[Kuvan Test]Proving worth

by **Fallon** on June 25th, 2017, 8:04 am

47th Summer 517AV
Morning

There was a small stretch, muscles being warmed and flexed in the growing warmth of the morning. The scent of earth rested upon her nostrils, dry within the air. It was enough that the woman gave a small lick of her lips, feeling the cracked skin beneath. A roll of the shoulders, the gloved hands pushed back the hair and the strands into a bun an lashed it in place. By all accounts this was a necessary task for one to prove themselves as a citizen in the city - show capability in a fight. It was something that left an heavy weight in her stomach when she realised. Her palms had already begun to sweat beneath the leathers, a chill racing down her spine.

Still, here she now was. Awaiting an assessment in what seemed to be an training room of sorts. The Sasaran, or whatever they called it.

Breathe. Breathe. This is not the real thing. You know you can fight. Sunberth proved you can fight. Merely demonstrate it. Scenario they said. Scenario.

"Fallon, yes?" came the thick accented voice of the Akalak. Her chin lifted in response, firmly nodding in response.
"Aye? That's I," her voice was distinctly foreign. She noticed him circling around, a sheet of parchment in one hand he read through it, the other was behind his back and out of sight. She did not interrupt him, her own hands grasped at the small of her back. The kukri hung upon her waist, the ever present weight serving as a balm to her mind - it was the chosen weapon for this instance. Facing the use of Tulwars seemed like a perilous task at present. No, small steps were needed.
"You are a... guest of Riverfall. Looking to gain through ranks quickly," she could hear him talking, moving to her left side and into her peripheral vision. She gave a small tilt of the head over, fingers flexing, "Says you aim to make business. That is true?"
"It is."
"That will be hard."
"Is that supposed to be a deterrent?"
There was an utterance of laughter then, "No. A warning."
"Then I thank you for it. But will follow forth my choi-"

Movement, it was a blip in the corner of her vision. She gave a sharp and sudden jerk away from the Akalak. Rising up onto her toes, one foot leading behind the other as she stepped away. His arm had come forth, the once hidden fist clenched around a dagger hilt as he finished the sudden jabbed movement. The rest of her continued to move, eyes narrowed hand moving to the kukri hilt and grasping it tightly. Right shoulder twisted to lead, the stance turning to one of defensive, knees bent, shoulder width apart. She watched the small curl of lips form, hand withdrawing and neatly folding the sheet. Pocketing it, she watched the comparative giant begin to limber up.

When did the test start? Just now or the moment I walked into the room?

by **Fallon** on June 25th, 2017, 8:06 am

The pair began to circle, the small swaying movement here and there. Watching, twisting in reaction to the other. The first attempted strike had been made, but the rest of it was to come. No further words were spoken, the once still air almost sparking into life. Fallon's skin prickled, anticipation beginning to take over. He came at her, a lunge with the dagger causing her to jerk back once more. The kukri was still grasped onto, her arm locking in place. Quick steps again, she begun to move clockwise around him. The dagger withdrew, an almost curious look glanced over. Teasing the blade between them, the look of focus sweeping in.

It was a taunt, one to distract from whatever he was really planning. She watched it snake forward, grip changing mid-flow. He had reach now she realised, arm arching around closer this time. Too close for her to disengage from-

FIGHT FALLON! FIGHT!

-the grip relaxed around the kukri hilt, a brief blip as she felt the elements of instinct begin to take over. The fingers found their purchase, right hand clenching and drawing in one movement, blade coming around to meet the other. The left darted up to the blunt spine of the kukri pressing into it as the sound of metal on metal rung out. Left darted away, slapping over and down onto the wrist of the Akalak.

Push the threat away, step into his zone and force him into the defensive.

A firm step in, a turn of the wrist as she withdrew it before she brought it hacking down towards him. The left hand had also begun to move now, opening to claw out and grasp whatever she could of him. Where there was once the momentary look of concern upon his face, it was now swept aside to one of focus. She felt his open left come around, colliding into the temple. She staggered, eyes blinking as she swatted it away. Feet slammed to the ground, steadying herself she sent the left across. She grasped at it, yanking it across herself. The rest of her begun to move around him, finding speed once more. The kukri lashed out, the actual blow to him being pulled so it was little more than a firm tap to the torso. Hand releasing him she quickly backed away. Make distance, catch breath, analyse the situation.

Where there was once tenseness she felt the muscles begin to relax. Stomach unclenched, kukri point forward and between them, eyes falling to the space between his neck and shoulders. Her gaze watched it move, a downwards strike coming at her. Faster this time, and with more purpose. The space now between them she gave a step out before stepping in-

Efficiency Fallon. Make it quick. Effective.

-with a small bend of the elbow she brought the kukri down across the bicep. Another telling tap, she watched his dagger dip briefly before beginning the fast rise back up. Something prickled. Her arm slapped the dagger arm away as she felt the telling prod of the point. Her brow creased into a focus scowl. Where there was once the intension of sitting in on the defensive, she felt such shift. The mind geared and whirled into one based on survival of the fittest.

by **Fallon** on June 25th, 2017, 8:07 am

That is the law now. Kill or be killed.

It became an exchange of engages and disengages. A prod here with one blade, a block with the other. The Akalak held the obvious advantage of reach, using the left in attempts to grasp and pull in. It reached the point where there was no true form, Fallon's own mind thinking of the streets of Sunberth. Do it quick, keep it quick, and move on. So when the fingers managed to grasp her shirt collar and dragged her in, Fallon let instinct take over. Head lunged forward, teeth snapped. The hand let go out of reflex, attempting to snap back. Her own foot had lifted now, rising and kicking at his core. She heard the sharp exhale of air in surprise, but she did not stop.

She forced him onto the defensive. Changing the momentum of the fight, she barged shoulder first into him. Hand reached up to push upon his bare forearm, leg sweeping around the outside. She took her heel to the back of his knee, shoving him firmly. Far from effective due to size, but she watch him stagger back as he attempted to find balance. His shoulders hunched in, dagger held within a reverse grip, the open left hand hovering behind the pommel. She could see the eyes moving, the subtle twitch as he tried to feel out the situation. Fallon balanced up onto the balls of her feet, the small judders of movement to keep herself limber.

A Quick inhale and exhale. She rocked forward, moving onto the offensive. Strike to the left, then to the right and then back again. She watched the dagger move back and forth to meet her own, snaking back and forth. There was no moment of stillness, skin prickling as the minds of both seemed to gear into one built upon the fight. The world beyond was nothing more than a forgotten blur. It was her and him.

His own flurry of blows came now, the pause giving him enough time to recover. She had not noticed the change in grip straight away, the dagger now being used to violent thrust. A back step, she brought both her feet together as she went into the retreat. The dagger came again, chopping and cutting now as the tables turned. Feet forced into movement, faster, quicker, there was no look to keeping form but instead on ensuring she did not trip up on herself. She noticed the addition of the leg however too late. Her own swept out underneath her, she was forced into a stagger.

Balance lost, she saw the dagger come at her a third time. She could not move back, the mind flickering through opportunities. She could not immediate regain her balance, not quickly enough to avoid the blow at least. Her grip on the kukri was still strong, deflect it? Parry the blade away. Not enough time to get into a form for that - and she was not going to rely on luck for otherwise. Besides, it would merely continue on keeping her on the defensive. He had broken her fighting core, and unless she found a way to re-balance and repair it she would be at his mercy.

by **Fallon** on June 25th, 2017, 8:08 am

Speed the fall, roll and flank. Fill the gap.

It was a whispering thought, a moment of clarity in the growing storm. Left shoulder first, she threw herself towards the ground. Letting herself drop, form bracing as she curled, striking the surface and threw momentum into rolling up. A labouring breath, she was in a crouch by the time she reached the other side, blow having missed. There was a brief look of surprise exchange between the pair of them, before reality returned. She sprung up the distance, mind gearing into action once more. The arm was still out stretched, and an easy encouragement to force her into action.

Kukri came now, left arm forward, the blade pulled back. She entered his space, breathing short and to the point. Arm hacked down-
"Break!"
-Fallon caught herself mid-blow, arm jarring to a halt. The Akalak had begun to withdraw himself now. Breathing hard himself. The dagger was slid away, both hands raised between them in peace. Her own peeled away, slowing as she let the kukri find its scabbard. Her blood was still pumping, ringing through her ears.

"Slow start, but good. Show promise," he was flexing his hand, rubbing it where her teeth had managed to lunge at him, ”You fight dirty though. No honour.”
“When you're in a life or death situation, is there really any time to think about such?”
“You make point,” he shook out his hand, ”You make good Kuvan. Though. I have question.”
“What?”
“Why you hold back?”

He had leaned down to her then, face coming in close. Hot breath, the soft exhale through his nose as he seemed to intently study her features. Every move, every twitch made on her expression. Fallon herself leaned away slightly, eyes narrowing in response to his probing. For a moment the look was held, orbs sharpening as they focused. Not a word was said, but his own expression changed, twisted before pulling away with a furrowed brow. His gaze gave a small flicker down to the kukri, her hand having found its own life. It was tightly grasped around it, blade partially drawn. It was perhaps then she felt the lingering sense of instinct taking over, resting there and niggling in the back of her mind. Her silence continued, lasting as he pulled away with a snort. He took out a thin piece of parchment from his pocket, written and signed before he passed it to her, ”Go. I deal with your status work and let council know result. You, take this, go get your mark, Kuvan.”

by **Orin Fenix** on July 7th, 2017, 5:42 am

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Solo [Kuvan Test]Proving worth