shylarahI'll be posting tomorrow before or after class, got a lot of school work to do tonight :3
Vena Sera
Member
It's snowing on Mt. Fuji.
STATUS: If I owe you a post, it's coming! Been a very busy week but finally settling down! 7 yrs ago
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7 yrs ago
Current
If I owe you a post, it's coming! Been a very busy week but finally settling down!
7 yrs ago
The adult in me says sleep, the kid in me wants to play NieR. The kid's winning D:
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likes
7 yrs ago
youtube.com/watch?v=7RzA_Oom.. All of my yes. Love this theme <3
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like
7 yrs ago
If you've not had a chance to watch "Your Name" yet, highly recommend!
7 yrs ago
If I owe you a post expect replies tomorrow. Been up since 4 am today, barely keeping myself from drooling in a bucket! x_x
Bio
This is a bio, it has bio-like things.
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Absurd. Idiotic. Impudent. Brash. Juvenile. Arrogant. Edmund would have to go back and look at a dictionary to find more words to label Kael. He did not tell the children to be careful simply because he liked to talk, he reminded them incessantly because it was absolutely imperative that they don't be foolish. Yes the vicinity around their workshop should be devoid of beasts but that didn't excuse carelessness. Just what was the boy hoping to accomplish by running off? Someone had to mind the Scourge Beasts while they searched for Kael and he certainly wouldn't leave a novice to handle such a task, as such Josephine was sent off in search of her fellow apprentice. The beasts were feasting on a carcass and would be preoccupied for a while, but how long until they decided to move on? Were there more of them? They needed to potentially tail these four and find where they were nesting, if they could manage that then with luck they could snuff out whatever pocket had formed within the limits. Beast hunting was more than simply slaying whatever you came across, sometimes a little observation paid off tenfold.
Kael couldn't help but laugh at what he was witnessing. Goody two-shoes Josephine, the teacher's pet, was now disobeying him and moving in to attack! Unless Edmund had suddenly given the order for her to do so, which he sincerely doubted, she'd done exactly as he had and slipped away. When their eyes met even at this distance he was sure she could see his excitement, an arrow already firmly notched and primed to fire. Letting his partner get into position he perched one leg up on the ledge of the roof and readied his bow, training his sights on one of the Scourge Beasts nearest Josephine. With a deep inhale he steadied his aim and held, waiting for her signal to fire. No sooner did the girl emerge from cover did his fingers release the arrow and string, sending the projectile whistling down furiously at its mark. Right on target, unsurprisingly, it buried itself in the throat of the beast and nearly knocked it off of its feet in the process. A lethal blow as he'd no doubt struck its jugular, soon enough it would bleed out.
Still... It wasn't quite as satisfying just waiting for a target to bleed out. Having launched his first attack Kael's blood ran hot through his veins, a gleam in his eye as he quickly notched his second arrow. This was what he'd wanted, the thrill of fighting an actual target. Even as removed from the action as he was he couldn't help but grow giddy as the fight unfolded, and with almost a giggle he released his second shot, piercing the first beast's skull and dropping its matted frame to the dirt. Why had Edmund not wanted them to fight? Already two were dead and they'd barely just engaged the beasts, what was there to worry about? With another arrow ready to fire he took aim and watched Josephine... Stop moving? What was she doing? Both of the Scourge Beasts were advancing on her and she was just standing there staring at them. What the hell was she trying to do, bait them into attacking? Gritting his teeth he aimed at one and fired his arrow, cursing as it missed when both lunged right at her. Thankfully whatever had come over her passed and she dodged their attacks, catching one with her blades and slicing its side clean open. It would be a short lived victory however as the second was upon her in seconds, and with it so close to her there was no way he could reliably fire at it. He had to try though, if Edmund wasn't intervening no one else was going to bail her out.
The second Scourge Beast had managed to keep upright and closed in on Josephine as well, both looked more than ready to have a second meal of her. A quick streak of yellow and the second one found itself lighter by a head, a blade having cleaved its skull clean from its shoulders in the blink of an eye. Before the beast ever had a chance to sink its fangs into Josephine, Edmund slammed his frame into its side and knocked it away, hardly missing a beat as he moved after it. Even without an Old Hunter's Bone charm he was astonishingly fast, ducking beneath furious slashes of the Scourge Beast as though it moved in slow motion.
Using the hilt of the Chikage the veteran Hunter slammed the end into the underside of the beast's jaw, shattering it on impact as it tried to bite down on him. Using the flat of his blade then to hold back another swipe of its paw he reached back and withdrew his pistol, pressing the barrel to its throat before firing a single round which tore clean through it. Blood splattered against his face and clothes but he was hardly phased as he flipped his sword around, spinning on his left foot and slicing through the beast's already torn throat, taking its head in one clean cut. Its corpse collapsed to the ground and dark blood pooled from its wounds at his feet, a sickeningly beautiful glean in the moonlight. As before a silence washed over the streets and again the Hunters were alone. Alive, though had the two children been any more foolish that may well not be the case.
Kael rushed down the fire escape to the courtyard below, a gleeful grin plastered on his face as he arrived. "We killed them! All four of them, gone! Don't you see Master Edmund, we're more than ready to fight!" If looks could kill he would have dropped dead then and there. Master Edmund glared at him with a fury he thought only beasts capable of and said nothing yet the young Hunter felt his very core chilled by the look, his face paling as he lowered his weapon. Without a word their master surveyed the area before tending to Josephine, and he was certain they were in for an earful before long.
"I asked you to find Kael, not attack the beasts. I see you're not fond of following directions either," Edmund muttered, knelt beside the young woman. Running his hand over her back and inspecting for wounds he was relieved to find none, sighing before helping the girl to her feet. Fetching her Rakuyo from the ground he offered it over but kept a hold on it, frowning at Josephine in disapproval. "I expect some kind of insolence from Kael, but you? What would have happened had I not been here? Would Kael have been able to kill both of them? Or did you intend on fighting the two beasts unarmed?" Relinquishing her weapon he shook his head, sheathing his own and taking a moment to wipe blood from his face. The stink of it had long since faded for him and he almost forgot he was covered most nights, a lifetime of hunts made you numb to those kinds of things.
"Master, we killed them! I told you we were able to do it," Kael pressed, an uneasy smile returning as he stepped forward, "So maybe it wasn't as well coordinated as it could have been, still, we managed to kill all four of-"
"You killed two. Or rather, you each killed one. I killed the other two," Edmund interjected stiffly, "Kael, your lack of foresight could have gotten Josephine killed tonight. And what would have happened if she was swarmed? Would you have come down and tried to help her escape? An apprentice like you, fend off three or more Scourge Beasts on your own?" Scoffing then he removed his cap and ran a hand through his silver hair, shaking his head before placing it back. "This will be the first, and the last time we venture outside the workshop for some time."
"But Master Edmund, we killed the beasts, we proved our training-"
"You proved you're still petulant children who think they're invincible! I will not permit anyone to throw their lives away seeking glory!" Edmund shouted atop his lungs, and it was certainly fortunate that no beasts were nearby, otherwise they'd be upon the group in seconds. "Knowing how to fight is not enough, you need experience, you need judgement, you need patience and you need caution. Both of you lack all of those still, that much was made clear tonight. Neither of you are to leave the workshop without me in attendance, neither of you are permitted to even go near the bridge. You will remain behind those doors until I decide you're ready to travel outside again. Am I clear?" Two answers of a somber 'yes' was all he got in reply and that was fine. Neither of them would be allowed anywhere near the streets of Yharnam until they learned how to behave like proper Hunters, not children playing at some game.
"We'll head back. The scent of their blood is bound to attract other beasts, I'll burn the bodies and hope none come to investigate." Moving around the courtyard Edmund gathered the bodies together and piled them atop one another, their mutilated corpses slick with their blood. Every piece he could manage to grab was piled high before he withdrew tinder from his pouch and struck flint against the cobbled stones of the street, igniting the tinder. Using a small vial of oil then he poured it over the pile and set the bodies alight, watching as a pillar of black smoke quickly rose up into the clear night sky. Should any other beasts arrive tonight they would find naught but charred remains to dine on, and it was the Hunter's hope that the beasts would turn around and leave without any food to keep them around.
Kael couldn't help but laugh at what he was witnessing. Goody two-shoes Josephine, the teacher's pet, was now disobeying him and moving in to attack! Unless Edmund had suddenly given the order for her to do so, which he sincerely doubted, she'd done exactly as he had and slipped away. When their eyes met even at this distance he was sure she could see his excitement, an arrow already firmly notched and primed to fire. Letting his partner get into position he perched one leg up on the ledge of the roof and readied his bow, training his sights on one of the Scourge Beasts nearest Josephine. With a deep inhale he steadied his aim and held, waiting for her signal to fire. No sooner did the girl emerge from cover did his fingers release the arrow and string, sending the projectile whistling down furiously at its mark. Right on target, unsurprisingly, it buried itself in the throat of the beast and nearly knocked it off of its feet in the process. A lethal blow as he'd no doubt struck its jugular, soon enough it would bleed out.
Still... It wasn't quite as satisfying just waiting for a target to bleed out. Having launched his first attack Kael's blood ran hot through his veins, a gleam in his eye as he quickly notched his second arrow. This was what he'd wanted, the thrill of fighting an actual target. Even as removed from the action as he was he couldn't help but grow giddy as the fight unfolded, and with almost a giggle he released his second shot, piercing the first beast's skull and dropping its matted frame to the dirt. Why had Edmund not wanted them to fight? Already two were dead and they'd barely just engaged the beasts, what was there to worry about? With another arrow ready to fire he took aim and watched Josephine... Stop moving? What was she doing? Both of the Scourge Beasts were advancing on her and she was just standing there staring at them. What the hell was she trying to do, bait them into attacking? Gritting his teeth he aimed at one and fired his arrow, cursing as it missed when both lunged right at her. Thankfully whatever had come over her passed and she dodged their attacks, catching one with her blades and slicing its side clean open. It would be a short lived victory however as the second was upon her in seconds, and with it so close to her there was no way he could reliably fire at it. He had to try though, if Edmund wasn't intervening no one else was going to bail her out.
The second Scourge Beast had managed to keep upright and closed in on Josephine as well, both looked more than ready to have a second meal of her. A quick streak of yellow and the second one found itself lighter by a head, a blade having cleaved its skull clean from its shoulders in the blink of an eye. Before the beast ever had a chance to sink its fangs into Josephine, Edmund slammed his frame into its side and knocked it away, hardly missing a beat as he moved after it. Even without an Old Hunter's Bone charm he was astonishingly fast, ducking beneath furious slashes of the Scourge Beast as though it moved in slow motion.
Using the hilt of the Chikage the veteran Hunter slammed the end into the underside of the beast's jaw, shattering it on impact as it tried to bite down on him. Using the flat of his blade then to hold back another swipe of its paw he reached back and withdrew his pistol, pressing the barrel to its throat before firing a single round which tore clean through it. Blood splattered against his face and clothes but he was hardly phased as he flipped his sword around, spinning on his left foot and slicing through the beast's already torn throat, taking its head in one clean cut. Its corpse collapsed to the ground and dark blood pooled from its wounds at his feet, a sickeningly beautiful glean in the moonlight. As before a silence washed over the streets and again the Hunters were alone. Alive, though had the two children been any more foolish that may well not be the case.
Kael rushed down the fire escape to the courtyard below, a gleeful grin plastered on his face as he arrived. "We killed them! All four of them, gone! Don't you see Master Edmund, we're more than ready to fight!" If looks could kill he would have dropped dead then and there. Master Edmund glared at him with a fury he thought only beasts capable of and said nothing yet the young Hunter felt his very core chilled by the look, his face paling as he lowered his weapon. Without a word their master surveyed the area before tending to Josephine, and he was certain they were in for an earful before long.
"I asked you to find Kael, not attack the beasts. I see you're not fond of following directions either," Edmund muttered, knelt beside the young woman. Running his hand over her back and inspecting for wounds he was relieved to find none, sighing before helping the girl to her feet. Fetching her Rakuyo from the ground he offered it over but kept a hold on it, frowning at Josephine in disapproval. "I expect some kind of insolence from Kael, but you? What would have happened had I not been here? Would Kael have been able to kill both of them? Or did you intend on fighting the two beasts unarmed?" Relinquishing her weapon he shook his head, sheathing his own and taking a moment to wipe blood from his face. The stink of it had long since faded for him and he almost forgot he was covered most nights, a lifetime of hunts made you numb to those kinds of things.
"Master, we killed them! I told you we were able to do it," Kael pressed, an uneasy smile returning as he stepped forward, "So maybe it wasn't as well coordinated as it could have been, still, we managed to kill all four of-"
"You killed two. Or rather, you each killed one. I killed the other two," Edmund interjected stiffly, "Kael, your lack of foresight could have gotten Josephine killed tonight. And what would have happened if she was swarmed? Would you have come down and tried to help her escape? An apprentice like you, fend off three or more Scourge Beasts on your own?" Scoffing then he removed his cap and ran a hand through his silver hair, shaking his head before placing it back. "This will be the first, and the last time we venture outside the workshop for some time."
"But Master Edmund, we killed the beasts, we proved our training-"
"You proved you're still petulant children who think they're invincible! I will not permit anyone to throw their lives away seeking glory!" Edmund shouted atop his lungs, and it was certainly fortunate that no beasts were nearby, otherwise they'd be upon the group in seconds. "Knowing how to fight is not enough, you need experience, you need judgement, you need patience and you need caution. Both of you lack all of those still, that much was made clear tonight. Neither of you are to leave the workshop without me in attendance, neither of you are permitted to even go near the bridge. You will remain behind those doors until I decide you're ready to travel outside again. Am I clear?" Two answers of a somber 'yes' was all he got in reply and that was fine. Neither of them would be allowed anywhere near the streets of Yharnam until they learned how to behave like proper Hunters, not children playing at some game.
"We'll head back. The scent of their blood is bound to attract other beasts, I'll burn the bodies and hope none come to investigate." Moving around the courtyard Edmund gathered the bodies together and piled them atop one another, their mutilated corpses slick with their blood. Every piece he could manage to grab was piled high before he withdrew tinder from his pouch and struck flint against the cobbled stones of the street, igniting the tinder. Using a small vial of oil then he poured it over the pile and set the bodies alight, watching as a pillar of black smoke quickly rose up into the clear night sky. Should any other beasts arrive tonight they would find naught but charred remains to dine on, and it was the Hunter's hope that the beasts would turn around and leave without any food to keep them around.
"Yeah, no hitting in the head. Other than that its fair game," Takeshi chuckled weakly, smiling as he gestured to himself before Shu, "I'm going to win this time though, it won't be like last time. I'm not going to lose to a squirt like you, buddy." Hopefully he could throw this without his brother noticing what he was doing. Was it too much to ask that they both just be declared winners now and leave it at that? They were almost finished preparing the stage for the final match and people were beginning to return to their seats, and Aito had come back to watch them as well. Looking over at the doctor there was a silent agreement between the two of them as the man nodded to Takeshi before trying to help settle down the still irate Ricken. Shu definitely shouldn't be fighting, but if the little guy was going to insist on it then he'd play along. Takeshi refused to fight though, he'd play along right up until the bell was rung.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come at last for the final match! This exciting tournament has led up to this point, the culmination of this world's finest fighters have fought for this opportunity! I hope you're already for the match of the year, I sure know I am!" Fat chance it was going to be anything like that, but Takeshi would let the guy have his fun. It was annoying having him build up the two finalists as if anyone didn't know who was going to be fighting, they'd literally finished the semifinals not ten minutes earlier. As the man went through with his spiel Takeshi was already moving to the arena, standing at the stairs leading up and waiting impatiently for his name to be announced. Seeing Shu at the bench still he smiled and waved for his brother to come over and join him, watching the announcer as he went on and on.
"Jeez, this guy doesn't shut the hell up does he?" Takeshi grumbled, itching his head with a sigh as the crowd cheered for him and Shu. Hands in his pockets he went ahead and up the stairs, passing straight on by the announcer as he gave him an introduction. Would it be bad if he screamed at the guy to shut the hell up and get on with it? Probably, and he didn't want to make this any worse for Shu. Rolling his eyes as the man finally got on announcing his brother he smiled for Shu, ready to get the mess underway. When the announcer at last shut up and the match was started Takeshi simply took one hand from his pocket and waved to Shu, smiling apologetically as he started to step backwards towards the edge of the arena. He had to just throw the match, if Shu ended up even more hurt just for a little scuffle then it'd be all his fault, but more importantly he didn't want Shu to be hurt in the first place. The doctor had to take a look at him and once this match of theirs was over he could. At the edge of the arena he glanced back at the grass before looking to Shu again, taking his hands out and putting them up defensively, shrugging his shoulders before stepping back and simply falling out, landing on his feet and sighing as the crowd fell deathly silent.
The final match was... Over? They had heard that it had begun hadn't they? So why had Takeshi just stepped out of the arena? This was... Unusual, no contestant had ever done something like that before, certainly not a finalist. What should they do now? The crowd had been so excited for this match and now everyone was staring down at the arena dumbstruck trying to figure out why one of the two potential champions had forfeited. The announcer looked for Korian in the crowd for some sign of what he should do and at the wave of the man's hand he decided to conclude the tournament. "W-Well... Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that we have a winner..." he began, turning and gesturing to Shu with a still dumbfounded expression, "Shu... Er... It seems like you are the winner! You've successfully beaten Takeshi and have been crowned the champion of this years tournament!" The crowd still wasn't reacting much and the announcer was clueless how to spark them back up. Clearing his throat awkwardly he pulled at his collar before turning to face the crowd, beaming as he spoke. "Now everyone, wasn't this a SPECTACULAR tournament? Let's hear it for all of this year's combatants, everyone who took part in the festivities, and all of those behind the scenes working to make this happen!" THAT got some cheers going, and from there he could work the crowd.
Takeshi had actually thrown the match, how interesting. At least the boy had been smart enough to recognize that Shu was in absolutely no state to be fighting regardless of what he'd said earlier. They would have to go through concussion protocol as soon as Shu was off of the arena, and to be safe he'd probably have to be kept out of most activity for a few days at least. Aito didn't like to have to take away Shu's ability to do anything particularly because that might help his issues, but if it meant preventing another concussion it'd be worth it.
"Looks like you beat me buddy, sorry. I'm not going to fight you," Takeshi admitted as he stood before his brother. The little guy was probably furious with him but he couldn't do it, not with how Shu was. Smiling apologetically he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away, wondering what in the hell to say now that he'd gone and lied to his brother like that. "Er... I mean you probably would have beaten me anyways, you know? You're faster, and... I'm kind of sore from my matches, especially since Ricken was knocking me around. I just saved you the trouble of kicking my butt, that's all."
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come at last for the final match! This exciting tournament has led up to this point, the culmination of this world's finest fighters have fought for this opportunity! I hope you're already for the match of the year, I sure know I am!" Fat chance it was going to be anything like that, but Takeshi would let the guy have his fun. It was annoying having him build up the two finalists as if anyone didn't know who was going to be fighting, they'd literally finished the semifinals not ten minutes earlier. As the man went through with his spiel Takeshi was already moving to the arena, standing at the stairs leading up and waiting impatiently for his name to be announced. Seeing Shu at the bench still he smiled and waved for his brother to come over and join him, watching the announcer as he went on and on.
"Jeez, this guy doesn't shut the hell up does he?" Takeshi grumbled, itching his head with a sigh as the crowd cheered for him and Shu. Hands in his pockets he went ahead and up the stairs, passing straight on by the announcer as he gave him an introduction. Would it be bad if he screamed at the guy to shut the hell up and get on with it? Probably, and he didn't want to make this any worse for Shu. Rolling his eyes as the man finally got on announcing his brother he smiled for Shu, ready to get the mess underway. When the announcer at last shut up and the match was started Takeshi simply took one hand from his pocket and waved to Shu, smiling apologetically as he started to step backwards towards the edge of the arena. He had to just throw the match, if Shu ended up even more hurt just for a little scuffle then it'd be all his fault, but more importantly he didn't want Shu to be hurt in the first place. The doctor had to take a look at him and once this match of theirs was over he could. At the edge of the arena he glanced back at the grass before looking to Shu again, taking his hands out and putting them up defensively, shrugging his shoulders before stepping back and simply falling out, landing on his feet and sighing as the crowd fell deathly silent.
The final match was... Over? They had heard that it had begun hadn't they? So why had Takeshi just stepped out of the arena? This was... Unusual, no contestant had ever done something like that before, certainly not a finalist. What should they do now? The crowd had been so excited for this match and now everyone was staring down at the arena dumbstruck trying to figure out why one of the two potential champions had forfeited. The announcer looked for Korian in the crowd for some sign of what he should do and at the wave of the man's hand he decided to conclude the tournament. "W-Well... Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that we have a winner..." he began, turning and gesturing to Shu with a still dumbfounded expression, "Shu... Er... It seems like you are the winner! You've successfully beaten Takeshi and have been crowned the champion of this years tournament!" The crowd still wasn't reacting much and the announcer was clueless how to spark them back up. Clearing his throat awkwardly he pulled at his collar before turning to face the crowd, beaming as he spoke. "Now everyone, wasn't this a SPECTACULAR tournament? Let's hear it for all of this year's combatants, everyone who took part in the festivities, and all of those behind the scenes working to make this happen!" THAT got some cheers going, and from there he could work the crowd.
Takeshi had actually thrown the match, how interesting. At least the boy had been smart enough to recognize that Shu was in absolutely no state to be fighting regardless of what he'd said earlier. They would have to go through concussion protocol as soon as Shu was off of the arena, and to be safe he'd probably have to be kept out of most activity for a few days at least. Aito didn't like to have to take away Shu's ability to do anything particularly because that might help his issues, but if it meant preventing another concussion it'd be worth it.
"Looks like you beat me buddy, sorry. I'm not going to fight you," Takeshi admitted as he stood before his brother. The little guy was probably furious with him but he couldn't do it, not with how Shu was. Smiling apologetically he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away, wondering what in the hell to say now that he'd gone and lied to his brother like that. "Er... I mean you probably would have beaten me anyways, you know? You're faster, and... I'm kind of sore from my matches, especially since Ricken was knocking me around. I just saved you the trouble of kicking my butt, that's all."
"I listen enough to know he repeats himself over and over. If you weren't so busy sniffing his boots and trying to suck up maybe you'd realize he's not taught us anything new in years." All the more reason for them to go out in the field, there was nothing more they could learn by practicing drills in the safety of the Workshop. They could never become Hunters just by bashing straw dummies all day. Reaching back behind himself Kael pulled two curved daggers from his waist and flipped them over, pressing the hilts together before twisting and pulling them apart. Hooks caught and when pulled apart the hilts extended, and unfurling a wire bound in one of them he strung his makeshift bow, grinning as he loosely notched an arrow in the string. "Let's just show him we're not children anymore and maybe he'll treat us like Hunters then. And give us the respect we deserve."
Being outside of the workshop was the first time either apprentice could fully grasp the direness of the situation they were in. There was nothing like seeing with your own eyes and what both were treated to was utter carnage beyond their sanctuary. Even as they emerged into the world outside a small pile of corpses sat alongside a nearby wall, rotting slowly and picked apart by carrion in the area. Some of Edmund's kills on his patrols; "Beast Patients" as they were called, meager beasts but plentiful and a nuisance if allowed to congregate. These and many other beasts lay strewn through the streets, all having succumb to the veteran Hunter's blade at some time. Kael was of absolute confidence that he and Josephine could accomplish the same thing if given the chance, certainly if they worked together beasts such as these would be child's play.
"The streets of Yharnam aren't as bad as they once were, we've driven most of the beasts back and to the outskirts. That said it's not unusual for a few to slip in now and again. When you're out here you can never be too careful, treat it like you're walking through a swarm." Passing through a narrow strip between several three story homes Edmund slowed his pace at the front of the pack, holding up a hand to stop the apprentices before pressing a finger to his lips. In the silence that surrounded them the noise of flesh being torn was clear, as were the low guttural growls and an exchange of barks and snarls. Scourge Beasts, no doubt about it, and at least two of them. Waving the two along he slowly moved to the end of the path and gestured again for them to stop, leaning out around the edge of the building to take stock of the situation. There were four Scourge beasts together surrounding what looked to be the corpse of a Troll, its skeleton nearly picked clean as they ravaged the corpse for whatever meal they could manage. An easy group to dispatch for three Hunters but then they weren't here to kill, but to observe.
"Good, this will make an excellent learning experience. I want you two to play close attention to how they behave, especially how they interact over a meal," Edmund whispered in a hushed tone. "They often cooperate, but its not uncommon for them to fight when food is scarce. You can use this to your advantage if you ever come across a pack. Kael, do you remember where a Scourge Beast's weak spot is?" Furrowing his brow at the silence that followed Edmund turned to look for his apprentice and scowled upon realizing the boy was no longer with them. Scanning the streets around them he grit his teeth and checked back on the Scourge beasts, finding them to still be preoccupied with their meal. "Josephine, go and find Kael. And drag him back here by the throat if you must, I don't care how you get him back," the Hunter hissed, unsheathing his Chikage and holding it firmly in both hands, "Don't worry about the Scourge Beasts, if any of them leave I'll kill it. Hurry now, there may be more beasts about."
Kael had different plans as opposed to simply sightseeing: he was going to kill the Scourge Beasts. They had spent hours upon hours reading over texts that accounted the types of beasts known to man, their weaknesses, their habits, everything there was to know. Edmund's rhetoric had grown old and he wasn't going to waste time in the field rehashing the same old nonsense they had read a dozen times over. Slipping into the alleyway of two homes he found a fire escape and swiftly ascended the stairs, bow slung over his shoulder as he climbed. Once atop the building he backed off a ways and glanced across the gap at the adjacent home, the one which should be overlooking the courtyard where the Scourge Beasts had gathered. Taking a deep breath he tapped his back foot twice before dashing forward, putting one foot on the ledge before propelling himself up and over the gap. He narrowly cleared it and rolled as his feet met tile, keeping a grip on his bow and promptly rising to his feet, weapon in hand. Easing his way forward and being sure to make as little noise as possible he neared the edge of the roof and took a knee, peering down and grinning at the unsuspecting beasts. Easy marks, he could take out two before they even knew what was happening, and all four before they ever had a chance of finding him.
Being outside of the workshop was the first time either apprentice could fully grasp the direness of the situation they were in. There was nothing like seeing with your own eyes and what both were treated to was utter carnage beyond their sanctuary. Even as they emerged into the world outside a small pile of corpses sat alongside a nearby wall, rotting slowly and picked apart by carrion in the area. Some of Edmund's kills on his patrols; "Beast Patients" as they were called, meager beasts but plentiful and a nuisance if allowed to congregate. These and many other beasts lay strewn through the streets, all having succumb to the veteran Hunter's blade at some time. Kael was of absolute confidence that he and Josephine could accomplish the same thing if given the chance, certainly if they worked together beasts such as these would be child's play.
"The streets of Yharnam aren't as bad as they once were, we've driven most of the beasts back and to the outskirts. That said it's not unusual for a few to slip in now and again. When you're out here you can never be too careful, treat it like you're walking through a swarm." Passing through a narrow strip between several three story homes Edmund slowed his pace at the front of the pack, holding up a hand to stop the apprentices before pressing a finger to his lips. In the silence that surrounded them the noise of flesh being torn was clear, as were the low guttural growls and an exchange of barks and snarls. Scourge Beasts, no doubt about it, and at least two of them. Waving the two along he slowly moved to the end of the path and gestured again for them to stop, leaning out around the edge of the building to take stock of the situation. There were four Scourge beasts together surrounding what looked to be the corpse of a Troll, its skeleton nearly picked clean as they ravaged the corpse for whatever meal they could manage. An easy group to dispatch for three Hunters but then they weren't here to kill, but to observe.
"Good, this will make an excellent learning experience. I want you two to play close attention to how they behave, especially how they interact over a meal," Edmund whispered in a hushed tone. "They often cooperate, but its not uncommon for them to fight when food is scarce. You can use this to your advantage if you ever come across a pack. Kael, do you remember where a Scourge Beast's weak spot is?" Furrowing his brow at the silence that followed Edmund turned to look for his apprentice and scowled upon realizing the boy was no longer with them. Scanning the streets around them he grit his teeth and checked back on the Scourge beasts, finding them to still be preoccupied with their meal. "Josephine, go and find Kael. And drag him back here by the throat if you must, I don't care how you get him back," the Hunter hissed, unsheathing his Chikage and holding it firmly in both hands, "Don't worry about the Scourge Beasts, if any of them leave I'll kill it. Hurry now, there may be more beasts about."
Kael had different plans as opposed to simply sightseeing: he was going to kill the Scourge Beasts. They had spent hours upon hours reading over texts that accounted the types of beasts known to man, their weaknesses, their habits, everything there was to know. Edmund's rhetoric had grown old and he wasn't going to waste time in the field rehashing the same old nonsense they had read a dozen times over. Slipping into the alleyway of two homes he found a fire escape and swiftly ascended the stairs, bow slung over his shoulder as he climbed. Once atop the building he backed off a ways and glanced across the gap at the adjacent home, the one which should be overlooking the courtyard where the Scourge Beasts had gathered. Taking a deep breath he tapped his back foot twice before dashing forward, putting one foot on the ledge before propelling himself up and over the gap. He narrowly cleared it and rolled as his feet met tile, keeping a grip on his bow and promptly rising to his feet, weapon in hand. Easing his way forward and being sure to make as little noise as possible he neared the edge of the roof and took a knee, peering down and grinning at the unsuspecting beasts. Easy marks, he could take out two before they even knew what was happening, and all four before they ever had a chance of finding him.
Kael sneered at Josephine's jab and looked away like a petulant child. She agreed with him even if she wouldn't say it outright as he did. Every other trainee though the two of them the most capable and yet they were seemingly held back, why? For what reason would Master Edmund deny them actual training? Their purpose was to help find a means of saving everyone and yet they could do no such thing if they were never allowed outside of the Workshop. It came as something of a shock when Josephine agreed it was high time they should depart though not wholly unexpected: they had gotten the basics down and were ready to put it to practice. Their ideas of being in the field however varied greatly and left Kael feeling cheated. 'See how they act'? Who cared how beasts acted, they were beasts and nothing more, only meant to be put down like the animals they were. It was a waste of time to go and study them.
"If you two are so adamant about leaving then we can go now. It's not as though time will pass outside these halls," Edmund remarked bitterly. "I'll fetch my tools, you two go and wait by the gates." Perhaps seeing the world for what it was would curb their enthusiasm and end this absurd idea of theirs. Both of them had been marked by the beasts and yet they though themselves prepared to face that sight again. The fact was very few ever could, many froze up in the face of the beasts and died for it, would they succumb to the same fate? Leading up to the workshop Edmund silently ascended the stairs, giving only a brief nod to other apprentices as he passed them by. Some day many of them may well be ready to take up arms and fight but that day was not coming soon. To prepare for what would doubtless be a lifetime of battle, however brief that life may be, it took a lot of practice.
No longer did they possess the boon of the Dream either. Edmund had been capable of "returning" after dying and emerging unscathed, and while a rather unpleasant experience it had given him almost an immortality of sorts. In his younger years it was a blessing, for his naivete and lack of skill earned him many deaths. As he grew more experienced however his trips back to the Dream had become far and few between to the point where he'd not visited but to speak with the Doll. Heaven knows why, the thing never spoke but a few words and was not much for conversation. With a grim smile he opened up a chest and pulled from it his Chikage and Hunter's Pistol, placing each on his waistband. This was why he disallowed his students from venturing out: death was permanent, there was no "returning", not anymore. Were there not the threat of death hanging over their heads he may be more lax, but they couldn't afford to lose many more.
"I'm surprised you actually agreed with me. Usually you try to insult me and kiss up to Master Edmund at every turn." Teacher's pet as she was called, no doubt she had been much the same before she'd ended up in this mess. Why anyone would want a man like Edmund favoring them was beyond him. He was a bitter Hunter and curt, had little time for anything other than training and was insanely private. He spoke of being comrades and yet he was utterly enigmatic, the only thing they really knew of the man was his name and his profession. "Tell me, dear sister," Kael continued with a smirk, "Why the change of heart? Are you growing as tired of his games as I am?"
"Perhaps she simply wants to see you knocked off of your high horse," Edmund interjected from behind the pair, frowning as Kael jumped and spun around to face him. "Let's try to focus now, hm? Once we leave this place we'll doubtless be set upon almost immediately. Keep your wits about you and your weapons ready." Josephine's idea of observation was good but difficult to pull off, the area around the shop was not immediately inhabited by beasts, merely people driven mad by the blood. Just as dangerous yet not what they would be fighting, at least not the main threat.
The walk from the workshop was a long one, following a winding trail that sat over a high cliff to the jagged rocks of a sea rise below. At the end of the trail was a door, the logistics of how this place was separated like a room was still a mystery to many. Edmund moved ahead and parted the heavy doors, stepping through and inspecting the area before waving his students along. On the other side the room was near pitch black, and while Edmund's eyes had long since adjusted the children no doubt would have some trouble. Reaching into his coat he withdrew a small orb and squeezed it in his hand, illuminating it before throwing it ahead. The orb itself rolled a ways before suddenly shattering and releasing flecks of metal which the light reflected off of, giving the area around them an eerily beautiful gleam. Using the glow of the small bomb they moved forward until they reached a second set of doors, this one leading to the world outside.
"Now remember, do not engage the beasts unless you absolutely must," Edmund directed mostly to Kael, though he looked to Josephine for her benefit as well, "This is not a mission to try and kill as many as you can, its practice. Don't get ahead of yourselves." The lack of light was no longer a problem when the second set of doors were opened and light flooded the room. The pair were welcomed with a long bridge before them, its stones well worn and many parts broken, coated in ages old blood that discolored the very rock itself. High above the sky was ablaze with brilliant oranges and reds not unlike a flame, and set in the sky was the Blood Moon itself. It gave the world a deceptively warm glow. One might almost call the world beautiful if they didn't know the hellish truth that awaited anyone who dared step outside. "Move swiftly but quietly, and do not get too far from me," the Master Hunter warned before taking the lead again, crossing out over the large bridge, "Move out you two."
"Move out you two. I can't wait until we're through dealing with him..." Kael grumbled beneath his breath as he too advanced, "I don't understand you Jose, how do you not get sick of hearing him all the time? He acts so high and mighty, like he knows everything. Arrogant bastard..."
"If you two are so adamant about leaving then we can go now. It's not as though time will pass outside these halls," Edmund remarked bitterly. "I'll fetch my tools, you two go and wait by the gates." Perhaps seeing the world for what it was would curb their enthusiasm and end this absurd idea of theirs. Both of them had been marked by the beasts and yet they though themselves prepared to face that sight again. The fact was very few ever could, many froze up in the face of the beasts and died for it, would they succumb to the same fate? Leading up to the workshop Edmund silently ascended the stairs, giving only a brief nod to other apprentices as he passed them by. Some day many of them may well be ready to take up arms and fight but that day was not coming soon. To prepare for what would doubtless be a lifetime of battle, however brief that life may be, it took a lot of practice.
No longer did they possess the boon of the Dream either. Edmund had been capable of "returning" after dying and emerging unscathed, and while a rather unpleasant experience it had given him almost an immortality of sorts. In his younger years it was a blessing, for his naivete and lack of skill earned him many deaths. As he grew more experienced however his trips back to the Dream had become far and few between to the point where he'd not visited but to speak with the Doll. Heaven knows why, the thing never spoke but a few words and was not much for conversation. With a grim smile he opened up a chest and pulled from it his Chikage and Hunter's Pistol, placing each on his waistband. This was why he disallowed his students from venturing out: death was permanent, there was no "returning", not anymore. Were there not the threat of death hanging over their heads he may be more lax, but they couldn't afford to lose many more.
"I'm surprised you actually agreed with me. Usually you try to insult me and kiss up to Master Edmund at every turn." Teacher's pet as she was called, no doubt she had been much the same before she'd ended up in this mess. Why anyone would want a man like Edmund favoring them was beyond him. He was a bitter Hunter and curt, had little time for anything other than training and was insanely private. He spoke of being comrades and yet he was utterly enigmatic, the only thing they really knew of the man was his name and his profession. "Tell me, dear sister," Kael continued with a smirk, "Why the change of heart? Are you growing as tired of his games as I am?"
"Perhaps she simply wants to see you knocked off of your high horse," Edmund interjected from behind the pair, frowning as Kael jumped and spun around to face him. "Let's try to focus now, hm? Once we leave this place we'll doubtless be set upon almost immediately. Keep your wits about you and your weapons ready." Josephine's idea of observation was good but difficult to pull off, the area around the shop was not immediately inhabited by beasts, merely people driven mad by the blood. Just as dangerous yet not what they would be fighting, at least not the main threat.
The walk from the workshop was a long one, following a winding trail that sat over a high cliff to the jagged rocks of a sea rise below. At the end of the trail was a door, the logistics of how this place was separated like a room was still a mystery to many. Edmund moved ahead and parted the heavy doors, stepping through and inspecting the area before waving his students along. On the other side the room was near pitch black, and while Edmund's eyes had long since adjusted the children no doubt would have some trouble. Reaching into his coat he withdrew a small orb and squeezed it in his hand, illuminating it before throwing it ahead. The orb itself rolled a ways before suddenly shattering and releasing flecks of metal which the light reflected off of, giving the area around them an eerily beautiful gleam. Using the glow of the small bomb they moved forward until they reached a second set of doors, this one leading to the world outside.
"Now remember, do not engage the beasts unless you absolutely must," Edmund directed mostly to Kael, though he looked to Josephine for her benefit as well, "This is not a mission to try and kill as many as you can, its practice. Don't get ahead of yourselves." The lack of light was no longer a problem when the second set of doors were opened and light flooded the room. The pair were welcomed with a long bridge before them, its stones well worn and many parts broken, coated in ages old blood that discolored the very rock itself. High above the sky was ablaze with brilliant oranges and reds not unlike a flame, and set in the sky was the Blood Moon itself. It gave the world a deceptively warm glow. One might almost call the world beautiful if they didn't know the hellish truth that awaited anyone who dared step outside. "Move swiftly but quietly, and do not get too far from me," the Master Hunter warned before taking the lead again, crossing out over the large bridge, "Move out you two."
"Move out you two. I can't wait until we're through dealing with him..." Kael grumbled beneath his breath as he too advanced, "I don't understand you Jose, how do you not get sick of hearing him all the time? He acts so high and mighty, like he knows everything. Arrogant bastard..."
"Not good enough, do it again." Repetition until it became muscle memory and you could perform the moves in your sleep. It was a mundane and painstaking process but no less would do for prospective hunters. Though many of the worst beasts had been slain by his hand Edmund was not content to rest, and perhaps it was a sort of paranoia he'd grown over his years. Beasts rose and fell like a tainted tide and no matter how many were killed more returned, who was to say the larger, more lethal creatures wouldn't return too? Hunters had to be prepared for any enemy and to do that meant training until your limbs were heavy as led and your lungs ached. His students would hate him today but they would thank him tomorrow when their training saved their lives. Or they might hate him still, Edmund hardly cared. His job was not to befriend everyone who came into his Workshop but to train Hunters to protect and drive back the beasts. So long as that happened he hardly cared about anything else.
Not good enough. Not good enough. Not. Good. Enough. Praise was not something Kael sought normally but it wouldn't kill their master to at least acknowledge their efforts. They had clearly improved since they had passed through those gates and yet Master Edmund treated them like fledgling hunters. And in many ways he supposed they were, there was no escaping that. Glaring up at their mentor he grit his teeth and struggled to lift his Bowblade once more, raising his weapon and notching another arrow in the string. The amount of muscles that were required to simply fire a single shot was surprisingly high and repeated firing certainly took its toll. And no matter how many bullseyes Kael managed, and there were a great many, Edmund demanded more. Fine, he would do as they had done so many times before and go to the brink of exhaustion, and only then would their master allow them to rest.
Inhaling deeply through his mouth Kael held his breath for but a moment and steadied his aim. The arrow head aimed right at the target and he slowly exhaled, pulling the string back taut before letting his fingers unfurl and the arrow fly. A whine serenaded his ears as his shot sped to its mark and hit true, the arrowhead easily piercing the dummy and embedding itself deep within its chest. A kill shot on most beasts, straight to the heart.
"I don't get why you won't let us train outside... The beasts nearby are pathetic." It was a familiar argument between student and master, the former of which who thought they were more than prepared. Exhaling as he let his shoulders drop he sat on the grass, hands splayed out behind him as he stared at the target. "Shooting this isn't going to improve my skills any, its a waste of time. If you want us to be Hunters then let us be Hunters, stop treating us like children."
Edmund silently stared at the target for a moment before a soft sigh passed through his lips. "I will stop treating you like a child when you cease acting like one," the Hunter replied curtly, his green pupils swiveling to the corners of his eyes, giving Kael a disapproving glance. "Impatience will get you killed, and that's still a problem you have. I'm not going to let some of my best students out just because you want to fight. Fighting is about knowing your enemy's movements and countering them before they can even act, not just attacking bli-"
"Yeah, you've said so a hundred times. 'Know your enemy and their movements, understand what they'll do better than they themselves do.' We get it old man, but that doesn't change that this training is a waste of our time. Shooting at still targets, striking targets with a sword," Kael added with a gesture towards his peer, Josephine, "We need to fight real beasts. Otherwise none of this matters. Do you really think we'll ever be ready unless you let us fight them?"
"So you think you're ready then? To be a true Hunter?" Edmund asked, folding his arms as he turned and addressed Kael. Of course he would say yes, the boy had been saying he was ready on nigh a year now and would not take no for an answer. There was more to hunting beasts than simply knowing how to fight, you had to resist the blood yourself, lest you become one of them. You had to learn how to save people, the biggest priority of a Hunter, and you had to accept the fact that you may very well die doing so. Neither of his students were at that stage yet, though if Kael was so adamant... "Josephine, do you feel prepared to fight?" Edmund pressed, addressing the young girl with an arched brow, "I'll accompany you two, but you'll work together to kill a beast. If you two can prove you're ready then there's no need for these drills anymore."
"Just 'cuz you get it all the time that doesn't make it any better. Hell that makes it worse, you know? If you broke an arm or whatever all the time you'd be more careful..." Takeshi had no desire to fight Shu anymore, not with how very clearly his little brother was shaken up. The fact that Aito had even had to come down to see him now was clicking, if the doc saw a reason to see Shu then he was actually hurt right? Even if they spelled it out for the little guy he'd probably still want to fight and he didn't know how to make his brother back out. Would he get pissed if he just forfeited the match?
Takeshi did know what Shu was talking about, he'd been there too. Of course his punishment for being caught was nowhere near as bad but he'd been there, he'd lost what it was like to be free. Hell even before that he'd actively avoided people as much as he could and it was only because of Shu he'd gotten so involved. They could be part of this and not have to fight each other, the people would get over it and they wouldn't be any worse for wear. It was strange having a feeling of absolutely not wanting to fight. Shu seemed so adamant about it though and much as Takeshi wanted to just refuse letting his brother fight he didn't know if he had the heart to. This was about pride for Shu wasn't it? Even if the little guy didn't say so outright he didn't want to be babied and coddled, even Takeshi figured that much by how Aito was treating him.
"Fine, you wanna fight squirt? We'll fight, it'll be our little rematch from our first tournament. That means you've got to go into this like you're gonna win, okay?" They'd have their match then, he just had to come up with some kind of plan before it began. No way was he going to fight his brother in the state he was, and truth be told Takeshi hardly cared about winning. Nothing was to gain from a mismatch tournament where, as Ricken had pointed out, it was grossly in their favor from the beginning. Even without Ki how was anyone supposed to match the strength and speed of Saiyans? Ricken and Sasha had been the closest and at best they'd managed a few seconds longer than others, which meant their fight was basically what this whole mess led up to. It should be epic then, but Takeshi felt like he'd just as soon throw it for Shu's sake. And he probably would. "Relax so your head stops spinning, and get ready to get your butt kick," the older boy teased, putting on as much a smile as he could, "I'm not gonna let you win."
Takeshi did know what Shu was talking about, he'd been there too. Of course his punishment for being caught was nowhere near as bad but he'd been there, he'd lost what it was like to be free. Hell even before that he'd actively avoided people as much as he could and it was only because of Shu he'd gotten so involved. They could be part of this and not have to fight each other, the people would get over it and they wouldn't be any worse for wear. It was strange having a feeling of absolutely not wanting to fight. Shu seemed so adamant about it though and much as Takeshi wanted to just refuse letting his brother fight he didn't know if he had the heart to. This was about pride for Shu wasn't it? Even if the little guy didn't say so outright he didn't want to be babied and coddled, even Takeshi figured that much by how Aito was treating him.
"Fine, you wanna fight squirt? We'll fight, it'll be our little rematch from our first tournament. That means you've got to go into this like you're gonna win, okay?" They'd have their match then, he just had to come up with some kind of plan before it began. No way was he going to fight his brother in the state he was, and truth be told Takeshi hardly cared about winning. Nothing was to gain from a mismatch tournament where, as Ricken had pointed out, it was grossly in their favor from the beginning. Even without Ki how was anyone supposed to match the strength and speed of Saiyans? Ricken and Sasha had been the closest and at best they'd managed a few seconds longer than others, which meant their fight was basically what this whole mess led up to. It should be epic then, but Takeshi felt like he'd just as soon throw it for Shu's sake. And he probably would. "Relax so your head stops spinning, and get ready to get your butt kick," the older boy teased, putting on as much a smile as he could, "I'm not gonna let you win."
"Right... 'Cuz no one's ever won a battle that they were outnumbered in. Face it lad, your clan was just outmatched. You say she's weak and I agree, she's pitiful for some royalty. But you still lost to her, and if their royalty is as lousy as that then what are their average fighters like? Say what ya want, but your clan was weak." The number of times they'd evaded capture by the military or the Church was more than Gage could bother to count but it had been plenty enough for one lifetime. They had started as a ragtag bunch of misfits and only grew since coming into Cedric's circle, but they'd had plenty of fights they should never have walked away from. If Kensen was too proud to admit his clan just hadn't been up to snuff then fine, he could keep living in whatever world he was in. "And lad, don't you go lecturing me about Tali, you hear? I've known her years longer than you and this ain't her. She's done stuff you couldn't believe, only reason she's doing any of this, only reason she helped you, was that old bastard. She ain't doing it out of the goodness of her heart, its an obligation." No way in hell was he going to accept that Taliya had gotten soft, certainly not to the point she was extending a hand to anyone that needed it. That just wasn't her and it wasn't their job to try and save every damned Magi that stumbled into Mutebo. "Besta luck training them whelps though, considering how they did today they'll probably drop dead before they ever figure it out!"
Aside from the whole nearly dying and the broken arm things had gone pretty well for them. That said Ethan wouldn't mind going back to the compound and sleeping off the rest of the day now. Get bandaged up and healed, get some hot food in his stomach and maybe nuzzle up into Wyth's soft fur for the afternoon, that sounded nice. At least they had made it back to Mutebo by now and they were no longer at risk of being eaten alive by molten-lava-dog-things. It was almost relaxing if Kensen wasn't shouting at them to move faster. Smiling exasperatedly he tried to stumble forward faster but had Nymira grab his shirt and slow him, giving her a confused look. When he realized then she was now leaning against him and not the other way around he blinked in surprise, looking down at her leg and seeing her bloodied ankle. "Y-Your wound! Why didn't you say something? We need to get that fixed!"
"Shut up, it's fine. I just can't lean on it," Nymira retorted, gritting her teeth as she stepped down to prove her point, "Don't go running off, I need help walking right now." She wasn't going to have Kensen barking orders at them like that, they would move at their own pace and get there all the same. Obviously they would all love to be back and not in their current situation but shouting at each other didn't make anything move faster. Plus who was he to demand anything of them?
If they were anywhere else other than Mutebo he could understand Adrianna's disguise. Traveling was unsafe for Magi nowadays, especially those who defected from the Church, and the punishment for people who did as much was imprisonment if you were lucky. Lionel considered pressing her for more information but let it be as he decided she wasn't up to anything bad here. If she was still with the Church and trying to find them a way in he'd have to do something about it, but it was clear by her disguise that was the furthest thing from her mind. Smiling as she in turn questioned him he gave as vague an answer as possible and left it at that. Who he was exactly or where he'd come from didn't matter much, what he was doing now was all that mattered. Unsurprisingly she wasn't pleased with his reply but Adrianna took no further measures to get any answers so he took his turn again, asking about her future plans for Mutebo. Would she stay or would she move on? Only so many places were safe for Magi now and Mutebo was one of very few safe cities, if she left here then where would she go?
"I'm going to do whatever I feel like doing. The Church isn't telling me what to do anymore, so I just kind of plan on... Traveling," Lionel explained with a dismissive shrug. A smile crossed his face again as he slipped off of the crates and raised his arms in a stretch, humming as he rocked back and forth on his feet. "Maybe see the world, get to meet people, practice some of my skills. Who knows! I could spend my life as a fisherman, or I could take up a trade, or maybe I'll settle down and have a family!" He had plans of course but nothing he was going to divulge to Adrianna. Maybe if she was a good girl he'd throw her a little tidbit, just something to pique her curiosity.
Lionel figured they were good as done when Adrianna begun to move away. He was just as ready to depart until he noticed where she was heading, his shoulder slumping as he spotted Nymira and Ethan all banged up yet again. Hadn't they just fixed those two up yesterday? And by the looks of it they were barely keeping it together as they sluggishly walked along, presumably on their way back to the compound. Time to fix them again... Following after Adrianna he smiled politely at Kensen and Gage, waving to them before stopping behind the other "male" healer, peering over her shoulder to see her at work. "Ooooh, Luminous magic. Very cool, wish I could do that!" Lionel commented with a whistle, looking away from Ethan to Nymira, spotting her bloodied ankle. With a sigh he threw Kensen an accusatory glance before standing before her and kneeling down, reaching into his back pocket for a cloth. "You didn't bring any medical supplies with you? Either of you? Taliya would kill you if she found out..."
"If the kids were even half-able they wouldn't have ended up hurt. It's a miracle they even got out alive." Gage wasn't having any of Lionel's crap, the healer tried to shame them for not babying every single person that walked through those doors.
"Oh, so its their fault they probably were in over their heads. Good thing they had two perfectly capable men to do absolutely nothing to help," Lionel replied, smiling as he looked back at Kensen and Gage, giving a chuckle, "I'll be sure to mention that to Taliya when I get back! I mean after all it is my job to tell her if someone's hurt." Back to helping Nymira, he didn't have any real medicine on him but he had a spare cloth he could bind the wound with anyways. Once it was completely covered he smiled and gave the Dimuran a thumbs up and smile, her utterly perplexed look amusing him. "At least we know they won't drop dead! If they were any more bloodied they would probably have to be carried!" Reaching out and slapping Ethan on his just healed arm he seemed to not notice him wince as he turned then to Adrianna, gesturing towards Ethan and Nymira. "Since you're a healer would you mind coming to the compound with us? I could use the help of a Magi fixing them up, and I'm sure they'd appreciate it."
"Uh... Actually can we go and see Cecil first? If it's all the same," Ethan asked, looking to Kensen for the okay, "I mean if its not too much trouble, I just want to see how he's doing. Just to be sure he's doing alright, if that's okay. Plus I think Amuné wanted to see him, we should pick her up too before we go back." Before getting too carried away he looked to Nymira with a hopeful smile and added, "Uh... If you're okay with it that is."
"My ankle is bloodied, I'm not dying. If we must go see Cecil before returning then I'm sure I'll survive," Nymira answered before speaking then to Adrian, "If you intend to heal me then it can wait. We'll visit our friend before I worry about my little wound." Taking a step forward to move along the Dimuran winced and nearly fell forward as she put weight on her injured foot. Ethan suggested possibly even carrying her to make things faster to which she grabbed his arm and pulled him closer, forcing a smile as she spoke. "Just be there for me to lean on and we'll be fine. Now let's go, I'm sure Cecil must be fixed by now."
Aside from the whole nearly dying and the broken arm things had gone pretty well for them. That said Ethan wouldn't mind going back to the compound and sleeping off the rest of the day now. Get bandaged up and healed, get some hot food in his stomach and maybe nuzzle up into Wyth's soft fur for the afternoon, that sounded nice. At least they had made it back to Mutebo by now and they were no longer at risk of being eaten alive by molten-lava-dog-things. It was almost relaxing if Kensen wasn't shouting at them to move faster. Smiling exasperatedly he tried to stumble forward faster but had Nymira grab his shirt and slow him, giving her a confused look. When he realized then she was now leaning against him and not the other way around he blinked in surprise, looking down at her leg and seeing her bloodied ankle. "Y-Your wound! Why didn't you say something? We need to get that fixed!"
"Shut up, it's fine. I just can't lean on it," Nymira retorted, gritting her teeth as she stepped down to prove her point, "Don't go running off, I need help walking right now." She wasn't going to have Kensen barking orders at them like that, they would move at their own pace and get there all the same. Obviously they would all love to be back and not in their current situation but shouting at each other didn't make anything move faster. Plus who was he to demand anything of them?
If they were anywhere else other than Mutebo he could understand Adrianna's disguise. Traveling was unsafe for Magi nowadays, especially those who defected from the Church, and the punishment for people who did as much was imprisonment if you were lucky. Lionel considered pressing her for more information but let it be as he decided she wasn't up to anything bad here. If she was still with the Church and trying to find them a way in he'd have to do something about it, but it was clear by her disguise that was the furthest thing from her mind. Smiling as she in turn questioned him he gave as vague an answer as possible and left it at that. Who he was exactly or where he'd come from didn't matter much, what he was doing now was all that mattered. Unsurprisingly she wasn't pleased with his reply but Adrianna took no further measures to get any answers so he took his turn again, asking about her future plans for Mutebo. Would she stay or would she move on? Only so many places were safe for Magi now and Mutebo was one of very few safe cities, if she left here then where would she go?
"I'm going to do whatever I feel like doing. The Church isn't telling me what to do anymore, so I just kind of plan on... Traveling," Lionel explained with a dismissive shrug. A smile crossed his face again as he slipped off of the crates and raised his arms in a stretch, humming as he rocked back and forth on his feet. "Maybe see the world, get to meet people, practice some of my skills. Who knows! I could spend my life as a fisherman, or I could take up a trade, or maybe I'll settle down and have a family!" He had plans of course but nothing he was going to divulge to Adrianna. Maybe if she was a good girl he'd throw her a little tidbit, just something to pique her curiosity.
Lionel figured they were good as done when Adrianna begun to move away. He was just as ready to depart until he noticed where she was heading, his shoulder slumping as he spotted Nymira and Ethan all banged up yet again. Hadn't they just fixed those two up yesterday? And by the looks of it they were barely keeping it together as they sluggishly walked along, presumably on their way back to the compound. Time to fix them again... Following after Adrianna he smiled politely at Kensen and Gage, waving to them before stopping behind the other "male" healer, peering over her shoulder to see her at work. "Ooooh, Luminous magic. Very cool, wish I could do that!" Lionel commented with a whistle, looking away from Ethan to Nymira, spotting her bloodied ankle. With a sigh he threw Kensen an accusatory glance before standing before her and kneeling down, reaching into his back pocket for a cloth. "You didn't bring any medical supplies with you? Either of you? Taliya would kill you if she found out..."
"If the kids were even half-able they wouldn't have ended up hurt. It's a miracle they even got out alive." Gage wasn't having any of Lionel's crap, the healer tried to shame them for not babying every single person that walked through those doors.
"Oh, so its their fault they probably were in over their heads. Good thing they had two perfectly capable men to do absolutely nothing to help," Lionel replied, smiling as he looked back at Kensen and Gage, giving a chuckle, "I'll be sure to mention that to Taliya when I get back! I mean after all it is my job to tell her if someone's hurt." Back to helping Nymira, he didn't have any real medicine on him but he had a spare cloth he could bind the wound with anyways. Once it was completely covered he smiled and gave the Dimuran a thumbs up and smile, her utterly perplexed look amusing him. "At least we know they won't drop dead! If they were any more bloodied they would probably have to be carried!" Reaching out and slapping Ethan on his just healed arm he seemed to not notice him wince as he turned then to Adrianna, gesturing towards Ethan and Nymira. "Since you're a healer would you mind coming to the compound with us? I could use the help of a Magi fixing them up, and I'm sure they'd appreciate it."
"Uh... Actually can we go and see Cecil first? If it's all the same," Ethan asked, looking to Kensen for the okay, "I mean if its not too much trouble, I just want to see how he's doing. Just to be sure he's doing alright, if that's okay. Plus I think Amuné wanted to see him, we should pick her up too before we go back." Before getting too carried away he looked to Nymira with a hopeful smile and added, "Uh... If you're okay with it that is."
"My ankle is bloodied, I'm not dying. If we must go see Cecil before returning then I'm sure I'll survive," Nymira answered before speaking then to Adrian, "If you intend to heal me then it can wait. We'll visit our friend before I worry about my little wound." Taking a step forward to move along the Dimuran winced and nearly fell forward as she put weight on her injured foot. Ethan suggested possibly even carrying her to make things faster to which she grabbed his arm and pulled him closer, forcing a smile as she spoke. "Just be there for me to lean on and we'll be fine. Now let's go, I'm sure Cecil must be fixed by now."
"Er... Are ya sure you should fight? I mean if you're dizzy then you hit your head pretty hard don't you think?" Zero efforts were made to hide the concern that was etched on Takeshi's face as he looked at Shu's head, worried there might be some blood somewhere in that mess of hair he had. Aito had cleared him but now he wasn't so sure why, the little guy could barely sit without wobbling. Shu really did want to fight though and Takeshi had looked forward to it himself earlier. Sighing to himself he rubbed at the back of his head, watching as some crew members went about repairing the arena for the final. The announcer had declared there would be a short break between the semi-finals and the final itself so they had time to relax, and hopefully time for him to convince Shu not to fight. His little brother was awfully excited but the last thing he wanted was to hurt him just for the sake of them having a little match. Plus after the crap with Ricken and realizing what an idiot he'd been himself the desire to fight had, for once, gone away. It was the last thing he wanted to do right now.
"You know we could have a little match any time, we really don't have to do this whole tournament crap. We both made it to the finals, we already know we both kick ass." There probably wasn't any way he could convince Shu not to fight without outright telling him not to. Still he should try, if Shu ended up hurt any more than he already was Takeshi would hate himself. "Plus we wouldn't have to be stupid and put on a show for a bunch of people, you know? We're down here busting our butts and they get to have fun, kinda seems like a lousy deal for us don't ya think? Heck we can have our own tournament with just our friends sometime, that'd be fun!" He still felt like he was getting nowhere with these arguments and they were going to have to fight one way or another. Takeshi let out another sigh and leaned back on the bench, placing his hands out at his sides as he looked up at the crowd. Come to think of it why had he even wanted to do this? He hated the tournament back home and only had taken part because of money, he hated idiots that sat there and watched you bust your ass for their entertainment. How was this any different? The stakes were lower but it was the same exact thing. It was for Shu to have fun, and for his idiotic self to show off, but he didn't much care for the latter anymore. He just wanted Shu to be safe.
"You know we could have a little match any time, we really don't have to do this whole tournament crap. We both made it to the finals, we already know we both kick ass." There probably wasn't any way he could convince Shu not to fight without outright telling him not to. Still he should try, if Shu ended up hurt any more than he already was Takeshi would hate himself. "Plus we wouldn't have to be stupid and put on a show for a bunch of people, you know? We're down here busting our butts and they get to have fun, kinda seems like a lousy deal for us don't ya think? Heck we can have our own tournament with just our friends sometime, that'd be fun!" He still felt like he was getting nowhere with these arguments and they were going to have to fight one way or another. Takeshi let out another sigh and leaned back on the bench, placing his hands out at his sides as he looked up at the crowd. Come to think of it why had he even wanted to do this? He hated the tournament back home and only had taken part because of money, he hated idiots that sat there and watched you bust your ass for their entertainment. How was this any different? The stakes were lower but it was the same exact thing. It was for Shu to have fun, and for his idiotic self to show off, but he didn't much care for the latter anymore. He just wanted Shu to be safe.
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