[h3][color=thistle]Io[/color] at Terauchi Temple[/h3]

[@PaulHaynek] [@AzureKnight] [@Nakushita]

Io was in deep thought as she emerged from her training grounds. The others talked amongst themselves, argued, and decided on what was next. Io found herself once again moving slower than any of the others. There was a massive investment in her brainpower in working out the next steps for the training grounds. She would need to provide a way to cease all fighting, fine-tune healing parameters, add in some contingencies for environmental power leeching... Perhaps Io was retreating into her own thoughts and delving into solving arcane riddles to ignore what had just transpired around her. It was a time-worn tradition of hers, formed even before she achieved undeath.

Io sighed to herself, opening her eyes after mulling over that offending thought. The truth was, she once again found herself erring towards inaction. This was just a training exercise, but it was clear that she could have worked more proactively. True, her spell repertoire was fairly taxed with creating the training grounds, but there were things she could have called to mind quickly enough, even if they lacked subtlety. What would happen when they ran into a Varjan as strong as Shizuka? If one human could achieve such a mastery of arms, it was only an eventuality that they encountered others.

"[b][color=thistle]Hm. Shizuka needing help...?[/color][/b]" It was as though Kikyo could read Io's thoughts, if only to say something so alarming so casually. Io pulled her hood up, her agility-enhancing scroll activating once more. She'd move quickly on this one - quickly for her frame of reference, at least, then she'd work on becoming fast to everyone else as well. "[color=thistle][b]I'll move to watch over him.[/b][/color]" 

She gave a small nod to Yuki, the only remaining task force member with her, tacitly signaling it was up to her if she wanted to follow. Io turned and made her way after Shizuka either way. As she took off, she quickly began running through spells in her mind.

'[color=thistle]What will I need? At the very least something to hide with. Minor invisibility should work well enough for that. My scrolls can help Shizuka if it comes to a fight.[/color]' Her mind raced as she mentally prepared for what might ensue. '[color=thistle]He can deflect any attack?[/color]' Io lamented that she did not have several hours to create some projectile spells that would put [i]that[/i] legend to the test. '[color=thistle]Let's suppose that is true for now, and instead prepare spells to hinder the enemy. Creating an opening for Shizuka may be more beneficial either way...[/color]' Her already well-worn robes received new scratches as she dashed through the Shizuyama forest paths, her mind spending more effort thinking than avoiding obstacles while running.

Io planned to cast a spell of minor invisibility once she neared close to her destination. It wouldn't be perfect, and it would fail the second she cast another spell, but that would be enough to see the situation and act accordingly... Possibly. She could only hope her status as undead may lead to her being harder to notice on top of the spell - but she didn't have nearly enough data to understand how strong these swordsmen's senses were. She also may have to work Yuki into her plan, too, if the fellow task force member joined her.