A sword of ice appeared in the Dragon Slayer’s hand, only to come blindingly fast at her as she was in mid air. Razhiel could not believe it was just instincts and enhanced reflexes due to the woman’s slayer blood. The woman hid much beneath that grin and she respected that. Razhiel found herself lacking. Falling into the trap so easily. Eyes burned as her hand shot out to intercept the blade. The power behind it pushing her hand back, the blade driving into her side. Before she could react, Kotone had materialized a second blade. A second blade zoning in on her, Razhiel panicked.
The black tattoo on the inside of her wrist lit up and her solid sword of lightning was held within her grip. Diabolus Fulgur Gladium. She met the second sword mid swing, the heat from her sword and the power behind it enough to push the sword of ice back or even damage it. All of this happened within seconds as she flew over Kotone. Or rather slightly to the side as the first blade hit her hard enough to alter her trajectory. Blades disengaging, she hit the pier a little less gracefully than Razhiel had planned. What was supposed to be a front flip and stopping on her feet, turned into a roll and a grimace as she stood on one knee facing Kotone.
Striking the blade on the pier, it shattered into thousands of tiny pixels before disappearing altogether. Standing while holding the side of her ribs that got struck by the ice blade, she admitted defeat. ”I am done in. Well played.” Razhiel gave a bow of her head. “Your speed is incredible.” The rain began to abate though the wind continued to whip around them. The defeat stung, the bruised ribs stung even more.
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 8, 2015 15:03:47 GMT
Kotone lowered her blades, the left one having shattered from the point the lightning sword slammed into it. She had a grin on her face, though it wasn't the excited one from moments ago, or the cocky 'I knew I'd win' grin she would have had if they'd met years before. It was a simple grin of enjoyment. She offered her hand dto pull the devil slayer to her feet. "Sorry about hitting you so hard. I knew I couldn't play around if I wanted to win."
Two victories against two devil slayers; Kotone was starting to feel less out of shape and out of practice than she had before. Maybe Kade had been right; she was just being overly paranoid. Maybe she could even afford to slow down a little and stop training for hours each day. "Now that that's over..." Kotone certainly seemed like she'd gotten something out of her system; she was somehow more calm than before, despite how nonchalant she'd been acting. The wind focused around her, whipping her clothes around and drying her off decently well. "What do you say we find a better place to talk? If you still want to that is. I know Raven is a confusing subject."
Taking the offered hand, she let the dragon slayer pull her to her feet. “No need to apologize. In a battle where everything is at stake you don’t hesitate. I would not wish to battle you if you had something to lose.” A small smile played upon her lips as she walked to the scythe still stuck in the ice. Grabbing the handle she concentrated her magic on the part of the blade that was buried in it. Freeing it from the melting ice, she attached it to her back. Grabbing her jacket, she shook it once, rain droplets scattering. Putting it on, she winced slightly as she put her left arm in. There would be a big flower to greet her in the morning, spread all along her side which only made her grin. It was a good battle. Considering the magic she used, she felt like she had properly stretched and it was not much of an effort to subdue it.
As Kotone began to talk again, she glanced up. It seemed their battle did the dragon slayer good. Curious as to why the dragon slayer felt the need to prove herself, she noticed the wind drying Kotone off. Two elements was not something to sneeze at. At the mention of Raven, she blinked. For a moment, during their battle she had forgotten and it had been freeing. Nodding, she looked at her boots and bit her bottom lip. How pathetic she did not want to bend to put on her boots. With a quiet chuckle she bent down on one knee and tipped her boots over letting the water drain from them. It had poured quite hard. Standing, she slipped them on without putting her socks on. No point.
“I’d like that. I haven’t been here that long so I’ll let you lead the way.”
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 9, 2015 22:34:24 GMT
Kotone already had a place in mind. She had spent a lot of time in Cerulean Town the last couple of years, especially in the few months since Eri was born. She knew it better than just about any other town in Fiore, especially since nearly every town was changing a bit with the times. She pushed open a door to a small sandwich stop; it was nothing too special to look at, but she liked the people there.
"Hey Carol," Kotone nodded to the lady. There was a short exchange in which the owner named Carol asked Kotone how her daughter Eri was, and Kotone, of course, answered that she was good. Kotone didn't waste much time though, sitting at a booth where her red-headed acquaintance could sit with her. "Nothing special, but it's quiet and I like the owners," she shrugged. "Alright, so! I'll pay, and we can talk about whatever. It's the least I can do for helping me stay in shape."
Following along amicably, Razhiel noted the sure way in which Kotone led. She understood when they reached their destination and the owner and slayer had a personal conversation. It was one of Kotone’s spots. Those spots, rare to find, that when you walk into you breathe a little easier. A place that you automatically go to when the situation calls for it, a smile tugging at your lips the moment you walk into it. She did not miss the details of the conversation and knew now what the dragon slayer meant by having a life considered not normal by slayer standards. Passing the owner, she gave a nod and a murmured, ‘Hello.’
Sitting down she replied, “I had a few places like that… Maybe I can find some here.” Here being Fiore in general to her. Looking up with a half smile, “I will not say no to that. And anytime I am in the area, I would be up for training together.” Though battling on a pier in the middle of a storm would possibly be outside the lines of training. Left hand resting in her lap, her right hand on the table she began to tap her fingers lightly on the surface in an unidentifiable pattern. “So what happened with the dragons?” While she had encountered numerous stories about recent events in Fiore, quite a few were spooked to even speak of it. While others seemed exaggerated as events often do as they circulate the population a time or ten.
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 13, 2015 15:00:18 GMT
'What happened with the dragons?' Krendall would have told Kotone that that was the perfect question to ask. The dragons who had left had yet to return on their own, and Kotone had no idea if they ever would. The only people to ask were those who were there, and Raven... knowing him, he was too much of a wreck from his own guilt and stubbornness to give a good answer if he were asked. So, that left only a few people, and Razhiel had found one.
"That's a complicated question," Kotone looked serious for a moment... not that she didn't usually look pretty serious. "What happened to them after we stopped them, I couldn't say," Kotone answered, remembering how calm things were in the aftermath when the dragons had taken their leave once more. "But what happened before... I don't know if you know someone who started calling himself General Nox after Valland fell apart," she placed an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. "But apparently, for most of my life he had been working on something he called the Dragonstone, which... as you probably guessed was designed to be able to control dragons... and somehow he was actually successful in both making the stone... and tracking down like... ten full grown dragons."
Kotone paused for a moment. What did Raz think of this General Nox? She hardly seemed the type to be his ally. Would she have opposed him? Kotone crossed one leg over the other, continuing to watch Raz with mild interest. "To make a long story short, he forced the dragons to attack us a few years ago. It took a lot of us to stop them... but we only really stopped them because me and a few others destroyed his dragonstone. Raven helped buy time... but he was rewarded by being forced to kill Draco - the dragon that raised him. The rest just kind of flew away once the fight was over..." She was silent after she finished her admittedly questionably told story, staring into space. It had been one of the hardest times in her life... but unlike Raven, she at least knew her own dragon father figure was okay.
Listening quietly, she watched Kotone watch her. She had heard about Nox’s involvement and it was not a surprise. If anyone would come up with such a device it’d have been him. Her feelings about the entire situation were mixed and she felt responsible in a way. Valland’s legacy. It was not a wonder as to why the people of Fiore would despise those of Valland. She entertained the thought of their reaction to Valland royalty. A thoughtful glance at Kotone. The Dragon Slayer more than likely knew who she was and yet they were calmly sitting in a diner, talking. Reactions would depend on the person’s perspective she supposed. She almost snorted at the inclusion of ‘General.’ ‘Mad Scientist’ suited him a hell of a lot better. Recalling a particular man she had happened upon who was one of Nox’s ‘special’ experiments, she frowned slightly. Three years was a long time to go ‘dark.’ In a way those three years were the worst time to possibly have left. Though it was during those three years she completed her training and underwent the final ceremonies of becoming a full fledged independent Devil Slayer. What would have happened had she not left? How many more dead? Who would she have fought for? Or against? All she could was look forward and hope that she became an asset to the world as a whole as she carried out her duty as a Devil Slayer. It seemed she had appeared in a moment of peace. But was it the calm before a storm? Or was it a peace that would last awhile.
Raven. To kill his father. She knew the pain of losing a father but to have to your father murdered by your own hands… That was an entirely different level of pain. But every other dragon left unscathed, or at least with their lives. Razhiel had to think on that more. There was something there she just wasn’t sure what yet. "While your well-known, in a positive way... Raven, not so much. Why? Would not all those involved be seen as Heroes of this time." The middle finger of her right hand traced circles on the table top. "And the dragons have disappeared but I wonder how the people will receive them when they return..." Violet eyes watched the Slayer's distanced gaze. To fight the entities that endowed you with their power and taught you to use it... Fiore had been through some dark times and its heroes still arose above it all. “What happened with Nox in the aftermath?”
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 13, 2015 20:10:01 GMT
Razhiel had a lot of questions. It was understandable, much as it was a bit painful to relive events as major as Nox's dragon attack. Kotone let out a small sigh, her expression completely unamused, though nothing about her said they had to end the conversation. "I have no idea what happened to Nox. I was too busy with local things to go searching, but I've heard rumors he was dead." She stated it factually, not indicating her own feelings at the news. "But, that's just the sort of thing someone who lost that bad would want pursuers to think." She simply shrugged, maintaining her unamused expression.
"As for Raven," she shifted a bit, going back to her thoughtful look. "I expect a lot of that is his fault. I don't doubt he had to do what he did, and I don't doubt the average person doesn't understand how major it is to kill a dragon as a dragon slayer who was raised by them. He should be a hero, judging by that alone," she shrugged. "He used to work with a dark guild though, thinking helping what he saw as the lesser evil at the time was the best course of action. I expect a lot of his reputation is from that." She sighed, staring down at her arms on the table as a grin slowly spread across her face. "I told him he was a spineless coward for not opposing both evils at once. I don't think he ever understood why I'd be so stubborn."
Brow furrowed as she looked to the side. Rumors… Only rumors that he was dead. It never worked out well for the good guys unless the head of the snake was decapitated and put on a stake for all to see. Glancing back over, she could see that her questions were pressing a nerve. Rather than refuse, Kotone answered even if it bothered her. Respect for the slayer rose a bit.
So despite having played a major role in the peace Fiore now felt, Raven was still associated with his past actions. It seemed redemption is hard to attain here. How long would her own past actions ostracize her own self? Though her situation was not comparable and she deserved what came her way as a foreigner who not only invaded this land once but tried a second, whose country was responsible for Nox.
Both hands on the table, her thumb began to rub at the tattoo on her other wrist absentmindedly. “Well maybe he understands now. But you would only know that if you reached out.” Upon seeing the grin, Razhiel side tracked and pushed in another direction.
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 14, 2015 21:36:39 GMT
"If I tried to reach out, huh?" Kotone had tried several times in their past. It was hard to explain; Raven wasn't reviled for his actions. He *thought* he was reviled for his actions. He had it in his head that people hated him, that he didn't deserve friends, etc. Last she'd seen him he'd started some form of recovery from that, but who knew what killing Draco had done to his head. Thoughts of their previous interactions ran through her head; her reaching out, being not only rejected, but told how much her 'abandoning' him had destroyed him. Their later meet where he'd insisted it was smart to help Shadow Heart when she insisted they could fight both of the now defunct evil groups.
"No, not unless he's cleared his head a ton," she shook her head, still grinning slightly, though it was obvious there was something specific on her mind. She'd practically personally wrecked several of Shadow Heart's strongholds while Raven had been helping them. By all rights they should technically be enemies, even if they'd worked together for the dragons. Kotone had no desire for that though. "It's a nice thought, but that didn't work out in my favor last time."
Watching Kotone's facial expressions curiously, she realized the woman was reliving moments in time, her grin never truly leaving her face. Razhiel did not know much of anything about this place or the people or their relationships. She was being presumptuous and it was rude. "Complicated all around. I can see why your understanding in regards to him." A pause in conversation and her stomach growled. Which could be heard even without sensitive ears. Biting her bottom lip as she grinned sheepishly, she laughed. The use of magic and calling upon the sword, on top of her constant traveling and meager rations, had her starving.
"I don't want to keep you if you have somewhere to be. I'll eat here before heading on my way." Razhiel enjoyed the company but she didn't want to hold the dragon slayer up.
Post by Kotone Lazarus on Jul 14, 2015 23:59:14 GMT
Kotone made a small chuckling noise as she heard the devil slayer's stomach growl. She'd brought her to a restaurant, so it was apparently good timing. "You're right," she decided, thinking of Eri. "I should head home and see to Eri," she started to get up. "Hope I helped. Feel free to come find me at the Lamia Scale guild hall if you need me for anything."
The dragon slayer stood up, stretching before adjusting her weapon she had to put back on after sitting down. "I'll tell my friends here to get you anything you want," Kotone informed the redhead. "It's the least I can do for the workout," she flipped her hair back over her shoulder as she made sure everything was on and adjusted properly before her trek back to the guild hall.
A quick wink was the chosen farewell from Kotone to Razhiel. She was enjoying herself, but she was a bit overly attached to Eri at the moment, and it had been a good hour or two longer than she'd meant to be gone. "Take care, Red," she shrugged as she turned around to make her exit, a lazy hand wave accompanying her words.
Razhiel watched with amusement as Kotone winked and took her leave. “You as well.” It had been an interesting evening to say the least and quite productive. One that gave her pause as she thought through everything that the dragon slayer had told her.
When the owner came to take her order, she smiled politely and asked for a sandwich with triple the meat with a fruit and veggie assortment on the side. Hungry was an understatement.
A family. It was an odd concept to Razhiel. As Kotone had said it was a not normal situation for a dragon slayer. She could not imagine having a family, at least not anytime soon. Besides the needing of a partner, she was content with life as it was- traveling, fighting the bad guys, and the only responsibility being herself. She honestly wished Kotone the best of luck in future times and hoped to meet up with her again.
Staring absently at her wrist while her thumb traced over the edged pattern imprinted on the inside, she thought of that moment when the blade was called forth. Panic was what she had felt at the time, granted she did not believe she was in any true danger. It had been a mix of the pain to her ribs and seeing another blade oncoming. It was effortless to call the blade, instinctual, almost subconscious in how it appeared. Then she had felt something inside her ‘stretch.’ Razhiel brooded. She shattered the blade shortly after and the feeling disappeared. Even now it was quiet, she…
“Here you are love.” Her food was being set before her. Graciously nodding her head, she dug in the moment the woman walked away. She would sleep the rest of the night before continuing on tomorrow.
Wiping her hands on a napkin, she stood and bid the owner farewell after having placed a few jewels on the table for her hospitality, allowing Razhiel to sit quietly undisturbed.
