• Solo • [Warrick] First Meeting

[Vivian Shiryu]

25th of Cylus, 716

Vivian sighed as she looked over the sea towards Sunset Island, hoping for a glimpse of a Jacadon. She desperately wanted ride one of the beasts, but they were restricted for Generals to ride. Plus, she'd have to wait until she had her Volareon anyway, since the very notion of getting on a ship to the island made her almost physically ill. Still, she thought, turning her back on the distressing sight of the waves crashing against the shore, she was already on the way towards that distant goal.

Biting back a giddy laugh that threatened to overwhelm her, Vivian composed herself and raised a hand to stroke Speckle's mane, determined to look calm and regal when her mentor arrived, as was befitting of a member of the noble Warrick house. It was only a moment longer before she heard the flap of wings above her, a grin spreading across her face as she looked up. They had clearly recognized her potential, sending a major to tutor her instead of a sergeant. Getting her expression back under control as the Volareon landed, it's rider turning to face her as the winged beast shook itself. Taking her eyes off her mentor for a moment, Vivian gazed with longing at the Volareon's beautiful darkly colored fur coat. Her desperate longing to soar the skies on such a beast rose again and it was with a great deal of difficulty that she tore her gaze from the Volareon and looked back at her teacher.

The man had taken off his helmet and was gently petting the fur of his mount, giving Vivian the time to give him a quick glance over to see what she could learn from his appearance. Sadly, she wasn't very good at learning things from such things yet was that he was getting on in years and looked...battle-worn. She figured there must be a lot she could learn from him. Turning to face her at last, the man's face broke into a coarse smile. "You must be Vivian Warrick. My name is Major Hector Avern. I'll be your mentor for your time as an airman." he said, shifting his shoulders as he spoke, as if settling a weight.

"Thank you, sir. Um...forgive me, but your family name is not familiar to me." she said, trying her best to be polite. Her mentor gave her a long, level look for a moment before laughing. "You're a blunt one, aren't you? I'm not surprised you don't recognize my family name, considering my parents were peasant pig farmers." he said, turning away before he caught the sudden incredulous look on Vivian's face. "Come, we have training to do." he said, leading the way over to a clear field bordering the road they had been standing on, his Volareon leading the way. Vivian stared after the man in shock for a moment, before she followed him, a cold knot of anger settling in her stomach. She knew the military accepted peasants, but she had never even thought that they'd dare assign a peasant to be her mentor. Very well, she thought coldly, following the man. She'd just deal with having this peasant lout instruct her until she could make Sergeant. She couldn't be that far off...could she?

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian followed Hector into the field, stopping when he did. His Volareon curled up off to the side, the eyes of the great winged beasts still watching Vivian and her so-called mentor. Tying Speckle's reigns around around the branch of one of the few trees in the field, Vivian turned to face Hector, waiting for almost certainly inept attempt to teach her. After all, she was a noble, a scion of one of the greatest families in Rynmere, and there almost certainly nothing she could possibly learn from some peasant soldier, whatever the rank he had managed to claw himself up to.

Once she had tied her horse, Hector cleared his throat and spoke up. "Right then, I see you've clearly spent a lot of money on that rapier at your side. Let's see how well you can use it." he said, taking his heater shield off his back and sliding his arms into the straps. Grinning, Vivian drew her rapier and waited for Hector to draw his sword, but he didn't seem to be interested in doing so. "Are you planning on fighting me with just your shield?" she asked, her tone slightly mocking at this sign of the peasants simple mind. However, to her surprise, Hector just laughed. "I'll draw my sword when you can show me I need it." he said, his stance easy as he spoke.

At this implied insult, Vivian grit her teeth and rushed him, thrusting her rapier with every intention of at least cutting that smirking face. But her attack didn't even come close to hitting and her blade was knocked aside by the Major's heater shield before a sudden quick twist of Hector's arm sent it smacking right into Vivian's face. Knocked the ground by the unexpected blow, Vivian reached up to feel her jaw before she stood up and stepped back. Hector hadn't even moved except for that one arm and it had been enough to knock her to the ground. Growling, she stepped forward and thrust again, this time aiming for Hector's chest. Yet once again the blade was deflected and this time Hector slammed his shield into her chest knocking her back.

Falling back from the second shield blow, Vivian glared at Hector. He was just toying with her, treating her like a novice student. Growling again, Vivian rushed at Hector in a blind rage, desperately trying to hit him. This time though, the major did move, ducking low and letting her rapier deflect off the top of his shield as he stepped forward, slamming the shield into Vivian's stomach and lifting with his knees. The result was the Vivian found herself lifted off her feet and over Hector's head, having a great view of the ground for a moment before the moment carried her back towards the ground, landing hard on her back a moment before she felt Hector's shield slam into her stomach again, this time with what felt like the full weight of the major behind it. The blow completely knocked the wind out of Vivian and before she could recover, Hector had stood back up and now dropped the shield again, this time with the point aimed at her neck. However, instead of actually hitting her, the major checked his blow so Vivian just barely felt the bottom point of the heater shield pressing into her throad.

"When they told me I was to train you, I took the time to come see you train before telling you where to meet. You don't use that shield you wear hardly at all." he said, bringing a surprised look from Vivian. In truth, she had completely forgotten the small leather buckler she had strapped around one arm. "Now you see the damage a proper use of the shield can lead too. And perhaps you see what that blind arrogance of yours can cost you." he said, taking the shield away from Vivian's throat and stepping back and letting the noble catch her breath.

After a moment, Vivian sat up and looked at her trainer for a long moment. Hector was petting his Volareon and apparently ignoring her. Knowing how badly she had underestimated him, Vivian grudgingly accepted that this peasant was very skilled, someone she could actually learn from. After a moment, she thought of something and spoke up. "Sir, do you primarily fight with your shield? Or do I really have that far to go?" she asked, her tone curious. Looking back at her, Hector just smiled. "You really do. But then, you're not quite a beginner. Just young, untrained, inexperienced, and foolish, like every new airman. And I can help you take care of everything but age, if you can swallow your pride enough to learn." he said, grinning slightly at her as she gave a wry laugh. "I just had the pride rather heavily knocked out of me. But thank you, I'll be glad to learn." she said in a rare moment of humility and candor, brought about largely by the heavy beating she had just taken.

Hector grinned again. "Well then, once you've got your breath back, stand back up and we'll really begin your training." he said.

[Vivian Shiryu]

After a moments rest, Vivian sighed and climbed to her feet. "All right, what's next?" she asked, swinging her arms as she waited for her trainer to give her the next batch of instructions. "Well, like I said, I saw you train already, so I know what you can and can't do. Put your sword up, Vivian." he said, drawing his own. Vivian hesitated a moment before following the command, sheathing her rapier. Smiling again, Hector approached her. "Now, that shield can save your life, if you don't keep forgetting it. So, we're going to work on making sure that you don't. I will attack, not to damage, but merely so that my blade will touch you. You will defend only with your shield. Don't give an inch of ground or attack, understand." he said, his tone serious. Vivian swallowed her nervousness and nodded, raising her shield.

After only a second's hesitation, Hector swung his sword for her left hip. Reaching down with her shield hand, Vivian was able to block the blow, but she felt her fingers brush the hilt of her rapier. Pulling her hand away from her weapon, Vivian closed her hands into fists so she wouldn't be tempted to draw the blade. Hector saw the motion and smiled at her as he made another swing, this time aimed for her right shoulder. Moving her arm again, Vivian was just barely fast enough to block it, but she wasn't able to stop the swing at her left leg. It didn't hurt more than to tell her he had hit her, he was definitely pulling his strikes, but it was still embarrassing. Her shoulder had already started to ache from moving it around so much, but she didn't dare complain about it, she couldn't bare the embarrassment.

Blocking another strike aimed at her stomach, Vivian hoped this was good training, but she didn't see how it would be much use. Blocking another strike aimed at her shoulder, she figured it was safe enough to ask. "Sir, not to complain, but this doesn't seem like it'd be much use in an actual fight." she said, getting distracted and taking a thump on the side for it. "Focus, Vivian. And you're right, this would be useless in a fight. But your actual shield use is also useless in a fight. This is just the first step." he said, his voice calm and collected. "Yes, sir." Vivian said, blocking another strike with her shield. This exchange went on for another five minutes, Vivian letting more and more strikes slip past her guard as her arm tired. Finally, Hector called a halt and sheathed his blade. "Not a terrible start. Every day you should work on that shield arm, get it stronger. What would be best is if you can find someone to help you train with it, like what we were just doing." he said. "Yes, sir." was her only response before he told her to rest for a minute.

[Vivian Shiryu]

After she had rest for a moment, Hector called to Vivian again. "All right, we have enough time for one more exercise for the day, then I have to go on patrol. Now then, draw your sword. Time for a more standard sparring match." he said, drawing both his sword and his shield. Vivian gulped, then drew her rapier, knowing she was outmatched. Instead of rushing in blindly, she cautiously approached her trainer, watching him for any sudden motions. Once she was in range, she made like she was going to thrust at Hector's left side, but changed her target at the last moment and instead aimed for his upper right shoulder, attempting to trick him into leaving an opening.

Unfortunately, her feint didn't fool him and he blocked it with his shield before swinging his sword at her left shoulder. Vivian saw it coming and knew she needed to block, but couldn't remember having consciously moved her arm to block it with her shield. Now she understood the meaning of the shield exercise, to make her use it unconsciously. She somehow doubted just one round of it would work, but now she understood why she needed to practice it on her own. Taking a step back before making a short rush, Vivian swung twice at Hector, the first swing aimed at his left shoulder, the third at his lower right side. However, he was able to deflect both swings with his sword and counter with the shield, which once again sent her sprawling to the ground.

Standing back up, Vivian found she was already started to get winded. Certainly the blow from the shield had knocked the breath out of her again, but it was clear the first, one-sided, sparring match and then the shield exercise had taken their toll. Taking a deep breath, Vivian swung again at Hector, this time at his lower left leg, hoping that the lower attack would catch him off guard. Hector's experience as definitely showing though, as simply stepped back out of her range before swinging his sword at her again. She was barely able to block it with her shield, but she felt a second swing of Hector's sword tap against her side despite her best efforts.

How long the sparring match lasted, Vivian couldn't really say. However, it ended when she tried to block a swing of Hector's sword with her rapier and it got knocked out of her hand, at which point Hector called a halt. "All right, I think that's enough." he said, barely even sweating while Vivian was panting heavily. "We'll meet again the day after tomorrow at your house. We'll need to work on your archery and horsemanship as well, but your shield work is what we'll really need to focus on for a bit. Your sword work is passable, so I'm not as worried about improving it right now." he said, sheathing his sword and putting his shield back on the strap on his back that held it in place. "I've got to patrol now. You go home and rest." he said, walking back to his Volareon.

"Yes, sir. And..." she hesitated a moment, the words she knew she had to say next feeling as dragged out of her as her admittance that her peasant trainer was actually better than her had been. "Thank you for teaching me." she said, swallowing her pride to show that she wasn't ungrateful. Hector simply smiled at her and nodded before he mounted his Volareon and took the skies. Watching them for a bit as they flew off, Vivian sighed in longing before she picked up her rapier and walked over to her horse. "Not that I mind riding you, Speckle, but you don't have wings." she said quietly, rubbing the horses nose affectionatly before she untied the reigns and climbed back up into the saddle, heading for her home and a bath, thinking of who she should ask to help her with her shield training.

[Kingdom]

Basic Knowledge:
Sunset Isle: Home of the Jacadon
Never underestimate a Skyrider
A shield can mean the difference between life and death
Shield Combat: A basic block

Specialised Knowledge:
Rynmere Skyriders: Ranks and titles
Volareon: Wingspan
Hector Avern: Skyrider Major
Hector Avern: Battle-worn
Hector Avern: Descendant of pig farmers
Rapier: Thrust

Skills:
Observation: 4
Socialisation: 3
Etiquette: 1
Melee Combat: 2
Shield Combat: 3

Tips:
Every time a new character speaks, start on a new line.

Notes:
I don't know why I enjoy seeing Vivian punished so much, but I found this super entertaining! One day she will be the one handing out lessons to newbies, for now it seems like she's had to down a slice of humble pie, yay for pig farmers! Don't forget to add your Player Notes link through control panel.