Storm Magic - #5

Selene had moved around the small field, clearing out a few potential obstacles and taking a moment to admire the flowers and the peaceful air this place had. She faced her brother and nodded lightly to him.

It had been quite some time since the two last fought, but maybe Adrian would still be the victor in the end. The woman drew her Mauler and looked over its red runes. They glowed brightly before surrounding the weapon in a sleeve of flame while the wielder got into a low stance, ready to pounce.

"I doubt you've been keeping up with your training, right? For your plan to work, you need to be combat ready, and I'm here to help you.

Just don't disappoint."
(Selene Montbell)

Adrian smiled. It had been a year since he had found out about Evan's death, and most of his grief? It was still there. But in times like these, he could remember all the good times he had with his Storm Warden. The prospect of fighting forced him to recall the day he fought with Evan-- the day he agreed to train with Adrian.

He had to get stronger. For himself, for his sister, for his friends.

For Evan.

Adrian extended a hand forwards his tome was ripped from its constraints, flying out from behind his lower back and landing between his hands. It clung to him like a magnet, it's pages flipping rapidly as a pillar of lightning spawned from the center of it and pierced the skies above.

Clouds began to gather, and soon it began to rain. A storm was brewing.
(Adrian Montbell)

The siblings fought once more, but unlike the first time around, Selene had taken the victory. She had been constantly fighting on battlefields and guarding bordering forts over the past few years, so her experience had accumulated.

Launching towards her brother, Selene had been wary of the daemon that Adrian had summoned. In battle, it was certainly disrupting the flow of attacks, but ultimately it wasn't too much of a problem. The redheaded warrior unleashed a flurry of blows, seeking to quickly topple her brother. And at the peak of their duel, she swept his feet from under him and placed her Mauler on his neck gently.

"My win, brother. You've grown far too rusty to go out in your current state. Those ruins will be your grave if we fight anything and you go out there like this."

She withdrew her blade and held out a hand, looking over to the side as she did so. "Haven't seen you in a while!" She called out to Parisa and flashed a large smile.
(Selene Montbell)

The battle was well-fought. The two siblings went toe-to-toe, exchanging blows. In the end, however, his sister emerged victorious. The score was one-to-one. Adrian had bested her once in the past, but now? War had changed her, for better and for worse. The scholar couldn’t compete with her experience.

He slowly got to his feet after the battle had concluded, lightning flashing down and searing the ground around him. Water encompassed his hair, his long flowing mane electrified by the pillar of blue thunder that surrounded him. He furrowed his brows, the winds only growing stronger.

She was right. They were about to risk their lives.

He had to get stronger, faster, more resilient. His attention was completely fixed onto the opponent that stood before him. He wasn’t going to call it a quits until he bested her. He was petty like that. Everything else became irrelevant. His eyes locked onto hers, tunnel-vision consuming him.

“Again.”
(Adrian Montbell)

At her brother's request, Selene dueled him once more. She charged with the same bravado she usually would, and used one of the many Ifrit techniques available. This time, however, she would try using her faint power over wind to help speed her along and help her attacks strike true.

Adrian was no pushover the second time around, however, as his own magic and daemon together had brought Selene to her knee temporarily before she finished the duel.

"Better, but I think your pet needs to get stronger as well... You also need to time your attacks and evasions better. But you're improving.."
(Selene Montbell)

And again, the scholar ended up succumbing to his sister’s might. Adrian had performed as best he could. He fought with everything he had, and still lost. Frustration began to build, slowly but surely. She was right. He hadn’t kept up with his training. Evan was his sparring partner, and he was gone.

Adrian wanted to give up, to stop trying. To lie in the grass and rest.

Just then, he was reminded of his Storm Warden once again.

Evan, the Unbreakable. He lost arms, legs, eyes-- hell, even internal organs for the sake of his country. And every time he lost something, he only came back stronger. His resolve was unwavering. There was nothing that couldn’t stop him from running back onto the front lines with his sword in hand.

The scholar slammed a fist into the ground, propping himself up as he spat some blood to the side. He was covered in bruises and scrapes. His whole body was sore, victim to the fatigue that came with excessive magic use.

“Again.”
(Adrian Montbell)

For the third time, Selene dashed Adrian into the ground. She had been taking note of everything her brother was doing during the fight and had sighed as she stabbed Mauler into the ground and approached her brother.

"You're not timing your mist properly, and you look like you'd do a lot better with a guard or another companion with you."

She held a hand and shook her head lightly. He needed the practice and training, but he couldn't push himself too hard or he'd die in no time. A concerned line set itself on her mouth and she spoke gently.

"You should take a break for now, brother. We still have time before we go to your project."
(Selene Montbell)

Again and again and again. It was as if Adrian was a masochist or something with the way he wanted to take continuous beatings. Selene had sheathed her sword and took a stony expression, looking over her battered brother and shaking her head.

"We're done here, Adrian. You will not say 'Again' for today. You need to rest and think on what we did here."

She marched her way towards the Estate without another word.
(Selene Montbell)

The scholar tried to get up, to fight once again. His body ached in protest, assuming control of his motor functions and preventing him from causing further harm to himself. He took no pleasure in losing over and over again-- but he needed experience if he was going to grow stronger.

Adrian tried to lift himself off the ground, but couldn't. Every bone in his body ached. He forced himself up, his eyes barely open. He looked like a mess. He took a step forwards, calling his grimoire to his hands as he went to engage in another round.

The moment he moved, he fell back onto the ground. Slumping over like a bag of rocks, rendered unconscious.
(Adrian Montbell)