Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Lutetia City: The Monastery Courtyard

as written by glmstr

"That's true Perri, I forgot you're too old to be in the Junior Fencing Tournament," Camille hugged him again. "You should still join the marksmanship contest. Even if you don't win, 2nd or 3rd place is still enough to show that you're talented," He held out his finger and pretended to shoot it like a gun while speaking.

"I guess that means I'll be representing the Lacroix this year!" The proselyte was rather excited at the idea. He was by far the best candidate from the school now that Perrin wasn't eligible, and he was feeling confident about how he was going to perform against the Monastery.

"Thank you, sir," he responded somewhat playfully. He was honest about the gratitude, but the added "sir" was simply to be patronizing.
 
as written by Emperor Jester

"With all due respect, I don't plan to lose to anyone. This is no prideful boast or empty jest, but no one else here takes swordplay as serious as I do. I work the hardest, I spend the most time in the practice yards, I constantly work on my flaws, I apply every single fiber of my being to being a weapon for the Church. I was born to revitalize the use of broadswords in modern warfare."

A soldier. It was obvious in every sense of the word. Izaic wasn't meant for anything else. Perhaps duels were not the best play to show this trait off, nor the best place to go to practice his craft, but he was going to make sure the Order noticed him, be it the Paladins or the Inquisitors. Someone would finally see his raw talents and turn him into what he needed to be.

"No disrespect to the established order of fencers intended. I was merely remaking on Peregrine himself. Easily trounced in the courtyard and in real combat, though not to his fault." Izaic's eyes would turn cruel, narrowed almost indefinitely. "Too focused on form. Flashy moves. Makes inefficient use outside forces and objects. Does not have perfect situational awareness. Cannot visualize the battlefield from above. Though you do try, old friend."

It was mostly meant to be a mocking jest, but something in the proselyte hoped their wouldn't be a cruel barb as a result of his reluctant openness.
 
as written by Script

Peregrine's eyes narrowed in turn, ever so slightly, but he maintained a jovial exterior. "If I didn't know any better, Izaic, I'd say you were trying to provoke me," he remarked, smirking. "Nobody's form is perfect - not even yours, I might note - but the only times I've been anything approaching 'trounced' are when forced to take up a variety of blade that I do not favour."

He smiled and shrugged, "You have your style - if it can be called that - and I have mine. I can see why you might assume I rely overly on flashy manoeuvres, based solely on my duelling here. But I assure you that though your concern is appreciated, I'm not so foolish as to take that showmanship into a street brawl with a werewolf."
 
as written by Ronin

"Ha!" Robert barked, looking at Izaic. He nudged Peregrine. "If we had an army of knights like this one, we'd have the streets clean in a week. Six days, even." He shook his head. "Every house searched, every troublemaker behind bars or executed." He nodded sagely, seemingly pleased with himself ... before a wry smile twisted his handsome jawline. "...that, or we'd turn the entire city into a damn warzone."

He stepped between Peregrine and Izaic, regarding the latter with a hesitant admiration. There was strength in Izaic, that much was certain. He would make a fine warrior one day. One could only hope that he wouldn't only be a warrior.

Robert opened his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted.

"Sir Arodring. Sir Lacroix." A cleric walked towards them. In his hand was a silver ring engraved with the Evequec raven, humming with a strange energy. The cleric extended it to Peregrine. The paladins would recognize it instantly - a master's ring. A summoning.

"Master Kelve requests you in the gardens."
 
as written by glmstr

"The city doesn't need to be a warzone though. If it did, the church would have happened centuries ago," Camille crossed his arms and huffed.

He raised his eyebrows when Peregrine and Arodring were addressed.
"Well sounds like you gotta go Perri, I'll see you later!" The young Proselyte hugged him one more time.v
 
as written by Emperor Jester

"Of course the city doesn't need to become a warzone, its already-!" But he stopped himself before he grew too angry, deciding to take the compliments thrown his way instead. With an effortless heft of his practice sword back onto his shoulder, he finished the last of his snack before turning back towards the yard, moving with purpose.

Idiots. How could they be so blind? Something was happening in this city soon, and the weak wouldn't survive it. The devils that inhabited this city were already making moves and the church was doing nothing about it, not even when three of their own proselytes were slaughters and tortured in the street, right outside their front door.
 
as written by Script

"No rest for the righteous," Peregrine remarked with a jovial sigh, "I'll see you around later, Cammy. You too, Iza. Keep working on that brooding snarl, it's a good look for you."

With a wink and a little wave, he turned to make his way towards the gardens with Robert.

"Let's see what Master Kelve has in store for us, eh?"
 
as written by Script

The morning after the Merveilleux rave

Inarin's head lolled to one side, coming to rest against the stone of the pillar against which he was propped with his book. God, he was tired. He hadn't drunk enough to feel much in the way of ill effects from it now, but he normally went to bed before eleven. He was exhausted.

It had been after two in the morning when they got back to the Monastery. They hadn't tried to sneak. Aurelion had led them in to the surprised brothers and sisters, and taken the blame for letting them go out. Though they'd received plenty of disapproving glares and verbal dressings down, and Jimmy had been escorted kindly but firmly to the infirmary for the night, none of them had received any formal penalty.

He hoped that Aurelion hadn't been punished badly on their behalf. He hadn't seen his brother so far today, after he'd been led off to see the masters whilst they were being herded to bed.

Still, the whole affair had almost been worth it just to see Basil's expression of abject disbelief at him staggering back into the room in the middle of the night, dishevelled and still displaying several ... marks.

He blushed at the thought, adjusting the upturned collar of his uniform's shirt self-consciously. He looked ridiculous, he was sure. But at least nobody could see the evidence of the twins' ministrations.
 
as written by Krysis

"You could tell them that I did it." Celeste offered as she slid down to sit next to Inarin, smiling at how he adjusted his collar. She wasn't much worse for wear, just tired and sore. Wearing the taller socks hid the bruises on her knees. Not that she was sure how she got those bruises, but she sure didn't want to endure the jokes. Especially when she suspected they might be correct, since hours of the evening were missing from her memory.

She sighed, leaning her shoulder against Inarin's companionably. "We should go check on Jimmy, In. Maybe... Hell, I don't know what happened. Do you remember anything? How did he get hurt?"
 
as written by glmstr

Talk about a nice day today.
The doors to the courtyard quietly opened, and a small figure with bluish hair stepped through the threshold and onto the grass. The small proselyte was carrying a small box of pastries, and had a subtle spring in his step. He spotted two of his classmates, but stood still for a moment. He fished around in his memory for their names (he hadn't spoken to them much, but he needed to give them the common respect of at least knowing their name), and eventually approached the two.

"Celeste and Inarin, right?" Camille gave a tiny smile and opened up the box in his hands, which contained half a dozen sweet pastries from his favorite bakery. He gingerly sat down in a kneel of sorts, with both legs together and to his side, as if a maiden wearing a skirt. The proselyte placed the box down in front of him, open and facing his peers.

"Camille, if you can't remember," he giggled a little, "I wouldn't be surprised if you two don't recognize me. We haven't had a chance to talk much." He gave a glance to both classmates, they were visibly tired. His thin and pale hand pointed to two identical treats in his box.
"Those ones have coffee beans in them, I think you two could use it."
 
as written by Script

Inarin blinked in surprise at Celeste's initial approach - he'd been dozing off enough he hadn't noticed her come over. It took a few moments for her first sentence to sink in, at which point he turned further red and decided to ignore it in favour of her question. "I... don't think I was there when it happened," Inarin shook his head, "When I went to go... er, dance, there was a lot of tension between him and that Malcolm guy. Maybe that had something to do with it."

When Camille approached, he managed to offer a small smile by way of greeting. Though he hadn't spoken with Camille much, he knew of him, and as far as the long and exhaustive list of 'people he hadn't spoken with much' went, the Lacroix boy was amongst those he found less intimidating. "H... hey," he stammered out, "Is it-" he paused, yawning heavily, "-that obvious?"

Yes. Yes, it definitely was. "N... nevermind. If... if you're offering, then that would be very nice of you." He subconsciously rubbed as his neck for a moment before catching himself and snatching his hand away, waiting for confirmation from Camille before he took one of the pastries.
 
as written by Krysis

Oh well. Maybe it would come back to her when she talked to Jimmy or Aaro later. Camille's presence made further discussion impossible, so she helped herself to one of the other pastries. Not a coffee one, since a jolt of caffeine wouldn't help and might even sap what concentration she had left when it crashed.

"Cam, right? Isn't that what people call you?" Celeste asked after licking off a bit of the icing on the treat she has selected before it could escape and fall on the grass.

"The younger Lacriox fencer. You and Iziac are my only serious competition this year, I think. Last year your-- Brother was it? Peregrine Lacroix." Celeste gave a tired smile at the memory, "Well, he is gifted, and let's just leave it at that."
 
as written by glmstr

"Camille, Cam, whatever you want to call me," the Proselyte smiled and grabbed one of the coffee-laced treats, taking a small bite out of it.
"Well I'm flattered you think that. I don't know much about your skill level or Izaic's, but I'm going to try my best," he brushed a stray lock of navy hair out of his face.
"Perri's my cousin. He's pretty much a brother to me. He's really good, maybe one day I can be better than him. But for now, I'll just have to keep practicing."
His optimism could be considered somewhat naive at a glance, but at least someone in this monastery had to be cheery .
 
as written by Script

Inarin grimaced slightly at the mention of Izaic. The older proselyte had never treated Inarin well - always biting at his weak build and average swordsmanship, mocking the idea that he thought he could become a paladin. That's what it seemed like to Inarin, anyway.

"You're talking about the Auraella, right?" Inarin suppressed a second grimace. The festival was another reminder of how far behind he was trailing in combat classes compared to the top students. Entering any of the tournaments simply wasn't an option worth considering. Most years, he didn't even bother to attend on days when his brother wasn't participating, instead taking advantage of the library's deserted state during the event.
 
as written by Krysis

"Well, yes? I know I am entering, and I assumed that with Cam's skills, he would too." Celeste looked in surprise at Inarin and straightened up slowly as she realized how much she was leaning on the smaller boy. Her long dark hair was loose as usual, hanging around her face when she changed her posture.

"You should get Cam to show you some moves, In. You would probably do better with the lighter weapons that require more thought than strength." Celeste advised him, giving Cam a quick smile before she stretched and moved to start getting up. She just wasn't comfortable anymore, though it was very nice of the strangely effeminate boy to share his pastries.
 
as written by glmstr

"I'd be happy to help you Inarin, I think the finer blades would suit you well," Camille prodded Inarin playfully, "you're more than smart enough for it, after all."
The Proselyte supressed a frown as Celeste stood up and began to leave. He did join the conversation unannounced, but was she truly that put off by him?
 
as written by Script

"Possibly," Inarin said, shrugging noncommittally. "The instructors always say the same thing... I understand all the forms, and I can perform them fine... but I'm not very adaptable. The moment anyone does anything that isn't by the book, I ... I flounder. And my reflexes aren't that great. Nothing comes... instinctively, I guess is the right word? I think about everything, rather than just doing it."

He shook his head. "It slows me down too much. I just can't get into that zone where it all ... flows. So I don't think I'll ever be as good as either of you."
 
as written by Krysis

Celeste nods slowly and smiles down at them. "Everyone has something they are really good at. Maybe you are cut out to be the sort of fighter that isn't really used by the church. Like a sniper, or a beserker type. Or a punching bag, like Jimmy. I was on my way to check on him when I saw you here, Inarin."

"Thanks for the snack, Camille." She'd offer her hand to shake to the boy, kinda curious to see if his hands were soft, or as calloused as her own.
 
as written by glmstr

"Your intelligence is your greatest strength, but it seems like it's a bit of a weakness too, " Camille nodded. He was a rather smart kid, but Inarin's academic genius blew him out of the water. The Lacroix boy shrugged,
"Maybe that's what we could work on, then. Reflexes and confidence can always be taught if they don't come naturally. If you'd like, I could ask one of the academy's instructors or even my Father to give you a lesson or two, if you end up wanting to go above and beyond what I could teach you."

"No problem Celeste," Camille smiled and shook her hand. His hands were incredibly soft and his handshake grip was gentle, especially for someone that wields a sword as often as he does.
 
as written by Script

"I suppose, if we have time," Inarin nodded his head slowly, clearly somewhat reluctant. Much as learning to fence might be useful, it wouldn't help him graduate as a Paladin. A rapier was little use against a regenerator like a werewolf or a vampire, which was one of the main reasons the order employed bladed weapons at all.

"You go on ahead, Celeste..." the younger proselyte sighed, "I... might stop by later. I-"

He cut off, realising he'd been about to discuss the party with Cam present. Instead, he simply shook his head. "Y...yeah. Later. I need to finish this chapter for Sister Grunxa's class next period."

Need was a strong word. It wasn't the material proscribed for the class, but it was a chapter of a different book that Inarin recalled had contained some information on the same topic. He always liked to be prepared. And then some.
 
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