[center][color=a187be][b][i]Annabeth Gulch[/i][/b][/color][/center]

Since their return from Djarkel, Annabeth has been training with Helena and Athalus. And nothing sexual either; while Annabeth still has regular contact with her lovers, she had been putting those off for legitimate training. Honing her skills and agility to be better prepared to face off against the creatures the college tends to pit against their students. Of course Annabeth in general has also tried to patch up her life. She felt that maybe she had gotten too... Eager with all her relationships. Not that she regrets any or intends to cut them off; but perhaps she had spent too much time playing around and not enough actually improving her skills. She had let her vices get the better of her. Slowly, she was trying to change that.

Annabeth rode alongside the carriages on her trusty steed Samson. Ever since their cooperation dealing with the roc, Annabeth and Samson had gotten to know one another better and they both improved. Using her magic she was able to train Samson to be quite a war horse; his strong body and great endurance was great when running from or towards threats, and his sturdy body would ensure that he can hold his own in a fight alongside Annabeth. Annabeth herself had also begun training her swordsmanship. She had mastered the basics but now needed to hone her skills to a more refine point; she can duel most people just fine, but when fighting monsters she needed to figure out what she was good at and worked on it. Thus she started to improve upon her agility and changed from a brute-force style of swordsmanship to a thrusting style; a mix between using a spear and a two-handed sword. And thus her weapon had changed from a regular longsword to an estoc; a thin but sturdy thrusting blade, like a heavy rapier. It's tip was sharpen for slicing but it's main attribute is to be a thrusting weapon capable of piercing armor or hides, or seeking out weak points in such things. While mounted it can also serve as a light lance.

Annabeth's armor had also chained from her heavy coat of plates to a lighter armored jacket. This time the armor was more evenly distributed over her body, making it easier for her to move around as opposed to having everything concentrated around her torso and turning into a more sluggish but enduring fighter. She still had a long way to go, but compared to before she had gotten much better. Annabeth's magic had also been improving; telepathy was much less of an issue for her now even when used over a long period of time and with multiple parties. She focused much on wide concentration spells allowing her to be more useful for others by becoming a mobile communication hub, as well s seeking out and detecting threats when she otherwise can't. Speaking of magic, Annabeth finally saved up money to purchase an enchantment for her sword. The enchantment itself makes her blade innately magical and thus more capable of harming her enemies and withstanding the strain of battle, but there was a specific enchantment that allows her to bypass magical wards and protection related to Psychomancy, so long as she cast her spell the same time her sword peirces the body. That should help deal with pesky people who actually have resistances to her magic.

None of which Annabeth actually brought, for better or for worse. They weren't in Eania for a quest but celebration. She couldn't help but feel excited; they were finally going to her homelands after all, and she already knows that she'll be meeting her family in the city for celebrations. She wanted to show off all her friends to them as well as show them her new abilities. It almost felt like years since she has seen her relatives and she wonders how much they've changed since she left. When she saw the city ahead, Annabeth couldn't help but ride ahead and get the scent of her homelands back. The smell of hot oil sizzling doughy goods in the sun, fresh fruits being served and sliced for customers, the strong aroma of butchered meat that roasts on a split, and the occasion dog dropping. Fortunately, Eania does employ street sweepers. As the rest of the college students arrived into the city Annabeth dismounted and fed Samson an apple. [color=a187be]"Follow the others and be good, okay? I'll come back with treats."[/color] She said affectionately to her horse before giving him a peck on the snout and meeting with the others.

[color=a187be]"Ah, smells like home. Welcome to Shimmerstone! Capital jewel of Eania, and my city!"[/color]