[Training] of monsters and mazes

Loren not afraid to use every trick in the book In his time hiding from everyone, Loren had gotten quite good at finding spaces where he wouldn’t be found. Granted, it had mostly been unconscious, almost animal fear that guided him during that time, so he couldn’t rightly say he remembered all of it. But there were places people feared to tread in the Hollowed Grounds, even now, after it had been thoroughly explored. But their dangers didn’t hold much sway over someone who’d already lost so much. One of those locales was the Labyrinth: it had a reputation for being spooky and the home of monsters. Which meant it was perfect for the Launceleyn, who needed to get away from people every now and then. After a year without basically any interaction with others, the quiet and solitude called to him. And if he was being honest with himself, he’d always preferred being alone. Because the people closest to him had the nastiest habit of hurting him. Of course, he wasn’t an idiot. He’d only gone a few turns in, and had conjured up chalk to mark where he’d gone. It was all too easy to get lost in here. Even if he was struggling upon his return, he had no intention of getting lost again. He’d come here for quiet, yes, but also to practice his magic. It had been too long since he really cut loose, and Loren was worried that he’d lost his touch along with his sanity. Out here, without another soul in sight, he didn’t have to worry about cutting loose, since the only person he could damage was himself. That had never bothered him as much as the possibility of hurting other people. The sky was cloudy overhead, threatening to storm. But even that wasn’t enough to deter him from his efforts. He was seated cross-legged, palms flat on his knees. A fallen chunk of the labyrinth hovered in the air right in front of him; as he breathed as evenly as he could manage, he pushed out gently with his mind. Dutifully, the rock floated forward. Unfortunately, at a distressingly short distance away, his magic lost its grip and the stone tumbled to the ground with a clatter. Loren sighed and rubbed his temples. Try as he might, he couldn’t seem to extend the range of his telekinesis. But he’d keep trying. It was mostly a warm-up for his mind and magic, but it was also important to him that he showed some improvement. It was the only part of the Launceleyn way that he really still followed. Ashetta

scars of glory on our skin

come what may, we'll keep surviving.

   She felt the storm in her bones. It gathered overhead, prickled in the air, under her skin, in her blood. The footfalls of the once-assassin were silent as they could be over the dead foliage at her feet, her eyes following the breeze as it swept through barren trees and howled under fallen ruins, overgrown and lost to age. She breathed with the swell and fall of the wind, alert, wary, and always, always curious.

   Ashe had been all over the Hallowed Grounds by now, either in fleeing her demons or seeking them out, but she hadn't come here yet. Kalt had, she recalled, but something about the way the place pulled her in is what kept her away. But today.. today the storms surged in her blood, crackled through her with wild energy, and there was no sitting still, no pleasing the restlessness that crashed in her with all of her typical haunts.

   The place seemed decrepit and eerie, the occasional call of the squirrels echoing in taunts through the labyrinth, but it was marks of chalk that caught her eye. How useful could they be in a place that was rumored to move about on it's own? Only one way to find out, and fuck her if she wasn't too curious for her own good. She followed the marks, and soon there was the sound of rock falling upon rock, and she ducked down behind a large square of stone covered in moss, hands hovering by her blades, holding herself perfectly still until she vanished entirely.

   A careful peak over the edge and she saw.. a strangely familiar face, one she could easily pin as Launcelyn. Ashe frowned, remaining where she was as she watched him a moment longer. He toyed with telekinesis, but his effort seemed minimal, lacking in what was expected of his family name. She knew better than to underestimate any of them though, knew that the royals wouldn't have kept them so close if they weren't forces to be reckoned with. How much did he support the Launcelyn agenda? She barely remembered him from Northaven, but knew he had once been close to two of the most important men in her life.

   "Weren't we going to be patrol partners, back on the Storm Watch?" Her voice sounded suddenly, and she appeared sitting upon the large square of stone, one leg dangling, the other knee bent with her hands braced between them. She tilted her head at him, wearing a strange sort of smile as she assessed him. "Loren, right?"

ASHETTA

base by sky!! <3

Loren not afraid to use every trick in the book A woman’s voice shattered his concentration, causing the rock to fall to the ground with a clatter. If his heart hadn’t been pounding in his chest and anxiety hadn’t spiked within him, he would’ve been embarrassed. As it stood, he was mostly scared, and more than a bit annoyed: even in the depths of the Labyrinth it seemed that people could and would seek him out. He turned his head to see who’d followed him through these twists and turns. To his surprise, he saw that it was Ashe. That might just have been the last person he’d expect to see out here: the two of them had come over from Northaven together, but they had hardly been close, in this world, or the last. Indeed, the woman had quite a reputation, whispered among the nobles. Then again, so did Loren, and he knew his was (mostly) false. Besides, he’d always hated gossiping with his peers. She’d changed though. For one, she had pointy and hairy ears. He would’ve taken a closer look if he still wasn’t trying to figure out what she wanted with him; the Assassin in Blue didn’t seem like the sort to swing by for a friendly chat. Oh, sure, she was sitting on that rock nonchalantly, but he had no doubt that she’d already calculated numerous lethal and nonlethal ways to take him down. Indeed, her approach had been so silent that she could’ve taken him where he sat, and he’d have been none the wiser. The fact that she hadn’t was small comfort. Still, when she spoke, he relaxed imperceptibly. Maybe, against all odds—and contrary to everything he knew about her—she actually was here just to say hi. And maybe get his measure. It wasn’t often someone from his family reappeared after so long away. So long as she wore a smile, strange as it was, he’d remain polite. She wouldn’t get warm from him, though, considering how empty and cold his soul was these days. “We were. Guess that never really got off the ground, did it? Seems like a long time ago, almost quaint.” It had been a good idea (Ronin used to have a lot of those, and maybe still did), but everything changed when they came to Caido. Some things and people more than others, of course, and Loren less than most. Sure, he had lost weight until he looked almost dangerously thin, and the circles under his eyes had turned into full blown bags. But on the inside, he was still the same lost and broken man he’d always been. “That’s right. And you’re Ashe?” Although he was almost certain he knew the answer, it was always best to ask. He stood up (not particularly liking the fact that she was perched above him), and brushed the debris from his pants. “Did you come looking for me?” The sooner he found out what she wanted, the faster he could assist her, and the quicker she’d be out of his hair. He didn’t particularly want to talk to anyone ever again, especially folks who’d come over with him. “I can always stretch my magical muscles another time if you needed my help with something.” His mouth twisted in a bitter mockery of a smile. “I’m sure you saw how much good it was doing me.” Of course, once upon a time he’d have been thrilled to have any telekinesis at all. The days when he cared about the Launceleyn magical supremacy were long behind him however.

scars of glory on our skin

come what may, we'll keep surviving.

   Ashe snorted, bobbing her head with a crooked smile. "Quaint," she repeated, eyes glimmering with amusement. "After everything here... yeah." It had been the best Ronin could do with what he had at the time, trying to keep their settlement safe where their leaders had failed them again, and again, and again. There had been only one among their little government she had trusted, and she hadn't seen him since before they arrived here.

   She stretched as he stood, feigning her ease, keeping a sharp eye trained on his every move. He seemed friendly enough, but she wouldn't be fooled. She knew reputations were often far from the truth, she knew it better than most with her own, but she would not, could not, let her guard down. Not for a Launcelyn.

   The once-assassin didn't move from her perch, but she raised a brow at him. "I wasn't looking for anyone," she answered. "Followed your chalk trail." She tilted her head, surprised at the admission of his magic not being up to par. Could be a ploy, but there were ways to find out.

   Ashe finally hopped down from her perch, landing nimbly before Loren. "Show me," she said, taking a step forward and crossing her arms over her chest with a narrow-eyed smile. "If you're up for training with an old...acquaintance? Something like that."

ASHETTA

base by sky!! <3

Loren not afraid to use every trick in the book Apparently Ashe appreciated Loren’s choice of words. He gave her a small smile, then wondered whether or not to say anything further. ”Everything, huh? Sounds like you might have some tales to tell.” Unlike the Launceleyn, who’d spent the past year in a haze, he assumed the Assassin in Blue had been right in the thick of things. She didn’t seem to be the type to sit back and let others fight her battles. Although he noticed that she moved when he did, the summoner didn’t comment on it. He didn’t blame her, not after everything that went down with Zariah. Still, it was a stark reminder that people in the Hollowed Grounds had no reason to trust him. At least she hadn’t been following him specifically. ”Ah. You saw that.” He ran a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. ”I figured it would be best not to take any chances. I’d hate to get lost again so soon after I came back.” Given that she probably hadn’t seen him in quite a while, Loren knew he’d have to get the explanation that was not an explanation out of the way sooner or later. Sooner was probably better, especially given the suspicious way she looked at him. However, if he was surprised at her presence here, it was nothing compared to his shock when she asked him to display his magic. He bit his lip, wondering exactly what she meant by that, before nodding once, decisively. ”Alright. I can do that. And acquaintance works for me if it works for you." Pausing for just a moment, he gave her a considering look "Ready?” That was all the warning he’d give her. Normally he’d have waited until he received some sign from his partner that they were prepared for him. However, she had said to show him, and this was Ashetta he was facing. He had no doubt that she could handle everything he might throw at her. From half-remembered glimpses of her in action back in Northaven, he knew she was a lightning mage primarily, though he would keep an eye out for other tricks. However, he did have one trick up his sleeve that she might not be expecting. Narrowing his eyes just a fraction, he summoned a creature he’d only used once before: a thunderbird. The bird, larger than a person, sprang into existence directly in front of the woman. It streaked towards her, black and white striped feathers blurring together, talons clenched rather than outstretched. He was just trying to see if he could touch her at all with the bird, maybe knock her off balance; meanwhile, the sky ahead, already dark, grew even more ominous as a chill wind sprang up. Sweat burst out on the summoner’s brow, but his eyes never left Ashetta.

scars of glory on our skin

come what may, we'll keep surviving.

   Ashe tilted her head at the mention of being lost, but didn’t question it. It seemed many people who had been lost had been returning of late, herself among them. "I hear the path shifts and moves," she remarked, bouncing her brows like she was saying something scary. "Would chalk marks be of any real help then?"

   She paced a few steps, keeping him in her line of sight. She hadn’t trained with anyone other than Kalt in a long while, and she was pleasantly surprised that the Launcelyn was so eager to accept a training session with her. Was he trying to get a feeling for her power, as she was doing to him? He paused with a, ’Ready?’ and---

   With a flourish of magic, a fucking thunderbird unfurled to life with mighty wings. She cursed and dove to the ground at a roll as it shot through the air at an impossible speed. Five hells that thing was big! She righted herself and spun to face the bird, acting automatically, on instinct as she pushed her open palms outward to either side. And with a wild, two-toned crack! Lightning exploded from her palms.

   One pillar arced for the bird, the other? For Loren. She aimed it toward his feet - she wasn’t looking to kill him - but the bird she did not pull her hit from.

ASHETTA

base by sky!! <3

Loren not afraid to use every trick in the book Ashe was way, way faster than Loren was. That was probably to be expected, but it was still a bit shocking and worrisome. As she rolled under the thunderbird, he told it to bank and ordered it to come around for another pass. However, as her arms raised up, the summoner knew what was probably coming, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. Still, he ordered his summon to intercept the path that he thought Ashe’s spell targeting him would follow. Raindrops began to fall from the sky, only a few at first, but picking up momentum, as lightning arced from the woman. The first bolt struck the bird, which was completely unfazed; indeed, lightning crackled in its feathers, and it seemed almost energized. It was a creature of sky and storm, and could not be harmed by Ashe’s most potent weapon. Loren, however, was a puny mortal, and the bird only caught part of the bolt that sped towards him. It blasted the ground at his feet in an explosion of heat, sound, and light. He was thrown from his feet and slammed his shoulder into a nearby wall; pain blossomed in it, and his ears rang and his eyes were filled with stars. Somehow, he managed to keep his hold on his thunderbird, but barely. Half-dazed, his training took over. Healing magic poured through him in a sky blue glow, targeting the worst of his injuries. It drained his reserves at a dangerous rate, but his mind and senses cleared. Once he could think clearly, he commanded his bird to stay between him and Ashe for his protection. However, first he ordered it to flap its wings at the assassin, sending a gust of wind at her strong enough to knock her off her feet.