[Training] what is life without a few pot holes?

Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.

The cold was starting to sink past his gloves. Snow had fallen in the last week, leaving a layer of icy powder glittering along the ground, but at least the sun was back. It peeked through the layer of clouds with renewed strength, even if all it could manage was brightness rather than warmth. 

Shrugging his heavier jacket around his shoulders, Zavien spotted the man he was waiting for just as Sol did, the dragon sprinting out to greet him and his companions. He smiled and offered a wave, the movement generating its own warmth as he stepped forward to greet him. "Liam! Thanks for meeting with me." His hand fell to rest casually on his sword hilt as he said, "I figured it had been too long since we sparred, and I wanted to see how your meeting went." It was assumed that no news was good news, but he could also argue that the meeting with his daughter had gone terribly and left him seeking solitude. Hopefully, it was the former.

Zavien

This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen
I searched 'aurora borealis green'

The sun shone brightly over the newly fallen snow that crunched beneath Liam's boots as he hiked to the agreed-upon meeting place. He'd never been a fan of cold - nor had his dragons, who had presumably been taken from their nest last Deepfrost. The pair of them soared overhead, glaring at the icy terrain with disdain, seemingly content to get as close to the sun as possible in an effort to warm their freezing wings. At least they softened when Sol darted out to greet them: Prim descended to land with a spray of snow, chirping a greeting, while Vale flew to join them at a more leisurely pace.

Liam returned Zavien's wave, snorting with amusement at the fickle moods of his companions. "Any time, Zavien," he said with a smile. It had been nice to hear from his friend, particularly when their last meeting had been so fraught with tension. "A spar sounds great." His breath puffed in small clouds into the winter air. At least a spar would take the edge off any lingering tension that he might feel about Wren and the still unresolved status of their relationship.

"The meeting went as well as it could have, I think. She didn't run off, at least, so..." he shrugged. "It's just... strange. It's like getting to know a whole new person, even though I can see glimpses of the girl she used to be." Scrubbing a hand down his face, he shook off the confusing jumble of thoughts. "How about you? How are things going?"

I've never seen someone lit from within
Blurring out my periphery

Liam

Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.

Being used to the cold weathers of Stormbreak, Sol was more comfortable in the snow, jumping and bouncing around Prim and Vale in a playful dance. His golden wings and tail flutter around him, giving him a lively buoyancy that made Zavien smile a little brighter. 

Pushing against the hilt on his hips, he gave an excited nod of his head, feeling a similar need to release pent up tension. "Good. It'll be a great way to warm up," he claimed, knowing that he was amongst those who could handle the cold even if they might not enjoy it. 

Before they got to that though, Zavien inquired about Liam's meeting with his daughter, and he took the information in stride. He supposed her not running off was a good start. Still, the idea of getting reacquainted with someone who had changed so much and been such an important part of his life must be difficult. "Does she remember who she is? Or at least acknowledge it?" he asked, wondering as to the extent of her own progress towards reconnection. 

When Liam turned the attention to him, Zavien shifted his feet, conflicted at whether he should be spreading the word so soon, but unable to keep it only to himself when the man would probably be a good source of advice in the months to come. "Well... my girlfriend is pregnant, so that's exciting" he paused and gave a small grimace to add with a laugh, "and more than a little terrifying."

Zavien

This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen
I searched 'aurora borealis green'

Liam huffed out a sigh, his breath clouding in the air before dissipating. Nearby, Prim forgot her dislike of the snow enough to begin to play with Sol, though Vale grumbled in a series of small growls as he leapt into a nearby tree to curl up in a ball, watching the pair below with narrowed eyes. "Not as far as I can tell," Liam said, stretching his neck from side to side and shaking out his arms in preparation for their spar. "I didn't want to push too hard - she seems... frightened, at times." And gods knew he didn't want to be a reason for that fear.

Talk shifted quickly enough to Zavien, though, and Liam's eyes widened with surprise at the news. There was no judgment in the lines of his face, though, even as he thought back to their last conversation and Zavien's hesitance and conflicted thoughts. "Congratulations," Liam said smoothly, stepping forward to clap his friend on the shoulder, smiling encouragingly. "That's big news - but I get what you mean. Exciting and terrifying is an apt description - or at least it was for me." He paused, then added, "How are you handling all that?" An invitation to talk, if Zavien wanted, because gods knew that children were a major change in one's life.

I've never seen someone lit from within
Blurring out my periphery

Liam

Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.

Looking to Prim, Sol gave a chirp that was playful with a hint of mischief, a gleam in his eyes as he looked to where Vale had curled up. Whether the other dragon chose to join him or not, the golden dragon flew across the expanse of snow to flit around the tree, winding up until he sat upon a branch. His weight dislodged a pile of fluffy white snow, causing it to fall down towards the companion below. 

Meanwhile, Zavien nodded his head, feeling slightly disappointed for his friend, sympathetic of the hard path set ahead of him. He wasn't well versed in amnesia or father-daughter relationships, so he had no advice to give other than a supportive smile, silently praying that his words were true when he said, "She probably just needs time to get more comfortable with you. I'm sure she'll come around." Optimism came easy, his hopes supplementing the doubts as he offered reassurance. 

As for his child situation, he brightened a little, nerves fluttering in his chest as he laughed. "Thanks." His shoulders came up in a shrug, the excitement gleaming along with the fear in his eyes. "As well as I can." Zavien lifted his gaze to the sky, rubbing his hands together before looking back to Liam. "We're still figuring things out, deciding where to live and other logistics." He smiled more fully, the joy peeking through whatever uncertainties threatened to dampen the exhilaration of his shifting role. "It still doesn't feel real sometimes, but I'm really looking forward to being a dad."

Zavien

This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen
I searched 'aurora borealis green'

Prim chirped and chortled, happy to join in and play despite the cold weather. As Sol joined Vale up a tree, dislodging some of the fluffy white powder upon his branch, Prim dodged out of the way of the falling snow, chattering a good-natured scolding up towards Sol before leaping into flight to hopefully start a game of chase.

In the meantime, Liam nodded, accepting his friend's optimism with a smile. "I'm sure it will all work out." Despite the fact that he felt a bit like he was approaching a skittish deer, where one wrong move could send Wren darting back into the depths of the forest, never to be seen again. Shaking off the nerves that threatened every time he thought of his daughter, Liam grimaced. "I don't want to force her into a relationship, but at the same time, I don't want to make a decision on her behalf and assume she doesn't want one. It's proving a fine line to walk."

As for Zavien's news, Liam noted the way the man brightened. He'd make a good father, of that Liam was sure, even if it had been an unexpected blessing bestowed upon he and his girlfriend. "You'll be just fine. The most important thing is to love them. All the logistics will work themselves out." Reaching out to clap Zavien on the shoulder, Liam smiled. "Cherish every moment, even the hard ones." Gods knew Liam wished he'd done more of that before his life had fallen apart.

I've never seen someone lit from within
Blurring out my periphery

Liam

Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.

Vale didn't have to try very hard to get Sol playing. He chased after the other dragon with bright exuberance, a trilling cry echoing over the field of snow as he spun and flew through the air. Sol veered towards Prim to include her in the fun. 

Other than an amused glance, Zavien ignored his companion's energetic antics, focusing on Liam and his struggles. He offered another smile. "Well, it sounds like you're doing a good job so far, letting her take the lead and leaving it all up to her." Still, it wouldn't make the wait any easier, and patience could become draining after so long, so he nodded his head to Liam. "Let me know if you ever need to talk about it though. I can't imagine it will be easy." He would also be rooting for the man, hoping he one day had the reconnection he was dreaming of, and it would be nice to hear how things were progressing. 

Accepting the clap on his shoulder, Zavien straightened, appearing to swell with the praise as much as the advice. "Thanks, Liam. I will." Loving them would be a given, but he took to heart the words about cherishing the moments, determined to enjoy the vibrancy their child brought into their lives. 

The cold was a living thing, trying to creep deeper into his jacket despite the warmth of his smile. Grinning, he looked to Liam, a different kind of excitement beginning to gleam in his eyes. "Should we get started? Safrin tasked me with letting someone use my sword against me. Are you up for a temporary trade?"

Zavien

This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen
I searched 'aurora borealis green'

It was quite likely that Liam would need to take his friend up on the offer to talk at some point, but for now, he simply nodded, his gratefulness evident in the relief in his eyes. With small talk out of the way, Zavien turned their attention to their upcoming training, and Liam was happy to fall into familiar patterns. He might not be a soldier anymore, but he still enjoyed sparring, especially against someone as talented as Zavien. It was nice to feel that he was well-matched - or perhaps, given his recent career change, even outmatched, these days.

The cold had sunk in as they'd talked, and Liam began to shift in place as Zavien explained his task, warming up muscles that had stiffened in the interim. "Sure," he said as he stretched out his back, twisting this way and that. "Always happy to help with a quest - and I don't mind being able to try out new weapons, either." Unsheathing his sword, he offered it hilt-first to Zavien. "Mine works off intent - it'll adjust its weight to how hard you want to strike."

I've never seen someone lit from within
Blurring out my periphery

Liam

Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.

Leaving the conversation for another time, Zavien mirrored Liam, rolling his shoulders out and shuffling his feet to prep the muscles for movement. He grinned, unsheathing his sword to offer it in exchange, being sure to hold the cross guard so Liam could grab the hilt without Zavien burning himself. "Perfect." 

He took the new sword, rotating it in his hand as he inspected the blade. It didn't feel all that different from a regular sword, but as he gave it an experimental swing, the resistance vanished, the weapon turning light and nimble in his grasp. Raising his eyebrows, he nodded approvingly. "Hmm. Interesting." It would take him a minute to get used to the sensation, but someone familiar with the mechanism could be extremely formidable to face. 

After a few more swings, Zavien sank into an easy stance, throwing a smile at his training partner. "Don't be afraid to hit me with the sword. Safrin wants me to really feel the impact." He wasn't looking forward to getting hit, but he also didn't want Liam to feel bad about the wound when he'd been tasked with doing so. 

Once Liam confirmed he was ready, the Dragoon leapt into action, lunging forward. The sword was light in his hands, twisting to aim towards the man's upper arm. 

---

1/4

Zavien

This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen
I searched 'aurora borealis green'

Taking hold of Zavien's sword felt alien. Liam hefted its weight in his hand, trying to get used to the way it felt. He'd grown so used to his own sword being nearly weightless, or adjusting to his intent, that it felt strange to have something solid, something consistent, in his hand. He gave a few experimental swings, noting distantly that Zavien did the same with his Oakblade. When they were both warmed up and as prepared as they could be, Liam turned to face his friend, assuming a guard position with the Starblade.

Making a face, Liam nodded. "Understood." He wouldn't relish hitting Zavien with his own sword, but if that was what Safrin demanded, who was he to say no?

Zavien's movement, when it came, was swift and light as he twisted Liam's sword towards the ex-soldier's upper arm. Liam leapt nimbly to one side, and the Starblade flashed silver as he parried. The movement was slower than intended, leaving Liam scrambling to counterattack with a sword that felt far heavier than he was used to. Still, he avoided being hit with his own blade, which felt like an accomplishment. Flowing smoothly into his own attack, Liam swept the Starblade towards Zavien's sword arm, trying to avoid hitting anywhere particularly devastating - even if his friend had a healing ring on hand.

---

1/4

I've never seen someone lit from within
Blurring out my periphery

Liam

Deeds will not be less valiant
because they are unpraised.

The sword was so light that it moved faster than intended, and Zavien grimaced as Liam nearly failed at blocking the attack. "Sorry," he said, making sure to lessen the force while the man adjusted to the new weapon. After so many years with his own sword, he was used to the weight and balance of it, he could find his amongst a thousand with his eyes closed. But it wasn't a light sword by any means, and for someone who used a magical weapon that could feel weightless with a single thought, he figured it would be quite a change. 

He gave Liam only long enough to regain his footing, pivoting to intercept the strike towards his side. The Oakblade swung fast before turning heavy on impact, nearly dragging Zavien forward with the force. Laughing, he shook his head as instinct caught him. Then he twisted, the blade arcing wide before sweeping back in at Liam's opposite shoulder. 

---

2/4

Zavien