Obsidian Cadets

[Raziel]

[member="Seto Du Couteau"]

"Good, good. Strong stance and you could have pushed through from there to go from a defensive posture to offensive," Raziel commented. “See if you can adapt the basic forms to follow, and try to find and opening to move into an offensive routine. I want to see tight footwork and a smooth transition of your balance that doesn’t over-extend.”

Raziel waited a second or two before closing the gap and going into an offensive series of strike and slashes. Relatively straightforward, no feints or intricacies, but gradually upping the tempo.

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto huffed again, he had not intended to engage into the offensive until he studied and adjusted his own reactions to compensate for his instructor's speed. He nodded at his instructor's next words of course, no time to waste and thus an offensive must be shown. He quickly gripped his hilt a tad tighter, he waited for his instructor to go once more into the offensive.

Strong defense lead into- His thought was cut short as his instructor began to rain down a series of attacks, forcing much if not all of Seto's focus into blocking each strike successfully as well as moving back and keeping his footwork in check. Success enough to simply block, as a sudden realization came to his mind as he figured that perhaps his instructor could go faster. That his top speed was not on full display. Seto of course ignored the thought entirely, forming doubts during combat, even if it was practice, was never a good idea.

The attacks were getting faster and Seto knew he wouldn't not be able to block them all. When the next strike came down Seto blocked as usual but swiped away the attack hard and away from Seto. He then quickly moved forward instead of his usual backwards motion and launched his blade forward into his instructor's chest. Mine Seto thought as he visualized the attack in his mind going successful.

[member="Raziel"]

 

[Raziel]

Raziel stepped away from the strike, the training blade passing perilously close to his chest. The Spymaster was beginning to breathe hard no, so didn't bother vocalising his next instruction. He simply reached across to the apprentice's mind and explained: Keep up the attack!

Raziel kept his blade in the centre ground between them, ready to move in a tight, controlled defensive pattern to test [member="Seto Du Couteau"] 's ability to press his advantage and find a gap.

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto did not expect the step to shift and move away from his blade but quickly brought his saber once more to continue his attack. His mind registered a voice, words, and Seto did not have much time to think too deep but only listen and follow his instructor's orders. Time for you to see how fast I can be Seto smirked to himself as he pressed forward with his offensive.

Seto quickly slashed straight down before bring his saber back up quickly and slashing down but in the opposite side. He needed to break an opening somehow, to perhaps disrupt his instructor's defense to allow Seto's attack to land a mark. Keeping his slashes up, nimble and quick as to limit his instructor's ability to do much but to just defend Seto scanned for his next opening.

He swung his saber high to then swing down hard and fast aiming for his instructor's head, to then swing his saber out and swing it back in to attack his instructor's side then after pulling his saber closer and instead of a swing Seto made a stabbing motion to attack his instructor's wrist. The three attacks Seto knew wouldn't give him the opening at first but it was a simple rotation of attacks Seto used before on previous swordman instructors and he saw how it wouldn't fail him now. He needed to stretch out his instructor's defense with these three attacks and keep repeating until one of the attacks land.

[member="Raziel"]

 

[Raziel]

[SIZE=12pt] The quick double change in momentum left the tip of Raziel's saber high, the angle too awkward to bring it around properly. His student's saber clipped the outside edge of his wrist, the quiet buzz accompanying a stinging pain. A quick shuffle put some room between him and Seto, he blade flashing across between them to keep the gap. Raziel then dripped his saber towards the ground, indicating a request for a break. An angry red whelp was visible beyond the cuff of his robes where the training saber had caught him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] “Adapting you technique, good deceptive ploys. Good work,” Raziel advised. “That’s not to say that you shouldn’t keep up the work on your forms. Also, note that there are those out there fighting with phrik blades, or great sabers. They can give your enemy either a lot of momentum with a strike, or leverage respectively. So it’s worth sparring with a training saber and a durasteel blade from time to time. Now, it’s time for the blaster.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] Raziel kicked open the box with his feet, the waiting drone floating back up to head height. The Spymaster’s own saber vanished in a flash and he stepped away. “Keep your defensive form tight, stretch out with your senses. No matter how fast you are, you’ll need to listen to the Force to make the block.”[/SIZE]

[member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Seto du Couteau]

A smirk grew on his lips as he made a small connection with his saber. It of course was immediately swiped away when his instructor had broken off the practice, lowering his saber in front of Seto. Seto himself lowered his own saber in front of him, shifting into a simple stand by stance. His eyes focused on the droid now hovering closer and at eye level. Seto tightened himself into his defense form, his feet planted firmly on the ground as his own hands tightened on his saber's hilt. "But shouldn't these kind of blades be able to cut through most other blades?" Seto asked, honestly he knew most of his own blades he practiced with he was sure would be rendered useless.

Seto closed his eyes, allowing his breathe to finally even out as he attuned himself to his sense. Listening to other than his own eyes was something Seto had much practice in, he had too much faith in his own ability but Seto had told himself that this 'Force' was apart of himself. It was something to take pride in, as like his other abilities. His saber raised he slowly opened his eyes and gave a small nod to indicate he was ready to his instructor.

[member="Raziel"]

 

[Raziel]

"There are a few materials that can resist a blade almost indefinitely. Phrik and Beskar are the only two I am aware of," Raziel replied before falling silent. There would be no need to distract his student whilst he attempted the task today. Making this particular routine more difficult would only come when this was mastered. The little droid hovered in the air, quite still. Then with a burst of its microrepulsors it shot a few metres laterally through the air. The aggravating little machine was quite capable of shifting to attack from new angles. If fired a stun shot, then another burst of acceleration to move another metre and fired again. It would keep up this routine, firing and moving as it circled the apprentice.

[member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto's eyes targeted the floating droid, his saber lifting defensively as he continued to stretch out his senses. He felt the shot being fired before he could even see it, raising his blade barely in time though to deflect. Once more the droid moved out of his current eye sight and Seto was forced to pivot his foot and quickly regain his defensive position to prepare for the next shot. He knew his eyes could track the droid and the shot but the reaction time between doing so was nowhere near the ability or level of the force. Sensing the next shot the droid fired again and Seto deflect the shot, still not exactly the fastest reaction but he snarled and gritted his teeth at the difficulty of this training.

Seto continued to pivot around, constantly facing the droid as it fired its stun bolt towards him, his blade making the deflection but Seto still felt his form felt sluggish. Rather his reaction when he would sense the shot being fired and the actual action of positioning his saber to deflect. His anger flared though when again he felt as if he barely made the deflection and when he pivoted again to face the droid his eyes were opened wide when he got hit "Ah!" Seto gasped. His hand grasping his shoulder growled in frustration, not his inability to sense the attack but the fact he lost his cool so fast. Looking over to his instructor for a brief moment and hoped he wouldn't say anything he turned back his attention to the droid and readied himself again.

Breathing slowly the young Du Couteau heir began to calm himself as he continued his training with the droid. His mind went to focus his footwork as he pivoted as well as assuring that his body would not feel off balance when he would pivot. Controlling his center as he sensed another attack and Seto once more felt his deflection come in a tad sluggish but brushed off the heated thought before focusing on improving his next shot.

[Member="Raziel"]

 

[Raziel]

"Very good," Raziel said. He made no outward sign of commanding the droid, but it dipped back down to ground level. "Your balance is good, which of course means it's time to push you harder to make it better."

He pointed across the courtyard, where another apprentice was standing dead straight, lightsaber held upright with his eyes closed. Instead of standing on the ground, he stood on the flat side of a half-hemipshere. The rubber based shifted and wobbled as the man tried to hold his balance.

"This week," Raziel explained. "You'll be doing your forms on the balance ball, and at the end of the week you'll be trying to hold off the droid whilst standing on it."

[member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto breathed out slowly, calming himself as he pointed his saber downwards as he listened to his instructor on the next subject of his training. His eyes followed his Instructor's gesture and examined another person practicing their balance on a half ball, a balance ball mat. Seto returned his focus to his instructor and gave a a more curious expression than anything. "You're serious?" Seto asked calmly, not exactly expecting an answer at all, as he turned off his saber and clipped the hilt onto his belt.

His eyes searching the courtyard for another balance ball to being his training but he returned his attention to his instructor for a real question, "It will be difficult to pivot and maneuver myself without falling, either I use the force hold me upright as I turn or I learn to block by moving my arms quicker," Seto explained, "So should I work on using the Force to hold my balance or become more experience simply balancing and blocking without too much footwork?" Seto finished his question. He needed some sort of base to begin to build off of on, he did not wish to practice and train on a skill his instructor would not want for him to learn.

[Member="Raziel"]

 

[Raziel]

[member="Seto Du Couteau"]

Raziel simply placed the hemisphere on the ground, rounded side down. "The Force in not simply a tool to affect the world around you," he stated and he stood on the treacherous surface. He slowly gathered his balance, and took a deep diaphragmatic breath. Using the Force he turned his focus internally, holding his position still, before slowly lifting one leg. "One thing that the Republic Jedi know more than most others is control. The Force can help you to focus, to understand your own body and master it."

The drones whirred into life again. Closing his eyes, Raziel brought a single blade to bear. The drone fired three quick shots form different angles. The Jedi Master twisted and turned to catch each in turn and deflect them down to the ground around him. He rather promptly deactivated the drone after that, as he felt his balance start to falter. After all, the lesson would be somewhat undermined if he fell on his rump in front of the lad.

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Seto's eyes widen as he looked bemused at his instructor on the balance board. The droid once more began a short burst of bolts, firing quickly and his Instructor easily deflected each shot. His movements were swift and only with a single leg, Seto was indeed impressed. Refusing to actual show such emotion on his face Seto simply nodded, understanding what to practice and exercise. "Master one's own body," Seto mused out loud. Seto had never really pushed himself beyond certain limits, certainly he risked a few extra miles and a reps, but nothing really extraordinary. Perhaps it is time I learn more of my body and my limits instead of gambling Seto finally thought.

Stretching his body for a moment he grabbed one of his own balance boards, carefully standing up on one. Eyes narrowing as he slowly steadied and balanced himself, breathing evenly as he focused on his body. Raising his hands, along with his training saber, he felt his balance stand true as he began to pivot and turn, practicing a few forms on the balance board. He felt his balance falter a few times between transitions. Stopping himself, he began to shift back his attention to his balance, lifting his left leg and raising his saber in a defense position. Nodding once, ready for the droid, his fingers tightened the hold on his saber's hilt.

His senses now extended, more so enclosed inward into Seto's body as he began to feel more of his own body. He felt his single leg holding his entire body up as well as his sole balancing point begin to tire, he knew which movements would cause his body to loose balance. The droid fired and Seto felt the danger come as he position his saber to deflect without needed too much movement and his balance held, but the droid quickly moved around Seto. His foot pivoted as his body jerked as well to adjust the movement and regain his balance as he sensed another blaster bolt fired at him. His arms swung quickly but with little time to adjust and keep his balance, it was all Seto could do to stop the bolt from hitting him and he jumped up to switch to his left leg and regain his balance. "Let's try that once more," Seto muttered, tightening his core as stood on his left leg as he readied himself for the next barrage of blaster bolts.

[Member="Raziel"]