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Chapter 21

Day 7: Eastbell, Icewynne, Notsuoh lounge and bar, After hours,The Roof, Dark Hour  

"Snow, you're next."

Nova faltered. 

"U-uhm, no thanks I'm not really the fighting type."

Shadow's head whipped around eyes wide in disbelief.

"Not really the fighting type?! How many times have you assaulted me?! You literally just threatened to kick me a couple minutes ago!"

"That's different! Sure I can kick you in the shins, but I'm no Jackie Chan, and I definitely can't emulate that Mortal Kombat scene you two pulled off. 

"Alright," Sage nodded "It looks like we'll have to start from scratch. Let's begin with a proper fighting stance and posture. Shadow make sure you're listening, your stance could use some work as well."

Shadow rolled his eyes and met his gaze as Sage lectured.

"A proper fighting stance should give you the ability to move swiftly and freely. If you're standing properly you should be able to strike your target, as well as defend yourself in the process. Besides movement, there are two key components to a proper fighting stance, stability, and visibility. I could demonstrate a proper stance but you two would benefit more from experiencing it yourself and correcting your faults as you go. Now, I think I've beat up Shadow enough for one night-"

Shadow snorted. "Oh? Is that so?

"Therefore," Sage continued ignoring his remark. "I'll allow you both to fight me at once."

Nova's eyes widened, "Me? Fight you?" She recalled how Sage dangled Shadow over the roof. "Maybe we can start with something a bit more basic than that. Perhaps meditation? Or anything that doesn't involve my face getting smashed into a wall?"

"The best way to learn is by doing and learning from your mistakes. Besides-"

He began to circle the two. "You two should learn how to work together anyway."

Slowly Nova and Shadow shifted towards each other as Sage began to close in. Nova couldn't help but feel that he was toying with them as a cat toyed with its prey before it struck. The two wound up back to back, she noticed how Shadow stood with his feet spread about shoulders with apart, his arms were bent in front of him at chin level; she adjusted her footing to mimic his.

"You two are back to back which maximizes you visibility from almost all angles." Sage purred, "Very good. Who will make the first move I wonder? Shadow you've definitely got a bit of a temper so it wouldn't surprise me if it were you. I wonder if you would be willing to spar with me once more though given the outcome of our last round."

Snow listened. Sage was getting cocky, he knew that he out skilled his students which was why he was so relaxed. She may not have had much training prior to this lesson but she was skilled in problem-solving. She tried to pull from what she observed while Sage was working with Shadow. One thing stuck out to her in particular, the element of surprise. Sage said that the two key components to a proper fighting stance were visibility and stability. What if she was somehow able to throw that off? 

Nova, still mimicking Shadow's stance and footwork sidestepped out of Sage's peripheral and into his blind spot. She had to move quickly, with her left hand she swung mimicking the right hook Sage gave Shadow and mirroring it with her own dominant hand. Sage caught her wrist but not before she landed a blow to his face. 

Sage stood eyes wide, he stared at her, then at his hand that clutched hers.

Shadow slowly let his hands fall to the side.