[Training] Once a Dragoon, Always a Dragoon

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

He shouldn't have thought it would be that easy to throw off a former Dragoon, but he'd harbored a sliver of hope that it might. Despite his weeks of vigorous training, his body was starting to feel sore, aching against the body that had been temporarily dead and torn apart. Zavien could tell that his stamina was returning, even if his breathing was starting to quicken, sweat spreading across his brow. There was still a determination in his gaze, a need to get better. 

As Liam disengaged their swords, Zavien readjusted his stance to settle more on his toes. It helped as the man twisted into a strike on his other side. He was able to pivot, lifting his sword to block the attack, but he couldn't hide the subtle wince that accompanied the tugging of his flank with the movement. However, he didn't stop, holding the parry until he could return with a sweep of his sword to the other side.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

For a man who had been grievously injured, Zavien was certainly experienced with a sword. Liam’s swing was blocked, but the ex-dragoon caught the subtle wince that played over his opponent’s features at the jarring clash of swords. For a moment, he considered calling the spar there, concern creasing his brow; but then Zavien swept his sword to the other side again.

Raising his sword to block, Liam grinned. ”You’re good,” he said, grunting at the force of the impact of blade against blade. ”Can barely tell you were injured.” Breaking away again, Liam offered once last blow - a solid strike towards Zavien’s rib cage that would no doubt be easy enough to block.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

Feeling that the spar was coming to an end, Zavien blocked the last blow with ease, relaxing out of his fighting stance with a slow stretch of his shoulders. "Thanks. I had a lot of really great healers." Sunjata, Halo's infirmary, Zuriel, Tal. It was amazing how many people had offered their assistance in repairing him. Sometimes it still blew his mind. 

Sheathing his blade, Zavien gave Liam a respectful nod and a brighter smile. "You're pretty good yourself. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to have you back with the Dragoons." And gods knew they could use more members with the growing threat in the city. Although there still remained the question... "Can I ask why you left to begin with?" There was nothing more than professional curiosity as he looked to Liam, wondering how he might prevent such skilled fighters from leaving. 

As he waited for the man to respond, he fidgeted with his fingers, suddenly feeling a sharp bit of metal. Apparently, during the spar, whether he'd missed a strike from Liam's blade or gripped his own sword too hard, the new ring he'd recently found had chipped beyond repair, nearly snapped in half from the force. Perhaps when they'd locked weapons, it had been crushed in between. However it had occurred, Zavien wasn't broken up about it, pulling the pieces from his finger to discard them in his pocket.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam sheathed his own sword as Zavien did the same, rolling his shoulders to stretch out muscles that hadn’t been properly used for a while. He smiled sadly at Zavien’s questioning. ”I’d be happy to join up again, under different circumstances,” he admitted. If the Family wasn’t in charge. If he wanted to move back to Stormbreak. If he didn’t have a life to live here.

”My wife and children died when the Ascended attacked Stormbreak,” he said frankly. ”After that, I… struggled. I came out here to start over. To try to find peace.” And look how that had worked out for him: everyone had left the Greatwood, and he’d been left alone. For a time, that was what he’d wanted - but now, everything was changing, and for once, it seemed like good change.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

Sparring was a strange thing that somehow gave the participants a better sense of who the other was as a person. It showed mercy versus brutality, pride versus humbleness, honor versus ruthlessness. And after their spar together, Zavien got the sense that Liam was someone he could trust, especially as his words implied where his allegiances lay. 

However, it didn't prepare him for Liam's confession, to hear of the atrocities he'd experienced within Stormbreak. Running a hand through his hair, he let out a heavy sigh. "Wow... I - I'm so sorry to hear that." It all seemed to fall into place, and he shook his head with a twinge of embarrassment. "I respect your choice." Not that Liam needed his respect, but it was hard not to understand his reasoning when Zavien had done something so similar. Stormbreak may be his home, and where he hoped to return one day, but just the thought of being so close to the Family again made his skin crawl, his heart racing faster than the panicked thoughts.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam should be used to the responses he got from telling his story by now, but condolences always left him feeling guilty. He had been there to protect Stormbreak, but he hadn’t been able to help those he cared about most, and that haunted him to this day. What was worse was that he wasn’t sure he could have done anything differently, and yet he still felt as though he should have. He should have been there.

But then he’d probably have died alongside them, and he could no longer find it in himself to regret that he hadn’t.

”Thank you,”. Liam said, resting his hands on the pommel of his sword and relaxing into a more at ease position. Then, because he was curious, he added, ”What’s a dragoon doing all the way out here?” Hunting for flowers, perhaps, like everyone else seemed to be doing?

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

The question made him pause, trying to figure out how much to say. Zavien moved to his bag, pulling the bear fat from his pack to rub over the still-tight skin of his scar. He kneaded into the wound, deciding to trust the man a little as he said, "Well... I needed some time away from the city to recuperate away from prying eyes." His shoulders came up in a half shrug half wince from the tension. "I figured I might as well join the hunt for those flowers everyone keeps mentioning, not that I'm much of a flower person. My girlfriend is better at that." His smile was softer, gentler when he thought of Lena. 

Rubbing circles through the scar, Zavien watched Sol jump/glide over the water to his side to take his rightful place as 'protector' of his companion. They both looked at Liam simultaneously, as if of one mind while the Dragoon asked, "And have you found your peace? Here in the Greatwood?"

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Recuperation away from prying eyes. Got it. Liam nodded in understanding, his eyes solemn as he watched Zavien rub something over his scar. Probably some kind of fat or liniment, if Liam remembered his wound care correctly. It had been a while since he needed it. "I hope you find the Greatwood restful," he offered carefully. "I know I have, even if the flowers are blooming a little late this year." In other words, not at all.

The little golden dragon glided over to Zavien, taking up a place at his side before the pair of them looked to Liam again. The ex-dragoon smiled at the little companion. He'd always wished for a dragon of his own, but he wasn't sure he was deserving of one anymore.

He considered the question for a moment, looking out at the trees surrounding them. "Yes," he said finally, perhaps surprising even himself. "It's taken a while, but I think I have."

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

He nodded his head in appreciation of the well-wishes, although he didn't know how much 'resting' he'd be doing, as evidenced by the sweat dripping from his brow. "Thank you. Hopefully the flowers find the motivation to make an appearance." Because gods knew how much they needed them, and everyone could use a little bit of good news. 

Sol had to fight the urge to bound forward and greet the new 'friend,' his tail wagging excitedly, battling the new protective responsibility he'd taken on. It made Zavien smile, shaking his head as he looked to Liam again, happy for the man and the peace he'd found away from Stormbreak. "I'm glad to hear that." Closing the lid on his tub of bear fat, Zavien retrieved his discarded shirt, pulling it over his head with care. "I'll probably be here for a couple of weeks, working through some training. I'd always welcome a sparring partner if you have the time." His green eyes looked to Liam, an offered smile less weighted with darkness or suspicion.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam smiled at the eager little dragon, noting the wagging tail and his clear reluctance to leave his bonded. The soldier had always wanted a dragon when he was a part of the Dragoons; but now he had to wonder if it wasn't for the best that he'd never gotten that wish. After all, he'd been a mess for so long - how would that have affected a companion?

"I'd always welcome a sparring partner. You can usually find me in the village, although I've been spending more time in the forest lately." Offering a last smile, Liam went on his way. It was nice to have seen someone from Stormbreak, even if the news was less than reassuring.

fin

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again