Knights Know Magic Now? (Andre)

[Aello]

Summer 42, 512 AV Aello stood on the crest of a rolling hill, her things resting in a pile by her side. Her feet were pressed together, as were her palms, which she held at eye level before taking a deep breath in through her nose, and out through her mouth. With a soft sigh, her breath released. Warmed buffet slithering through the space between her hands as she brought them down to her middle, pulled them apart, and then returned her limbs to her sides. A second later she had raised her right leg, holding it close to her form, bent at the knee. Slowly she extended it, bringing it out in front of her body; two full feet ahead of the one on her left. Another tick and she was lifting each of her arms, allowing them to hover at her sides as she twisted her hands. Holding her palms erect, but turned away from her muddied eyes, as though she were peering into the wrong side of the mirror. Another tick, and she was sliding her left hand back, bending her arm at the elbow so that it would rest by her side. Her left leg slid forward as her palms furled, forming clenched fists. She tightened her hold, taking in the feel of muscles coiling and uncoiling. Taking in the sight of her rippling knuckles as she took another deep breath, in through the nose, and out through the mouth. As soon as the air had been released, Aello pulled her right hand back, allowing it to rest by her side a moment before she jabbed at the dense air. Hung humidly with moisture from recent rains, the gatherings of morning dew which trickled down each stalk of grass, which rested beneath her bare feet. And just a few more, she told herself as she took another deep breath, and pulled her right hand back. She stepped forward with her left foot then, and pushed her left hand out at the same time. They followed the same progression, the same sweep as they cut through the air. Completing another jab which was closely followed by the right hand. Another tick and she had pulled each of her hands back as she stepped forward with the right, lowered her right hand, and then swept it up in a "U" shape. Completing a rather awkward undercut. Aello sighed. She forgot how annoying it was to suck at everything. How much practice it took to get to be any good. "One day," the aurist muttered under her breath as she returned to her exercises.