Do you think people would respect me as Briar's Officer, if I was weak?"

He'd start the conversation off with the atmosphere that was understanding of how this world works. Although as the Advisor, Aether would be given no special treatment when it came to combat.

"Understand that in this world, you must take it to that next level. That level where talking is no longer a option."

He'd exhale, and you'd feel a vacuum-like sensation hinting to you that Kuja had powered down his levels of strength for this particular lesson.

One hand behind his back as the other would be free.

"And then you have those that train off of emotion, directionless and gain nothing from accidents of power, prodigies." Speaking out of experience as he wanted to have the power of the Ifrit claw. But he depended on chance, the hope that he'd conjur it, emotion.

But today he would start to focus, to craft the gauntlet out of will and proper training.

His arm to glow a bright crimson red glowing even, clenching his fist, taking steps toward not only into the true Ifrit claw, but to this sparring lesson.

"Here I come." and with that said, he'd begin.
(Kuja Mori)
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[09:48] Aether asks, "RP at the end?"
[09:53] Aether dropped his mana rifle, the collection of holy and water energies dispersed from it, and disappeared into the air. His gravity control faded and he fell a few feet, onto his back. Sweat ran down his cheek and dripped into the grass.

Clearly winded from the onslaught, "D-damn..." he said between heavy breaths.

With a grunt the young lad sat up and wiped the sweat from his brow,

"You were holding back too weren't you...."
(Aether)
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[09:57] Kuja was perfectly fine , in contrast to the winded Aether.

He did momentarily fall, but he'd quickly be back to his feet using wind manipulation to dry his clothes.

"Yes. You do not deserve my full power." He'd say this out of tough love, as Aether had to come to terms with he was face to face with an Officer afterall.

"Mobility and endurance need work. You did much better with mobility earlier. Got too cocky and got too aggressive, giving me the time window to attack you."

All the while this was going on, he was taking a new approach to the ifrit's claw. This time not using full blown raw strength. This was a moment of concentration. Him starting to see the reward of such a sound mind with his Arm starting to go from glowing red, to now crimson.

Steps toward Ifrit claw, out of his -own- will.

"Again." This alone said, not too much caring you were tired, he'd come at you with another onslaught
(Kuja Mori)
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[10:00] Kuja Mori says, "Better."
[10:00] Kuja Mori says, "YOu're setting up your attacks."
[10:00] Kuja Mori says, "I like that"
[10:04] Kuja Mori says, "Also good."
[10:04] Kuja Mori says, "Mobility was very crisp."
[10:04] Kuja Mori says, "Potency and endurance still very lacking"
[10:06] Kuja Mori says, "Very nice."
[10:12] "Much better."

The man would be going easy on you, sure. But only in terms of his speed and strength. You were still going against his entire arsenal of what he had to offer in terms of variation and ability, and you managed to knock him down twice. At the age of 12. That was impressive.

"You Adapted. I like that. being more mobile, setting up your attacks, setting a zone of control. These are movements toward combatual prowess."

And you weren't the only one getting practice here. Using true focus and meditation with this slower combat compared to the more fast paced in the moment training he had had done before, this was inching him closer and close to the Ifrit's claw.

His arm no longer red, but this time with a light tint of what was like a thin bubble around his arm. Sure it was far from a gauntlet, btu he had mustered this up by -will- and that was the important part.

"One more time. And this one , comes witha life lesson."

You would soon feel the Entire might, of your officer.

Get ready. Because he was coming right for you.
(Kuja Mori)
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[10:13]
{LOAD GAME}

[10:16] Kuja Mori says, "Understand Aether."
[10:16] Kuja Mori says, "This world does not hold back"
[10:17] Kuja Mori says, "There are forces stronger than I."
[10:17] Kuja Mori says, "And you are very unwise to not continue training"
[10:18] Kuja Mori asks, "Because this?"
[10:18] Kuja Mori says, "Could have been your death."
[10:24] Aether takes a clean hit to the gut, sending him straight into the trunk of his magical tree, which splinters...then snaps, crashing to the ground before fading to mana. His magic depletes as he lays there, completely obliterated by the strength of the much older and skilled Officer. It was clear to Aether that he had a long way to go before he could ever call himself strong.

It was a moment where loss was unavoidable, and not once in the fight was there a glimmer of hope for him to win. This left Aether to think,



Aether was speechless, but his mind was running at a million miles per second.

His gaze was focused on the clouds overhead. His body ached after that one.. but he understood that complaining about it wouldn't help. So he simply thought,and thought....and thought.
(Aether)