Restoring Faith

Arthur Rowan says, "--Na'atl."

Arthur Rowan asks, "Do you wish to fight, wagering a token?"
Na'atl says, "Oh god, this is gonna be terrible."

Na'atl says, "I'll do it."

A challenge from Arthur? A definite loss on the Nagual's side. However... It did allow him a bit of playing room. He'd been using his plasma so much that maybe it was better to practice using his lightning and fire, as usual.

"Alright, let's do this, Art. Try not to make the storm  too  wet, eh? I don't like water that much."

As he spoke, he glanced at Ian, then back to Arthur. It wasn't gonna be as bad as when he went against Elren, but he'd still be outclassed.

Screw it, he thought, as he struck out his arms. He'd use the electricity from his muscle movement, and amplify it whilst drawing it out of his body, forming a shroud of electricity.

"Whew, I'm ready."

He wasn't.
(Na'atl)

While the fight was for the Token, in reality, Arthur could really use about any confidence boost right now.

After his defeat to Chrom, even if the fight was so close to his victory, he wanted to convince himself that it was only a temporary fault, that he was actually better than that, and that he'd be able to master the Storm properly. 'Come on, Arthur, you can do it...' - he told himself, and the lightning crackled around his form.

The local storm appeared, as always.

Winds were howling, and the humidity was rising; the thunder roared above them as if by Arthur's command, and the technique of his Storm was getting yet another practice- it was perhaps a good chance to actually try and attempt the technique of Storm Prison that he's been hankering for.

Now, only to catch the Nagual.

First strike of lightning landed somewhere nearby, smiting the earth right next to Na'atl. The scarlet hues seemed as steeled as never before, pointed against the Nagual, and there was nothing but silence coming from him--

-- and the whisper of the winds threatening to cut him where he stands.

Without any words, he prepared himself.
(Arthur Rowan)

There was resurgence, a fill of pride in his heart that he was able to actually be this effective.

But in reality? It didn't feel the same. Only when he'd defeat someone like Chrom that hollow space in his heart would actually be replenished- the day he takes his vengeance against the Accursed that dare to mock and threaten him like he did, Arthur would at last be at peace.

Until then? There's another battle to end.

It was a good practice, certainly, but it was also short-lived; Arthur was far more skilled than the Nagual when it comes to fighting, and thanks to the blood magic that he wielded, the joints of the Nagual were locked up, if only for the Storm Prison to be enacted in action- he was raised mid-air by the winds, the cutting edge of each tornado shredding against his flesh, and even then, the worst was only coming.

Suspended in the air, he was shocked full of lightning, the whips of blood and water striking out against him while he's at it, wearing him out to the point of no return - of being unable to continue fighting anymore.

It's the perfected technique at this point, and yet... Arthur felt something lacking. But what? He had to find out and practice another day, maybe try something new.

At last, Nagual was released, however. Seeing him collapse, he'd spoken.

"--Good fight. A token, please."
(Arthur Rowan)

He could barely move in the fight. His fighting tactic of simply not getting caught meant that he wasn't used to defending against attacks, especially ones as powerful as Arthur's.

That had to change.

"Y-Yeah..."

The Nagual managed, bringing himself to a stand. The sensation of the Lightning hitting him wasn't too bad, really, it was more of a pleasant sensation, but the rest hurt like crap. He placed a token on the ground, and formed an explosion beneath it, which launched it at Arthur.

"Crap, how the hell do you even  train "
(Na'atl)

Arthur simply caught the token that was launched his way.

At last, the winds of the Storm began to die down- the technique of Storm Prison was well practiced at this point, and Arthur knew that he's had no reason to actively continue to chase after training it even further- instead, new ideas had to be born, something innovative, something that he hasn't done until now.

Perhaps, the mastery of Storm was just a final trial away.

"Mm--"

"I trained day and night, and I barely ever rested. But it seems that even that is not sometimes enough."

The mantle turned. He's had other contenders to challenge too, and with the Storm's dissipation, he exclaimed once.

"Goodbye."
(Arthur Rowan)