You have my blade

[craggyfaced]

Who: Durge craggyfaced and Konoe catsong
What: Training (and Singing?)
When: Sometime this week
Where: Outside on the grounds
Rating: PG-13

Durge arrived for the second time in the courtyard, this time garbed safely in his chainmail. Most of the people he'd sparred with did not have claws.

He still wasn't sure what the boy wanted from him. He knew there were stronger, smarter, younger, and faster fighters than him in this castle. He'd seen as much on the expedition. But if Konoe wanted his help, he would give it.

The knight was still a little dubious about this Song business. He'd never been very sure about magic. It wasn't a concrete thing he could easily apply any kind of logic to. But he'd also seen the good as well as the bad that it could do.

And, if was being honest, if felt good to be needed again.

Comments

[craggyfaced]

"Then allow them to be your strength, rather than your sorrow," he told Konoe. Durge despaired quite a lot of things. He could not be sure if his disappearance meant that he'd missed the battle at Gravenfist Keep, or that the Grace would worry about him. In some ways it was better, considering the magic shard he carried in his chest potentially made him a liability.

[catsong]

"Y-you're right. I'm sorry." Konoe takes a deep breath and then smiles, trying to banish the sorrow. He didn't want to give in to an emotion that one of the Devils ruled over, after all. Even if Kaltz had been the 'kindest' of the four.

He moves closer to the other man and then butts his head against Durge's shoulder as a sign of gratitude and friendship.

omg so cute

[craggyfaced]

Durge blinked, then after a moment of hesitation, patted the boy gently on the head. The knight wasn't used to affection. It startled him every time anyone bothered to give it to him. No matter how much he tried to act as am impassive protector, somebody always managed to get closer that he'd expected.

"Shall we try it again?" he said gently.

♥

[catsong]

Those little pats on his head made Konoe purr, feeling quite relieved after letting out all his pent-up emotion for a while. The small rumbling sound continues until Durge speaks, and the young cat's ears perk up. Smiling more easily now, he backs away and nods.

"Yes! Let's try again!"

[craggyfaced]

Durge nods as well, something that might be the shadow of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth as he takes up his sword again.

"Ready when you are."

[catsong]

"I'm ready!"

So he closes his eyes again, his mind going back to the Poet, and then to the fight together with Asato. The melody poured from his body again, and the Sanga opened his eyes. The Song was steadier this time, and he could feel it better through his consciousness.

...and it was easier to reach out, too. He could do this.

[craggyfaced]

The knight stepped back from the tree again, to give him the proper room. He only glanced aside at Konoe to make sure he seemed all right before he raised the blade again. He waited a few moments, gripping the hilt hard and hoping he was doing the right thing, then lunged forward again, swinging at the trunk with a low growl.

[catsong]

A new cascade of swirling green light and glittering gold envelops Durge, accelerating his speed and strength as Konoe concentrates, focusing fully on the melody in his mind. It's not wavering this time; instead it flows like the beat of a heart. It seems a lot more stable, and he can continue to hold it at a normal level.

...at least for now.

[craggyfaced]

There is a heavy crack as the blade impacts the tree, this time sinking almost a foot into the wood, sending splinters and bark flying in every direction.

The knight makes a slightly impressed grunt and yanks it free, using only a little pressure of a boot to give himself leverage.

[catsong]

Impressed as well, Konoe continues to emit the Song, the shining green swirls increasing in strength... before they starts to flicker and disappear.

The young cat is a bit out of breath, sweaty and strained - but he looks happy. Excited, even. "That was much easier!"

[craggyfaced]

The knight looks only slightly fatigued by the display, part his own training and perhaps partly the magic.

"I'm glad that it seems to have promise. With more practice, you should only get stronger." Or he figured. Was magic like a muscle you could strengthen with more use?

[catsong]

Konoe's ears perk up at that and he laughs a little, clearly pleased with everything. Walking over to Durge and the tree, he glances at the deep cut in it and then presses on the trunk to see if it would fall over. (They couldn't leave a dangerous thing like that around.)

"I truly hope so," Konoe says and seems pleased when the tree doesn't feel unstable. "If I can do this even with Hu Mans, I might grow strong enough to help Rai and Asato."