Age 12
Melodia braced herself for the blow and as it struck the wooden blade in her hands, she felt the shockwave rip through her hands and arms. Taurin leaned down over her while her foot dug into the dirt and grass the best it could. She was sweating, panting, as she tried to get some leverage over the older man. He gritted his teeth looking at her and shook his head. "You're completely off balance Melodia..."
She growled back, her lips pulled into a sneer, "Yer jus' an old man...I...I c'n come back..."
He chuffed and in a quick motion, his right leg swept and took hers out. She fell backward and let out a surprised cry before slamming her fist into the ground.
"Not lying on your back, you won't. That position...it's for whores and invalids. Which are you?" He said with a calm tone and demeanor, extending his hand down for her. She took it and as he pulled her up she scowled. "Ain't neither o' them." Throwing the wooden blade to the ground she walked a few steps away and sighed tiredly. Her hair had been cut short and she had been growing taller by the moon.
Walking to stand beside her, he took in the same view she had. "You're a skilled young lady, Melodia...but you let stupid ideas cloud it. Self doubt. Worry. You allow pain to fester and burn you rather than using it as a means to become better." She looked downward and then back to Taurin with a frown.
"Ye keep sayin' I'm good an' all...fact is...I'm shite."
Taurin scowled and shook his head. "Language Melodia. And that's the Captain speaking....not you. I do think you have potential...you just need to calm yourself....and that voice in your mind that cripples you every time." He smiled softly at the girl. "Or else you'll simply be a girl on your back. And I expect more out of you than that."
Melodia braced herself for the blow and as it struck the wooden blade in her hands, she felt the shockwave rip through her hands and arms. Taurin leaned down over her while her foot dug into the dirt and grass the best it could. She was sweating, panting, as she tried to get some leverage over the older man. He gritted his teeth looking at her and shook his head. "You're completely off balance Melodia..."
She growled back, her lips pulled into a sneer, "Yer jus' an old man...I...I c'n come back..."
He chuffed and in a quick motion, his right leg swept and took hers out. She fell backward and let out a surprised cry before slamming her fist into the ground.
"Not lying on your back, you won't. That position...it's for whores and invalids. Which are you?" He said with a calm tone and demeanor, extending his hand down for her. She took it and as he pulled her up she scowled. "Ain't neither o' them." Throwing the wooden blade to the ground she walked a few steps away and sighed tiredly. Her hair had been cut short and she had been growing taller by the moon.
Walking to stand beside her, he took in the same view she had. "You're a skilled young lady, Melodia...but you let stupid ideas cloud it. Self doubt. Worry. You allow pain to fester and burn you rather than using it as a means to become better." She looked downward and then back to Taurin with a frown.
"Ye keep sayin' I'm good an' all...fact is...I'm shite."
Taurin scowled and shook his head. "Language Melodia. And that's the Captain speaking....not you. I do think you have potential...you just need to calm yourself....and that voice in your mind that cripples you every time." He smiled softly at the girl. "Or else you'll simply be a girl on your back. And I expect more out of you than that."
