[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]
[color=A0A0A0]"Very well,"[/color] Fleuri replied, as he fetched a training sword of approximately the length of Gerard's weapon.  [color=A0A0A0]"I actually used a weapon of similar size as during my time as a squire, and occasionally in tournaments."[/color]

Fleuri started out by demonstrating some stances with the weapon.

[color=A0A0A0]"You already probably know this, but good stances and a good grip are key.  You never want to find yourself losing your grip on your sword,"[/color] he explained, thinking back to the battle when Lucas had dropped his weapon.

[color=A0A0A0]"A sword like this can be used with either one or two hands without too much difficulty.  Since Sir Gerard does not use a shield, we'll focus on using two hands."[/color]  Fleuri waited for Lucas to mirror his stance, then struck at his foe's sword with some of the basic attacks, both swinging and stabbing, that he knew of.  He did not strike at the boy holding the sword, though- he didn't want to bruise Lucas up.  Afterwards, he would beckon Lucas to do the same, to make a few blows at Fleuri's sword, which the older knight would try to block, deflect, or parry.  Once this was over he'd go over the various attacks and counterattacks that he had demonstrated.

It wasn't knowledge that he thought he'd be using any time soon.  He had no page or squire, and tended to favor larger blades for combat because they were more suited to dismembering undead and other tough foes.  Still, the smaller swords were definitely formidable in the right hands, and many great knights had used him.  Fleuri could hardly live up to those great bastions of heroism, but he'd do his best to impart some of what he did know to Lucas.

Fleuri would then go over over techniques such as half-swording, showing how one could increase leverage on the blade in this manner or even use the crossguard as a weapon.  He'd also try to convey the capabilities and limitations of double-edged swords like the longsword, at one point fetching some actual swords to better demonstrate his point.

The sparring match had turned into more of an instruction, but Fleuri didn't mind.  It was clear that Lucas had a lot to learn and would at this point be better served by instruction rather than beating on him with a wooden weapon.  Of course, practice made perfect and the boy would definitely need to spar to get the hang of it, but one step at a time.

[color=A0A0A0]"I think that's enough for now,"[/color] he concluded.  [color=A0A0A0]"I'd suggest practicing what I showed you, and in the future we'll spar to try and get it committed to reflex."[/color]

Eventually, Lucas would probably have to seek out those more experienced with longswords than Fleuri, but he felt his proficiency should be adequate to get the boy started.

[@Saiyan]