<div class="floatright">(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_et9ttl8zdzQ/TD_-vwBMOGI/AAAAAAAAN5E/eP7JumXuE2M/s1600/1a3f651e06434edab4aee510aaf9f5b6.jpg)</div><br/>Michelle simply nodded, following outside and keeping the grip upon her sword ready.  She held it up at the ready, eyes focused upon her trainer, dedicating herself to the task.  As he swung, her first thought was to simply dodge, something she felt she could have done easily enough but without actually learning anything.  She had to remind herself to keep her legs steady, to instead slide the blade up between her assailant and her body, but that moment of hesitation cost her.<br/><br/>Although she managed to slightly deflect the sword, she didn't entirely stop his attack, which struck her on her side and sent her flying back into a double flip in the air.  A low ache forced its way against two of her lungs, but she had little trouble in catching herself mid-flap and landing back upon her feet.  The pain itself was manageable enough, even though it still hurt, and she felt a little better in being able to cope with it rather than fretting the possibility of injury.  Still, another hit like that would probably drop her.<br/><br/>In the response attack, she threw herself forward, spinning her blade in an overly elaborate slice towards his chest that mirrored something more out of a movie than a truly precise and deadly strike from a lethal weapon.  Her natural dexterity, however, helped her aim the weapon even when a normal person wouldn't have even come close with such an attack, but she still had a few things to learn if she was going to really be a fighter.<br/><br/>In many ways, it helped to know that it wasn't a real fight to the death.  That knowledge helped keep her courage up for the time being, that she wouldn't really hurt him with any true detriment, and that he would stop before she would come to serious injury.  Still, it helped going through the motions.  She hoped that it would only start to come naturally once she really needed such talents.