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[hider= Training Games (Part 1)]
[h3]Southern edge of the City, Vrondi Capitol
[sup][i]About 3 years ago...[/i][/sup][/h3]

The day was bright, and the air was cool as Alexis walked alongside her best friend Clara at the front of the group. Genos and Aster walked at the back of the group, and Ryba was in the middle of the two pairs. They were all on their way to the city of Twilight: they'd decided on it just the night before, sitting up late around the fireplace in Genos’ living room. They were a few hours away from home now. They'd left at dawn to avoid Aster’s dad, and to try and keep the goodbyes to everyone else short. 

Well, saying goodbye to seven people in the span of ten minutes sure was a feat- it would have taken longer if two of her brothers, Able and Seven, hadn't missed it. It was hard to say goodbye to them all, even though Alexis knew she wasn't leaving for good. She had already told her Father so many times that she was leaving, that she loved him, that she'd miss them all, and she promised to be careful out in the world. Yet, when it came time to actually say goodbye, she couldn't stop thinking of so many more things she wanted to say, but didn't have the time to put the thoughts to words anymore. She just hoped that her hug had been able to say everything she couldn't. 

The twins, Lexi and Leith, tried to play it cool when she hugged them goodbye. Leith said he'd probably see her on his travels as a messenger once in a while, so he actually was cool about everything. Lexi had always been a bad liar though- she squeezed Alexis tight before Aurora pulled them apart. Aurora didn't say anything other than farewell, but she didn't really need to. She'd been the one to convince Alexis that it was okay to leave home in the first place- Aurora was the one who was also planning on going out to explore the world one day.

Her Stepmother, Kim, was probably the easiest to say goodbye to. She was more a friend to Alexis than a Mother, and that was fine with the both of them. Alexis hugged her, and Kim simply wished her well, and told her to write home once in a while. Kim's son Kyle (Alexis' youngest brother) had tried to keep her from leaving by locking her in her bedroom that morning, before she woke up. He'd refused to hug her when she said farewell to him, but she still tried. It took the combined efforts of at least four of her other siblings to keep him from running after the group as they left.

Alexis smiled at the memory as Clara elbowed her side. [color=8dc73f]"Whatcha smiling about Ali?"[/color]

[color=696969]"Stuff, and things."[/color] Alexis replied with a shrug as Clara poked her again.

[color=92278f]"Heh, don't overwork your brain there Alexis. Stuff can be taxing."[/color] Genos' voice drifted up to the two girls from where the Lassa/Sol hybrid walked in between Ryba and Aster, his tone teasing enough to be annoying but not to the point where Alexis couldn't just roll her eyes and continue talking to Clara. Clara on the other hand couldn't stand to let the comment slide without adding to it. 

[color=8dc73f]"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her thoughts to make sure she doesn't try to think of anything [i]too[/i] difficult."[/color]

[color=696969]"Ha. ha. ha. Who says what I think about is difficult?[/color] [color=8dc73f]"Oh! that'd be me!"[/color] [color=696969]"Shush Clara. It's mostly just worries about my family and how I'm supposed to go about doing things now that I'm not surrounded by 7 other kids now, and how they'll get on without me there now too. But I was actually remembering how Kyle had tried to follow us when you'd asked me that, Clara."[/color] Alexis turned to smile at her friend before noticing that she and the rest of the group had stopped, and were now a little way behind her on the path. 

[color=f26522]"I'd say that's some pretty difficult stuff to think of right now."[/color] Ryba spoke quietly. That's how you could tell she was being serious most times. 

[color=696969]"Come on guys. You know I'm gonna miss them while we're out having fun exploring the world! Besides, these thoughts aren't that bad. Just wait until I tell you how worried I am that Genos will do something extremely stupid within the next day or so."[/color] Clara and Ryba laughed at that, Aster clapping Genos on the shoulder before the group started walking again.

[hr]
It really was a beautiful day. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Alexis felt like she was rising with it, floating up into the cool spring air to join the clouds up in the sky. She was walking at the back of the group now, alone and humming to herself as she watched Genos and Aster racing each other short distances up the path. Ryba was keeping up with them, while Clara had tried and failed, stuck in between Alexis and the other three as the Sol caught her breath. 

Alexis was falling behind now, she noticed the three up ahead had stopped to wait for her and Clara to catch up. She began to run the distance, stopping just short of running right into Ryba as the seraphim stood with her back turned to the two Sol girls, watching whatever Genos and Aster were doing. Alexis stepped around her so she could see too.

Genos had Aster in a headlock, and Aster was laughing as he attempted to throw Genos off of himself. After a minute the two were separated by Ryba, and Aster looked to Alexis and Clara before grinning back at Genos. [color=00aeef]"How about we let them decide?"[/color]

[color=#696969]"[/color][color=#696969]D[/color][color=#6C7065]e[/color][color=#6F7862]c[/color][color=#72805E]i[/color][color=#75885B]d[/color][color=#789057]e[/color] [color=#7E9F50]w[/color][color=#81A74D]h[/color][color=#84AF49]a[/color][color=#87B746]t[/color][color=#8ABF42]?[/color][color=#8dc73f]"[/color] Clara asked the question at the same time as Alexis, and the two friends smiled at each other before Genos answered.

[color=92278f]"Who's the strongest in the group, me or Ass-hat?"[/color] Aster shook his head at the insult but said nothing, waiting to see what the girls would say. Alexis shook her head. She didn't know, but she also didn't want to encourage the argument to continue. Clara seemed to do the same, at least until she spoke.

[color=8dc73f]"Niether of you are the strongest. Ryba and I have both beat you in fights before, and I bet even Alexis could knock you both on your asses."[/color]

[color=696969]"Clara! Don't encourage them."[/color] Clara didn't listen, just smiling at Alexis as she continued.

[color=8dc73f]"But then the question was who's the strongest in the group. So of the three of us... my bet's on me. Sorry Ali, but I'm pretty sure I could beat you if we tried to find out." [/color] Clara patted her on the shoulder while Aster and Ryba laughed. Genos seemed a bit too steamed at his question being redirected to notice the teasing. Alexis just shook her head, crossing her arms across her chest as she spoke sternly, as if she were addressing a troublesome sibling.

[color=696969]"I want no part of this. I don't care who's the strongest."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Okay, but if you had to pick?"[/color] Aster asked as he pointed to himself, a sly grin on his face.

[color=696969]"If I [i]had[/i] to pick... Ryba. It's Ryba."[/color] She returned the seraphim's smile as Ryba put an arm around her shoulder. 

[color=f26522]"See? That's why I like you Alexis. Anyone else notice that she was the only one to vote for anyone but herself?"[/color] Genos nodded, muttering something about [color=92278f]"Typical Ali"[/color] before Aster punched him in the shoulder.

[color=696969]"Wait, no I'm not. You didn't vote for anyone Ryba."[/color]

[color=f26522]"I voted for myself in my head. It counts."[/color] Clara laughed with Ryba as she said the words, while Genos and Aster went back to wrestling with each other again. This time Aster pinned Genos before speaking.

[color=00aeef]"You know, there's only one way to find out now. A tournament! One free-for-all bout, and then a few individual matches.[/color] Genos got out of the hold and stepped away from Aster, rubbing his arm where Aster had held him down. 

[color=92278f]"Yeah, okay."[/color] Genos began stretching his arms as Aster looked around the area. The road cut through an open field here, the surroinding jungle's treeline not too far away on either side. It would work well as a battlefield.

[color=696969]"Guys, no. Not okay."[/color] Alexis' protest was ignored as Clara grabbed her hand and dragged her off the road and into the grass, Ryba following the two of them. Pretty soon, they were all standing in a wide circle in the tall grass, Genos shouting guidelines for the fight.

[color=92278f]"No magic or abilities right now, save that for the one-on-one matches."[/color]

[color=696969]"Are we really doing this?"[/color] Alexis refused to participate. The others had their weapons in hand, Genos and Ryba with their twin swords, Aster and his warhammer, even Clara held her Morningstar at the ready. Alexis' bow wasn't even strung, still sitting comfortably in her quiver along with all the arrows she wasn't going to use against her friends. 

[color=f26522]"Seems like it."[/color] Ryba held her stance as she stared down Genos. Those two fought on a regular basis, so they were probably the other's greatest challenge in terms of strategy. Alexis was more worried about Aster. His strength normally led to him not even bothering with a strategy. Alexis glanced at Clara, who'd been looking at her with an unreadable expression. Great. She wasn't worried about Clara, but she was worried that her friend would try to prove her earlier boast.

Aster called the match to start.

Immediately, Genos and Aster were on each other, Aster's hammer blocking Genos' precise sword strikes. Ryba joined in, helping Genos drive Aster into a corner before the two turned on each other. Alexis hadn't moved yet, and Clara was still watching her.

[color=8dc73f]"Ali, aren't you going to arm yourself?"[/color]

[color=696969]"I don't want to fight. I refuse."[/color] As she spoke, Genos and Ryba paused long enough for Aster to get a hit in on Ryba, the seraphim dodging too slowly. She backed away from the two to look for another opening, glancing at Alexis and Clara as they talked. 

[color=f26522]"If you don't fight, you accept that you're the weakest in the group Alexis."[/color]

[color=696969]"Fine. I surrender, you all win."[/color] Alexis turned to go back to the road, but before she could Clara and Ryba got in front of her, blocking the way.

[color=8dc73f]"If you surrender in a real fight, you'll be dead.[/color]

[color=696969]"But this isn't a real fight. This is a pissing contest that those two let get out of hand."[/color] Ryba smiled at her words but said nothing, she probably agreed that this was a stupid endeavor. Clara on the other hand, frowned.

[color=8dc73f]"Should still take it seriously. Pretend this is a real fight."[/color] She tightened her grip on her morningstar, and Alexis began to think that Clara was going crazy. She decided to try one more time to get out of it.

[color=696969]"Why?"[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Because... I wanna know who's really the strongest too! You never take any of our matches seriously, and now you refuse to fight at all! You're stronger than you know, I'm sure of it. But you have to treat this like an actual fight!"[/color]

[color=696969]"What? CLARA I'M WEAKER THAN ALL OF US AND YOU ALL KNOW IT!"[/color] Alexis screamed at her friend as she and Ryba started coming closer to her, slowly walking through the grass. [color=696969]"No! I'm not going to fight you, because I already know I'll lose, and I don't want to hurt you!"[/color]

[color=f26522]"I'd like to see you try and hurt me."[/color] Ryba spoke the challenge softly as she brought her sword out to the side, ready to strike as soon as she got close enough. Alexis started backing away. Clara saw this and moved to circle around her, the two of them pushing Alexis towards the treeline now.

[color=00aeef]"Alexis! Hurry up and string your bow!"[/color] [color=92278f]"They're gonna beat you into the ground if you don't try to fight back!"[/color] Alexis glanced over at Genos and Aster to see that they'd stopped fighting to watch her situation, and as soon as she looked back to the two she was dealing with, Ryba attacked her. The blow glanced off of her chainmail as she dodged out of the way towards Clara, who took a swing at her with the Morningstar but missed as Alexis kept moving. She ran through the grass the rest of the way into the trees, disappearing into the shadowy brush. 

Clara started to follow her, but Ryba decided she was done chasing after Alexis for now, and the two were soon exchanging blows just the same as Aster and Genos. Alexis climbed a tree and say on one of the lower branches, watching as the two duels went on. 

Clara eventually got hit, Ryba landing a deep slice on her left leg. As the Sol fell to the ground, Ryba said coldly [color=f26522]"You're out."[/color] before heading over to Genos and Aster. Clara healed herself with a spell and got up, glancing at the spot in the trees where Alexis had disappeared before going to the road to stand and watch the rest of the fight from a safe distance.

Aster was strong, but Genos was tactful. The two were pretty evenly matched. With Clara out and Alexis missing though, they stopped fighting each other and turned against Ryba. Alexis couldn't watch. Eventually, Aster knocked Genos out with a blow to the stomach, the lassa falling to his knees as Ryba and Aster moved away from him to finish the fight. Clara went and made sure Genos was alright -he'd only gotten his breath knocked out of him thankfully. Alexis decided it was probably safe to come down from the tree now.

Aster went out with a cut to the shoulder, which Alexis healed since she was closer to him than Clara at the moment. He thanked her and then bowed to Ryba, graciously accepting defeat. If it had been Genos, the two would have kept going until the rest of them would've needed to break them up. She and Aster started to make their way to the road, but Ryba called out to Alexis before she could.

[color=f26522]"Congrats Alexis. You and I are the only ones left."[/color] Alexis turned to see Ryba taking another fighting stance, this one defensive instead of the attack forms she'd been using against everyone else.

[color=696969]"uh, what do you mean? I went out first- I ran away."[/color] 

[color=f26522]"Retreat is not defeat. You took a tactical advantage, by removing yourself from the battlefield."[/color]

[color=696969]"No, I surrendered before I left. You won Ryba, you're the strongest in the group."[/color] She glanced over to the others standing on the road, the look in on her eyes asking for help.

[color=92278f]"Sorry Ali, Ryba's technically right. Besides, there was no rule set that said you could surrender."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"You can take her Alexis!"[/color]

[color=696969]"gee, thanks guys."[/color] She muttered to herself as she glared at Clara and Genos. They just smiled back at her.

Aster was more useful. [color=00aeef]"If you can keep distance from her you have the upper hand, at least."[/color] Genos and Clara nodded along in agreement.

[color=f26522]"Maybe, but not if she doesn't even string her bow."[/color] Ryba spoke, raising her sword. Alexis looked at the others one last time before sighing and turning towards Ryba, meeting her friend's gaze. For a long moment, neither of them did anything, they just stood there. 

[color=696969]"Come on, then."[/color] And as soon as she spoke, Ryba charged at her. Alexis still didn't move. A second later she fell to her knees, Ryba's sword stuck in her side. Clara ran over as Ryba stepped back in shock, the look in both of their eyes telling Alexis that they thought she was crazy. 

As Clara helped her heal the wound, she locked gazes with Ryba again. [color=696969]"I told you guys, I won't fight my friends."[/color] 

Aster and Genos had come over to her now too. As Clara helped her stand back up, Genos called the match over. Ryba won, though she didn't look very happy about it. Aster shook his head at Alexis as he took her hand to help her back to the road. [color=00aeef]"No, we get it. Hell of a way to make your point, Ali."[/color]

[color=696969]"Yeah.. I'm sorry about that, by the way. I kinda just didn't know how else to get it through to you guys."[/color]

Aster pulled her into a one-armed hug as she finished the apology. [color=00aeef]"Well, I forgive you."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Forgiven. But, you scared the hell outta me Ali."[/color] Clara said quietly from her other side. Ryba and Genos said nothing as they took the lead as the group began to travel again.

After walking on for a few more hours, it began to get dark. Aster and Clara had been walking by Alexis this entire time, even though with her and Clara's healing she was fine. Alexis thought that maybe staying by her was their way of apologizing for making her participate in the fight in the first place. 

As the sun began to set, Aster called over to Genos and Ryba, who were walking ahead of the trio. [color=00aeef]"Should we make camp for the night now?"[/color] 

[color=92278f]"Yeah, might as well."[/color] Genos called back as the group came to a stop. It took until a little past sunset for them to get the camp all set up. They'd have to get better at that. Alexis settled down next to Clara by the campfire once everything had been taken care of, and after a while she fell asleep there. 

[h3][i]To Be Continued...[/i][/h3]
[/hider]

[hr]
[Quote][color=696969]"I thought I told you before… You’re not alone Suleykaar. I’m not going to let you be alone."
"I’m going to help you get Soron back in whatever way I can, okay?"[/color][/quote]
After Sophia and Qobo left the garden, and after Alexis made her promise to Suleykaar, the two walked into the temple together and were led to a large room where various monks were preparing for whatever spell Qobo was going to use in order to bring Soron back. Alexis watched the activities of the monks from where she stood quietly at Suleykaar's side. There was an altar where she assumed the ritual was going to take place, and many of the monks were going around, gathering scrolls and other such items. It bothered her how they all seemed to know exactly what they needed to do. How many times had they attempted to revive the dead?

She kept her thoughts about that to herself, though if anyone was paying any attention to her, they would see her discomfort in her expression. It was probably just due to her own fears regarding the dead but, she felt that this was only going to end up making the situation Suleykaar was in worse. What if they weren't able to bring Soron back? She hadn't seen Suleykaar's reaction first-hand, but the aftermath of it on the battlefield had been terrifying enough. She couldn't imagine what would happen if he was disappointed here, if Soron ended up lost to him forever. She looked over to the Dragon, and for a long minute she debated with herself over trying to convince him to change his mind. At least then he could pay proper respects to Soron, and let his spirit rest in peace.

She looked down at her feet as she made up her mind. She couldn't tell him this. It would break his heart- and her promise to him. She could only hope then that the monk's ritual worked, and that Soron really would be okay. 

She noticed Qobo and Sophia in the room, speaking with one of the other monks that was dressed similarly to Qobo. After the other monk left, Alexis decided that she should probably try to talk to Qobo now, before the ritual started. [color=696969]"Suleykaar... I'll be right back, okay?"[/color] She spoke to him clearly, beginning to walk away once she'd said it. She didn't know if he'd really notice if she left or not, but she wasn't willing to look into his mind and find out. If his thoughts were consuming him, she didn't want to fall into them as well.

She walked up to Qobo and Sophia, bowing her head slightly before she spoke so she hopefully seemed respectful instead of as extremely worried as she really was. [color=696969]"Master Qobo, I.. I was wondering if this will really work. Suleykaar is a friend to me, and I'd hate to see his reaction if Soron was lost... I can't bring myself to talk him out of this, or to try and stop you from fulfilling his request, but I can't get myself to think about anything else either.. so..."[/color] She looked down for a moment, wondering where she was going with this.

If it didn't turn out well... but she had made a promise to Suleykaar to help. She supposed, the only way to do that was to ensure the ritual worked then. Her eyes met Qobo's, a small spark of determination shining through as she spoke next. [color=696969]"Is there anything I could do to help you bring Soron back?"[/color]