Vain.; Irisa, Miriel, Warran, and Szhandris.

[Warran™]

OOC: Continuing from Downtime.

I am gonna look for a rider to kick your butt in the meantime! smiled Warran and left the treehouse, gliding as far as he could. Those small wings will be a pain on longer trips, that's for sure. he thought for himself, walking the rest of the way. So far he saw nobody. It is a day off. Do you expect anyone but YOU to be up at 9 o'clock? he asked Szhandris. For their sake i hope so, or i am gonna fight them while they sleep. was the answer. You know that if you ever pass the final test with your poor magic, you aren't gonna be famous rider for your deeds, but for your dirty style? It isn't a way to make friends. he tried to send her the right way. It isn't. It is MY way. was the last answer he got out of her. He slowly came to the lake, recognizing few figures. Oh no, not that purple hatchling hater! Though her rider might be exactly what Szha wants... he thought, spotting Irisa. And who is it they are talking to? Is it a dwarf?

[Miriel]

Voronwer snorted in amusement. Don't we all? But, then again, rare meat is almost as good as well done! He gave Irisa a toothy grin, but then let out a little burst of fire in alarm as she pushed him in the water. Recovering, the black dragon smiled. Is that all you can think of, Irisa? Come on. Do your worst. He giggled softly to himself, but his moment was interrupted when he sensed another dragon. Dragon. Hatchling, more or less. Anyways, no full Rider's dragon. Voronwer's bass voice echoed across a public channel so all could hear him-excluding the intruding dragon.

Miriel stiffened, and turned to Warran. "Gabriel. It seems we have visitors." Her tone was light and the words were empty. Her expression, however, held all of the information the statement needed. This was the last thing she needed. Some annoying apprentices had insulted her, and here came a hatchling dragon and a Rider not far behind. They probably would think she either was a dwarf, or an apprentice, and she really did not have the patience for that today. Really. Did not have the patience for it. Under her appearance of nonchalance was a simmering cauldron that threatened to boil over. This was not what she needed. Her temper was being tried, and no matter how desperately she tried to calm it, it would not stop. Eventually, if this kept up, she would snap.

That was the last thing she wanted to do.

Memories of her last outburst filled her mind-memories of a week of torture, a month of worse. Memories that did not include the actual event-for there was no knowing what she had done, or how she had done it. Her memory did not cover that part of the outburst. Voronwer sent an image from his point of view from the one time Miriel had been mad at him. In shock, the tiny elf stared mentally at an image of herself, eyes wild, body trembling, and the expression on her face scared her conscious mind. Around her, though, was the terrifying bit. Her entire room had been wrecked-her bed thrown across the room and shattered against a wall, her only mirror smashed into a thousand pieces; everything that could be destroyed, was. It scared her. She didn't want to do that.

But if these hatchlings tried her temper, well. She knew she would.

[Warran™]

Warran approached slowly, but not giving any sign of fear. Atra esterní ono thelduin, Shur'tugalar, Skulblakar. he hailed them all and imitated proper elven greeting as much as he could with his paws. Butt licker. sounded in his head. I sense anger SHINING out of the small one. I want to stay alive. he replied to Szha. My rider is asking if one of you might be so kind and face her in her final test at sword fight. He checked the small rider again, and blocked Szhandris out. But her style isn't anything honorable and clean, so if you feel angry, you don't want that, at least until you want to be angry again. he added and let Szhandris back in. What was the break for? he heard her voice. Nothing... he said with innocent voice. He looked at the other two dragons while waiting for the answer. They didn't seem to be too fond of his presence. Maybe i should stop supressing the growth spell. he thought to Szhandris. Whenever you feel like it. sounded happy reply.

[Miriel]

Miriel's eyes narrowed. "Me. Your Rider wants me to be her opponent in her final test fight." Voronwer snorted in amusement as he pulled himself out of the water. His baritone echoed towards Warran's mind as the black dragon spoke on a private line with the other dragon.

Young one, you must be crazy. Miriel, of all the Riders? You might do well to tell us your Rider's name and the style of the fight, and Miriel will honor her wishes, but I can't help but add that it is foolishness to ask my Rider to be your Rider's opponent. I am guessing that you have never seen Miriel fight. If you haven't noticed yet, Miriel is quite small. If your Rider thinks that she will get an easy fight from my Rider, she is very wrong. A grim smile touched the black dragon's lips. Miriel carries a sword that would be heavy for any normal elf. And yet...she is four feet tall. We will respect her wishes, but your Rider must be foolish to ask Miriel, of all people. You don't know how bad Miriel will hurt your Rider if she is not up to par. The last sentence was also broadcasted to Miriel, and the small elf smiled smugly.

"I don't know who your Rider is, nor the style of the fight, but I accept. That is, if your Rider thinks she's good enough to take me on. My sword is not held back by any restraints simply because your Rider is still an apprentice. Slytha goes where she wills, and if it is to the throat of your Rider I cannot apologize for she should have been taught to deflect the blow." She sat down, and drew Slytha from across her back, resting it across her knees. "However, if she thinks she can take me, let her. I won't be the one to say no."

[nohiki]

"Fair enough." said Szhandris and stood out from behind the tree, right behind the group, on the other side Warran was. She was back to her usual self, not letting her emotions to appear. "Bound battle. Meet me in the training ring in half an hour, no magic. Just swords." she said and left for the ring. She took her rapier out of her box. She knew rapiers were more civilian weapons than weapons to the battlefield, but they also excelled in duels, so it was her weapon of choice. She clipped her hand to the leather leash, tied to a rope around 2 meters long and stood in the corner of the ring, waiting for Miriel to show up. She quickly listed her memory for some facts about her. She is good indeed, but also rushes things a little, is vain and likes to talk. At least in my humble opinion. About her sword, i don't really care. You can win with a stick. It's the fighter who wins the fight, not the weapon. Not that i except me to win. she said to Warran and started meditating before her opponent arrived.

[Miriel]

Miriel stood, then looked at Voronwer. "Stay here. Talk to Irisa." She walked away quickly. Thank goodness she had worn battle dress today! However, no magic was to be allowed and that annoyed her. She knew she would win, but she also knew that it would be a lot easier if she could use magic. When she reached the ring, Miriel smiled grimly at the meditating apprentice.

"That won't help you, girl." Miriel's sharp voice cut into the room easily, disturbing the peace that had been there before she had entered. "You don't know what you're doing." Walking very slowly, Miriel went to the other side of the ring and fastened the leash around her wrist. A smile was beginning to form on her lips-a cruel smile, one of enjoyment of battle. "This is what I do, girl. I don't know who you are, nor why you chose me, and I don't care." The elf fell silent, and a sort of glaze fell over her eyes as she drew Slytha. The black blade was wicked, and was meant to kill. There was no way the apprentice was going to come out of this without at least a few cuts and scrapes. Her glazed eyes turned to Szhandris, and a bored expression crossed her face. However, her posture remained stiff and perfect even though it appeared as though she had relaxed.

Miriel sighed softly, then looked down at the floor. The moment she did so the short elf pushed off of the ground, running forward a few steps and lunging forward, directly at the apprentice's throat. However, her expression remained dull and bored.

"Lesson one." She said softly as she raced forward. "Neither war nor I am very fair."

[nohiki]

Szhandris was sitting on the ground, her legs crossed, hands on her knees. When the elf started talking trash again, she opened her eyes and looked at her, not leaving her from her sight. Pretty big mouth for such young rider. She is right, she don't know what is she dealing with. "Your self-belief and vanity will cause your fall, Miriel. One day, it will." she said, right before her opponent charged on her. "Hype it UP!" she said to herself and quickly pulled her dagger from the belt slot. With the dagger being swifter, she managed to hit Miriel's closing blade with it, causing it to closely pass her neck, while counterattacking with her rapier, aiming for the knee. She also freed her legs and got ready to jump or duck.

[Irisa]

Irisa smiled smugly at Voronwer.

Ah. You're too much she said, shrugging him off, basically. She laid down in the shallows of the pool, with only her head sticking out from the water. She laughed, the hoarse dragon-kind, obviously, watching Voronwer closely.

Gabriel? she asked over a private channel, keeping her face smug, as if she had won. She flapped her wings once, splashing water everywhere. She chuckled, and then looked at Gabriel. A sudden sense of loneliness feel over her, and she let out a breath of fire. None of the other dragons seemed to like her. They said she was too bossy, judgmental, and jealous. Well, maybe she was, but she couldn't really change that, could she? It was who she was. It was why she had picked Gabriel to be her Rider. She wouldn't change that for the whole world.

She soon got bored, and decided to leave.

//character out//

[Miriel]

Miriel smiled softly as Szhandris counterattacked. "We have a little two-blader, now don't we? Oh, this will be interesting." Smiling, Miriel jumped, not up, but to her right, dodging the rapier. "My vanity. My self-belief. You say they will be my downfall, but I have an objection to that. I am not vain. I simply trust myself. Maybe you should try it. I trust my body to react however is needed to win. I trust myself to prove to all the other Riders that I am just as worthy as they are of the title of Rider, despite my size. You don't know what it's like to be ridiculed for something that was not your decision, for something that you cannot control. If I am different than you, then you should respect that about me. I am a Rider, and your senior in experience. Trust that I would not have gotten this rank had I been anything less than worthy." Mentally, Miriel shrugged. This girl didn't seem the type to go on the offensive.

The short elf took a few slow, menacing steps forward, intentionally taking her time. She wanted to build up any and all tension that might be in Szhandris' mind. By the time she had taken her fifth step, she kicked off, running towards the apprentice, Slytha held out to her right, hanging near her ankles.

At the very last moment that was possible, she brought Slytha up in a large sweeping horizontal arc, aimed just at the chest and would likely result in severe injury if the attack went on unimpeded.

[nohiki]

"Told you you didn't know me." said Szhandris on Miriel's first note about her blades. "And neither the size of your body, nor the size of your talk does the warrior of you. Your style does, and there is no doubt about that." she said with admiration, as Miriel began to get closer. Szhandis was watching her blade, and when it got up, she inclined back and kicked forward. She kissed her attack, but Miriel's dark blade crashed the gem on her tiara. Szhandri's face turned into scared emotion, but not because of the blade slashing close to her head, neither because of the lost money. "Get down you!" she didn't bother to say rest of the sentece. She took her tiara, ran as far as the rope allowed her and tossed it away. Before she had time to take cover, the energy stored in the gem over generations of her falimy exploded. She stood n front of Miriel, taking the blast. She flown over Miriel and dragged her along because of the rope. Szhandris flown trough the wooden wall of the ring and landed in the dirt outside, her back armor crushed along with few bones. She passed out, having a dream.

She was standing in the middle of sandy crater, looking around. "Helloo? Anybody!" shouted her dream self. What is this place? she asked herself. "Hello, Szhandris. Remember me?" said a voice behind her. She turned around and didn't believe her eyes. "I'm your grandfather, don't tell me you have forgotten already!" sho looked at him suspiciously: "That is impossible, you have been killed two years ago!" "Oh it's possible, and i am still as tough as ever. The question is: Are you?" "What is this, i am not gonna fight you.." "Then i suppose you'll be destroyed!" shouted her dream-grandpa and charged on her.

[Miriel]

Miriel's eyes widened at the explosion, and thanks to Szhandris' warning she was able to control her flight backwards somewhat more than the apprentice. She landed on her knees, and sat for a second before she felt them give way beneath her. However, that was of no concern, as the apprentice was passed out in front of her. The short elf stood as quickly as her trembling legs would allow, and winced when her right foot twisted unnaturally. Miriel half walked, half pulled herself to where Szhandris was laying, then sat down beside the apprentice.

Warran, Voronwer! Miriel shouted out to the two dragons. Come quickly.

You're hurt. Voronwer's reply was reproachful.

But so is she. I can heal her, but her consciousness is far away now. I can't do anything in that respect except hope she wakes up.

Did you have to accept the challenge to fight?

Yes. Miriel licked her dry lips, and ran her left hand along Szhandris' chest to see if the girl had broken any ribs. Two ribs broken, one cracked, and her shoulder's been pretty badly messed up. The small elf grimaced as she pulled herself up a little to be nearer to the wounds. Her foot was dragged along the floor, and she winced visibly.

Her voice was barely a whisper as she healed the two broken ribs, and her head spun as she started the third. Something had affected her, and it just wasn't her ankle. Something more serious had happened. The ground seemed to tremble beneath her, and she licked her lips again.

Miriel! Miriel! Voronwer's shouts and the beats of his wings did not reach her ears-she heard them only subconsciously.

"My legs." She whispered, feeling for her ankles and calves, feeling for the shattered bones she knew were there. Then, "Voronwer! Where are you?" Miriel shouted, trying to find her dragon. But he was slipping, slipping away, and her hand finally found what it was looking for: a piece of wood embedded in one of her thighs. She swallowed nervously, then, as Voronwer's wingbeats were heard overhead, slipped down to rest on her elbows and closed her eyes.

[Warran™]

Warran was minding his own business as he walked away from Voronwer, Irisa and Gabriel. However, he stopped few meters after. So far he felt excitment, understanding, anger and deep concentration from Szhandris' mind, but it suddenly turned into tremendous fear. And it wasnt fear from death. He felt her being afraid of other's life. She didn't defeat the rider, did she? he asked himself, but his question was answered in the next second. Sound of explosion cut trough the air and huge fireball appeared, trashing part of a roof of the building the training ring was in. Little one? Can you hear me? SZHA! he tried to reach her, but nothing happened. Then he heard Miriel's call. He quickly shot into the air, heading to the smoking building.
The place was a mess. He could see the crater in the ground from far distance. There they were, lying on the ground near each other, covered in blood, ashes and dirt. He told Woronver to go and try to help them, while he searched for a magican. He didn't need to fly far though. The explosion drawn their attention. Training ring, two victims, one rider, one apprentice! he reported and led two elves into the destroyed place. They split up, each taking care of one of them.

[nohiki]

The fight was intense. Szhandris' grandpa didn't give her anything for free. "This is nonsense. It's a dream, unreal!" she tried to provoke the reason within her. "I was killed, yet in your memories, i feel very much alive!" said her grandfather and they got into battle again. Szhandris finally stopped trying to wake up and focused. She charged on the old man, but the old elf was swifter than she expected and kicked her to the dust. She made a backflip and landed on her feet, tossing her dagger on him, hitting the illusion to the shoulder. "ERWWW! I see you got still lot of fight left in you, but is it enough?" said the ilusion and vanished along with the rest of the dream.
She was floating in darkness for what seemed to be hours. Then suddenly a call came: "Szhandris? Szhaaaaaandriiiiiiis!" Followed by mad laugh, a forest appeared around her and the gravity started working again. "Guess we are not on Wroengard anymore." she noticed, when a shape formed in front of her. "Teacher?" she said and bowed. "Spare me the formalities, we are here only for one reason!" said the image of her teacher and took his swords. "Oh, not again!" she whined. "For old times sake!" replied the image and they went into clash again. Her teacher had upper hand and was beating her. Finally, she found herself being held against tree, with her teacher holding her under the neck. "Don't forget, i know all your old moves!" said the teacher. "Then i'm gonna teach YOU new one!" she said, held on to his arm and with all strength broke his bone. The illusion backed off. "Oh, impressive! Now we'll see how you'd do against your toughest challenge!" Szhandris was breathing deeply. "WHAT? Like that wasn't tough?" She fell into the darkness again.

[Warran™]

"Her body is healed, but her mind is sealed away. There is nothing more we can do than wait." said the medic to Warran. He came to Szhandris, his eyes filled with tears. She never seemed so vulnerable to him, but now he realized, that even though she is a rider, she is only a girl made of flesh and bone. He always felt safe when she was around, even now though he wasn't little hatchling anymore. He remembered how Szhandris took care of him in his young age, that she could even compete with dragon mothers in that. He put his paw on her forehead. He tried to reach her again. Nothing was happening, there was no response. Where ever you are... I just want you to know... You are not alone. he sent a thought. He remained at her for five minutes, when the medic spoken: "We better get her to the infirmary." One more try! he cried out and focused on Szhandris' mind. His own consciousness left his body and joined Szhandris'.

[nohiki]

The darkness finally cleared. She was on a beautiful forest clearing, cowered with flowers and fresh grass. A butterfly flew around, landing on her hand. She started singing to it. She was home. Second later, she heard the same voice, only little bit higher, singing the same song. "I though i might run here to you." she said and turned around. A copy of her self was standing there, only wearing her older hunter suit, and the family sword. "It's been a while. I see you switched to main rapier." the clone pointed out. "It works for me. Let me guess. You are here to fight." she replied. "Right you are!" said the clone and the fight begun.
It really was the toughest challenge. She never fought another rider before, except Miriel, and that didn't last for too long, as far as she could remember. She was getting tired quickly, because somehow her dream-body didn't get any rest between the fights. The other one finally got her off guard and slashed her rapier into two pieces and bashed her to the ground. "You know i will win! We are evenly matched but you are tired! Why don't you make it easy on you and give it up?" asked the clone. "Not in a million years!" barked Szhandris. "Then i guess it's over!" hissed the clone and slashed on her throat. She stopped right before the impact. "You passed." said the clone and helped her get up. "What?" asked Szhandris. "You wasn't just dreaming." Said the clone. "You have been fighting for your life." said the illusion of her grandpa appearing left to her. "And you proved that your will to live is stronger than any warrior's skill." Said the illusion of her teacher from the right side. "Good like, rider, rider, rider..." sounded the echo as everything vanished again into the darkness, but she felt familiar presence. Warran? she asked in her mind, Warran, down here! she shouted. You crazy girl, you had me worried! How did you do that? he asked. How did i do what? she asked as she was coming to her senses. Her eyes opened. She was feeling rather great, than like she was just hit by a bomb. Hello down there, little fella! thought Warran to her and she looked at him. He was fully grown! She must have been looking really confused, because a grin appeared on Warran's face. We fully bonded! Wait till you see what it done to you! she heard his happy voice. Szhandris looked on her reflection in his eyes. She didn't believe what she saw. Her face was much smoother now, her skin went from albino-white into tiny bit more brown. Her hair was also golden, instead of white. Then she noticed one thing. She swung her hand under her eye. Not only her eyes turned blue, but the runes she was using as a war painting were fixed to her skin. Cool magical tatoos. smiled Warran. "Miriel! Where is she, is she OK?" remembered Szhandris, shaking off her surprise.