Beads of sweat flew off of Veta Hunter as she thrusted her spear at the training dummy. She pierced it, nearly ripping it in half as she twisted the spear and ripped it away to slash at another with the bladed tip. She had been asked to demonstrate her skills as team leader - she had been told she had the potential to be granted permission for more advanced weapon training, which would mean she would learn to use something more complicated than her simple extendable spear. Prospective Hunters in Syne Academy were allowed to train with whatever weapon they wished, but in order to learn advanced techniques and other things, such as how to build and customize one's own weapon, they were expected to demonstrate proficiency with what they had already been given.
Technically, she supposed, she could just hand her spear and the right parts over to her friend and teammate, Eli, but she wanted to be able to do these things herself as well, and so she was trying out for the opportunity to learn. Her observer, a portly middle-aged man who was supposedly an expert at combat technique (At least at one point) was standing by to see how she handled herself as he lowered training dummies for her to strike. She had to be fast, strong, and well-controlled to pass. Fortunately, she seemed to be all of those things, despite how nervous she was.
It was chilly outside, but she had been working at the test for nearly an hour, and she was sweating from the exertion. Her shirt was nearly soaked, and she wasn't looking forward to having to run and get a change of clothes after this - once she was done moving, she would probably be freezing until she got herself something dry and clean.
Another thrust, a direct hit with the nonlethal side of her spear, followed by a twist and stab. Veta was quite familiar with how to wield her weapon - she'd been practicing for years before this, and had racked up countless hours worth of training - possibly more than any other student her age. Her ponytail twisted around her as she moved, giving her an even more graceful appearance as she moved. The man wasn't interested in the theatrics, however, only her mastery.
Retracting the spear to its tube-like state, she flipped around again, extending it in a way that it caught two more of the dummies and ripped them to shreds - even the end that didn't have a sharp edge (though it helped that it was a sack cloth dummy and not something tougher like flesh or grimm hide).
Finally, she stopped at the man's signal, her spear spinning in her hand as it retracted and she hooked it in her loop on her back. "You did good, Miss Hunter. Very impressive for being at the Academy less than a month. I dare say you've passed." His voice was steady and inflectionless, and his inflection matched. But his words were impressed, and that was what Veta was focused on. She grinned, giving him a polite bow and her thanks. Soon she would have the written proof she needed to get the training she desired.
words 534/500
Technically, she supposed, she could just hand her spear and the right parts over to her friend and teammate, Eli, but she wanted to be able to do these things herself as well, and so she was trying out for the opportunity to learn. Her observer, a portly middle-aged man who was supposedly an expert at combat technique (At least at one point) was standing by to see how she handled herself as he lowered training dummies for her to strike. She had to be fast, strong, and well-controlled to pass. Fortunately, she seemed to be all of those things, despite how nervous she was.
It was chilly outside, but she had been working at the test for nearly an hour, and she was sweating from the exertion. Her shirt was nearly soaked, and she wasn't looking forward to having to run and get a change of clothes after this - once she was done moving, she would probably be freezing until she got herself something dry and clean.
Another thrust, a direct hit with the nonlethal side of her spear, followed by a twist and stab. Veta was quite familiar with how to wield her weapon - she'd been practicing for years before this, and had racked up countless hours worth of training - possibly more than any other student her age. Her ponytail twisted around her as she moved, giving her an even more graceful appearance as she moved. The man wasn't interested in the theatrics, however, only her mastery.
Retracting the spear to its tube-like state, she flipped around again, extending it in a way that it caught two more of the dummies and ripped them to shreds - even the end that didn't have a sharp edge (though it helped that it was a sack cloth dummy and not something tougher like flesh or grimm hide).
Finally, she stopped at the man's signal, her spear spinning in her hand as it retracted and she hooked it in her loop on her back. "You did good, Miss Hunter. Very impressive for being at the Academy less than a month. I dare say you've passed." His voice was steady and inflectionless, and his inflection matched. But his words were impressed, and that was what Veta was focused on. She grinned, giving him a polite bow and her thanks. Soon she would have the written proof she needed to get the training she desired.
words 534/500
