[Zorolo] Kyralie's Training

A dry branch snapped, echoing sharply through the silent forest. The walker stumbled blindly, one hand outstretched to regain balance, the other clenched so tight it trembled. In truth, her whole being was caught in tremors, eyes blind to their surroundings as she walked in the mind numbed state of one who has been dealt a terrible blow.

Slowly, the sound of trickling water filtered to her ears and her head rose almost ponderously at this new noise. Eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting found beneath shading branches and were confronted by two rivers that joined together into one broad waterway. Recognition was slow, but when it came it created the final crack on her thin grasping hold to barring her emotions and thoughts. The mind that she had kept so blessedly silent for the week she had wandered began to work once more and with it the emotions she had banished rose up like a wave to smother her as she remembered.

Retreat; it had been her only option at the time, the only thing she could do to ensure she did not break. Yet that smothering oblivion she had sought so fervently neither provided comfort nor answers. It shed no further light on her situation and if anything, retreating could not have been done at a worse time.

She had retreated; unable to grasp the reality of what governed one friend’s existence.

Awakening, she found she was abandoned by the person who had been both mentor and steadfast friend. One more crippling loss added to the other, for with him gone there was no hope of her ever being able to solve the riddle they had both sought to answer.

Prince Hunter Merridale was gone, and in his departure she was more broken than she would have imagined.

She was left behind with no answers as to what had happened while she had been controlled by her icy heart. She could recall nothing about his leaving and in fact, she could not remember anything after her transformation.

As she thought of how she had escaped, the weakness she had shown before someone who had only been doing his best to aid her, she became aware of a harsh ragged sound that filled her ears.

Shame, it was shame. Shame that caused her breath to gasp and her lungs to believe there was a clamp wrapped tight about them. Shame that the last thing the Prince would remember of her was her cowardice and because of that she would never be able to say goodbye.

Never would she be able to thank the Prince for the patience he had shown her, how he had treated her so fairly even when she had been shy and unsure. How he had encouraged her and supported her in their quest. How he accepted her cursed existence, and on that accepted her when he had lived a life where magic was merely myth.

She would never be able to thank him for being her friend.

Without knowing it, she had fallen to her knees and her gasping breaths had turned into whimpering sobs as her tears finally fell. Her hands that had been clenched tight around a once clean red sash, now wrapped around her waist as though to hold herself in as she shuddered. Wings she had no recollection of summoning curled protectively around her as the feathers began to change to a deep black.

So it was on that same riverbank where she had revealed the true extent of her powers to the Prince that Kyralie bid him a late farewell, making the first of many steps to recovering her inner balance and letting go.

Steps echoed behind the woman as a figured appeared. "It does look like rain, doesn't it," he spoke as he opened an umbrella and held it over the woman as the downpour began. The stream felt the tears of the sky fall into its banks as the ground became soiled with the woman's tears. Had she noticed him? Probably not. Even so, her presence has summoned him. A pain so deep it nearly made him cry. Nearly.

Zorlo looked down at her as his hair was pushed down by the rain. "I am sorry. However, Miss, I can tell you this. He didn't leave on his own accord. When she left, they followed her." Zorlo couldn't help but chuckle to at that moment. He hadn't really told anyone, but he, himself missed Cadenza terribly. After all, she had been the only person he had to talk to at the Dome where it didn't matter who he was. She always spoke her mind to him, no matter how meshed she could get herself to throw his keen mind off.

"Don't worry, though. She left me without a friend. I am hurt not so much as you, who possibly held more than just a friendship of Good Prince Hunter, but when Cadenza left, I was left without a true friend. The only person that I truly felt a bond with here at the Dome has gone, and now I wander these dark corridors myself. Even my closest confidants aren't the same as she. Methinks you know something akin to how I feel, so please... return with me. I can't take his place, but I'll offer my service to help you continue your training. I don't know what Cadenza would say, but Hunter... the great man he was, would be happy. If anything, I'll miss him more than Cadenza, since he and I actually enjoyed ourselves a good number of discussions."

Silence fell over the fencer as he recalled his experiences with Hunter, Cadenza and Louis. He missed them all, for their own reasons. Zorlo held his hand out. "So, do you think you could let me try to be your friend? I promise I won't try to be anything like what Hunter was for you, but at least let me try to help you. After all, it is all I, Zorlo, the Aura Master and Fencer of Tasogare, will try to do. I swear so on my honor," he stated as he closed his eyes and opened them, smiling softly down towards her. What else could he do in this situation. He only hoped he could guide her.

OoC: There we go. I felt that was the only proper way to start off your training. Now then:

Assignment Time:

Zorlo has made his offer. It is up to you how you continue now. Should Kyralie except Zorlo's offer, the fencer will escort her back to the Dome and do his best to keep an upbeat discussion with her as they continue on. If she says no, then I leave for you what Kyralie will do next. Whichever you choose, end your post with Kyralie coming across a large, golden double door. 700 word minimum. ^_^

At first she didn't even know there was someone beside her, so caught up in her misery was she. Then, distantly it registered that the rain no longer dampened her wings, the only moisture falling were those from her eyes to the ground below.

A voice then, smooth and warm. Speaking of the Prince with fond memories and the knowledge of loss. The voice said so much to her, yet all she could grasp was the kindness that flowed from it, the sympathy and offer of help.

Kyralie raised her eyes slowly, the tears blurring her vision so all she could see was a hand against the green of the forest. Blinking, she stared at it in confusion until the earlier words echoed in her head, their meaning clear.

An offer of friendship, given by someone who understood the loss she felt. It was a kind gesture, she thought numbly. This man, Zorlo, had no reason to offer his aid to her yet he had and Kyralie found herself responding to the kindness in his words.

Slowly, her hand reached out hesitantly, until it was grasped firmly in his. Distantly, she noted his hands were callused, as a warrior's was wont to become after years of wielding a blade. His strength as he helped her to her feet was steady and sure - a man capable of many things.

"I-" her voice rasped, dry from the earlier fit of crying so that she had to clear her throat, "Thank you..."

A gentle smile was on the man's face, his eyes approving of the strength she displayed in finding her feet once more.

Wings curled tightly around her body, feeling hesitant and knowing it resembled the first time she had shown Hunter her powers, Kyralie gave him a hesitant smile. Her mind was still numb from the emotions that had racked her earlier, yet she was in control now and would function. Perhaps when the wound wasn't so fresh she would learn from this, learn not to run away from fears.

"I-I would accept that offer of help... and if you are willing that friendship as well..." her voice trailed away, her eyes going distant at some remembered thought.

"Miss?" his voice prompted her and she realized she had stopped speaking.

"I'm sorry... I have so much on my mind at the moment..." she offered weakly.

Understanding was written all over his face as he nodded and turned, "If you would come this way? We shall head back to the Dome and escape this foul weather." He watched her carefully as she followed him, her unique eyes downcast, her face still pale and drawn.

Realizing that an uncomfortable silence would soon be upon them, he latched onto her eyes as a topic of conversation.

"Your eyes are very intriguing, is it a hereditary thing?" he asked pleasantly. Perhaps speaking of her parents would bring up fond memories.

Instead, his words seemed to have the opposite effect intended. Those eyes he had sought to brighten instead darkened and turned bleak.

"No ... well, maybe. It could be said they are a throw back to my Father, even though his eyes are golden. He is a Chaos Lord and were it not for his unique ability to make trouble from nothing I would not exist, even in my torn state," Kyralie frowned slightly, not liking her half explanation.

Zorlo paused, "Are you implying you are troublesome?" that was negative thinking and something he was not aiming for from his student.

Kyralie gave a slight shrug, her wings rustling with her unease, "I feel like trouble... It's hard not to think like that when your own Mother despises your existence and your Father at the best of times views you as some sort of experiment. Even with Hunter I was troublesome and in the end he left too..."

The Aura Master sighed, looking forward as her words died, "Mistress Kyralie, you should never allow yourself such negative thoughts. While I cannot speak on behalf of your parents, I can positively say that the Good Prince would never have seen you as troublesome. He is not one to judge others so harshly unless they deserve it through their own idiocy. Surely while you were with him, he did not resent your presence?"

Kyralie looked at him, her eyes lightening with hope at his words, "He never said anything against me, indeed, he strove to understand this curse I am under and to stand by me in our endeavors," she smiled, not even realizing her wings were slowly losing the bleak black and returning to their usual pure white, "He was a good friend... and he truly did put up with my selfishness."

Her pace had picked up with her spirits, and ahead she saw a glint of light, a flash of gold through the foliage around them.

"I see we are reaching our destination," Zorlo murmured, also seeing the light ahead.

Curiosity was slow to rise within her, but when it did, Kyralie practically threw away her depression with a vengeance, determined not to smirch the Prince's memory in her mind with her dark thoughts. She wanted only to remember those good times they shared as they worked to decipher the hidden mysteries of the Dome.

Pushing her way through the brush, the young Valkyrie stared at the sight before her. It was not what she had expected.

In the clearing stood a large set of golden double doors, the sun peeking through the clouds just to make them shimmer with warm light.

OoC: Good post. I like ze emotion in it. ^_^

BiC: The green haired man held out his left hand and a bright green flash emerged from his palm. The flash caused the golden door to erupt in a bright, blinding light. When the light faded and sight returned, the two were inside of the Dome. The Aura Master smiled and began walking again with Kyralie following a few steps behind him. "Hunter, he is indeed an interesting man. He's to be the best man at my wedding. That's something else though."

Zorlo continued to walk as the surrounding shifted into an almost castle-like setting. It was unlike the marble floors before, slightly darker, but still with a sense of aesthetic value to it. The smells were almost authentic as well, but the fencer was a bit preoccupied. Still, his mind returned to what he was set on doing. "Anyway, methinks you could use some rest, miss Kyralie. Let me escort you to your room so you can rest. After that, I've something I need to look up." What Zorlo meant was he had to look at the Dome's notes, along with any Hunter had, on Kyralie. It would give the fencer a better idea on what he was dealing with.

OoC: Okay, I'm not sure if Kyralie has a room yet (it didn't seem so from her last training thread, but I could have missed it. @_@) so that's up.

Assignment Time:

Simply put, this lesson is a description of your room. Your character will be told to find his/her room. Each room is different and unique. Take some time and describe the door; the secret to the Dome is its many doors. Each door is unique and elaborate, and gives a clue as to what lays beyond its closed surface. Afterwards, your character will enter their room, which reflects the character in some way. Take your time and describe EVERYTHING. That means furniture, colours, décor, etc...EVERYTHING!! I want you to SHOW me the place, so I can imagine what it looks like. This post is all about description, NOT necessarily action. For help, check out other people’s training threads. Minimum 600 words.