The frigid weathers of Trabia show no mercy just as well as the monsters that dwell within its borders have no limits on power. It is considered one of the most dangerous sections of the world for a reason. Creatures of all kinds could be found across the snow covered terrain, littering the mountains to the valleys with beasts of great to no strength. It is here that the training begins to become the man Kalen Vicaria needs to be, if he can survive the weather, the beasts, or his now sensei, Varitas Durentis, an old friend of his father's.
Status: IT. IS. COLD. Location: Trabian Wasteland Company: Varitas, Makoto Thoughts: No Place Like Home Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic: Scan (1) Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
The young blonde man followed behind the silver haired swordsman before him, arms crossed as they trudged onward into the cold winter hellscape that lay before them. New fallen snow covered the landscape, allowing the trio to imprint themselves upon the surface, like paint on a new white canvas. Kalen, adorned in warm clothes, a jacket and scarf protecting his upper extremities from the chill and from chapping, let his eyes wander around the area in question. It wasn't exactly wide open, but it wasn't a deep forest either. They were walking essentially through an open field that was littered with small fauna, deer dashing into the woods in the distance while others burrowed into dens that were carefully hidden in the depths of the snow. If Kalen had not been here on a different sort of business, he would have stopped to really admire the view and the tranquility of the situation. Perhaps he would have grabbed a few pages and had drawn the snowy hills, sparkling in the sunlight that cast overhead, but onward he trudged on, once more casting a look between the man he would be calling Master and the other young man that walked with them, a fellow student he could surmise and perhaps one that Varitas already had.
"Listen kid, I'm not...well, you know, I have to go."Kalen had looked up at the taller blonde, still stuck in his wheelchair for one more day. The use of his legs had finally returned but the doctors asked that he return to it as to not overexert himself upon recovery. There had been much discussion in the Nipal household, Rem having announced that she was leaving to Winhill in order to train under Salem Everett. Kalen had recently crossed the threshold to the age of twenty one, so the plans for him to retry his SeeD exams had no chance. It wasn't until a knock at the door had introduced Kalen, officially while only momentary, to the man that had sired him. Riyel had walked/wheeled his son so they could speak privately, and had laid a path for him that he never would have thought of on his own."They're taking your mother back to Galbadia, and I have to go with her. s**t, kid, I'd train you myself if I could but...that's...not in the cards. I'm sorry."The look on Kalen's face was a mixture of wonder and confusion, speaking to the man that was before him. He should have been dead. Yet he stood here, caring and acting like the father that he imagined him to be, if only for a second. In fact, he acted like he had never died at all...he knew everything about Kalen. Not that Kalen spoke much, mind you, rather looking up at the man with a strange sense of trepidation.
This entire encounter did not feel real.
"I tried to get you in to do your SeeD exams, and that's my fault. Forgot my boy turned twenty one! But...you as much as I know that you can't just be an author in this world anymore. Monsters exist. People are scheming and politicking. You can wield the pen, but sadly, now you must also truly learn how to wield the sword and maybe that beast within."His father's matching blue eyes examined the boy before him, his face gentle as he knelt beside him. One hand gently placed itself on Kalen's knee."So I asked my old friend Varitas to get you ready. He's a crazy old b*****d but he's one of the best. He won't baby you. He won't coddle you. He'll push you to your limit and give you something most SeeD don't have through that. If you're okay with it of course, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do.The blue eyes and face came alight with a small grin."No matter what kid, I'm with ya. I'm proud of ya. I just want you to be ready."
His brow furrowed, remembering the conversation.
Of course he had said yes, the default being sitting at home and just writing. He could feel the papers in his pocket, words with a basis in peace and hope like his mother had asked of him but it was not ready yet. Kalen was honestly trying to make it perfect. All Kalen knew was that a day later his bag was packed and he had to say goodbye to everyone as well, a hug to Rem and a hug to Nyale before vanishing once more with a strange silver haired man into a place he had tread the least.
Trabia.
It hurt knowing that he made a promise of being home permanently, only to be pulled away by the plight of the world, but it had to be done. With the hugs that he had given to his sister and best friend, all he could do was apologize as he had to his mother. I'm sorry I lied... Kalen hated lying. Kalen hated promising things to people he loved and not delivering, though there was really no other choice. His sister and best friend were involved with something dangerous, and he knew he had to be there for them. Of course, an errant text from his lovely Godsister Robin stating, "YOU'RE IN TROUBLE WHEN I SEE YOU." Also cemented his stance to take his leave. He knew she meant it.
The phone lay lodged inside his jacket, off, as there was no signal this far into the Trabian outback. In fact, there really looked to be no hospitable place to stay at all, honestly. Kalen assumed they would be roughing it.
"Varitas...sir? You just live out here?" His voice was raised, the howl of the wind trying to smother its volume, but it was loud enough for the man to hear. His eyes passed over towards Makoto, also curious about his standing in the Trabian realm.
"OHOHOHO, Boy! You know he does! It is time for a young pup like yourself to truly earn some callouses on those gentle artist hands."
You talk too much, Gilgamesh. He could only respond, the maniacal laughter of the Weapons Master echoing in the depths of his thoughts.
Yeah...funny.
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
That was a easy one to recite from his mother's book. Knowing he was headed into Trabia, and likely into one of the snow covered wastelands that they liked to call home. He had prepared for it, but unfortunately so far, Makoto seemed to have trouble simply adopting the way of the a**-numbing chill.
"Kalen I do meet. Sword in hand, purpose is lost. He seems pretty neat."
Homie was also a writer. So perhaps there was a kindred spirit there, and perhaps even more importantly a connection to a book deal. Well, that's if the dude could survive a Trabian winter. Hell, that was is Makoto could survive a Trabian winter. Which was exceedingly difficult, as the only seasons Trabia knew were cold, least cold, less cold and coldest winter. That being said it was this brutal nature that had made Trabians some of the premier survivalist and monster fighting people.
He would complain about it now, perhaps write a new poem on it in the future that would go in his best selling literature. Hearing Kalen speak, he looked up at the boy and grinned.
"Varitas likes peace. Mountains a barrier from chaos. The cold also helps." ____________________________________________________
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2024 11:40 am
Varitas Durentis Status: Guiding and Teaching
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He turned his head towards the two as they were chatting together, his attention having been drawn by Kalen as they were progressing through the wilderness. It was true, as Makoto said, Varitas preferred this environment over any other. Living off the land, hunting grand beasts, eating a fine meal? Yeah, that was quite the life he enjoyed. He didn't necessarily need anyone to be a part of it, but the relationship between him and Trabia Garden was built well upon a foundation of give and take. Though, in this moment, he had done the training as a favor to Riyel, and Trabia Garden. He was reluctant to take on students, mostly due to it interrupting his own peace and freedom, but he understood his skills were needed again, and much more than that, Kalen needed a teacher.
"I've lived out here since the war ended. I used to live in Centra when I was younger, but felt that Trabia offered more for me to hone my skills as a warrior." He said plainly to Kalen as they traversed through the Tundra Forest, entering deep within the thicket of the brush where branches blocked one's vision. For Varitas, he appeared to effortlessly move through it, but for Kalen, he'd find resistance from the mixture of snow and branches pushing back against him. He likely would feel branches smacking into him, as if they were alive, tugging at his jacket inconveniently, snagging on him in various places. A struggle that Makoto, most likely wouldn't suffer from due to being a natural born Trabian.
But, once they were out of the brush, they'd see a wooden fortress, spiked log pillars, four towers, a full training field, one he made for Makoto to use when he stayed out during his time training. It once started out as just a simple cabin, but overtime, he managed to not only mask his home using the thicker trees as cover, but also build himself a small encampment that acted as a means of protection against the monsters.
Makoto knew the trees in Trabia had grown to be incredibly resiliant in the coming years, nature having adapted as more monsters and mana spread across the land due to the lunar cries of the past. This effected both wildlife and plantlife, allowing for new material to be birthed, but at the same time, it was still just wood, and would do nothing against a monster that could face him head on. But it was a home, and a safe haven for them to store their material from hunts.
If one were to look more within the camp, one could see various tools and equipment such as tanning racks, fire pit smokers, blacksmithing anvil and forge, and various other things that Makoto was taught to be familiarized with. Everything here was meant to be used as a tool for survival, and just as Riyel had promised Kalen, Varitas had every intention of turning him into a warrior.
"Right then. I need to see where you are at in your abilities. Makoto has been training with me for awhile now, so he is going to be your sparring partner. Once I get a good idea of where you are at in terms of abilities and skills, we will go from there. Makoto, no magic or GF." He said as he walked over to a shack, stepping inside to throw two wooden swords out in front of both Kalen and Makoto, fully expecting the both of them to pick it up respectively.
Status: In the rhythm. Location: In Fort Cold. Spells:
Water (x3), Blizzard (x3), Blind (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x1)
____________________________________________________ "Yes, of course Sensei." A line Varitas must have heard a million times as it was a staple start to a response from young Makoto. Turns out he didn't try to make up new things every time. "I will teach Kalen with care. The way of the blade."
How could a haiku sound so ominous. Unlike what Durentis expected, Makoto had moved forwards to catch the bokken. He gave his master a sincere smile, and a bow, holding the blades horizontal in a respectful gesture. The bugger had always been fast, and perhaps he was picking up on Varitas' habits as well. In either way, he stepped over to Kalen and with a more sinister smile handed him his wooden sword.
Makoto then took a few paces from Kalen, roughly between ten and fifteen. Plenty enough there was solid distance between the two, and Makoto held up his sword. The chūdan-no-kamae. Or the simple mid level pose. Makoto was avoiding even using his signature quick-draw techniques, and was starting with a basic balanced approach. If there were kid gloves out here, this was it, not that Makoto would let him know that.
"Wood is for safety. But pain is part of lesson. I'mma beat your a**." ____________________________________________________
Status: IT. IS. COLD. Location: Trabian Wasteland Company: Varitas, Makoto Thoughts: No Place Like Home Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic: Scan (1) Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
Varitas' response forced a single eyebrow to raise on Kalen's face, not out of surprise for his answer. Rather, it was an appraisal at nearly the same kind of message that Koyuki Rieko...Vicaria, had left upon him the night he had visited her. "If you wish to be strong, not held back by anyone who would coddle you, Trabia is where you must go." The woman's words and appearance still sent shivers down his spine. Again, it all made sense to him, and the only thing that drew his attention was Makoto's haikuing, which had been the ONLY WAY this guy had been speaking in the few hours that Kalen had gotten to know him. It was rather charming...but oh my God, this was going to be all he heard from him from now on, wasn't it?!
"AHAHAHAHA!
YOUNG WARD LEARNS HAIKU
THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR'S HEART
STRENGTH IN THOUGHT MUST COME!!!"
Kalen's face blanched at the attempt of poetry through the Force in his head. Please, never do that again. You're a Weapon snatching weapon's master, not some lonely and artful samurai! The longer he could go without Gilgamesh doing...that, the better. It made up the time that came through walking in the brush and coming to a stopping point. An actual home. Ah, so he isn't just roughing it, is he. So much was going on around, so much different kinds of equipment and utensils. It was...exhilarating. Kalen whistled at it, impressed at all of this that was hidden in the landscape. "This is incredible."
Observing time was over though, Varitas tossing two swords, wooden, on the ground and commanding them to test their abilities, specifically Kalen's. Oh, s**t. Makoto began again Haikuing, much to Kalen's exasperated look, as he handed Kalen a wooden sword before taking a stance. So it begins, eh?
"Wood is for burning My haiku is not too bad Just shut up and fight, man."
His voice was annoyed, almost joking in nature, but Kalen took a stance, bending at the knees and pointing the wooden blade in his left hand towards Makoto, right hand loose and measured a few inches away from that. HIs history in wrestling and Nona's motion to make sure that Kalen could defend himself with a blade was noticeable, but it was easy to see that Makoto had tenure and practiced harder and longer. Kalen knew the one thing he had up his sleeve in this regard was his amateur and catch wrestling background. This would truly be a litmus test to see how underdeveloped he really was.
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Status: The Water's Fine. Location: Steps from Kalen's grave. Spells:
Water (x3), Blizzard (x3), Blind (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x1)
____________________________________________________ "Your haiku is trash. Just like your face, and your skill. Unlike mine, sublime."
Makoto took a step forwards, and proceeded with a simple three-strike combo. He started with swift raps aimed at Kalen's right wrist, left wrist, and then a sharper attempt at a swat to the left-side of the boy's waist. Pure basics, the poem inclined boy was only testing the waters. Perhaps adding another handicap on himself beyond what Durentis had said was insulting, or not necessary, but at the same time... what could be expected from this boy? ____________________________________________________
Status: IT. IS. COLD. Location: Trabian Wasteland Company: Varitas, Makoto Thoughts: No Place Like Home Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic: Scan (1) Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
The mutter was layered with dark humour, holding his wooden sword firmly. It was silent for a moment before Makoto stepped forward and began the initial assault, a simple three way attack that felt more like probing and testing than an attempt to perform any damage. Kalen had grown up handling his short sword/wakizashi, being trained by Nona when she had free time. Others had gotten trainers but Kalen was never really allowed that, so most of the training he was given by Nona, he practiced on his own. A master he was not, but an overall simpleton he was not either. If anything, he was better off than civilians, and in a grappling sense, he had always excelled in the academy's wrestling teams. Perhaps it was not time to surprise attack like that, he would allow Makoto his probing.
A slow inhale. Eyes narrowed. He moved.
Pulling his right hand back, he danced to his left side to avoid the first strike, and pulled the wooden sword back to answer the second strike, the sounds of wood on wood action clacking in the silence of the snow fallen compound. The third strike gave Kalen an option. The swat came quickly, but Kalen switched grip after repelling the second attack, moving the blade into the reverse position as he had it. His arm came up, once more the wood smacking into the wood blade he held, another deep breathe, and pushed outward and moved forward, his back pushed against Makoto, wrapping his right arm around Makoto's upper arm and twisted, an attempt to arm drag Makoto into a roll to disorient him.
Hopefully Kalen's surprise attempt would surprise Makoto, and if succeeded, Kalen would charge forward with a sweeping swing, like a pendulum.
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Status: Warming water. Location: At the trab shack. Spells:
Water (x3), Blizzard (x3), Blind (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x1)
____________________________________________________ The reverse grip gave a lot away. Unorthodox and unfortunately, sloppy. The boy hadn't had a proper trainer in a long time, and he could see the bad habits that had formed from here. Not all of them, of course, but putting your back to an opponent like this in a sword fight was a bad idea. Unfortunately using only the wooden weaponry meant he couldn't take proper advantage, so he focused and retreated. Now Makoto was fast, and he neither let Kalen's hand nor back make contact as he moved away from his opponent.
The young poet moved like water, not wanting to be put into any engagement he didn't control, nor did he want to be put into a grapple. Makoto had to allow the thought, it wasn't a bad idea, only unrefined. The sparring partner considered a retaliatory strike, but instead he only disengaged, keeping his guard up in case a extra attack was attempted, but instead he stanced up for a reset.
"Can be creative. A gem in the rough, maybe. Your offense now, friend."
Ishikawa was being as kind as he could, and he hoped his opponent would pick up on some of the missed opportunities he had available to him.
"A test then reset. Unthaw your ability. Then we test proper." ____________________________________________________
Status: IT. IS. COLD. Location: Trabian Wasteland Company: Varitas, Makoto Thoughts: No Place Like Home Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic: Scan (1) Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
"Tch." He followed through with the throwing motion, however Makoto was too fast and slipped out of his grasp. He's a slippery one. Of course, Kalen knew that again, all he had in spades were tricks and wrestling, and now he had given out a part of his hand, in particular, that he had a wrestling basis that Makoto had not. As he fully turned around, Kalen observed Makoto's measured face, trying to read in between the lines of a book that he could not even understand. In a situation like this, Kalen only knew of one way to outfight an opponent that was better than you, more skilled than you, and at an advantage.
It was to fight dirty, usually surprising them with a sudden offensive.
Kalen swapped his grip, once more back into a standard grip with his left hand, before slowly beginning to walk towards Makoto. Too slowly. The other swordsman's stance was inviting, waiting for Kalen to make a move towards him and Kalen knew that he would be able to fend his attacks. He was still too green, not versed in fighting actual, cognitive opponents that were beyond the thinking comprehension of a basic grat. It was here that Kalen would need to be creative, and make up for his lack of experience and technique with good old fashioned subterfuge.
Right before he came into range, Kalen changed speeds, dashing forward and swinging his low blade in an upward motion, his lower right to the upper left. The motion was fluid, but it was easily blocked and Kalen expected it, honestly hoping that his lack of experience that was visible would allow Makoto the bait of blocking it. Either way, with the block, Kalen would twist fast, spinning swinging the blade in a horizontal strike with his right hand grasping a handful of snow, tossing it as he spun into a cloud of ice crystals in Makoto's face. The surprise environmental attack would be followed with a swift and sharp front kick, aiming for Makoto's solar plexus.
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Status: In the flow. Location: In the cold. Spells:
Water (x3), Blizzard (x3), Blind (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x1)
____________________________________________________ Makoto was focused, his attention on Kalen's movement. His every little finger twitch, each eye flicker, the expression across his face. The man was like a painting and very expressive. But more importantly, there was no conditioning on what to expect of his opponent, but there was a time where bait was too obvious. But the kicker here was what was the pay off, and what was the intended action?
The haiku inclined child deflected the blow with ease, although he stepped forwards along Kalen's flank as he spun yet again. The would be samurai was far from tied down enough to simply stand there and see what was coming. By the time Kalen had thrown the snow, Makoto was way out of position. Again, it wasn't a bad move, Kalen was simply off on the set up. Anyways, another deflect of the horizontal strike and Makoto backed off yet again, squaring up once more to reset their sparring once again.
"I will help you once. Remember my master's words. Our dance begins anew."
Some of the training wheels were coming off, which would somewhat be in Kalen's favor. If Makoto was being more aggressive, he may have fell for one or two of the ploys so far. ____________________________________________________
Status: IT. IS. COLD. Location: Trabian Wasteland Company: Varitas, Makoto Thoughts: No Place Like Home Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic: Scan (1) Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
Kalen could only smile as his attempt failed, spinning and missing as Makoto moved. "Well, that's all folks." What he was referring to, of course, was going to his small and useless tactics that were completely ineffective at the moment. All he knew was that in order to get better, he was going to have to get smacked around with a wooden sword alot in order to understand the nuances and things to do and things not to do. Makoto was faster, stronger, and more experienced.
"Game on." He charged in, not recklessly but it would certainly look that way, swinging with another sharp horizontal strike with the wooden blade in his left hand, right to to left, using that momentum to follow that with a sharp right kick to the mid section, aiming right under the ribs.
"I'm not going to get better by playing this safe."
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Status: Wild and Free Location: In The Spree Spells:
Water (x3), Blizzard (x3), Blind (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x1)
____________________________________________________ Internally Makoto was shaking his head. He understood Kalen's approach, but it seemed the boy wasn't putting a lot of critical thought into what he was planning. Yet, maybe he was the kind of guy who could only learn by doing. Makoto had somehow picked up on that during his years in the actual Gardens.
The boy shifted slightly backwards, keeping Kalen at full sword distance before blocking his horizontal swipe. A decent start, it was always difficult to open a exchange with something that would meaningfully press the opponent without over extending. But when the leg came up, Makoto simply turned his sword to deflect the same-side kick. Did he know with a real sword that could of had his leg amputated? Makoto's left hand left his blade to catch the underside of his opponent's leg, leaving Kalen in the ever touted one legging hopper poise.
Everyone had been there before. With his one handed blade, he sent a swift strike towards his partner's left leg, intending to strike the inside of the knee and hopefully get the man to buckle and fall so they could reset for another. At least until Varitas would interrupt them. ____________________________________________________
Status: IT. IS. COLD. Location: Trabian Wasteland Company: Varitas, Makoto Thoughts: No Place Like Home Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic: Scan (1) Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
Can't do that trick in any other scenario...sword being wood is the only saving grace here. His foot made contact with the wood, which he grimaced slightly before it was grabbed. There. Kalen countered the downward strike of Makoto with an upward strike of his own, not aiming for the blade but rather the hand holding the blade as it came on the downswing to try and smash his fingers. If it succeed, Kalen would jump upward and kick forward, into Makoto's chest to try and gain separation between the two, rolling up into regular position.
If it failed, well, Kalen would just be hurting, wouldn't he?
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Water (x3), Blizzard (x3), Blind (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x1)
____________________________________________________ The swordsman watched the defender's sword swoop over their own leg to attempt to counter with a upward strike. The outreach and extension of his arm told Makoto everything, this was not simply a block but also a counter strike, and the samurai obliged. He pulled his blade back to stop the retaliation, and the wooden blades clattered like they had before.
Then Kalen did a forward hop kick. This man had to be part of the front kick gang or something like that, as he kept going for it. Was this a attempt at conditioning, or bad habit? Makoto side stepped the kick, to his left, Kalen's right. Taking advantage of the momentum and hold he already had on the Rieko's boy leg and leveraged it to throw his opponent forward. Makoto would follow with swift footsteps, taking a strike at Kalen's shoulders if he had fell prone. If he landed on his feet, a swing to the rib cage. ____________________________________________________
