Getting the Dragon Scale

[20:45] So here they were.

Outside of Hayakuen, these two Knights were the only ones he had some sort of teacher relationship with. He had battled against Avlainn to show him how dangerous the outside world was. Yuri had been a constant throughout Atlas' teachings, but it extended outside of that. Atlas was there when his feelings towards the princess were outed, and he'd even helped him after the fact.

But they were here today to ascend, push to greater heights than each of them had ever seen before. Atlas dragged both of them to the deserts, south of Myllenoris and the perfect isolated area to train.

Here they would begin.

Atlas looked between the two before speaking up.

"I assume you two know about the conflict going on. Theria and demonkind are marching on Myllenoris too, and we've been declared as targets. I'm counting on you two more than most others. I think you're the most capable Knights we have from what I've seen.

But that won't save you from the sheer power that Demons have. You both practice with a blade like me, but I don't expect for your goals to be within that category. I mastered Time before my blade so you two could do the same.

Tell me what you wish to achieve and I'll do my best to assist.

But this will be grueling, I'll push you to the end's of the earth.

Be ready."

He wouldn't mention the surprises they'd get if they did well, leaving them as what they are, surprises, would be best.
(Atlas)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:52] They were brought in the middle of the desert for a special kind of training. The kind that would focus on their ability to battle, and nothing else. This was a preparation for the war. For the target that they would become during it, whether or not they were going to partake directly on the battlefields.

Yuri felt the stress of such building up within him already, and his thoughts on the matter were rather obvious: He was terrified. A steady breath came as Atlas gave both praise and warning to the pair of them. It wouldn't be unlikely that they would have to protect Aeliana in a time of great crisis. The young knight decided not to bright forth his blade just yet. There needed to be more of a... push to it. A purpose.

"I.. I want to be able to defend myself, and other people around me better. No matter how strong the opponent. No matter if I've got a chance or not- I want to create that opportunity. That chance."
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:54] "It's been coming up more and more, yeah."

The topic of war and the people involved. He'd been there when they showed the note to Redwood, having seen that they declared open house on Nysea and all of the people in the city.

Currently as it stands, he does not know how they will fair, how they will handle themselves but he does feel a tad bit of self respect to see that Atlas, as well as the King, is relying on them.

"I want to refine my energy."

A gesture to the wild and chaotic storm that brews around him is obvious. what had once been a quiet gale was now uncontrolled and dangerous. No longer cool and flowing like wind. He disliked the change, it brought a sense of unrest from within.

"Refine it in such a way that these," these rattling, linked and ethereal chains of metal connected around him. "That these can be used to perfection, so I never have to worry about harming anyone."

Because those are what caused him to harm Roland, are what caused him to lash out. Disrepair, although the Pelleaux tried to act like it never happened. He couldn't shake his guilt.

"Absolute Control."
(Avlainn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:06] "Control and Change."

Atlas would give a quick nod before unsheathing the glaive on his back. It wasn't a weapon that had been with him for long, but it was one that he had done quite a bit with. Though he'd never forget all the memories he had with his first sword, a weapon he still carried on his person in case the need arrived.

"I too wanted to change. This world is a preconceived reality. Most won't be able to change their fate, but some will. You must learn to exceed these laws, tear apart what is known and place your own rules in place."

He summoned forth the powers of time. An aura formed of raw temporal energy coated his body. They could see the power coursing around his form. His eyes shifted to replicate this aura, but within his pupils showed the varied timelines of the universe.

"I've been able to conjure that power. You can as well."

The Radiant turned towards Avlainn as he continued.

"This also represents control. Time is a delicate concept. If one skews with the timestream enough the entire world could come crumbling down. I can manipulate all that is time to my whim, and the future is not changed by it. I see the past, present, and future without fail.

That's what control means to me. Let's see what it means to you."

"Manifest your energy, both of you.

Avlainn, I want you to contain the flame within you. I want you to condense your aura to the point of non-existence, while keeping the power. Don't let anything leak from your body, contain it all within your circuits while pushing those circuits to their very limit.

And Yuri, if you want change you need action. I want to battle me. I'll utilize the height of my power. Even as I shift through timelines, I want you to stop me. I want you to focus your might in defying my own abilities.

After that Avlainn can try his might as well, onlyif he manages the first part of his training."
(Atlas)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:15] Control to him? What did it represent what did it stand for?

Control to him meant very little in the past. He had no real want for it, no desire to do anything but to be able to maintain what he'd already established. The insincere lifestyle that had become the norm for him.

Snatch a purse, stab someone in the back and renig on a deal, zip and zoom and run away for all that he could muster. It was not shy or lost on him at all, what came about.

But all of that had changed upon meeting very few people who turned out to be life altering. To him, control meant the ability to make sure nothing changed from this. Who he had become, there was a need to change but it needed to be gradual and he wanted to remain the same person he was.

That took refinement. It took all of who he was. Avlainn looks at his hand, the whipping streams of blue wisps surging around him. He wouldn't be fighting for the given moment as he steps off to the side.

All he can do is focus on that. On what he can do, on what he can control.
He never wanted anything, not an occultist out of their mind, not a demon, not even themselves to tear apart what has come to be.

Control meant the absolute protection of those very few precious things to him.
(Avlainn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:18] The application of what they sought was finally being put to the test. Yuri's own desire to be able to stop and change anything that came his way, no matter how great, would find itself in great need of sharpening. He felt the drums war beating deep within his heart, warning him of the conflict that would inevitably come their way, whether it affects them directly or not. They, one day, would have to face it.

A shroud of blue flared up with power untold. A bridge between the boy and the spirit realm had been established upon a faithful night, allowing him to draw from the ether itself, from the unseen world pressed up right against their own.

Wisps of mana swirled around him, coalescing upon his form as it roared with blue. His left hand rose up to pull the giant blade he carried from behind his back, feet sliding in position.

He breathed in, then out.

"Right."

Focus. To defy time itself. To contradict reality. To take the overwhelming advantage one may possess and make it theirs. To turn the tables.

Yuri nodded, readying his blade.
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:10] {Lost Restrained RPB against Atlas}
[22:20] He had grown.

Yuri was developing into a capable warrior, one that would surely surpass Atlas in time. The Cobalt Knight was growing into his body and his sheer power when it came to emitting raw mana was something to fear.

But even then this was Atlas at his best, he wasn't holding back, he used the same power he'd use against the likes of a Demon. And still Yuri came this close.

Powerful.

But his age and experienced prevailed. His blade could overpower Yuri's greatsword, a fact that would soon change as the Knight developed more physical strength.

As the battle went on Yuri only seemed to amass more powerful. It was change. If he was losing he'd adapt, his rays of energy only grew larger, and his blade came down with more force. Had Atlas not been able to shift out and into the timestream at will, he could've easily lost. Some of the boy's attack made the man fear for his life.

"...Far better than even I would've done at your age. Power that like is abnormal, even amongst adults in this world. But you took the battle into your own hands. Even in defeat you remained strong, that's simply not part of the reality in this world. I guess you've broken it. Well, bent it, you're not at your peak yet. Your blade only has room to grow stronger. But it shall be through your own ability, not the craftsmanship of another man.

Spread your intent to change throughout your blade. Infuse your will into the sword as a tool, a tool to incite change."

His eyes would turn towards Avlainn.

"Come, you're next. Let's see how much control you truly have."
(Atlas)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:26] The young knight believed that he was on the right path to reach greatness. He started off the battle strong - advantageous some may call it. Though where his confidence shone, pride would soon find itself to be its downfall. Swifter, more precise strikes came at him directly, pushing him back further and further. By the end of it all, it was Yuri's rear that hit the sands amidst the metaphysical forces of the world being manipulated at Atlas' whim.

Spread your intent to change throughout your blade. Infuse your will into the sword as a tool, a tool to incite change.

Those words stuck with the young knight as he moved off to the side to let Avlainn have his shot at the beast.
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:33] To claim that he had made much of a change, as of yet, was a fib waiting to happen. But he does feel it, the small bit of difference. The slight modicum of control over himself. He'd stilled his heavy breathing, eased the panic right out of his body.

While his aura thrashed about violently nonetheless, Avlainn can feel himself able to focus a bit more. Better than he had done. He could have possibly grasped victory over that demon had this been his state of mind even with the slight issues.

To be talked about at a later date. The young warrior hoists his blade from the scabbard once more, a reminder that he truly did need to perhaps take up a new arm. With it in his hand he settles his look upon Atlas.

Right now, it wasn't the age old friend he was looking at, but a threat. ethereal chains rattle by his sides, blues made of energy wisps circling him along the ground like rusty tails.

Control.
He could do this.
(Avlainn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:40] Yuri sat himself down on the sand, letting his blade sink before him. To pour will and intent into one's blade. To make it great because of the person who uses it, not the person who crafted it. The young knight drew in a breath and found silence to be... charming. Relaxing. Calming. Jianyu had an effect on his taste, it seems. Yuri's mind remained focused on the blade before him while the encounter past it went on. A proof of Avlainn's control. A test before the Radiant's might.

Just like he had.

What had gone wrong during that fight? His swings were... too wide. They missed their target completely. He was off. They weren't strong enough when they hit. Everything could be improved.

.. So he decided to focus on what seemed to matter most: Landing the strikes first and foremost. Atlas had no trouble doing so, but then again with gravity and time at his side it shouldn't be difficult to do so.

Yuri's eyes grew wide. He'd.. embarassingly almost forgot his own talents. His own ability to manipulate time. Nothing would change the weight of his blade. Nothing would allow him to swing it faster, but there was a way he could... cheat.

To use his time magic in a manner similar to Atlas' own. The man saw through past, present, and future. If Yuri were to attain the same kind of clarity, then...

... This was the path.

By the time he looked up, the pair of them were done fighting.
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:51] Avlainn fought completely different despite using similar magics to his fellow Knight. His style of combat was more, radical. If his chains caught Atlas while the Radiant wasn't paying attention, he was in for a world of hurt. His issue was grasping onto a flying opponent with these chains. For the most part Atlas managed to avoid this iron grip, darting around the battlefield through his use of gravity magic.

But even then Avlainn was strong, admittedly performing worse than Yuri but not by much. Luck and chance influenced his performance far too much, and Atlas hoped to change that.

If he wanted control he'd have to exercise it in all manners.

"Control it, not just your energy but also yourself. You should be in control of each and every battle you enter.

Focus your attention on your opponent and nothing else. Your energy should be your source of victory, but that won't ever happen if you can't even control yourself in a fight.

Be calm, a state of nothing but silence within your mind. Fight independently of emotion and instinct. Make all of your fights a game, a game in which you know the rules to and your opponent does not.

Always be in control."

A sagely nod was given from the Radiant as he looked back over towards Yuri.

"One last thing. You two, against each other. Use what I taught each of you the utmost of your ability. Avlainn, control everything. Yuri, change everything he seeks to control.

After that we're done here.

I suggest you try your hardest to win."

Pitting the Knights against each other, a test of how far they were willing to go in each of their ideals.

Control versus Change.
(Atlas)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:57] It isn't the first time he'd find himself giving an unsatisfactory performance. He could focus on it and zoom in on those details or he could just pick himself up, the way he always did, and allow himself yet another try to better what he could do.

What he could control, as it were stated. The imprint of defeat stings on his mind quite viciously, not that he'd lost to Atlas, but that he'd lost in general. It seemed the veteran warrior just had far too much knowledge about the ways of battle as honorable men rather than the wild and vagrant stylings of a thief and bandit turned knight.

Control emphasized that he would retain every aspect of every moment whilst in battle. But his body was so accustomed to the erratic actions, to confuse and scramble, to bring about a loss of thought so he could take advantage. He'd have to beat those back.

A heavy sigh finds its way through his nose before he looks over to Yuri, "No. Yuri can have it, I want. . both of us to grow, and I'm not above stepping back so he can move a little farther ahead."

To selfishly take what was out there would be his old self. He didn't want that. A pinprick of energy rests on his palm, a focal point. Control.

"We practice with one another often enough that I don't mind it here, but I don't want to compete or a prize."
(Avlainn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:04] When the question of the pair of them trying to prove themselves against one another came, Yuri seemed... ready. After all he, Avlainn, and Aeliana had fought and trained many, many times before. This was no different than then, save for the fact that they would have something new to apply to all of it.

For Avlainn it was control. For Yuri it was change. To bring his will and use time to his advantage in order to compensate for his short stature, for his giant blade. Avlainn's words found themselves cut by Yuri.

"Let's train, Lain. I... want to try something new."

His friend always had a way to pull him out of uncertainty, of embarassement, of confusion, of this feeling of loss. While Yuri's stride pushed him to desire the rank of Lightbringer within the next four years, it wouldn't mean that he was ready to step on his friends for it.

Not now, not ever.

He had told Avlainn, hadn't he? Giving up on beatingthe A-Team or on promotion was a no-go in his eyes. He'd drag him up alongside himself if he had to.

From cowardice to bravery, Yuri stood ready.
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:09] His droll of selflessness eases into a pause as Yuri describes his desire to try something different. New even.

What could he say? He'd already wanted to say that he didn't mind a battle, but to do so over a prize wasn't his goal. To see Yuri wanting to battle as it was? He's fine with it, more than fine even.

One final look towards his palm brings him to the slow tinkering thought process. This could be good for him as well. Much like. . .his erratic aura, he could control this, too. "Alright then."

But I don't want the prize.

He leaves it out and instead readies himself.
(Avlainn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:14] {Lost Restrained RPB against Avlainn}
[23:19] Accounting for his lackluster speed wasn't something easy. Every twitch of his body when he neared Avlainn tried to pull at the line that time itself was, to bend it to his will in order to see what would come ahead of himself. The same way Atlas did.

.. Yet nothing came. His vision remained as focused on the present as ever. His heart was locked in place, and he could not bring his will forth with a swing of his blade. Avlainn controlled the pace the entire time.

There was no doubt about such.

It's with a swing barely out of range of his fellow knight's hair that Yuri found himself failing - falling forward. Caught by gripping metal and energy alike.

Short of a win.
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:25] It may seem that way from someone looking at the victor currently standing, but it was far from the truth that he controlled the pace. Yuri had terrifying strength, enough to the point where he had to actively avoid coming in too close for too long.

His cautious demeanor is vibrant in this battle of colors, purple and blue, bright grey and blue.

His own focus wasn't the particular exchange that would bring him victory, but the combination that could do it. He dives into a roll, just barely avoiding a mighty blow and lands into a ducked down position.

He kicks his leg out then, rotating much like a street dancer would and kicks about wind, sand and energy all the while whilst his chains swing about.

An expanding circle of energy is the victory method as he does so and, when rolling back to his feet courtesy of momentum, Avlainn notes Yuri's stumbling form.

He is caught with a hand of light metal, a manifestation of blue from his palm. "That was too close. Nearly took my head off, Yuri."
(Avlainn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:29] Yuri seemed exhausted, and wholly unsatisfied by the results. Who wouldn't be? It was difficult to start training in new ways, to adapt his fighting style to what was to come ahead of them. Even if the knight never crashed into the ground, caught by Avlainn, he still felt the full blown of eating some sand as a midnight snack.

Heavy breaths, and a shake of his head.

"I.. It's not there yet. I-..." Teeth came to a grit as he helped himself back up. A defeat before Atlas. A defeat before Avlainn. A near-defeat against Redwood. He needed to sharpen up. To pull himself back on his feet, mentally.

"Let's.. go again."

Aeliana's stubborn attitude had rubbed off on him over the years. Her bitter sense of defeat, too.
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:31] Avlainn says, "You should get your prize, first."
[23:31] Avlainn says, "We can go again after."
[23:32] Yuri says, ".. -"
[23:32] Yuri says, "..."
[23:32] Yuri says, "You're-"
[23:32] Avlainn asks, "What?"
[23:32] Yuri says, ".. Yeah."
[23:32] Yuri says, "That person was right."
[23:32] Yuri says, "You're awesome."
[23:32] Atlas says, "Come, I'll give it to you somewhere safe..."
[23:32] Atlas says, "Let's head back to Nysea."
[23:35] Atlas reached deep into his pouch of mysteries before drawing out a MASSIVE dragon scale, holding it before the two.

"A scale from an ancient dragon, I got it recent but I have no use for it. Y'all are the future, you deserve more than I do."
(Atlas)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:36] {ITEM} Traded item with Atlas: Dragon Scale
[23:37] Yuri seems rather... Impressed by the scale as it's presented to him. His eyes grow wide for a moment before he reaches out to grasp it.

".. A.. Are you sure about that? Are you really going to.."

He shook his head, bearing a smile.

"Thanks!"
(Yuri)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:37] To say that they deserved it wouldn't be correct, but he doesn't try to correct Atlas. Rather, he allows that person to keep the thought to themselves and he nods his head, peering at the scale.

It was very big and quite a sight, the temptation to reach forward and graze the gem-like object with his fingertips quite powerful. He withholds.

"It's very nice."
(Avlainn)