A Different Kind of Puppet (Xalet)

[Aello]

Aello shook her head. "Perhaps in principal, but that's as far as such a thing could stretch. The knights, while being the opposite of the Ebonstryfe in the notions they spread, are just as diligent about spreading those notions throughout their city and beyond as their dark counterparts." She paused a moment. "Your rules are just as strict, I'm sure, and rather similar, although, we'd like to think the knights see more reason than the lawmakers in Ravok. For example, if one attacks a member of the Black Sun, even if in self-defense, they are either put in a jail cell and left to rot, or they're killed, just like that. Now, should the same occur in Syliras, a common person defending their life against a knight, could the same be said? If you were to attack me, and I were to destroy you, what would happen?" Aello's eyes sparkled. She shook her head again as she waited for a reply. "Just because you wear a different emblem upon your chest, don't think your kind all that different. Most of the world is precisely the same, if you take the time to look at it. Really look. We're all fighting for things we scarcely comprehend. Fighting for people we can scarcely wrap our minds around. In the end, dear knight, it seems we're all puppets in the grander scheme of things, fighting for the few who are left to truly remember." Aello fell silent after that, listening. Her eyes narrowed as the Akalak continued speaking. "It may catch up, but it shall not best me, or anyone who travels alongside me. Each time they come, they simply offer us their souls. Supply us with more practice, give us strength as we rid the world of every last one." Aello paused as her muscles bunched, rippling beneath her flesh. "We are only allies in that we want the same group of people dead. We are not friends beside, Akalak." Aello grit her teeth as she stared into his eyes, willing him to so much as try to strike her. "Especially when you intend on treating me like a child. Perhaps to your kind, I am a child, but for mine, I am a young adult." Aello's lips curled into a small smile. "You're not. To your kind you're still a child. Perhaps that is why you fail to understand anything. Perhaps that too, is why you will not engage in battle with me. Despite my history of upheaval against your order's nemesis." Aello's eyes sparkled. "We both know, that although younger than you, I could best you easily in a fight. Your city's walls make you weak Akalak. They lull you into a false sense of security. Make you think that nothing can touch you. That evil will consistently fail to rise above you." Aello paused. "You seem to think that if you keep training alongside others of your kind, and riding your horse through these lands, you'll be ok. Thank goodness you realized that wasn't the case. In your failure, you learned something vital. Good doesn't always triumph. You do not always get your way. There are others who will destroy you if they can. Who can best you. Who will marvel in the pleasure destroying one of your kind will bring." Aello paused. "The Ebonstryfe is only one of those groups. An organization that will enjoy cutting you a thousand times over. Mutilating your flesh the color of night. Turning it a crusted brown. They will enjoy your screams. Each time you beg to have your life ended. You will long for Dira's embrace Akalak, should they catch you. Should you fail to grow up, and make yourself strong." Aello pulled her hand off the reins, and simply stared at him. "I dare you to challenge anything I have said," she hissed. "Any of it. Especially the bit about your strength. I want you to try and beat me. For that will help make you strong. It will help you to understand just how cruel the world can be." She stepped away from Parchello and simply stood tall, waiting. "I won't even draw my weapon as you try to strike me the first time." Aello's smile widened. "I don't need it." She paused, waiting for him to draw a weapon, or simply ball his hands into fists and strike her. "Prove yourself. Show us both that you can handle yourself in a battle, that you don't need to be baby-sat, and protected on your way back home." OOCYeah, so you pissed her off a little. Good going. She won't kill you. Or draw her blade first I don't think. She's more or less trying to teach you in her backhanded way just how little you understand of the world's cruelty. She is trying to make you stronger.

[Xalet]

Xalet let her talk, there was no problem in that. For Xalet, he could handle that kind of taunting all day, of course Xuphim was a different story, but he was content to sit on the sidelines for now. Xalet found listening taught him a lot about people. It was why during his various trainings and exercises Knights and fellow squires would often comment on his lack of communication. Lately he had begun to open up, only in the last five or so years, but even then Xalet was content to simply respond when needed, or initiate a conversation only when it felt appropriate. A Knight couldn't be passive, no matter how much they wished it.

When she had finished, Xalet briefly thought to himself, "Sounds like I was right. She hasn't had a normal childhood."

"Oh yeah? Sounds like I'm right and she's petching crazy. I think this has happened before. You know, this 'me being right' thing. Oh yeah, it was yesterday, and the day before that..."

"Xuphim, you can't simply go about labeling people as crazy because they've had some trauma. Although, I'm surprised you haven't said anything about this challenge of hers."

"Right, I'm not the goody two shoes you are, but I still don't like to fight little girls. Jackass." and thus ended their quick internal dialog. Both Souls had grown quite a bit, their relationship modified from one of fear, oppression, and loathing to one of slight mutual understanding. It wasn't perfect, but it was a sight better than most Akalak's could accomplish, and far superior to anything Xalet and Xuphim had experienced previously.

"I see. I'm sorry if I've offended you. However, I will challenge the things you've said. Your hypothetical situation about a Knight attacking a commoner for no reason is simply irrelevant. Such a thing would never happen. If it did, it would be through an imposter or a fake, but never a real Knight. Your talk of puppets is simply perspective, I've heard it before. There's nothing forcing me to strive toward becoming a Knight. I do it because I wish for it. When my superiors give me orders I follow them because I trust them, I value their knowledge, and I recognize their skill." Xalet responded, his eyebrows having long relaxed from their previous shock of first learning the girl had traveled for so long in the wilds.

Shaking his head slightly he began to roll up his scroll, part of him wondering where the girl that had been talking to him previously had gone. An Akalak was supposed to be the only creature destined to deal with two polar, and yet it sounded as if that was what had occurred with this young woman. "I also challenge this notion of fighting for something I cannot comprehend. I know exactly what I'm fighting for. For a better place to live. For everyone. One filled with peace, where people can feel safe. If this consequently fulfills some 'higher power's goal' it makes no difference to me, my reasons won't change. My reasons will never change. I'll also challenge this desire to have for battle. Violence for the sake of violence is not honorable. When squires and Knights fight it is to test themselves and learn so they may better serve Syliras."

"The only thing I won't challenge is the cruelty of Ebonstryfe. I've seen their torture, I've heard the screams, and I've watched the death. It didn't change a thing. I felt a lot of things I hadn't felt before, but I'm still me. If all you begin to feel is hatred, then I can see how the things you fight for can become obscured. Aello..." Xalet sighed, shoving his map into his pack before flipping the flap closed, "...I won't fight simply to prove myself to you. That doesn't sound all that different than the incident of a Knight attacking a commoner for no reason. I hope you find the place you're looking for." the Akalak seemed to have no more words within him as he tossed his pack upon his mount and retrieved his helm, preparing to ready it atop his head.

[Aello]

Aello put her hands on her hips, and leaned into the one on her right. She put all of her weight on her foot, and simply glared at Xalet. "You didn't understand a damn thing I just said, did you?" she asked before growing silent. Nibbling on her bottom lip to keep from screaming at the Akalak outright. He was simply too naive for her liking. She supposed that was the way with the knights though. Shelter them for quite a time as squires, and then perhaps, let them be shocked by their first true taste of the world several years after they had finished their initial training. It was pitiful. "Your fighting does not bring a better life for anyone. It simply helps to add to the chaos. What your enemies love most. By fighting, in a way, you are simply doing the opposite of what you intend," Aello commented, after deciding she could stand his drivel no longer, and pulling her teeth off her chapped bottom lip. "You should fight in other ways, if you truly long for such a noble goal to come to fruition." With that, she paused, considering the last few lines the Akalak had uttered. He really did not understand, she was trying to help him. She was trying to teach him, to make him strong. Instead, he was diminishing her, making her seem small. Unworthy of his presence, it seemed. That pissed her off. That fueled her anger. For she felt, only she could truly get him to understand some things, just as she was sure, only he could get her to understand others. Aello watched him put his map away. Watched as he continued to dismiss her. Her eyes hardened, a flame seemed to grow inside them. A flame that was merely being fanned by the knight's nature. As he kept on speaking, she could feel it rising within her. She knew her aura must be billowing now. Red hot, and smoking. She dropped her hands to her sides, and then lunged for him. She extended her hands and reached for the Akalak's. Each went for his right. The left reached it first, the right merely braced the other, as she tugged on it with all of her might, doing her best to force him to tilt forward. So that their heads would be more level. So that she could look directly into his eyes, and he wouldn't be able to look away. Or put on his wretched helmet. Hide behind it in a general refusal to know of some of the world's secrets. "Listen to me! One day with them is nothing. One day doesn't even begin to compare to nearly a year in their city! Or time in their wretched prisons," Aello growled. "You understand nothing. You have seen nothing. You have not so much as begun to suffer." Aello paused, forcing her eyes to soften a little, but only a little, so that the Akalak knew that even now, in this state, she would not hurt him. "You still have much to learn about what you're fighting. The most important point of which is that they are never going to fight by your rules. Just because you fight by honor, and for it, doesn't mean they will. They have none. They are cold, and they are cruel, and they will destroy you for so much as looking at them funny, or refusing to follow them into bed." Aello tightened her grip on the man's hand, pulling him closer if she could manage. "You know nothing about them Xalet. Mark my words, you know, nothing," Aello continued, her heart racing, as her fingers wove between each other, in an attempt to strengthen her grip. "While we may not agree on everything, or understand each other, the least you can do is agree that I understand far more about what it is that you're fighting than you do. That I will probably, always understand more than you, simply because I have set foot in Ravok, and you never can. For they will shoot you on sight, understand?" As soon as the words had left her lips, Aello shoved Xalet's hand away, and returned her own to her sides. She simply stood, tall and proud, silent. Appraising him for a time. "I tell you this because we fight the same thing," Aello whispered, "and only because we fight the same thing." Her voice sounded softer now, and not just because it was coming out more quietly. It still held its determination, and perhaps a hint of desperation. "I asked you to fight me because I can show you something. How it is they will fight. How they will use every last one of your weaknesses against you- your greatest being your need to be disciplined, and fight with honor. Ironically, your desire to fight with honor is also your greatest strength. They will understand that, and they will use it against you." Aello's eyes filled with sadness. She was almost certain that the Akalak was a lost cause. That he wasn't hearing a thing that came out of her mouth. "I understand that, and I think you do too. But it doesn't have to be like that." She paused, "short of fighting them directly, I am the closest thing you are ever going to get to fighting them. I can help you prepare, if only you would let me. If you're afraid, we can tether your horse. We can level the playing field, move slowly so you can truly see." Aello paused as she reached for Parchello's reins. She wrapped her right hand around the top once more, and began to scratch his chin. She could still hear him stomping his feet impatiently from time to time, and swishing his tail, but it seemed to calm him a little. "Can't you see Xalet? I am trying to help you. I am trying to save you, by keeping you from the shadows. You need to understand so you don't ride off to your death, needlessly." Aello glanced down at the ground, "it's not your time to meet Dira yet..." OOCOh Aello, how confusing and strangely wonderful you are. P.S. Just for the record, I would have gone for the lapel, but you being all up in your armor, you foiled my plans. *Shakes fist at you angrily*

[Xalet]

Xalet didn't seem to resist much as he was pulled forward, his body bending slightly at the waist, a slight creak coming from his armor as it bent to necessitate the movement. The squire was listening, certainly, but if Aello had been expecting some overwhelming showing of emotion he didn't have one to display. Even if Xalet was no professional in the ways of reading a Human's emotions, Aello had plenty within her, but where exactly was all this passion pointing to? She wasn't talking to a philosopher, she was talking to a fighter. Long since the time of Xalet's initial acceptance as a squire those that trained him had to decide which traits to focus on with their newest, youngest pupil. Tactics and psychology were important, certainly, but Xalet's training instead was directed toward becoming a warrior, pure and simple. He would be polite and he would be articulate, but when it was time not to speak any further he would release his training.

Xalet lowered his pack to the ground softly, taking care not to jumble it's contents much. Inside Xuphim had been mostly quiet until he finally made some comment about Aello's speech, "I get where she's coming from. She's all petched up, but it makes sense. So, what are you going to do...? Wait, you're going to fight her? Are you serious? Is this happening, me telling YOU to walk away?"

"What's the problem? It's not like we're going to try to kill one another right? So it'll just be like training. If you want you can fight her." Xalet was gaining some confidence now, but felt it appropriate to offer Xuphim the chance, a showing of his trust in his dark half.

"No. I'm...I can't fight girls, I told you that. You take her, just don't go getting us killed, and watch the face, will you?"

"What? Are you particularly interested in her appearance?" Xalet asked Xuphim with a type of innocent interest.

"She's just pale, so she'd bruise easy, ok motherpetcher? Sweet Priskil..." Xuphim growled before saying no more. As much as they communicated with one another, their conversation moved along as quickly as a handful of thoughts.

"Very well." Xalet rolled his shoulders slightly, trying to get his blood moving despite the cold. He focused. Concentrating hard he deliberately placed all of his efforts on linking Aello to his Evantia Aura, the subtle contractions in his muscles moving through his divine senses and registering immediately to him. "I've said too much. So, I will show you what I know. Prepare yourself." the Akalak finished his short statement, after which he placed his helm atop his head. If he had to do the Knights the honor of displaying his skills for another, than so be it, he could always stop before things got out of hand. Something inside told him that this frail Human had more to her than met the eye.

Lifting his hands upward into a fighting position, Xalet seemed to make no indication of drawing his weapon or readying his shield, not yet. It wasn't a showing of disrespect, far from it. Xalet's first fighting skills had been his ability to battle barehanded, and his mobility was less hindered without his shield upon his arm. His gauntlet clad fist or solleret was every bit as deadly as a sword. Size and strength had it's place in battle, it was the trade of being a larger target for being able to interact with an opponent and the environment in a superior manner.

Once Aello indicated in some way she was prepared Xalet displayed the mixture of hand-to-hand combat training he had received, a combination of techniques from the Syliran Knights and his Akalak heritage. Snapping out with a quick backfist, Xalet subtly attempted to move his leading left foot forward before lifting it and looking to stomp down on one of Aello's feet, a maneuver taught to freeze his opponent in place. When fighting the Knight Andresciel, whom was so incredibly fast, Xalet found it necessary to find a way to seal off an opponents movements and keep them within range in order to fully utilize his strength.

[Aello]

Aello's eyes sparkled as her lips curled into a small smile. "Glad I could be of service," she whispered, as she took a few steps back and waited for Xalet to make his first move. As she had said, she wouldn't so much as draw her weapon until he had attacked her. Her eyes watched his every move as she waited- noticing how he took the time to put on every piece of his armor, thinking that such a thing could keep him safe. Inwardly, Aello sighed, she knew she was dangerous, but this display from an Akalak seemed pitiful to her. He was stronger than her, for one, and had a greater reach than she. Why was he being so darn precatious? Was it simply his order? Or his fear of the unknown? When he had readied himself, Xalet turned to her, causing Aello to lower her body into a crouch, as her muscles rippled beneath the surface of her pale flesh. "Come on," Aello insisted, growing impatient in her wait. Thankfully, the Akalak seemed to get her message, for he moved his foot forward, attempting to bring it down on one of her feet. Aello, being far more agile than he, being that she was both lightweight, and devoid of armor, easily danced away. As she moved, Aello pushed her right hand beneath the folds of fabric. The slit that ran up the leg of her dress. It glided easily across her skin, until it found her cursed dagger's hilt. Instantly, her fingers wound themselves around it. She pulled the dagger out of its scabbard, sending a familiar metallic ring coursing through the air. She forced her dagger wielding hand out to the side, keeping the blade pointed behind her, at the trees. "Your first lesson Xalet," Aello growled, as she took a few steps towards him, turning her body into him as she moved, "is that the Ebonstryfe value the element of surprise. They don't fight fair, and they certainly aren't about to wait for anyone." As the words spilled out of her mouth, Aello's dagger shot upwards. It twisted a little, out to the side, as she dragged it onwards, hoping to bring it underneath Xalet's arm. "They will try to take you in a time when you are outside your element," she continued as she retracted her blade and stepped away from him. "In a time when you don't have all your safety nets, when you are outside your element. You are lucky you were allowed to keep your armor, even though it cannot save you," she went on as she darted forward again, bringing her right arm out to the side as she did so. When she was within striking range, she swept her arm back in, causing the blade to curl as it moved in a wide arc, towards her left shoulder. Had he not been armored, Aello knew the metal of her blade would strike against flesh, instead of more metal. "It can keep you from some blows, but it greatly hinders movement. While no armor doesn't impede your mobility, or sometimes, ability to stretch yourself, it provides more openings. More ways for the opponent to injure you," Aello went on as she whipped her arm back in the opposite direction, and moved away. When she was certain she had gone a safe distance, Aello simply stood with her dagger at her side, and stared. "The Ebonstryfe knows this. How best to handle these situations. Either situation. You were lucky then, that you were allowed to so much as put on your helmet. Had I been a real member of your opponent's party, you probably would not have been so lucky," Aello explained. "They would take you down even if you were sleeping, thinking nothing about how dishonorable and pathetic that would be. Simply because you, their enemy is dead, and they see that as an honorable, or good thing." Aello paused, "they would take your blades when you died. Take everything you had. They would try to disarm you, or even, catch you alone, so they could pick you off easily. They do not care Xalet, and they have no honor." Aello paused, allowing her words to sink in, as she dodged anything Xalet threw at her, or blocked any advance with her blade. "They will use everything in their disposal against you, and hold nothing back. One day you may think that they will come, but they won't, and when your guard is finally down, they will get you. They will use blades, and bows. Magic and mercenaries." Aello paused, as she stepped in a circle, eyeing her prey like a hungry hawk in the sky. "They will make use of the night. Concealment. Secrets. They will hide everything they have, and know. If they can, they will keep their weapons hidden until the very last moment, as well as the magic they may wield." "Don't forget that, and let your guard down foolishly," Aello insisted as she darted forward, lowering her dagger wielding arm as she moved, until the very last second, when she was in range. At which point, she swiped it back up, drawing it up the center of his chest, towards his chin. OOCSorry this is long and convoluted. I tried my best with all the teaching she is trying to do.

[Xalet]

Xalet didn't break or rest much when he fought, that was something Aello learned about his style. There were some combatants that typically met their adversary with a frantic clash before retreating backward for a while. Sometimes it was to assess the damage done, or to simply regain some wind, but Xalet did well to keep his body in motion once it started. To a trained fighter it could be said that Xalet had no great strengths, but similarly he also had no blaring weaknesses. Xalet was a squire after all, still unable to meet the requirements ability-wise to even begin the quest to attempt even a shot at Knighthood. Still, his fighting abilities could be considered 'well rounded'. He fought in a basic manner, and focused on both offense and defense.

When Aello came in close, Xalet would tuck his arms in and strike outwardly with crisp elbow strikes or knee blows. Not that they were managing to hit any targets in particular, considering his opponents superior speed. With the aid of the Evantia Aura, Xalet could at least do his best to keep Aello on her toes. Inside of his brain the divine intuition worked just as it had been foretold. Any movement that came from his opponent was registered just as it happened. Someone with an advanced battle sense could become extremely deadly with such a thing, but the best the Akalak could hope for would be closing some of the gap between their abilities.

During one particular spinning backfist involving Xalet's left hand his right reached behind the tabard of his Order and pulled a weapon free, an odd colored short sword. It's blue hued blade seemed to absorb light, creating a strange luminescence from it's length. Pulling the sword up it's edge just barely made contact with one of the many dagger strikes coming his way, forcing him to take a step back in order to keep the rest of the edge from taking it's toll upon his armor. In the end though, it seemed if she wanted to touch him, she could.

For the first time during one of her pauses, Xalet's body stopped moving so he could gain a brief respite. Armor was good for a few things, hiding the expressing upon ones face, or keeping the sweat rolling down their brow was an often forgot about advantage. Beneath his plate to most opponents he was simply a metal mountain. Following his eyes was possible, but difficult behind his visor. The stretch of his plates flexing outward and inward could tell a perceptive person that he was drinking in that cold winter air quickly.

"It's true..." his shoulder's heaved a bit, realizing he needed to combine all of his skills together. He had skill with his blade, with his body, and with his shield. In one fairly smooth motion the squire shrugged his shield off of his shoulder and slipped his left forearm through it's leather strappings. Flexing his fist slightly as he felt it's weight upon his arm, the additional pressure almost made him feel at home. Just like in the grounds, just like all those times he had fought those skilled opponents. "...to be unhindered by honor can be advantageous in a fight. These things I fight for, however obscure or fictitious they may seem, are things I believe in. And if honor is what I have which they lack, then I will supplement my weakness with that honor." he responded as she circled him. Xalet didn't use such movement, as an armored man he stayed his position until it was advantageous to advance. "If it takes twice the skill to overcome that weakness, than I shall train twice as hard. If it requires thrice the skill for a man of honor to fight against a man with none, than I shall train thrice as hard."

Xalet felt it. He felt her body weight moving forward, she was preparing to approaching him, and then, just as quickly, she was approaching him. It all went back to training, those repetitive movements he had made in the past. The broad shouldered Akalak had worn that armor for years, and to him he wasn't half a fast with it on, he was twice as fast as it off. All of his mental calculations and experience were based with the understanding of the encumbrance of armor, and with the continuing perfection of his physical form, that encumbrance was lessening. Putting his left forearm parallel to the ground Xalet swept his heater shield out in a wide arc, trying to catch Aello within it's range. The hilt of his short sword followed in a hammer strike motion, looking to catch anything that made it past the initial arc.

[Aello]

As soon as her blade had clashed against metal, Aello pulled her arm back, bringing her weapon with her. She stayed close to him for once, whisking her arm about to block any blows he tried to bring down on her, and to offer her own attacks whenever he provided an opening for one. When he drew on his shield and pulled his own weapon, Aello instinctually darted back. She didn't wait for him to start using it. Didn't bother to see if she could have defended against his blow. She needed to see everything there was about it. The shape, the color, the extent of its mass, and size. She needed to know a little about what she was fighting before she could do so effectively. As she appraised her opponent, Aello realized the extent of the shield. Large, sturdy metal, which covered a few feet of the Akalak's body. His torso at least, about halfway across, maybe a little less. It looked heavy to her, but with the man's strength, he more than likely felt it little more than a fly upon his back. Or arm, in this case. The sword, if it truly could be called a sword was strange, it seemed to glow. Aello glared at it, wondering what sort of petching magic was about, when she noticed the length of it. The metal curve. It hardly seemed greater than that which she carried herself. If Xalet swung at her again, Aello would simply back away, or dart to the side to avoid him. She was in no mood to strike right now, nor was there a true pressing need. She could always simply bide her time until she was ready. After all, in this fight, she was the more skilled, and the teacher. Xalet was simply a student, who was hiding something, and would be treated as such. He had to be hiding something, with a weapon as strange and that, and with so much metal blocking the sight of his dark skin. Aello simply didn't understand what there was to conceal, why he felt such a great need for protection. But that didn't mean she couldn't find out. "Your second lesson," Aello began, "and it is probably something you already know, is that much like yourself, the Ebonstryfe are trained in a number of combat skills. Each of these skills comes with a set of strengths and weaknesses, which means that you as a fighter, if you plan on being a truly good fighter, needs to know how to exploit them. However, while you do this, the other side will constantly be trying to do the same to you," Aello added, with a few flicks of her wrist and a couple of side-steps to keep the Akalak at bay. "Thus, it becomes important to know your weapons, and how to fight with them. Know if your reach is great, you can lunge more. Know if you carry a shorter weapon, you should be working with agility. Gliding in and out of battle, picking away at an enemy as opposed to going for everything at once. Present as little of yourself as possible. Make fewer targets. Keep your eyes on your enemy, and your ears open." Aello paused, as she kept on blocking and side-stepping, baiting her battling partner. "Know where the weaknesses in your armor are. In your weapon skills. Know the areas you have to protect more forcefully than others. Know also, that the enemy won't always notice these areas, or perhaps, they will try to make you think that, by going repeatedly for something else. In battle, it isn't about simply dispatching someone. It is about weakening them too, slowly, in order to win." The girl smiled mischievously. "Had you not been wearing any of that nonsense, you may not so much as been capable of lifting your weapon right now. But no matter, as long as you know when you have lost, and that there are weapons designed to go through that get-up, you'll be alright," with that, Aello sprang forward, moving towards the side of Xalet's body. The side closest to the arm which carried a sword. "This is only practice," Aello hissed, as she twirled around, swinging her arm wildly out to the side, bringing its point crashing down towards the Akalak's shoulder blade. Or perhaps a bit below it, the man was pretty tall, after all. OOCAgain, sorry for the poor style of the post. Talking and fighting all at once is a bit tricky, I am finding. >.<

[Xalet]

Xalet spun his blade about in his hand, his palm rolling it until the grip was reversed. The truth of the weapon was, Xalet didn't yet know the extent of it's powers, save to say that it was unbelievably sharp. Compared to his traditional gladius, which itself had been of exceptional quality, this blade was in a whole new league. A proper masterwork short sword, fit for a master. It almost made the squire feel he was inappropriate to use it, with his own skill still budding into competency. Though catching this Aello seemed impossible, the Akalak was not going to take the chance that a wayward slice met her flesh, it was better to strike with the dull side of the blade.

When he came, his shield usage seemed somewhat proficient, nearly the caliber of a sworn in Knight. Since he was young, he had chosen the heater shield, although he had knowledge of shields both smaller and larger. The heater shield was the most basic compromise between size and protection, and his teachers had often taught him that the better one becomes with a shield, the more use they can make of a smaller shields size. With his current weapon best suited for slashing, it was those attacks he used the most. The squire would move forward with traditional slide steps, swinging his shield outward to pave the way for an over-head or diagonal slash from his sword. When his sword or shield was unready to proceed, the squire would stomp his foot outward in a kick. Xalet's height allowed him to keep his kicks lower to the ground than the common man, as a chest-height strike on Aello wouldn't even extend above his own hips.

"So difficult to catch..." his mind echoed, just coming from a short, low round kick meant to sweep the legs. Xalet exhaled slowly as she continued to explain some of her experiences to him, trying to quiet his breath. He had to bring his breathing back into a normal pace, combat breathing they called it. Without it his vision would begin to narrow, his hands would tremble as they carried their weight. The more direct attacks that worked on similarly armored opponents wasn't working, even with his Evantia Aura. It was strange to think, but fighting unarmored opponents was so rare that Xalet hadn't thought much of it. Besides the occasional hand-to-hand spar to improve his unarmed ability with holds and throws, all of his weapon practice was done against leather armor at the very least.

There was a way, and it involved fighting in a style that was definitely not Xalet's preferred method. He had to remain defensive until his opponent closed in, and then counterattack. He had the tools, the Evantia Aura allowed him to recognize proper timing, assuming his body could keep up. His short sword was made for the closest of combat situations, and moved more easily than the traditional long or bastard sword. "Just wait for it..." he told himself. It was just like fishing with his crossbow, as he was instructed to do some seasons ago. Patience and timing.

There it was! Aello moved forward, her small unencumbered body gliding across the ground. The tension in those tight muscles transmitting into Xalet's thoughts. The raising of her weapon. An attack on his weapon side. "I'll take it!" his eyes widened as his body reacted. Abdominal muscles were already contracting, his obliques clenching inward as he arced his own sword low. Aello was striking high, Xalet was striking low. Know his advantages she had said, know how to take advantage, how to pick at the opponent. He knew the weaknesses of armor, but the main strength? Absorbing the damage of an attack. To parry Aello's attack and counter would have been pointless with her superior speed. No, instead he would trust in that armor, and attack at exactly the same time, low to the lowest rips with the rear of his sword.

[Aello]

Xalet didn't seem to make any move towards her dagger with either his own blade or his shield. That surprised Aello a little, but only a little. She watched as it cut towards Xalet's exposed flesh, listened to the whistling of the wind it produced, as it displaced the cool winter air. At the same time, she could see Xalet's blade coming, cutting low, towards her ribs. She knew she didn't have enough time to dance away, so she tried something else. With her left hand being near her thigh, she thought it may have a chance. Instantly, she pushed it beneath the slit in her dress, and reached for her newest weapon: the dagger without a god's taint. Within seconds, her fingers had wrapped around it, and pulled the weapon free. She was just beginning to draw it into the open when her cursed dagger slid between a metal loop. Its ends lightly piercing the Akalak's flesh, as his blade crashed into her own, dangerously close to her fingers. Startled by the sudden impact, the rough impact, the metal shook as Aello tried to regain some sort of hold. But there was little she could do. The jarring had caused her fingers to grow stiff, to seize. She simply, could not hold on. Her fingers, growing somewhat numb now, after the intense ache, unfurled, releasing the dagger. It spun, as it fell towards the ground by the fighter's feet. The dagger landed with a muffled thud, as Aello pulled her hand away, and spun around the Akalak, so that she was facing his back. Figuring she had just enough time to inflict a minor amount of pain, she moved in. She pulled her right arm back, past her head, twisting the dagger so its point was directed at him. When she was close enough, she forced the dagger down, towards Xalet's lower back. As she did so, she raised her right leg, bending it at the knee. After moment, she forcefully brought it down towards his right heel. After her blade had hopefully, made contact with his body, Aello would follow up by thrusting all of her body weight into his back. She hoped it would be enough to get him to topple over, or bend, at which point, she could free him of his headgear, creating another weak spot in his armor. A way for her to easily destroy the man she could have, so many ages ago, had he not fought behind a mask and shiny metal. "Lesson number three," Aello growled, as she pulled herself away from the attack, "is to always expect the unexpected." With that, she'd spin around again, towards the Akalak's front. Swinging her arm around wildly as she moved, turning the metal out towards the side. If she had timed everything correctly, she may be able to drive her blade through the center of the Akalak's chest. Or perhaps, if her reach proved to extend a bit farther, his heart. OOCSince you made no attempt at defending I figured this would be ok. I hope I got it... since I can't see the back of the knight's armor and where it is open. If you see any glaring contradictions pm and I can edit.

[Xalet]

Xalet knew well enough the feeling when a blade struck it's target. That satisfying cushioning of skin or cloth against the end of a sword as it landed home, unobstructed. But as his weapon was halted he felt none of that, and immediately he knew why. It wasn't his eyes that had caught it, it was the Aura, but his combat reflexes were not yet developed enough to react to the newest information. A second dagger? So, she could wield two at once, she was just holding out until the end.

Xalet felt the sting of something burning into his upper arm, though the adrenaline of combat removed any pulsing ache and instead replaced it with a more simple pain, one that did enough to tell him he was struck. Basic training came in, that training always told him when you were struck not to stop. Keep going, keep fighting, as psychologically it will impede your attacker by knowing you can fight through pain and injury. Stepping his left foot forward his shield followed, looking to clip Aello with it's metallic rim. It seemed she followed the movement and circled around Xalet.

His weapon arm reeled backward, looking to land a rear elbow strike, but the movement of his opponent was too fast to make any concentrated contact. After that too many things happened for him to get a handle on. He felt his body pushed forward, causing his left knee to bend after it's previous movement to twist the left side of his body in order to attack with his shield. His torso looked to correct itself by planting the bottom edge of his shield into the ground to keep himself from going over completely. Something had a hold of his helm, which twisted itself free from his head causing his slick locks to spill rearward.

Pushing his shoulder downward and focusing his strength into his left arm he shoved himself back upward into a standing position. Xalet certainly seemed to have some stamina, that came from dedicated strength training. He didn't quit in combat, that came from years of training under professional fighters. His training and experience was enough to craft him into a weapon, but as a weapon he still wasn't balanced or sharpened. That took time as well. When Aello appeared in front of him Xalet forced his body backward as fast as he could, lashing out with his short sword so hard it probably could have cut a man's limb off. Sadly with his rearward movement it caught nothing but air. By now his balance was destroyed, and Xalet slipped as the weight of his armor pulled him rearward onto his backside, far enough to keep from getting his front pierced by a dagger, but that was about the only momentary advantage.