Spread your wings to welcome the new day (Active, Closed)

[herladysblade]

Name(s): Setsuna Sakurazaki, Miria Phantom
Location: The clearing nearest the garden on the south shore of the Great Lake
Week: 42
Time: Early in the morning
Rating: Hot girl on girl swordfighting! No, really, probably nothing much

Comments

[afterimaging]

The sunrise was a bright red streaked with gold, the colors of Gryffindor heralding the coming day. Miria turned her face toward the sky, her expression calm, claymore slung across her back, as she headed toward the lake to meet Setsuna.

The Ravenclaw had always been an early riser, something some people around her never could understand, no matter how often she tried to explain. There was something peaceful about the dawn, something that put the constant whirring of Miria's mind at ease. It was a beautiful time of day, the quiet and solitude of early morning soothing the beast that lived inside her heart. And there was a beast there, regardless of the seal that the Ministry had put on her power, a beast of Miria's own making. Her single-minded desire to find out why and for what she and her comrades had been made into monsters had become its own demon, one that rivaled the intensity of the yoma flesh they had sewn up into her skin, the yoma blood that pulsed through her veins

[herladysblade]

Setsuna had heard Miria coming before she saw her, recognizing the soft graceful steps she'd come to associate with the other girl. In her brief time at Hogwarts the half-demon girl had come to know few of her classmates very closely, it would after all be inappropriate for her to be overly familiar with the other students, but she had seen enough for her to conclude that Miria was a disciplined and talented young woman. She moved with a confident grace, and nothing ever seemed to fluster her quiet dignity. In Setsuna's mind, the other girl was someone to be admired

[afterimaging]

Miria did not often bring her sword out at school, preferring instead to fight with wand and magic to blend in with the other students, but neither could she stand to let her skills with the blade decline. No, if she meant to accomplish her goals, she would have to use every tool at her disposal, even those she wished she did not possess. She'd been contemplating asking Galatea or one of the others to spar with her when she had seen Setsuna's journal request. It had seemed to her a good opportunity to test her skills against someone whose style she was wholly unfamiliar with. She was not, she told herself, taking Galatea's advice that she branch out and appear more sociable to others. Except that she was, and she knew it. Galatea was right, of course. If Miria planned to require that Galatea be kinder, it made sense that she held herself to the same standard - and Setsuna was not a bad place to start. She reminded Miria of the Department's younger warriors, those who were capable, but knew they could achieve much more and worked for

[herladysblade]

Miria's blade was impressive, perhaps even a work of art. From where she was standing Setsuna could tell the blade had to be enchanted, otherwise it would likely snap off the hilt, and it was doubtful Miria could lift it like she did. Then again, perhaps she, like Setsuna, had received special training on how to control her body's magic, using it to grant her strength beyond that of a human. Not that Setsuna's demonic half didn't grant her such already, but the techniques of the Shinmeiryuu school could amplify anyone's potential. It certainly wouldn't do to underestimate Miria's power

[afterimaging]

Setsuna brought her blade up to block the first strike, and Miria privately wondered at the strength the slim girl possessed. She hadn't struck with even a fraction of her full strength, but a normal human would likely not have been able to block her so quickly, or been able to withstand the force behind her swing. That Setsuna's sword did not break was testament to its probable magical properties, and that Setsuna had not dropped the weapon was testament to her unusual abilities. Miria supposed that the girl had learned some techniques to enhance her strength, or that there was more to her than met the eye. She filed that bit of information away and turned her focus to the match at hand

[herladysblade]

Miria's speed was unbelievable, and Setsuna was barely able to avoid the blow aimed at her legs by leaping up and over the other girl, twisting in mid air to land on the ground behind the Claymore.

Spinning like a dancer she launched a flurry of light probing strikes at Miria, trying to find a hole in the other woman's defenses. Like Miria, Setsuna had been trained to battle demons, creatures of immense size and power, but she had also been taught to serve as a bodyguard for important wizards, and that meant plenty of time learning how to deal with other swordsmen.

Blade flashing in the rising sun like light shining in a blizzard, she moved faster than before, now certain that Miria could handle the increased speed.

[afterimaging]

Perhaps a slight sound of surprise escaped Miria's lips as Setsuna leaped over her, though one would have had to be paying very careful attention to hear it

[herladysblade]

Setsuna had been raised for battle, and the first lesson she had been taught was that the one factor all fights had in common was that they were determined in the space between seconds. No matter how well trained you were, or how well you thought you knew your opponent, victory was never assured, and one misstep could spell disaster

[afterimaging]

Miria hadn't entirely expected Setsuna to block her attack, and had in fact begun slowing down slightly as her sword slashed toward the girl's head, but the speed at which Setsuna was able to move out of the way, to leap back and block her blade, was astounding. Miria very nearly stopped in her tracks. But the years and years of training that she'd received, the years of battle against the demons, kept her from making a mistake

[herladysblade]

"As are you," Setsuna informed Miria, her respect for the older girl growing with each clash of steel, the ringing of their swords filling the early dawn air

[afterimaging]

Her claymore swung down and caught Setsuna's blade with a ring, and Miria landed in crouch on the balls of her feet, ready to spring forward if necessary. Using her heavy sword to keep Setsuna's at bay, she looked up at the other girl.

"I think that's enough for today," she said. Truly, she was impressed with Setsuna's technique and strength, and though she wanted to test her abilities further, the sun had risen now and people would be getting up and ready to begin the day. She did not want to reveal her own strength to the students and professors, and neither, she guessed, did Setsuna want to reveal hers.

Miria was more curious than she had been in some time, and she wondered if Setsuna would be willing, or able, to speak of her obvious training.

[herladysblade]

Setsuna's body remained as tense as a drawn bow for a moment, muscles ready to snap into action as her senses searched for the slightest sign that her opponent intended to continue their battle. The moment Miria stated the fight was over, however, Setsuna instantly relaxed. This was not a true battlefield, and to keep her guard up when her partner had indicated the match was done would be a sign of distrust and disrespect

[afterimaging]

"Shinmeiryuu?" Miria echoed, rising to her feet and sliding her sword into position across her back. "It is not a school I am familiar with." In truth, Miria was not familiar with many types of combat, though since being sent to Hogwarts by the Department of Mysteries after the Claymore Project was disbanded, she had done much studying on the subject on her own. There was always more to lean, however

[herladysblade]

"The school of swordsmanship who trained my," Setsuna explained. "I am not surprised you do not know of them, they do not often venture outside of Japan." After all, their mandate was protecting against demons, not hunting them. Demons, like the one who had sired Setsuna, giving her the legacy of her mother's cursed blood

[afterimaging]

Ah, she had thought so from the name, and the long, thin blade, that it was a fighting style of the East. She would have to learn what she could about it. Perhaps, someday soon, Setsuna would be willing to speak with her again, in more detail.

But not today. The sun was risen, and they needed to make it back to their respective dorms to prepare for the school day. And for now, Miria had much to think on. She would write herself some notes while this morning was fresh in her mind, and go over them later, once she had finished her schoolwork. Perhaps her comrades might find them of interest as well.

"I require no thanks for speaking the truth," Miria said, beginning to head toward the castle to gather her things and shower before class. "I underestimated your skill. It was...arrogant of me." Indeed, it had been. She would not be so sure of herself in the future. This girl had strength Miria did not know. "I would," she nodded. "I believe we have much to learn from each other. Once a week, perhaps?"

[herladysblade]

"It seems we were both presumptuous," Setsuna said with a small smile. "Once a week then. Would the same time and place be acceptable?"