Ascendant

CHAPTER THIRTY: THE WATCHER

[GEM]

"You've learned the basics. Now... we polish your skills," Muirdach said as he strode around where Melody and Runa were facing one another. "I want you to engage Runa in combat. But she will move slower than usual and give you enough time to remember how to block and counter attack each move."

Runa was wearing her armor now too and she stood with her hands behind her back in front of Melody, both about three meters apart.

They trained in a small clearing in front of her cabin on the north side this time. The ground was scorched there and it gave them plenty of room to fight.

[MELODY]

As Melody tried to keep her nerves under control she simply nodded as she watched Runa carefully. "Alright.." she took a deep breath preparing herself mentally for this training.

[GEM]

He looked at little Runa and gave her a nod.

Using dual daggers, she lunged for Melody with a simple side swipe towards her chest with her main hand.

[MELODY]

Using one of her sickles she blocked it the way Muiredach had showed her to. She was surprised herself that she blocked it in time.

[GEM]

But as expected, Runa then tried to slice her with the other dagger after this, attempting to cut Melody's arm off.

[MELODY]

Melody quickly blocked her other dagger with her second sickle. She still tried to push her nerves down to focus.

[GEM]

Runa yanked her blades off Melody's in either direction and ducked to swipe at her legs which she was able to block but when she did, Runa put the tip of her dagger to her throat in a compromised move, showing she could have stabbed her there.

[MELODY]

Melody didn't dare to move when she held the dagger to her throat. She sighed slightly frustrated. "..can we go again?" She asked them both.

[GEM]

"Don't overthink this, Melody. Put your mind into the fight only. Trust your instincts," Muiredach said from behind her, her not even aware he was there as he spoke close to her ear and then stepped onward once more. "Again."

Runa didn't wait to spin and try to kick Melody in the gut.

[MELODY]

Trusting her own instincts was something Melody hadn't done in a long time. Lyre always told her what to do and when to do it. That was showing now.

She was caught by surprise when Runa made the move to kick her. She tried to block the kick by holding her arms in front of her belly but that caused her to lose balance and fall back on the ground.

[GEM]

Runa pointed her dagger to Melody's chin with a cold stare. "Up," she said.

[MELODY]

Melody shot her a glare trying really hard not to give into her head as she got back up staying quiet. But she was clearly struggling to trust herself in this.

[GEM]

Runa twisted her blade and tried to jam it into her rib cage.

[MELODY]

Melody reacted quickly by blocking it with her sickle as she tried to bend Runa's blade the other way by turning her own to get it out of her grasp.

[GEM]