In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Hinota Yuiee✾ on Jun 14, 2021 13:05:09 GMT -5
As Ard has some real-life stuff going on and your impending doom is coming, I'll do a GM post to get you all started. What the estate looks like can be seen within the pin of the Yuiee estate, you will be staying within the palace of the moon while you're training and there will be servants as you need them. If you wish to know what the palace looks like or how the rooms look I can provide images, just dm/ping me to ask and I will add them here.
The Royal Knight exams happened but three days ago and the Yuiee family have extended the offer of their families estate to Ard and thus his royal knight team to live and train within the protective mists of their home. The only request is that you do not disrupt the harmony of their estate and do not insult their traditions as they know they are far different than Clovers. You have each recieved a letter with the location of the estate, a time and a date to be there. The first thing you will see is the mists, so tell us... how do you get to the estate and the reactions when you get there?
Dressed in primarily the same attire that he had worn during the royal knight exams, the crimson lion-turned civilian had begun making his way over to the place where he had been requested, which was not exactly a location he was either comfortable with, or knew a thing or two about. Being ever so much the outsider, Griswold had only ever visited a single noble estate in his life, this being the one belonging to the Ravencrest family. For what it was worth, they had really done a good job at decorating the place, though it was clear enough that the place was meant to flaunt as well. Being the kind of person that had spent the vast majority of his life living in an enclave in the fringe before eventually being forced to move and live on a farmland for three years, this was not exactly the kind of thing that resonated with someone such as Griswold.
While he enjoyed a soft bed just as much as the next guy, there were those days where he just felt like sleeping under the stars after venturing as far away from civilization as he could. Being an elf at his core, he would not soon forget how he had been taught to respect nature in all of its forms, and to only kill those things that made themselves into the kind of threat one could not avoid clashing with. As a man pretending to be just as much a citizen of the land of Clover as the next guy, this was a teaching that was often conflicted and found itself assaulted from all sides. Because as a magic knight, he had done his fair share of killing for the good of the country, primarily for the good of the people living in the forsaken realm that could not look after themselves nearly as well as those in the noble region could.
It was one of the main reasons why he had left the Crimson lions in the first place, though not exactly without some outside assistance. Had it been entirely up to him, he would likely still be a member of the squad, albeit the kind that just roamed and did his own thing without actually checking in after a mission or showing up for the kind of missions he did not like. Still, he had managed to rake together roughly twenty-five golden stars, as well as three black stars in under two months as a means of showing that the Lions were up there as one of the best magic squads in the kingdom. Figuring that it was just about the least he could do, Griswold had always considered it to be a fair trade-off for not showing up and only doing missions in the common and forsaken regions. So while he did not mind flying the red banners of the squad, he had never felt like a real Lion.
Being the only commoner, or rather, the only peasant within the squad, he always felt like the nobility he encountered in the royal capital while under the guise of a crimson lion were looking at him as if he were a disgrace. After all, many still believed that nobles were vastly superior to commoners and peasants, which was arguably true when one took into consideration how they usually possessed a greater mana pool and a stronger affinity towards magic in general. For him however, that was not so much the case, given his elven heritage and the fact that he wasn’t truly a peasant, a commoner Or a noble. At the time, he was just glad that any squad had picked him as it meant being able to protect the region he cared about the most while also being able to collect monthly paychecks. And even that wasn’t for selfish reasons, as he put it all back into the region.
The farm that had taken him in when he first came to the land of Clover was located in the forsaken realm after all, and since they had shown him the kindness of taking him in as one of their own, he had taken it upon himself to send the majority of his earnings back to them in order to pay the bills and hopefully one day expand the farm itself. It was during a dungeon they had undertaken however that Hania brought up the fact as to whether or not he was a right fit for the crimson lions, considering how he was acting more reckless than the average black bull. At that point, he had really begun considering whether or not he was really in the right place, or if he should consider the possibilities of transferring between the two squads. After all, the black bulls base was located within the forsaken region, meaning he would always be relatively close to home and taking action within the realm that meant the most to him.
So after their pre-royal exams training session at the Ravencrest estate, both Griswold and Hania discussed a whole lot of things, including but not limited to the powers of the archdemons, where they might be situated at the moment, and whether or not he was really the right fit for the crimson lions. At that point, Griswold had come to decide that it was likely the best thing for him right now to just take a few steps back and assess the situation in his own time, which also meant having to take a step back and leaving the magic knights as a whole. Obviously, the civilian life had not exactly been much to his liking, as he had still very much acted as a magic knight between then and now, he simply no longer wore the colors of a squad. This was something not even the royal knight exams and his miraculous passing had really managed to change.
At the start of it, he had not exactly imagined himself to be prime material for a royal knight. Though truth be told, he had no idea what it really meant to be a royal knight, aside from having to fight against the archdemons and whatever else time might throw at them. The fact that he had managed to defeat Verena was also rather overexaggerated, given how it was more a thing of her tiring herself out than it was him winning because of being a more skilled combatant. No, all things considered, he had failed himself on more fronts than just the one, as he still felt like he had no place on a battlefield against enemies so powerful they most likely required various captains to take them on and have a chance at winning. However, when it turned out that there were also a good amount of people signing up that were a fair bit weaker than he was, he started questioning the whole thing.
So when after all of that, he was to be picked into the team that was being led by his former captain, it just felt that much more strange to him. Not because he felt like there was in some way bad blood between them, but rather because of the fact that they had never spoken to one another or had any kind of evaluation or functionality assessment. But that was mostly his own fault, considering how he was literally never around, had done his best to avoid any social events, and because there were some members within the squad he had grown to detest because he felt like they brought shame to the squad as a whole with their childish antics. But none of that really mattered, because the way he saw it, someone had seen something in him that might have some usefulness in the fight against the demons, and for the time being, that was more or less enough for him. Still, he had some reservations he would give voice to when the time came.
With his sword which had been given to him as a gift hanging on his back, the drapes he had torn off in the dressing rooms used as a binding cloth to keep it covered and tied in place, Griswold was quite glad that he did not need to travel all the way to noble region. Because whenever he ventured there, heads turned, simply because he looked so incredibly out of place there, looking more like your average mercenary than anything else. In truth, one could consider him to be such, seeing as how he still took on jobs in spite of no longer being an actual knight. So as he moved to where he was supposed to be going, he could feel the cold chill of the mountains come down with the wind as it blew past him. It was a rather welcome feeling, even though he was not particularly dressed for wintery conditions. Luckily, he wouldn’t need to head that far up the mountain, at least he didn’t think so.
Venturing into the thick mountain mist, he was lucky to have developed his latent sensory capabilities to the point that he did, or he might have actually had quite a bit of trouble finding the place. But once he did, he noticed how the estate did not exactly have what one might call a “Clover Country Aesthetic” as he wasn’t even sure what to call this kind of architecture. That however did not mean that he did not like it, as it interested him enough to want to know where this kind of architecture hailed from. But all of that could wait as there were far bigger fish to fry, more important things to do and altogether different questions that needed to be asked. Having braved the mists on foot, he ventured towards the main entrance and made his presence known, giving his name and his reason for coming here. Obviously, whoever owned this particular estate was quite aware of the type of people that they would be having as guests.
Deciding to wait there for the others to reach the place, he imagined that he was more or less the first person to get here, unless the others had already made their way deeper into the compound. If that were to be the case, he would likely just be waiting here while the others would be waiting for him elsewhere, though he imagined that if it came to that, someone would likely be sent down to fetch him. With that in mind, he placed his sword against the wall before leaning against it himself, figuring those that were to come in after him would likely take notice if they had any eyes in their skull. That said, no one should have to feel obligated to wait there with him, which was part of the overall vibe he was giving off. And with that, the waiting began.
1819
TLDR: Lots of pondering, walking through the region, making his way to the estate and waiting on the other side of the main entrance while leaning against a wall with his trusty blade beside him.
Post by Charles Constantine✾ on Jun 17, 2021 1:16:35 GMT -5
[NOSPACES]
"I'm no g e n i u s, I'm just a fool who keeps going forward."
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word count 1195
total word count 1195
[attr="class","glentext"] A few days prior... Charles was awakened by the news that a letter for him had arrived. Curious about the nature behind the letter he decided to read it. The silver mage was surprised to realize that the letter was from the Wizard King himself. The letter was a request to join Captain Ardere and the rest of the Royal Knights in the Yuiee Estate where training would be held. The Black Bull was caught off-guard by the sudden invitation, no matter how he felt about it was something that he could not turn down. Despite her personality saying otherwise, there was a very important reason behind it and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve his magical ability. The letter detailed the time, date, and location of where the training would be taking place. Charles made sure to make preparations for the trip a day prior to his departure to the estate. One thing he knew for sure is that the training wasn't going to be an easy one. After all, it wasn't the first time the silver mage had trained the Crimson Lion's Captain. [break][break] The day had finally come, Charles departed from the Black Bulls' Headquarters onto the Common Region. It was going to be a long trip there, especially when the Estate was located in a part that he wasn't very familiar with. As usual, he used his silver owl as a method of transportation. Being much more comfortable and faster than using a broom. A sudden invitation and a sudden trip, one of the last things he ever expected were to train alongside the current Royal Knights. It seemed like even the ones on the top found out about his return to the Kingdom just a few weeks ago. A surprise to be sure, but a welcomed one. It was certainly strange they would decide to invite someone from the Black Bulls over other Magic Knights, the squad with the worst reputation in the entire Clover Kingdom. With the invitation to train with the Royal Knights, it meant that he could learn additional information as to what has been going on and what they had planned. He was certain that they were planning to bring the fight to the daemons for a change and put an end to the war once and for all. After what occurred in Kikka, the silver mage had experienced the power of the daemons and lived to tell the tale. Charles expected for other Royal Knights to had their own fair share of experiences with the enemy, a common desire that all Royal Knights had was probably to put an end to the war after all the loss of life and destruction. He shared that sentiment even though he wasn't one of them, if he ever had to fight a daemon, then he would use that as a chance to atone for his sins and failure back in Kikka. At least, he would be able to do things right once. It wasn't about recognition or power, but a personal goal he had set for himself. He wouldn't be at ease with himself if he didn't complete it. [break][break] Charles was familiar with the training methods of Captain Ardere. As he had previously trained under him at some point almost a year ago. One of the people he trained with was Valo, the Green Mantis whom he was in Kikka. He has not seen him after Kikka occurred and wondered how he was doing. By now the Black Bull had prepared mentally prepared himself for the training, although preparation was not always enough. He would have to use his determination and wits to get past the challenge ahead of him, after all, that's one of the things the Captain of the Crimson Lions looked for during training. [break][break] Making his way through the mountains of the Common Region. A part of the region that he was unfamiliar with, as he never recalled being in a place like that before. On his way there, the mountains were covered by a thick mist that made it hard to see. He had to remain vigilant to make sure he didn't crash into a mountain, partially using Ki to act as a radar in case he got too close to something like a tree and avoid it. The trip to the Yuiee Estate was calm for the most part, the only issue was that the lack of visibility made it a pain in the ass for him to get there. After a few hours of traversing through the mountains of the Common Region. The mist began to clear up and Charles was welcomed by the sight of a beautiful estate that was surrounded by nature. At first sight, he was able to tell that the architecture was different from the Clover Kingdom. It was quite uncommon for someone to build such a good-looking place, but just how it was mentioned in the letter it had to do with the traditions of the Yuiee Family. The silver mage was both surprised and impressed by the place. Not only that, but it was good thinking to have the training take place in the estate. It was surrounded by large mountains and a mist that made it hard the place extremely hard to get to if someone didn't know the exact location. The estate was safeguarded by nature itself, it would be difficult for someone unwanted to get even close to it. Most people wouldn't even dare to enter the mist just to reach a place they weren't even sure was there. At least, that's what he thought about it. [break][break] The silver owl descended in altitude and landed in front of the entrance of the Yuiee Estate. Charles hopped off of the owl and took a brief look at the entrance of the place. Truly a perfect place where the Royal Knights would not be disturbed. The silver mage wore his standard outfit, a dark blue shirt, black pants, a black coat, followed by his Magic Knight mantle on top of his coat that had the insignia of the Black Bulls on it. On his waist, he held a beautiful sword that appeared to be made out of silver and gold, followed by his grimoire. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by some of the servants that worked in the estate who offered to take his baggage into the Estate. Charles nodded in response and appreciated their assistance. Now that he was there, he decided to head in and check things out himself. He was going to stay there for some time, so while he waited for the rest to arrive he decided to take a look at the place. The Black Bull noted the Ki presence of Griswold that who was standing near the entrance of the place. He was able to tell that the man wasn't didn't work in the place, so that meant he was one of the Royal Knights and was waiting just like him. Either way, he decided to go inside and take a look at the place. Relaxing for a bit before the tough training starts was a good idea. [break]
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
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twc: ###
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[attr="class","ardereescroll"]One man awaited them at the ends of the mists. Those who stayed their fears and ventured through the dense fog would arrive at the Yuiee Estate. Standing before them was a tall man made of pure muscle and confidence--or so it seemed. His armor had been repainted to mimic the colors of the Royal Knights, and the fur cape he wore was now one of the Royal Knights as well. His cape did not flutter in the wind today--it was calm just as he appeared to be. The Captain himself made it through the mists easily, albeit with an advantage as he had been here before. Today however he did not have the same familial sense he did when he was here with the Lions. Today he would greet those whose lives he held in his hands. While Ardere was confident in their abilities as mages, the danger that awaited them was perilous enough to strike fear even into the Crimson King. He could not help but feel responsibility for them, and as such he could not allow a single one of them to perish. Too many had fallen before, but not on this mission. Not this time. [break][break] So far only two had arrived, two he was quite familiar with as well. Griswold and Charles. I shouldn't be surprised you arrived so soon, but welcome. It is good to see you both, though I wish it were under better circumstances. We've got one Hell of an undertaking ahead of us. Letting out a hot breath, he looked back to the Yuiee Estate. The gorgeous trees and architecture that reminded him of his ancestors' home gave him a sense of serenity, but the ever present dread in his heart was immovable. I will require both of your help. You are strong mages and have a bit of experience with myself. The enemy we face is named Aamon. Grinding his teeth, the fire mage remembered that devilish face at the top of the tower. While Asmodeus had been the one to kill Silas, Aamon was the one who saved Asmodeus from the wrath of Ardere and Jagen. If not for Aamon, he could have avenged his friend. Lydia had her own justice to seek with Asmodeus, and Ardere had his challenge with Aamon. The two were not fighting the same Daemon, but in many ways they fought for similar reasons. I will tell the others when they arrive, but I must warn you that this enemy has a title. They call him the Champion of Daemon. Out of the three Head Arch-Daemon, he is said to be the most experienced in combat. While the others may have raw power, Aamon is a seasoned killer. There was a fire in his eyes. He felt the gaze of Aamon from kilometers away. His eye was fixed on the strongest fighters in all of Clover, and Ardere planned to prove to him who the strongest was. [break][break] I'll continue when the others arrive. For now just rest your bones as we await their arrival. The glimmer in his eyes was different than before. Ardere was filled with confidence and strength, but the fear and worry shone through just a bit. He could not let the other Royal Knights feel this. It was his duty to exude confidence, for the others' sake. He only hoped he could keep it up long enough to reach Aamon.
[attr=class,cyrustext]Cyrus was quiet as he walked down the path to reach the Yuiee estate where he and some of the other Royal Knights would be training today. It wasn't often that a noble family's estate was in such a remote location, after all; the only one he knew of for sure that was similarly secluded was that of his own Elwood family, located in the shadow of a cliff deep in the Forsaken region. Normally the Vice Captain of the Golden Dawn would be chatting with his spirit companion and partner Hama as he walked, but the journey had been so dull that the little woman had decided to just take a nap within the pages of his grimoire.
As Cyrus passed through the last of the mist the Yuiee estate came into view, looking almost surreal against the surroundings; were it not for his knowledge of the location itself, he might even say it looked like a foreign shrine, more than a manor that you hear about in ghost stories. He could feel the Ki signatures of several people as he neared the entrance, and was met by a servant of the family who allowed him inside after recognizing the high ranking young man.
Cyrus entered the courtyard where the rest of the group who had arrived so far had gathered, doing so just in time to hear Captain Ardere explain to the others who exactly their opponent was and a bit of what they could expect. Aamon. The name played on repeat in the sap wizard's head; moreso than the other archdaemons, it was Aamon specifically who held the Elwood's interest. His thoughts turned back to the dream that he had nearly a week ago, just the night before he had confronted the family's elder for certain reasons. He wanted to know more about this daemon, but answers would come in time. For now, it was best to focus on training for the inevitable confrontation. Perhaps he would bring it up to the others, if the time and situation permitted.
"I apologize for the delay, everyone." Cyrus called out to the others as he joined them, raising a hand to greet the others. Ard and Griswold he recognized, though he was unfamiliar with the young man wearing the cloak of a Black Bull. "I had to leave some instructions with my servants regarding a charge I recently took in."
The mention of his reason for being late made him think back to when he had first met the person in question, and what it could potentially mean for events in the near future. It was possible that Zaven had told Ardere about their recent outing, but he didn't know for sure since he had been preoccupied with getting his estate's new guest comfortable.
That, and planning for a meeting with the family's elder.
Still, that was for later. For now, he would focus on the present. He looked to Griswold and Charles, offering a friendly smile to the strangers. "As this is our first time speaking, I am Cyrus Elwood; Vice Captain of the Golden Dawn. A pleasure to meet you both. I would introduce you to Hama, but she seems to still be asleep at the moment." He extended his hand to each of them to shake, his usual introductory ritual. Once they had accepted or denied the offer, he'd look to the Crimson Lions' Captain. "I believe we're just waiting for Lady Willow now, correct?"
[attr="class,cyrusstats]Stats & Information
WC: 0579 | TWC: 0579
[attr="class,cyrusstats]
Mana Skin
24/24
Health
16/16
Mana
400/400
Movement Speed
05
Damage Taken
00
Healing Recieved
00
Mana Used
00
Mana Regen
00
[attr="class,cyrusstats] Combat Notes N/A
Items On Hand Magic Knight's Mantle Scorpion's Eclipse Strength of a Nation
Post by Willow Omens on Jun 18, 2021 1:51:03 GMT -5
Following her dismal showing at the exams and fights, Willow was somehow chosen to be a part of the magic knights. Something about showing promise while she herself was continuing to doubt herself. Even though her own little psyche-up speeches helped her, they ultimately faded away to her thoughts and muddled confusion.
Back home in New Haven, she spent time looking over her grimoire its mostly blank pages and passages. One of the voices of reason within her mind tried to console her, telling her that it was okay, she had time to grow, this was well worth the loss to learn from. The other voice chided her, egging her on to try and learn new spells now, she was growing stronger, but no new spells. What kind of mage was she? What kind of mage was she, indeed, the aptest question that rang in her mind for two straight days.
Multiple doses of coffee and time to her creative pursuits, WIllow mulled over many things in such a short span of time before her invitation to the estate and departure from home. Willow took time to chat with her sisters, her mother, and father, the various people of New Haven: what did it mean to be a Mage of Clover? What did it mean to be a Mage of Haven? There was just one routine answer she was given by everyone, and that was she had to come to terms with what it meant to her to be a mage.
What does it mean to me, but...with everything going on, am I even my own 'me'? She agonized the thought in her mind.
There were fragments of others in the deep well of her soul and they were even parts of who she was now. Elias and Ellie, her voices of reason, the little shoulder angel and devil. The 'proper willow' was in there, like a guardian spirit. Someone that just watched over her while she continued to grow and mature.
She got this life in his stead because of who she was pre-shatter, someone who loathed her circumstances and magic to such a degree that when the chance arose, someone guided her to a new life. Now that glints of memory returned here and there, Willow adjusted to this turbulently.
On the third day, she spent it preparing for her trip, nervously shaking the whole time. Almost an hour straight of quaking in her boots. She had the resolve, but did she have the nerve for it? The pink-haired knight wanted to take a moment to go over her grimoire once more, what did it mean to be a mage to her, and how could she gain more magic?
Books developed as people did, but she spent so much of her time running and cowering that she had stunted it. She needed a push over the edge, to the very limit, something to force her to develop!!
She didn't have wild bouts of her 'other selves' taking over during the full moon, only on Blue Moons and Harvest Moons, but that wasn't enough for her grimoire. She was so introspective that she gave herself a headache from running mental gymnastics around herself.
On the day of arrival, Willow traveled by broom, flying along the way to this strange estate. The Yuiee Estate, enshrouded in mist, with people outside of its grounds already. Faces she recognized, including Ardere and Cyrus.
As she came to the ground, she shouted out to everyone, "The winds of fortune are howling! And the tides of fate are crashing! It's great to see you all!" There was some underlying nervousness to her tone, a shaky little caught breath that wanted to escape while she approached them.
"H-hello Ardere! You're a sight for sore eye!" She said on instinct, reflex, just naturally approaching him with that phrase again for some reason.
When the first of the arrivals made their way over to the estate, it appeared to be someone flying the colors of the Black Bulls, though the guy did not exactly make any efforts at sharing any of his own information with Griswold, asking him about who he was or even so much as saying hello. While he had at times been compared to a black bull in terms of his reckless behavior by Hania, he figured that he was at the very least more social than this guy. But as he had heard rather frequently, it turned out that the magic squad itself existed out of some rather quirky people, so maybe this was just what the guy was like. So as he passed him by, Griswold just nodded at him, figuring there was no point in striking up a conversation with someone who did not want to dirty any of his own words in the process.
Luckily for him, it was not long after that that the man of the hour arrived as well, the captain of both the Crimson Lions and of this particular squad of royal knights. In a way, he was glad that this was the person he was to be going with, feeling like the one who had bonded with the fire spirit was likely going to be a good match for someone like Aamon. Because one of Griswold’s own magic types was fire, he knew quite well how useful it could be to specific types of fighters, primarily those that had to get up close and personal in order to deliver a proper thrashing. That said though, he had only ever heard tales about the Salamander, but had never really seen it or the captain that wielded it in action. That alone promised to be quite the sight to see, though that was not exactly what had Griswold’s thoughts in a bind.
Even as he was hearing out the words that came from Ardere, and even enjoying the fact that he wasn’t surprised about how they had gotten here first, even calling them both strong mages, he was trying to formulate what he wanted to say in return in his head. Usually being a rather brazen and direct individual, the elf knew that there was a time and a place for everything. And right now, it was better to really think about what he was going to say rather than just throwing it all out there and ruffling everyone’s feathers. After all, what he had to say was not exactly something most would consider to be kind or even remotely motivating. Still, he knew that it was something that had to be said as it could not be possible that the thought was only living in his own mind. Surely others had pondered on the matter too.
So as the others rolled in as well, one of them apologized before introducing himself as Cyrus, someone who had not been asked to fight in the royal knights exams but still managed to get himself a place in it based on his own merit, just as had been the case with Hans. While it was something he respected, he would still have liked to see someone like him and Hans fight one another, just to see how big of a difference there was between people like them and Griswold himself. And finally, the girl he had seen showing up for the exams also made her way over, saying something floaty about the winds of fortune and the tides of fate. Not really understanding what this meant, he was pondering more on what Ardere himself had said just moments prior to the others arriving at the estate. Something about Aamon being a champion among his kind, and a seasoned killer.
“To those of you who don’t know me, my name is Griswold, and I apologize in advance as I might be stepping on some of your toes. Still, I feel like it is something that has to be said regardless. When I signed up for the royal knights exam, I came prepared with the feeling that I was likely going to be the weakest individual to sign up, given how I’ve only been a knight for three months.”
Looking around for a moment, he wanted to make sure those that were present did not mind it if he spoke, as it made him feel somewhat out of place. He wasn’t exactly a captain or a vice captain, nor did he really consider himself to be prime material for such a spot, yet still he was speaking to the whole group about a personal experience that he believed was important to all of them, simply because it was important to him. Maybe that was a selfish move, but now that he had gotten as far as he had, there was really no point in shutting up now.
“However, when I noticed that my own current level of power is outranked by only two out of us five, I must admit that I was a bit startled by the idea. Compared to an Arch-demon, someone like myself would be reduced to nothing but a bloody stain on the pavement in a matter of moments, especially against someone like Aamon, whom you yourself called a champion among his kind and a veteran at bloodshed.”
Taking another short break to let the things he said so far sink in with all of the present members of the team, he wondered if there were those among them who considered him a coward for giving voice to such thoughts. And at the same time, he wondered if there were those who believed him to be raining on their parade by effectively calling both himself and those beneath him to be too weak for such an undertaking.
“Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve trained very hard to be here, and I even studied my potential enemies by visiting those that were in the know. I knew that if I were to be put on a team to fight Lilith, I’d need to be prepared for her to turn the whole of the forest against us with her world tree magic, just like I was aware that Asmodeus would be able to bend time at his whim. But out of all of them, I imagined Aamon and his unique brand of beast magic would most likely be the most brutal and hard to beat opponent out of all of them. Which is why I have a question that I can’t help but ask.”
It was true that he had done a fair amount of training and digging around for additional information in the week prior to the royal knight exam. To say that he had gotten twice as powerful as he was before was not even an understatement as much as it was an undisputed fact. Thanks to the rather harsh training process he had gone through which resulted in him being tossed around like a ragdoll in the gardens of the Ravencrest estate while training with Hania and his ice spirit, his mana skin had become that much denser as the output of his offensive magic had increased as well. While there, he had also learned about the archdemons and their general abilities, which he figured he might as well share right now with those that were as of yet unaware of them.
“Does everyone in this current company really have the right to be here? And even if they have the right to be, does that mean that they should go out there and face something that could tear them to shreds in the blink of an eye? Because to me, it feels like some of us being there might very well turn into us becoming a liability for you, the Salamander and for Cyrus. But if I am wrong in making that assessment, let me know and I will not question it again.”
Stating this question to Ardere directly, Griswold wasn’t lying when he said that he had his doubts, just like he was not lying when he said he would not question things again if it turned out that he was wrong. Still, in spite of how his speech might have been somewhat demotivating, he could not in good conscious have continued with this training regiment if he believed some of them were just there for no reason other than becoming collateral damage and a liability that might get the powerhouses within the group injured while trying to keep them safe, or worse.
1433 (3252)
Last Edit: Jun 18, 2021 10:46:40 GMT -5 by Griswold
Post by Charles Constantine✾ on Jun 18, 2021 17:34:22 GMT -5
[NOSPACES]
"I'm no g e n i u s, I'm just a fool who keeps going forward."
[break]
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[attr="class","glentext"] Not long after his arrival, Charles was welcomed by Captain Ardere that was waiting for them at the entrance of the Estate. Ardere welcomed both Griswold and himself as they waited for the rest of the Royal Knights to arrive. He paid close attention to what the Captain of the Crimson Lions, no, the Captain of the Royal Knights had to say. Aamon, one of three Archdaemons that still remained as a threat. Charles was able to sense that Ardere had met the Archdaemon before and seemed to have some history with him. Whatever it was, the rest was unknown to him. "I see..." He replied, his voice tone was monotonous, not saying much at the moment as he didn't have anything to say to begin with. Different from the rest of the daemons, Aamon was a veteran fighter and a seasoned killer. By that, it could mean that he was the most experienced of three Archdaemons in terms of combat. That made him a big threat, it made sense as to why Ardere was chosen to lead the team that will be sent to fight him. First, a trickster who loved toying with his prey and now an experienced killer. One could only imagine the type of twisted personality Aamon would have. Anyway, that didn't matter to him right now. His main objective was to make the best out of the training and be prepared. He was going to make sure to not repeat the same failure as he did back in Kikka. Being regarded as a hero didn't matter to him, all that mattered to him was doing the right thing for once. [break][break] A few moments later, Charles sensed someone approaching the three mages at the entrance of the Estate. The man that had recently arrived presented himself, Cyrus Elwood, the Vice-Captain of the Golden Dawn. He more or less knew about him due to his reputation, but it didn't go beyond that. The silver mage accepted the handshake from Cyrus as a courtesy, politeness, and mutual respect. They were going to be training together so it was best for them to get along, there was no reason to deny it. He got along fairly well with Zaven, so he had hopes that would be able to get along with him just like he did with the Captain of the Golden Dawn. "Charles Constantine, Senior 1st Class." He mentioned his name, followed by his Magic Knight rank. There was not a lot of excitement on his part, as he wasn't the type of person who would get excited to work their ass off or look forward to fights like other people did. This type of acting made him appear self-absorbed and made it seem like he was too busy with his own thoughts, which was partially true at this moment. In reality, he just wanted to get as much situation from the situation as possible in order for him to be able to focus on the training without wasting much time. The next person was to arrive was Willow, he was partially surprised to seeing her after it has been almost a year since he last saw her. By the looks of it, she didn't seem to change much. [break][break] The man who presented himself to be named Griswold was one among the first to talk once everyone had arrived. The person he knew the least about the entire group. He has talked with Ardere and Willow before, as for Cyrus, he was aware of his reputation and rank of Vice-Captain. Charles listened to what he had to say, hearing him out for a while it may seem as he had a lot to say. Whatever opinions he held about the things Griswold, those were things he would keep to himself. He knew very little about him, to begin with. The silver mage was confident that everyone here knew what they had signed up for and what they were going up against. Nobody would sign up to join the Royal Knights without knowing what they were going to do. The moment he heard the Royal Knight Exams were held, he had already deduced behind it by now. This, however, confirmed what he thought. From a personal point of view, he didn't particularly blame Griswold for having those thoughts. Charles didn't know him well, but anyone would be intimidated by them. They were powerful, as someone who had experienced their power and lived to tell the tale. He completely related to his sentiment. The Black Bull didn't believe he was a coward, since if it was the case then he wouldn't have shown up here today. They were many cowards, but the people present today were the opposite of that. A fair portion of the Clover nobility wouldn't dare to take on such a dangerous mission as they did. [break][break] Making his way through the mountains of the Common Region. A part of the region that he was unfamiliar with, as he never recalled being in a place like that before. On his way there, the mountains were covered by a thick mist that made it hard to see. He had to remain vigilant to make sure he didn't crash into a mountain, partially using Ki to act as a radar in case he got too close to something like a tree and avoid it. The trip to the Yuiee Estate was calm for the most part, the only issue was that the lack of visibility made it a pain in the ass for him to get there. After a few hours of traversing through the mountains of the Common Region. The mist began to clear up and Charles was welcomed by the sight of a beautiful estate that was surrounded by nature. At first sight, he was able to tell that the architecture was different from the Clover Kingdom. It was quite uncommon for someone to build such a good-looking place, but just how it was mentioned in the letter it had to do with the traditions of the Yuiee Family. The silver mage was both surprised and impressed by the place. Not only that, but it was good thinking to have the training take place in the estate. It was surrounded by large mountains and a mist that made it hard the place extremely hard to get to if someone didn't know the exact location. The estate was safeguarded by nature itself, it would be difficult for someone unwanted to get even close to it. Most people wouldn't even dare to enter the mist just to reach a place they weren't even sure was there. At least, that's what he thought about it. [break][break] "I think that's why we are here today, to make sure we aren't a liability to them when the time comes, but that's obvious enough... I don't know much about Aamon's personality, but daemons always have some sort of underlings from what I've seen. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case with Aamon, correct me if I'm wrong about this. If you tell me... I personally wouldn't mind having to clean the trash in order for Cyrus and Ardere to defeat him. There was a good reason why teams were formed." Charles replied to Griswold's comment, although not expecting his comment to answer his question as Ardere was more suited to reply. At least that's how he saw things, it was a fact that they could not compete with the likes of Aamon in a one versus one, but they could ensure that Ardere and Cyrus were in good conditions to defeat him. Make sure the strongest fights had enough energy on them to beat him up. It wasn't going to be easy, but there was a good reason as to why they were here today. To make sure they didn't get their asses kicked by the daemons. The mission they were going to embark on was going to be dangerous, but if they succeeded they will be able to put an end to the war against the daemons. And all of the sacrifices that were done [break]
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
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[attr="class","ardereescroll"]A smile crossed Ardere's pale lips--he was glad to see they all made it here safe and sound. Even so there was a sense of dread in their meeting here today. The looming threat of destruction was not one he could easily sway. The mightiest of mages could feel the avarice and murderous intent in the air over Clover. The three Arch-Daemon were concocting a plan, one that would jeopardize the lives of all in this Kingdom and even far beyond. Those gathered within the Royal Knights were burdened and honored with the purpose of stopping the coming storms. [break][break] I'm glad you all made it. It is good to see you, Cyrus and Willow. A sigh escaped his maw, the humid breath visible in this land of mists. You are both right in a way, Griswold and Charles. Your purpose in this team is to fight the lesser Daemon for the most part, but you have to understand something about Aamon. His Daemon go by a special name; The Horde. Just naming them he could feel a sense of unease wash over himself. He possesses an army of mana beasts turned into Daemon. You see he doesn't believe in kidnapping humans for his Horde--no. The Champion seeks out the strongest beasts he can find and converts them into monsters unlike anything you've ever seen. Even...dragons. Ardere felt Salamander stir inside him as the words came out of his mouth. The Crimson Dragon was displeased to hear dragons being converted into Daemon. The Captain and his spirit were connected. They could feel one another's emotions and in both of them resided a powerful anger towards Aamon now. One they hoped to use to win the coming fight. [break][break] Placing strong hands on his broad hips, the Captain looked at his squad mates. The Royal Knight Exams were just the first test. Today is the second one. I will not take anyone who cannot hold their own. Because Aamon has created a Coliseum in what used to be known as the Cloud Giant Dungeon. I don't know if you are familiar with it, but he has turned the old Arena into a Battle Tower of sorts. He's calling for Clover's strongest warriors, and that's what we're going to give him. We'll battle our way up through the tower. Ardere ground his teeth slightly. I have to rely on you all. If I waste too much of my strength in the Tower, I will not be able to defeat Aamon once we reach the top. I'm afraid I must place my faith in all of you. We must work together. I have no idea what lies in wait inside that tower, but we will brave it together. [break][break] Motioning for the others to follow him, he took them to an open area outside of the Yuiee Estate. This was their training grounds, a beautiful Noble Estate owned by a personal friend of his. They were blessed to be allowed to train here. So to ensure you are all ready, we will be training here. Even I myself have more power to unlock, especially from Salamander. So show me your most powerful forms currently. Power up before me. All of you. I want to feel your mana pierce my bones. This will help me get a sense of where you are at in terms of strength. A blazing aura began to shimmer up the Crimson King's body as the ground beneath his feet shook. He too was going to power up, but first he allowed the conversation regarding Aamon to wrap up and then he would proceed.
[attr=class,cyrustext]Just as Cyrus had suspected, Willow arrived at the estate not terribly long after he himself, greeting the gathered mages before the conversation took a more severe tone. Griswold made clear that he was concerned about the contributions he and the others could provide the more experienced knights present in the battle to come, with Charles voicing his own opinion as to what their role should be. Cyrus smiled at Griswold; his expression was genuine, clearly showing approval.
"The fact that you are willing to voice such concerns speaks much for your capacity; your capacity to learn things you do not, to ask if you have the strength, and to admit when you may not have it. It is the realm of the foolish to march onward without hesitation, undaunted by the journey that lies before them. It is the unwise who does not pack his bag before setting off on a journey. If you seek to improve, then you shall. And it is the duty of your seniors to facilitate that growth, so that you may see it through. Know that none of us would be standing here, if it was not thought that we could be of service. Now is the time for consideration; the time to march is soon, but not now."
Ardere explained more on the nature of their selected opponent, Aamon, as well as his abilities, the place he had made his base of operations, as well as precisely how he "recruited" new followers to his forces. The very idea disgusted Cyrus; though he had lost it in the Shatter, he himself had once wielded a weapon made from a dragon; a whip forged from ones' tongue, to be precise. He held a great respect for all life, even mana beasts. So the fact that Aamon went around perverting these creatures into his twisted monstrosities alone was enough to set the young man against him.
Ardere continued to speak on what their eventual conflict would entail; on how they would give the so-called daemon champion the great warriors he so hungrily desired. The Cloud Giant Coliseum... that was the last dungeon Cyrus had visited before the Shatter occurred. They had been forced to evacuate due to the rising daemon threat. In some ways, perhaps he could see this as a chance to make up for that.
But now was not the time for self-pity.
Now was the time for growth.
The Captain of the Crimson Lions ushered them into the space that they would be using as their training grounds in the days to come. He made his point quickly and clearly; to show him what they were working with, so that they might have a place to start. Ardere even powered up a little himself; a bit of a demonstration of what he expected.
Cyrus nodded, and stepped forward. "I shall be the first, then. Hama, you're awake right?" He said, making sure that there was plenty of space between he and the others for what he was planning to do. At the mention of her name the sap spirit emerged from his grimoire, landing softly on her partner's shoulder and looking around at the others. "Kind of a motley crew, isn't it?" She noted, clearly having no sense of restraining her thoughts. Despite his more proper demeanor however, Cyrus laughed. After all, he knew already what she was getting at. "I would say so." He responded, holding his hand up in front of him as his grimoire began to float.
Hama grinned wolfishly, smacking her tiny fist into her tiny palm. The gesture seemed powerful, despite her small stature. "Good. That'll make it even better when this is all said and done!"
Cyrus closed his eyes to concentrate, but the smile didn't leave his face. It was hard for him to be nervous when Hama was egging him on.
As he focused, a warm, amber colored aura would surround Cyrus' body. It was almost bubbling off of him, like a slow boil as his aura intensified, cracking the ground below him to a lesser extent than the Captain's own had. If Ardere's aura could be likened to a heated blaze, the Rising Dawn's was like a heavy goo.
But Cyrus wasn't going to stop at just powering up. He would demonstrate the most practiced of his arsenal's trump cards. A glyph appeared on the ground before him, as he set to summon his greatest Predator.
"Nidhogg. Beast of my nightmares, arise and become my enemy's." He chanted; it was unnecessary, and perhaps even boastful given who they were to face. But it was almost a way of psyching himself up.
It was difficult to be nervous with Hama around, but not impossible.
A pair of massive wings erupted from the glyph, as if to shield the beast as it pulled itself into reality. Arms followed, with an eyeless face emerging next. It seemed to pull itself the rest of the way out of the ground, with the stinger end of its long, whip-like tail coming last of all. The beast stood up, bipedal, to its full height of 10 meters, and seemed to look down at the others. Cyrus opened his eyes once he was finished with the summoning, and smiled up at his creation.
"This is the first Elemental Incarnate I have created; the first archmage-level spell I developed. I am also currently putting the finishing touches on some other techniques as well." He informed the others gathered. "Who would like to go next?"
Hama laughed and flew up into the air, beckoning the others. "Come on, come on! It's not every day you get to prepare for something like this!" She urged them.
[attr="class,cyrusstats]Stats & Information
WC: 0952 | TWC: 1531
[attr="class,cyrusstats]
Mana Skin
24/24
Health
16/16
Mana
400/400
Movement Speed
05
Damage Taken
00
Healing Recieved
00
Mana Used
00
Mana Regen
00
[attr="class,cyrusstats] Combat Notes N/A
Items On Hand Magic Knight's Mantle
Spells Used
Name of Spell: Nidhogg Element: Sap Rank: Archmage | Elemental Incarnate Size: 10 meters Mana Cost: 80 | 40 Type of Golem: Predator Applicable Perks: Armament, Fierce Golems, Reinforced Golems, Puppet Master Description: Born from Cyrus’ nightmares, the Nidhogg represents what the sap wizard envisions as the destructive force of his element made manifest. At a height of up to 10 meters, this draconic creature stands apart from its contemporaries through its bipedal stance and thin, devilish frame. The wide wings, wicked claws, and massive horns paint the image of a fearsome demon come to punish those who would earn its master’s ire, and its lack of eyes does little to hinder its ability to track opponents. Though only one can be summoned, its attributes more than make up for this limitation; the Nidhogg is able to travel at speeds of up to 45 meters per second under its own power, though it can never exceed 80. Its deceptively powerful frame can carry up to 15 passengers simultaneously, so long as it does not exceed this top possible speed. Through the Armament perk, Cyrus can further augment his golems with his own spells.
Post by Willow Omens on Jul 2, 2021 23:22:02 GMT -5
Willow gulped. She was in awe of the power of everyone before her. In stark contrast to her own meager power of water, some of these people had spirits, elements beyond the wildest imagination, years of experience. She had puddles to throw around. But she had the tenacity of her people and the words of Ardere to fall back on.
For everyone here, there were some that were more pragmatic than others. People that could ask the hard questions if some people here had the right to be, like Willow herself. It stung, but it had to be brought to light. The elephant in the room so to speak. In the back of her mind, she heard those two nattering voices of Elias and Ellie.
Furrowing her brow, the pink-haired Havenite struggled to pay attention to what everyone was saying and doing.
Willow shot her hand up and spoke aloud "I, I am not knowing much of the daemons we are to be fighting. But I am knowing of a history tied to my name! I am also knowing that there is many things special about my people."
"I might not be having the power right now, but I will be training my hardest to get the strength! The Havenite Special of mana theft and mana skin regeneration!" She gave the salute to Ardere. "My book may be weak and devoid of pages! B-but I will be trying! I...do not have any special forms!"
She hefted the rucksack from her back and presented it to the group, "What I am having though is... I am having books, that I drew myself. From studies of mana beasts and dungeons! I am having uncertainty if it will help, but, studying them thoroughly I will be. A-and training with whoever! The winds of fortune will howl with the tides of fate crashing!"
Even with her bravado and posturing, Willow was unnerved by the thing that Cyrus summoned, visibly shaking a little bit.
“Well, like I said, if you’re all sure about this, I won’t be the one to question it. I’ve only been slinging magic around for three months now, so I’m what people would call a “late bloomer”. Never got to collect my grimoire due to.. circumstances, so I imagine most of you have had yours for much longer than I have.”
Doing exactly as he had said he would by dropping the subject once he had been given his answer, it did not keep him from having his doubts about this whole undertaking. It seemed reckless to bring certain people into a place like this, as they would likely just become weak links that might get someone killed in the attempt to save them. And as much as he wanted to think that that was not his problem, it really was because as things seemed now, Charles, himself and Willow were supposed to take care of everything that wasn’t Aamon so Cyrus and Ardere could get to the big man at the top. This meant that, once things were to pop off, the three of them would need to work their asses off so no one would interrupt with the fight against the archdemon, in turn meaning the three of them would be responsible for one another too.
Maybe Cyrus was right in saying that those who had their doubts and reservations were more prone to coming prepared, while those who just went in willy nilly were likely the first to fall flat on their faces. But that still only accounted for so much. Even if Griswold could grow as much as he hoped he would in what little time was left before they would eventually have to go to battle, that did not mean everyone could get to a level like that. And while it all might have sounded mean, the fact that he seemed more concerned about the life of the girl, and by extension their own lives due to the whole “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” mentality he had about it, that was something that bothered him quite a bit. For all the bravado and posturing, the girl seemed about as strong now as he had been the day he got his grimoire three months ago.
And in that period, he had constantly thrown himself at one problem at the other, taking on increasingly more difficult missions and fighting equally powerful enemies along the way. He had trained with Hania, which had been a lot of him just getting thrown around for the most part, though it had increased his resilience by quite a bit. He had pushed himself through various dungeons that could have very much been the end of him if he didn’t constantly push himself and made himself adapt to the situation. And finally, he had fought someone who had been leagues above him by the time he initially became a Crimson Lion during the Royal Knight exams and managed to win. Though that fight was entirely circumstantial, he was still fairly proud of the progress he had made to at the very least be able to stand up to her.
But at the same time, it also bothered him as there were plenty of those who had their grimoire since they were fifteen years old, yet they chose a life of comfort and stagnation, rather than one of struggle, risk and reward. While there was nothing he could do about that, he would at least have hoped that people would not actively get in his way because they simply did not understand the kind of danger they faced, nor the amount of danger they would be putting themselves and others in just by being around. But, if there were to be those around that could beat these people into shape, it would likely be Ardere and Cyrus, what with one being a captain and the other being a vice captain of their own respective magic squads. So with that, he would do exactly as Ardere had requested, letting his mana flare a bit.
“Because of that, I’m hoping I can still bring myself to become stronger by the time we go on the offensive, as I doubt I’ll be of much use against a demon or a dragon as I am now. Bear with me, for this is about as much power as I have right now.”
Given how his own sensory was at least of the level where he could accurately tell how strong someone was when they were this close to him and not making efforts at concealing their own mana, the fact that Griswold had surprisingly little for an elf likely made him look that much weaker in the eyes of others. But that was fine, as he did not intend to be at his current level of strength once they got to face Aamon. With the amount of time they still had left, he aimed to fill every single day with training exercises, further elaborating upon what magic power he had and obviously still working his ass off to help the people of the forsaken realm. Besides, he hoped that the training they were going to be doing here today would also help towards making everyone here at least a little bit stronger than they were today. If they could do that, coming here would have already been worth it.
“I don’t really have anything I can show you besides that, as my magic is too volatile to be used around a fancy nobleman’s estate, or any kind of inhabited area really. Most of you have most likely seen most of it during the royal knight exams, but to those that did not, it’s Solar magic.”
While some of the people here had something like a powerful elemental spirit to back them, or had a rare kind of magic, Griswold was essentially a rather simple mage. He was not someone who possessed magic that could heal a lot of people on a large scale, or create magical defenses for the protection of the people on his team. But destroying things, that was something Griswold was exceptionally good at. Whether something needed to be blown up, melted down to a puddle, incinerated to ash or simply destroyed in the broader term, that was where his rather un-unique skillset came in. Now, if they were to actually be doing any training, he imagined even those that hadn’t seen that yet would get to lay eyes upon it soon enough anyway.
“So how exactly is this training thing supposed to happen? Were there any plans made for how each of us is to best develop their abilities to the point of usefulness?”
Post by Charles Constantine✾ on Jul 4, 2021 1:04:20 GMT -5
[NOSPACES]
"I'm no g e n i u s, I'm just a fool who keeps going forward."
[break]
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[attr="class","glentext"] His assumption was correct. There was no way they would become as powerful as Ardere or Cyrus in such a short period of time. It was possible, but they could at least get strong to the point they could their own against Aamon's minions and defeat them. Whatever was necessary to get things done and prevent themselves from getting killed. Charles paid close attention in regards to the information that was known about Aamon. The Horde, so that was the name of his personal army by the looks of it. Strangely enough, the daemons were normally human-like creatures, but in this case, Aamon used mana beasts. Well, it was too early to tell whether they would be much more annoying than humans, but mana beasts turned daemons meant they were much powerful. He basically took any mana beasts to join his army? Even dragons, under normal circumstances it would be hard to believe, but after experiencing the power of the daemons this seemed entirely possible to him. "So we'll have to handle his pets..." The silver mage muttered to himself, making a brief remark about the Horde. He knew it was a threat that had to be taken seriously, but that was something that came to his mind. Anyway, his comment was accurate, to sum things up they had to get rid of the pets. There was no denying that it's going to be the toughest battle in his life, no... It was going to be the toughest battle everyone here was going to face. [break][break] He was more or less familiar about the Cloud Giant Colesseum, having heard of it a few times before. It was reasonable that only the ones who could prove themselves would go. It was better than having people die in vain, the last thing they needed was to have their morale reduced by the death of a teammate, especially early on. Someone like Aamon would definitely take advantage of that. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised at all if he recurred to things like Sven did and drag the group towards the edge in order to give them a taste of fear and defeat. The Black Bull knew very little about the Archdaemon they were going to face, but these things were definitely possible. All of this meant that they would be the main ones fighting the Horde, Captain Ardere didn't have to waste his energy. Both he and Salamander had to reserve it in order to be able to fight Aamon at all of their strength. This talk gave him a brief idea, which he believed was worth bringing up. "Hmm... That tower... Are there any records about the tower or, information or a map about that can be found somewhere?" He asked, wondering if there was any information regarding the tower that was worth knowing. If they were going to fight there, then having some information available about the place itself would certainly be useful for everyone. Maybe, he could do some research of his own and see if he could find something worth their time. Unlike everyone here who likely followed the discipline of work harder and you'll reach everything. Charles was different as his philosophy was about being smarter, not working harder. If they could prevent themselves from working hard at the start, they could reserve their energy for the later stages of the tower where things are probably bound to get harder. [break][break] After the brief conversation, Charles moved to the training grounds alongside the rest of the group that was in an open area outside the estate. It was much better, the last thing they needed was to destroy the place they were going to stay at in the next upcoming days. Captain Ardere had requested everyone in place to power up and show him their power. Naturally, the rest of the group did so and even Ardere himself began to do that as soon as the conversation about Aamon wrapped up. The magical energy and Ki coming out of him was insane and even then, he was fully aware that he was holding back as to not accidentally hurt them early on. This was followed by Cyrus's elemental incarnate that the Vice-Captain of the Golden Dawn had summoned. It was powerful and intimating in its own right. By the looks of it, no one was keeping anything to themselves and they were going on all. The silver mage let out a sigh, and powered up, although not fully, just letting some of his power out for the sake of making it seem as if he was taking part. He wasn't the type of person to go all out in one go, he was also curious on seeing what the others would do and take his next course of action based on that. The real training was about to start as soon as the talk finished and by the looks of it was going to be a pain in the ass, actually more than that. His whole body would probably hurt after this... [break][break] The comment Griswold made towards the end was something that made him think. Normally, the best thing would be to reinforce their weaknesses. As for him, his biggest weakness was his poor sensory ability. He had to continue his Ki training in order to improve his ability to sense. One way or another, he would need to improve it or he could find himself being vulnerable to illusions or other tricks. It was better to be safe than sorry. Charles wanted to spare himself from committing the same mistakes as he did in Kikka due to Sven's illusions and trickery. After the main training is over, he would take some time off to train Ki. The Yuiee Estate was a good place to train it as it was quite peaceful. "The best way to go about improving is to work on any of our weaknesses that could possibly be exploited... Don't mind me taking some time off after we are all done here to train Ki." He said, mentioning the technique that was originally from the Land of the Rising Sun that allowed someone to sense the energy around them. It was the best choice in order for him to at least make up for his poor sensory.
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
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[attr="class","ardereescroll"]Looking to Charles, he nodded. On the subject of the Arena itself. Azure Deer says that the structure has been shifting and...growing. Our previous maps of it are useless. The Arena is three times the size it was before, with an unknown layout. Any scouting golems sent inside were immediately dispatched. And no Sensory or Ki abilities can pierce its walls. We will be going in blind. Giving them a moment to digest this information, they moved on to the next part. [break][break] Ardere chuckled to himself as the spirit Cyrus commanded made a comment on their rag tag nature. They were not wrong. This group was not originally what he had intended, but standing here now he knew their worth. This was not a group of mages that would go silently into the abyss. The Order had suffered so much these years--they'd win with what they had. Hmm. A smirk crossed his devilish lips as Cyrus unleashed a powerful spell. Just as he had suspected. The mage was not one to underestimate in the slightest. There was a power within him. This was good. The Crimson Lion felt his skin tingle as the mana swept over it. This was strength and conviction he felt, one he did not often get to witness outside the Captains these days. Then again he was likely looking at the future Golden Dawn Captain. What did he expect? [break][break] The next to go was Willow. She was nervous, but it was okay. Ardere exhaled deeply before walking over to her. I know you will. So simply allow me to do this. Placing a hand on the top of her head, he let his blazing mana flow through her for a moment as he could sense her mana and ki. His eyes began to glow a bright orange. She'd feel his power surging through her, but also her own. Inside every mage lay dormant strength. While he could not bring it out of her through any conventional means, he could sense it. This power you feel inside you. This is what I need you to bring out to come with us. Otherwise I cannot afford for you to die. Okay? Stepping back he look on to the next; Griswold. [break][break] Straight to the point Griswold. Fair enough. Nodding at the group, he let out a sigh. I was like you once Griswold. The only kind of magic I was good at was the kind that blew things up. I hadn't acquired Salamander yet, nor had I become a Ki or Healing Master. Yet I still fought in the Diamond War and I slew two Shining Generals, aiding in a third. While I am probably one of the best Healers in Clover, it is not my specialty. My specialty is physical combat. Always has and always will. Looking to all of them with his arms folded, he observed each of them as he spoke. We all have something that makes us the mages we are. I want to focus on that here today. Magic is like a blade. It can be sharpened as can your skills with it. While we cannot make grandiose displays of destruction here at this beautiful estate, we can still do some training. Everything you fight in that Coliseum will be a beast from your worst nightmares. You will need to learn to conserve your strength and put all of your efforts into offense or support of those who are offensive. This will be an all out battle unlike anything you've ever seen. [break][break] I myself will be working to unlock Salamander's potential. If you have any spells or abilities you wish to work on, do so now. As the fire mage spoke, scales began to crawl across his skin as his nails extended into claws. Once amber eyes turned to a piercing yellow as he began to adopt more dragon-like features. This was his Crimson King: Ryujin. This was the spell he had called upon to win Salamander's favor and it was one of his most powerful. Before we begin. Charles made a very good point. We all have weaknesses. Some in style or lack of magical knowledge. What are your weaknesses? Ardere paused a moment. I'll go first. Mine is less magical and more..psychological. While I am not a very ranged mage and Sensory is my downfall, I do have Ki to make up for it as well as powerful Reinforcement. And what I lack in Defensive capabilities I can easily make up for with Healing and sheer power. My true weakness is I still dwell on the death of Silas, and many others. I've let my failures hold me back for too long. I've hesitated and it has cost me. He opened himself up for a moment to the others and hoped they could do the same.
[attr=class,cyrustext]Cyrus waited patiently as the others stepped forward to demonstrate what they were bringing to the table for the time being, sending Nidhogg a silent signal to step out of the way and sit on the ground until he saw fit to command otherwise. The beast obeyed with a low rumble of acknowledgement, sitting with its large wings folded tightly behind it, long arm propped up on top of a bent leg while the other leg stretched out. The behavior was eerily human for such a monstrous creature, but it was, Cyrus felt, an inevitability; this golem was the pinnacle of his ability to create such creatures, and was about as close to a living, breathing entity that a wizard probably could make.
The way it sat was quite similar to how Cyrus himself sat, which also made sense given its origin; the chant Cyrus had made when casting the spell to summon it wasn't simply a formality, but was truth; Nidhogg truly was a creature from his nightmares; what Cyrus imagined to be the raw power of his element given shape, evocative of his worries and fears regarding his own weakness.
Such topics were the next subject of their discussion as Ardere shifted his arm into a more draconic form, explaining his own abilities to those gathered for their benefit as well as his weaknesses, both as a fighter and as a person. Cyrus already respected the man, but the fact that he so readily shared such information deepened his appreciation for the Crimson Lion's leader. Since he had been second to demonstrate, he would also be the second to speak on this matter as well.
"I am in much the same boat as Ardere when it comes to Sensory, with Ki to compensate, though I am sure my grasp of this ability is less refined than the Captain's. For my strengths, though I hesitate to call myself an expert on anything, I am nonetheless likely one of the most well versed in durability-based disciplines of magic within Clover, including both Defense Creation and Restraining magic, particularly the latter. My offensive capabilities, on the other hand, are quite a bit lower than most would probably expect a wizard of my rank to be, but I make an effort to compensate with my command of golems, as you have all seen. I also possess quite potent Healing magic, though I am as of yet rather inexperienced in its application for reasons I find inconsequential to this discussion."
He thought for a moment on any sort of emotional or mental hangups he might have, Hama eyeing him curiously to see what he would say. At last his thoughts came to something, and he nodded. "For less combat-oriented weaknesses, I suppose my biggest hangup would be that I have a tendency to overthink things. For a brief example, I have had certain... suspicions, regarding the elders of my family, for some time now, and have only recently saw fit to investigate them after discovering more concrete evidence. I guess another way to put it is that I tend to trust my thoughts, rather than my instinct."
He wasn't interested in airing the details of the problems of his family to everyone in the kingdom just yet, but he was certain at the very least that Ard, as the head of the Crimson Lions who managed Balgon Prison, would know that Garret Elwood, the elder and head of their family, had recently been imprisoned there by Cyrus himself for treason among other reasons, with Cyrus himself assuming control of the Elwood family until further notice.