Guide My Blade (Solo)

[Aello]

34 Spring, 511 AV Aello was standing in the center of a narrow alley way. She was surrounded by tall, dark, wooden buildings on all sides, which made her feel so very small. The sky that lingered above her head was a pale blue, and the sun seemed to be peeking out of the corners of fluffy grey clouds. It may rain soon, the girl thought, as a cool breeze swept her hair off her shoulders. It curled around the edges of her slender face, and tickled her lips, before the wind died away, allowing it to once more settle into the contours of her back. Aello was standing silently, her feet firmly planted in the ground, one only six inches from where the other lay. Her arms were at her side, the right held the cursed blade. Her hand curled around the hilt rather tightly, despite the thin sheet of sweat that lingered there. The blade was pointing behind her, the blood that lined it shimmering in the pale morning light that actually managed to reach the streets of Ravok. Her stomach was rising and falling evenly as she simply listened to the sounds of the city- the soft shuffling of footsteps, people calling to each other in the distance, and many other things. Aello had been practicing the use of her dagger ever since she woke up; it was why the blade was exposed now. The rest of her belongings were littered along the left wall, but she paid them little mind. She was simply relaxing now, before she resumed her practice. You are doing better than when you first acquired this cursed thing. Aello smiled, but it was a weak smile, meant to merely satisfy the mind that spoke to her. "Yes, but that says nothing," Aello replied. It says simply that you have been practicing, and now may actually be able to do something with the blade. To add to the blood that already stains it. "Why are we always out for blood dear one? Don't you think we have claimed enough?" Aello inquired. Not nearly enough, it will never be enough. Not until every evil thing, every threat, has been eliminated from this earth. "But surely that is impossible. Someone will strike us down before that." Ahh, but it will still be fun to try. Aello's smile widened. It would be, she always did like a good fight. Instinctually, her grip tightened around the hilt of the blade. "Will you settle for simply ridding the world of hypnotists?" the young spiritist inquired. Perhaps... Aello stood silently for several moments after that, simply allowing the wind to brush her long brown hair off her shoulders. "You need to allow it to be enough for you," she finally whispered, breaking the silence that had once lingered between herself and her mind. As soon as the words had left her lips, she slid her left leg back, so that it was about ten inches behind the right. The toes were pointed towards the foot that led, much like the toes of the right foot were pointed out ahead. Each leg was bent lightly at the knee, making it appear as though the girl were ready to spring into action. Aello lifted each of her arms, so that they were bent at the elbow. Each she held out about seven inches before her body, as though she were preparing to punch an imaginary foe. Of course, the right hand held the cursed blade, which cut out of the folds of her pale fingers rather angrily. Perhaps it was a warning that no one should come near...

[Aello]

Aello took a half step forward, and thrust her dagger-wielding arm around in a wide arc. She could hear the blade faintly whistling as it cut violently through the air. The blade turning out to the side while the arm moved in a soft crescent shape, keeping an imaginary opponent at bay. Aello's eyes blazed even though the dagger cut through nothing of importance, they seemed almost as crazed as the bloodied blade itself. As her arm came to a halt before it reached her chest, her mind whispered, do you see? You can control it now. Much more than ever before. There was a slight pause, and if you keep practicing, you will grow to be even more powerful than you are at this state. "Life is not merely about pursuing power," Aello whispered, as she took a step forward with her left foot. "It is not all about the strength one may acquire. How well they hold onto it," she said, as she pushed her arm back in the direction it had come, the blade slicing the air once more with a soft hissing sound. Are you sure that is how you feel after being in a city where everyone seems to think that way? "Why wouldn't I be certain of my own feelings?" Aello inquired. Sometimes it is difficult to tell, Aello's mind replied as she took a step forward with her right foot again, especially when you try to push the emotions away. Or wield magic. "Just because one uses magic doesn't mean that they cannot think clearly, or recognize what it is they are feeling," Aello replied, as her arm shot forward, in a sort of lunge. Her left leg slid out from beneath her body, and soon trailed about three feet behind her right foot. It was at an angle with the ground, while the right leg was bent at the knee, the dagger-wielding arm simply held out over it, as far as it would go. No, but using magic as often as someone such as yourself may make your mind cloudy. It may make it seem as though your friends are your enemies, and your enemies are your friends. Aello pushed up against the ground with her right foot, and brought it a few inches closer to the left. Slowly, she slid her left foot forward, so that it was once again, aligned with the right foot. Her right hand was still held out in front of her, the tip of the blade glimmering in the morning light. Slowly, reluctantly, Aello pulled the blade back to her side. Magic clouds the mind Aello. You should use it more sparingly, don't you think? "No," the girl replied firmly. "Magic is what gives one an edge within this city. It is what helps to keep us alive, time and time again." The mind was silent for several moments, as Aello's chest rose and fell steadily. She had bent her arms once more, and pulled her left leg back again, so that it was in the same position as when she had first resumed her practice. Swiftly, Aello brought the blade forward, to the area just in front of her, before turning it back, in a small arc. The move was essentially the opposite of what she had practiced before, in the sense that as opposed to moving the blade in an arc that circled towards her chest, she moved it in an arc out to her side, or to her back, depending on how far she could reach. The air seemed to melt around her fingers, a cool breeze she had caused herself. It stopped however, as soon as the girl's arm quit moving. Her hand hovered to the right side of her body, waiting to be put into action. Even spiritism saves you? the mind asked, as Aello brought her hand back around in the way it had come. "You know as well as anyone that the ghosts have helped us many a time," Aello replied. Yes, but they have also nearly gotten us killed several times. "They offer us valuable information," Aello added. And sometimes they lie, and use us to carry out their will. "But that is with anyone, especially those still living." True. "Not to mention that helping the ghosts will make Dira happy," Aello added as she took a step forward with her left foot, and lazily lifted the dagger above her head, before bringing it down in a straight line, and then back up, as though she were trying to slice an imaginary foe in half. Why does it matter so much if you make her happy? the mind asked. "Why does it matter if you make anyone happy, especially a goddess such as she?" Aello replied, as she turned abruptly on her heels. She raised the dagger above her head again, and then brought it down diagonally, from above her right shoulder, towards her left hip. The air whistled angrily around it. Because you seek her allegiance, the power and prestige that she may offer you. It is the same with anyone you meet. You evaluate them, determine if they are worth your time. Whether or not they have something to offer you. It is like Alenias, she is skilled in areas you are not. She can speak to Yune, and serve as a companion for you. Aello nodded, "it is not all about power or who is worthy of me." There was a slight pause as Aello brought her blade back up, slicing the air from her left hip, to just above her right shoulder. "It is about the principle of the matter as well. That the ghosts deserve someone to help them. The love of the lady of death is simply an added bonus." There was another slight pause, "and it gives us someone to pray to, someone to believe in. Does it not?" Yes, it does give us someone to believe in, the mind replied, as Aello stepped forward with her right foot. She lowered her blade a little, so that it was more level with her shoulder, before moving it out to the side in a straight line. Now, the blade rested a foot or so to the right of her right shoulder. Swiftly, she brought the blade back around, towards her chest. The first move she had practiced. "She will watch over us, and shepherd us to the proper place when we perish. As she does with all of the dead," Aello whispered, as she lifted her dagger hand upward, until she could do so no more. "It would be best for us to remain on her good side, don't you think? So she doesn't lose us, or take her time coming to claim us?" The mind said nothing as Aello cut the blade across her body, back towards her right hip. The edges of Aello's face were growing red, and her eyes were still blazing. Her heart was pounding in her tiny rib cage, and her palms were beginning to sweat. Angry over such a simple argument with yourself? her mind asked, in a playful manner. Of course, the tone reminded Aello of a snake. "Angry? No," was all Aello said in response. Then why is your face so red? Why is your heart pounding? it asked. "There is nothing other than determination, a need to practice." If Aello's mind had a face, it would be smiling knowingly, satisfied with its own actions. But, the mind said nothing more for a long time, perhaps to spare the girl whom it belonged to. When it finally did so however, Aello was busy practicing more basic moves. Things such as bringing the blade up and down, slicing through the air at diagonals, and stepping lightly forward to chase a retreating opponent. Judging by your grip on the blade, and how furiously you slice the air, you are angry. Aello growled, and lowered her hand. She placed the dagger back in its hiding place, as the veins in her forehead began to jump. "That will be enough," she hissed. "It is time for a simple meditation, to quiet the mind, and to get you to shut up." You cannot silence your own mind, it taunted. "Watch me," Aello replied as she curled her legs beneath her and assumed the lotus position. Her hands rested on her knees, palms facing upwards to the sky. She took a deep breath, in through the nose, and out through the mouth. "Here goes," she whispered.

[Aello]

Aello began by continuing to breath steadily in through the nose, out through the mouth. She'd hold each breath in for seven seconds, until it filled the confines of her lungs, before letting her breath out with a low sigh. Aello continued to do this for several minutes before she began to concentrate on her muscles. Every single muscle in Aello's body felt like it had been bunched into a tight knot. Each one felt sore, like it had not been properly stretched in ages, or perhaps the opposite, like it hadn't been given the time it needed to rest for a long while. Aello couldn't tell for sure. What she did know, however, was that the pain in her shoulder muscles, her back, and her hands was by far the worst. Slowly, Aello lowered her shoulders. She did her best to push them as far down towards the ground as they would go. She could feel the knots in her shoulders beginning to unravel, and a small sense of relaxation begin to wash over her. "Ahh, that is better," she whispered, as she began to concentrate on her hands. The palms were still a little sweaty, somewhat sore. The centers stung, and felt somewhat warm now that a thin trickle of sunlight reached them. Aello let her hands fall from her knees onto the ground. She shook her arms out once, and simply allowed her body to relax. The next thing Aello concentrated on was her back. She slowly twisted her body at the waist, first turning right, and then left, as far as she would go, doing her best to loosen up the tight muscles that lingered around the center of her back and her shoulder blades. When she was done turning from left to right, three times in each direction, she stopped, and let herself face forward once more. She straightened out her back to the best of her ability, and let herself relax. When the muscles in her back began to ache a little less, Aello went back to concentrating on her breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Hold in the breath for six seconds, and then let it out with a sigh. You are calm. You are relaxed, the mind whispered. Aello ignored the voice within her own head. You are relaxed. You are serene. You are like the wind rustling the leaves in the trees. You are relaxed... Aello breathed in through her nose, and held her breath for five seconds, and then let it out. Her muscles felt more and more relaxed the longer she kept breathing; clearing her mind; meditating. It is time to wake up, the mind whispered in Aello's ear just before she opened her eyes. She blinked several times, trying to get the thin sheet of grey fog away. It disappated after a few moments, and finally, the girl got to her feet and gathered her things. "We should move," was all Aello said as she slunk down the narrow alleyway, and into the shadows.

[Verilian]

Aello +2 Meditation +3 Dagger +1 Interrogation You Question My Logic? : Not much to say here, pretty self explanatory I think. As always, if I messed up send me a PM. Lores: Having Conversations with Oneself, Basic Fighting Stance, Footwork (Basic), Relaxation (Basic) Notes: You know I love reading your stuff. And I love how detailed you are able to make something as boring as meditation.