Arya Stark (nothorsefaced) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-08-03 01:22:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, arya stark, magius |
Who: Arya Stark and Magius
What: Meeting and Sword Training
When: Backdated: Monday, July 22nd. Afternoon
Where: A Practice Space
Rating: Family Friendly
Status: Complete
Things had settled somewhat, and Magius had once more taken up his duties at the clinic, remaining on call for the Las Vegas recovery efforts. With traveling there and working at the clinic, time passed quickly. Despite this, he remembered the words he had exchanged with the young woman and so, one afternoon, after discussing things with her on the comms, he had invited her to a rented practice suite. There, he waited, with practice wands of various styles, and dressed in a set of exercise clothing. A few others sets lay to one side, in case she did not have such, and he had asked her to bring her sword, so he could match the practice wand to her sword size.
And so he waited. He wanted to be sure he could help her.
Arya had been looking forward to someone teaching her how to use Needle ever since it had shown up after Jon had given it to her in her dream. She knew that there would be very few times when she’d actually need to use it in real life, aside from crazy invasions that is, but she really wanted to learn how to use it so that she could be as badass as in the dreams. She’d heard of some people waking up with skills they hadn’t had before as a result of the dreams, but so far when she picked it up, she still didn’t know how to use it. It felt right for her to hold it, but when she tried to use it, she just wound up slashing at the air and knew that, that wasn’t right.
So when the man on Valarnet, Magius, had told her that he could teach her, she jumped at the chance. On the day they had decided to meet, Arya had dressed in the same clothes she would have worn to soccer or softball practice, minus the cleats and headed over to the practice space he had informed her of. She’d brought Needle as well, like he’d asked and was soon walking into the building, sword in hand. “Hi. I’m Arya.” She said when she spotted the man. Most people would probably think this was a little sketchy, a mid aged man, inviting a teenage girl to some random, practice space, but Arya was a pretty good judge of character and if he tried anything, she would just kick him in the shins then the balls.
“Hello, Arya.” He smiled at her, nodding with warmth and a friendly, fatherly, almost, air. He was a doctor and saw a lot of children, and took care of all of those he saw with equal fathering. “Welcome. I am Doctor Magius.” He gestured to two seats to one side of the practice area. “Please, sit.”
He looked at her as she entered and nodded. He thought she could be taught. As with anything, it would take time, but he would be glad to do it.
“Hi Doctor,” Arya said as she looked towards the chairs he was gesturing towards. She hadn’t expected to be interviewed first, but she supposed it only made sense. He probably wanted to make sure that she was completely serious about wanting to learn to sword fight. Since she really wanted him to teach her, she did as he said and took a seat in one of the two seats.
“Please, call me Magius.” He nodded as he took the seat opposite her. “I want to ask you, again, here, if you are serious about learning to fight, and about how to not hurt others with your blade, as well as how to use it to very seriously hurt them. It is important to not ever unsheathe the blade of a sword or even a knife, unless you intend to use it.”
His voice was gentle, but firm as he spoke.
Needle didn’t actually have a sheath, but she understood what Magius was saying and she nodded in response, “I understand. I’m one hundred percent serious about wanting to learn. I won’t give up until I’ve accomplished it.” Most people would say that Arya had a competitive nature and they wouldn’t be wrong. She was always the most determined person on whatever team she was on, be it soccer, softball, whatever. It didn’t matter; Arya was always one hundred percent committed to whatever it was that she was doing.
“Very well. Hold it up, then, hold up your sword.” His voice was gentle as he nodded to her, his eyes serious. He sat forward, looking to her. This would be interesting. He looked forward to seeing her sword and her stance.
“Alright,” Standing up, Arya removed Needle from the bag she’d brought it in and moved so that she wasn’t directly in front of Magius, turned to the side, like she’d seen in all the movies and held Needle out towards him, the hilt feeling right in her hand just as it always did. The sword was obviously made for someone a little smaller, but it wasn’t as if Arya had grown very much since she had actually been eleven. She was only 5’2 and was still quite skinny and lean as a result of all the sports she’d played over the years.
Magius rose and moved about her, watching her stance and her hold. He nodded. “Good. It does match you. Very well. I will teach you, first with practice swords, then with the real thing. When I am done, if you truly work at it. Needle will be part of who you are, and part of your mind and body.” He smiled. “Put it away, and we will begin.”
He took out a couple of practice wands, checking them against the measurement of Needle in his mind, and nodded. Good.
Arya watched the man as he moved around her, wondering what he was thinking as he watched her. When he finally spoke, she relaxed and put Needle away then turned back towards him, “Alright, so where do we start?” She was extremely anxious and was surprised that she was able to stay still.
“We start with stance, and with holding the sword. It doesn’t matter if you can swing it fast and do dazzling moves, if you hold it wrong and stand wrong, you will be defeated.” He held out the first practice wand to her. “Look and copy me.”
He moved to where she could see his standing, and shifted his feet to show a relaxed, and yet ready stance, one he could hold for awhile. “Sword fighting is often over swiftly, but if you meet multiple opponents or face someone equal to you, it can take some time. KNowing how to stand and support your sword thus becomes very important.”
He held the wand just so, and let her see that.
Arya took the practice sword from Magius and listened to each and every word that he said as she watched him closely then mimicked what he did, adjusting her grip on the hilt of the practice sword as she continued to watch him for any changes he was going to make and hoped that she was doing it right.
Magius corrected her grip, slightly, and nodded. “You learn quickly.” He smiled to her, then showed her three basic moves, then the way her feet should be for each one, and then asked her to go through them, each, three times, even as he nodded and corrected her stance and hold if it needed it.
Arya listened as Magius instructed her then did as he said, three times, just like he’d shown her. It wasn’t the first time she’d been told that she was a fast learner, “Like that?” So far the lessons were more or less as she’d expected. It wasn’t as if she’d expected to use a sword like in the movies right off the bat or anything.
Magius nodded. “Indeed. We’ll need to keep practicing the basics until they are second nature. Each level of moves in sworduse is built on the previous level’s moves. So they must be learned, level by level, and with much practice. “ He smiled to her. “It is not fast, but it will work, and in time, you will find it easier.”
“Just tell me what to do and how often to do it and I’ll do it.” Arya was determined to learn. She didn’t know what she was going to do once she was able to swordfight, but all she knew was that she needed to learn. She’d been given Needle for a reason and she wasn’t going to just leave the sword in the closet or under her bed. “I’ll come for lessons whenever you want me to.”
“Very well.” ANd he continued her lesson, leading her through repetitions of what he had begun to teach her, helping her to learn them until she was tired, and it showed in her arms and legs and stance. Then he called a halt. “We will make you into a swordfighter, and someone who can react without thinking. But you must always remember to think, and not to just let instinct take over.” He smiled a little. “That’s enough for today. Three days a week, here, at the same time, if you can. Call me and let me know if there is a problem.” He nodded to her.
As the lesson continued, Arya did exactly as Magius showed her, listening when he gave her an instruction and letting him adjust her grip or stance. She worked as hard as possible, even breaking out in a bit of a sweat. She was used to that, however from years of sports and unlike some girls, didn’t mind sweating or getting dirty.
When they finished, she nodded, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, “I can do that.I don’t really have anything else I’m doing, so that should be easy. I really appreciate this, by the way.”
Magius smiled to her. “You have already shown me that you are serious, and what teacher would not respond to that? I will see you in two days, then, okay?” He nodded to her. “You are doing well, and I am confident I can teach you to become quite the swordswoman.”
Grinning, Arya nodded, “Thanks. I’m looking forward to it.” She moved to where she’d left Needle and after collecting the bag the sword was in, she turned towards the door then glanced over her shoulder at the older man, “Two days.” With that, she turned and headed out, looking forward to telling Bran and Gendry and any of her other friends about her first sword fighting lesson.