[Flashback]Good sword is the one left in scabbard (Eridanus)

[Nai'shee]

40th of Spring, 505AV Nai'shee was walking quietly around streets of Zeltiva, she didn't spoke to anyone unless they spoke to her. She was really airy those days. She had burden that child shouldn't carry, she carried it for ten days now. She really gave a thought to the man's offer she was sure to accept. She really wanted to learn how to fight, but she knew he had a point back then. What if she loses control? After all, she partially wanted this for her own sake. It should be normal, but will it bring her berserk because of anger one day? She finally decided she can't decide and she was sure she is going to do what she always does: take a risk. She headed for University. Actually for that tree she now considered her main entrance. She entered the facility over the wall climbing that tree a while ago, running from some people obviously thirsty for her blood. But she was hungry and stole from them. That was the first time she saw the man she was heading to now. She passed her gate rather quickly, still thinking. In the early evening University seemed vividly alive, but it was mostly some younger and cheerful students having fun in the yard. She doubt anyone will question her at this hour, she could be a visitor too. But she still didn't like to enter officially. Her legs automatically followed the route she took last time she was here and in no time she found herself in the empty terrain full of flowers and light green grass. Her last visit seemed like a dream compared to this. That was when she first discovered Ethnaefal's beauty. Eridanus was one wise Ethnaefal, she decided, and kind too. She barely knew anything about him, but she knew he was direct and wise. He wished good for everyone, but he wasn't nice enough to go around, act and pretend to get you understand what you had to. He told you his opinion right there and made sure you don't get wrong ideas or hopeless dreams. That was her image of him. Anyways, he wasn't training here this time, or rather he wasn't training just yet. She sat down and decided to wait for him, watching little bugs, ants and butterflies hurrying around to finish their day, just to do something.

[Eridanus]

Eridanus had almost forgotten about the offer he made a certain child that he met coincidentally twice. Once in the University while he was practising with his swordplay, and another time when he inadvertently chanced upon her when she was in trouble. It would seem that this was his rest day, but it was not. Yesterday he was involved in a two-part magecraft lab session, and the next one would start tomorrow.

Instead of allowing him rest, Wejerx had set an assignment for the next one, and though the professor was friendly and amicable, he was prone to screaming and shouting when things did not get done his way. It was his mentor's characteristic that Eridanus attributed to simple eccentricity.

He had been reading up on the reasons why multiple pathway demands could not be made on an item in a single session or day, but found himself at a deadlock. He believed that the few copies of the Grand Enchanter's Grimoire would help him, but they were all borrowed already. The Grand Enchanter's Grimoire was a huge and thick reference book that contained most known knowledge regarding magecraft, though it mostly contained summaries and snippets, leaving the in-depth explanations in the form of references to specific research journals.

It was also available for sale, but unfortunately it was more expensive that he could handle and he could not quite afford it, along with the fees he had to pay the school and for daily expenses.

Shaking his head, he left the area, probably take a little stroll around the campus and breathe in some fresh air before resuming his foray. Maybe the change of scenery would grant him the switch in perspective that he needed to gain a new angle into this homework.

He passed by the courtyard where he usually trained his swordplay, and noticed a child sitting on a bench shadowed by light palm trees that dotted the leafy courtyard.

"Hey kid!" He waved in a surprised manner to her. It seemed that she had finally came to a resolution as to how to harness her abilities. This would be the change of pace that he welcomed.

A good break from tedious schoolwork.

[Nai'shee]

She was pretty far with her thoughts when one man suddenly called out for her. She turned around and jumped up, almost expecting Eridanus, but she faced surprised Vantha instead. She blinked few times and thought he might make her get out of there, but she was as careless as usual and waved back to him. "Hey!", she murmured cheerfully, but still without confidence. They approached, she was running and he was walking peacefully. He seemed like he was enjoying fresh air and nice weather. He was probably simply tired of student's life. Nai'shee imagined it like being forced to study indoors with little breaks for fresh air and suppers. Well, she wasn't so far from truth for students who took 10 classes or so, but it was still torture for her. When they finally stood facing each other she decided to speak: "Erm... I was looking for one student... his name is Eridanus..." The look on the man's face after she said that amused her. It was also kind of amused, like he didn't know should he laugh or calmly explain whatever was on his mind. It irritated Nai'shee a bit, but she reminded herself this man might has allowance to make her leave, so she stayed calm with similar face expression the man had. OOCSorry for short post and long waiting, I didn't see the post and there isn't much to write at this point.

[Eridanus]

He blinked several times, wondering why the child was asking him this redundant question. His recollections of their past two encounters came back to him, and he realized that they were all during the night, when he was in his celestial form. He chuckled, smacking his forehead with his palm.

"I am Eridanus, Nai'shee. This is my mortal seeming," He remarked, amused.

"So, what's up today?" He asked innocently. He could deduct that it was highly possible that she came to take him up on his offer, but then again perhaps she was just bored. It would be a good chance now for her to vocalize her wishes.

[Nai'shee]

She was still looking at him, confused. Who is this man? What is he talking about? 'Mortal form'? She frowned and crossed her hands. She completely ignored his last question. Was he trying to trick her or something? She couldn't figure why, maybe he was mocking her just for fun. But when she looked at his eyes he seemed completely honest, he wasn't nervous nor anything, he even seemed happy to see her. Still, she needed proper explanation. "What do you mean 'mortal form'? I know how Eridanus looks like, you're not Eridanus!" She thought she said it too angrily, but she was still unsure how to handle situation like this. Her instincts told her to back off a little, but she stayed still, waiting for answer before doing so.

[Eridanus]

He blinked at the child, for it seemed that she was quite perturbed by his declaration. Slowly, calmly, he used his most reassuring voice to recount their past two events when they met. The first time when he was training his swordplay, and the second event when he engaged in fisticuffs with a bunch of brash sailors. In fact, he took care to mention exquisite detail such that the only observation one could make that he had to be involved and at the scene in order to know so much.

"I am an ethaefal, Nai'shee. We have two forms, and they shift into the other just as the sun and moon exchange places."

Placing both hands out in a pacifying manner, he added, "I am Eridanus. Do you believe me now?"

[Nai'shee]

"Wow, that's awesome!", she stated, looking at Vantha before her. She couldn't believe it's the same person. He seemed surprisingly cheerful and she had hart time putting those two bodies in the same soul in her mind. "Anyways, sorry for that... It's been a while!", she said, implying that she was sorry she took that much to consider his offer. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to apologize directly. It will be even funnier when he finds out she actually isn't sure yet. "I came to see about sword classes you promised". She left the statement in the air, thinking if she should add something more. "I'm actually... still not sure. I mean, I want you to teach me, but, as you see, I'm a bit of careless person..." That was huge lie. Nai'shee was completely careless person. She always did the first thing she came up with. It will take her long time to realize that the world isn't just that simple. This was one of the first steps. In some other situation she would just lie and take the classes, but Eridanus, even in this form, had her respect. He just made her consider things seriously. "I'm not sure if I'd use it for revenge or something like that. I never experienced somebody hurting me so much." It might be funny for somebody, little girl, left by parents in unknown city to live on streets with a beggar who died starving and forced to grow up quicker and start to steal for living actually thinks that nobody hurt her. But it was true. She didn't know why her parents left her, she couldn't be angry at the man for dying nor at others for not giving him anything, she couldn't be angry at society which couldn't take care of every orphan out there. "Ethaefal, do you think I would hurt somebody like that?" Damn, she was already used on calling him Ethaefal. She just found out his name was Eridanus last time they met. However, saying that sentence she begged for opinion, help to figure out who she is, who will she grow into.

[Eridanus]

If she found it difficult to reconcile his mortal seeming and celestial form it was perfectly normal. In his vantha shell he was subject to the personality of what he was like in his past life. But when he was clothed in his divine glamor, all of that was gone, instead leaving a persona that remembered far more than he wanted to about his various past lives and the times that he was with Leth. That resulted in the contradiction of a more cheerful self during the day, and a more serious and contemplative one during the night.

"Woah woah, hold your horses pardner!" He remarked. "I promised hand-to-hand classes, with the possible integration of flux in it. No swords, young lady!"

He glanced at her as she spoke, her attempt at covering up her lie obvious to him. He had unnaturally keen senses as a result of honing them throughout the centuries, and a little child did not have the experience to fool him. Yet, he did not comment on it, only took it into consideration.

Eridanus considered her question seriously, taking a moment to turn his solemn face towards her as he replied, "Maybe, maybe not. Anger is a powerful demon that can rear its ugly head when you least expect it. And if you do not possess the moral character and mental fortitude to control it you will be consumed by your power."

Waiting a moment for that to sink in, he continued, "But as long as you follow what I say everything should be fine. I will not just teach you how to fight. I will teach you a way of living, a moral and ethical code, and ways to calm yourself and your mind. If this is the path you seek, head towards the courtyard over there. Go to that large tree providing shade."

[Nai'shee]

At first she laughed at his surprise, but then she pursed up her lips and frowned at him. Hand to hand combat isn't bad for somebody on her Flux level, tho. His description of anger somehow terribly matched what she felt back then, when he had to save her from drunk sailors. And she punched one of them. But she comforted herself by the fact she knew she can do nothing, so fear created that anger. But she didn't know if it was just something to comfort herself or truth. She hoped for the second one. Moral character? She was taught to have it, long ago, but she seemingly lost it. She always was and will always be kind soul, unable to hurt anybody. But that soul lost her innocence when she had to steal. She stole from people who might didn't have money and food themselves, she put herself before them. Her kind soul was lost and even with nothing more but just stealing it was still very early for her to get it dirty. And that dirt didn't allow her to think of herself as worth person when it comes to moral. Who says she won't find new reason to kill, for example? Putting herself in front of others, if she was offered a place in a pod, for example? She knew she wouldn't do any of those, but she lacked confidence for that statement. The reasons above were why she was utterly happy for Eridanus' offer, to teach her to be calm and reasonable. It wouldn't change anything if she was already twisted, but she was good person deep inside and following his advices might not give her strength, but it will give her confidence to believe in that good person she carried in herself. She laughed again about the part about the formal way he told her to hide from sun and just shook her head and hurried to the place he pointed at.

[Eridanus]

It seemed that she agreed with him, and he followed her back to the shaded courtyard. This was the exact place where they had a surreal conversation under the stars before, and this was where he would hone her mind, body and soul.

"First off, we shall see what you have," He told her. Relaxing into a combat stance, he bent slightly in a footwork similar to the swordsmanship style he learned back in Denval that was derived from the Suvan military, with his palms open and hands one slightly outstretched after the other.

The closer palm - his main one - is at the center of his chest, while the elbow of his other palm was placed inches away from his right palm, the forearm leading upwards such that his left palm was around his chin-level. His fingers pointed towards her, and he breathed easily and steadily.

"Don't hold anything back. Attack me. Be it punches, kicks, or anything you can come up with," He instructed. "I need to get a proper grasp as to your current proficiency first."