Lesson Two

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Fri Dec 30, 2011 3:07 am

Raven was not happy. It was told to her that her punishment for shoving a razor up Someones nose was to cover for all of the classes that had no professors. She didn't mind this one, this was would be funny, seeing small children fight each other. The very height of amusement.

Especially when one of them died...

Whistling happily Raven walked into the classroom flicking her razor out in time with a nice muggle song she had just heard of:

'Weve only just begun...' she chuckled darkly.

by Guest Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:03 am

Alys entered the classroom as quietly as she could, determined not to draw any attention to herself before her ultimately rubbish dueling skills gave her away. Never having dueled anyone in her entire life, the girl was nervous enough as it was but now that The Sweeney would be taking the class... Alys shuddered, gazing at nothing and heading straight to the back to hide behind a group of Risiko students.

Please don't let her kill me, the blonde prayed, keeping her head down and ensuring her blonde fringe covered half her face. Please don't let her kill me, please don't let her kill me, please don't let her kill me...

by **Avangeline King** Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:20 am

When Ava walked into the classroom and saw who was teaching she couldn't help but smile, a bit maliciously. Yay, maybe she could really get some practice in. Ava had a good feeling Sweeney wouldn't allow them to hold back.

Turning towards Alys, she saw the other girl shudder as she took in the Sweeney, nudging Alys arm, Ava told her. "Relax its going to be okay. She is scary yes, but she can teach us a lot about fighting. I'm good at this, I can help you out if you get stuck. It will be alright." She soothed, knowing the more nervous Alys was the more likely it was that she would make a mistake.

Alys would be fine, and if she wasn't Avangeline would protect her.

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:47 pm

Raven smirked as she saw that the girl was scared of her. So she should be. Moving to the door of the classroom she continued to hum the little Muggle song that she had favoured so much lately, it seemed that people didn't like her version though.

"Hmm hmmm hmmm we've only just beguuuuuuun..."

Casting a dark look at the girl who was scared of her Raven flitted directly in front of her leaving a trail of black smoke behind her. This was going to be a fun lesson indeed. Her favourite student was here too. Making it better.

"Hello. I've yet to teach you. Sweeney, at your service. Hello again to you, my favourite pupil."

Raven moved to the back wall, covered with a sheet and tugged it, exposing a wall full of hand held weapons, crossbows, long staffs, swords, daggers...and Raven gestured to it.

"Pick one. Choose wisely. It's the difference from life and death."

by Guest Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:31 am

The smoke in the Sweeney's wake made her eyes water but Alys was too afraid to cough, afraid to even breathe in a way that the Lehrer would find displeasing. Ava was wonderful but she was still eleven and wouldn't be able to do much if the Sweeney felt the class would liven up at a certain student death.

"Hello. I've yet to teach you. Sweeney, at your service."

"P-pl-pleasure's all m-mine," she squeaked back, shaking like a leaf as the teacher pulled down a sheet from a wall to display all sorts of horrifying weapons, some which even had residual blood and gore from previous battles on them.

"Pick one. Choose wisely. It's the difference from life and death."

Alys took in the display of weaponry with terrified fascination, her blue gaze lingering over all the bulky items like axes and longswords. The blonde would never be able to lift any of those let alone fight with them. And there were bits of what looked suspiciously like brain matter stuck to the blade of a cleaver. Finally, the witch spatted a small silver dagger.

I wasn't large by any means, she could have slipped it up her sleeve if she was so inclined. It was also shiny and clean. The witch had no knowledge of blade sharpness but at least she could hold this one. Even though she knew there was a lot of difference between holding a dagger and wielding it as a deadly weapon.

"Umm, that dagger, can I... I mean, may I please have that one?"

by **Avangeline King** Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:11 pm

Avangeline knew Alys would have to handle this one on her own, so she walked forward examining the weapons on display. She had something in mind, but didn't know if one would be available.

Scanning over the items, immediately dismissing the ones that would require two hands at all times. A witch needed to be able to reach her wand at a seconds notice, not fumble with a heavy battle axe.

Finally lower on the wall was something that caught her eye. The glint of hardened steel. Going over to the object she picked it up and examined it. A short sword. It was a double edged weapon about the length of a grown mans thigh, with the blade a little over three inches wide at the base tapering into a deadly tip. The hilt was covered with bands of leather twisted together to make a solid, easy to hold grip, that wouldn't slip out of her hands if it was wet with rain or blood.

"This is perfect, shiny, pointy, and deadly. I can reach my wand in a pinch, and it can be hidden under most robes." Ava claimed the beautiful weapon before her classmates could. Though in the back of her mind she couldn't get the intimidating picture of Sweeney with her razors out of her head. She hoped to be half as creepy as Sweeney was, after all Ava was the house of fear.

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:00 am

Raven grinned, she didn't know how many times that she would sub this class so she thought that she had better make the most of it while she could, gesturing to the middle of the floor Raven tapped it and a circle of sand appeared in the center.

With a flourish Raven appeared in the middle, black smoke surrounding her after her movement with the spell and she smirked, throwing her arms apart so that the smoke reached out over the entire classroom...boy this was going to be fun.

"Excellent choices girls. Now fight."

Raven danced around the top of the classroom shelves taking a perch and waiting for the smoke to clear, it was going to be fun to watch this, maybe one of them would even get hurt.

"No rules, just be sure to cheat."

by Guest Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:38 am

The girl turned pale as the smoke cleared, her eyes stinging and her hands shaking in fear. The Sweeney couldn't expect her to fight Ava, with a dagger no less. Alys had no idea how sharp her blade was but knowing Sweeney and her famed "friends", it must have a wicked edge. One the blonde had no wish to use on her best friend.

Weapon wise, she was also at a disadvantage because Ava's sword at least had range. Her own small dagger would only work if the enemy stood right next to her and presented his neck to her to cut open. The witch turned green at the mere thought.

The young witch watched The Sweeney claim a perch on one of the shelves, waiting for the girls to begin. Almost breathless with panic, the blonde turned to her friend, her dagger held loosely and at a completely wrong angle in her left hand.

by **Avangeline King** Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:44 am

"Alys relax and move, you know I won't hurt you deliberately. Pretend we're dancing, dodge out of the way, use the dagger to block me." Ava called over to her friend, circling her carefully. Knowing Alys was terrified.

She wouldn't hurt her friend, but she needed to show Alys that she had a chance, that it was okay to fight. That dagger could be very useful, especially since Ava wasn't used to her weapon either, if Alys could move faster than her, the range wouldn't make much of a difference.

Moving at a quick pace she lunged forward, trying to control the tip of her weapon, she wanted to learn how to duel and badly, if Alys could just get over her fear a little they could both learn a lot.

by Guest Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:51 am

"Alys relax and move, you know I won't hurt you deliberately. Pretend we're dancing, dodge out of the way, use the dagger to block me."

The blonde barely had time to make sense of the flurry of instructions before Ava was coming at her, the edge of her sword controlled but aimed at her non the less. Without giving the matter any thought and letting instinct take over, the Muhe witch stepped to the side, bringing her own dagger up in defense. Realizing her own stupidity, the witch quickly changed hands, to better use her weapon in defense.

"W-was that al-alright?": she asked the other witch uncertainly.

by **Avangeline King** Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:38 am

"Much better." Ava called, feeling odd about calling out instructions while Sweeney was watching, but she needed Alys to relax or the risk of injury went up. "Trust your instincts, they work well, and are usually right." Ava added, knowing that was what she was doing as well.

Lunging at Alys again Ava realized she was getting something out of this, she was learning control. To use too much power all at once would leave you vulnerable later on in the fight. Saving energy was a good thing, but there was a fine line between saving energy and leaving yourself open to attack.

She meant it when she said she wouldn't hurt her deliberately, but that didn't mean she would go lightly, Alys needed to learn just as much as Ava did. This was good for them, even if she did know that Sweeney didn't care of one of them got hurt. It was up to them to set boundaries for the fight.

It might disappoint the instructor, Ava would fight alright, but not with the blood lust she instinctively knew the Sweeney was looking for. If the instructor wanted that, then she would need a sparring partner that wasn't her friend.

by Guest Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:33 am

"Much better."

The words alone gave the witch courage, but at the cost of lost concentration for Ava lunged at her again and this time, Alys didn't manage to sidestep as quickly as she had been able to before. As a result, the edge of Ava's blade tore a bit of fabric off her uniform sleeve. Only a tiny bit but it was clear to the blonde that had Ava not been holding back, there would be blood right now.

Gaining confidence from dodging two more of the Risiko student's attacks, Alys started to panic less and think more. Ava had the advantage here, in range as well as skill. And she knew how to maintain a safe distance from Alys and her dagger range.

An idea half formed in mind, the girl held up her silver weapon horizontally in front of her, waiting for Ava's next attack.

by **Avangeline King** Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:46 am

Ava felt she could freely smile now. Alys was relaxing and dodging her attacks. A small slip up proved that Ava could hold back enough not to hurt Alys. Relaxing into the duel, confident that she could fight without injury, she lunged towards Alys, not catching that the girl was holding her dagger differently, with more confidence.

by Guest Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:58 am

Seeing Ava move more confidently, Alys allowed herself a small smile. Maybe the Sweeney had a point.

Not bothering to back up, Alys in fact took a step closer to the Risiko witch. Alys had to admit she had excellent control for her age. She was always sure to keep her attacks just off so they wouldn't hurt the blonde. But even Ava wouldn't be able to have such good control if Alys was kind enough to step into her path.

All it took was a second and the cut appeared on the well off the witch's left palm. Letting out a gasp of pain, Alys immediately dropped her dagger hand to her side and brought the injured one up to her face to examine it. "You cut me!' she said in disbelief to the other witch, moving closer to show her the wound.

by **Avangeline King** Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:05 am

As soon as Ava saw the blood, all thoughts about the oddity of Alys stepping into her attack flew out the window. Hurrying over to her friend to check on the wound, she lowered her sword.

"Are you alright? Did I get you badly?" She was so worried, she had promised not to hurt Alys and here the other girl was bleeding because of her!

by Guest Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:22 am

As Ava rushed to her side with nothing but concern in her eyes, Alys felt a sharp pang of guilt inside her. She would have to make it up to the Risiko student somehow. As Ava lowered her sword and checked on her palm, the blonde slowly brought up the dagger from her side and held it inches away from the other girl's throat, signifying the kill if it had been an actual battle.

"You didn't get me," she admitted, blushing. "I held my dagger in a way that would stab my own hand. Muhe students are used to bleeding so it wasn't so bad..." Alys had known the only way she could ever beat the redhead was through deception. Ava had every advantage over her. A better weapon, more training, agility, courage. The only choice Alys had had was to dodge until she got too tired to even do that.

And then she had remembered what the Sweeney had said. To cheat...

The plan had started forming slowly as she had dodged Ava's perfectly timed attacks, and she hadn't been sure if it would work. But it was the only thing she could try.

"I'm sorry," she said to Ava, her face coloring in embarrassment. "I was just following my instincts and they told me I would never be able to beat you in skill alone." The girl pointed to Ava's lowered sword. "See, there's no blood on it, you didn't get me. Promise."

by **Avangeline King** Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:35 am

Ava first stared at her clean sword, then the bloody dagger, than up at Alys guilty face. Finally she hung her head. "You win."

Knowing Alys felt guilty, Ava quickly lifted back up. "You were only following directions she told us to cheat. I shouldn't have dropped my guard."

Ava could admit she was a little angry, that trick made her think she had broken a promise! Something she never thought she would do. Yet she was worried about Alys, she knew for Muhe students pain was their specialty, but she didn't like how easily Alys hurt herself. "I don't like seeing you hurt," Ava admitted.

by Guest Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:46 am

"You win."

Alys dropped the dagger to the floor, not even caring if she damaged the handle or the point. She hated dueling with Ava, it felt wrong to draw a weapon against her best friend and it made her want to retch, seeing that worried look on the other witch's face.

"It doesn't hurt, really," she assured Ava, taking out a handkerchief and binding the cut as neatly as she could one handed. The girl hugged Ava to her side, smiling as reassuringly as she could. "And I promise not to use that trick again," she said quietly. "But you'll have to teach me how to fight better in return," she added in a whisper.

Now that the duel was over, the girl waited anxiously for Sweeney's verdict.

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:21 am

Raven had watched the duel with a very interested expression on her face, her fingers twitched on occasion and when blood was drawn and she cackled happily but then the verdict, the use of cheating on her favourite student didn't go down well. Yet she had told them too.

Jumping down from the bookcase with a scowl on her face Raven flicked out her razor and flicked it across Ava's cheek, her own house member, being caught being so pathetic made her disappointed in her it wasn't a deep cut however.

"You do not HESITATE when your enemy is injured you WILL attack. Do you understand?! Next lesson. You will be duelling me. The loser of this little duel which is you, Ava. Be prepared."

Whirling around she stalked over to Alys and growled slightly at her, she won through cheating which although instructed was not as admirable as winning straight out.

"5 housepoints for Muhe, well done girl. No touchy feely emotions next time. Leave them at the door. Class dismissed."