Aedus held onto her close, placing his face in her hair, and taking in her scent. It had been so long since he felt so relaxed, so at ease that it seemed unreal, but all good things came to an end. Aedus would take Dia's face and kiss her once again, before letting her go, as his eyes fell upon the lash marks across her back. To think, that a man like that could be so callous.....If the King knew, he'd have Philip's head, but Philip would likely twist his arm about it- King Steven cared for his family, but he always knew where the gold was, one of the things King Steven wasn't was stupid. But it only inflamed his heart, and added another list to the atrocities, that those he loved suffered. Another reason to make them suffer.<br/><br/>As he returned back to the Castle, ensuring Beowulf was safely put in the stables with dust, He was walking into the Castle, when he saw Hammond standing at the hallway, waiting. Aedus narrowed his eyes at him, before speaking up. "<b>You knew."</b><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff"><br/>
"<b>Planned it all with the help of the Beautiful Elven Girl." </b>Hammond said, honestly.</span><br/><br/>Aedus would raise his hand up.....before placing it on his shoulder, sighing. "<b>Thank you....You don't realize what you've done for me." </b>He said, removing it. He would fold his cloak and place it in his room. He would walk towards the window, eyes gazing up at the silver orb in the sky, before he would lay down to rest. Tomorrow, he prepared for war.<br/><br/>He prepared for the end.<br/><br/>~~<i>The next day~~</i><br/><br/>Aedus and Seron clashed weapons, his short-sword with her staff. Despite her voluptuous frame, she was skilled in combat. Aedus would raise his hand as lightning sprung from his fingers, towards Seron, but Seron would slam his staff down as a barrier would take the attack, leaving her unharmed. This was Aedus's combat lessons- He had to ensure he was in top physical, mental, and emotional performance during combat. Aedus would look up as he saw her straighten up. "<b>We've been doing the same movements for weeks. I believe I have the method down pat." </b>He said, twirling his blade.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">She would look towards him, before walking over and picking up a towel, wiping her face off. "<b>You're close....but you're still off balance." </b>She said.</span><br/><br/>Aedus would look confused. "<b>What? No I am not! I....actually am quite surprised. "</b>He said, as he looked at the short-sword, twirling it. "<b>I thought <i>Lullaby </i>would be just this huge weight, but it feels....natural." </b>He said, gripping the handle tight. "<b>They did a really great job on this-" </b>He then felt a strike across his cheek. He would then parry with her again.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">She would look him in the eye. "<b>I wasn't talking about your actual balance." </b>She said, before kicking the end of her staff, catching his leg, and flipping him to the ground. "<b>Although....that could use some work." </b>She said, leaning on the staff.</span><br/><br/>Aedus would stand up, dusting himself off, before sitting back down, and crossing his legs. "<b>Meaning?..."</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">She would twirl the staff lightly as she walked, before looking towards him. "<b>The Berserker fighting style relies on you tapping into your inner-most aggression, often your anger and rage. It is, by far, one of the most powerful fighting styles that are out there. You study the Discipline expertly, but...." </b></span><br/><br/>Aedus would look over. "<b>Let me guess- I am sloppy?"</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">She would just laugh, before Seron would look over. "<b>No.....you're predictable." </b>She said, before looking up and laughing. "<b>-and stubborn....and perhaps a little bone-headed." </b>She said, before Seron's face would turn serious. "<b>Do you realize that, unconsciously, you rely on it during every fight?"</b></span><br/><br/>Aedus would look confused. "<b>So? What is the difference between me using my fighting style and someone else using theirs?"</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">She would raise an eyebrow at Aedus, before Seron would speak. "<b>Because not everyone's fighting style is, essentially, one big temper tantrum." </b>She said abrasively, before sighing and handing him a water canteen. "<b>You can take damage, and dish it back, twice as hard- Your fighting style is great in a pinch, but what happens if you miss? What if they're <i>stronger? </i>Now you're just weak and tired." </b>She explained. She saw him look down, and would walk over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder<br/>
<br/>
"<b>You are an expert hunter, a good student, and a great horseback fighter.....But you have to keep your emotions in check- You need to start thinking with a clear head when you engage the enemy. Your fighting style is a great fallback, but you can't let yourself rely on it. It won't always save you...." </b>She said, before Seron would look away, the clouds of a previous event in her eyes. "<b>Obviously...." </b>She said, before letting out a sigh, as she would walk over by one of the trees. "<b>You definitely have your mothers stubbornness." </b></span><br/><br/>Aedus would look up. "<b>You knew my mother?"<br/>
</b><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d"><b>"Heh, knew her? I trained her." </b>She said, before Seron would just pick up that towel, and smile at the memory. "<b>Veerta had so many great things about her- Her Strength, Her Ambition, Her dedication to any cause she saw was worth fighting for." </b>She said, she would then smile, before looking towards him. "<b>I'm glad of how much of her I see in you.....though...." </b>She would just frown as she placed her hand on the tree. "<b>I'm glad I don't see ALL of her in you." </b>She said to him.</span><br/><br/>Aedus would look towards her, curiously. "<b>What do you mean?"</b><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">Seron would sigh, before turning towards, leaning against the tree. "<b>Veerta was a...complicated woman, always brimming with power and potential, but lacking restraint. She had her faults, just like anyone else, but those faults are what tore her apart.....and....it did a real number on your family. " </b>She said, before walking towards him, as she stepped in front of her staff. "<b>You both act like the easiet way to solve your problems is THROUGH them, that strength is the key to everything in a fight. But....If you stop to think and take a second look-" </b>She would just step around her staff and pick it up. "<b>There's a way around them as well."</b></span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dff4d">The woman acted more like....a motherly figure to Aedus, than a servant, and it was clear she cared dearly about him. She would then hold out her hand to him. "<b>Come on.....The others will be awake soon, and we must prepare ourselves for breakfast, it will be quite a show..."</b></span><br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="83" data-username="@MintyMinx" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/83/">@MintyMinx</a>