Gaius Danius Griinia
Apparently Infamous
Pain, that was the most apt word to describe what Rios was feeling right now. His hands ached, his head throbbed and his body felt like it would overheat despite the snow around him. These past few days had been nothing short of hellish for Rios. He had come to this secluded place in order to work on his swordsmanship. Yet no matter how many times he pushed himself to the brink, swung until his arms hurt or forewent food to endure extra training. Rios couldn't see himself getting any better. Gritting his teeth and picking up both of his katana, he could see the weapons were beginning to show some wear from his constant swinging. Ignoring the stinging sensation in his palms. The swordsman took his stance and began to strike at an invisible foe. Imagining the sensation of metal cutting through flesh. Rios brought his blades down in a horizontal slice to either side of his body.
You really should work on your stance... wouldn't want to fall just short of the bare minimum again
"Shut up"
Ha, the child barely managed to make it through my first trial let alone getting to the end
"I said shut up!"
Rios could hear them, Master Elandril and the Sky Proctor. These phantasms appeared at the worst times to taunt him. The cold expressions on their faces were just like the real ones. Looking down on him just because he wasn't doing things THEIR way. If only he could cut THEM instead of the air. Rios did his best to block out the voices by continuing to swing his weapons with what little energy he could muster. Left horizontal slice, right vertical strike, double diagonal swipe. An increasingly aggressive Rios tightened his grip until his hands became pale. He needed to be faster, stronger, to eliminate any unnecessary movements from his swordplay. Although he was an amateur, he hadn't hit the ceiling of his current limit yet. Twist the thrust, strike with the butt of the sword and raise the katana for another cross strike.
He felt the katana slip from his hands, flying in the air before embedding themselves in the snow in front of him. An incredulous Rios could only stare in shock as he could have sworn he saw Master Elandril smack the weapons out of his hands with a half hearted backhand. Yet Rios could no longer see the Guild Official no matter how hard he looked around him. Falling to his knees and slapping his cheeks a few times. The mercenary swordsman tried to take hold of his swords but found it too painful to grasp the braided handle due to his fervent training hurting his hands. Bitterly sitting in the cold, forced to take a break by his own bodily limitations. Rios tried eating a small protein square he had tucked away in his coat for snacktime. Ryke Mercenary Guilds sure did invest a lot in making sure the quick meals their mercs had on the battlefield at least tasted good. Unfortunately when he was about to put the thing in his mouth. A bird swooped in and grabbed the thing right from Rios's hand. Rios attempted to rise to his feet, his aching muscles forcing him onto one knee. Once he raised his heads to try and find the bird. He was alarmed to see the Sky Proctor feeding his snack to the birds. Grinding his teeth and feeling heat rise to his cheeks. Rios picked up his weapons.
Put those down, boy. You aren't anywhere near our level
Too slow to reach the end of our trials, too slow to make a difference in any battle you've fought in.... too slow to even save your own lunch
These two demigods were looking down on Rios once again. He was tired of it, sick of their judgements. He wasn't slow at all, he wouldn't fall behind their level for much longer. In fact, Rios felt a eerie sense of calmness wash over him. Standing up and ripping his swords from the ground. Rios took one step forward and kicked off the ground. He thrusted toward the Sky Proctors wings to disable them before pivoting on his foot to attempt a decapitation on Master Elandril. Somehow they managed to disappear before he could strike a blow, likely their superior speed. He could see the Sky Proctor fire off some sort of magic at him, so he cut it with an overhead slice. His swords were wearing down but that didn't matter. Rios could feel his killers instincts begin to kick in. Master Elandril tried to use more of those shadowy things from the guild trial. Luckily Rios had grown since then, cutting right through them with a quickdraw.
What does it matter if you've become a small amount faster?
A failure who refuses to learn is always going to be a failure
"My sword is a tool of death. You chose this and now I choose THIS"
Without another word, Rios kicked off the ground once more and held both of his katana in an icepick grip. Mimicking the hippogriff which had spun him around so long ago. The excited Rios shredded right through Master Elandril and his shadows. Rolling onto his knees and turning his head to see a shocked Sky Proctor. It was time for the finale. Rising to his feet with a slasher smile painted on his face. Rios felt an odd warmth in his left eye. Within moments he has right in front of the Sky Proctor, swords resting on either side of the beings neck.
"Too slow"
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