When in Rome

learning

Three days after Hiccup's introduction to Roman Politics he was scheduled to head to the training dome in the first legion's camp. Their site was just outside the Capitol on the southside, a big field used for war games between the site and the outer circles of the city.

Some of the legionnaires of the first legion had found some dragons and lured them in with fish. Hiccup was going to spend a good few hours teaching the lucky soldiers who'd gotten their names down first how to train them.

He had twenty soldiers. too many for his liking, he'd told them so many could spook the dragons. But a lot of people wanted to learn and they could only do so much to keep numbers cut back. at least these dragons were from Rome, they likely had no terrifying memories of people slaughtering their kind for years.

Hiccup had plenty of fun showing off and the soldiers also enjoyed the wonder of befriending beings so different to themselves. The whole experience was a real confidence boost.

As the soldiers were leaving and Hiccup was packing things up- saddles, rope, dragon-nip- Atticus walked in the gate.

"morning," Atticus greeted, taking the final coil of rope and hanging it up, "how'd it go?"

"pretty well actually," Hiccup smiled, "I mean, no one got eaten, that's a plus."

"oh, fun!" Atticus swung a bag off his back and took out two swords, made of wood, "I wanted to give you a crash course in Swordsmanship before you get thrown in with recruits in actual training. They can be... severe. And they expect even rookies to know the basics."

"oh, thanks," Hiccup blinked, "why are the swords wood?"

"it helps you build strength and control." He took one sword and threw it to Hiccup, keeping the other and walking to the middle of the dome.

Hiccup followed, awkwardly holding the wooden hunk that had been crudely shaped into a sword and sanded down. Atticus stood, feet shoulder width apart with his left slightly in front of the other. he placed the tip of his blade in front of his foot and rested his left arm behind his back.

"this is a form of parade rest used when your superior is inspecting your blade," he instructed, Hiccup copied the pose, "shoulders back."

Hiccup huffed but stood straight, "geez you gain like three inches when you stand properly," Atticus chuckled.

"swordplay isn't about fancy moves. It's about predicting your opponent's movement and strategizing at split-second speeds. You need to defend or attack whilst also investigating how the person you're fighting is doing so. It's all a form of ingrained multi-tasking."

Hiccup nodded, "how can you predict their moves?"

"their stance, where they look, how they grip their sword, etcetera." Atticus took the hilt with both hands and lifted the sword up so it floated in front of his body, he leaned forward slightly and twisted his back foot to the side, "this is the easiest, most used and- in my opinion- best stance."

Hiccup copied, "square your feet more and bend your elbows," Atticus corrected, "good, now defend yourself."

"what?"

Atticus moved faster than he thought possible. He brought the sword in a swipe for Hiccup's legs that set Hiccup scurrying then brought it down on his head. Hiccup barely managed to block it in time.

"good job,"

"aren't you going to teach me?" Hiccup asked, struggling to hold the sword up under Atticus' weight.

"learn by doing!" Atticus set off again, going slightly slower this time, swiping and stabbing at any place Hiccup left unprotected by his sword. But every time he blocked a hit he opened himself up somewhere else.