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Post by Arihant on Feb 9, 2008 14:08:35 GMT
"That's exactly it," he replied, glad that he wasn't the only new person here. He took a moment to look around the room again, and saw marks on the floors and walls that could only have been made by combat of some kind.
Battle training... The war, obviously. Even though he had lived his life in India and Austria, there was no way hecouldn't have heard about it. They'd been fighting for so long.
And now, he was in the middle of it. And he was a Warrior.
He hadn't really thought about that before.
"What do you do in Battle Training?" he asked curiously. "Does everyone do it?"
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Post by misa on Feb 9, 2008 14:20:15 GMT
"Just the Warriors and a couple of special cases," Misa said, checking all her arrangements were still in place. "We do various stamina tests, archery, hand-to-hand combat, sword practice; you know, the usual."
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Post by Arihant on Feb 10, 2008 11:43:01 GMT
"Sword practice?" he asked inquisitively. "You don't fight with magic?"
He thought back to his childhood - carefully, sure not to think of his family as he had done earlier - and remembered the long lessons in the hot Indian sun, the clashing of glinting steel blades and the long, flat sword his father had given him on his tenth birthday. He'd left it behind physically long ago, but... some part of him hadn't forgotten.
He sighed as he realised that he hadn't fenced in over four years.
Maybe it was time to start again.
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Post by misa on Feb 10, 2008 11:56:01 GMT
"No, we don't use 'magic' here. That's normally saved for Elemental Classes and the other specialist lessons designated for specific powers," Misa explained, adding extra height to the wall, obstacle number four, by resting a palm on it and willing it up. There, she surveyed her work satisfied, that ought to do it. "Feel in the mood for a brief introduction?" She offered, gesturing at the complex course she'd built up.
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Post by Arihant on Feb 10, 2008 12:19:21 GMT
He was surprised to hear that they didn't use magic, but then again... Well, he supposed there'd be little point in even the most powerful - wizard? Was that the word? He had no idea, but he was sure that sounded faintly ridiculous - going into battle if he couldn't even outrun the enemy.
A brief introduction - she wanted him to run the course, then. That... probably wasn't a good idea, but...
Hell, he was tempted.
He immediately slapped himself mentally for even thinking that. What was happening to him?
It was this place. It was so much harder to be cautious here - it just didn't feel right. But... that didn't mean that he was safe. That he was normal.
"I... I'm not sure," he replied hesitantly.
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Post by misa on Feb 10, 2008 12:27:28 GMT
"Don't worry, it isn't a speed trial or anything," Misa developed, gesturing him to come and stand beside her at the begining. There was something in his manner that made her wonder if she'd been like that to begin with - afraid of everything? She knew if it hadn't been for the kindest of a select few, she wouldn't have lasted long. She didn't feel like she was going to last much longer, the way her sleep patterns were going, but that was besides the point.
"It's really simple - all technique work. If you just follow round in this direction," She drew out the direction of the course in the air, "and basically each piece is a challenge of some description. I've readjusted some parts slightly for team work skills. That means we can do it together? Okay?"
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Post by Arihant on Feb 11, 2008 21:01:06 GMT
Don't do it. You can't. You know it's not safe. You'll hurt her.
It was true. He knew it was, but still... He still wanted to try. To have fun for once. Much more than he should have
"Um..." He hesitated, wondering how much he should tell her. How he could refuse.
But... he couldn't tell her. And there was no other reason for him to refuse - at least, no reason he could think of now.
"OK," he said slowly, glancing away from her again. He still wasn't tremendous at the eye contact thing. "I'll... give it a go."
"Do I have to get on my marks?" he asked, with all seriousness.
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Post by misa on Feb 13, 2008 18:24:18 GMT
"Sure," Misa said smiling reassuringly. He seemed nervous, but okay. His manners were utterly flawless and he had a seemingly perfect demenour too, so why was he so nervous?
Maybe he just had a jumpy disposition, but regardless, she didn't intend to add to it at all. Misa got into starting position and said for a second time,
"On your marks, get set, Go!" And they were off.
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Post by Arihant on Feb 17, 2008 15:06:48 GMT
It quickly became clear that he was at quite the disadvantage.
Sure, he could jump higher, run faster and lift more than a regular person, but did that mean he would actually be good at any of these things? Of course not. He would probably have been better at it when he was a kid, but the thing was, he hadn't jumped, ran or trained in any way for at least four years. Well, not with other people. He'd tried to practise on a treadmill for some time (he had to be faster than his pursuers) but he'd broken it fast. D*mn powers.
That was his real problem. He had all this power, but he didn't know how to use it or how to control it, and he had no real desire to. Seriously, he thought, it's not like I'm not dangerous enough already.
Still, he shuddered to think what his fencing must be like by now. It seemed that the power he had made him more designed for barrelling through obstacles than evading them, which was unfortunate as it really wasn't the way Arihant thought or wanted to act. Not at all.
He was losing badly, he realised. "You're much better at this than I am," he said easily, for what he - whatever he had become meant that at least he didn't get out of breath while struggling through the nets that he had to crawl under.
Evidently he'd need more training.
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Post by misa on Feb 19, 2008 19:53:45 GMT
Okay, so he was struggling. She hadn't realised she'd made it that difficult.
Then again, she'd been practicing on assults like this as far back as she could hazily remember; there really were only so many challenges you could create.
"I'm practiced; very practiced," she explained, slipping easily out from under the netting. The wall towered before them standing at a good 15 feet. Relatively simple for two people, just counterbalance at the right minute and hey presto.
She watched as Arihant grappled with the net. She didn't know whether she should make it easier for him or if that would wound his pride.
Misa could hear the adreniline thundering round her body, if that was possible, and even though Tyuosa was pulsing slightly in warning of overexertion she ignored him; she hadn't felt this good in too long.
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Post by Arihant on Feb 25, 2008 19:55:37 GMT
He eventually managed to free himself from the infernal nets after a few moments more struggle. Clearly they were not his forte. The unfortunate thing was that he could have easily overcome the nets in a few seconds if he was allowed to barrel through them as his body clearly wanted to, but no such luck. It was just as well he did get out, though, because if he had got any more frustrated he may well have torn them apart in his struggle.
At least the rest of the course didn't seem like it would restrict him as much as the first part had. He paused for a moment to eye up the next obstacle - a large wall, probably three times his height. For most people that would present a rather large problem, but for Arihant... If he could jump up and catch onto the edge, then the rest of it would be easy. He hadn't tested how far he could jump before, but if it had been... been 'enhanced' as the rest of him had... Well, then it should be fine.
But why... Why was she waiting for him?
Maybe she wanted to work together on the wall, he realised. After all, he didn't know who she was or what she could do, but - well, if she was normal, then there was no way she could get up that high. He began to ask her what they were supposed to do, but he stopped the words almost as soon as they began to escape his mouth.
He couldn't work with her. He was only wearing his shirt, for goodness sake, no scarves or coats or anything to protect her. Granted, he did have his gloves on, but if his sleeve just slipped back a little, and she bumped into it...
It didn't bear thinking about.
So he decided to pretend that he hadn't realised why she was waiting - and, to be honest, he wasn't even completely sure that was it, maybe she was just concerned about his pitiful effort with the nets - and go ahead and leap over the wall by himself. He could claim ignorance later if he had to.
He went as far back as possible in order to get a running start, and then flung himself at the wall as high as he could. And- yes, that was it! He met the top of the wall easily and pulled himself over.
... That was far easier than it should have been, he realised, and shivered a little. He was more like... more like a machine than a person!
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Post by misa on Feb 26, 2008 18:56:05 GMT
Oh...kay then. So that was a pretty clear 'back off' if ever she'd seen one. She tried not to be too offended by his cold-shoulder. He was probably just nervous or something. It wasn't like she couldn't understand what he was going through, it hadn't been all that long ago she'd been doing this sort of thing for the first time. Granted, it had been different then; for one she hadn't been doing agility training, and another it was something she had known she was perfectly capable of.
All the same, it was hard not to be a little put off, she had only been trying to be nice and helpful. But he was clearly perfectly adequete at this sort of thing - the fifteen foot jump he'd preformed with perfect ease a few seconds ago proved that. So if he wanted to play it like that, then so would she. If he wanted a race, every man for himself, then she would give him the best d**n race she could muster.
Starting now. Vaulting herself up the wall (given it was nowhere near as elegant as Arihant's previous actions) she barely settled on the shelf of the top of the wall and threw herself down the other side as fast as she could manage before darting on to the next obstacle.
Game set.
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Post by Arihant on Mar 4, 2008 21:11:04 GMT
((Yes, once more I show myself to be a bad person by not replying... Sorry ) Yup, he'd offended her. Smart move, Arihant. Always managing to make people feel uncomfortable, awkward, even just plain pissed. It seemed to be his forte. Then again... faced with the alternative... It was hard for Arihant, being of a nature that was so eager to please, that took it so hard when he hurt other people or when he was rejected, to reconcile his wish for companionship with the... thing that he was. But that was just it. The life - the curse he had to live with. And it was better if this girl didn't like him, it really was. He should have really tried harder, if anything, become stubborn, obnoxious, anything to stop people - And yet he couldn't. Well, it didn't really matter. He'd be going soon. Cured, and gone. He had to think of that. The next obstacle seemed to be some kind of - a maze, was it? He wasn't sure. It seemed to go - to go into the floor. How did they manage that without completely ruining the training area? Magic, he reminded himself. He would have to remember the magic. He'd be far too conspicuous if he showed surprise. Right, well, the best course of action would probably be to... to... Just finish. It made no difference to him whether he came in first or second, he just wanted to... To go to bed. He suddenly felt very tired. OK, so finish faster. He leapt down from the wall as fast and as far as he could, and managed to make up approximately a third of the overall length of the maze in his jump. That was good. That was quick. Maybe if he finished far enough ahead, he wouldn't have to say anything to h- No. That's rude, Arihant. Goodness' sake. He closely managed to avoid knocking his head off of the top of one of the huge stone blocks that comprised the obstacles in the maze, and grabbed onto it instead. He knew full well that this was cheating (for he was trying to see out over the tops of the obstacles and map the best way to the end) but it didn't matter, in the end. The course was far too complex to even get a clear idea of it from an overhead glance. He dropped down to the ground and began to run as fast as he can. He prayed she wouldn't catch up with him, suddenly filled with a great fear that she would. That had the potential to go... very very wrong. He was clearly remarkably stupid for even agreeing to do this in the first place.
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Post by misa on Mar 5, 2008 18:30:20 GMT
The Maze was one of Misa's specialties. It had been one of the first practice units she'd made herself, just beginning with simple, slightly lowered trenches that were impossible to get lost in.
That was how she'd learnt control and considering how her powers had been thrust upon her it took some time. But she didn't give up and her unwavering efforts were gradually rewarded as she grew stronger; as she became able to connect with Tyuosa better and faster.
She'd started making them outdoors, after the rain, while the whole earth was taking a deep breath in Misa was tightening the laces of its corset, pressing the moist, loose soil into compact walls that wound in different patterns.
As her powers had matured she'd started making them indoors, out of the stone floors and so on, until she'd become something of an expert.
Thus she included one in every course she made, simply out of habit. This one was relatively straight forward, her plan had been to mutate it once she was in the centre to make it more difficult, but obviously she couldn't do that with another unsuspecting person in the thing, too, so it wasn't that tricky. Not by her standards anyway.
However as she saw the top of Arihant's head going off in the wrong direction she couldn't help wondering how high her standards actually were. She was feeling the strain a bit now herself, but she refused to slow down - she could do this, she could.
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Post by Arihant on Mar 9, 2008 11:30:50 GMT
OK, so this was clearly rather <i>impossible</i>.
And that meant a lot, coming from Arihant, who had always at least prided himself on his logic skill, if nothing else. (Indeed, what else was there for him to be proud of?) After all, if it weren't for his logic skill, he would have probably starved to death while living in Austria. As it was, he had been able to make at least a meagre profit from mending computers for people who couldn't afford professionals.
And that wasn't just it. Physics had always been his best subject in school - and if that wasn't logical, then what was? - and he played a mean game of chess. He'd never got lost (well, never accidentally) in a maze before in his life, but this - Well, obviously this was made with a lot more skill than the simple hedge mazes he had loved so much to lose himself in. Obviously Misa knew what she was doing. And obviously, he did not.
He could quickly see that it was different in real life. Even though he didn't want to be competitive, it was hard not to get caught up in the race, and the adrenaline kept pounding through his veins, whether he wanted it to or not. Also, usually he hadn't been using his powers in the mazes before - he'd gone through at his own speed, leisurely, and it didn't make any difference to him whether he got out or not. Not really. Who would miss him?
However, now that he'd started using his powers, it was increasingly hard to stop. They seemed to be overriding the logical part of his brain - he just kept getting faster and faster, he couldn't stop, couldn't think - the walls were shooting past in a brown blur and he had no idea where he was going or how to stop or what to do or -
Ow!
Well, it stopped him at least. Although the sound was... horrendous, really, like two boulders smashing into each other.
He picked himself up slowly, rubbing his chest. Just because he couldn't get hurt didn't mean he didn't feel pain - it didn't last as long as it did for others, true, but other than that... And of course, there were no two ways about it, running into a stone wall was most definitely going to be painful. He looked at the huge crack spreading across the dark rock. He realised with a shudder that he'd... probably be dead if it wasn't for... for what he was.
The concept of "what he was" just seemed to be getting scarier with every passing second.
He jumped up, just a little higher than was normal, so his eyes were just able to see over the top of the walls that were plaguing him so, and saw that he was at least closer than he had been before - about two thirds of the way across. Maybe speed did help a little -
Not enough, though. And he couldn't use his powers again. It was pure luck that he hadn't run into Misa when skidding around so frantically. He couldn't risk it.
Maybe he should ask for help.
No. Just keep going.
Just keep going.
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