solitary isolation for a year and forgotten all due to a building falling on them ... if my memory of what happened was correct.  

"The sleazy doctor in charge of my discharge guessed either incompetence of his peers, was kept their and out of the way by my superiors, or simply lost in the paperwork of Bureaucracy ... seeing as how I never debriefed anyone about what happened with Obsession, and how all Shinigami  I meet, treat the name Obsession or the attack back then with confusion as if it never happened ... I'm not sure it was lost paperwork. My Division's chain of command is gutted, and I'm so low key in my duties that I'm practically a ghost there anyways. I mean it was a little to easy to bring my  laptop with my research notes and  Shinigami regulations out of D3 from my personal lab, not a single person there to check me coming and going ... it was bizarre. Still better safe than sorry and learn to use this thing,"  Niji'd say pointing to her sword.

At hearing that he helped Frey learn how to make her healing spell, Niji squeed like a fangirl. Giving the tiniest of fist pumps, "That'd be more than good enough for starters than. Especially if it led to a spell our Queen uses." 

Once she was healed she would draw her sword. Her stance was in a basic hand to hand fighting stance, rather than a proper sword fighting one. The sword was held limply with it's point facing Erek's general direction, that would jiggle as Niji fidgeted while holding the combat tool, that while strapped to her hip for the last five years, was something she never used besides a prop for her Bakudo or chopping wood for shelter or warmth. She'd never seen the point, and much like many things today. She was shown that there was a large chasm between pointless, and herself being clueless.

At least he doesn't want me to unleash my Shikai ... talk about small blessings. Still she had a long way to go before she was Knight worthy. And there was nothing to do but do what she always did when meeting a challenge. Throw herself obsessively into it and take it as far as she physically could.

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CWC: 6,388  (5861+527)

CGP: 127

Her distaste for the blade was clear, but it was a part of her. Not knowing how to use it would only hurt her in the long run, especially if she intended to battle other Shinigami in the end. Raising a hand, he would ruffle his fingertips through his hair as his eyes examined the woman as she explained the details of her "solitary confinement" as it were. It would seem that the gotei wasn't nearly as stable and knowledgeable as they would like everyone to know if they lost a single soldier due to a clash. Slowly, he would shift his shoulders in a shrug.

"I have only a vague understanding of what happened with the "Broken God" as Frey calls him-- but if I had a guess, they lost track of more than just you from the residual impact and damage. It seems entirely possible, in all honesty." It was a sad side effect of war-- soldiers got lost, but usually not in a god damn medical base. That seemed overwhelmingly idiotic and suspicious, he pondered, briefly, if someone had used the woman to their own ends for that time-- but it was impossible to say for certain sadly. He detected no faults in her reiatsu, nor suspicions, and neither had Freyleif who had far superior senses.

Lifting a hand he would tuck it behind his back, nodding as she commented on learning to use the blade, "It would do you good, on many levels. Even if it's not your focus, the broader your range of understanding in combat the more potent an opponent you become." Of course, she seemed far more excited about the kidou, and the fact he had assisted in making a healing spell series with Freyleif using his blood and understanding of science combined with her knowledge regarding the mystical arts-- it had been a resounding success.

"We based it on reishi control and my own regeneration, she's capable of easily regrowing lost limbs and basic organs now, so it was certainly a resounding success since it's comparable to my own abilities-- even if it's slower," as he stated this, he would turn and move toward the opposite side of the ring once more, and watch as she entered the stance-- and immediately he would shake his head a bit as he walked forward.

"Your feet are wrong. The sword is a part of you." As he stated this, he would kneel down, grabbing her firmly by the thigh and calve-- carefully shifting her footing so that her body was at an angle, slanted with one leg behind the other, and one arm leading the other. One hand at the base, the other at the crossguard. Once that was set he would lift himself up with a grunt, and shift her shoulders to loosen her muscles and become far more slack.

"Alright. I'm going to show you how to defend against an armed opponent, wile teaching you hot to attack someone with a blade-- two birds, one stone. For now, let's see what you can remember-- attack me with everything you have using the sword. Show me what you've got." As he stated this, his bodies posture would remain neutral, unlike before, the only stance he took was turning his body so that it was at an angle-- his dominant right shoulder being aimed at her with his hands held loosely at his sides.

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Post Words: 570
Thread Words: 8,036

When Erek said that it they lost track of more than just her when Obsession attacked, Niji'd shake her head with a mirthless laugh, "Possibly, and it wouldn't strike me as so bizarre if not for the fact that all the Shinigami, even my Doctor, that I mention it too react with confusion when I mention the attack. Or Obsession at all. Asking who Obsession is, or what attack, like none of it ever happened, nor all the lives and properties lost ... but yeah, basically he entered Soul Society, with a massive army of Arrancar and Hollow, committed devastating acts of mass destruction to non-combatant districts near Seireitei and blew down Seireitei's front doors. Our higher ups who I can't seem to find out what happened to them, fought him. He won. Then well ... after seriously pissing him off with my fall back combat Bakudo, right after he defeated them, I can't seem to remember between that and a building somehow falling on me ... other than flashes of confused memories. I'm actually seriously lucky that I'm alive with nothing more than brief flashes of psychological trauma. 

"That's pretty much all that I know of what happened," Niji'd report. It wasn't a full debrief but it was a good cliff notes. And giving it that way was nice and detached enough that she didn't have to relive those memories. A part of her was a little miffed that she wasn't in the free feeling of losing herself in combat. But on the other, having something to throw all of her mind and body to. Training to better herself, letting everything she had be thrown into it. Was enough to shield her from her feelings. It was less freeing, but still could be a good form of freedom. All she had to do was give her work her all.  But more than that her Reiatsu would mirror a wave of relief as it just hit her how lucky she was not only to touch the 'Broken God', but that in his anger didn't utterly destroy her. 

She gave an affirmative hum, when he mentioned that learning everything and filling her gaps in combat. Would make her a more potent opponent she'd become, that was true. The more weapons in her repertoire, and more tools in her tool box as it were. The more efficient of a combatant she'd be. Especially when she learned more than just melee weapons, really bring life to the earth adage, "Never bring a knife to a gunfight." Especially if said gun is a magic firing sniper rifle with a Nijū Eishō deviiation of Tenteikūra and Kakushitsuijaku that she'd need to work on developing later to use for a scope ... just branch out, find a target within range, and put that targets location to the "bullet" and fire.

When he commented on how she used Reishi control and his own regenerative abilities for the spell. She let loose a squee of excitement, "I'd love to study your regenerative cell work!" Niji yelled excitedly, before giving an embarrassed cough, "Sorry. I mean, I look forward to when we have time someday to study it and take it to it's farthest in my kido training. I'm honored, thank you."

Eventually it was time for her to start wielding the sword. After Erek moved her feet to the proper position and loosened her shoulders. He told her it was time to start learning how to defend against an armed attacker and how to attack with her sword at the same time. And told her to attack him with everything she had. 

The one upside to playing to her cerebral nature, and forcing her to focus all of herself to her training. Was that the weight she'd been carrying was shunted back to the darkest recesses of her heart. Where it could be buried while she worked on bettering herself. Where said emotions belonged. She let her Reiatsu flow around the blade, feeling the blade, fusing her hand and sword as one entity. 

The fighting style she was taught when younger. Was the fusion of Hakuda, Shunpo, and the projecting one's will to cut onto the world around them. But rather than the long distance movements of Shunpo, it took those same base principals and used them to release all of one's speed and strength into one's blows. Then projecting one's Reiatsu through the attack. Crushing, cutting, even burning one's foes. And as Erek showed recently, a single blow was as tremendously dangerous at range as it was up close. Even if Erek were to use simple footwork than his full speed, all that would change was how fast that crater would be formed. 

But in all of her time, she never used it with a blade. Never put everything behind a strike. But Erek asked her for everything she had. So everything she would give. With her Reiatsu flowing around the blade, she let loose her will to cut, her killing intent into the blade. But rather than the simple expanding of her will like forming her Ha. Using a sword was worlds different. It answered her will like fire to oil. Calling out more of her blood lust, more of her will. A murderous hunger burned within her core and fed the swords need. 

She saw her Ha form around the sword like a ghostly extension of lethal intent. Rather than the translucent, unstable Ha she showed him earlier. This one seemed solid, and hungry. All crushing grief turned to a burning bloodlust, all the sorrow that had tainted her Ha turned to resolve under the need of her sword. It didn't want to cut. It needed it. And she felt her entire body burning red with that need. Almost like a sunburn of calculated wrath. Her entire being screaming with a demonic need to manifest it's need to cut down everything before her. The sword in her hand, only exacerbating that need.

Then in one instant she did the only attack she knew. The downward slash with the full of her speed, the full of her strength, the full of her will to cut, the Reiatsu leaving the sword, and ripping all of her into that need to cut. And as it left the blade darkness enveloped Niji. As a massive lightness took place of that weight in her soul, that burning need that filled her body, that will flowing out and seeking to cut. What it looked like, or what it did, Niji wouldn't know, smothered in that all encompassing emptiness that was left in the strikes execution.

It would be a while later when she came too. Everything felt like it was lit of fire. And a massive pounding headache. Here eyes closed she'd moan hoarsely, "Please tell me I cut something ... or was that slash as lame as I feel? Fuck ... I feel like I was dipped in gasoline, then lit on fire. All my everything hurts and I can't even focus enough to heal myself ... damn it! Who knew giving it everything of me could suck so bad."


CWC: 7,567 (6,388+1179)

CGP: 151

Erek listened quietly to the information given regarding Erasmus, the attack in more detail than Freyleif had told him at the least-- information regarding the fact of how the attack had happened, and that apparently, the Shinigami had lost more of their forces then Erek had initially assumed in the clash. That was valuable information, and it meant that if he could get the Quincy to a stronger level-- that they could easily become capable of holding their own against the attack that may, or may not, ever come. Clenching his hands and rolling his shoulders slightly at that thought, he focused his mind on what he had to do for now: get stronger himself, and get their allies stronger.

He told her to give him everything-- and she did. He saw the reiatsu rear its head, he watched it cloak over her body as she poured all of her energy into the blade in a single motion-- a single standard kendo slash from above, and Erek watched her calmly as the blade slowly lowered toward him. He didn't block it outright, he didn't smash her power with his own, he didn't let her blow slam into his chest and break her sword on him-- instead, a single hand extended, as his eyes focused on the central point of balance for the blade. Three inches from the hilt along the blade-- and with a practiced ease that spoke of both his knowledge with the blade, as well as his body-- his palm casually pushed the attack to the side.

All the downward force only assisted his motion, as it increased the speed of her blow and sent it from being vertical to diagonal-- the blade whipping past his shoulder and carving into the air, rending the earth beside him wide open and sending rubble flying in every direction around them, his eyes staring down at her as her eyes closed, making a noise of pain as she looked like she could collapse at any point. Lifting a hand he would simply pat her hand from the location his palm had been on the flat of the blade, looking down at her as his hands then lowered back to resting behind his back once more.

"Sorry, you did quite the remodeling of the floor, but that's about it. Sit down and take a moment." Once she had, he would tilt his head slightly as he motioned toward the gash in the ground she had carved, "I did this for a reason. To show you that power means little without it being honed by skill-- just as before, I showed you that technique without power is pointless. You poured everything into that attack-- had it hit, you likely could have even cut me." As he stated this, he would then allow his gaze to lower, looking down at the woman calmly.

"There must be a balance-- and honing your skill is the first step to obtaining that balance. Take as long as you need, relax your energy, calm your body and let your reiryoku recover properly." As he stated this, he would then arch a brow as he glanced down at her, "Did you pay enough attention to what was going on to tell me what you did wrong with that slash? What I did to ensure your attack didn't even touch me with such ease?" As he asked this, Erek would examine her hands quietly-- making sure she hadn't caused bleeding by tearing the skin when she exerted so much raw force and power with her swing. If she needed time to heal as well as recover her energy, that was perfectly fine after all.

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Post Words: 614
Thread Words: 8,650

Niji was embarrassed, and she was sure if her skin wasn't still mostly red from entering that state for the first time. She would have been blushing to the same color from embarrassment. She had entered the next step of her Hakuda' art's level, without any control, or thoughts of the future. She had let it sweep her away. Had given into it, and because of that had injured herself to a degree she would have been sure was impossible to do to oneself. If not for the fact that every part of her hurt from going partial demon. If that's what happened, as she sat up she gave a mirthlessly pained chuckle, "Become one's demons, and let them wield your will to cut. And the world can be torn asunder by your will. Let yourself become your demons, and they will tear your world asunder as well as everything you love." 

An adage that she hadn't expected to be taken literally. She thought it was just a lesson about control and refinement of all aspects of self. Not that losing control would literally make her body feel as if it were torn asunder. But that was one of many things she did wrong. She had done what she did with the sword at first to hone her will to cut, to focus herself, and because of what Erek said bringing up the most drilled in lesson of Kageoni. That one's body was the blade. That all weapons were an extension of self, so she let her body merge with the sword on a spiritual level like she was used to when using Hakuda. 

She had been utterly unprepared for truly facing her demons. Nor had she been prepared for what merging with the sword would mean for her. Nor had she been prepared in a lot of ways of what it truly meant to be a practitioner of her master's art. She barely heard Erek telling her to sit and take a moment, she just looked at him and sighed, "I've been an idiot. It seems I really didn't get everything my Sensei taught me about Kageoni have I? I was utterly unprepared for going partial demon ...  or even the oft repeated adage of 'the body is the blade. If one' s body can not cut, all weapons are meaning less.' I didn't even mean for my first time to be like that. Or even truly understand a blade's will to cut ... I've been a child, pretending to understand the way of adults." 

Niji wasn't even sure if it was rhetorical or not. She just felt like an idiot who had been mimicking techniques. A child dressing up in their parent's clothes and pretending they were older than they were. Sure it opened her eyes. Using a blade with her all of her being tied to it. It opened her eyes to just how far she had to go. Both in Hakuda, and just how woefully unbalanced her training had been by ignoring weapons. She wondered what she could learn from the will of other types of instruments, but that wasn't to say there wasn't a thread of caution in her now that she had her first taste of going to that state. 

After getting a much needed lecture he asked her about her slash, "Honestly ... no. I'm used to putting my 'will to cut' into my attacks, and when you mentioned that the blade is a part of me. I melded my will to cut into it ... I was hoping it'd help me better focus and wield the sword. Like an extension, rather than a barely useful accessory. I was unprepared of what the oft drilled adage meant. It's feeling, my demons, everything just swept me away. And well ... losing control, and not letting your mind wield your emotions rather than your emotions wielding you, both were my biggest sins there. Both things I usually know better to do."

Niji sighed, "I was so focused on giving everything, that I hit the next level of Kageoni without being ready for it, and let everything flow into the cut. I blacked out before I even finished the strike. Fuck ... it seems I've still some growing to do after all. I feel like such a child, sure I learned something important from all of it, but what kind of armature lets themselves get swept away by a basic focusing technique?" 

She looked at the rent earth. And the power of that slash. And she shook her head, as she looked at her palms, they were raw and looked slightly charred, but wasn't bleeding. At least not yet, "Just give me a second to meditate and then I'll need to go to a tree or something. Steal it's reiryoku and lifeforce ... one of the many ways Frey's lessons helped me when I last saw her. Really taught me how to fully weaponize Kaido outside analgesics, and making scalpels."

After she had calmed her nerves, and her body could move she'd go to a nearby tree and warn Erek to stay back. Placing her hands on the tree's trunk, she'd let her hand resonate with it's spiritual energy. It's vital aura. Then just like forming that small ball of reishi to chisel a rock by stealing it from the area around her. She'd rip that spiritual energy and lifeforce from the tree. A purple glow would envelop her hands as the green energy of it's lifeforce, and blue energy that was the base of spiritual energy merged into her. Like parched earth soaking up rain. 

If Erek was watching he'd notice the limbs of the tree shake violently and start drooping as if their weight no long could be supported by it's flagging lifeforce. And it's spiritual energy would shrink rapidly as it was siphon into her. All the while her spiritual reserves would replenish, with trace amounts of 'tree' resonating in her aura. Slowly being consumed by Niji's own. As her body healed from the attack. 

When she was done the tree looked half dead. But Niji was a radiant spring of life, "Ah! That hit the spot, I think I can try again. And you were right, technique not honed by skill is worthless. I think I can try again, I just need to wait till later before I merge my will to cut into the blade. At least until I can truly have the time to understand the blade's will to cut, not the shadow of it my own is at the moment. You think that's wise? Or work on the merger till I can do it without going into that earlier state?"



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CWC: 8,681 (1114+7567)



CGP: 173

Erek wasn't entirely sure what the girl was going on about-- it was clear that she hadn't been ready to perform whatever she had performed, he had expected that it was some state of her shikai, but honestly-- for now, it didn't matter. His goals were simple at the moment: make sure that she learned the basics of armed and unarmed combat, and had them down pat so that as they continued training, the woman could hold her own and actively participate as a true knight. Normally, any Quincy could join and become such, but she was a Shinigami. He wanted her to be far more capable than just a normal Quincy Knight-- or there would only be conflict when she was publically announced, the less of that he could cause, the better.

Erek, for all her words, and complaints-- realizations and rambling, replied with only a single, calm sentence that cut through it all to get straight to the heart of the issue: she was inexperienced, and lacked control as well as stamina. His words reflected that simply.

"If you're inexperienced and lack stamina, then get stronger, focus." In Erek's eyes, it had always been that simple-- all the other thinking, self-ridicule, struggling and monologuing did nothing, there was no point toward any of it. Instead, his hands remained clasped calmly behind his back as he looked down at her and simply nodded as she commented on needing time to recover and drain energy. It didn't surprise him she could do such a thing-- the shift of energy and life force was a key aspect of healing spells after all. Watching quietly, he would remain calmly watching until her wounds were healed, and her stamina had been properly replenished.

As she commented that she can try again, he would simply nod and clarify something that she appeared to misunderstand.

"I have no intention of asking you to go all-out again. It was merely to prove a point-- that no matter how much power you have, skill can overwhelm it. Just like to make skill useful, you must have the power to back it up. It's two sides of the same coin, focusing on one too much will render all that study useless against someone that has delved their hands into both sides of the combat. From here on I want you to use your full physical abilities, but no enhancements-- no shunpou, no techniques, no shikai or abilities. Just raw skill, and your natural physical capabilities." As he stated this, he would then motion for her to come at him once more.

"Return to your neutral stance, and try again-- shift your body into the attacks, keep your footing firm, just like in martial arts-- the weapon is a part of your body, and your entire body must be used if you want to use a weapon effectively. A skilled swordsman can read what their opponent is going to do with their blade just by the shift in their footing-- there's a reason for that. Keep an eye on my movements, watch what I do, how I guard against you and deflect the blade." As he stated this, he would allow his hands to return to their neutral state at his sides, his footing spaced, not lifting his arms as he would hold a far more neutral and relaxed stance than his previous used in the hakuda lesson.

It would be step by step-- and she clearly needed a lot of work, but with these base lessons he could then continue to train her in martial arts and weaponry, and once she had managed to get a grip on them, he could teach her what he knew on firearms-- and perhaps, he could send her to an old friend that he intended to call after he had traveled to Britain for a time.

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Post Words: 644
Thread Words: 9,294

Niji listened to Erek as he explained the purpose behind her going all out. And from now on, no using enhancements. Building up the side of the coin between power and skill she had been lacking. Sure she had tons of Power, but her Skill had been neglected. And in this training it showed just how neglected she had become. But like everything she did while here. She soaked up what he had to show her. Slowly bit by bit throwing her into the lessons to make them a part of her. 

She wasn't as good as she could be. Not yet, but she was getting there. The only thing she needed to do was listen, follow orders, and throw herself into the lessons. Not just now, but even after they parted ways, she'd need to practice both power and skill. Rather than the power behind the skill. This time around. There was no 'being one with the blade' as she was used to it. Felt weird as fuck, not being able to put herself into her attacks. But that was something she needed work on. Moving her kinetic awareness from spiritual to physical, getting a hold of what she was doing before triggering something she had no clue on what to do. 

So she followed his instructions. Raw physical power alone. Watching him like a hawk watches its prey. And bit by bit alter her approach. Shifting her full weight in the swings, using less wide ungainly motions that were wasting her attack speed. Finding the right mix of shift and slash. But she'd get there. All the while seeing him deflect the blade, and using it's downward momentum to feed into her return stance. Rather than stay down like some dead weight. And she'd slowly using tiny shifts of her reiatsu to remember movements and positions to build muscle memory. A book mark to burn into her muscle memory of what needed to be done where, and she'd continue till either Erek thought her recovery was quick enough or she'd gotten the lesson. 

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CWC: 9,026 (8,681+345)

CGP: 180

She came at him, and to her credit-- she learned quickly. Strike after strike, raining her blows down against him-- she was never deterred, no matter how many times he parried a blow, dodged it, deflected it and sent her body off-course. His gaze was calm and collected as he corrected her stance verbally each time, his knowledge and skill playing pivotal roles in her combat capabilities as he danced with her, corrected her, taught her-- every motion was key, an important step to ensuring that she was able to memorize the movements and burn them into her mind and muscles.

Breaking old habits, building new habits so that she could evolve-- that was the goal here, and it was becoming quite effective at that. Each blow she released helped, and more importantly, her movements weren't becoming limited by her blade, as he had tried to teach her, she was using her body as much as her weapon to fight, it was still rough around the edges, slow in some areas, her reaction time occasionally completely gave out-- and yet, there was an undeniable level of growth that he was witnessing. With enough practice, he had little doubt the woman would be able to become an expert in both fields-- and that, would allow her to evolve the rest of her combat.

As well, perhaps it would increase her own confidence in herself-- the first step to becoming strong was recognizing that you were weak. The next step was taking that weakness and applying it to yourself to grow stronger, and the final step was breaking past the weakness to gain confidence in your skill-- while maintaining self-control to never become arrogant in your skill, and power. Self-awareness was key in combat, and if she continued on this path he had little doubt that she would manage to do exactly what she needed to grow stronger.

Hours passed as the pair traded blows, Erek carefully correcting her anytime she slipped-- re-adjusting her as she needed, let her heal and restore her reiryoku and body while she was at her limit, and continued pushing her the entire time. Finally, he would raise a hand to halt her, tucking his hand calmly behind his back as he offered a slight smile of approval.

"Well done," he stated simply before he would motion for her to sit down-- the woman had tenacity, determination, willpower-- she had psychopathic complications, certainly, but that didn't mean she wasn't effective and couldn't be an excellent addition to their ranks. Still, the final right to bestow the rank of Knight on her would fall to Freyleif-- and so, for now, Erek would straighten as he thought of the next best step. He had time, of course, to continue training her like this before his trip to Britain-- but he had called Natalie to come to Berlin before going to meet him.

Perhaps training with the woman would offer some guidance after Forge had talked with Freyleif.

"We'll continue training like this for the next week-- I'll be hammering in as much as I can into you on physical combat and tactics, and if we can, we'll dig into helping you with your casting and sensory abilities as well. In a week, I'll be going to Britain for a month-- I want you to meet a woman named Natalie Forge that I've called to Berlin for a few days to train, and continue your training in Berlin. Once I return from Britain, I intend to test you-- it will give you a full five-- perhaps six weeks total including the week training with me here, for you to improve. During that time, I expect you to excel, and when I come to test you, I want you to prove to me you're worth the title of Knight." His eyes met the woman's own calmly after he finished speaking, waiting patiently for her reply-- he could stand over her, lord over her and beat the training into her just like this again and again, but learning from a single person was foolhardy.

Using his training as a basis, while learning from others, and then incorporating the lessons of many into a mixed regimen that she practiced herself-- along with sparring others for combat experience, was the fastest way for her to gain strength. He knew that much from his own training, both before, and after becoming spiritually aware.

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Post Words: 738
Thread Words: 10,032

For hours she pushed herself into her training. Sir Erek correcting her as the exchanged blows. Correcting mistakes, and when he felt she needed to stop. Making her take breaks. But what she lacked in durability, she made up with in spades with raw tenacity. She had noticed during her training, that she had grown to confident in herself. Which had turned into arrogance, and worse, had let that overconfidence build up habits which were making her weak. Both as a fighter and a person. 

She still had tons to learn, but what she was seeing was that she needed to focus on the basics. Get her skill honed before falling to power. Get herself in balance in her training, so she could be a mighty blade. That and it was fun. It was like a breath of fresh air. Putting her mind to soak up combat just as much as she did with her other areas of studies. Soaking it up like a parched earth soaking up the rain. An obsessive sponge drank up knowledge like a fish takes to water. 

As the sun started to raise in the sky and the first light of dawn started shining through, Sir Erek raised his hands and a small smile of approval graced his face as he placed hand calmly behind his back. He told her of his plans for her. She gave a grin, "Sounds like fun. This Natalie Forge must be some warrior if you'd trust my continued training into her hands, I look forward to it."

Placing her hands over her ears, a blue flame would engulf them before forming two cat ears, the entire world around them seeming to come alive with a greater range of sounds, "As for sensory abilities. Being a shape shifter, seriously Thank Frey for her teachings, gives me near infinite choices of who or what to be. Just let me know what senses would be most effective, or what animal would have the best senses. And I can shape myself to be what you think would be most efficient. And when it comes time to test, I'll show you exactly how much your training has paid off." 

Niji'd stand up and stretch, "Hey, I don't know how long you can keep going with that regen hax of yours. But let me leech off flora or fauna to cap off when I get low. Hit myself up with Kaido to reset my stamina. And I can keep going all week. And if I get bad like when I accidentally go partial demon, give me a few mins to get back to ready, and I won't need to rest. Not if it's not necessary." 

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CWC: 9,477 (9,026+451)

CGP: 189

Her grin at his offering of someone else also teaching her, caused him to chuckle briefly-- it was good she was excited, or she'd suffer quite a bit more. Training harshly while trying to evolve was one thing-- suffering through training without any desire to keep going only led to a bunch of bullshit usually, suffering, and no actual growth-- as well as a distaste for the instructor "forcing them through it". Approaching it with determination and a more positive light was a far superior way to deal with such things. Her comment on Forge made him laugh outright, short, but earnest.

"Forge is someone who was raised in war, like me, but for less time. Our styles are different, but I'd trust her with my life," he stated simply before he would arch a brow as she shifted her body, forming cat ears and would shake his head slightly, it was an interesting ability-- and one to certainly make note of, but how much of an advantage it would actually give someone in the middle of a battle was hard to say. Animals had superior abilities to humans in many areas, but spiritual beings, and spiritually-empowered beings both already had immensely superhuman speed, agility, and reaction times-- still, it could enhance her a bit either way. But that hadn't been the reason he was commenting on sensory anyway.

"Though that's definitely useful-- I was referring to reiatsu perception and control, since it's a fairly key skill to have. From what I can tell you have solid skill in it unlike your other abilities, but with what you're trying to do, being able to totally suppress yourself and ghost is a pretty damn important skill to have. It'd be worth trying to master it outright in your case." As he explained this he would offer a slight smirk, as he knew very well he couldn't help her too much in that area, "You'll have to go to Freyleif for lessons and help in that area, however. I had no interest in increasing my skill in that field beyond where it's hit, as it's not really in my preferred combat style."

Though, as she would stretch, and comment on his regeneration-- he would arch a brow slightly as she commented on draining the flora and fauna around them, and stating that she could keep going all week, he chuckled softly. "As long as I have reishi, I can keep going-- technically I don't even need to eat as long as I have reishi to fuel my body, but that doesn't really mean that we should train non-stop for that long. As much as I'd love to, physical stamina isn't the only thing that you have to remember. Mental fatigue is something entirely different-- even if you can ensure your body gets the energy it needs to the brain, maintaining high levels of focus non-stop for longer than six hours straight can cause mental complications. Rest is just as important as training-- this isn't Hollywood or a comic," he chuckled lightly before he would nod toward the city.

"I'll get something to eat-- if you want anything I can get you something as well, we'll take a break to eat and let your mind calm down a bit, and then continue. We'll focus on six-hour bursts of training, with an hours time to relax-- and sleeping for a bit, preferably four to six hours, after every thirteen hours total. That means twenty-eight to forty-two hours of sleeping, about seven or eight hours of standard rest, and a hundred-thirty-two to a hundred and eighteen hours of training. That'll likely push your brain to its limit, but it should be doable-- shinigami are more durable than humans anyway supposedly," he smirked a bit glancing back at her as he began to move toward the city.

"Don't worry. You'll be pushed to your limit-- just in ways you likely aren't used to being pushed," mental fatigue, slipping concentration and focus due to overwork and overstress from lack of sleep and relaxation time could drive a person crazy, short tempered, violent even sometimes-- but using energy to help nullify some of the effects, and taking minimal breaks should ensure that it didn't become too much of a problem beyond making her a bit irritable as the week progressed most likely.

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Niji listened to Erek's description of Natalie Forge. From what she heard she sounded like a blast, and someone she was eager to learn from. Especially if she understood survival and was talented in the art of combat if Sir Erek trusted her with his life. She gave a laugh at that, "If you trust her with your life. Then I look forward to her instructions more than ever. Any words of advice for when I train under her, so I can get the most out of my training?" 

After being told about the training regimine and going to the city for food and rest, Niji'd cringe, "Yeah ... I need to find a way to earn cash while here. Totally slipped my mind that, that's a thing over here. While you go over to the city I'll stalk the woods a bit. I'm sure there's plenty of small game, just look for a raven, cat, or other animal around here with my reiatsu signature when you're ready to start up again. It'll keep my dietary needs small, and let me rest comfortably while between training."

Niji'd wave her hands before her, "Not that I'm asking to bum money ... but after we're done with training. If I've earned it, or in return a favor too owe you. Do you think you could lend me some cash or something? I'm self sufficient, but earning a paycheck'd make things easier while living here," she'd say quickly while scuffing her left foot on the ground, "feel kind of dumb not remembering money's a thing. Especially since I don't know if where I'm going after here has plentiful, challenging game to hunt when I need sustenance and hands on training."

She'd wave off any offers for money till after training. She was serious in wanting to earn what she got, and while training here there was close to feeling like home. Nice woods, good enough game, and she knew how to survive in these tame areas. Even with the few wondering Hollow miles off into the distance. She knew how to live with next to nothing, and away from the comforts of civilization. Civilization made her antsy sometimes, all those unspoken rules, 'common' courtesies, and the complacency most civilized beings fell too.  

Sure if she was going to be a Knight, she'd have to really get used to civilization, but right now. While working on getting stronger, some time in the wilderness never killed anyone. At least not anyone who didn't do anything overly stupid. She'd wait for him to leave and go raven. Taking wing she'd locate the mouse she was sensing earlier. Letting the freedom of flight filler her body as allowed herself to immerse with her form. Feeling the rising sun start to make thermals in her surroundings, the way the wind played among her primaries, secondaries, and coverts. The band of light from the earth's magnetic field. Her seeing Sir Erek even when she was miles above the ground. Even seeing all the tasty little prey animals that scurried about. But she found what she had spotted earlier in her senses. A tiny, mouse, that'd more than fill the raven's needs. 

It was a fast kill, but the warm, freshly caught meal was more than enough for this animals form. In a short time she'd be sitting on the top of the wall resting her eyes while she waited for her Sir Erek to show up. When her Zan would wake her she'd go back to her catgirl state bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Ready to start training anew.

--------

Niji sat in the Central Show Room of Uzume's place. Her two zan sitting before her. 

"Hey, Dakini keep a lookout for Sir Erek. So I can be up and ready to train when he gets here ... also from now till we get done with training. I'll recap the days training with one of you, and the other watches out for me. Then the next day we switch. This way you both get the same training I do, and I can practice while my body sleeps." 

"Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of sleeping though?" Dakini asked. 

"Not really, it'll be more like a lucid dream where I can make sure I improve myself as a Knight. Rather than wasting my day with whatever random stuff my brain would normally come up with. That and time doesn't mean anything here. I can sleep here if I need to get a few extra winks," Niji scoffed.

"Well if you say so. I'll make sure you get up in time for more training."

With that out of the way. Niji allowed Uzume to take her to the training rooms located in Resort City. Soaking up the scenery that she only recently existed outside the room she got to know for so many years. 

"This place is big," Niji whispered in awe as they neared the designated rooms.

"But empty. I swear, if it wasn't for the fact that this will be useful for Mamma Ina later. I'd be super pissed at the lack of guests. Just because you feel a 'connection' and 'indebted' to the Quincy. Still, sooner or later this place will be filled with guests again. I can wait ... even if I don't like it," Uzume huffed.

"Don't whine. This is important, if it wasn't for Frey's lesson or my spar with her, I'd be dead by now. So anyways, training?" 

"It's not whining, it's complaining. There's a difference, but yeah. We can train up ahead. And we can drill these lessons into our heads till Erek gets back. Well if Dakini doesn't 'let you rest'."

Niji shook her head. As she prepared for what would be part of her new schedule. Train with Erek, learning everything she needed to get better at fighting. Go into an animal form while Erek went to the city to rest, to get something to munch on. Training her Bakudo even further. Rest up while going over training, or taking longer to relax in her Inner World. Train with Erek some more. And repeat the process. Working her best to use every resource she had to wasting as little time she had with Sir Erek before departing to Berlin to be trained under Natalie Forge.

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CWC: 10,486 (9,477+1009)

CGP: 209

Erek had been training with Niji for several days now, working with her when it came to her ability to utilize multiple forms of melee weaponry, unarmed combat, and similar styles of fighting-- using the training to build her a solid foundation of combat capabilities that were lacking before. Of course, now that he had built that foundation with her he knew that she wanted to learn something more in-line with her style, and he wasn't one to deny her that-- even if it wasn't really his personal preference. But, as promised, he had obtained several firearms for her to work with.

This time, he had taken her to the internal training rooms within the castle itself-- as there would be no spiritual energy required for these lessons, this was purely to help her understand the firearms basics so that she didn't have a lack of understanding and knowledge when she approached Forge for official lessons. Currently, he was waiting in the range for the woman to enter-- having a table of firearms set up for her to work with, arms locked behind his back calmly-- the training room of solid soul-synthesized stone was set up with multiple training dummies made of soul-synthesised wood and metal, the perfect test dummies for extended target practice due to their durability.

Leaning back, he briefly glanced at the door-- knowing that she would arrive shortly, and once she had they could begin the basic discussion regarding the weapons, how to work them, clean them, maintain them-- the basics of firing them, the standard types of rounds, and so forth. He wouldn't go into the details on how they were made because his knowledge in that area was fairly limited, but he could give her the information she needed to build on such things with Forge instead. Feeling her approaching through the walls, his eyes would glance toward the door once it had opened, offering a brief smile before motioning toward the table.

"Welcome to firearm basics," he stated with a brief, amused chuckle stemming from his chest-- he knew she'd wanted to look into these things the first day, but she had been patient with him and taken his experience to heart-- now she'd earned her reward, as it were. He was happy to help her as best he could in understanding everything related to the weapons-- rifles and pistols of varying types decorated the table-- though there were no high-level weapons such as RPG's or launchers in general, those he would leave to Forge.

He was sure she'd appreciate getting to play with her most powerful toys after all, especially if it was to show them off to someone else.

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After several days of intense training. They had finally traveled to the Castle in Berlin. The headquarters of the Order. Niji couldn't help but let out a happy squee when she saw it. It was the next step in her path to becoming a Knight. The days leading up to know were every bit as intense as Erek said it would. But thanks to her Zanpakuto when she rested, helping her out, and being able to take mini-vacations from herself by going into her animal forms when it was time to eat and cool down. She was able to handle it, and now she was finally here. 

The days leading up to here weren't exactly easy. Having to learn to redo decades of horrible habits, forcing herself to break down herself so that she could be built up. But those small smiles, and tiny bit of praise made it worth it. It gave her that extra oomph to push just a bit harder. And whom she at first saw as a wall in juggernaut form, she now saw as a teacher and a person she'd grown over the last few days to have a lot of respect in. She knew enough about romantic feelings from Yui to know it was nothing near that ... it was odd. Similar to how she felt for Sensei, but not quite as deep. Still she was going to prove that she was worthy of the trust her Queen put in her, and all the hard work that Sir Erek had done to get her into shape. It probably wasn't how he wanted to spend his time, whipping a crazy Shini up to his standards. But he'd done splendidly, and she was going to prove that effort worth while. 

She drank up the surroundings and asked the question niggling at the back of her mind, "I don't sense any big predators  near by... is there any good hunting around these parts? Or would I use what you all have in stock at the kitchens?" 

It was a for her serious question. Sure hunting as an animal, would lessen how much she needed to eat. And it would test her Bakudo, but testing her skills against big game was something of a healthy work out for her. Get her blood flowing, and getting her ready for the day. While allowing her to eat her fill as she needed. But even she knew it was a random question. Something blurted out due to a mixture of nervous energy and a budding sense of boundless excitement. 

She was given a basic layout of the place and made to get ready for her future lessons. She gave a slight nod, and when asked if she was allowed to let Quincy there know she was a Shini, or if she needed to keep her Reiatsu suppressed and her head down. He told her the former was what she needed to do, and giving a nod. Made sure her Reiatsu was as clamped down as she could make it and altered her body language. As she walked into the castle she walked with a calm, sedate pace, her mannerisms unassuming. While using her awareness to avoid places where she felt her meager suppression would be poked through. 

A part of her thought of going full animal. It'd be easier to get around, and noone would think twice depending on the animal she chose. But on the other paw, it would mean she would draw attention when she did non-animal activities like reading a map. Or going raiding the kitchens, which she was headed to know. When Erek achieved Stern rank, and her own training was complete. She could be more open with herself, but at the moment, the only thing that mattered was her training. Then hopefully getting to know this Natalie Forge she'd heard about. 

She almost felt like she was being set up for a joke by how little she knew about her. But at the same time, it only heightened her anticipation of getting trained under someone Erek apparently placed a tremendous amount of trust in. As she entered an empty kitchen she let her awareness touch where Erek was. He had gotten to a location within the center of the castle and was apparently getting her next bit of training ready. She had no idea what it was, but with all that she had learned so far. The fact they made it here meant that it was probably going to be good. 

It was fifteen minutes, 3 quarts of yogurt, and a leg of ham later. When she was finished with her light lunch, and had made it to the central training rooms. It was her first time seeing soul synthesized material in anywhere this level of this diversity. She saw that smile as he let loose a brief chuckle welcoming her to firearm basics. Looking at the firearms and the ammunition types she let loose a squeal of delight that she usually only reserved when free food was brought up.

She walked up her eyes on the wide variety of firearms, and building a ball of Kaido used Scan. It's wave of reiryoku building a blueprint in her mind. Showing how they were made and all the parts formed together, most of it she didn't quite get yet. But it was at least enough for her to see just how bad her Kido Gun prototype was. Looking at Erek she'd give a hesitant grin, "Before we learn to fire these. I'd really love to learn gun safety, and how to ensure I don't accidentally discharge my firearm killing some innocent person. Can do start with that?"  

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CWC: 11, 435 (10,486+949)

CGP: 228

When asked regarding the food, he would simply glance at her and arch a brow. "If you want a challenge, go hunt Hollow-- you could use the combat experience with your new skills anyway. Food and drink, as well as a room will all be provided in the Castle just like any other Quincy would get there." The answer was simple and clear, there was no need to over-complicate anything-- it wasn't as though any animal could handle a spiritual being in combat anyway since they literally couldn't even see them.

--
Erek watched as she entered the training room at the current date, and would remain calmly in place as he watched her approach. Of course, she lit up exactly as he had assumed she would-- like a damn Christmas tree when she saw the weaponry lining the table, though to her credit she didn't touch any of them, she did look over them and he felt her reiatsu scan through them briefly, that was fine-- learning how to take them apart was part of learning how to utilize them after all. Her next question, however, caused his smirk to grow into a proud smile, that was a rare first-reaction-- usually, people wanted to get straight to the shooting, and that was the worst way to go about such things.

Instead, he simply nodded, "I would prefer that, actually," he replied simply before he would tap the nearest of the large pistols, "There are twelve golden rules you abide by, Always--" he then began the list calmly, "Treat the gun as if it was loaded, keep the gun aimed in a safe direction-- usually the ground, if you're holding it keep your finger straight, don't curl it into the trigger guard unless you intend to fire. Keep the gun unloaded unless you intend to fire it-- a rule I used to break frequently but only due to my own confidence, that's something that comes down to you in the end. Similarly, never point a gun at anything you don't intend to destroy or kill-- it's not a toy, and using one for intimidation can still end badly. Always be aware of your surroundings-- that means including things behind whatever your target may be, or near it."

Taking a moment he would then lift the nearby forty-five up, flipping it and casually offering it to her unloaded to begin examining and touching, "Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using, use proper ammunition, keep the barrel and gun clean, oiled, and without any obstructions inside it. Don't rely on the gun's safety to keep it from firing, and if your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds; then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, then you can carefully unload the gun." With his little speech done, he would rest his hands on his back calmly and watch her handle the gun with an arched brow.

"Always check its balance, and weight-- if anything feels off, or the angle feels wrong, take it apart-- and try to make sure everything is fit together as tightly as possible," he would explain this simply before he would then motion toward the standard rounds of forty-five ammunition. "Do you know any of the basics of a firearm? Where the safety is, how to check the chamber, how it functions? How to load the magazine, and then lock it into the gun itself, and so forth?" He needed to know how much she already knew before he could start giving her lessons after all. If he was really starting from zero, well, he was going to be doing quite a bit of talking and showing.

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When he told her that food would be supplied and if she needed a challenge she'd sigh happily, "That's good, I usual eat half my weight or more in food. Good thing to know that I don't need to limit myself to all you can eat's, hunting, or shapeshifting into something smaller to fill my dietary needs. Spell casting and fighting burns tons of calories ya'know." 

----

She was on cloud nine seeing Sir Erek proud at her request, and he went into explaining the golden rules. Canting her head, her left ear twitched at the last few rules, "You mean that using it for intimidation can still kill someone? So if someone draws on me think of it as threat on my life rather than a fear tactic? And for the behind thing, is that in case I miss or in case it goes through the body? But I can definitely remember the rest of it. But I only counted seven rules ... or was that one of those figure of speech things?" 

And those were good rules. Treating a gun as if it was loaded, regardless of checking to make sure it was empty prior. Would prevent her from accidentally someone on the chance she hadn't cleared it, or if there was some flow of circumstances that lead to the bullet being in the barrel. Keeping it pointed down, possibly straight up. But situational awareness would be a massive thing to exercise. The not curling her finger around the trigger was definitely something she was glad to know about now. While she knew action movies were a load of crap, it was something they did often and she would have done that if not for that rule. The intimidation thing was new. She knew there was a fear factor to drawing a gun on someone in a threatening manner. But the warning that it could go wrong or other than the intimidation effect was something she didn't realize. 

Definitely better to know that know and get clarification than doing that later down the line. Niji shivered at the thought of killing someone she didn't intend to kill. The actual act of killing didn't bother her much, but only if it was intentional. She had no desire to drag innocent people, or those she didn't intend to kill dying. Especially over something as stupid as a fear tactic. But the knowledge to make sure of what was near as well as behind a target was definitely useful if she was to learn how to act safely.

It turned out firearms were a great deal more complex, and with a great deal more care required than she originally thought. That tempered exuberance would show in her stance and her aura as she went from 'cool, but dangerous if miss treated toys', to 'weapons I need to respect ... but are still pretty freaking awesome'. As he handed her a firearm as he continued his lesson, motioning to the ammo for it. She slid the magazine in until she heard a click, keeping the gun pointed downwards and her finger straight. Then he asked her questions on what she knew.

"Mechanically I got a full mental blue print of each of these firearms ... but past that, I can put a magazine in, and take it out. The safety, I know where it is, but not which direction is 'safety on' and 'safety off'. How it functions I get the mechanical understanding, but not how to check if somethings in the chamber, how to put it in the chamber, or much else. I mean I know how to load a magazine in, how to unload it, and how to fire it. That's the height of my actual knowledge ... although I can take it apart and put together. Past that I don't have a clue." She'd answer honestly before adding, "I do know enough to never emulate an action film. Those are good ways to wrack up civilian casualties, or harm oneself and others I'm not intending to harm, kind of like 95% of anything in those movies. Looks cool, but no real grounding in reality ... although with sufficiently advanced Rei Per, weapons  and martial arts training Gun Katta could be plausible. Well close, but not 100% like how it was in Equilibrium." 

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CWC: 12,153 (11,435+718)

CGP: 243

"Exactly," he stated simply to her initial questions, "If someone ever draws a weapon on you-- of any sort, assume that they are going to try and kill you," when she inquired about the twelve rules, he waved a hand a bit. "There are twelve in there, I simply combined them in a way to make them easier to understand-- you can look them up if you want for an individual breakdown, some of them interlace with others, so I tend to combine them for a smoother lesson." As he stated this he would then glance toward the woman as she examined the weapon-- loaded it and would answer his questions. So she had the basics down with a few advanced pieces of information, but nothing solid-- as she commented on "Gun-Katta" Erek snorted in amusement.

"All "Gun-Katta" is-- are simple martial arts using firearms instead of a sword or knife. There's a slight differential in that a firearm can also fire a projectile, but the adjustment is very slight. It's not as Hollywood as you think-- Natalie is quite good at it, as are many special forces soldiers. It's not quite as flashy as they make it in the movies, but it certainly does exist." Once that was out of the way, he would begin to point toward each part of the weapon that was important-- the safety, on and off, how to chamber a round, how to check if it's empty, and so on. He then took the magazine out and emptied the rounds before showing her how to add the individual rounds into the magazine and load it before it even went into the firearm.

Once the basics had all been covered, he would then motion toward the targets behind him, "Go for it. Show me the stance you think you should take first, and we'll build on it from there," there was little worry when it came to safety here, the firearms couldn't harm either of them, and it wasn't like the gun had enough recoil to even make her flinch-- spiritual beings at their weakest could toss a damn car around usually, but it was still important that she understand the specifics of the stance she needed to take, how to hold the weapon, fire it, and so forth. If she wanted to make a spiritual version, then she'd, of course, need to know these things since the recoil on the significantly stronger spiritual variation would need the proper stance to fire and utilize.

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When she heard that 'Gun-Katta' was a thing, and that her up and coming instructor Natalie Forge was good at it. She gave a small squeal, "I look forward to meeting her even more now. She sounds like she really knows her way around her hardware." 

She gave an affirmative hum at him telling her that he broke down the 12 rules and blended them together. It made sense with how efficient that he was, that he'd take steps that interlaced and merged them into a single whole. Making giving out the rules in a more compound and effective approach. It seemed like that was the kind of guy he was. When he showed her what she was lacking in the terms of gun handling. It turned out there were a few more holes in her knowledge than she had guessed.  But just like as when he was teaching her combat. Those wholes were quick to be plugged with his straightforward manner, and level of competency. 

It took awhile learning her way around each of the firearms. But from what she saw, once she understood the basic template of one weapon, the rest were slightly easier to understand. Then it came time to load a bullet into the chamber and show him her stance. Niji closed her eyes, her left ear twitching as she went through various stances that she knew, what she had seen on tv as bad an ideas as that was, and from her learning to handle her sword. To extrapolate a guess. 

Opening her eyes she held the gun as she was told with her finger straight alongside the trigger, not curled around. And grasped her wrist for support, cupping the bottom of the handle. She got into a staggered stance with her weight supported  mostly on her back leg, with enough on her front in case she needed to pivot or orientate herself to a new target. With the gun centered so the sights were in the center of her vision as both eyes stayed focused on her target, "Is this a proper stance?"  

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CWC: 12,483 (12,135+348)
CGP: 249

Erek watched her patiently as she shifted between the different steps and positions, making note that she was keeping a relatively open mind. Often there were issues from those that had seen movies on how to properly use the weaponry, but thankfully she was quite open to understanding it wasn't the right way to do anything usually. Nodding a bit as she shifted herself and lifted both hands to hold the weapon, he would speak clearly in response to her inquiry.

"Close," he stated simply as he moved her hand from the wrist, to instead wrap around her other hand and the pistol's grip cupping slightly underneath but primarily holding the grip itself the same way her primary hand was. Lowering a hand he would nod once she was in the proper stance, lifting her arms a bit so they were bent slightly at the elbows, the gun on-level with the horizontal center of her body and in front of her face. He'd then adjust her footing so that she had one leg bracing her from behind, and would nod as he straightened.

"These are semi-automatic, that means that they fire once, reload automatically and are ready for the next squeeze of the trigger. Automatic means as long as the trigger is down, you're spraying bullets," with that he would then motion for her to go ahead and begin.

"Take your shots, the more familiar you are with aiming and firing the better off you'll be, we have plenty of time-- I'll correct you as we go," with that he would cross his arms behind his back, watching his student patiently as his brow arched slightly. He would correct her as she needed, poking area's of her body into place, adjusting how she gripped the weapon, helping her learn how to properly aim per shot, and so forth. The more he helped her train, the more efficient he knew she would become-- and though he didn't understand why she'd want to create firearms when spellcasting seemed far superior, he wouldn't hold it against her for wanting to expand her training and horizons.

After all, he had been the one to tell her that covering as many bases as possible would help her in strategy mid-combat. Even if she eventually stopped the usage of firearms, or didn't use the knowledge for her own combat, knowing how the weapons worked, how many rounds they usually had, what to look for to read her opponents, and so forth would all be lifesavers while in the middle of combat against someone using firearms.

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