Leafrunner hesitated, then adjusted his stance and aim as Sebastian had indicated. His spear now pointed directly at the joint crease rather than the upper arm.
"The shoulder components are misplaced in your diagram as well," Sebastian continued. "They're not at the top of the shoulder but underneath, where the arm meets the torso." He indicated the spot on himself. "A strike from below, angled upward, will reach it. A downward strike will miss entirely."
Thornmaker's jaw tightened, but he studied the positioning Sebastian demonstrated. After a moment, he made a slightadjustment to his own stance, mimicking the angle Sebastian had shown.
"Like this?" he asked, voice gruff but not entirely hostile.
"Yes," Sebastian confirmed. "That would disable a vampire's strength enhancement. They'd still be dangerous, but no stronger than an average human."
A thoughtful silence fell over the training ground. The warriors appeared to be reassessing, mentally correcting the techniques they'd been practicing.
"Show us the other weak points," Thornmaker said finally. Not a request, but not quite an order either.
Sebastian nodded once, then began to methodically correct their understanding of vampire physiology. He remained where he stood, using his own body as a reference and maintaining a careful distance that acknowledged the warriors' wariness.
"The spine houses multiple components in a sequence," he explained, turning to show his back. "Here, at the base, emotional regulators. Higher up, balance enhancers. Between the shoulder blades, the central coordination node that links all systems."
"Is that why you struck Cassius in the chest?" asked a female warrior with intricate scars along her arms.
"Yes," Sebastian said. "The primary control node sits behind the sternum, protected by reinforced bone. Nearly impossible to reach from the front in combat."
"But you did," she pressed.
"I knew exactly where to strike," Sebastian replied. "And Cassius didn't expect me to target it directly."
Thornmaker gestured for Sebastian to continue. The initial hostility in his demeanor had shifted to reluctant interest.
"The throat," Sebastian said, "is more vulnerable than you might expect. Vampires modify their vocal apparatus forprojection and control. The modifications make the area difficult to armor effectively."
"We aim for the throat already," Thornmaker pointed out.
"Yes, but not precisely enough," Sebastian replied. "A general strike may damage but not disable. You need to target the side of the throat, just below the jaw." He indicated the spot. "That's where the vocal modulator connects to the main respiratory system."
As the morning progressed, Sebastian continued identifying weaknesses in vampire physiology and correcting the warriors' understanding. Gradually, the training session transformed into something more collaborative. Warriors still kept their distance, but their questions became more frequent, more practical.
Sebastian noted Thornmaker's subtle shift in demeanor. The spearmaster's initial resistance had given way to a grudging recognition of the value Sebastian provided. Not acceptance, not yet, but a willingness to listen that hadn't been there before.
Mid-morning, a commotion at the edge of the training ground drew everyone's attention. A warrior had collapsed, clutching his leg. During a practice maneuver, he had twisted awkwardly and fallen.
"Clear space," Thornmaker ordered, moving toward the injured warrior.
Sebastian saw immediately what had happened, a dislocated knee, painful but not permanently damaging if treated quickly. Without thinking, he moved forward.
"Don't touch it," he said sharply as another warrior reached to help the fallen man stand. "You'll make it worse."
The warrior looked to Thornmaker, who hesitated, then nodded. "Listen to him."
Sebastian knelt beside the injured warrior, careful not to touch him yet. "Your knee is dislocated. I can reset it, but it will hurt."
Fear and suspicion warred in the warrior's eyes. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because, unless you want to wait for a shaman, I understand how joints work better than anyone here," Sebastian replied matter-of-factly. "I've disassembled enough of them, including my own."
The warrior looked to Thornmaker again, who gave a terse nod. "Let him help."
"Someone get Ochrehand," Thornmaker added.
Sebastian carefully examined the knee, noting the unnatural angle. "This needs to be reset before the muscles spasm further. Brace yourself."
