Nyxara
When Lima had dressed me in another temple garb set, and Azrail had changed into something similar after our dessert fight, I became curious as to why we were dressed in such clothes. The temple garb is formal enough for a social dinner but is also practical enough that it could be fought in. I didn't question it before, but I do now that Azrail is wearing one.
I took a page out of his book and just stared at him until he laughed with glee. With a wink, he snapped his fingers, instantly teleporting us into my meditation garden. Gotta love it when the clues come together. It turns out that Azrail did intend for us to be moving around doing some "after-dinner exercises," as he termed what we did next.
Lima, who had kept her distance during our walk, walked out from behind a tree like some wood dryad in a priestess robe, bowed to us, then led us to a wide grassy area I hadn't discovered earlier. The size and mechanics of this pocket space are just absolutely insane. I'm pretty sure this open space wasn't in this spot before.
After he led me through a series of stretches, we reviewed the katas and my barrier techniques Lux taught me earlier.
Upon his request, I went through what I remember of the routine. He corrected my form with a stick he got from somewhere. I now see where Keir got his training style from. Bloody tyrants the both of them. We went through the set again this time with him walking me through the parts I had forgotten.
Our next cycle of the routine, we were in sync. I'm surprised I've picked this up so quickly, and it does feel good to work my body, but something about these katas doesn't feel right for my body.
When we finished, Azrail examined me before shaking his head. "This set of katas is the common set we train our fighters in, and we are all well versed in them, so I would like for you to keep working with Lux on them, but for your personal fighting style to evolve, I think my mother's will suit you better."
He flowed into motion, steps precise but graceful, his body moving like nature given form. When he finished the set and motioned for me to join, I followed his movements like a shadow. My body fell into rhythm easily as if these moves were already woven into my bones.
After two more cycles, Azrail stopped but motioned for me to continue."Yes," Azrail murmured, circling me, adjusting a shoulder with a touch, nudging my hip into line. "This is how you are meant to feel when doing katas that resonate with your essence. I can see your essence flowing easier even with those knots. They are becoming looser."
When he finally let me stop after two more cycles to make sure I had it memorized well, he stood before me creating an illusionary person with the head, hands and heart areas lit up on it. "Next, we'll assess your barrier techniques. As a refresher, each core can generate a specific type of barrier. Your primary core for combat barriers." He pointed to the heart area on the illusion.
"Your secondary core for personal shielding." He pointed to the hands.
"And your tertiary core for passive wards and long-term barriers. Lux would have gone over the details of the why and role of each core when it comes to the function of barriers." Now he pointed to the head. With a wave of his hand the illusion disappeared and he came within seven steps of me.
"Lux would not have shown you these next three barriers yet because you are not ready to support the essence drain of them yet. But I think you should at least know what they look like and what their purpose they have in case you encounter them." He placed a barrier over me then over himself as well. "What I will show you now is what a Tharym barrier would look like. It can be used in battle or other types of danger like a building falling on us just to give an example."
Then a rope of light connects the two barriers, making them appear stronger linked than separate. "This barrier is powered by your secondary and tertiary cores. Now I will show you a living barrier technique that you will likely not accomplish until Veil 3 or Obsidian 1." He dismissed the barrier around me and himself before he created another barrier; this one had a strange feeling to it. It felt like the barrier had been asleep—and now it was awake. I could feel the barrier expanding to encompass me.
It's like being hugged by him. "Can you tell how I created this barrier?" He asked with a smug smile as if he didn't think I could figure it out.
Closing my eyes, I reached towards my own primary core to find it resonating at a certain tone with his. From there, it was like an image of his aura becoming like a shell came to me. "You have somehow combined your aura with your barrier technique." When my answer received silence, I opened my eyes to find him pouting with his arms crossed.
"You're correct. This is an advanced technique, so do not try it until we tell you to try it. The other and last type of barrier is the ultimate defensive ward. It is considered an architectural manifestation because it is a fusion of will, essence, and environment." He placed five stones in a star pattern on the ground around himself, then ignited his essence, which bellowed out like smoke. The barrier became a solid shell around it. It looked impenetrable.
After a moment or two, he dropped the barrier with a smile. "Now let me see what you can do. You can use the amulets we gave you to help you shape the barriers. Begin." The smile dropped, and I saw where my brothers got their 'let's get down to business' faces from.
I created a mental shield first. Once he saw I was done, he began his psychological attacks. "Hold it. Tighten those gaps unless you're setting a trap." I focused, sweat breaking at my temples as my shield flickered.
When I could hold on no more, he let me rest for exactly one minute before he said, "Again," but not unkindly. His voice carried weight, but not sharpness—just steady insistence. So I did it again, and he attacked again. We did the cycle one more time before we moved onto combat. On the fifth cycle, my barrier snapped taut, essence locking in place. No matter how he kicked in the brief moment it was up, it held.
Azrail gave a pleased hum. "Well done, Little Queen." My cheeks heated for some reason feeling immensely pleased at his praise.
He grinned, knowing exactly what he'd done, then let the moment pass. "You'll practice daily the katas, your combat barrier, and your mental shield. And as a lesson-closing recommendation, change the suite layout. Turn your armory into a training room and move your weapons into a vault in your private wing. Trust me when I say you don't want to taint the energy of the meditation garden with martial energy."
I opened my mouth to argue until he created a miniature layout of my suite in his recommended configuration. Loving it on sight, I shut my mouth and nodded. He ruffled my hair, smirking. "I knew you would like this flow better. You will thank me when you have to suit up, and you won't have to first go to the opposite end of your suite to get your gear."
I groaned, laughing despite myself. Neither of us ready to end our time together yet, we settled with a late-night snack in my study, discussing all the changes he thought I should do when the techs came tomorrow.
Somehow, I ended up agreeing to move my armory to my private wing. It will be in the dimensional vault I would be adding between my closet and my bathroom. It would also be a secure place to put my most treasured possessions. No one but those I trust will be able to access it. In the place where my armory was, I will be putting in a private training room.
I can't wait to take a bath and just go to bed. As I dozed off next to Azrail, I couldn't help feeling like something might be wrong with me. Even after the stress and twists of the day, I was feeling excited about what new things I would learn and experience tomorrow. Today set the tone for me that anything can happen, and I must be flexible. Snuggling more into his embrace, I drifted off to sleep to the sound of a heart that beat a lullaby just for me.