I've gotten better since that first session. Like with the basic magical skills, the CQC that Tre's been teaching me felt maddeningly familiar, like I'd learned it years ago, and let myself forget I even knew it. I've been picking up the maneuvers at what I think is an acceptable speed, but it's hard to tell with Tre.
She makes a rather good sensei- blunt, hard, and to the point, but not cruel. I haven't heard so much as a single insult out of her- just 'Acceptable' when I get it right, and a short explanation when I get it wrong. No coddling, no belittling, constructive criticism, and plenty of motivation.
Between that and my spell work (you know, in my copious spare time), I've been studying Device mechanics, principles, programming and operation. If I ever get stranded somewhere, away from the lab, I want to be able to maintain (and maybe even upgrade) Malleus myself.
Entry 27 (Day 246)
...I'm paralyzed. I have no feeling from the hair down. MAKE THE BAD TRE STOP!
Seriously, I've just spent the last three months straight working on my combat capability- and when I mean 'three months straight', I mean ninety consecutive eighteen-hour days of nothing but fighting. No Device, no magic- just my body, my jacket, and a never-ending stream of injuries.
If I were still a normal, I'd've died five minutes in. As it is, I've been bruised, bashed, cut, sliced, smashed, burnt, and stabbed more times than I'd like to count. I've forgotten what it feels like to just sit and relax... much less get a full ten hours of sleep. Those were the days... I think.
As it is, after three months of pain, toil, and sacrifice... Tre can still beat me in a fight. Easily. It takes her quite a while longer than it used to- seventy seconds, instead of two- but I'm still barely a speed bump. Not yet, anyway.
I have to cut this entry short. Tre's back, and it looks like she wants another round.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
She makes a rather good sensei- blunt, hard, and to the point, but not cruel. I haven't heard so much as a single insult out of her- just 'Acceptable' when I get it right, and a short explanation when I get it wrong. No coddling, no belittling, constructive criticism, and plenty of motivation.
Between that and my spell work (you know, in my copious spare time), I've been studying Device mechanics, principles, programming and operation. If I ever get stranded somewhere, away from the lab, I want to be able to maintain (and maybe even upgrade) Malleus myself.
Entry 27 (Day 246)
...I'm paralyzed. I have no feeling from the hair down. MAKE THE BAD TRE STOP!
Seriously, I've just spent the last three months straight working on my combat capability- and when I mean 'three months straight', I mean ninety consecutive eighteen-hour days of nothing but fighting. No Device, no magic- just my body, my jacket, and a never-ending stream of injuries.
If I were still a normal, I'd've died five minutes in. As it is, I've been bruised, bashed, cut, sliced, smashed, burnt, and stabbed more times than I'd like to count. I've forgotten what it feels like to just sit and relax... much less get a full ten hours of sleep. Those were the days... I think.
As it is, after three months of pain, toil, and sacrifice... Tre can still beat me in a fight. Easily. It takes her quite a while longer than it used to- seventy seconds, instead of two- but I'm still barely a speed bump. Not yet, anyway.
I have to cut this entry short. Tre's back, and it looks like she wants another round.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.