[ Cloud remains focused, only nodding even if it's not in the direction of her voice when she commends him for his progress. And while he's doing considerately well while blindfolded, her change in stratagem is going to be the moment where the speed of his progress falters some. He hears the steps rapidly approaching, and he does indeed get his guard up in time to her predictable strike. But barely. His teeth visibly grit lightly in response, only for her to relent.
Now there's another variable in the mix. At first, it was easier when he was the one seeking her out as he trained himself solely on both sound and the feeling resonating deep inside him. And as they continue, he can feel his heartrate getting a little faster. A contrast from the more tranquil feeling he had before when exchanging blows with the Shirasagi Himegimi. Though he feels his connection with his sword, it's tenser than before as he succeeds in most cases in seeking her, but it's when he hears nothing...her footsteps barely registering that he brings his guard up and... ]
!
[ He gets tapped. Cloud's plenty strong, so getting hit by her bokken doesn't hurt. But it feels so sudden when he can't brace for it thanks to being blindfolded. Sensing his own rising anxiousness, he pauses, lowering his sword in that lull between waiting for him and coming at him. Another deep breath in through his nose, the warm summer sun casting over him as he straightens upright. And a gentle exhale through his mouth, loosing his grip on his blade before stepping forward once more. Removing his steps from hers, he hears a distant footstep. Too far away, even with his longer sword. So he moves, footsteps soft as he doesn't rush into finding her.
Until he tests the waters with another vertical swing. He hears steps and—
Tap! ]
Ow-
[ A kneejerk slip. It didn't actually hurt. The session continues for a short while, and while Cloud does show some improvement as the upped difficulty ensues...he spends over half of it in a mixture of missing, succeeding in 'finding' her and clashing, and getting the timing mixed up as she tries hitting him from time to time.
Suffice to say, a rockier stage of his training as he exercises balance with his blade. But perhaps more importantly? Any tension that rises within him, he dispels before he can get frustrated.
Trust her, he repeats when he's left between success and failure. And though he's not visibly shaken, his breathing is starting to come in just a little less composed than before, the summer heat working in creating a thin sheen of sweat down his exposed arms and his exposed neck. ]
no subject
Now there's another variable in the mix. At first, it was easier when he was the one seeking her out as he trained himself solely on both sound and the feeling resonating deep inside him. And as they continue, he can feel his heartrate getting a little faster. A contrast from the more tranquil feeling he had before when exchanging blows with the Shirasagi Himegimi. Though he feels his connection with his sword, it's tenser than before as he succeeds in most cases in seeking her, but it's when he hears nothing...her footsteps barely registering that he brings his guard up and... ]
!
[ He gets tapped. Cloud's plenty strong, so getting hit by her bokken doesn't hurt. But it feels so sudden when he can't brace for it thanks to being blindfolded. Sensing his own rising anxiousness, he pauses, lowering his sword in that lull between waiting for him and coming at him. Another deep breath in through his nose, the warm summer sun casting over him as he straightens upright. And a gentle exhale through his mouth, loosing his grip on his blade before stepping forward once more. Removing his steps from hers, he hears a distant footstep. Too far away, even with his longer sword. So he moves, footsteps soft as he doesn't rush into finding her.
Until he tests the waters with another vertical swing. He hears steps and—
Tap! ]
Ow-
[ A kneejerk slip. It didn't actually hurt. The session continues for a short while, and while Cloud does show some improvement as the upped difficulty ensues...he spends over half of it in a mixture of missing, succeeding in 'finding' her and clashing, and getting the timing mixed up as she tries hitting him from time to time.
Suffice to say, a rockier stage of his training as he exercises balance with his blade. But perhaps more importantly? Any tension that rises within him, he dispels before he can get frustrated.
Trust her, he repeats when he's left between success and failure. And though he's not visibly shaken, his breathing is starting to come in just a little less composed than before, the summer heat working in creating a thin sheen of sweat down his exposed arms and his exposed neck. ]