[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/rtXVnSR.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/xw0hykv.png[/img] [b]Time:[/b] The prior evening --> 9:10AM [b]Location:[/b] Home at Roshmi City --> Outside Roshmi City's Royal Palace [b]Interactions:[/b] Princess Mikazuki [b]Mentions:[/b] [@Tae] [hr] [/center] [color=#c9c9c9][b][h1]The Night Before...[/h1][/b][/color] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC4TT44X014]Avalia BGM - Roshmi City Tournament[/url] [color=#c9c9c9] This entire tournament had been nothing more than an amusement for the prodigious fox. Normally he would never let himself behave so cocky, but after he, a twenty-one year old vulpine, was offered to train the princess of Roshmi City, one could see why his ego had become inflated to such a degree. It was quite unlike him to act so pretentious. Yes, he was known for being overconfident at times which had cost him fights in the past but those times were nowhere near the amount of pride that exuded from him now. This entire tournament was purely at a regional level, a smaller one among the many large ones that took place in the grand city of Demi-Humans. Regardless, many of the fighters were fierce and definitely challenged Kuroi in the earlier matches. Yet here he was, standing in front of the last man who kept him from claiming the grand prize, a Lycan who held a parrying dagger in one hand and a saber in the other. And all this fox had was a [i]sarong[/i] wrapped around his right wrist. All his opponents up to this point had been nothing but humiliated by Kuroi. After all, losing to an opponent who had nothing more than a length of tubed cloth was demeaning. The agile fox wore an adorned mask of his kind over his face and wore his battle kimono, all in black with accentuations as needed to contrast. As the final match of the tournament started, Kuroi instantly began to move towards his opponent at an angle, making sure to advance in a way that would allow him to evade his opponent's attack whilst also closing the distance. His empty hand drew the opponent's blade away from his piece of cloth, feigning a grab so his hand would get slashed at. A painful sacrifice but a necessary one nonetheless. Crimson gushed from the gash left by the swipe of the saber. And air puffed out from the Lycan's mouth. Kuroi had smacked the Lycan with the sarong and let it swing around, only to grab it by the other end and pull it through the length, resulting in what Kuroi called a [i]portable noose[/i]. The moment the Lycan rose his parrying dagger to stab at Kuroi, he suddenly yanked the piece of cloth downwards while suddenly thrusting his hips forward. In a moment's notice, Kuroi's opponent flew towards him, face first into a powerful knee to the face. A loud thud resulted from the impact of Kuroi's knee against the man's face. The contender lay flat on the ground, blood oozing from his broken nose. The sarong was yanked back by it's wielder, keeping pressure on the neck whilst a foot suddenly slammed down on the flat of the parrying dagger. In almost record time, the match had been called for the safety of both contenders (read: the loser). Letting go of the sarong, Kuroi took off his mask and raised his hands in the air, allowing his makeup adorned face to be gawked at by all the beautiful vulpine women in the roaring crowds. The young vulpine of age twenty-one had everything anyone at age could ever want in life plus some. Yet little did these people know that he, among the countless skilled duelists that lived in Roshmi City, had been handpicked by the royal family to instruct their daughter in the arts of combat. Life was good. As good as it could have been until he saw a magical broadcast appear up in the sky. A beautiful face overwhelmed with joy soon became one with bared teeth and an ugly scowl on its face. An execution took place before everyone attending the tournament, a war declaration coupled along with it. Worst of all, he witnessed the city's prince life end right then and there. Such a cowardly, horrific act. It infuriated Kuroi. Nothing but hate coursed through his veins that night. He could only imagine how the Royal Family would feel.[/color] ... [url=https://youtu.be/hYhr1NC9-m0[/url] Avalia BGM - The Mourning of Roshmi City[/url] [color=#c9c9c9]After the events that took place today, Kuroi could no longer feel any form of happiness. As he expected, his meeting with the princess today was cancelled. With such sudden grievance befalling the royal family, and the looming threat that now hung over their heads, he expected nothing more from them. What was supposed to become a leisurely pastime for the princess of Roshmi would turn into something far more serious if there were still plans for him to teach her. Any form of responsibility he had already been bestowed had just been tripled by this declaration of war. He had to turn the princess into one of the best warriors Roshmi had ever seen. There was no doubt about it. Despite there being no future date for his services, Kuroi made it up in his mind that he had to meet with her tomorrow. If the prince had already been killed in cold blood, who was to say his sister wasn't next? [hr] [color=#c9c9c9][b][h1]The Morning After...[/h1][/b][/color] Kuroi rose early in the morning far before either of his parents to make preparations for today. He bathed and dressed himself up in his most formal of clothing - a black kimono with accessorized with a white and black scarf and topped off with a black cloak. Atop his head was the only hat he owned, and in his left hand was a sturdy, expensive cane, made for both walking, and for committing numerous war crimes if need be. [hider=Kuroi's Formal Attire & Appearance] [img]https://i.imgur.com/hhucAqN.png[/img] [/hider] Right before leaving the house, the young fox wrote a note for his parents, announcing his intentions to meet with the princess and impose his services for her sake. It wasn't about money and prestige for him anymore, it was about morality and doing what he could to protect the heir to the throne. As he left the house, his eyes instantly went up to admire the blood-colored sunrise - ironic that something that symbolized something so ugly could be so beautiful. Around Kuroi were the various buildings of the middle-class, progressively becoming bigger and more expensive as he approached the royal palace and the upper class district. He was tense, anyone could realize it with how tight he gripped his cane as he walked along. Gods, how he would love to drive his cane straight through those damned Dark Elf twins. He would not hesitate to draw blood a second time in his life. After all, this wasn't the first time he had to put down a politician. Ever since that day where one of the Light elves who helped governed the city attacked him, Kuroi had little issue with eliminating those who truly were the scum of Avalia. Luckily for him and his family, enough strings were pulled to make the governor's death seem...untimely. Much went through Kuroi's head as he approached the royal palace. Normally, he would appreciate the elaborate architecture on the estates that surrounded him in this part of the city. With what happened the night prior, he couldn't relax. He could only thing about protecting the current heir to the throne. He would never forgive himself if the princess so happened to meet her brother's fate. It wasn't until he heard...the princess? discussing with the guards inside the palace courtyard that he snapped back to reality. Confusion was visible on Kuroi's face...was that her? Why was she already dressed for combat. Surely she couldn't have been sneaking out? Based on the attire she had, she surely had some form of fighting experience, he imagined. After all, he refused to believe she'd be absolutely defenseless. Regardless, he merely listened in on the conversation, paying close attention to the intonation of the woman who did end up being Princess Mikazuki. A quiet sigh escaped Kuroi's lips as he approached the gate, banging on it with the tip of his cane. He already had an idea of what was going on and given the situation, he couldn't help but indulge the princess, [color=white]"Yes, yes...our meeting together got pushed back...an honor to finally meet you face to face, princess..."[/color] Gods save him for playing along. If the royal family ever caught word of this he'd be executed within a moment's notice. [/color] [hr] [hider=Inventory] [b]Amas:[/b] 869 (800 in Bank | 69 in Pocket) [b][u]Gear[/u][/b] [list] ⋆ See References in Character Log * Sarong (Temporary, only for use in the tournament) ⋆ Wakizashi ⋆ Two razor-sharp metal fans (they're quite aesthetically pleasing too] ⋆ Throwing Knives ⋆ Rope Darts [/list] [b][u]Items[/u][/b] [list] ⋆ Drystone (For sharpening weapons) ⋆ Gourd of water * Sleeping Mat * Blanket [/list] [/hider]