[Training Ground] Happenstance [Dimitri]

[Hadrian]

4th Spring, 511 A.V. Hadrian had more access to the Knights' Citadel than the average citizen now he was contracted to produce magical talismans for them. As such, today he was walking through the training ground to get to where he was going. The last time he had been there, back in the Winter, he had been helping young Octavius with his training by lobbing blocks of ice at him to block with his shield or shear with his sword. It had been rather fun, Hadrian would admit if he were being honest. It was good to know that his young brother, Verus, had such a friend, even if Hadrian didn't count himself the best of brothers. He smiled faintly as he walked, his winterbane coat left at home now the world was starting to warm up again with Spring. Walking was generally a freeing experience for him, even if it was merely to get someplace. His mind worked out of ruts when his feet were moving, and whatever problems he was mulling over tended to clear up with a bit of movement. All the same, he turned inward and hardly seemed to be paying attention to anyone else on the grounds as he continued on to where he was going.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri pulled the string of his shortbow back to his ear, and is fingers felt the soft twang as it reached it's maximum pull. He adjusted the aim of his shot by looking down the shaft, and aiming slightly higher than the desired target. His fingers released the string quickly, and Dimitri watched as the arrow struck wooden target with a thud. It wasn't dead center, just a bit off, but he had at least gotten to the point where he could hit close range, immobile targets with ease. He drew another practice arrow and nocked it. He adjusted his footing a bit and focused on his target. He took in a deep breath, and released the arrow as his breath left his lungs. The arrow whistled through the air and struck the target dead center.

He was about to nock another arrow when he saw an absent minded man about to wander into his line of fire. He sighed and walked over to stand in the path of oncoming man. While he waited, he took a moment to look the man up and down. The man appeared frail, not exactly the warrior type you typically find in this town. As he examined closer, he realized this was the individual who helped his fellow squire Octavius with his training. Maybe he would do the same for him?
"Might want to watch where you wander, unless you accidentally become a porcupine," he said as he twirled the arrow with his fingers. "Training yard isn't exactly safe since many of us aren't masters yet. What's a man like you doing here? You must be important if the guards allow you in here. I'm Squire Dimitri by the way, a pleasure to meet you," as he stuck out his other hand for a shake.  

[Hadrian]

There was a body in front of him. Hadrian stopped, blinked chlorine blue eyes (a family trait) at his impediment, and then processed what had been said to him. Looking around, he realized that this was likely not the safest trajectory through the yard and his shoulders hitched slightly in embarrassment, but at least his traitor skin wasn't blushing -- much. Here was another like Octavius or even his own brother, young and athletic and all the things that Hadrian was not and would never be. Well, he was still rather young, but he had recently realized that he was "old" compared to most squires, and even some young, precocious knights. "Squire Dimitri," he said, repeating back though he was under the impression that squires had no real titles. He hesitantly shook the squire's hand, his own composed of long, tapering fingers, his calluses developed from a quill rather than a sword. "Hadrian Aelius," he said by way of introduction. "You might know my brother Verus, also a squire. I'll try to stay out of your way in future." Social pleasantries were not his forte, and he rather assumed the squire just wanted him out of the way so he could continue -- he glanced at the weapon in hand -- his target practice with the shortbow. "Good day."

[Dimitri]

Dimitri was taken a bit aback at the man's lack of curiousity. Which caused Dimitri himself to be more curious. "Maybe you could help me, and I could help you somehow? I believe you did something similar for Octavius, and I have a feeling you are an individual that would be good to know one day. Maybe you could think of a way to assist in my target practice?"

Dimitri was not often so forward, but his curiousity had been piqued. The man didn't appear much but his... Dimitri couldn't put a finger on it... He had this air that hinted that he had some sort of strength. He couldn't recall Verus mentioning him but he himself didn't socialize as much as maybe he should. He realized he may have looked slightly imposing, so he slipped the arrow in his belt, his bow to it's place on his back. He opened his arms, "So what do you think?"

[Hadrian]

Hadrian kept looking at the squire and familiarity began to soften his expression. On the one hand, he liked opportunities to practice his own craft, but on the other, he never knew how to talk to people. Unless they shared some academic interest, he assumed that what he said was of little interest to anyone else. "Ah, I suppose I could help. All I really did for Octavius was throw some magic at him to help him get accustomed to it. I could, ah, toss things in the air and let you aim for them... I do have a bit of time now..."

[Dimitri]

Dimitri was often curious about magic, but not to use it himself. He wanted to learn how to beat magic with physical prowess and ingenuity. "Sounds like a plan, and you scratch my back, and I'll do the same." He moved a good distance away, drew his bow and nocked it. He would be observing the man very carefully, to not only see how he made the magical attack, but to see if there were any signs specific to what he was about to do, like a tell in card games. And aiming at small moving targets should help his aim with the bow, so either way he benefitted.

He wasn't a fan of magic in combat, it seemed unnatural, but would learn how to fight it. He didn't mind when magic did useful things like providing water to crops and giving ships safe sailing. But magic was so huge, so complex it would take a lifetime just to witness it all let alone learn to defend against it. Oh well, each step was a step that made him that much stronger. He looked at the man, he looked as if he were inside alot. He assumed him to be a scholar perhaps, and that he might actually be strong with magic. He did mind people who used magic. Dislike the magic, not the wizard. Besides if the knights allowed him here he couldn't be all bad. He awaited a fair distance away not sure what to expect but his eyes observing every movement.

[Hadrian]

As Dimitri stepped back warily, Hadrian couldn't help but allow a small, crooked smile to form. It wasn't often someone took him seriously, or as a possible threat. Well, if this squire wanted a bit of a show, Hadrian could give him that. Hardly moving, he merely put his hands together before his solar plexus, one flat atop the other, and he Fluxed his djed down his long arms and out his palms, drawing them apart even as the glowing res appeared, swirling in a state somewhere between liquid and gas between his hands. It took a few minutes to produce enough res to give the squire several targets, but the res began to draw moisture out of the air, increasing the mass of swirling energies. Finally the spinning began to coalesce into separate globules of glowing res and glittering water, and one launched into the air with surprising speed. His control didn't reach farther than a few arms' lengths, but his projectiles gained enough speed in that space to travel far without him, the res becoming water as they flew. The remaining globules of water and res spun around each other between his hands, pulsing with his heartbeat, and Hadrian watched to see if the squire would be quick to recover and if his aim would be true.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri watched as the man put his hands together, then separate them, forming a ball of magic inbetween. He assumed the magic initiated from the man's own body, but as it grew and turned to liquid, he guessed that maybe an element from outside the body was being used. Does that mean that the ammunition is limited both by the magic within the user, but also by some other factor, either magical or natural, from the environment? As more of the liquidous orbs formed he noticed a rhythm similar to that of a heartbeat and assumed that magic naturally occurred within the body just as much as blood does.

One of the orbs quickly separated itself, and shot itself upwards a few arm's reaches. He noticed that as the orb distanced itself from the man, it appeared less unnatural, and more like simple water. He wondered if the magic couldn't reach that far from his body. Maybe a longer range against a magical user like him would allow for the orbs to have a weaker impact. He raised his bow and lined up the shot. He knew he had to aim where the orb would be, and with a deep breath he released the arrow, flying in the direction of the orb. It was a little high, the arrow skimming the surface of the orb. The force of the orb itself knocked the arrow into an unnatural fall. The arrow clattered at the feet of the man. Dimitri took the knowledge of the speed of the orb to prepare for the next shot as he nocked his bow once more.

[Hadrian]

Next Hadrian launched two of his water bombs, one after the other, in separate directions to allow Dimitri to see how quickly he could attack two moving targets. Meanwhile, he allowed the rest of his res to reabsorb into each other, forming a greater globe of energy and water, but that could be maintained with just a portion of his attention. The rest was fixed on Dimitri and his arrows, to see whether they would fly true and speedily enough to tag his aqueous version of clay pigeons.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri saw the two orbs split directions. As he followed the first, the corner of his eye saw the large orb form. He made sure the area he shot was free of people in case the magic user hadn't, then lined up the shot. His arrow flew at the twang and struck true, flying through the water orb. He quickly pivoted, fumbled for an arrow and lined up the shot. The orb began nearing the ground as he released the shot. The arrow flew a bit low, struck the ground, bounced, and flew through the tailfeathers first. He sighed at the poor shot but quickly nocked another arrow and turned back to the magic user.