[Training] heard the drumbeat call

Alys

The blow landed, and Alys might have grinned up at her friend if not for the fact that his dagger was now placed lightly against her neck. Scowling, Alys dropped her hand and took a step back, essentially resetting her position to start fresh. ”How do I compensate for the size difference with someone like you?” she wanted to know as she started to circle her opponent, holding her blade in a guard position in case he tried anything. ”It’s one thing to practice on a training dummy, but another to have to apply it to all shapes and sizes.”

When she thought she saw an opening, she lunged in again, aiming to come in quickly and slice along the belly in a move that - were she successful and these were real daggers - would be meant to spill guts upon the ground. Then she tried to duck away, getting back out of Deimos’s superior range.

funny how it all works out in the end
you dance with the devil and you lose your head

I carried my own ashes to the mountains

Amused, Deimos reset his position too – watching as she began to circle around. Were Alys someone he didn’t consider a friend, he wouldn’t reveal so many multitudes – and it’d be best if she simply tried them on her own as well, but his deep rumble resounded just the same. It was one thing to grant the advice; Alys would have to figure out the maneuvers on her own. “You need to think about your speed. Quicker, strategic movements. Get in, then out.” Never sticking around; not when he, or many others, could hone in on strength and bulk.

Snorting at her attempt to lunge at his abdomen, he too darted out of range; before twisting back, utilizing exactly what he’d endeavored to her. Unfortunately for the seer, he was fast as well, intending to swipe at her right arm.

DEIMOS

Alys

Alys had thought she was being relatively quick, but Deimos had easily disavowed her of that notion. Her lunge towards his abdomen was easily avoided, and then he was moving, flowing from one stance to the next as though it was as easy as breathing. It probably was for him, she realized. He’d been fighting for far longer than she had, after all. His blow landed on her arm, and she nearly dropped her blade, wincing not only at the dull pain but also at her clumsiness.

Sighing, she danced backwards, hopefully out of her friend’s reach. Holding up her hands in surrender, she said, ”It looks like I have a lot to practice - or maybe I should stick with a bow.” She smiled sheepishly. ”Gods help me if anyone ever gets too close.”

funny how it all works out in the end
you dance with the devil and you lose your head

I carried my own ashes to the mountains

Fighting was something Deimos had known since childhood; and one of the notions he hoped not many others had to experience. Sweeping gestures of movements, motions, shrouded in pernicious pursuits were second nature, an inherent brush of gestures as easy as blinking or breathing. But he kept his control within training, purposefully slow or lesser armed to ensure a fair trade-off – still, it was difficult to overcome the legions of background and sagacity. He supposed that was why so many asked to train – he could at least impart something new into their repertoire, while forging and resolving his own.

He didn’t expect Alys’s mock surrender though, and immediately stilled, unfurling in an abrupt snort. The Sword granted her a smile too, beginning to place the training edges and daggers back into his already laden pockets. “I think you have already accomplished a lot. But train with anyone willing to do so – that way you will gain experience with a wide range of combatants.” And find her style, her footing, her stances, and the flexibility between notions. “Educating yourself with multiple weapons is not a bad idea either.” He wrinkled his nose, but then allowed them opportunities to converse further, before he parted for Halo once again.

[FIN]

DEIMOS