We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
Landing a final blow, the practice post rocked on its base, and he exhaled through his nose, tension bleeding slowly from his shoulders. Sweat cooled fast in Halo’s air, leaving a chill across his skin. The hair on the back of his neck bristled briefly as he felt someone approach, but he reined himself in. There was no one here that deserved the ire he was trying to demolish and expel from within him.
He turned, and found a faintly familiar face. His brows knit together only for a moment as he pulled forward the face from older memory of snowfields choked with wrong-colored, violent purple growth, animals warped by void corruption, and a hard push through danger alongside several others, including Deimos and Hadama. The young man had been there, too, but Noah was glad he offered his name again, because he couldn't remember it.
Recognition softened Noah’s expression. Not a smile, but softer than the rage he felt inside. The anger riding in him needed shape and outlet. A spar would serve better than another round against a training dummy. He took in a breath, exhaling it in a bright white puff before answering. "Yeah." he said, meeting Koa’s eyes. "I can do a round." He forced a smirking smile and a nod, before readying himself.
He stepped onto the training floor without hurry, rolling his neck once and loosening his shoulders. His stance settled naturally, balanced and grounded. The agitation in him didn’t vanish, but it narrowed. Once it was clear Koa was ready, Noah lifted his guard and moved in, breath steady, watching for tells with keen and trained eyes. His first strike came quick, but measured. He struck with a straightforward jab aimed high toward Koa’s left, meant to make contact and gauge response rather than overwhelm.
He reset his feet on the snow-packed dirt, giving the younger fighter space to answer.
FIN
He turned, and found a faintly familiar face. His brows knit together only for a moment as he pulled forward the face from older memory of snowfields choked with wrong-colored, violent purple growth, animals warped by void corruption, and a hard push through danger alongside several others, including Deimos and Hadama. The young man had been there, too, but Noah was glad he offered his name again, because he couldn't remember it.
Recognition softened Noah’s expression. Not a smile, but softer than the rage he felt inside. The anger riding in him needed shape and outlet. A spar would serve better than another round against a training dummy. He took in a breath, exhaling it in a bright white puff before answering. "Yeah." he said, meeting Koa’s eyes. "I can do a round." He forced a smirking smile and a nod, before readying himself.
He stepped onto the training floor without hurry, rolling his neck once and loosening his shoulders. His stance settled naturally, balanced and grounded. The agitation in him didn’t vanish, but it narrowed. Once it was clear Koa was ready, Noah lifted his guard and moved in, breath steady, watching for tells with keen and trained eyes. His first strike came quick, but measured. He struck with a straightforward jab aimed high toward Koa’s left, meant to make contact and gauge response rather than overwhelm.
He reset his feet on the snow-packed dirt, giving the younger fighter space to answer.
FIN
NOAH
