Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: The Training - Part 2

Chapter 58: The Training – Part “What is that? It’s massive.”

Those were the words that left Adan’s mouth as he saw Olivia’s large weapon. Thankfully he was only talking about the one made of metal. They had just walked over to the section the men from before had been using and were standing in front of a few training dummies and weapon racks when Adan had turned to them and finally noticed Olivia’s weapon.

“It’s a Morningstar.” She said taking it off her back.

“Where did you get something like that?” he said after blinking a few times.

“From the bandits that attacked Yoban’s village, we think they took it from some trader they killed.”

Adan was completely in awe of the weapon watching Olivia as she held it and moved it about to show it off.

“Mind if I have a look.”

Olivia handed it over so he could have a look. She did have a wild thought that he might try to take it. But he was in the middle of a massive open area right in front of a large Orc, so she didn’t think that would be happening.

“This is a thing of beauty. Very good craftsmanship and lovely detail. I don’t know who made this, but they are excellent at their craft. It’s a little weighty but I guess that’s not much of a problem for you. I’ve never wielded or even seen a weapon like this before. This does however resemble a mace and I have used many of them in my time. So… I should be able to help you out with how to use it.”

Handing it back he then turned to Philly.

“What weapon do you have?”

Philly jumped a little at the question, having been more focused on Olivia and her weapon.

“Oh, er, I don’t have one. I mean I have my potions, but you can’t really fight with them.”

“Huh, well is there a weapon that you would like to use.” He asked.

Philly contemplated on this, before just turning back to him and rebuking that she doesn’t know. As a researcher, she doesn’t have much experience with weapons and combat. She hardly knew what most were called.

“Ok then, let’s see. Given your stature, I’m sorry to say you won’t be wielding anything…massive.”

As he said that, Olivia was sure she heard a cough from Lyrika’s direction.

“Two-handed swords and the like could only be used if you trained up your strength and physique a great deal. So, it looks like one-handed weapons will be the way to go. You’re also quite short, nimble so something with a little finesse will be needed.”

He took a good long look as he contemplated something else about her.

“And I must say you have a very innocent look about you, fragile even. I would say that anyone who’s not a heartless monster would feel the need to protect you in some way before they think you’re going to hurt them. And I think this is something you can use to your advantage.”

He nodded his head as he came to a conclusion about what weapon she would use and her role in a fight.

“I think you would be best as some who makes surprise attacks. You’re not going to be able to hold your ground in a prolonged fight, but if someone lets their guard down around you, and many probably will, you could strike and take them out very easily. Something akin to how an assassin operates.”

“Huh. Makes sense I guess.” Philly just replied nonchalantly in understanding

“Yes that’s… huh. Well, you took that better than I thought you would. Not many people like the idea of fighting like an assassin. Ok then. Doing this role, means you will probably want to use a dagger or a small blade. Something you can conceal and keep hidden right before you use it to take someone down.”

He quickly walked over to the table and picked up a dagger, before turning back and holding it to show her.

“But before you can actually use this to fight, you’re going to need to improve your speed and strength. Let me give you some exercises that will help with that.” He then turned to Olivia. “And while she’s doing those, we can get started on your training.”

…

The sounds of thunks could be heard in the distance as Olivia was still in the same place and Philly was listening to Adan. As she looked over her shoulder, Olivia could see Lyrika holding her bow and arrow, taking shots at her target. All the while Marielle walked around her watching her movements as she fired her shots.

“…I want you to do these exercises every day. This will help improve your speed, stamina and strength, all of which will be needed then it comes to surprise attacks. Now I want you to do… three sets of them, and once you’re done I’ll go through actually attacking with your dagger.”

At that, Philly, albeit reluctantly, set off. He had told her about several different ways to exercise, the first being just running while holding weights, which is what she was doing now. He also told her about a rudimentary form of weightlifting and also a strange exercise which involved bending and straightening her arms as fast as possible as well as some variations on squats and the like.

While Philly was doing that, Adan turned to Olivia and got to work training her.

“Now, how much have you used your Morning Star.”

“Ah, I haven’t yet. Just a few practice swings.”

Adan looked confused at that.

“How did you take out the bandits at Teagan’s village then.”

“Oh, I had a spear, but it broke on the way here. I didn’t really know how to use that either come to think of it.”

Adan scratched his head a little and told her to do a few practice swings with her Morning star so he could see what he was working with.

She did what he said and took a few swings, which thankfully, didn’t cause her muscles to ache, them having healed quite nicely. But she didn’t think she would do well in a full on fight yet though.

“Ok, ok. As far as I can see you have the strength down, which makes sense, but that’s about it. You need to work on your speed, accuracy and technique. Then there is your stamina, which I’m sure you have a lot of-,”

“I’ll say,” Were the words mumbled by Lyrika having heard Adan with her strong hearing.

“What was that,” Mariella asked as she heard her speak.

“Oh, er nothing.”

“-being part Orc and all, but that stamina won’t help with the pain you’re going to feel from constantly swinging it,” Adan said.

Olivia couldn’t help but agree. Sure, it seemed they didn’t have a clear understanding of how muscles work, but at least knew how repeating odd not normally done actions would cause pain. And that is what would happen. Once she knew the swings she would have to keep doing them, ingraining them in her mind so it was just second nature, and strengthening the muscle as she kept doing them.

She also had to imagine that the improved speed and accuracy just came from repeating swings again and again as well.

“First, like with Philly, I will show you some exercises you can do that will help specifically with wielding a weapon.”

So, like he said, he showed her several exercises to do. Most were what she normally did once she woke up, but a few were specific to wielding a weapon like he said.

One focused on the use of her arms, which involved moving it around in many different direction and bends of the elbow, putting her muscle through a good deal of motions it never normally had to do, all of which would help things for any new and wonderful techniques she learnt on how to swing her Morning star.

Adan realised that most of what he had said was all second nature to her, exercise-wise, so he decided to get started on her swing while Philly was finishing up. And by finishing up, this meant slowing down and running out of breath.

“Now, first we shall go through your footwork and stance. Stance if going to be key when using a weapon like yours. Sure, your strong, but if you’re in a bad stance or someone puts you in a bad one, the weight of your Morning star might just end up toppling you in the heat of a fight. That is not something you want to happen.”

He spoke of how she needed to keep both her feet firmly planted at all times, and if possible for the stance to be staggered and wide. With her feet inline with each other and standing narrow, it would be very easily for someone to knock her down. But with a wide stance and her feet planted almost diagonally from each other, that gave her the best grounding.

He also took her through digging in her heels. Quite literally, if the opportunity presented itself. If you end up against someone or something charging at you that you cant dodge, then actually digging your feet into the dirt would allow you to better stand your ground. This could then be coupled with lowering your center of gravity, something else he took her through. Not that he related it to gravity though.

By this point they ended up distracted by the sounds of wheezing and huffing nearby, showing that Philly had returned. This was followed by her hitting ground and laying down.

“Hey Philly. How are you feeling?” Olivia quickly asked her, seeing the state she was in.

“Just…*huff*… Just great”

“Glad to hear it, because like I said, this is something you should do each day. You rest for a while and then I’ll show you how to actually wield a dagger.”

There was no response aside from a louder huff of air, which was either enthusiastic agreement or thinly veiled contempt.

“While she’s resting, let me show you how to actually use that thing now.”

‘Finally’ was the only thought that popped into Olivia’s head after she heard that.