Thuump Hoomph CRACK SMACK

Pieces of dirt fly as the shots of magic impact on the targets which sway back heavily before bending back. The magician in question takes a step back and observes her work staff lowered. She snorts and heads back to where we are waiting and one of the maids hands her a towel to wipe her sweat with.

“Well this is boring just chucking dirt at a target”-Azalia, she looks very exasperated at this practice.

“Milady this is good practice for you is it not, the master arranged space for you to practice personally” and there goes Brad trying to smooth things over.

“I know that but this is still a pain for me to deal with, it is just tiring to throw dirt at a target and expect to get good results”

“Nothing in life is done so easily my lady, only with hard work will we expect solid results” hmm I sound old saying this, feels weird

“Boring is boring regardless, I need something better to practice with. Hmmmm wait Marcus! You know weapon hardening and body reinforcement right!”

“My lady live target practice is never a good idea!” that was a leap of logic, and she is not part of the house how did she get that idea unless my parents.... Migraines must avoid getting migraines

“Hmmmph it is only dirt clumps, it can’t be worse than a punch from a person. Besides this is an order from your liege lord, you should properly follow it”- sigh putting your fists on your hips does not help you look convincing.

“Very well my lady but allow me to change into the needed equipment”

“Of course knight but be prepared you will be participating for some time”

“As you will it” Lets see the heavy padded practice gear with metal inserts should work, the shoulder pads, greaves, and gauntlets especially. Also a bastard sword should be good, need both speed and weight. Hmm should get a small shield as well just in case, and a open face helmet should keep me from getting too hurt as I doubt she will hold back.

Clink, Clink, Clink

Looks like everything is properly attached to my underlayer of armour and as I head out with Brad holding my helmet and small shield as Azalia remarks.

“Well you certainly are heavily armed and armoured” she spoke that with some measure of surprise at my appearance

“Not at all my lady, full equipment is more than this and that is only on foot not counting horseback” Yeah this is not plate armour meant for tournaments, now that was an absurd amount of armour to even look at moving around in.

“Wait are you serious, you wear more than that all the time?”

“Yes my lady, a knight’s equipment is much but I have trained myself to be able to bear everything by myself. Using ki body reinforcement is only a supplement not the whole thing” Now that is the truth there, plenty of days with metal weighted vests and weapons. Well better not shake her mind too much here though do the guards at her home not wear even bridgaines? What are the standards like there of the guards, obviously full plate is stupid on guard duty but a ducal house should be well supplied. That is unless they are the fancy cut clothes guards then that is just pointless.

Donning my helmet and attaching the shield to my arm I walk out onto the practice field and take up a defensive stance for withstanding hits without needing to make large movements. My sword is held in two hands and the shield is high up on the arm since using it too much just makes me blind to what she does.

“I am ready my lady, if you may start?”

She rallies herself and takes up her staff and rips up several balls of earth and rotates them around her compressing them as she goes. They slowly rotate for a few seconds then she unleashes them in rapid procession at me. A simple sidestep is enough to dodge half the rest I shift my body more to one foot forward and the rest speed by.

“My lady is that your normal use of earth shot?”

“YES, and you avoided ALL of them!”

“You fired almost at the same spot in a row, very easy to dodge if you are an experienced warrior with minimum movements”

“And you are an experienced warrior?” looks like she is frustrated today.

“Somewhat, I have been trained and so managed to dodge half in one move. A true experienced warrior would have dodged all of them with less

movements. Try shooting in different intervals and spread your aim to restrict movement to guarantee a hit even if it is only one” Could bite me but I

should give advice regardless, dodging attacks from my parents gave me a lot of experience in this manner.

“Very well if that is what it will take” she sounds more motivated, looks like she is no longer bored

Crack Crack Thoom Fuoom

Another barrage is readied and launched at me, this time an X formation with the outer edges first. I shift to the middle and hold my sword out in front with hardening applied, the center shot hits and disintegrates as a small shock travels up my arm.

“Much better my lady, you forced me to actively block your attack”

“Yet you still dealt with them with ease”

“Your shots are slower than shot from a sling not to mention an arrow from a bow, you did well with hitting me but you need stronger and faster attacks to deal any damage. It is only when you have both that you can truly fight”

“ Chech, is that so will do provide more advice in the future and also you are still up for practice no?”

“Why of course my lady”

Azalia sends more earth shot at me in varying strength and quantity, she is gradually improving as time passes. If things go well she should be able to easily use slingshot grade power in large quantity though getting arrow strength from a short bow is closer. Going up to longbow grade strength will take some work from her. Seeing her get stronger is good but she is only shooting at a non-aggressive target, wait until she is under threat before I truly see how much worth as a mage is has. Once she gets better I will add assault movements in, perhaps she loses if I reach a certain distance would be good. But that is for the future for now just keep dodging even if it only takes so much of my mind on the task right now. At the least she is taking me seriously now and listening to what I say progress is good on this social adjustment but if only I knew magic and could retaliate. Now that would be fun but can’t go too far or she will probably break, she has not done quite that much for me to break her brain. Still should limit my actions, revenge is a petty thing for only this level of trouble, a careful tempering is the best course of action.