[Training] Once a Dragoon, Always a Dragoon

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

While waiting for Lena to arrive in the Greatwood, Zavien had taken to early morning strolls and training sessions. He diligently woke at the break of dawn to find a clearing, slowly stretching as he made his way through the forest. Although still very directionally challenged, he'd worked out a few paths that would keep him from getting lost in the depths (he'd already done that enough times). 

On this particular morning, Sol sat upon a rock, looking into the water where some glowing plants had caught his attention while Zavien had removed his shirt to work through a series of exercises. He held up his Starblade, twisting it slowly through the air in complex movements that acted as his warm-up. When he'd first done the familiar steps after his lethal injury, he'd had moments of sharp, tugging pain whenever he twisted his torso or pulled a downward strike from the right. It had taken hours upon hours and days upon days of work to get him through the worst of it. 

Now, as he shifted the sword down, only a dull ache grabbed at the exposed scar along his side. Rather than speed along the movement to escape the discomfort, Zavien grit his teeth and slowed the momentum, letting the tension of his muscles slowly release around the wound.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam didn’t often come to the Sunken Gardens, but on this particular morning, he felt like switching up his usual routine. Ever since his conversation with Maea, he’d been on the lookout for Vi’s Roses, hoping that he could help the efforts against the Void. He’d searched all over the Greatwood with no luck, but he hadn’t yet searched here.

When he came this far from Sidhe Village, he did so with a sword at his hip, just in case he ran into some of the fouler creatures that ran amok in the woods. He’d dressed in comfortable clothes made for exercise, thinking that he would train while on the lookout for roses, and he’d tied his blonde hair away from his face. It was a beautiful spring morning, and Liam was looking forward to getting out and exploring an area that he didn’t frequent.

When he arrived, however, he realized that someone else must have had the same idea. A man he didn’t recognize was going through sword patterns, a gruesome scar on display. Liam paused for a moment, not wishing to interrupt, but then shrugged. Surely there was enough room around for two to practice - and if the stranger wished, Liam would be more than happy to spar.

So he went forward, careful to make plenty of noise so that he didn’t take the stranger by surprise. ”Hello,” he said as he approached, a friendly smile on his face. ”That’s a nice sword you have there.” And so it was - far nicer than the plain weapon Liam wore.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

Sol noticed the approaching man before he did, perking his head to listen as the noise started amongst the tree. The message through their bond warned him enough to make him pause in his practice, a healthy level of worry running through him. By the time the man was within view, Zavien was standing straight, head tilted to assess the newcomer. Although cautious of a stranger, he didn't feel any heat from his ring, assuring him that the man wasn't infected. The knowledge relaxed some of the tension from his shoulders, even though there was always the possibility that he was a member of the Family.

He gave a dip of his head in greeting. His returning smile was polite, although not as brightly friendly as it might have once been. "Thanks. Safrin knows how to make a good weapon." A quick glance over the man showed a sword of his own strapped to his hip. Zavien gestured to the blade. "Did you come out here to train as well?"

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

The stranger watched him approach, a healthy level of wariness in his posture. Liam couldn't blame him. There were enough dangers beneath these trees even without the threat of the Family and the Void - and now those dangers were only multiplied.

So the ex-dragoon approached slowly, a friendly smile on his face in an attempt to show that he held no ill intent. He stopped a healthy distance from the stranger, resting his hands on the pommel of his sword. "I did," he responded. Of course, he was also searching for flowers, but without knowing where the stranger's allegiance lay, he wasn't keen to share that little tidbit. "I'm Liam. I live in the Village," he said by way of introduction.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

Switching his sword to the other side, Zavien offered a handshake for his own introduction. Fear wouldn't stop him from being courteous. "I'm Zavien. And this is Sol." He jerked his head to the golden dragon who gave a low rumble of curiosity - and a request for treats, unbothered by the newcomer it seemed. It made the Dragoon even more comfortable, his grip on his sword loosening somewhat. 

With a nod of his head, he added, "We're from Stormbreak." Despite the very complicated status of his living situation, he figured it was best to keep it simple. He may not be currently living in the city, but it was still his home, and he planned to return as soon as it was safe to do so. 

Zavien stepped back as he said, "If you were looking to train, I could use a sparring partner."

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam shook the offered hand firmly. ”It’s nice to meet you both. I’m actually from Stormbreak originally.” Gods, but that felt like a lifetime ago. In the nearly three years he’d been in the Greatwood, so much had changed that it felt like he didn’t know his own home. Even so, some days he wanted nothing more than to return. ”I served as a dragoon until I retired a few years back. How are things back home?” He could hazard a guess, but perhaps he could glean some information he couldn’t from Zavien’s experience.

As attention shifted to sparring, Liam grinned. ”I’d be delighted. There aren’t many people out here to train against, so I’m probably a little rusty.” It was one thing to practice on one’s own, and another entirely to spar against an actual moving target.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

"Oh really?" His eyes widened in surprise, immediately liking the man more when he mentioned having been a Dragoon. He grinned a little as he said, "Maybe you'll be able to teach a new Dragoon some old tricks then." Even though he'd been part of the guild for some time now, he still felt like a rookie, stumbling his way through the politics and protocols of it all. Like leadership and the state of the city for example. 

He winced a little at the question, trying to figure out whether he should share his honest opinion or not. But he barely knew this man, or who he associated himself with. So Zavien settled for a noncommittal, "Depends on who you ask." It might tell Liam enough without really telling him anything. 

Nodding his head in understanding, the Dragoon gave him a reassuring smile. "That's okay. I'm still recovering from an injury." A very obvious one, no less, but he didn't point it out, instead lifting his sword to express caution. "I have to warn you though; my sword will burn. I'll do my best not to let it touch you, but let's agree to take it easy." He'd hate to injure the man, especially after he'd just experienced the sensation for himself.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam laughed. ”Or maybe you’ll teach an old dog new tricks,” he said with a grin. Never mind that Zavien didn’t seem to be much younger than him - it had been a while since he’d fought with anyone, much less anyone with dragoon training, and who knew what they’d been up to since he’d been away?

The dragoon’s noncommittal answer was enough for Liam; if Zavien had been a part of the Family, surely he’d have been more inclined to sing Stormbreak’s praises. The ex-soldier nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps he’d have to make a trip home soon to see for himself.

Readying himself for the spar, Liam drew his own sword and stood at the ready. ”Thanks for the warning,” he replied. ”Mine’s just a normal sword - but it can still cut you. We’ll be careful.” With his sword held in front of him, Liam balanced lightly on the balls of his feet. ”Whenever you’re ready.”

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

Chuckling lightly at the flip of his joke, Zavien shrugged his shoulders. Although confident in his own swordsmanship, he knew there was always more to learn, and with his injury still giving him issues... it would probably be more of an even fight than Liam thought. 

He lifted his sword, scanning the easy stance of his opponent. It was familiar after all the training sessions with the Dragoons and his mirrored Liam's when he sank into his own form. Taking a deep breath, he started with a moderate-strength strike from the right, testing the waters for their spar. As his glittering blade came down, Zavien tried to ease the tensing of his side, focusing instead on his core and the stability it provided.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam took in Zavien’s stance, pleased to find that things must not have changed all that much in the time he’d been away, for the two of them were a matched set in terms of the way they held themselves and their weapons. Wary, but intrigued, he waited to Zavien to strike first - all the better to judge his opponent’s strength. Even for a light spar, it was always best to get a measure of one’s opponent.

Zavien struck from the side with a hit that was of middling strength; Liam blocked him easily, parrying without giving up ground. With an idea for how much effort to put into his own attack now, Liam offered a measured counterstrike to the left, following the momentum from blocking and aiming for the same strength that Zavien had used.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

His own attack had been met with an ease that told of years in experience. Liam parried into a counterstrike where Zavien had to shift his own sword to the left. It wasn't a difficult movement, but he still took it a little slower than necessary, barely blocking it in a controlled timing so that he could let his side adjust to the movement. Although tight, it seemed to be tolerating the absorption of the attack better than expected. 

Pushing back to separate their weapons, the Dragoon moved into a downward attack. It wasn't a massive, over-the-head-like-an-axe kind of motion, but a graceful guiding of his momentum into a graceful sweep of his blade.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

It was amazing, what the body remembered, even after years of lack of use. Although Liam practiced often with his sword, doing so alone and doing so against a partner was different, but he slipped back into the movements as though he’d never stopped.

Keeping things light and simple, he moved to block Zavien’s downward swing, the clash of metal on metal satisfying in his ears. With the block, he tried to deflect his opponent’s sword to one side so that he might sneak into the split-second opening that resulted. Swinging his sword up, he struck towards Zavien’s chest, in a jab, prepared to pull back so that he didn’t actually hit the other man if he failed to block in time.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

Liam fought better than he'd seemed to claim, quickly moving from his attack to defending against Zavien's downward strike. The sound of their blades clashing echoed in the clearing and Sol glanced between the two of them, analyzing their actions for any signs that his companion might be in danger. When he noticed none, the dragon glanced back at the glowing plants by his feet, tail dragging gently in the water. 

Meanwhile, Zavien prepared to block the incoming jab. Sword pointing down, he pushed it to the side with a small step and shift of his weight so that as the opposing sword came closer, he deflected it away from his body. He moved closer into Liam's guard, shoving up with the joining of their weapons in hopes of throwing the man off balance.

Zavien

It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.

LIAM

Oh, how I find every subtle thing screams your name
It reminds me of places of times we shared

Liam was distantly impressed by Zavien’s abilities; no matter what else was going on in Stormbreak, the ex-Dragoon had to admit that his former comrades in arms seemed to be just as capable as ever. Even with Zavien recently injured - and with the jagged scarring to prove it - the man moved with a fluid grace that spoke of years of practice. In truth, Liam was getting lucky, falling back on age-old habits and more than a decade spent honing his swordcraft. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he still trained daily, just in case (in case of what, he never seemed to know), he’d have been bested long before this.

Zavien deflected Liam’s jab easily, locking their blades together and stepping into Liam’s space. The ex-dragoon stood his ground stubbornly, clenching his jaw as he shoved back against Zavien’s advance. Twisting to one side, he stepped away from their intertwined weapons, disengaging for a moment in order to reposition himself better. Using that momentum, he swung for Zavien’s opposite side.

Couldn't live locked in these memories
Now I'm chained to my thoughts again