[Training] spun in winding circles

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Melita was a. nosey b. impetuous c. obnoxious, so when the temptation to wander around Stormbreak came over her, she and her companions went with it. She’d never actually gone to the Dragon’s Nest or done anything with the Dragoons, despite once being an Accepted and having her own wonderful flying lizard.

But she’d been busy, doing dumbass things.

Like today, as she meandered and circled around the outside, pondering over her choices. Boldly and blindly wander in, see who wanted to spar? Be kicked out (probably kicking and screaming) because she wasn’t actually a Dragoon? Not care either way?

Instead, she sighed, pondering over weapon choices and staring at both Fangorn and Sila, as if they could make the decision for her. “Should we go in?” The gourd grumbled and the bronze beast crooned, and the Honeybee puffed upwards, already rifling through her bag.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

Zavien swung his sword around in another set of practice maneuvers. After his spar with Deimos, he was eager to work on the movements he'd learned, and with the training ring easily accessible, he'd rushed over. Sadly, no other Dragoons had been around to help him, so he'd stepped onto the empty sand and went through the steps alone.

As he twisted around in a particularly complex motion, his sword whistled through the air, glinting in the sunlight. It finally came to stop in front of his body, pointing directly at an unfamiliar face. His breaths came quick, sweat dripping down his forehead as his green eyes met her golden eyes. Her wild red hair was more distracting than the companions with her, but he took a moment to notice the dragon, wondering if he should know her. Straightening, he cleared his throat. "Uh. Hi. Can I help you with something?"

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Melita only blinked once when there was suddenly a sword pointed in her direction. She glared in return – a very vicious set to her gilded stare. It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last, but it still took every ounce of her being to not immediately retaliate. Instead, her hand tightened instinctively, and her fingers almost moved to the bowstring on her wrist, fully intending to notch and decimate within a single moment –

But this wasn’t her world or turf or terrain, and while she rarely gave a fuck about creating a scene, something told her, perhaps wisdom crawled in there unannounced, not to unfurl bedlam right here and now.

Moments later the man seemed to straighten out anyway, and the instance of instant violence passed. For now. Her chin raised in a seditious, defiant manner, poised for a revolution that wasn't necessary, before answering. “I was hoping to train here,” she answered earnestly. “I heard about the Dragoons from Koa.” Figuring that name would get her somewhere; even if she wasn’t interested in joining.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

The tense, prickly demeanor of the woman didn't faze Zavien. He gave her a warm, welcome smile. "Oh! Koa? Of course! Were you just wanting to use the facilities or were you looking for a sparring partner?" The offer stood as he raised a curious eyebrow. He didn't know what her objectives were, but he'd be more than happy to either give her a tour or pit his blade against hers. 

Sheathing his sword, he stepped forward, resting his hands on his hips. "I'm Zavien, by the way." His breath finally came easier and he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the edge of his shirt, revealing his toned muscle underneath. "What's your name?" He let his smile return, hoping to make her feel comfortable in the Dragon's Nest.

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones.

---

You've encountered the OG random event! This allows you to skip one levelling requirement with the character in this thread. (Unfortunately does not count for characters over level 10, how sad.)

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

The demeanor of the Dragoon seemed to alter, but she didn’t for the moment. Still tense and waiting for something to happen, the inquiries nearly made her mumble both, but she wasn’t ready to admit she’d been wandering. “Sparring, really,” she extended instead. “I’ve got a couple weapons…or hand-to-hand…,” if anyone was willing. Beating the absolute piss out of something seemed all the more encouraging to her; but that was the Honeybee to any and all extent.

Only when he sheathed the blade did her shoulders relax; already perceiving she could be faster with her knives or bow and quiver if necessary now. She committed the name to memory, for now, and then gave hers, chin lifted and slightly seditious just because. “I’m Melita.” She didn’t give any of her other monickers (even if Ludo’s menace had a nice ring to it and she approved wholeheartedly). “This is Fangorn,” pointing to the vampire gourd, who gleefully waved his vines around in greeting. “And Sila,” as the dragon wrapped her tail around the redhead’s ankles.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

Still unaware of her lacking enthusiasm, Zavien grinned. "Then you came at the perfect time! I was just getting warmed up." At the option of method, he shrugged his shoulders. "The sword is my primary weapon, but I'm happy to practice anything." He didn't mention that hand-to-hand combat with a woman made him slightly uncomfortable, but he didn't want to offend her. After all, he respected women and their physical prowess more than most. He wasn't afraid to admit that Anju had easily beat him. However, the close physical proximity gave him pause. 

Glancing between the redhead and her companions, Zavien nodded at each in turn. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Any friend of Koa's is a friend of mine." His smile stayed warm and welcoming, genuine in everything he said and did. Walking over to his cup of water off to the side, he took a sip and indicated to the benches. "You can place any extra gear here, and your companions are also welcome to wait here in the shade if they'd like." He didn't know if vampire gourds liked shade, but it was available if they wanted. 

Zavien took another sip of the cool liquid before returning to the center of the sandy training pit. Stretching his arms out, he prepared to face off in whatever manner Melita preferred. With his arm pulled across his body, he said, "Just let me know when you're ready."

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Ah, the sword wasn’t one she utilized often – much more apt for the staff, bow, knives, or punching someone. Or any of the magic now at her disposal, but thus far it usually meant she ended up taking a brief nap or despairing her counterparts with rubber ducks. “How about the staff then?” She retrieved Siabhran from the depths of her bag, as if the blackened, Stygian looking thing wasn’t a beast of its own accord. “I can help if you haven’t used it before.” And unlike Zavien, Melita had zero druthers about beating anyone to a pulp – genders not mattering. Equal opportunity for destruction.

She glanced at the offered place, before presuming if anything untowardly happened, Fangorn and Sila could guard her bag. So she settled the assortments there, and the gourd and dragon obliged with eager chirps and grumbles, before she slid back into the training pit.

Not used to anything too formal, as she used the whatever environment she inhabited at the time, she huffed a little to herself. “Yeah, ready,” taking her own stance to combat whatever means he wanted to use. “Go for it.”

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

"Staffs it is!" He appreciated the offer, but luckily he'd had plenty of time to practice with the simple weapon. Whether it was long sticks with hordes of children or the more official training of the Dragoons, he'd learned to wield the weapon with a minimal level of proficiency. Grabbing two training staffs from the wall, he offered one to Melita before taking his place in the center of the ring again. 

When she finally stood across from him, ready to spar, Zavien gave her a kind smile. He had a sinking feeling that he was about to get placed flat in the dirt, but that didn't mean he couldn't have some fun learning along the way. "Let's have a good time!" He would usually let his opponent strike first, however, he got the sense that she wouldn't appreciate that. Lifting his own staff, he took a single step forward, trying to use his longer reach to sweep the staff towards her side for his initial attack.

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Sure. She’d have a good time.

Giving no warning of her own experience, save for the ghost of a smile, she watched and waited. The Dragoon came swinging, and so did Melita. His assault was an understandable one; but it also made it predictable, and she’d done this hundreds of times before. Lunging outwards with her own staff, it caught his quickly, a strong blockade of wood and determination. From there, tempted as she was to simply go in and slap away, she pivoted, twisting and turning to the right.

And then striving to do much the same as him, but her assault was pinpointed and marked for the back of his knees.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

Her speed and cunning skill immediately had Zavien reeling. His attack was blocked as if it were child's play instead of a muscled soldier striking at her and then she was spinning into a counterattack. Zavien had to drag his eyes from the fanning red locks to spot the blurred motion of her staff. As much as he wanted to think that he could easily block the incoming blow, how was he supposed to spot an attack he could barely register?

Zavien let the thoughts fall away, falling into the rhythm of battle, the pounding of his hear like the beating drums the led his movements. Flicking his wrists, the lower part of his staff came out to stop the attempt on his knees. Continuing to twist, he tried to force the momentum up as he leveraged the other end towards her upper shoulder, stepping forward to add some pressure.

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

She was only mildly disappointed he didn’t permit the whacking of his legs; it might’ve been somewhat humorous to see someone go pitching forward, falling into the brink. Instead of meandering into some vicious comedy though, the smuggler had to pivot, twist and turn out of his incoming breadth. She maneuvered and swayed, not unlike a cat, ducking from the incoming blow to her shoulder so it whooshed over her arm, but it was still much closer than she would’ve liked.

Amused, she amplified her speed then, and swung her staff with all the poise, speed, grace, and power mustered in her breadth, intending a rounded smack to his ribcage.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

Her dodge was impressive to say the least, shifting like wind around his swing. Zavien took a moment to admire her twisting speed, a red blur before his eyes. Even as his staff whistled through the air, he couldn't keep the smile from his face. He may lose this spar, but it didn't mean he didn't enjoy the sweeping dance between them. 

When her next attack came for his ribs, Zavien didn't have the means to intervene with his staff. Assessing the incoming blow, he analyzed his options. Letting the wood strike him across the torso would leave it difficult to breath or counterattack. Dropping his shoulder to redirect the impact would work, but he'd be vulnerable to a follow up. Coming to a decision, he did the only thing he could think of. He dodged. 

Pushing back on his legs, his back rounded out to let the staff swing by. A relieved chuckle escaped his lips when his breath finally released. As the weapon passed him by, Zavien tried to use his longer reach to swing his own staff at her shoulder that would hopefully be exposed by the movement.

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

She could only tsk under her breath as the Dragoon dodged too, and they seemed to be swinging around an interval of evasions. It’d been a long while since she’d practiced against anyone who also utilized her favored weaponry to the same degree – so the challenge blistered and toiled, but energized and innervated as well; a kindling to her sparking denizens.

Her next tactic was simplistic too – because she’d be damned if that thing came for her shoulder again. It was much more of a duck and lunge sort of ordeal, a stretch of her limbs and muscles, rolling through the dirt to come out on the other side –

And then extend her own staff towards his lower legs, hoping to snag and bruise at the very least.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life