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Finn came to a stop after the run with only a slightly elevated breathing. He was glad his father put him through some grueling workouts before even attempting to come here. He turned his attention to the demonstration. And like Arn, he was entranced by the woman's ability. He was told by his mother and father that she was an amazing swordswoman, but still to see it for himself. He didn’t believe what he was seeing. 

He only hoped she would be interested enough to come over to him to give him a few pointers. 

When it came time for him to start, he glanced around. Taking in his surroundings and making a mental note where everyone was. ‘Always be aware of your surroundings.’ He heard his fathers voice in his head. Once he was ready he looked at his own training dummy which had a basic arming sword. Placing a hand on it and taking a step back as it stood up straighter. 

[color=fff200]“Student Finn Reinheart, are you ready to commence assessment and beginner routine?” [/color]

[color=0E7609]” Sure. I am ready.” [/color] He said simply as he got into a stance. Not pulling his bow from his back. He needed to practice everything. Even though it might be short.

The training dummy rushed forward with a basic right to left slash, to which Finn stepped forward, reaching out and stopping the blow by grabbing the wrist. Twisting into the dummy and jamming his elbow into the face. Very much like Selena… then twisted while pulling the dummy’s sword arm and toppled it over in the same manner. A little trick he learned from her. 

However, the dummy quickly rolled around, despite its arm still held by Finn. When it got into a stronger position, it used Finn’s grip against him and pulled itself up and launched a punch with it’s free hand. Finn barely moved his head out of the way, receiving a grazing but still strong hit on his Jaw. He kicked the dummy square in the stomach and released it’s arm at the same time. Sending it rolling. 

He took the moment to rub his jaw and shook his head before taking a breath. He probably would be able to dodge that sword again, but he wanted to push his luck. Rushing forward as the dummy did, he dodged two more attacks. And slapping away a third and very close one aimed for his gut. Though as if the mannequin read his thoughts, performed a kick to Finn’s gut just before he was about to kick its knee out. This time sending Finn rolling. 

Coughing, as he rolled to a kneeling position. Quickly getting back up while holding his stomach. It probably wasn’t the best plan, but at least he managed to evade three attacks. He smirked to himself. He reached up and over his shoulder and flipped his bow over it and held it in his left hand. He could easily shoot it from this distance, but now there were students behind his target. While he was confident. He decided to wait till he managed to switch positions, as his back was near the wall of the Combat arena. 

The mannequin rushed forward, attacking Finn with a flurry of attacks. Finn, doing much better now with his bow in hand, using it to match each attack. Deflecting and slapping away.  Each time becoming slightly harder to block. He was starting to feel the exhaustion in his left arm, moving the slightly heavier prosthetic as quick as he was. 

Finally he gripped the bow with both hands, using it more like a quarterstaff now, easily catching up to the speed of the training dummy, if but for a few moments. He managed to knock the sword to the dirt with a hard hit downwards, following up with a quick uppercut to the chin. Then spinning it around the back of the mannequin’s head and twisting, sending the mannequin stumbling forward where he once was. Finn didn’t hesitate as he pulled three arrows from his quiver and within three seconds fired all three.Two centermass and one aimed for the head, but just barely missed. 

[color=808080]“You missed that one.”[/color] Dex said, standing almost directly behind Finn. The beak of his mask was mere inches away from the young man’s head. [color=808080]“Don’t forget to pay attention to your surroundings. The quickest way for a marksman to end up dead is by letting someone sneak up behind them.”[/color]

Finn flinched as he suddenly heard the teacher's voice behind him. He swore there wasn’t anyone right there before. Only students farther away. Not even his father was THAT quiet. He shook his head when he said nearly the exact same thing his father drilled into him, that and stating the obvious with his miss. As much as it irked him, he understood why he said it. It just reminded him too much of his father and brothers. Every single shot he missed, they would make sure he knew they saw it. 

[color=0E7609]“I'll make up for that missed shot with extra training tonight.”[/color] He said before turning around and looking up at the mysterious teacher. That beak and blacked out eyes was a bit unnerving.[color=0E7609]“I thought I was paying enough attention, apparently not enough though, if I missed a big dark bird walking around.”[/color] He said with a Cheeky grin. 

[color=808080]“My point exactly. You can never be too careful about what’s behind you. It’s a delicate balance, focusing on your opponent and paying attention to what’s going on around you, but it’s a vital one. Range user’s will always be a target in battle, so it’s important you learn these skills quickly”[/color] Dex cocked his head to the side ever so slightly. [color=808080]“As is making sure that you finish off an opponent before you turn your back on them.”[/color]

He knew this already, logically it made sense to get rid of the ranged fighters first. But it was a clear reminder that he still had much to learn if he couldn’t keep aware of the one teacher with a large beak. 


Finn only smiled as he brought up turning his back to an opponent. He might have been caught unaware by Dex, but he could clearly hear the mannequin behind him. He turned quickly and raised his bow to deflect an attack before pulling and knocking another arrow within a second and firing at half pull. Hitting the mannequin dead center in the face. 

He notice a glint of metal moving quickly towards him, looking to his right and just barely raising his right arm to block a dagger that was flying directly at him. The dagger sliced into his forearm, just below his elbow. He grunted in pain, holding his arm close to him before pulling himself out of it and dodging another attack, from his own Mannequin. 

Of course this had to happen right after being told to watch his surroundings. He backed up more and more with each attack from his training dummy, barely knocking away some attacks with his bow in his left hand, as his right hand couldn’t grip anymore. Soon enough his bow was knocked from his hand, causing him to dive out the way with the follow up attack. 

Finn pulled the dagger from his arm, and charged the dummy, who went for a right to left swing. Finn fell to his knees and raised his arm, the blade deflecting off his prosthetic, while slashing up his uniform in the process, but it deflected the sword just high enough to miss his head. He allowed his momentum to carry him into the training dummy’s stomach, stabbing it with his ‘new dagger’ just above the groin. 

[color=808080]“Good. Adapting when you’ve lost your weapon is important as well. Although I’m sure you know what I have to say about watching your surroundings.”[/color] Dex pulled a small vial filled with a dark red liquid out of one of the many pouches that covered his suite. He tossed it to Finn, trusting that he would catch it. [color=808080]“That will heal up your arm in about a minute. Take a break. If I were you, I’d take that time to study some of your classmates. Many of them are dangerous in their own right. And there’s a good chance that some of them have been….provoked, recently.”[/color] Dex turned to walk away before pausing once more. [color=808080]“Getting too close to him is dangerous. He’s strong, and faster than he looks. Don’t let your guard down.”[/color] With that Dex walked off, seeming to move in the direction that the throwing knife had come from. 

Finn smiled for only a split second at the complement, going away right when he brought up the surroundings again. He wanted to say that he was aware enough to notice the odd sound of the blade enough to block his face from being the target. But he held his tongue, only nodding slightly. He stood up and placed a hand on the mannequin again to stop it from restarting. Looking back just Dex tossed him the small vial. He winced as he tried to catch it with his right hand, managing to knock it up and unintentionally juggling it between his hands till he managed to catch it with his left. 

He let out a sighing groan at the multiple attempts to flex his right arm and sent jolts of pain searing through his muscles.  He looked back to Dex and said softly, [color=0E7609]Thanks.”[/color] before he continued on to give him a tip. It was clear who he was referring to. He nodded once again, indicating he understood. As he walked away, Finn popped the cork and tossed the potion in like it was a shot. 

His neck tensed at the horrid taste, and he cleared his throat as if it would help...it didn’t. He then slowly walked over to his bow and picked it up, while watching the one who he was to fight later that day.