Akashic Arcana A Tale of Blood and Ice

[Katie]

@0rganist
The Scandinavian District
The clangor of the swords had died away, the shouting of the slaughter was hushed; silence lay on the red-stained snow of December. The pale bleak sun that glittered so blindingly from the ice-fields and the snow-covered plains struck sheens of silver from armor and broken blade, where the unconscious students lay in heaps. The nerveless hand yet gripped the broken hilt: helmeted heads, back-drawn in the rows, tilted red beards and golden beards grimly upward, as if in the last invocation to Ymir the frost-giant.

A battlefield had occurred here, and it was still on-going. It was simply the way of the Scandinavian Mages. To maintain their magic, they would have to pay tribute to their Gods by partaking in glorious combat. It is not meant for regular students, as such practices are frowned upon by the modern age. To accommodate the northern students from Scandinavia, the Mercenary Nation offered a vast sum of money to create a special closed off part of Arcadia for their students to continue their traditions to maintain their magic. No other students from another nation would come here. Or so they thought.

He stood like a red silhouette, standing apart from the white snowy landscape. Shirtless, and yet, his red warpainted body was like a bright light to attract the angry bulls. Dyami Abenaki boldly participated in the Scandinavian students' brawl for his own enjoyment and rush of battle. The Cheveyo and the Scandinavians' traditions were much alike, and the Blood Eagle has been much pleased with all this conflict.

And there it was, the sound of rushing steps that moved towards him. Blindly and full of rage with the blessing of the Norse Gods. A male student from Norway rushed towards Dyami with his battle hammer, empowered by Thor's blessing as it was sparking with intense lightning. He expressed an animalistic roar, his own forehead covered in blood from a recent cut he received previous battle.

Dyami turned around to face the warrior. In both of his hands, he had tomahawk axes with feathers of the Blood Eagle decorating them. The warrior went on a wild swing, the maul sails past his face as Dyami performed a swift dodge by lowering himself to his knees. He swiftly stood up while pivoting himself to the side of the larger opponent. His tomahawks were used by skills hands, as he moved his right tomahawk to the ankle of the Viking, only to pull with minimal force as he used the man's own momentum against him, causing the warrior to stumble onto his back as Dyami swiftly followed down by a strong smash into his sternum, using the flat hammer like end of his tomahawk axe.

The swift one-two combo happened in a flash. Saliva and soft droplets of blood hung in the air as Dyami fractured a chest bone to the follower of Thor. An injury leaving the man unable to move and continue the rite.

He was panting. The battle had gone on for hours. A massive close free-for-all battlefield, and yet, he was not sated yet. He needed more. His body covered in injuries. Blood-sprained skin that now turned purple and red from hits by a hammer. Cuts at his lower thigh from a sword. And several cuts on his chest from spears and arrows.

But there was one warrior whom he had not yet gotten the chance to fight. A single female who stood apart from all the others as she rammed through the battlefield with the blessing of Ymir. Dyami looked onwards towards the field of battle, his eyes locked towards hers as they were alone. All around them were unconscious bodies of other warriors from Scandinavia.

His gaze was cold as the ice around them. He was calm, yet seething with a warrior's untamed fury. His tomahawks were blood-stained and despite not being part of Gunhild's people, he certainly proved himself to be a worthy challenge. Dyami's skin appears to pale in comparison to the blood red war-paints on his face and chest.

A meeting between warriors required no words to be said. Only the resonating sound of their blades vibrating in the air. The sensation of one's flesh being cut as your blood stains the purity of the white snow.

 

[0rganist]

The air around them had thickened as their battle progressed. The men and women fighting along side her dropped slowly, one by one as time continued its natural course. The echoing sound of metal against metal began to die down as their wielders laid unconsciously on the cold ground. Her opponents's tired bodies piled behind her as they challenged her.

The air felt cold even against her own soft and bloodied skin, her cheeks coloured a heavy pink as blood pumped through her veins, Devourer resting in her hands as she looked across the field, her wild blonde hair on her face as she saw him. He wasn't one of theirs, no armour decorated his body yet he stood proudly with two tomahwaks in hand.

A smug smirk crept the corners of her lips as she tightened her grasp on the handle of her warhammer, a cold thick layer of ice began to form around the head of it quickly making it so the weapon had a sharp-ice edge to it, glistening almost as brightly as the silver that hid underneath. It was not everyday she had a chance to battle with someone outside of her people, impressive even, he had proven to be a worthy opponent... but not one she would lose to.

A small cloud of warm air formed in front of her face as she breathed, regaining her breath before charging in, the ice beneath her feet allowing for her to practically slide her way towards him. Her hammer raised as she prepared to strike over head.

 

[Katie]

His heart beat in his chest, pounding, banging, trying to get out. He ran forward, every second chasing that adrenal feeling, he felt as though his blood were on fire. His limbs were moving on their own. He was disconnected from everything but the ever-present sound of his drumming heart and the urge to fight the blonde warrior before him. He did not know her name, but it didn't matter. Her control of ice was remarkable, and the way she carried and swung such a heavy weapon.

Dyami passed to the Other Side, a magic of his people that allow their warriors to enter the Spirit Realm. He became a white ghost-like spirit that was immaterial to the physical world. Gunhild's weapon would phase right through him as he rushed passed her completely and emerged behind Gunhild.

Spoiler: The Other Side

As Dyami passes through her, Gunhild may feel a slight sensation of discomfort, but nothing she couldn't shake off within moments as Dyami turned towards her in full physical form. His tomahawks raised as he attempted to perform a cross-strike towards the woman's torso.

An ability like the Other Side had a long cooldown and not a thing he can pop-off at a whim, up-close, this is bound to become bloody.

 

[0rganist]

She could feel the cold air burn her sinuses as she approached, the ice on her hammer shining dimly as she was ready to bring it down as he became.... a spirit of sorts... walking right through her sending something similar to a shock up her spine.

Tricky tricky, she thought to herself as she whipped around, the blades of his weapons hitting the thick handle of her hammer. Her lips still curled into a smug smirk as she finally got to take a good luck at her opponent. Her cool coloured eyes meeting his before pushing him back.

Her body vanishing only momentarily, a cloud of thin snow falling right where she was before appearing on his left side, her hammer mid-swing and ready to make contact with his side as she did so; small flakes of ice clinging to her hair. The misty step ability leaving a small trail of pure white snow around her, her hammer almost glowing a light blue as the mana stopped flowing through her, quickly being replaced by pure unfiltered adrenaline.

 

[Katie]

He underestimated the woman before him. Her reaction times were remarkable, his weapons connected to the hilt of the hammer, giving off a biting noise that reverberated through the air. The moment she disappeared in a wisp of frost and snow, Dyami knew this was going to hurt. He was still in mid-animation from the previous attack, thus making dodging this swift counter-attack near impossible. He received a bone-breaking smash into his right ribs, sending him flying with the sound of brittle bones being smashed.

Dyami rolled across the snow, only to be stopped in the tracks by an unconscious body laying randomly. As he tried to get himself up, he stopped at his knees before coughing up a mouthful of blood. His hair hung just over his bare chest and shoulders. He wiped his lips from residual crimson liquid, only to glare back up at Gun with a dreadful gaze. He painfully clutched his side, before the pain and numbness were dulled with the adrenaline that rushed through his body.

With a blood-curdling roar, Dyami suddenly exploded forwards. He began to sprint towards Gun. Each step was a cruel reminder to his broken ribs, and each sensation of pain only made him stronger. As he leaped towards Gunhilde, his body was surrounded by harsh wind and he was carried by the storm. The air around him became so intense that for a moment, Gun might feel like standing in front of a violent tornado. Dyami attempted to lash out with his tomahawks, now, controlling a storm, the strike would most likely knock her back with great velocity, as Dyami was aiming to send her flying into a smaller tree and snap it over in half due to the force itself.

 

[0rganist]

She watched him roll across the white snow, the sound of bones cracking echoing in her ears - the familiar sound spreading a smile across her lips. The white snow before him quickly capturing some of the blood he managed to spit out of his mouth.

Gunhild held onto her hammer, almost arrogantly as she watching him lounge towards her, picking up speed as a shield of wind began to surround him; snow, leaves and everything that the air could lift would suddenly be flying about as the man made his way towards her. It almost gave the illusion of the fast winds carrying him as if he were running on it. Her eyes widened as she realized there was no escape, even if she were to conjure up a wall of ice, his momentum and strength would crush right past it. She had no choice but to brace herself and try to inflict damage as he collided his weapons into her.

The tomahawks landed right against her chest, all of the air in her lungs getting punched right out of her as her spine crushed into a rather small tree that sat around the field. Its trunk snapping as she rolled off it, trying to regain her breath with tired gasps for air, blood mixing with the little saliva she had left in her dry mouth. Rolling over to her hands and knees, the familiar taste of blood polluting her tongue as Gun crawled her way towards her hammer, pulling it back into her hands before using it as a cane of sorts as it helped her get back to her feet, her chest still grasping for the air that found its way into her nose and mouth.

Her heart raced in her chest, the adrenaline that was there before kicking its way around her system once more allowing her to regain herself and push forward; Quickly she rushed towards him, much like an angry bull, her eyes were locked on him. Her hands wrapped around the handle of her frozen hammer as she charged at top speed, disappearing into a mist of snow once again before reappearing behind him, the full force of the hammer aimed at the back of his left knee, the ice sharply glistening against the contrast of his warm-coloured skin. A soft growl escaping her lips as it found its way up her chest.

 

[Katie]

Dyami no longer felt the pain in his ribs. It was a numbing sensation that paralyzed his side as the adrenaline and lust for battle kept him going, pushing him beyond what he normally could do. After tasting Gunhild's frost displacement spell first hand, he was prepared the moment she blasted off into a dust of frost and materialized behind him. Dyami's tomahawks were empowered by the wind, a small cyclone seems to dance around the edge of the axe as he spun himself behind him. With the added momentum of his swing, Gunhild and Dyami's weapons met head-on.
The intended blow towards Dyami's knee was met by a low-uppercut swing from his tomahawk. The moment the weapons met, a large blast of intense wind and frost exploded from the weapons, followed by sparks of orange fire as steel met steel. A shockwave reverberated through Dyami's arm for taking on this frost giant's swing.

Gundhild and Dyami's movements were like a violent tempest of ice and blood. Their movements surpassing the speed of what the naked eye could captivate and the sound of steel and thunder echoed through the frosted valley.

He was enjoying himself, more than he could admit. Each blow from Gunhild was fatal. A battlehammer did more damage than a cut, as the shock would destroy the cells underneath the skin and shatter the bone. Dyami himself who wore no armor was a much nimble fighter. Gun's swings always a moment too late to strike him. No one knew how long they tirelessly continued to engage with one another in this spar of steel.

When Gun would go for another swing, Dyami swiftly disengaged as he entered the Other Side. He became spectral and immaterial as the weapon once again passed straight through him. This time he kept his immaterial form for longer and would attempt to dash through Gunhild several times with no pause. Each time Dyami passed through Gunhild, it would feel like her breath was taken away and a shockwave exploded within her. Causing motion sickness which each passing moment. The final dash through Gun, Dyami continued his stride to create a good distance between the two.
Once Dyami materialized, he had to gasp for air as he took a moment to recover. He smirked towards Gunhild. His weapons rested towards his sides for a moment as he was catching his breath.

Gunhild could see Dyami fully now. Bare-chested, droplets of blood and sweat coating his chest, and those elaborated red warpaint that drew beautiful lines over his harden abdominal stomach. It was as if he was blessed by Freya when she got a good look on his face and those sharp almond eyes that belonged to a warrior.

He raised his tomahawk towards Gunhild. "Dyami Abenaki of the Cheveyo Clan. And you are?" He spoke loudly enough for Gunhild to hear, but it was clear that he was catching his breath. Another good look on Dyami was that his lips were blood-stained. Signs that his shattered ribs had done some minor internal damage as well.

 

[0rganist]

She was certain it was the end of him as her hammer was but inches from her target, but when he managed to stop her swing a smile of pleasant surprise made her lips curl and her eyes shine with excitement. It had been a while since she had found an opponent as promising as Dyami had proven to be.

Her long blonde hair had splatters of blood and matted debris throughout; her face stained with dried blood from not just Dyami but from anyone she had fought prior to this violence-filled dance. Her own blood freshly trailing from her nose down to her lips, the familiar taste of iron making her spit a glob of red liquid off to her side as her eyes met his, their battle resuming.

In her eyes, this was the equivalent to dancing, the sound of metal scraping metal was the melody that dictated the rhythm kept as they progressed. The snow around them picking up as the wind that surrounded him sped up with him.
Dyami had speed, and that was something she had to admit, landing a hit would mean slowing him down, but by Ymir! She could not manage even a scratch.

The spirit-form he took, crossed her body enough that her head felt heavy and her lungs begged for air; Gun knew there was not much she could do but remain as aware as she possibly could as her vision blurred and her stomach tossed and turned within her. The torture was over once he created enough space between them that she was able to gasp for the much needed air he seemed to have been depriving her of.

A grin crossed her lips, her otherwise white teeth covered in small stains of blood, tinting them a light orange color; His introduction made her eyebrow raise with curiosity, the metal of his weapon glistening at her.

"I'm Gunhild Ravenfrost, daughter of High King Thorstein," she spoke with pride in her voice, not allowing the shakiness of her breath to break the way she introduced herself, "it is a pleasure to meet a worthy opponent, Dyami."

She took just a second to regain herself before lounging towards him once more, her armour quickly becoming wrapped in ice that seemed to almost sizzle as she approached, a hail storm forming around her as she charged, the blessing of Ymir kicking into full gear as she pulled her hammer, getting ready to strike just as she was about to reach him.

 

[Katie]

Dyami smiled happily knowing his opponent's name. Right now, each strike, each swing, and each attempt had been close to lethal attacks by both of them. His blood was pumping and rising, he needed more. It was like chasing a high from the most potent drug that threatened to drag the two of them into downfall.
His right tomahawk began to sing the song of the winds, a spirit guide became imbued with it, which took the shape of an eagle. His weapon looked as if it was consumed by a small cyclone, and the sound of a screeching bird of prey could be heard. When Gunhild charged towards him, Dyami swiftly tossed his weapon towards her direction. The tomahawk was swirling like a circular disc as it sailed past Gunhild. The weapon intentionally missed its mark. And the moment that Gun was within melee range, Dyami grinned.
His body disappeared, or rather, it was recalled and turned into a wave of white spiritual flux as his entire form went through her. Dyami blinked towards the weapon that was thrown into motion.

The spirit guide pulled his soul towards the weapon, and he appeared several meters away from Gunhild as the weapon had been thrown far.

With this great distance between them, Dyami had the time to prepare his more advanced spells.

He took a deep breath before getting down on his knees and throwing the tomahawks right in-front of him. The weapons were symmetrical as their edges pierced the cold ground in front of him.

"I am the bone of my weapon..."

The first sentence reverberated through the air. His voice omnipotent as he was speaking to the spirits that surrounded them.

"Fire is my blood..."

His voice became more focused. The wind started to surge around him, eerily blasting off the pure snow underneath him, revealing the soil and grass underneath.

"My ancestors have created over a thousand arrows..."

His eyes closed for a moment.

"Unknown to death. Nor known to life."

Dyami re-opened his eyes and they shone with a bright blue light as if he was possessed. The wind became more intense and Gun would feel the resistance as she came closer. It was as if a storm was raging around him, and Dyami was the Eye of the Storm.

"So. As I pray... Ancestor. Guide my arrow."

If Gun had the vision to look into the spirit realm. She would be able to see that behind Dyami, a figure of a larger Native American ghost emerged. In his hand, he had a bow, and he was drawing upon an arrow that aimed towards her.

The arrow grew in size as the ghost archer continued to recoil the strings of the bow. Once Gunhild came closer, the ghost released it. The arrow that was shot from the bow behind Dyami exploded into a massive blast of wind and snowy dust. The arrow invisible and only shown due to the amount of wind it generated as it flew. The size of the arrow was that of a javelin. A piercing spear that threatened to strike her.

Gunhild could easily dodge the arrow, however, it was never meant to pierce her. The arrow exploded in-front or behind Gunhild. A massive amount of spiritual energy, followed by an intense gathering storm followed that would attempt to drag her into the epicenter of the storm.

A cataclysmic cyclone was summoned forth from the arrow that now reached the skies and would attempt to pull Gunhild inside the tornado. Within the tail of this beast of nature. Breathing would be difficult as she was being pulled higher and higher into the air before the cyclone disappeared in an instant due to the nature of it originating from magic.

If it all went as Dyami intended. Gunhild would be crashing towards the hard ground and hopefully neutralized. He had pulled out his most powerful spell, and once all was said and done. Dyami was coughing up a mouthful of blood. The mana cost had been great as he was pulled into mana stasis from unleashing this spell. He wouldn't be able to cast any spells anymore for a while, but it was all worth it if it sealed his victory.

Spoiler: The Storm Arrow

 

[0rganist]

Gun's swing missed as soon as she pulled it down with all of her might, the hail storm surrounding her subsiding as she tried to his ghost-like form crossed through her again, her chest collapsing as the air was drained out of her once more.

She turned around as quickly as she could as he passed through her and towards the weapon that had flown right past her less than a minute earlier. What in Thor's name is he doing? She thought to herself as she held onto Devourer, her gaze more curious than focused as Dyami began his spell.

As the wind began to pick up its pace, a storm raging about as he prepared what looked like an arrow of greater size, much like a javelin almost. Her eyes widened as she realized it was coming towards her; She needed to act quick...

...So, she did. Devourer touched the snow covered floor where she once stood, being left behind as its owner shifted through the air in the form of a snow storm. She felt her mana drop the longer she remained in that form, but it was worth it as she lounged for the safety that the pile of unconscious bodies would provide momentarily, slowly kneeling down enough that she would draw any attention to herself.

The hurricane-esque cyclone created from the arrow was impressive, her eyebrow crooked as she patiently waited, hoping to all Gods that her snow was not as easily detected thanks to the commotion he was creating with his wind. Even from this distance, she could feel the air around her become thick and made it hard for her to breathe, but she could imagine just how bad it would've been if she would've not acted as fast as she did. Her trusty warhammer was hopefully deceiving enough the male would think she was actually some how caught in the cyclone.

As it began to die down, she became one with the snow once again, the ice began to form on her knuckles as she pounced on the visibly worn Dyami. Her fist coming into full contact with his right cheekbone, the cold ice surrounding her hands more than likely burning his rather warm skin. Gunhild's whole weight packed into her tackle, pushing him to the ground,

 

[Katie]

She was like a flash of white. A cold frigid presence that appeared at the corner of his peripheral vision. Gunhild's knuckles connected to Dyami's cheekbone, fracturing the bone underneath as a rather unpleasant CRACK followed after the impact sound. When Dyami was sent flying, traces of blood and flesh was left in the air as residue before Dyami's back painfully made impact against the trunk of a tree. The bark biting into his bare skin at his back, leaving scraps of flesh wounds. His cheek was covered in frost burns and it seems like his jaw was hanging due to it being popped out of the socket.

Any lesser man would have passed out by now. The pain, the shock straight to the brain that gave you a mild concussion. Yet, defying logic, Dyami was still awake. His face became caked with blood, a soft cut appeared over his eyebrows and his warm crimson liquid was running over his face. The blood entered his left eye socket, turning the white into irritating pink while his steeled gaze kept peering into Gunhild's soul. He grabbed his loose jaw before painfully snapping it back in the socket, the sound of his bones contracted echoed.

He was in a mild state of mana stasis, meaning no magic could be used. It suited him fine as he was going to do this the old-fashioned way.

Dyami deftly advanced towards Gun, now within her melee range. His eyes were always locked upon Gun's eyes, not watching her limbs as those expressions on her face and direction of her eyes were a clean give-away to where she was going to strike. Before that happened, however, Dyami was going to return the favor.

The Native American clenched his fists before entering a boxer's southpaw position. He would attempt to send out a strong left jab into Gunhild's gut, in order to wind her and make her lower herself just in time for Dyami to attempt to connect a right hook into the girl's jaw, bringing her face to the side. It wasn't over, however, if Dyami got to execute his final attack pattern, he would attempt to perform a reef-cut with his elbow into Gunhild's right eyebrow. The Reef-Cut is an illegal move used in most martial combat, it involving using the momentum of the swing of your elbow bone, making it become a blade as it would cut the eyebrow and allow blood to rush into your eyes, blinding someone due to the crimson liquid.

 

[0rganist]

Gun's eyes focused on him as she felt his bone crunch right against her ice-covered knuckles. Her face falling into a rather stoic look as her hair gently framed the blood, dirt, sweat and ice covered skin. She felt the numbing ice that surrounded her fists began to retract as she tried to save the mana she had left, knowing that this battle was to go for longer than she originally expected as Dyami popped his jaw back into place with a painful crack that even she could hear from where she stood, any normal person would've cringed at the sound it produced.

She felt her lungs and heart swell in her chest, the amount of stress she had been putting on them beyond what she had dealt with in the past - the only thing remotely close to this was the Rite of Passage she had undergone on her 18th birthday. Dyami fought just as ferociously as the bear she had to take down then, but just like the bear, Dyami had to go down by her hand.

He managed to come at her with fists ready to strike, the unfortunate slow processing of her brain caused for his initial punch to land perfectly against her thorax and right into where her diaphragm sat. Even with the cushioning of her leather armor, the air left her body almost instantly, blood rushing up her throat as she bent over gasping for air before a loud POP came from her cheek bone and jaw as his knuckles came into contact with them. The numbing sensation before the burning pain took over her body, her adrenaline almost running out, allowing for the actual pain to set in.

As he finished his combo with the perfect cut, blood poured freely into her right eye, the crimson veil clouding her peripheral vision momentarily before she pulled into the cloud of snow her mana could muster still, pulling her back just enough that he was not within melee range. Her bones cracked in protest, her body finally feeling the pain that needed to be felt throughout the whole battle.

The pair stood, just a few feet apart, a western-movie style standoff between the two of them. The cold air irritating its way in as it squeezed into her chest. Her plan was... risky, but well worth it if it meant tiring out Dyami enough that she could survive the match to tell the tale. With muscles aching, her knees trembling beneath her as her worn and tired adrenal glands pumped what they had left in them to give her the last push she needed, Gunhild ran towards him, full throttle with arms wide open almost as if she were to embrace a moose or some other large animal. Her body would collide with him, pure raw weight pushing him down into the ground with her legs on either side of him. Her bloodied lips curled into a smile as she tightened her fist and aimed, her knuckles finding their way to smash right against the left side of his face, droplets of blood from the cut he created above her eyebrow landing gently on his face as she swung madly at him. The spirit of Ymir allowing for her to push even against her body's own limit.

"Are you ready to lose to me, outsider?" She practically purred as she prepared another swing from her hand.

 

[Katie]

Dyami wasn't quite expecting her to lose all common sense and charge at her like a mad bull. The impact caused him to lose all air within his lungs before his naked back met the ice-cold floor. The first swing knocked him out for a moment due to the concussion. "Are you ready to lose to me, outsider?" Gunhild practically purred as she prepared another swing from her hand.

His burning will and desire brought him back, just-in-time for another swing to smash into his other cheek, causing him to spit out a mouthful of crimson and black blood.

Give up? GIVE UP? Is this woman so blatantly blind to think he would surrender? Even if he was about to die, he would cling on to his life with the last fiber of his being. But would he ever surrender and lose his pride? Never. Once Gunhild sent another skull-crushing blow towards Dyami, he swiftly bought up his right hand to stop the blow with a firm grasp around her knuckle. Dyami glared towards Gunhild. It was not the eyes of a man who was desperate, but it was that tempered and fierce expression a predator had upon its prey. His bloodied face made him all the more imposing.

"I would rather. DIE."

Dyami snarled back towards Gunhild before he strengthened himself. Dyami sent flat fist towards Gun's neck, the blow would send a shock reverberating through her neck and spine, giving off a whiplash effect to throw her off. If successful, Dyami would swift their positions with a well-placed and precise commando roll so he would be on top of her. Dyami's knees pressing down her shoulders, while pressing into the sockets to keep her arms down. He was ready to strike her over and over, but yet, he stayed his fist as he was panting. His eyes met Gunhild's, their breaths ragged and face bloodied.

 

[0rganist]

Gunhild felt her heart race in her chest, every single muscle in her body ached but with every landed punch she knew the battle was finally reaching its end.

This is it! she thought to herself as she adjusted her fist, ready to land what she hoped would be the last blow before he managed to catch her fist in his hand. The feeling of his cold and blood caked hand wrapped around her fist made her raise an eyebrow in surprised, the speed in which he stopped her was impressive, but to be expected considering how swift he was earlier.

Her eyes widened with surprise as he took her down, her neck aching beyond belief as blood rushed to the area, a most definitive bruise beginning to form under her skin. His heavy body resting right on the sockets of her arms, the tendons and bones beneath softly cracking as the tension began to dissipate from the pressure. Her eyes were glazed with a mixture of pride in herself, for lasting this long in a battle, and the awful tired feeling that overtook her body. The ice that surrounded her body tended to her aching muscles, a smug smile creeping up her tired face as she looked up at Dyami, her voice was soft and not nearly as harsh as it had sounded earlier, "You're a worthy opponent, Dyami of the Cheveyo Clan."

 

[Katie]

There was nothing left for him but to gaze into Gunhild's eyes. He would have continued to fight on, to declare himself the victor, yet, it was the way Gunhild pronounced his name and heritage that dissipated any anger built up within him that made the warrior stop his attack. The silence of the forest and snowy landscape after Gunhild had uttered those words made him restless.
Yet, within his own core, he couldn't figure out what to say in response. Should her compliment her as well? No, the way they exchanged blows and shed one another's blood was proof enough that he acknowledged this Scandinavian Warrior. Never had someone made him bleed and fight so hard for a victory before.

All around Gunhild and Dyami was a desolated calm. Trees were blown away by their intense fighting. Scars on the ground that was gradually being covered up by the faint and beautiful fall of snow. Despite the cold, Dyami didn't feel it. Neither the near sub-zero like experience that radiated from Gunhild. Rather, his warrior blood was pumping still in his veins, giving him a hint of unnatural heat to sustain. Soft wisps of white smoke floated from his chest, back and cheeks.

As Gunhild would inevitable look towards Dyami's face, she would be able to reflect those warrior eyes that starred right back into her soul. Then those angular cheekbones and androgynous expressions that made him appear as of something out of this world. Like a perfect medieval depicture of an angel that revealed a complex genderless being in its beauty.

He had warm blood on his face. Yet, the bruises he had earlier had somehow disappeared, his own body seems to heal at an accelerated pace, only blood was left, caked blood that he now wore as warpaint that accented his own perfection and imperfection.

Finally, he broke the silence, his lips moved, a whisper coming out. "Chaska Nawi..."

With those words, his hand reached behind Gunhild's head. The other reaching to support her back as he shifted their positions, as he now held her in a cradle. She was gradually lifted up from the ground, supported by Dyami's strong hold as he urged their faces closer together. She could feel his breath now, warm, hot, breath of summer that tickled her lips. His scent, something wild, that reminded her of embers. Whether with her consent or not. Dyami attempted to kiss the Norwegian Princess.

Dyami's lips would brush against Gunhild if not stopped. It wasn't an innocent one, like a tease but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. A soft taste of iron. Anyone would try to pull away, not losing themselves to the forced passion. His lips were soft, so silky and velvety.

He kissed her and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. He ran his fingers down her spine, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.

 

[0rganist]

The quiet atmosphere and vast pit of confusion forming at the back of her head were enough to make her grind her teeth as an anxious response. What was taking him so long? She was vulnerable, no way out unless she wanted to risk the minuscule amount of mana she had left; Even then, she felt almost as if that in it of itself was not an option, she was ready to lose. Her eyes found their way up to his own, almost as a demonstration of defiance; not going down without holding the opponent's gaze. The warmth of his skin basically radiating off him as her own skin felt as if it were made out of the same ice she surrounded herself with, yet the pair sat perfectly still as a frame frozen in time. The light color that filled her irises reflected almost perfectly as she looked back into his cold stare, the cold air becoming but wisps of condensation as it bounced off his skin.

Gun's cheeks felt a rush of warm blood creep under her skin as her snowy pale skin took on the color of the same blood that adorned her lips and face, a very evident blush caused mostly by the rather awkward and uncomfortable position she found herself in, what could he want? For her to beg? She raised her eyebrow almost certain that she would explode in anger if that is what he was after how dar-

"Chaska Nawi..."

His soft whisper sent shivers up her spine, the way his voice resounded in her ears felt almost like a death rune being recited upon a corpse. Reflexively she flinched as she caught his hand moving towards her; how cruel to toy with your enemy! She thought with a snarl across her lips as he pulled her into his arms sending her through yet another hoop of extreme confusion.

Her body felt paralyzed, almost as if the mixture of curiosity and surprise were enough to freeze her entire body just so he would quickly pull her closer to him to thaw her back into consciousness where the scent of his skin invaded her sinuses much like smoke does when sitting too close to the fire, the smell alone enough to burn her very core... but she did not stop him. It was more out of curiosity than anything else, but just as his lips brushed past her own she could feel her blood began to pump through her veins faster than it had a moment ago, his warm hands almost melting her cold frame as he traced her spine in an attempt to pull her closer, her own heart shamelessly beating within her ribcage before she caught herself in the moment.

A shock of embarrassment rushing over her face as she pulled away from the kiss, her fist coming up rapidly towards his face before stopping just centimeters before making contact. Her cheeks painted a bright red as she fumed, "Is this a your plan? Trying to swoon your opponent before you strike?" Her body remained close to his, enough that even through her leather armor he would feel her heart race as she almost pathetically tried to threaten him with her bruised knuckles.

 

[Katie]

The trap springs shut - caught between opposing needs. The need to love and the need to fight seem to go hand in hand. Gun saw the shock register on Dyami's face before he could hide it. A small smile played on his lips, one could guess that he does that lot. His words were like vanilla pudding, sweet in their ordinary sort of way, it was the richness of his tones – luxurious and warm. Cheska Navi... the words still hung in the air.

When she winded up to punch him in the face, Dyami didn't move at all, he felt the wind blow at his cheek, as Gunhild's knuckles stopped right in front of his chin. He gazed down towards her with those rich eyes, that only seemed to mellow with the winter landscape and for someone as young as him, his eyes made him appear much older and wise. They were the eyes of someone who had experienced many events, grief, tragedy, life, and happiness. They say the eyes were the mirrors into the soul, and Dyami was looking so intensively into Gun's own as if he wanted to figure her out. He still felt it, his heart beating, racing, as it threatened to burst out of his chest. At this point, he wasn't sure if he was in love, or was about to die, since Gunhild had given him quite the beating along with his mana-stasis.

His lips were still warm, yet, he could feel the cold sting of kissing the Scandinavian Princess, it felt like touching the tip of an ice sickle, yet, it was so alluring and almost intoxicating that he could just as well do it a second time. Dyami pulled at the corner of his mouth, bringing out a playful grin as he attempted to tap Gunhild's knuckles with his index finger. Gradually, trying to push her fist back over her chest.

"I am not that devious, besides. I'll call it a draw, Princess." Dyami slowly stood up to his feet, and even then, it proved a challenge to just remain to stand. The adrenaline had died down considerably by now. He felt the full extent of his injuries and the toll of mana-stasis. He could hear his heart beat so loud, that the sound coming from the outside world was being canceled out by the loud drums within his skull. He felt blood rush to his head, it was a nauseating experience and his entire face felt numb to the touch.

"Ah.... Ahaha... Hahaha...." He was laughing. He didn't quite understand why. He even had his back turned towards Gunhild, and she could have easily taken him out, but it doesn't seem to be necessary. It was like the colors of the world fading in an instant. He felt the gravity pulling at him like invisible hooks. He collapsed with his back into the snow, the fading light of his eyes looked towards the fringes of the winter forest above, and the faint shimmer of sunlight that shined through the branches.

If Gunhild tried to check on him, he would be unresponsive. It was all of the extensive injuries paired with mana-stasis. A rather serious condition that can only happen due to recklessness. His skin pale and dark circles appeared underneath his eyes. He needed a mana transfusion back at the Arcadia Hospital.

At least, due to the nature of the Scandinavians and their traditions, a medical team from the school had already been dispatched.