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Summer 60th 517AV
Once he scaled the coiling stairway, the second floor came into view. The whole floor was utterly dominated by a gymnasium-like area, with its center visibly worn out. How fitting, he thought. Grim spotted drag marks on the unpolished woodwork, alongside a few specks of yet uncleaned blood that glinted underneath the sunlight that poured into the room. Various dents lay here and there, and though all signs of the area being worn out, they gave it a particular charm. Not quite as charming as the Sunberth Blood Pits, but they would do. Likewise, they alone showed him where the single combat would take place. The blue brutes obviously did not kid around when it came to who becomes citizen, and who remained in the ever-awkward position. Apart from several, rather plain support beams that stood a certain distance away from each other, the room was quite spartan, even more so than the one he had turned is info in.
The walls were, however, "decorated" with wooden weapons, ones clearly crafted for practice. Their sheer variety inspired a sense of awe in the Eiyon. Clustered together as they were, the sight was not unlike a forest of sorts, one he could stroll trough all day, if only to observe the odd alien designs. The more common ones, like swords and daggers were worn out, the wood dented at certain places where it met that of its foe, while others, ones he could not even name, were in almost pristine condition.
Grim's slaten eyes scanned the myriad of weapons offered, looking for something that may resemble his father's scythe. It was a weapon most uncommon, difficult to handle, thus his expectations were rather low even before his eyes met his judge. At that moment, the Eiyon realized that he had absolutely no back up weapon, in case that he would have need of one. What would he do if they did not even have a regular scythe? Yet, the presence of other, by far more strange weapons gave him a little confidence.
"Have you picked your weapon yet?" Asked a voice belonging to a friendly looking Akalak, or at least as friendly as an Akalak can look like. He walked with urpose behind his step, and had just came using the same stairway Grim did. "Or do you intend on fighting unarmed?"
Grim took a second to casually observe the trainer before responding. He was, for one, expecting a mountain of meat - someone who could barely pass trough the opening in the floor. His first impression was, if only a bit, underwhelming to say the least. Yet, his experience with the un-child has taught him never to judge someone based on appearance. If not for the creature's mercy, he would have long perished, without the chance to improve on himself.
"I am looking for a scythe." Grim replied slowly, tilting his head to the side, hoping to yet find it on his own.
"Scythes are just over there." The trainer responded, slightly confused, seeing as there were war-scythes just nigh the Kuvan candidate. Grim had, of course, spotted them, yet...
"Oh, not those." The Eiyon elaborated, only to open u his palm, displaying his gnosis mark. The tattoo-like symbol depicted a scythe very much like those use to cut grass, with its edge bent at a ninety degrees angle. "One like this."
"I think there is one in the far corner." The Akalak responded, pointing at an area dominated by spears and similar polearms. Then he saw it, a familiar shape of a curved blade, mounted atop a long, slender handle. Grim was quick to retrieve it, before returning to the instructor. It was, by far lighter than his own weapon - likewise, the grip felt alien in his hands.
His instructor, on the other hand, had a spear slung across his muscular shoulder. Grim brushed his hair out from his sight, observing the weapon closer. Dealing with it would prove most troublesome, seeing as he usually had a rather easily exploitable advantage against those he outranged. One of the things he was relying on, was that his opponent would pick a short blade of sorts. Like one f those little daggers the Akalak seem to be so proud of. Maybe, if he could...
Yet, just as the thought crossed his mind, the Akalak dashed forward, the spear falling from its spot into his sturdy grip. The trainer had launched an overhead swing, one aimed at his head. Unprepared, Grim flinched, raising the butt of his weapon reflexively. A clak echoed in the room as the two weapons met, the wooden blade of the spear inches from his face. His hands quivered as the Akalak continued pressing onto the snath of the scythe, the nasty vibrations that spread over his skin being far more than unpleasant. He was caught out of stance, and his back arched painfully, yet the Eiyon still managed to hold his ground.
"You fool yourself, thinking the enemy will wait for you to prepare" Worded Grim's opponent slowly, his face became notably more serious. Despite, continuing his pressure, he never one broke eye contact with the robed man, his amber orbs peering into Grim. It was a lucky block, he would argue, and he was rather thankful for not being judged unworthy in the first chime of the spar.
"I am flattered that you would worry..." Grim retorted, his biceps bulging as he pushed the weight of the spear from his weapon, brushing the enemy aside. "Bit I always manage."
