[Training] heard the drumbeat call

I carried my own ashes to the mountains

The Last Step was nearly as familiar as the outcropping of snow, and both amused him. The latter was so commonplace, given where he lived, that it neither bothered nor plagued, and the former, with its broad stonework before nothing at all, pervaded in enough enigmas to keep him curious.

But staring upon the ancient stairs wasn’t why he was there – opting to come to Alys instead of her having to constantly wander Halo in search of him. There were other options, but he kept those to himself, and instead, carved out portions of his schedule to accommodate, and sculpt an area for them to work within.

By the time the fellow Abandoned would arrive, she’d find him content with removing and piling a few layers of snow away, making a little arena where she wouldn’t have to compete with too much of the powder; for waging their way through it would be tiring enough, and not the aim of today’s session.

DEIMOS

Alys

Alys had never considered inviting Deimos to King's End. It wasn't because she didn't want to - he was her friend, and she would like nothing more than to host a gathering at her home - but because her partner wouldn't want to. Not that Tal would forbid it, but it would make him uncomfortable, and there was no part of Alys that viewed that as an acceptable outcome.

So when Deimos had suggested a location in the Barrows as a place to meet and train, the seer had considered it with a modicum of surprise. She had to admit, though - it was nice not to have to go to Halo in the depths of Deepfrost.

She arrived to find a little arena carved from the snow, and she pushed her way through to Deimos's side with only a bit of effort. "Hey, Dei," she said, pausing to pull her wild curls back from her face and into a low ponytail. "What's the plan for today?"

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

A mutual notion then – considering Deimos never wanted to associate with Talyson. But King’s End was a large area, and there was more than enough region to keep him away from couriers and Floods alike.

Alys’s arrival earned her an arch of his brow, and he stepped aside, content with how much the clearing offered. “Depends on what you wanted to work on.” There was always magic or weapons, gods knew he had enough of both (and could always provide an armament, should she not have one readily available). Nor was he certain if there’d been any growth in her incantations worth sharing and exploring – time and persistence sometimes leant those alterations within one’s soul. “Any skills you are hoping to improve?”

DEIMOS

Alys

Deimos was a pillar of stoicism, and she leaned into the steady calm that her magic deciphered. She knew well that he was more than capable of more juvenile notions - that would likely come out in whatever training they did - but for now, she noted Deimos’s solid presence at her side and pondered his question.

She had new magic - reading emotions - but that wasn’t the kind of thing she could train through physical machinations. She didn’t want a reason to practice her healing, and her illusion magic, which she’d had the longest, had been long since mastered. Her telekinesis could use some work, but perhaps today would be better spent on the things she could do without magic.

”I brought my bow,” she said, gesturing to the weapon hung over her shoulder and the quiver of arrows at her hip. ”And I’ve been trying to practice with daggers, in case long range isn’t an option. Maybe we could work on close combat?” For while she wasn’t eager to fight, she wanted to be prepared for whatever came for her and the people she loved.

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

A scattering of stones catches your eye, arranged in neat clusters across the ground. Crouching to examine them, you hear a soft intake of breath behind you. Heart pounding, you spin around to find only open grass. An oppressive watchfulness hangs thick in the air, as though the land itself is keeping tabs on you.

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This does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention.

I carried my own ashes to the mountains

Acceptance came along the notions of his answering nod, already beginning to concoct and form training daggers within his palm; not serrated on the edges. “That is fine." He’d hadn’t dealt with any knifework in quite a while, unless it pertained to throwing them, and so the practice and ease back into such combative skills would be beneficial to both.

Though his eyes narrowed at a nearby patch of stones; scattering and skittering across the ground. How long had they been there? And why – because they certainly hadn’t been amidst the land while he maneuvered snow. Senses needled at the back of his spine, and he felt the need to glance over his shoulder – but at nothing in particular. Apprehensive and paranoid he could be at the best hours, but naught seemed to have caused it – save for the relative expanse of the world at large lately. “Do you feel that?” He asked to Alys instead, wondering if she’d been entangled in the same motions, or it was simply his own.

Regardless, he shook his head, walking a few paces away into the center of the molded ring, trying to ignore that foreboding interlude. “Can you show me what you have practiced so far?” That way they’d know where to start.

DEIMOS

Alys

Daggers were good. Daggers were simple. And with the training daggers that Deimos was crafting for the pair of them, daggers were unlikely to cause any lasting harm. Alys had taken to wearing at least one, since her telekinesis could assist her with lifting and throwing the weapon, but in recent months she'd been practicing for a more hand-to-hand approach. Not that she'd hold a candle to Deimos's presumed abilities, but it was better than starting from scratch.

A strange, prickling sensation raced up the seer's spine, and she stiffened, glancing around to find a circle of rocks that she was certain hadn't been there before. But despite her sudden unease - she gripped the dagger at her side, tense and uncertain - there didn't seem to be anything actually amiss. "Yes," she said to Deimos, turning to look the landscape over with a critical eye, putting her back to the friend she trusted to guard it above almost all others. Seeing nothing, she completed her small circle. "Maybe one of the spirits that like to roam here?" Even though it didn't really fit the patterns of an enenra, and villi didn't come out during the day.

Shaking off the lingering sense of something watching them, Alys turned her attention back to the lesson. Grabbing a pair of practice daggers, she palmed them, testing their weight and considering how to best utilize them. She adjusted her stance, spreading her feet until they were shoulder width apart, balancing on the balls of her feet for quick movement. Then she executed a series of quick, efficient strikes into thin air with a practiced ease, falling into a rhythm that had become second nature in the months she'd been practicing.

When she had finished a particularly complex set of motions, fumbling only slightly, she looked over at Deimos, head cocked to one side. "I'm decent alone, but I haven't practiced as much with a partner," she said. It was, quite frankly, hard to find the time.

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

At least it wasn’t simply his own trepidations creeping in. His glare became reserved for the gathered stones, and he shifted one with his boots experimentally. When nothing happened nor any revelations came spiraling out from the rocks, he snorted, giving them another dangerous gaze before stepping back and away, returning to their predestined arena. “I do not like it,” he acknowledged in a deep rumble and nothing more; committing it to memory so that he might research it through all their King’s End tomes and journals.

But rather than commit to the unease creeping over his spine, his attention could alleviate some of the apprehension through action and calculations. Content with the training daggers, and offering them to Alys should she want them, he watched as she summoned abilities already honed. Stances, movements in quick succession, had him nodding; she’d clearly conditioned herself into practice – though not against anyone in particular. “Mm. Would hate to leave that untested,” and he wrinkled his nose, backing away until there was a yard or so in between them. “We can work on that then. Offensive and defensive moves to hone will serve you well. Come at me when you are ready,” and he steadied his frame into his own familiar stance, muscles keen, mind eager.

DEIMOS

Alys

Well, Deimos, join the club. Nobody likes to feel like they’re being watched, and Alys was no different. Still, with nothing visible, it wasn’t like they could hunt down the unseen threat. Alys gave a mental shrug, trying to tell herself it was nothing to worry about, and turned her attention to what was turning into a sparring match.

Alys set her stance, balancing lightly on her feet, and hesitated for a moment as she considered Deimos. He was much, much larger than her, so using bigger, more powerful moves would likely backfire. She’d have to be quick if she had any hope of landing a blow. She would be content just to do that - she had no illusions that she’d be able to win in a spar against him, but as far as learning opportunities went, this would be invaluable.

The seer took a breath, then lunged forward, aiming her dagger at Deimos’s side. On a smaller opponent, she might try and go for the neck if it was exposed, but Deimos was so much taller that such a move would only serve to leave her exposed to a counterattack. Instead, as she struck, she attempted to move by him, keeping herself a moving target.

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

Her stance was a good one, meaning she’d been honing in the efforts when she could. His own was a rote, muscle memory composition, though it wasn’t often many ran at him with a dagger. Alys’s quick motions were accessed, and he nodded as he sidestepped out of her path, the whisper of wind on his jacket indicating she’d still been close. “Good,” he mentioned, already appeased by her efforts. “Always remember to keep moving. You will be a more difficult target.”

And as such, he did the same, whirling back around, and attempting to stretch out his own arms into her range, slashing the training dagger, thankfully not serrated in the last, towards her shoulder.

DEIMOS

Alys

Deimos’s praise was welcome, and Alys grinned as she took in his feedback. Keeping moving was something she was working on; it was hard to focus on her strikes while simultaneously planning her defense, but she was improving all the time. Clearly, though, she needed more practice with actual moving targets. Training against a dummy was all well and good, but they didn’t strike back.

Her blow sliced through the air beside Deimos’s jacket, and Alys prepared for the inevitable counterstrike. When it came, the seer danced away with a spin, reversing the dagger in her grip so that the blade pointed down, and aiming a backhanded blow towards Deimos’s outstretched arm.

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

He always started his soldiers with targets too, until they got the hang of things. How to hold the weapon properly. Where to strike. How would it hit the hardest. Thereafter though, he usually launched and lifted the effigies, ensuring gestures and activity became the name of the game; honed and built into muscle memory.

He withheld a snort as she danced and pivoted away; his motions would not be so nimble, but he’d strive all the same. His outstretched arm seemed to be in her particular range, and he lifted it higher, intentionally utilizing his height advantage over her daintier aspects.

From there, he closed in, constantly maneuvering and moving himself, intending to notch the non-serrated edges upon her spine – seeing how she’d aim to protect it.

DEIMOS

Alys

In her effort to be quick and nimble, she’d forgotten that she shouldn’t get too close to Deimos. His superior height and reach made this a much more challenging spar, and as someone who had fought against an opponent not very much at all, it was easy for her to overlook such details. As she spun away and aimed for Dei’s arm, the Sword lifted it out of her reach, earning a scathing glare even as she tried to follow his advice and keep moving.

His retaliatory strike came, and she ducked instinctively as the blow neared her spine, somehow managing to dodge entirely. Bemused by her luck - for surely it wasn’t her middling ability - she switched her grip again, surging up from below to aim at Deimos’s ribcage.

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

He grinned at her glare, knowing he’d drawn some malicious ire and becoming all the more amused by it. Watching as she ducked away from his impending strike, his brows arched as she deigned to come around –

And he’d permit it.

The blow to the ribcage was minor, but it left an impact for her. While he could feel the tip of the training blade press against his jacket, his bones, it meant very little – such an injury, had it been real, would’ve justified the means and pain, because now she was in very close quarters. “Always think ahead,” he murmured, then laughed again, intending to make a point.

Making no maneuver away from her motions, he aimed his edgeless dagger directly against her neck.

DEIMOS