Ashan 37 719
Time spent in the Den was beginning to pay off but not as rapidly as he would've appreciated, as Patrick felt the pressing need for results faster than some would expect. Of course this became apparent when Nolan offered to spar with him using Quarterstaffs, and therefore sensing the urgency in his attacks when Patrick went on the offensive. This had led to a lecture about how patience is a vital key in all aspects of life, and sure enough that led to even Rolan butting in with the sermons as well. Overall it was an aggravating eye opener he didn't want, but still needed as it helped him realize the importance of limits. Surely he was learning where his were, as well as the best approaches to make in breaking them to improve his own combat style.
Thus he'd been given the instruction to take more time in improving his dexterity, as that'd certainly help him in the long run with many weapons and tools. Imagine learning how to pole vault with a quarterstaff, or even do other things such as dual wielding weapons he grew proficient with. Patrick knew he had a long road ahead of him a long time ago, but he never realized just how long up until he decided to partake in the war to come. If he wanted to be an asset to the entire army assembled at Faith's disposal, then he had to be fit and ready to go come the time action was called. And so he practiced on improving dexterity but in a much more minor, if not agitating, method Nolan knew he'd need time to perfect.
Standing at the center of the ring with the quarterstaff in hand Patrick carefully rotated the weapon around, balancing the pole as it passed along each crevice between his fingers. He had to continue repetition with each rotation along the fingers, and every now and then switch it to the other hand once they grew tired. It even got to the point where all his fingers just grew cramped and sore, and he had to practice the same repetition with just the hands alone instead. No matter how many times he wanted to go faster, the result would always be the same every time he would try the gesture. The speed of the staff's rotation would get far to quick for him to handle, and he would either fumble and drop the weapon... or throw it a couple feet away due to his lack of dexterity.
Finally after a couple Breaks spent trying to build up on that the other's went out for lunch, except for Clarissa who'd been watching him carefully once the other two went out. "You've spent a lot of time here lately, I can't remember the last time anybody came here with such focus."
"I used to come here all the time back in the Trial, when my brother joined the knights and needed a place to train." He responded as he slowed to a stop with the rotation, the staff rested against his shoulder as he massaged each hand with his thumbs.
"I think I remember..." She remarked with a cross of her arms as she looked to the training dummies nearby. "You really looked up to him at the time." He didn't think it was that obvious but then again, given his drive to bring the man back from the dead it wasn't hard to miss. "So what motivates you now?"
She looked to him with a serious look and for a moment, he felt that maybe she were trying to gauge him. "I promised to be there for someone... People that are counting on me, and I can't back that promise without getting stronger."
"Yes. Strength is important when it comes to protecting those you care about, but you're not protecting them now are you?"
"Beg pardon?" Patrick shot a look of offense her way.
"You're eagerness to improve on combat, it's not out of enlightenment or desire to protect them. Otherwise you wouldn't be so aggressive with yourself, you wouldn't be pushing the limits that you're slowly beginning to ascertain." As she pointed all this out he realized what she meant, that what he really wanted out of this was what motivated him. He wanted to kill Ellasin... To wipe out her influence and the cult she led. To do that he needed more than just raw strength, he needed to make up for power he now lacked from past experiences. Losing his Spark made him all the more human again sure, but it took away that edge he would've had out on the field. Plus the marks he'd garnered from Immortals only went so far, and he didn't even know how to fully utilize their true potential. Yet...
"Ignoring the truth won't get you anywhere, so tell me again what it is you want."
"I want..." He wasn't lying to himself when he said that though, he did want to have the power to protect his friends. He wanted to become something more, something greater than what he used to be before all of this. If he were still stuck with Syroa's damnable curse, he could've just waited until an opportune time; and unleash the beast by removing Ymiden's band in that exact moment. Without anything superficial to give him the bigger edge, he felt ultimately useless in his endeavor to protect his friends... If he wanted to kill Ellasin then power was something he'd have to forget, since she was obviously far more superior than he could ever be. "I want to keep those that matter to me safe, and possess the means of killing those who'd hurt them." Patrick couldn't disregard it any longer, why should he after everything he's suffered from? The loss of his immediate family over the Arcs, and then seeing friends die off in the field of battle?
He never wanted to go through another experience like that again... and yet here he was putting himself in that same disposition. "Then I believe you should learn to fight smarter, not stronger, if that's what you truly want." He narrowed his eyes to her inquisitively as she looked back towards one of the dummies, a few knives pulled from her belt as she flung her arm out in one fluid motion. She did this again two more times and in doing so, hurled the knives from between each of her fingers until all three made their mark. Each one landed distinctively in places considered a weakness to the human body; the head, the neck, and the heart. "Learn how to expose and utilize enemies and their weaknesses, and use that to your advantage when you fight. Willpower alone isn't going to keep your friends safe, you need to be both strong and wise at once."
He understood her meaning considerably, as a balance of the two was indeed important. Patrick could improvise well in just about any situation, but that's just about as much wisdom as he allowed himself. Now he needed to think further ahead if he wanted to beat... not just Ellasin but everyone who dared cross him. "Can I try?" He requested with a sharp look at the dummy, eager to learn how to utilize what she'd just demonstrated. Clarissa couldn't help but chuckle as she planted a firm hand at her waist.
"Try as many times as you like." She encouraged as nodded for him to retrieve the knives, he did as she said after gesturing for her to hold the staff before moving; which she accepted it as he went to retrieve them. Once Patrick pulled and held all three knives from the dummy, he returned to stand near her once more, almost with a hidden smile as he looked at the distance between them. "Very good," She pointed out, "you're immediately thinking about how far the target is. Something tells me you've experience in that regard already."
"I'm handy with a crossbow."
"So you're good with distance, but throwing a knife is different from pulling a trigger." Clarissa instructed as she pulled out another spare knive from her belt, the hilt held delicately between her thumb and middle finger of her left hand. "When you're throwing things like knives or daggers, you want to do it in a stance that feels relatively relaxed and not rigid. A basic form of posturing if you will," as she continued she pulled her arm out and in a smooth fluid swing, she launched the one knife towards the dummy once more as it planted firmly into the chest. When she looked at him and his form she couldn't help but smirk, a brief strode made past him as she used her hands to help with his posture. She turned him to where his right shoulder faced more towards the target, with his legs apart a couple feet and with toes pointed outward just like any other stance. "Stay relaxed when you throw, and time the release of the knife well."
Patrick did as she told and with one knife held the same way she held, he arched his arm behind him and threw it overhanded. Except he timed the release of his grip too late, throwing it down at the floor instead of the target before them. Clarissa couldn't help laughing briefly before pitching in, "that's quite alright. Didn't expect you to get it right away, keep practicing and you'll get it in no time." He looked to her unassured but from the look in her eyes, he could understand where she came from. Much like the quarterstaff it was all about trial and error, learning from the mistakes he made and improving on them. "Again." She plainly stated with a faint smile on her lips, as his eyes drifted from her back towards the target. He prepped another throw and when he went through, he released it a little earlier than before when he hand went down. The dagger drifted through the air and actually hit the base of the dummy, bouncing off the wooden post which propped it up as the metal clinked against the floor.
"Again."
He had one more try. Thus Patrick arched his arm back once more, this time taking a moment to consider his angle. When he aimed with the crossbow he paid thought to other things, such as the distance and drift of the bolt if need be. If the target also moved that was another thing to worry about, but the most important thing to remember... He relaxed his arm and shoulder a little so that the tension wasn't as bad, and with another swipe down the throwing motion he used went into the release of his third knife. The blade soared through the air with a slight rotation and sure enough, hit it's mark as the hilt landed first at the belly of the dummy. "You're getting there," she commended warmly, "now go and get them and try once more."
He couldn't help but grin as he obeyed, as he felt a sudden fire burn inside.
"Again."
"Patrick", "NPC"
