Training [se] stronger than all of it
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#15
Deimos
She could glare at him all she wanted; the fact of the matter wouldn’t alter or change. With a grumble, she conceded to ceasing the matter at hand, and the Sword silently called over for Zuriel – who inclined herself in her usual imperial manner, an offering of healing to Seren if she wanted to take it.

His brows shot upward at the mention of wanting to impress him; hiding the lightest round of laughter. Deimos wasn’t a creature easily swayed or astonished – mostly due to the fact that he’d experienced far too much in consecutive lifetimes. War upon war upon war altered minds; and he’d seen things both outrageous, awe-inspiring, treacherous, and deceitful. While today wasn’t any of those things, he could at least offer her some modicum of critique. “But we do not show up to battle to gain someone’s respect or admiration.” Here he indulged in the lightest of smiles, to reflect he was only teasing slightly. “You have the techniques, stances, and movements down. Now you just need the experience.”

His eyes moved away from her now, and towards the two remaining targets. “You can maul those still, if you would like. And I can move them with my magic.” And she wouldn’t have to worry about his movements leaving her in the dirt. “You would be doing me a favor. I cannot stand to look at them.” The effigies were clear representations of current enemies and adversaries; though with mocking caricatures for full effect; the hint of a juvenile grin manifesting on his features.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
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Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#16
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
Inclining her head in a graceful acquiescence of Zuriel's offer to heal, Seren breathed into the relief as the ache in her back began to subside. Deimos look of surprise was in itself surprising - why was that so strange? and Seren shuffled her feet somewhat awkwardly at his response.

"No... but this isn't a battlefield just yet, right?" They were just training. He a master of his craft, experienced and seasoned, while she was green and untested in every sense of the word. Weapon craft came easily to her, athletic and dexterous as she was... and always thirsty for acknowledgement, for praise. To know that this path she was on was not a mistake. And if she could surprise someone a little, awe and wow with her unexpected prowess so that they became impressed and saw something in her worth honing.... was that so bad?

Deimos meanwhile took all the fun out of it by being very matter of fact. It wasn't praise, but at least a bit of acknowledgement. Immediately cut by highlighting how far she had left to go.

Seren suppressed a faint sigh and looked towards the target dummies. There were faces adorning them, but whether the likeness was good or not she couldn't tell, having never actually met any of the persons the General so loathed.

The girl shrugged, offered Zuriel a reverant stroke on the neck in gratitude, and took her spear. Approaching the targets Seren resumed her stance and gave Deimos a quick nod. "Ready when you are."
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#17
Deimos
Zuriel obliged, and the mending proceeded. When completed, the mare simply bowed her head, accepting the scratch, before maneuvering back to where Belial was hunting wayward insects still surviving amidst the autumn vestiges.

With the healing taken care of, there was only moving forward into their next task – though he did so with another residual arch of his brow and the grin still in place. “So best not to get into bad habits then.” As young soldiers and recruits, his instructors wouldn’t have blinked an eye on setting them flat on the ground with any sort of foolishness or need to impress; but Deimos wasn’t them. So a light teasing would commence, just enough to ruffle her and set her forward again.

As she approached the targets, he strode off to the side, where he could watch, critique, scrutinize, and examine. His own weaponry put away, without so much as a warning, other than her go ahead, the Sword chose the target she lined up with – Air incantations mustering it forward, brandishing its arms and limbs, and moving with no predictable direction. Occasionally to one side, as if to bombard her, and then whipping around to the other. Belial, for his part because it turned out that the peryton and Deimos were both juvenile and obnoxious, made hissing noises each time the figure altered course; as if the effigies themselves were rumbling and grumbling.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
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Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#18
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
He was right, of course. But boring, and absolutely no fun at all. So the girl quite deliberately poked her tongue out at him, before turning to the new task.

Solidifying her attention around the target, and the heft of the spear in her hands, and the solid ground beneath her feet, Seren let everything else fall away. Breathing in and out, she was ready when the target began to move. Later she might reflect on how eerie it was to see a dummy navigate on its own, but in the moment all she knew was a target to dispatch. With an inanimate object her motions changed. Became sharper, harder; the first time the dummy approached it was whacked hard over the head in a near perfect blow.

The sudden jerk around to her other side took Seren off guard, and despite her hastily thrown up block received a solid thunk on the thigh. Limping slightly now, she nevertheless followed better when the target swerved again. A sweeping diagonal cut actually severed one of the dummy's arms, and sent it flying a few paces off.

Backing up a few steps to recover posture and distance, Seren shook out the ache in her leg and waited for the renewed onslaught. Despite herself, a grin was forming on her lips. This was... really rather fun.
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
Change author:
Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#19
Deimos
The smirk simply grew at her expression; perhaps her only hint of his plotting.

Seren did well on her initial rounds; and while the dummy didn’t flinch from the blows, it did slow as a human figure might, striving to endure the hits encumbering its movements. For its own efforts, it flailed around in more unpredictable circuits, as if irritated, annoyed, with its combatant – yearning for her to give chase, rather than continue to get walloped in close quarters. “Good,” he encouraged. “Always be on guard.” Who was to know how fast their opponent could impede, could assault, could maim?

And then the target lost an arm.

Deimos hid his laughter; muffling it quietly within his chest, as the caricature seemed to turn its body, inclining towards the limb laying in the grass. Then, of course, he turned the tables.

The effigy was launched, higher and higher with his Air incantations, as if pulled by a string or lifted by the wind rather than just his juvenile whims. A high jump, a miserable siege, hoisted into the void and preparing to come back down upon Seren if she didn’t find a method, a means, to endure or maul its wrath.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#20
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
The only problem with the chosen tactic was that Seren could leap too. When the target dummy shot up into the air, the girl jumped after it with spear in hand. When the effigy plunged down towards her she waiting for it in midair, already swinging her weapon. Stronger than she looked, aided by momentum from two directions, she managed a clean and precise strike that severed the doll's head clean off its shoulders.

It landed in the grass not far from the arm, and a few moments later the demigod followed suit, light as a feater and easy as a dancer or her feet. Turning to Deimos, she raised an eyebrow, mute and trying her very best to suppress the smug, self-satisfied grin that wanted to overtake her entire face.
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
Change author:
Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#21
Deimos
Even if Seren launched after the one-armed fiend, it didn’t cease to keep his laughter into place. Not deterred or distracted by the melee, but infinitely amused, taking and noting advice and notions in his mind, crafting them in a way that would foster growth and guidance; all the while ensuring the effigy clambered around in ridiculous motions.

The loss of its head probably should’ve been eerie – since it continued going (one of those ‘tis but a scratch’ moments), but he paused its rolling motions long enough to ensure she was doing well. “Better – but always be sure to finish it off. Do not take your eyes off your enemy.”

For even without its own gaze, the inanimate, one-armed set of chest and legs glided towards her back, under the power of his Air incantations – intending to grapple at her spine as he’d done earlier, push and shove, to see if she’d learned anything from earlier.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
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Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#22
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
Usually headless meant dead, and so Seren was under the impression that she actually had finished her opponent off. But normal rules did not apply here, and she was absolutely not expecting another attack from behind. The rattle of the dummy gave her some minor warning, but she was neither fast enough to turn nor decisive enough to get her spear up to block in time.

The whack on her back made her stagger forward, but by some small mercy she did not actually fall on her face this time.
"Not fair! I cut its head off, it was dead!"

Hissing with discomfort (it didn't hurt quite as badly this time, but she would have some spectacular bruises) Seren staggered around and belatedly got her spear up and between herself and the dummy. Angry now, and furious with herself for not paying attention, she doled out three moves in quick succession, aiming for the remaining arm with a wide arch from above, followed by a diagonal right, and a diagonal left to sever each leg in turn.

Whether or not the blows actally landed was a different matter, of course...
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
Change author:
Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#23
Deimos
So, she hadn’t learned about protecting her back. Again.

A snort rallied through on her appeal; shrugging away his shoulders. “Not all of your opponents will be fair.” He could’ve waxed poetical on a thousand, myriad ways in which enemies and adversaries came together to maul, ruin, and siege; how some used children, how some sent plagues, how some slowly starved towns and kingdoms until there was no one left but mere skeletal figures trying to hold onto their lot in life. And while this was innocent, this was also training, and she needed to some figments of reality.

Because some never stopped, never ceased. And who would they prefer to be unrelenting – their side, or the other?

Zuriel stepped forward, an offering to heal again, as Seren decimated the remains of the effigy. It fell apart in arches and swings, clattering together in nothing but a pile of ruins – arms and legs and torso and head divided and scattered amongst the grass. If he was being truly obnoxious, those could rise too, and be sent off towards her. But the Sword could see her irritation, and inclined an arch in his brow for it. Now she could be proud. “There.” And he justified it with a nod, moving forward to claim the broken pieces, and likely burn later for amusements. “Zuriel can heal you once more, if you want to take out the other one.” An offering, to cease and desist here, or continue moving forward in her education.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#24
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
Straightening up, Seren twisted thiis way and that to test the soreness of her back. The unicorn's offer to heal was met with a tight smile and a declining shake of her head - polite at Zuriel, tense and grim at Deimos.
"Not all opponents will wait for me to recover either, I assume. I'm not quitting here."

Stubborn, vexed, night kept trailing her limbs as she backed up from the carnage and resumed a stance with spear in hand. The shaft was rubbing new blisters into her hands, and Seren tried to tell herself that this was a good thing.

Watch her back, eh? Not as easy a task as it sounded.
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
Change author:
Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#25
Deimos
His eyes narrowed as she glared towards him – pondering if it was stubborn pride keeping her aloft and mulish, argumentative, or something else altogether. He shrugged at her inclination to not be healed, especially over a proportion that had already taken a beating – it was her choice, as asinine as it might’ve been. A learning point, a conjecture, he’d permit her to see for herself. “Perhaps not. But you should take it when the opportunity is there.” When one’s life, or anyone else’s, was on the line, and the notions were all gathered within – it didn’t mean someone was weak. It meant they were tactical. It meant they would survive. Carry on. Continue the fight.

What was more important? Self-glorification, or persistence, perseverance?

While Seren resumed her stance, he advanced the other effigy; painted and marked in clear resemblance of another adversary. It didn’t have the same speed; purposefully bigger, wider, brawnier, and so its pace was a loathsome, overbearing, overwhelming thing – likely far easier to hit, but packed a firmer punch. His air incantations sent it towards Seren’s right side, intending to weaken those figments as well – intending to see how she moved under more laborious circumstances.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#26
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
"Mhm. Later."

Oh, it was absolutely stubbornness, and pride, and no small amount of anger that drove her to push through despite the pain. Her back was hurting, and her leg too, not to mention the blisters on her hands. But so what? It was just a little discomfort. Nothing was broken and she wasn't bleeding, and not there was a giant dummy with a dumb look on its face headed towards her.

She blocked the incoming attack with a double handed grip of the spear and stepped out of reach. This one seemed slower and heavier, less likely to dart around, but Seren stayed on guard all the same.

Releasing a gravity pulse, she attempted to pin the dummy in place as she stepped in and thrust her spear forward, aiming for the joint where arm attached to shoulder. The motion made her bruises muscles scream in protest, but at least this time she did not falter.

If the rules were the same for this as the last one, she would have to disasseble the whole thing before it stopped moving.
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
Change author:
Posts: 6,555 | Total: 10,648
MP: 9824
#27
Deimos
A round of irritation segmented in his brows, and then conformed back to his reticent mask. If Seren was Attuned, she’d be able to sense the exasperation and vexation (because why ask him for guidance if she didn’t want to listen? Why waste his time?), but he’d tucked it quickly out of reach on his features. Instead, a tight clench to his jaw formed, eyes narrowing again, watching, contemplating, fighting the urge to shake his head as her movements became slower, more obviously contorted in some measure of pain. He had a horde of lectures to save for after the melee.

The gravity pulse did its job; and he snorted as the Air magic was driven to a standstill for a moment, just enough instances to permit her spear to slam it into attachments and adornments. The fabric and stitching holding it together unraveled, contorted, frayed, and the arm was left to dangle, useless.

But she’d also opened herself up to a closer expanse – and when the pulse ceased, the incantations wove again, directly assailing towards her arms, towards her weapon itself, intending to dislodge with force and ferocity.
Out of sight and out of mind
Make everything alright
So let the sky and sea collide
Just not in our lifetime
Seren Taliesin


Age: 25 | Height: 5'7 in (170cm) | Race: Demi-god | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 3 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 16 - Int:
UMBRA - Mythical - Dragon (fire breath)
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,448 | Total: 5,767
MP: 1897
#28
You have so much of everything but still you wanted more
Usually things stayed pinned until she undid the spell. Usually things went exactly as she expected them to. Usually she wasn't fighting magically controlled target dummies that moved strangely, operated by someone vastly more skilled and with immense strength in both mind and magic. The dummy broke free from her gravity pulse and resumed its movement, and it was at the last moment Seren was able to get her staff up to block.

But it was not fast enough to prevent the doll from striking. Nor was she strong enough, or skilled enough, to deflect the blow. There was a resounding crack as the shaft of Seren's weapon split, and a restrained cry as she stumbled back, clasping her right wrist protectively against the chest.

Pale around the nose, with something dangerous in her eyes, the girl nevertheless did not seem about to relent. Still favoring her right hand, she made a motion to raise her weapon again, disregarding the fact that it was clearly broken as she made to charge the dummy. Recklessly, violently... almost desperately.
Seren
Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.


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