#umbralexemplar

[enarmor]

Hey! Shoo! Stay back, you!

But, my fairest love, what you ask of me I cannot do! Does a stream refuse to flow? Does the sun refuse to set? You are the creek I must move round, the sky I must blaze across. Swat me not like a fly drawn to last week's dinner, but welcome me as a bee captivated by the honey of your sweet embrace!

[craneswings]

Her mind presently occupied, the days seem to fly by. Returning to academy life for the first time since leaving Nohr is exhilarating, and a far cry from being shuffled from battlefield to battlefield, wandering around meal to meal. Every day seems to bring a new event, something special hosted by someone, some opportunity seldom offered, that Shade is as close to overwhelmed as she could be (though, there is difficulty in getting Shade overwhelmed with education work).

This morning, she's almost surprised to see Yuzu's birthday present on the margine of her calendar. Not quite, of course; and, as with Emma's, her gift had been prepared well in advance. In a life of constant duties, it's a pleasant break to have plans for someone else. With quiet satisfaction, she swipes the small box from her dresser, and descends the stairs to the first floor of the monastery in search of a certain samurai.

But, how to find that peculiar girl? Now in the main hall, her head swivels around, hoping to catch a bell's jingle, or a hint of lavender hair. Hmm... would Yuzu even remember it's her own birthday? Perhaps, like most days, she's already finds herself in the training grounds. So, the tip-tap of Shade's shoes makes its way to the more sandy, sweaty corner of the monastery.

Finally, even before spotting her, Shade hears her. Not willing to become a stray target, she waits patiently on the sidelines for Yuzu's bout to finish. The moment the practice swords are stayed, however, Shade waves her over. "Oh, Yuzu! Yuzu, come here!"

As soon as she's within non-shouting-distance, and close enough for Shade to reach her, she offers a little a half-hug. Yuzu must still be a bit sweaty, after all.

"Happy birthday, Yuzu. You know, we may disagree on some things— many things, even, but you're still..."

like family.

"I'm still fond of you. Even when you're a little, ah... well, nevermind that. Here, hand me that sword."

Without waiting for her consent, Shade snatches at the dull blade resting in Yuzu's grip. She sets it flat on Yuzu's palms, outstretched to Shade. "Here, hold it out, like this. Now, watch this."

The mysterious gift box opens, revealing a small, shimmering stone. Plucked free from its enclosure, she cradles it in her hand between them, while her wand appears in her other. Shade gives the stone just a tap, and it begins to shine, holding itself in mid-air as her hand pulls away. As if connecting the two, she then draws her wand down the blade's length, which too shines, changing. When the light fades, a moment later, the once-dull blade gleams in the sun, and crackles with small bouts of electricity.

"There we are— a levin sword, made just like how they are in Nohr! The gemstone that transmutes the metal is said to come from the earth around dragon veins." She gives a playful wink. "Come on, hard to pass up a dragon-blessed magic sword, hm?"

At first, Yuzu’s focus is unwavering. It is not out of the ordinary for passerby to wander in and out of the training hall’s walls. Those who are tardy to the ideal practice time and those who are unable to fully withstand the extent of practice time respectively. So the warrior girl continues to wisely wail at the training dummy again and again, so close to reps in the quadruple digits-

“Hm? Must you interrupt me now, Shade?”

The crestfallen response flies out instinctively. It would always be her to be the first to interject in her practical demonstrations. For being one dedicated to expanding one’s knowledge, Yuzu would expect Shade to…

Wait…

“S-Shade?!”

Processing the presence of the lady with long hair of frost halts any further protesting from the young student. In fact, it causes Yuzu to remain relatively silent as Shade closes in for the (reserved) embrace. An immature gawk is thankfully held back by Yuzu, but otherwise she lets Shade manipulate the metal without resistance and slightly widened eyes.

The elder woman is correct. It is merely the truth that the two of them couldn’t be more different if they tried. Hoshidan martial artist to Nohrian magical maestro. But despite the fighter being still a hopeless mess at the magics…she had never cared much for their cultural contrast. It didn’t take long after they met for Yuzu to understand Nohr holds its own methods of combat. Its own approaches that she would much rather approach than shun from her sights.

And what better demonstration of such was there than what Shade prepares right in front of Yuzu’s eyes?

“Levin sword…” she childishly repeats the words that ring out to her the most. The frantic cracklings take Yuzu back to descriptions of another blade - the one apparently held by Hoshido’s king and strongest with a sword. And Nohr could just as easily entrap that frightful power in any dull edge…?

It entices the excitable girl. But in such a retrospective trance, she knows Shade no doubt expects her to immaturely swish it around with reckless abandon.

Which is why she instead sets the blade down on the floor beside them (carefully, of course) before remaining lower to the ground. A great bow for the wise woman in front of her.

“You honor me, Shade. I shall accept your gracious gift…with one caveat,” Yuzu lifts her head to directly face her. Nowhere does the Hoshidan’s face hint at playfulness in comparison to the mage’s wink…but hopefully the coy smile on her face says as much. “Watch over me as I gain my bearings over this new tool. I assure you it should only take…one hundred swings, at most.”

[excalitress]

🎲 come closer

a little roll-mance | still accepting!

40. an impulsive kiss | SoV events AU

Any normal army would be questioning some stray travelers joining them as willing soldiers. Emphasis on normal, as even as a newer recruit Sonya can tell Celica’s merry band of kids and chaperones alike is far from that. No one appears to have issue with accepting a lady shrouded in deep blacks who just tried killing them all as another ally.

But that’s alright. Sonya doesn’t really mind either, for the behavior that the silver-haired maiden expressed made it clear that her soul was taken over. Unless that is how she acts on the regular. Just in case, the purple mage decides to check.

Besides, if there had been a possession…he or his idiotic followers might have been involved.

“You’re Shade, are you not?” Sonya starts once they’ve set up camp for the night. She manages to catch the saint alone, not even her other companion around somehow. The two of them, alone with only themselves for company.

It’s hard to make out her face when so far from any other light. Maybe that is why Sonya steps closer, to get a better look at Shade. Certainly that is why.

A beat later and she is extremely close to the newcomer. Locking lips, in fact.

She should try to pull away, but Sonya refrains, hesitates even. The lips of this mage are soft and welcoming. It’s as if they themselves cast a hex upon the Rigelian to stay for longer…to stay forever.

Logic soon returns to Sonya’s head, and she pushes herself away from Shade without touching the other woman. What follows is multiple more beats of silence, Sonya for once flustered with what to say.

“...An honor to fight alongside a pretty face like yours,” is all she can muster before fleeing to find her own tent.

Perhaps she could consider it as her apology. For if the Faithful have been the ones who tormented her innocent soul.

But if Sonya was the one apologizing, why did it feel so…good?

[craneswings]

The moment Yuzu walks through the double doors of the entrance hall, Shade practically bowls over in shock. A glimpse of plum hair from the corner of her eye, behind her partner in conversation, snatches her attention, and all thoughts at hand fall through her arms. Pushing them aside, she dashes forward, vying for a closer look. As if her eyesight weren’t perfect, and she would never doubt her first impression. As if that girl with the bell in her hair could be mistaken for anyone else.

To think that she would be reunited with her friends properly, after a month of solitude (an eternity), seemed far too good to be true. The reality of the situation gripped and tethered her, forcing the truth into her acceptance.

“Yuzu!? Oh my gods, Yuzu! So you’ve made it here too!”

Her arms reach for a hug she’s not certain will be reciprocated. 

“I’ve missed you. What took you so long?”

Doors are kept wide open, yet she adheres to slipping into the entrance hall near its right rather than center. It allows her to move in without drawing great attention to herself - or at least believing she won’t. The last outcome on her agenda is causing a big commotion before even being fully moved back in. A stealthy re-entry, yes…that would be for the best.

A walk closer to the great doors primes the girl to turn toward the material, to observe. As if she could make out any notable differences from a place she had only stayed in temporarily. The material appears as stable, unassuming as ever. To be fair, little should change in the two months since her leave. Or no…was it three?

Loose pondering continues as the student slowly escapes the exterior’s sunlight, her bell’s light jingles protecting her light mumbles from being overheard. Though even if the crane’s focus is airtight, by no means does her eyesight fail her. And at the moment, said eyesight cannot ignore the lady adorned in black rapidly approaching her position. Adorned in black, with long…long silver locks?

As soon as she realizes, the bell’s ringing stops. She stops. With a slight head-turn up, a face becomes clear. She fails to hold back a gasp.

“L-Lady Shade?!” Yuzu’s casual, forced sputtering of name comes out firmer than she intended. The appearance of another friend lost to chaos should not surprise her, given the number of them that have found themselves back here just the same. And yet…staring into the sky blue eyes of one she has found comfort in relying on since long back…

Hoshidan slides into Nohrian arms, solidifying the grasp with her own hands - for a good moment or two, at most. Yuzu would still prefer to maintain low profile…even if the mage’s calling already put that in jeopardy. Still, the embrace extends for enough to complement Shade’s declaration.

“What took me for long? Fie, Lady Shade. You are the one who is rich on time-” Yuzu’s reprisal gets cut as she detracts from the hug, realizing she is already biting back at the teacher. She should correct herself before being lectured on disrespecting her seniors…

“Ahem. I mean to say that, I have arrived at the academy earlier than you. Along with Emma, Sir Randal, and some of the others. Though I will confess, the walls of teaching felt…imprisoning. I took temporary leave the past season. Thankfully, the church has respected my return without additional review.”

A shame, too. I made it clear I am never shy of another duel, yet the knights were quick to refuse, Yuzu keeps to herself.

“That is to say, I have returned with a clear mind. And if my return is to concur with your own arrival in this place,” Yuzu’s words remain stern, though a smile grows thicker upon the connection, “I hope to only improve under your tutelage, Lady Shade. That…is what you are here for, yes?”

[old-scalebag]

"You!"

She crossed the small room, as the teacher's meeting came to a close. Those that were slow to leave looked up, surprised. Her finger waggled accusingly in the large man's face. Rather, due to their heigh difference, towards it.

"How long have you been here, hm? What makes you so much better than me?"

Ah. So she had gotten upset it seemed.

Dheginsea had only managed to get out of his seat when the professor had approached him. Blocking the narrow walking path between the tables and the wall. Wagging her small finger towards him as if he were a delinquent student and not a colleague telling it how it is.

There was a brief pause were Dheginsea merely looked at her, a brow slightly arched, before shaking his head with a sigh. Disappointed and unimpressed that he needed to further explain himself to her again.

“In the year that I’ve been here, I have accomplished and excelled in matters far beyond your current capabilities. Not to mention the other areas I must cover on behalf of other professors, and the short time it takes me to complete them... Proper compensation is only natural.” He said as if it were a matter of fact.

Indifferent to her indignation, Dheginsea turned to collect the papers he had brought for the meeting. Tapping them neatly together on the table, before addressing the professor once more. “Overcome your own shortcomings if you wish to be better. Otherwise wait your turn. Now move aside...”

[boundlesschaos]

“Oh, hello Niamh! Yoo-hoo!”

That masked warrior couldn’t exactly camouflage in plain sight. No, despite the shadows the hedges cast on the tea garden, Shade was all too used to her presence. She caught up to the woman just as her hair disappeared around a corner. Tsk, tsk, you’re not disappearing just yet!

“Are you here for your research? Well, no matter, it’s good to see you again.”

"Hm?" Niamh had been especially deep in thought. There had been a number of curious cases across the monastery that had gotten her attention in the prior month - the sorts of things that could only be reasoned by a magic spell or curse. Even if those oddities had subsided, she hasn't stopped thinking about the various possibilities as to how they could have started. The cure, too - surely, it wasn't just the quarantining of a certain individual, right?

Regardless of what conclusions Niamh draws, she puts them on standby as her attention is brought towards a familiar voice. Her mind immediately reasons that there must be a cause for this, that there has to be something that has brought the other here, but...

"It's nice to see you again..."

Maybe for once, she can simply accept the encounter as chance, and leave any factual grounding for later. And if Shade's looking for someone like Emma or Alice, then Niamh can see about helping, too.