Just beyond the north gate, as the sun was setting and painting the town of Wistvale a mottled amber, Grayell stood atop a pole. He'd spent much of his day preparing this small clearing with various logs of different height and buried them on end in the ground.
It was something he had not done in a long time, but training neglected is training forgotten so he stood atop one, one foot holding him steady, his other pulled above his knee and his arms outstretched.
His arms moved lazily, his eyes closed as the wind washed over him.
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
Elsewhere beyond the north gate, Tallia made her way to a part of the forest, thick with trees. She had to refine herself; training day and night was what got her where she was now, it would also take her further more.
She let out a sigh as she faced a tree. Marking it with her dagger, she headed off into a random direction, and marked another. Continuing this pattern for about 30 marks, she ran away from where her marks were placed. After running at full speed for a good minute, she cleared her head for a moment, trying to wipe the location of the marks from her head.
Running towards the marked trees, she drew and placed her sword at her side. As she came across each one, she adjusted her mark with a swipe of her sword, turning the marks into crosses as she went. Not stopping to look at or even think about what she just did, she continued sprinting to the next one. The marks were placed upon various heights on the trees, so she found herself leaping into the air and slashing simultaneously as she tried to keep up with herself. All of it was done as silently as possible, making sure not a sound in the forest stirred as she went...
Grayell however could detect the strike of a blade upon the trees. He was curious, but continued his motions all the same. They'd drawn closer, perhaps he would have a guest.
He considered the potential for it being an enemy, but was determined to not break his training. He shifted his high leg and then with a graceful shift from one pole to the next, shifted stance. He wobbled... just for a moment but a regulated breath saw him steady his stance.
His eyes closed once more, but his ears remained on the woods...
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
She continued, striking each mark with perfect precision. As she counted off the marks she had struck, she headed for the last she knew she made. Placing her sword in front of her, she closed in for her final strike... She leapt forward, her eye on the prize... Readying her sword, she swiped at the tree...
...and missed.
Shocked by her sudden mistake, she blanked out for a second, allowing herself to tumble onto the ground. She rolled into a tree, her head meeting with it, resulting in a 'thunk" that shook up a few birds resting nearby.
"O... Ow..."
She rubbed the back of her head as a tear formed in her eye. She had much to work on, it seemed.
The birds took to the air as a sudden thwack shook a tree not far from his stand. Grayell dropped from the pole in silence and then walked to the source of the noise.
He found Talia there, sitting in a heap and looking quite dejected. He smiled as he saw her and approached.
Well hey there...
He saw the tear in his eye and his heart turned to pink mush. He dropped to the ground in front of her and rested a hand on her shoulder.
Oh no, whatever is the matter? You ok?
Entirely concerned in an instant, something he didn't do with any guard. Except this one. Shit she was cute.
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
Her body shook with a jolt as Grayell placed his hand upon her shoulder. A bit embarrassed that she had been "caught", she blushed a little. He hadn't seen her training, did he? The thought wandered in her mind for a moment, but she found it to not be plausible, due to his reaction. She looked at the Commander and shot off her nervous smile.
"U... um... Hello... Sir Grayell..."
She arose slowly and brushed herself off. She bowed politely and placed her hands behind her back.
"I... I'm fine... just... tripped... into a tree..."
Her face reddened a bit.
"Uh... I... I hope I didn't disturb you... Um... If... you don't mind me asking... what are you doing out here...?"
"Er... I... I was actually training a little... myself... I... need to be a bit stronger..."
Her look suddenly changed. She was lost in thought for a second... thinking about... that day... Mentally shaking herself out of thought, she looked back up to Grayell.
"U...uh... f...for the Guard, of course..."
Just once, she'd like for herself to have the opportunity to be honest...
She thought about it for a moment bring a finger to her lips. It wasn't exactly the kind of training she would show to others... She had to come up with something else to tell Grayell, despite her hatred to lie.
"U...um... well, I... I was training my tail's movements and strength this time..."
She moved to the side for Grayell to see it, pointing at it, and almost posing as she did so.
"W... what I usually do is climb a tree... and swing from a branch... using my tail only... After I gain enough momentum... I release... and fly upwards... On my way down, I try and catch the branch... again, with just my tail..."
She blushed a bit and flashed her nervous smile.
"I... I guess I'm also just playing around a bit..."
She gave a disappointed look as her eyes traveled away from Grayell, disheartened that he saw through it so easily. She had to come up with things that would make more sense, she said to herself. It wouldn't do her good to lie again... She decided to tell the truth, as her hands retreated behind her again.
"W...well... I... I make a mark on... on some trees... T... there's no pattern involved or anything..."
She pointed to the last tree she'd missed, the uncrossed mark mocking her.
"T... then... I run... f-for a few minutes... in a straight direction away from them... T...there... I try and forget... where I placed the marks... sometimes that doesn't work too, well though..."
Another nervous laugh came from her mouth.
"And... and then... I run back to the trees... and I find the marks... and I make another mark... t... through the previous one..."
Finished with her explanation, her head lowered as she blushed a little more. Why did she need to cover up something as simple as that? Nevertheless, it was always good to be cautious, as her true occupation could put her into a bit of trouble...
She brought her head up to view Grayell.
"S... so... how do you train... Sir- er... Grayell...?"