<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/30DmQhV.jpg)</div><strong>Name</strong>: Bound in Shadows<br/><strong>Location</strong>: Fourth Field Force Mustering Camp<br/><strong>Tagging</strong>: Ivan, Jiao-Long<br/><hr/><br/>Bound was focused, moving through her katas. To anyone not trained in the Grass-Swaying Dance style, it would look exactly that, dancing. She was practicing in the nearby river, letting the resistance of the water push against her circular movements. It helped her focus, the exercise, the exertion. Bound rarely had downtime, she preferred to go back out on an assignment as quickly as possible. It was the best way to be useful, the best way to serve Lookshy. What else could she do? The Dragons did not see fit to grace her, that honor went to her brother. The best she could hope for? Arranged marriage or an honorable death in the service of the Legion.<br/><br/>She interrupted her own thoughts with an axe kick into the water, the spray soaking her. Was this her fate? Bound moved faster, the water swirling around her now with the speed of her kicks. No. If she could not earn glory as an Exalt, then she would still try to earn it through action. She would prove herself an equal in skill to the dragon-blooded. Faster she spun into her kicks, flipping around an invisible foe, letting the river turn to rain around her. Bound was determined that, even without such things as divine blessing, she would conquer her foes and ensure her land's survival. That was why she joined the Rangers, was it not?<br/><br/>Finally, she stopped, her clothing stuck to her body in a mix of sweat and water. Her breathing was steady as she closed her eyes. Another mission. Always another mission. She would never be done, not unless given the order that she was. Bound stepped out of the river, taking the towel she left nearby. She dried herself off, walking back barefoot to her tent. She passed by Ivan on her way, doing his own exercising. Bound had heard about the Ebon Shadow Style before, but never really saw someone practicing it. Though that was the point she supposed, for a style focused on not being noticed. And then she passed by Jaio-Long. He was like a younger brother to her. Especially since her own brother decided to be his rival in romance.<br/><br/><strong>"You know, my friend, in another time you may have had the life of a bard."</strong>Bound remarked as she approached him.<strong>"Wooing some fair noble maiden upon her bedroom windowsill~."</strong>Bound gave a twirl and a fake swoon, a bit of water shedding from her. She spun into a cross-legged sit next to him, cocking her head towards Daila. "Has our new commander made any announcement on the mission? While I would love to keep kicking at water, I would much rather have something more productive to do." Bound might be the older soldier, but she preferred following the orders to giving them. And while her skills were very focused, she knew Jiao-Long had a much wider breadth of skill so was always worth listening to.<br/><br/>Plus, she loved teasing the boy.