Closed [The Training Grounds] A New Sparring Partner [Aventis]

[Asen]

21st of Winter, 514 AV

Asen was ready to train. By the gods, she was ready to train. She'd put it off long enough. It was time. The half-Dhani pulled her coat close, the fabric straining across her shoulders. She'd need a new one soon; she'd gone through a growth spurt recently. It was getting small.

She arrived at the training grounds utterly confused. The mixed blood attempted to make sense of the strange architecture littering the terrain, even turning her head this way and that, before giving up. She hesitantly made her way over to the first shape, walking around it.

"What in Siku's name..." Asen rapped it with her knuckles. It hurt more than expected, possibly due to the cold, and the lethargic girl put her lips to her smarting digits. With one hand holding her coat closed and the other partially in her mouth, she half-turned to see if anyone was coming her way. It was all clear.

She'd just turned back when a sword blade lodged itself in the wood right next to her face. Asen's yelp of surprise caught in her throat and she slipped scrambling backwards, coming down hard. Her hands flashed out to catch herself, and in doing so her coat fell open.

The wind cut through the warmth and sliced into her bare skin. The half-Dhani's eyes were wide with surprise, and the squire who peered around the architecture looked just as startled. Asen narrowed her eyes and stood, holding her coat closed again. "Watch it, idiot."

The offended individual rolled their eyes and returned to their training. Asen stood and backed away from any strange shapes in the area and watched. She had no clue what she was supposed to do with any of this, and she was too nervous (and a bit proud) to ask.

[Aventis]

Occasionally, mostly upon the desire to get up and move rather to sitting and lazing about or doing rounds around the city, which were somewhat boring in the Eypharian’s eyes despite his tendency to wander around the streets of Syliras (he thought it defeated the purpose of wandering if you gave wandering a purpose), Aventis would take the quick walk up to the training grounds. Whether or not he actually did train, if his Patron or any superior asked what he might be doing, he could very well answer “I’ve been at the training grounds,” and no questions would be asked. Devious? No. If an opportunity to grow as a squire and a warrior were to make it known, by the gods he would do it. But, as of yet, none had made itself known.

The air was bitingly chilly and the sky was dark with pale clouds, the sun doing its best to break through the condense barrier. Wrapping his cloak tighter around his torso with the lower arms hidden beneath it, his upper arms crossed tightly on his chest as to conserve heat. He leaned leisurely against the far wall, not quite confident enough to move himself closer to the bulk of the public and watch the fights, but not timid enough to make himself completely unknown, as doing such would contradict his purpose of coming to the grounds. He had brought his short sword and his rapier, both strapped to his waist, and was currently scoping out the somewhat sparse competition. It was cold, it was early, and not many had decided to show up quite yet, and those who had were either knights or just about ready to be knights, seeing as they were far above Aventis skill-wise.

Quickly, however, the tall squire became aware of a presence in the arena, and was a bit too obvious that she was a bit too oblivious. Upon her entering the grounds, Aventis took immediate notice, seeing as he had been watching the entrance for quite some time. But she stuck out. She seemed a bit less qualified than the rest of the crowd. But… Maybe he could do better fighting that Akalak over there…

Aventis had looked away for but a moment to watch the enormous red challenger beat the living shyke out of a poor squire, and the second his head was turned, a sharp yelp that Aventis could only assume that it was the girl that had stumbled but a moment ago. Looking over, he found that the girl had wandered too close to a spar, and had nearly gotten her nose removed by an older squire’s blade. Aventis sighed into his palm, pushing himself off the wall. She probably needs something to do. Mightaswell ask her to spar with him.

“Pardon,” He asked her when most likely close enough for her to hear him, maybe four or so feet. “Would you like to spar?”

Aventis

[Asen]

Asen's head whipped around. Was someone talking to her? Evidently so. That was interesting. She looked up at the man's face, squinting. He seemed alright, if a bit rough. He was also very tall. The half-Dhani crossed her arms and pursed her lips, examining him more closely.

He seemed to be muscular enough. From what she saw beneath the unusually large cloak, he was also carrying one (if not two) swords. Her eyes went to his hands. A solid punch from either one of them could probably break her nose, or a nasty bruise at the very least.

"Spar? Sure. I'll kick you to pieces, mountain man." It was probably going to be the other way around, but it might help to appear more confident and skilled than she really was. Asen allowed herself to grin. Her insides were cold. If she lost this fight badly, it would not fare very well for her later.

The lanky girl peeled off her coat, tossing it to the side. It would restrict her movements if she kept it on. She began shivering almost immediately, but settled into a stance -- one that was in no way correct. She was used to just standing and waiting for the other person to throw the first punch, not preparing herself.

Asen promised herself that she would warm up soon enough, and prayed to Siku that she wouldn't pull something. Her gaze flicked around the area closest to the two, taking note of the architecture she'd be navigating. The half-Dhani began bouncing on the balls of her feet, trying to keep her blood flowing. Hopefully she'd be nimble enough to win.

"Bring it on, mountain man."

[Aventis]

Mountain man? Aventis questioned to himself softly. Sure, he was tall, particularly compared to the girl that stood before him, but mountain? Seemed a bit... Much. Then again, the girl seemed a bit oblivious. A bit absent minded. Quick. She had nearly bounced off of the walls from the second the entered the parameter. She was quicker still to a fight. Immediately after the notion of a spar was proposed, the girl jumped to her feet, fists up and ready to fight. Aventis, standing with an expression on his face that he could probably characterize strictly as dumbfounded, he watched as the girl sprung to her feet, tossed away her coat, and assumed fighting position.

“Um… Alright…” Aventis muttered, not much sure what to do. He had expected a brawl of steel and not of flesh. Doing the only thing he very well knew to do, and assuming that this was the girl’s area of expertise, Aventis drew his rapier quickly. Assuming once again that the only reason that the girl had discarded her coat was for a combative advantage, seeing as the only other reason she would shed it would be because she absolutely loves having her flesh being slowly frozen over. This gave light to her combat style. Quick. Just like her mouth, her thoughts, and nearly everything else Aventis had observed about her.

Thinking it over for a tick, Aventis pushed aside the curtains of his cloak with his inner hands. Shedding it quickly and letting the heavy cloth drop to the frozen floor, Aventis stood, a slight smirk now visible on his face as he stretched out his lower arms, holding all four at length as to exaggerate both his size and the strength of his somewhat thin arms. Holding the rapier gently, Aventis stood to his side, the rapier pointing adjacently towards the floor, linear to the line his leg made in a combat position.

“When you’re ready.”

Aventis

[Asen]

Oh shyke. Ohh shyke. I'm done for. Asen's shoulders fell and her arms dropped to her sides, her bouncing slowing to a stop. He had four arms. Four petchin' arms. That was so unquestionably unfair. She brought her feet together and backed up slightly.

"Well, um, that's a bit of an advantage. You have, uh, four arms. That- that's what, an Iparian? Eyparan? Eypharian? I think Eypharian. But, um. Maybe you could put those back? Eheh. No? Okay, then. Great."

The half-Dhani put her fists up again, watching his hands. When he only had two arms she had a higher chance of winning. He would've been holding her with one hand, which was easier to get out of. But add two extra limbs to the mix and she was done for if he grabbed her.

Asen moved. She knew that this time she'd have to strike first, and quickly. Surprise and speed were her allies; he looked too big to do anything fast. Then again, there were times when she had been proven wrong. She ran around her fellow squire, ducking underneath his arms.

The lanky girl delivered a swift one-two to his side. Her fists connected, but not hard enough. She knew that immediately. Her shivering had gotten worse, and she wanted to do nothing more than to curl up by a massive fire and sleep. She felt slow and uncoordinated.

Damn my bloodline! Of all the things it could be, why Dhani? Why a snake person!? Gods, this is frustrating! Asen shook out her hands, clenching and unclenching them to try and get some warmth back into them. She'd ended up behind the huge Eypharian, blowing on her fingers. She wasn't fast enough.

She was going to lose this fight.

[Aventis]

OOCSorry... I didn't have too much to go off of.

The girl’s jab was all too easy to block. Aventis, who had more than enough time to observe what side of his person the girl would attack, prepared by closing his upper and lower hands on that one side into a thicker wall of bone and flesh, blocking her hit. Aventis was correct in his previous presumption: she was quick. Very quick. After her attack, she had ducked behind Aventis. The Eypharian, recognizing the danger of his opponent being out of his line of vision, had to act quickly.

Aventis swung to his left, not wanting to slice the girl’s cheek with the rapier, which was in his dominant hand. As he spun, he held out his left arms, flinging them blindly in hopes to catch the girl with a hit. If he didn’t, well… He always had his rapier.

Aventis

[Asen]

Asen ducked to dodge the Eypharian's upper left hand, but she wasn't used to fighting against multi-armed opponents and her mind hadn't registered the lower set. The shock of his palm meeting her cheek caused her to break stance for a moment, holding her face. The skin felt like it was burning. She hadn't been slapped in so long, she'd forgotten the sensation.

The half-Dhani stumbled backwards, catching herself before she fell flat on her backside. Ever wary of the rapier held in the tall man's upper right hand, she danced around his left side. She couldn't get close; he'd just grab her and the fight would be over much quicker than she wanted it to be.

Another punch, this time harder, was aimed just under his ribs. Or at least, she hoped it was just under his ribs. It was difficult to tell with those extra arms.

[Aventis]

The attack had been successful, and the young squire could hardly believe his eyes when he awe the girl fall to the ground. I can’t hit that hard, he thought to himself. I couldn’t possibly be that strong…

In the time it took for Aventis to realize that either he was stronger than he had believed previously or the girl was far lighter than he assumed, the shivering squire had sprung to her feet. Aventis knew he could take a hit well, and he knew that this girl was wary of his extra set of arms, or she would be by now. Aventis held the advantage at the moment, and he wanted to keep it.

Any smart fighter would avoid the weapon in his hand and spin to the left, as the Eypharian hadlearned from his previous combat experiences. Hoping that he was correct in his presumption, Aventis swung left, meeting the girl in what would have been a collision if he hadn’t stopped himself. He readied himself to attack, interrupted by the girl’s own advance. The fist had connected with Aventis’ lower rib cage. It hurt, holy petch did it hurt. The squire’s entire chest ached and hurt, but Aventis promised the girl a fight. A fight she would get.

The Eypharian grit his teeth in pain and moreso in determination. This fight will not be lost. The girl flirted dangerously with his span of reach, ducking in and out consistently, but she had opened up an opportunity. After the hit, she was most likely going to try to duck out again. But such a time had not yet passed. She was still there.

He reached out with his lower right hand, intending on grabbing her shoulder for insurance that she does not leave, but at this point it didn’t much matter. He curled his lower left hand into a tight fist and his upper left curled on top of it. This was to cause extra weight in the blow, which equals more pain. Cruel, yes, but necessary to achieve a victory. And, at the time being, Aventis wasn’t thinking about being nice. He wanted to win. He thrusted his two arms forward directly down to her face, not caring about the damage it may cause, not caring about the pain she may feel. His knight’s words echoed on repeat in his consciousness. “No mercy,” he told him. “No mercy.”

Aventis

[Asen]

Oh, so she had caused him some pain. Excellent. But -- more importantly -- she knew where his ribs were, and as such knew she could hit him there again. Asen was about to dart out of his reach and grab her coat to throw in his face when the Eypharian's hand landed on her shoulder.

She tried to bat him off, but underestimated his strength. He held on, and while the half-Dhani was preoccupied with trying to escape her captor she was oblivious to his left hands balling into one big, painful fist.

Asen turned to look just as her fellow squire sent the fist towards her head. She twisted away from the blow, trying to drop into a crouch at the same time. His fist connected with the side of her face -- more specifically, her lower jaw.

The mixed blood screamed. She felt the bone crack, an almost-audible snick, then felt the break. The process happened in less than a tick, but to her it lasted an agonizingly long moment. Fire spread across the right side of her face and she went down, curling up in fetal position.

Asen held her jaw, desperately struggling with not crying. Her nails scraped along the ground, fingers clenching and unclenching. Her eyes were screwed shut. She sucked in a breath, holding it. The girl released it in a painful cough, spitting up some blood. One hand covered her mouth, the other her jaw. She could already feel it beginning to swell.

The half-Dhani bit her lip, shivering again. The ground was cold, the air was cold, and she was cold. And her jaw was broken. She curled up even tighter, shaking from both the injury and the chill. She glanced up at the Eypharian, grunting out a brief sentence.

"You petchin' hurt me." Every syllable was mind-numbing torment, sending fresh bolts of pain shooting across her face.

[Aventis]

The feeling of immediate success was all too rewarding. The girl had been a bit of a pest, jumping from bit to bit, landing hit after hit, beating the unlucky Eypharian at his own game. Compared to the little fighter, Aventis was cumbersome and slow. Though a bit tedious to fight, the squire could not deny her skill, and respected her because of it, but this made the taste of success so much sweeter. He had never thought of making his fists heavier naturally… He couldn’t deny his own pride in the tactic. And for just a moment he was happy with himself. But only for a moment.

His pride and his success were short lived. His grip tightened on her shoulder as she wriggled and squirmed in an attempt to escape his tight grasp, but effort was for naught as the fist, taut with pugnacious intention, flew quickly towards the girl’s neck and shoulder, but she herself brought her own end. As she struggled, she lowered herself down only a few inches, but that was all she needed. The swift blow was taken to her jaw rather to its original target. The smile Aventis could not hide, thin and crooked. The glimmer is his darkly shaded eyes was obvious and gleeful. His muscles tensed with anticipation. He had won. The battle was done and he took victory. He was happy.

But it all died within ticks. It died quickly, and it ended surely. His smile, the glimmer in his dull and otherwise lifeless eyes, the excited tension in his joints and muscles, faded like a torch dropped in water. They faded when he heard the crack.

The crack, the deafening crack. In all likeliness, it was much quieter than what Aventis heard. What he heard was loud, it was damning, it was immediate and it was a conduit to open Aventis’ self doubt and the shame that never seemed to leave him. Whether or not of the same source it followed him, dogging him endlessly, biting consistently. Quickly he let go of the girl, snatching his hands away as if he had touched a flame with his unguarded flesh.

“You petching hurt me,” She said sullenly, looking as if she were minutes from the grave. Her fists clenched in pain. Her eyes were held shut. Her speech was slow and nearly as painful to listen to as it may have been to emit it from her jaw.


“I-... Oh my god! Stop talking! I mean… I mean you’ll hurt yourself! No… I… I’m so sorry!” He rambled, searching infinitely for the words that could help mend what he had done, but nothing could be found. “Um… I’m sorry… But… I… Oh my god your jaw! I did that? I did that! I…”

Right then and idea sprung into his head. I can make this right! he thought. He dashed for his cloak, gripping it in his fist. “I have to make sure you don’t use that jaw, Miss… Don’t fight it. It’ll just hurt more… I think… But we’re going to get you fixed! Yes! The um… The Soothing Waters! I can pay. I promise I can pay.” He begged her. His pleas and promises were true, he would indeed help her, he would indeed pay, he would indeed take her to the Soothing Waters, carry her if he must, and could only hope for forgiveness as he tried to tie the sleeves of his cloak around her jaw to ensure that it wouldn’t be lodged further out of place.

“Just… Please don’t fight it, Miss… It will hurt so much more.”

Aventis