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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 16, 2018 21:35:45 GMT -5
Rhys looked up when Lenna approached. She brushed a bit of the blood away. She gave a nod. “Smaller spells would be good. My head feels fuzzy.” She spoke softly. Rhys looked around at the beautiful city as Lenna spoke of the past, of the mage that destroyed it. She took in a small breath. “Merlin thinks that I could do the same…huh?” She asked her voice soft.
Rhys stood and took the cloth from Lenna when it was offered. She wiped away the blood and looked to the bright red on the cloth. “When I get more attuned, this won’t happen?” She asked softly and then fell quiet as Lenna explained magic and emotion. She drew her brows together. “Okay…” She took the small rock and held her palm out, she looked to the rock a moment.
“When I was young, I used to help my mother grind the herbs.” She began, the rock wiggled a bit in her palm. “I always thought it was a game, she’d show me everything, and help me grind the herbs just right for the medicine.” The rock levitated shakily, she took in even breaths as she focused. She drew her brows together and looked to Lenna as the rock fell back into her palm.
Rhys thought again she then smirked slightly, “I’ve practiced swordplay since I was young, not too long after my mother was murdered in the raids. First father showed me how to use a dagger to defend myself. Soon enough we played with wooden swords.” The rock began to levitate, it was more controlled this time. “Dorian found my father and I one-day practicing and he joined in. From that day forward Dorian and I became sparing partners. I surpassed him as we grew in age. My father always said I had a knack for the art. That I picked it up too easily.” She paused and the rock fell back into her hand.
Rhys then looked to Lenna once more she looked back to the rock. “I’ve entered in sword tournaments several times, the first was when I was 16. I was young, and I didn’t win. I came home with many cuts and bruises, but the act of entering the competition gave me something, it taught me what I was weak in and I changed my fighting style, I learned from it.” The rock levitated a bit higher, though it was a little wobbly.
It took a few moments before the rock fell back into her palm again. Rhys relaxed slightly, “What other emotions?” She asked, “Fear? Love? Excitement? Anger?” She drew her brows together.
“There was this one time.” She smiled, her cheeks blushed slightly. “Father has always wanted Dorian to court me, even though, honestly I’d have nothing to do with it, I want him to succeed and if I am out frolicking with a boy, I won’t be available to help with the forage.” The rock began to levitate again. “Dorian showed up with a basket full of delicious food, and a bottle of wine. He took me out to the valley and we ate cheese and crackers, and drank the fine wine. We lay there until the stars were in the sky.” She chuckled, “He’s a kind soul. Though, I’m not sure he’s the soul for me…” The rock waivered and rested in her palm again. “When the king raised the taxes again this last time…” Rhys drew her brows together. “My father and I didn’t eat for nearly a week…it was Dorian who brought us food so that we could get by. The amount of money that was being taken from us, from our hard work…it was nearly everything we were making. Times were slow…a box of nails here and there, free swords to the knights at the castle…free armor…it was absolutely killing us.” Her voice had a tinge of anger in it. The rock shook, “I worked in the forage many hours trying to help my father get ahead, to make more axes, more nails…yet no matter what I did we were still drowning.” The rock cracked slightly from her power.
Rhys took in a breath as it crumbled, she bit her lower lip. “Oh….” She examined the small pieces and dust of the rock before she dropped it toward the ground. “What emotion should I use?” She asked Lenna curiously. “How do I become closer to my magic like you said?” She lifted up a book in her hands and opened it. “I don’t see anything in these books about Yevon or Craven…” She paused and looked up to Lenna. “Why wouldn’t it be listed? Shouldn’t it be? To keep the same event from happening again…”
Rhys paused on a page then, she drew her brows together. “Is this true….?” She asked her eyes widened slightly. “Those without magic would capture those who carried magic, especially those of the astro-magic…this happened before magic was extinguished from the lands. Once captured the humans that had a hold of the astro-mage would perform a blood letting, drinking the blood of the mage to grow younger and extend life…” Rhys looked to Lenna, “How could anyone…” She looked back down to the book. “The boost of youth from the blood of the mages caused mages to become hunted, especially Astro-mages. The other benefits of drinking the blood of an Astro-mage would be increased energy, a high that couldn’t be gained from any known drugs, as well as the ability to manipulate some objects for a short period of time. Captive Astro-mages were kept for years while this process was performed weekly….”
Rhys blinked a few times, “How could anyone do such a thing…?” She asked, her eyes sad. “Lenna…” She looked up. “Is this true?”
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Post by Raven on Mar 17, 2018 20:16:02 GMT -5
“I don’t think Merlin means it as a threat, just as a reminder... perhaps...” Lenna turned after and listened to the stories that Rhys spoke. Her eyes focused in on the rock – watching it’s reaction. She smiled bright when Rhys spoke of swordplay...
She watched as Rhys cycled through her emotions. “You must be careful, magic responds to the emotion most aligned, or tuned, to your body. You... are not an angry person. Yes much powerful comes from that reaction, but it is uncontrollable...” she placed a hand on her back. “Come” she led her to the side of the castle, where there was a staked out square...
She thought for a moment, about what Rhys said about the blood letting. “To be truthful, I didn’t know about it. I could see it though...I guess I am glad I do not know, it means not any random wanna be mage could find that in a library” she winked and then walked over to the wooden rails. She leaned down and picked up a wooden practice sword.
“There are evil people out there. Did you see how your magic responded to your anger? Most people have that reaction too, but rather than straying away from it’s uncontrollable nature – they lean to it. They see an easy way to get strong fast, and care not for the repercussions. The more they dabble in that emotion, the more it consumes them... that is how evil people come about. It stems from greed. If anyone – you should know to never take the easy route. Hm? It’s how you get cut” she winked and then lifted the wooden sword, turning it in her hands.
“Your magic responded very well to your memories of sword play. It is an art, and a pass time that you enjoy more than anything in this world. You crave it, you almost need it. It sets you apart from everyone you know, and it fuels your success gauge... So, let’s feed that craving. Teach me how to sword fight... it is something I do not know how to do, and would like to learn, and it will give you more memories to use.”
“So... be my mentor. How do I hold this bloody thing?” she smiled then waiting for her instructions....
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 17, 2018 20:39:38 GMT -5
Rhys listened and followed Lenna along. She watched as she lifted the wooden sword into her hands, the hilt was wrapped in leather, much like an actual sword to balance it out no doubt. “There is no easy route in the art of swordplay.” Rhys chuckled. She looked at how Lenna held the wooden blade. She reached forward and carefully moved Lenna’s hands, adjusting them on the hilt. “Most of the time you will want to keep your hands together, spaced evenly, just like this.” She took a step back and looked over Lenna then, “You always want to be on the defensive, to never let your guard down.” She spoke. “I find that keeping on the balls of my feet helps me to move quicker than the men that I’ve fought. They plod around with their weight, where as I have to gauge every move and be mindful of what may happen if I fail.”
Rhys moved and adjusted Lenna’s arms a bit and placed her hand on her back, leaning her forward into the stance. “It’s uncomfortable at first.” She spoke, “But you come to love the feeling.” She stepped back and lifted up another practice sword. Rhys moved the wooden blade around in her hands gaining a feel for it. “The most important part of swordplay is not to attack, but to draw your opponent in.” She spoke and stepped forward, “The more I believe I have the power over you, the more arrogant I will become, thus, you will then have the upper hand.” She grinned then. “Though, you must first learn to defend yourself. Hm?” She smiled and brought her sword up. “The key here is to watch my movements. Gauge my attack.” She slowly brought her sword forward into Lenna’s sword. All the while she smiled. Lenna was right, she lived for the swordplay. Rhys moved her sword, though slowly, she stepped forward. “Be sure to move, that is another important thing, the moment you stop moving is the moment you’ve lost.” She spoke as she carefully timed her attacks, though she didn’t put any force behind them and she was cautious not to cause injury to Lenna.
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Post by Raven on Mar 17, 2018 20:48:36 GMT -5
Lenna blushed slightly when Rhys reached up and moved her hands. “Okay... got it” She stepped back slightly and swung the sword slightly. “Oh this is weird” she chuckled and then leaned forward slightly as she felt a warm hand to her back. “What about my stance here? I see you often bend your knees just slightly?” she looked to Rhys and mimicked her stance.
Lenna stood before Rhys then and lifted her sword – blocking the attack. She appreciated how Rhys moved slowly, and without much strength – as to allow Lenna to simply get the feel of what it would look like. “Magic is a lot like this” she spoke, she was beginning to break into a bit of a sweat. “I try to imagine what I am doing. I see your sword coming down, and I know – I must bring mine up to block it. We...” she blocked an attack. “We often don’t think of what that actually is, but when we are learning... you want to see it before it happens. What do I want my block to look like? Does it look like yours? Make it happen in my head... and then mimic it. Put my sword... exactly where I want it?” she lifted her sword and blocked another.
“The most basic foundation of magic is the same. If we can imagine it, we can make it happen... once we get the feeling of our magic, or the feeling of the blade.. being one with us.. then we can start to do complicated spells...” she lowered her sword to take a breather.
Lenna stepped over and levitated a chunk of wood and suddenly the wood began to reform – into two wooden cups. She then moved her fingers in a wave like motion – drawing water out of the air. She filled the cups with fresh water, and then drank hers down. “It is nice to be able to just... cast as much as I want” she smiled then.
“Shall we continue? I think I get the jist of blocking... what about attacking? How do I make my swing the most efficient?” she questioned, taking her stance back in the middle of the ring. “Is there a different way I hold myself – compared to defensive?”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 17, 2018 21:17:11 GMT -5
Rhys smiled, listening to Lenna. “Yes, once you see my movement, you move to block, you can see it in your mind and eventually you don’t even think about it at all.” She paused when Lenna did, lowering the sword and watching her. “The better you become with the foundation, the stronger you become with more complicated movements.” She grinned as she watched Lenna form the cups from the piece of wood. She chuckled at when Lenna said, about being able to use her magic when she wanted. “I bet it is freeing…hiding such a talent.” She shook her head. “It’s incredible what you can do.” She took the cup into her hands and drank the water.
Rhys grinned when she asked about the attack. “Ah yes, different.” She lifted her sword again. “Being the size that we are a women, putting our weight into it really matters.” She gave a nod. “So moving effectively is key, but also using our movements to throw our opponent off balance.” She paused a moment thinking. “If I were to swing in like this.” She brought her sword in from the side carefully, “You block.” She nodded, “Push against my sword.” Rhys allowed Lenna to push her sword outward. This threw her balance off and transferred the sword into one hand. “Now.” Rhys gave a nod, “Now you want to bring your blade down on my other side here.” She reached forward and lifted the tip of Lenna’s sword and placed it against her side. “I’m off balance, and if you attack to the side that my sword is, I’ll likely be able to fumble in a block or two as I am regaining balance. This all happens rather quickly.”
Rhys smiled as she stepped back, “So, block my attack, divert my blade, and immediately strike.” She spoke, “If you are successful and I am still off balance, chain another attack. The more hits you can get in a row the more you will injure me. Though do not count on getting several attacks in a row. But remember to attack from different angles.” Rhys searched Lenna’s eyes. “Never take your eyes from me, the moment you look away to a distraction is the moment that could cost you your life.” Rhys stepped back in a defensive stance, “Another great attack is a simple jab. Bring your blade straight forward into me after a side attack, or just before. I will be so busy trying to fend that off that most opponents will be caught off guard by this. I’ve won duals with this several times.”
Rhys took in a breath. “So, don’t hold back, divert my blade and attack.” Rhys moved forward she quickened her movement slightly, though, she was still moving at a good pace that she felt Lenna could keep pace to. She allowed Lenna to push her blade to the side and grinned as Lenna tapped her side with the sword. She chuckled as she went for another attack, but this time she did not back down so easily, she locked their swords together. “Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in a clinch.” She spoke, her face just inches from Lenna’s. “In these moments you must gauge your opponent and decide quickly what you can do to overcome this without losing your sword.” Rhys stared into Lenna’s eyes. “Often times it is easier to abruptly pull back, once you do this swing your blade with one hand and catch me in my back or the legs.” Rhys nodded to Lenna and waited for her to pull back as she put more pressure into the clinch. She stumbled forward and chuckled as she felt the wooden sword against her boot.
Rhys turned and smiled to her and lifted her sword again. “Now.” She looked to Lenna as she bent her knees. “Just imagine this as a dance.” She spoke as she moved forward, she was a bit faster, but not too quick, her attacks were held back immensely, she held back her force, keeping herself open to attack from Lenna, allowing her to learn.
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Post by Raven on Mar 17, 2018 21:53:19 GMT -5
Lenna took the suggestions – she moved forward, trying to move her sword swiftly, slicing – and then at another angle. It was difficult to get a grasp on the motion of the sword, as if she couldn’t quite get it to do what she wanted. There was clearly a disconnect between her hand and the sword, something she knew she would have to practice.
“This is a lot of information” Lenna chuckled and then tried anyways. She tried swinging at Rhys’s shoulder, and then following up with a jab to her chest. “I’ve seen you do this attack before... where you went for his shoulder but faked it. Turning the blade to the chest, slice the side right here...” she touched the wooden blade to her side, “then you jabbed” she mimicked the motion, a jab to the thigh. “And then this...” she brought the blade and then twirled – throwing her weight into the circle, adding to the power, and bringing the sword down onto her chest. “but you did it better...” she laughed, as it was easily deflected. “You knocked him down and put a boot to his chest, blade to his throat, winning last years Tournament of the Summer Flame” she smiled.
“The Queen has been watching you for a while...” she spoke and then chuckled “We have attended every tournament, specifically to watch you. She’s always been fascinated by you...” she set the sword down.
“We should do more tomorrow... come on, let’s do some more magic, then perhaps some food?” She smiled, “Or both at the same time” she chuckled. “The castle is empty, we’ll have to hunt or something...” she spoke and glanced to her. “So, lets..” she smiled and lead her to the forest nearby.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 17, 2018 22:12:16 GMT -5
Rhys chuckled as Lenna tried to mimic her attacks. She grinned when Lenna mentioned the tournaments. When she deflected the attack. “The queen has been interested in me?” She laughed. “All this time I thought that the king and queen wanted my neck for the executioner but thought too highly of my father to take me away from him like that.”
Rhys set her sword down next to Lenna’s leaning it against the railing. Rhys followed Lenna, she smiled to her. “You’re catching on, you know?” She spoke, “It takes time, much like handling magic. I assume. Just as you are incredible with your magic, I’m sure it took time.” She thought about the tournaments. “I’ve lived for the tournaments each year…even though I had to perform in secret.” She then laughed. “Though it sounds like I wasn’t quite as secret as I thought. Until this year I thought that the king was unaware that I was the one within that suite of armor.” She sighed, “Naïve I suppose. To believe I could fool the king so easily. Though, I did gather quite the amount of coin from those tournaments for my father. It helped get us through the rough times.” She smiled as they made it to the forest.
“So…what should I focus on? What will make me better at magic?” She reached down and lifted up a small rock and bit her lip slightly as she focused. She lifted it as she thought of teaching Lenna to swordfight. She chuckled happily, it felt like the levitation came to her. She allowed the rock to fall and looked to Lenna. “Teach me.” She spoke, a smile on her lips. “How did you learn?”
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Post by Raven on Mar 17, 2018 22:21:56 GMT -5
Lenna glanced to Rhys, her eyes looking to the rock that floated. “Hm...” she pondered a moment. “The King and Queen knew, yes, after the first time you were caught – they expected it, and often took wagers on which fighter was you...” she chuckled. They entered the forest and began weaving between trees and forage, Lenna kept her eye out for the hunt.
“Focus on...” she pondered a moment. “I learned the same way you have learned a sword – I never stopped. Any time I sat – I would levitate something, try to do it longer than before, keep it steady, keep move it around, even throw it. I just... was always trying to beat my last record” she chuckled and stopped for a second.
“It’s like... holding that sword. I don’t feel comfortable with it, it seems... flimsy and half-hazard, one day it will become a part of me, I will command the sword, rather than it commanding me” she chuckled. “The theories.. are the same. I think, other than me learning how to fight – you teaching me, will teach yourself magic more than anything. You just have to become comfortable with it, and challenge yourself to be better than the last time you use your magic.” She spoke and then pointed.
A rabbit hopped from a bush and turned its tiny head toward them. “So, let’s try something in your lane of magic. You’ve done it before, stopping time... Recall back to the last time you’ve done it, do you remember that feeling in your chest right before it happened? This is a basic spell for your lane of magic, so in the same fashion that you will the rock to float – will time to stop. Walk over... and get that rabbit...” she spoke, glancing to Rhys... “Just you though, don’t pull me into it...”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 17, 2018 23:19:49 GMT -5
Rhys listened to her speak she let out a soft chuckle. “To think that wagers were placed against me, or rather on which knight I was.” She shook her head. “Though I am incredibly lucky the king decided not to kill me for going against his judgements. I still remember when he commanded my father not to allow me in the forage. Yet, my father told me I would practice in secret that I needed to know how to defend myself…”
Rhys watched Lenna and listened to her as they continued into the forest. She paused as they stared to the small rabbit. She nodded, “Okay.” She stepped forward. Rhys thought back to the moment she’d stopped time in the village to save her and Lenna from the soldiers. She glanced to Lenna a moment and took another step forward. A twig snapped beneath her foot. The rabbit perked up and began to turn. Rhys took in a deep breath as the world around her suddenly stopped. The rabbit was mid air, frozen now.
Rhys took in a shaken breath as she rushed forward. She reached to the rabbit and suddenly it became animated again. “No, wait!” She spoke as it kicked from her grip and leaped into the air again. Once it lost contact with her it ceased to move once more. Rhys pulled her dagger and focused. This time as she grabbed onto the rabbit it remained still. She brought her dagger to it and suddenly time returned to its normal pace around her. Her forearm had deep gashes in it from the nails of the rabbit. She held the limp body in her hand by its ears and looked to the cuts on her arm.
“I didn’t think about when I touched it.” She spoke and let out a soft chuckle. “Time came back to the creature and it escaped.” Rhys looked to Lenna then. “Should we head back to the castle then to cook this guy up?” She looked to the limp creature in her hand.
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Post by Raven on Mar 18, 2018 1:01:30 GMT -5
It happened within in a second – Lenna blinked and Rhys had finished. She smiled and then glanced to the rabbit “Well, it is done” she smiled and lead her back to the Kingdom. Lenna stood back at the fountain, her eyes looking over the kingdom. “We have the entire place to ourselves, and yet I have no idea where I’d like to go.” She chuckled then...
“When I arrived – I was in the jails. I had to break out, and then basically dig my way through a collapsed wall. I have a feeling that this place has all sorts of tests like that, Merlin wouldn’t make it easy...” she made her way to a gazebo that was near the sparing ring. Just as she sat down on the bench - she heard a rumbling.
From the distance, over the hill, she could see hundreds of men – lined up, banners and weapons in hand. They marched towards the city, their footsteps like a hundred drums in the distance. Lenna looked to Rhys and then sighed deeply. “Merlin really wouldn’t make this easy....” she repeated and then grit her teeth. “We can’t take that many on, we have to retreat into the city, get a height advantage – the castle, lets go” she rushed forward and crossed the draw bridge. She ran up a small bit of stairs and began to crank the wheel, pulling the bridge up.
Lenna got it about halfway up, just enough that they couldn’t leap over... she then ran down and waved her to the castle. “Come on” they entered the large double doors... Lenna pulled one of the doors shut and then glanced around – “We need to find something to bar these doors” she heaved, and glanced about...
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 18, 2018 1:44:08 GMT -5
Rhys glanced to the men that held the banners. Her pulse quickened, flashes of her memories of the raid rushed through her mind. She grit her teeth as they ran through the city, fleeing from the soldiers. She watched as Lenna cranked the turn wheel, she could see the soldiers advancing toward them. “Does Merlin make anything easy?” She spoke with a soft laugh. She glanced around to look for something to bar the door. “Here.” She reached to a statue that held a spear. Rhys grasped the metal spear in her hands and shoved it through the door handles, locking it in place. “It won’t hold for long.” She spoke and looked about. “We have to get higher up.” She took off in a sprint. Her injury on her arm left droplets of blood on the ground behind her. A trail of breadcrumbs.
Rhys climbed the spiral stairs of the castle rushing up, once at the top she pushed out onto a balcony to over look the city. The soldiers were pulling upon the drawbridge, the chain was slowly giving away, rung by rung. Rhys paced slightly. “This…why…would he do this?” Her mind raced. “Lenna why would he try to kill us like this? We are supposed to be learning…” She muttered.
Rhys watched as the soldiers pulled the drawbridge down with one last tug. Her eyes glowed as her emotions overwhelmed her. She could hear the echo as the soldiers rammed the double doors. Soon after the click of the spear breaking in two. Rhys seemed frozen as she stood there. Though a strange presence began to surround her, the gravity around her seemed to lighten. Her hair lifted upward slightly, her glowing did the same. Even small pebbles on the ground began displaced by the presence of her energy.
Rhys rushed forward into the huge throne room as the soldiers began to climb the stairs. She pulled her sword. “We don’t have enough time to run…” She whispered to herself. A soldier rushed her, his sword glistened as he brought it down on her. Rhys brought her sword up into his, blocking him. She grit her teeth and brought her knee into him before she jabbed the blade forward and then sliced. A sudden wave of energy sliced through the air, it cut into the four soldiers behind him. Rhys grit her teeth, her eyes flashed a bright white as she rushed forward. Rhys was slammed then by the shoulder of a soldier. She flew back and landed harshly on her back. She scrambled to her feet and stared to the soldiers as they poured into the room. Her sword clattered from her hands and lay about 10 feet from her. She’d never make it in time.
Rhys took a step back, she reached for her dagger, but it was missing somehow. She grit her teeth as the soldier rushed forward. Rhys lifted up her hands and suddenly the world around her shifted and slowed. She stared to the soldier that stood before her, his sword just inches from her head. Rhys rushed to her sword. “Lenna…” She breathed, her voice echoed in the timeless plane. She rushed to Lenna’s side and took her hand. “We…need to run…” She breathed. Rhys pulled Lenna through the castle, they wound around until she felt dizzy. Rhys nearly collapsed as time came back around them. She leaned against the wall, her breathing heavy. Blood trickled from her nose. “We have to stop them…” She whispered.
More memories of the raid attacked her mind. Blinding her. She held her hand to her head and grit her teeth. Her mother’s screams. The cries of the innocent people getting slaughtered. “It…has to stop…” She breathed. Rhys then froze as he body focused, her sword clattered to the ground. Suddenly her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she gasped.
**
Rhys landed harshly in a different land. The world around her was black and smelled of smoldering fires. She fought to breathe in the smoke. Rhys glanced around, blue wisps floated all around her. “Lenna?” She breathed. The world around her slowly began to come into view. She stood next to Lenna, she stared to her limp body. She’d separated her soul from her body. An astral projection. Rhys looked to the blood that leaked from her nose, fear struck her then. Had she killed herself? Had her magic taken over and murdered her? She went to reach forward. It was then that she heard the deafening sound of armor clanking on the ground as the soldiers caught up to Rhys and Lenna.
“Halt there!” A soldier called.
Rhys grit her teeth. “No!” She rushed forward, a spear appeared, made of energy. It flew through the air and cut easily through the soldiers armor. The other soldiers looked to the man and backed up slightly, fear in their eyes. Rhys rushed forward to one and slammed her fist against him. She was invisible to them from this plane. Though she did quite a bit of damage. His nose bled as he stumbled back. She reached forward and ripped his sword from his hands and sliced it into his body. Rhys watched as he fell to his knees and toppled over. Others began to turn and run then. Fear striking them.
“Ghosts!” One soldier called as he turned.
Rhys shut her eyes and in the blink of an eye she’d teleported across the plane. She gripped him and threw him to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and rushed away. Rhys’ vision began to tunnel. She watched as the soldiers began to disappear into embers. An apparition created by Merlin. She glanced back to her limp body.
**
Rhys gasped and her eyes opened. “Lenna…?” She was clutching onto Lenna’s arms. She took a step back and leaned against the wall, her world was spinning. Blood dripped from her nose. She slid to the floor as the world continued to spin in circles around her. Her skin paled slightly. Her performance with her magic was something else. She just had to get a handle on it before it took over the reins and controlled her.
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Post by Raven on Mar 18, 2018 13:39:35 GMT -5
Lenna followed Rhys as they rushed up the spiral stair case. She glanced to Rhys as she spoke - Why would he do this? “It’s just another test...” she spoke and bit her lip as she watched them pull the draw bridge down. Soon enough they met the raid in the throne room.
Rhys is not the only one here to learn. You must take yourself to the next level. Push yourself past your comfort zone...
Lenna could hear Merlin’s voice in her head. She grit her teeth and shuffled back as Rhys attacked forward. It was sudden that Rhys fell limp, falling to the ground like a sack of potatoes. “Oh god” Lenna muttered and then squeezed her fits together.
She held her hands out and then shoved them forward – in an instant pieces of the wall behind them broke off in a chunks. She moved her hands, like she was molding the huge concrete pieces – the pieces moved and formed a dome around Rhy’s body, protecting her.
Lenna then moved ontop of the dome, so she had a height advantage over the crowd of soldiers that rushed in. An arrow whizzed by – Lenna ducked, for fear she would get hit. She turned her head... Swords. She held her hands out and a collection of swords lifted from the wall and float forward, they flew towards the first few men, a collision of metallic sounds filled the air.
While the sword fight continued – she began to draw water out of the air, creating beads in the air, then they froze over. She held them up higher – easily 50 or so beads. And then shot them forward – like a scatter shot of a shot gun, blazing forward and slicing into their victims. The two rows of men fell over in an instant, and turned into a gassy smoke, disappearing...
Lenna then moved her hands in a swirling motion – fire appeared out of no where. She spun it into a blazing twister, and then shot it forward with a gust of wind. The small fire tornado ripped through the wave of men, turning them to smoke as well.
You can do more than that
Lenna grit her teeth, she was not a battle mage... she was too much of a scholar, never had much experience when her life was on the line. She shut her eyes then and balled her fists before her, then with extreme focus – she shot her hands up. Suddenly each soldier lifted into the air with force, their feet dangling. Then she squeezed her fist tightly. In an instant... they all died. She had manipulated their blood to surround their heart, and then squeeze it to death.
Just as she let go – she gasped and fell to the ground. Her body tumbled down the concrete dome, and she lay – blood trailing from her nose, completely knocked out.
Good job...
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 18, 2018 14:25:39 GMT -5
Rhys crawled over to Lenna, her breaths heavy. “Lenna?” She asked and shook her, though there was no response. She brushed blood from Lenna’s nose and looked over her. Rhys heard shouting from outside. The commander and a few soldiers were left over. She looked around the empty room as she scooped her arms under Lenna and lifted. She ran then, mustering the strength. The world around her deafened as she stopped time once again. Allowing her the edge to get to somewhere safe. She grit her teeth her body felt as though it was being crushed and then ripped apart. She stumbled slightly as the world returned to normal the sounds of her boots padding against the floor echoed through the halls.
Don’t give up, Rhys. You can do so much more. Don’t make me show you what you’re capable of. Merlin’s voice.
Rhys stumbled again, her mind bombarded with memories of the raid. She gripped onto Lenna’s limp body and let out a cry as she pushed through a door. “S-stop…” She choked as she stumbled into the room. Rhys looked around the chamber, it was a bedroom. She moved forward and set Lenna down on the bed just as the door burst open behind her.
Rhys turned around to see the commander standing in the doorway. He chuckled and stepped into the room. “End of the line, girl.” He spoke as he lifted his sword and stepped forward. His helmet only allowed a small slit for him to look through.
Rhys took in quick breaths, she drew her sword.
Do not rely on your sword here, use your magic. Merlin’s voice spoke.
Suddenly Rhys’ sword was ripped from her hands. The Commander chuckled as he rushed her and brought his sword down. Rhys held her hands up, suddenly a barrier formed just before she was hit. Her eyes glowed with energy. She shoved the knight back and took a few steps back. Rhys balled her fists and rushed forward she dodged his attack, though he quickly spun and caught her in the thigh. Rhys let out a cry as she fell forward onto the ground. She grit her teeth and turned as he held the tip of his sword to her throat. Rhys stared up to him, she felt the overwhelming feeling buzzing within her mind.
The knight staggered slightly. He took in a shaken breath as his sword fell to the ground. The metal clattering sound echoed through the empty hall. Rhys didn’t pull her eyes from him, she furrowed her brows. Rhys stood up slowly and stared to the knight as he stumbled and held his hands to his head. He let out a pained cry as he pulled his helmet from his head. “Get out….” He pushed his hands against his ears. “Stop…”
Rhys watched as blood began to drip from his eyes and mouth. The knight fell to his knees and toppled over, bursting into ashes. Rhys stumbled slightly. She brushed blood from her nose.
“The art of mind control is something different.” Merlin’s voice spoke from behind her.
Rhys spun to see the mage standing before her. She looked to him as her world spun. She felt as though the world was moving around her so quickly that she couldn’t keep her balance.
Merlin smiled to her and chuckled. “I remember the first time I tapped into psionic magic.” He watched her a moment and held a cloth out for the blood that was dripping freely from her nose.
Rhys took it and stumbled, she held onto the wall and groaned slightly. It felt as though she’d had too much to drink.
“It’s an overwhelming feeling, yet it can consume you.” He spoke and stared to her. “Lenna told you of the mage that destroyed Yevon.” He glanced to her. “It was his magic that destroyed this beautiful city, he was consumed by it. It overwhelmed him and he opened up portals to other dimensions when he lost control…He was only trying to save the city from a raid, yet, in his attempt he killed thousands.” Merlin placed his hand on her cheek.
Rhys gasped slightly, she could feel his power surge into her. Suddenly the memory of Yevon flooded into her mind.
Rhys stood in the center of the town. The soldiers stood on the hill with their banners. The people of the town screamed as they ran to their homes. Rhys took in quick breaths as she stared to a man that stood in the streets. The mage. His eyes glowed bright white as he raised his hands up. Suddenly the ground began to tremble around him, gravity gave away. Rhys backed up a bit as she heard him cry in pain. His magic was controlling him, consuming him. His eyes began to turn black. The soldiers were ripped from the plane and sucked into a void, pieces of the town were pulled in as well. The world shook and crumbled around her. Rhys put her arms up as a tower came toppling down toward her.
Rhys knelt on the floor of the castle again, Merlin before her. She took in quick breaths.
“He’d been losing control for years. I tried to tell him and he wouldn’t listen.” Merlin knelt before her. “You are still in control.” He searched her eyes. “Though, separating your soul from your body as you did. It becomes dangerous, you send your physical form into a coma, while your spirit wanders the plane of the dead.” Merlin paused a moment. “It is something that even I cannot muster the power to do. Only the true Astro-mages can perform this projection of oneself.” He helped her to her feet.
“I don’t even know how I did it…” Rhys spoke softly.
“Because your magic controlled you.” Merlin responded. “That’s the danger of astro-magic, your emotion controls it, you must always be conscious of your emotion. As Lenna said, it is like a living being, you must learn to live with it until you are one with it. You must practice to become one.” He spoke as he turned and stepped to a table. A silver platter tray sat empty on the table. Merlin waved his hand over it, a feast appeared. “Continue.” He looked to her. “Though rest, there will always be something more challenging around the corner.” He disappeared into a plume of smoke.
Rhys staggered slightly. She looked to Lenna as she stepped over to the bed. She winced slightly and looked down to her thigh, the commander had given her a gash on her leg, she didn’t have armor on to protect her. Rhys looked to the blood that stained her clothing and took in a breath. “L-Lenna.” She spoke and looked to her. She reached forward and dabbed the blood from her nose. “Lenna.” She felt her mind spinning. Rhys collapsed to her knees next to the bed. Her hand still rest on the bed near Lenna’s head, her fingers curved around the bloodied cloth. Her eyes fluttered. Her body had exerted so much energy to perform such magic…
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