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Your instructor nods as you take the cold <span class="mu-s">stilleto</span> into your hands. It's thin, graceful, and deadly to the point... just like you. You'd say so, anyway.
Despite being a blonde- shorter then Jaxtians on average, this child of the Val bloodline is still taller and much heavier then you are. His arms are proportionally longer as well. In any kind of fighting scenario, he has an obvious advantage.
<span class="mu-r">"Take up stance! Like this- hold your blade more steady, Dulioan, pointed straight at your opponent. That's better. Remember- this is <span class="mu-i">point work</span>, no sweeps, slices, or stabs. Can't have any of you getting killed. Knife to knife contact only! We're leaving the AI Referee off for this, none of you are ready to learn lethal strikes yet."</span>
It takes a few seconds, but you understand. This type of practice is all based on knife and body control- moving the point of the knife so you are constantly touching or pointing at the opponents knife point- while they try to shove yours aside. It's a simulated knife fight, but prevents anyone from stepping into a potentially dangerous motion...
As the blonde warms up- his obvious level of experience above your own becomes more apparent. Whenever you move the point towards him, he taps it away with a soft metal clink. It's terrifying, the ways these blades flash. Why do men insist on fighting in such a way? When you were younger, you played in simulators and laser-VR battle arenas, simulated gun battles essentially- but it was all in good fun. This is... not fun.
<span class="mu-r">"Dulioan! You're slipping your guard- he could have killed you four times by now. Just because you are a rookie doesn't mean we're gonna go easy on you-"</span>
You aren't any better at knife fighting, but you think you understand it a little more. Knife fights aren't the same as gun battles or spaceship strategy or anything like that. The motions move <span class="mu-i">so</span> fast that absolute mental readiness must be used to avoid being killed. Even the slightest quarter-turn of the wrist could cut, even the slightest bend of the elbow could leave an opening for your opponent to go for your throat- and worse yet, your own attacks could leave you open as well. It requires a sort of awareness and absolute concentration that quickly leaves you feeling mentally exhausted!
