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

[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.

Still, Setsuna couldn't very well go all out in this battle. Miria was her classmate, not another Shinmeiryuu swordsman, and they were sparring on school grounds. It would be deeply disrespectful to her hosts if she were to start devastating the landscape.

She gripped Yūnagi, the enchanted blade gifted to her by the head of the Shinmeiryuu himself, and waited. She did not have to wait long.

Miria was fast, breathtakingly so for a human, and Setsuna was barely able to get out of the line of attack, bringing her nodachi up to deflect the blow with a ring of steel. Logically the massive Claymore should have snapped Setsuna's thinner weapon in half, but magic rarely bowed to logic. Instead the smaller girl danced around, sliding her blade down and out from under Miria's, before snapping it forward to slash at the Claymore as Setsuna stepped toward her.

[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.

All of Miria's fighting techniques had been developed to fight yoma, great hulking creatures with the speed and power to rip a man in half before he'd know what happened. In fighting yoma, she had been taught always to go for the limbs or the head, either to kill in one blow or remove the appendages which posed a thread first and then go in for the final strike. These were the techniques she would employ here, though with all the limiters on her power, Setsuna would not suffer the same fate the yoma had.

Miria swung her sword out to the side and crouched low to avoid Setsuna's strike, and quickly, much more quickly than anyone should be able to move a weapon so large, swung it back toward Setsuna's legs, trying to sweep the other girl's legs out from under her.

[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.

Miria had been taught never to underestimate an opponent, that one misstep or moment of bravado would mean her life and the lives of countless others. But it was, she admitted to herself as she parried Setsuna's strikes, difficult not to assume that her swordfighting skills were well beyond those of most of the humans at Hogwarts.

She frowned at herself, as Setsuna sped up, and increased her speed to match. In her world, assumption meant death, and though this was a friendly match, it was no time to let herself get overconfident. As the Department's Number Six, Miria had never been one to think herself invincible. No, the top five had been monsters, pure and simple. Each with power so far beyond hers... a wide chasm of ability separating them, such a difference in potential that Miria was sure she would never catch up.

But she had never stopped training, pushing herself night after night long after the Project had ended. Now, she thought, it would not be laughable to consider that she could defeat some of them, or at least fight nearly on equal ground.

Setsuna's movements were almost too lightning quick to be human, and Miria, as bright as she was, began to wonder. Who precisely was she? Though she was not nearly at full speed, any normal human would be panting for lack of breath to keep up. A gamble, then, she decided. A risk worth taking, to find out just how fast the younger girl was. Her own speed would give her away as something more than human, as would the other girl's if she managed to block. And if she did not block, Miria had enough control that she would not harm Setsuna in the least.

Taking a quick step to one side to avoid that long, thin blade, and summoning the tiniest bit of yoki, Miria sprang forward like a coiled beast, the movement of her sword so fast that it was nothing more than a silver blur as she swung it toward Setsuna's head.

[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.

That misstep almost came when she failed to anticipate Miria's sudden increase in speed. This was no simple burst of effort, brought on by adrenaline and determination. Rather, the other girl accelerated her attack at a rate that would have caught even veteran swordsman flat footed. She became a silver blur of deadly grace, weapon and woman becoming one.

Setsuna had no time to ponder where this sudden increase in physical ability had come from, no seconds to waste on surprise or wonder or even thought. Her body moved on its own, calling on magic and the strength of her mixed bloodlines, honed together by discipline for just such moments. So fast was Setsuna's reaction, enhanced by the magic of her school, that it seemed she moved from one spot to another without crossing the space between. One moment she was under the shadow of Miria's blade, and the next she was a foot away, her own weapon meeting the Claymore in a ring of steel.

Yet, for all the quickness of her evasion, still the corner of Setsuna's vision noted a lock of hair fall to the ground, severed with surgical precision. Surprise was held back only by iron self control, as the Shinmeiryuu's mind finally had a moment to catch up to her body. That was not the move of a student, no matter how well trained she might be. The way Miria's body had moved was something that could only be learned on the battlefield itself.

Clearly Setsuna was not the only one with secrets in this castle.

She took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air in her lungs, the wet grass brushing against her ankles, the pounding of the heart within her chest. This was what she was meant for, this was why she was alive, to push and test and push and hone herself until she had struck all flaws from her body and heart so that she could protect that which was precious to her. It seemed she had found another who understood that purpose, and that discovery filled the half demon girl with a warmth she rarely allowed herself.

Perhaps in this battle she could find some small measure of understanding, but not by resting on her haunches. Slender body tightening like a spring, she launched herself forward once again, adjusting her movements to keep pace with Miria's as she slashed two quick high strokes, followed by a low cut.

[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.

She whipped her sword back as Setsuna came forward, confident now in the knowledge that the other girl was much, much stronger than she appeared. She wondered, for a moment, how much of her own power Setsuna could take, wondered how a full-out duel between them would go... but it was brief flight of fancy, one which would never come to pass, Miria was sure.

"You are very good," Miria said, bringing her Claymore up to block each of Setsuna's strikes. It was not often she gave compliments. More often she demanded strength and precision, power and speed from those around her. Their lives had depended on her grueling training, had been saved more than once by those long, hard days spent working themselves to exhaustion until they coughed up blood. No, it was not a custom she tended to indulge in, the acknowledgment of another's skill. But this girl was... unexpected. Her ability far beyond that of what she would think to find in this place.

Perhaps another ally, then. But first, Miria would have to find out more.

She sped up again, her movements becoming faster and faster with each parry and slash forward. She would not resort to her 'phantoms,' not here, not now. If it came to that, it would be that Setsuna had proved to be trustworthy, or that they were fighting as enemies.

As she moved, nothing more than a silver blur, Miria desperately hoped it would be the former. She leaped into the air, cloak billowing to block out the sun, and swung her heavy sword down over her head.

[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.

She had long respected her sempai for her dignity and composure, and certainly had felt that the other girl was a warrior of no small skill, but in truth Miria was proving to have strength far beyond anything Setsuna could imagine. It was becoming clearer by the second that there were secrets here in this school, and that her classmates were not all the care free children they had seemed. Some were warriors, like the woman moving with graceful beauty before her under the rising sun.

Had Setsuna had a second to think of anything beyond her next attack and counter attack, she might have wondered where that last thought had come from. Thankfully for her focus, and possibly her survival, she did not have time for self reflection.

Still, part of her felt joy in knowing that in some way she was not as alone here as she thought. She might be the only freakish hybrid, but at least she was not the only warrior.

Setsuna did not let the sun's obstruction distract her, twirling out from under Miria's strike, and lashing out to slash at the Claymore as she fell.

[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.

Nodding at Miria's unspoken assessment, it would not due for the staff to find two students engaged in unsupervised swordplay, the half demon smoothly resheathed her weapon, reflecting on the match she had just participated in. Her sempai had proven far more skilled than Setsuna could have imagined, and still the swordwoman felt the older girl had been holding back. Setsuna had to of course, but the prospect that there was someone at this school who could not only match her in training, but whom Setsuna admitted might have the potential to best her in unrestrained combat, was a startling and yet at the same time exciting one.

Decorum forbid Setsuna from voicing any of the many questions that were swirling through her head, but perhaps if she spoke first of herself, Miria would show similar courtesy if she so chose. "I was not aware there were warriors in the West whose skill with a blade could rival the Shinmeiryuu school with a blade. I am shamed by my arrogance," she offered politely, bowing in respect.

[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.

Whatever this Shinmeiryuu was, it was powerful, and Miria wished to know more about it. It, and the girl bowing before her who used it. It was obvious Setsuna had not unleashed her full power, and Miria was more than curious about exactly how much strength the younger girl possessed. If only there were somewhere private for them to spar, so she could truly test the limits of the other girls' abilities...

But first, she would come to know Setsuna better, to learn what kind of person she was, whether she could be trusted. Miria was a phenomenal judge of character, but she was not one to trust too soon, regardless of how kind and generous one might be. Caution had saved her life more than once, and it did so even now, as her mission to destroy those who had made her a monster continued.

"I was... surprised by your skill as well, Setsuna."

[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.

Setsuna felt herself feel a little giddy at Miria's statement, the pleasure she felt in the other girl's approval catching her off guard even though she managed to keep it from her face. The approval of others had never mattered much to Setsuna before, save for the indication from her master and Ojou-sama that she was fulfilling her duties to their satisfaction. The idea that having someone complement the skill she had worked so hard to acquire was an alien one to the girl, as she had always believed her hard work to be a form of atonement, a way of paying back the people who had embraced her despite the fact that she was a hideous abomination. She should need no appreciation, and yet in her heart she valued it all the same.

"Thank you for your kind words," she said softly, then tilted her head and asked, "Would you, perhaps, be interested in doing this again Sempai? I have a feeling I could learn a lot from you."

[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?"

[afterimaging]

Miria nodded. She would not make that mistake next time. "It would," she said. "I will see you then."

With that, she headed toward the Ravenclaw dormitory to wash and gather her things for class, pondering what had just taken place all the while.