[Training Ground] Happenstance [Dimitri]

[Hadrian]

Sometimes Hadrian took a risk without knowing why, something he would calculate as unreasonable if he paused to think about it. Just so now, he launched the last globe of water at Dimitri like a curveball that curved inexorably toward the young squire. Hadrian shifted quickly in the opposite direction to make sure as sure that he would not be in the line of fire. If he were a more able shielder, he might have fashioned himself a barrier of energy to repel errant arrows, but his skill was not such that he could create with great speed. That was another something to work on. In the meantime, which was brief considering the training ground wasn't all that big, he watched to see how Dimitri would react, whether his aim would be so good when the stakes were raised.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri hadn't expected the orb of water heading towards him. It was curving towards him, and would collide with his head if he did nothing. He quickly lined up a shot, attempting to anticipate where it would curve to. His eyes focused, he locked onto the spinning projectile. He released the arrow. It sped through the air to meet the liquid shot. But his shot was a tad low of center. His arrow struck the bottom side of the orb. It glanced off the bottom, thrown away by the spinning force.

Dimitri quickly nocked another arrow as the ball started getting uncomfortably close. He didn't have time to aim, the ball nearly upon him. So he went by instinct. He let himself fall directly backwards and he loosed the arrow. It sped up a foot, and shot through the orb directly above Dimitri. The orb exploded and rained down him as his back collided with the ground. But he ignored the pain, and the water for he made a grave mistake. The arrow was on a high arcing path to fall upon the man assisting him. He knew he couldn't make it to the man in time, and knew he couldn't shoot a falling arrow. He tried to shout but his fall knocked the air from his lungs. He sat up, quickly nocked an arrow, and pointed it menacingly at the man. He hoped the man might get intimidated and back up before the arrow rained down toward him

[Hadrian]

There were times when the instinct for self-preservation would make up for a lack of practiced skill, and this seemed to be one of them. Without even thinking it, Hadrian stumbled backward, his hands raised as if to fend off the arrow with his fragile flesh. But a burst of gaseous energy erupted from his hands, charged with his desperate will to block physical attacks. The makeshift Shield thrummed an angry, chaotic red, and pulsed brightly when the falling arrow glanced off the edge to plant itself next to Hadrian's foot. After a pregnant pause, he screamed "Ow!" The energetic Shield shattered, disappeared, and Hadrian yanked his foot away, his instep bleeding from the grazing cut Dimitri's arrow had made as it landed far too close for comfort. The young enchanter hopped comically on one foot, the injured one cradled in his hands. He just hoped this didn't get back to Verus.

[Dimitri]

Watching down the shaft of his nocked arrow, Dimitri saw Hadrian put his hands up and some sort of magical shield formed above his hands. He took that into note, that shield was much like a standard one, only protecting in one direction. He saw it flash red as the arrow glanced off of it. He wondered if the intensity of the crimson hue had anything to do with the force in which the arrow struck it with. If so he theorized that smaller striking areas with high force would be best. But he couldn't base that on fact.

Then he saw the arrow slice the magic user's foot. The man began hopping around like an idiot. Dimitri let loose a sigh of relief. The man would be okay. He slipped his nocked arrow into his quiver and rushed over to the man. "Stop hopping around. How bad is it?" He would apologize of course, but after getting the man some treatment. "Here let me help you to a healer." Dimitri wondered what the man was thinking of helping him out. It was good practice after all. "Sorry about the foot, but thank you for the practice. I owe you one, and I'm good for my favors."

[Hadrian]

When the shock and pain would eventually wear off, he would be pleased that in a pinch, acting on instinct, he could conceivably save his life even with a poorly crafted Shield. But just now, he was trying to keep from hopping around, and he shuffled over to lean against the wall. "It's... probably not so bad," he admitted through gritted teeth, "but it hurts like a bitch." He peered at Dimitri for a moment while the offer of help soaked in. The young enchanter was not in the habit of asking for help, nor of having it offered to him, either. "Well, I got some practice, too," he admitted. "Perhaps just a little help, so I don't have to put my weight on it." When Dimitri stepped up close, Hadrian slung an arm around his shoulder like a human crutch. Once stabilized, he breathed for a moment, Fluxing djed down to the wound. He wasn't going to attempt speedy or extra strength movement, merely encouraging healing. There was no proof that it worked, but it was his pet theory. "All right. Let's just not tell anyone this happened. Other than the physician..."

[Templar]

Hadrian: Reimancy: 5 - Shielding: 1 - Flux: 1 Lore: How to Create a Shield - Dimitri: Shortbow: 5 - Lore: Glowing Res before Magic - Friendly Fire Additional notes: Good training thread! But I must admit, I found Dimitri's complete lack of fear of magic a bit odd! None-the-less, tell me if you feel unjustly rewarded! Hadrian has unlocked Shielding!