melodiesoflife | Sad Chrom in the Snow

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Sad Chrom in the Snow

WHO: Chrom, OPEN
WHAT: Chrom is no longer murdered, hooray! Robin is in crystal though, boo! All he can do is keep his head up and remain fighting.
WHEN: July 10th, 2016
WHERE: Hospital and Aqures Ixen
NOTES: The below prompt is just for the hospital. He'll be moving around Aqures Ixen running errands and checking on the training school, doing lordly things afterward, so feel free to catch him in a scenario of your choosing.

He drew his first breath with a shuddering gasp, stumbling out of the crumbling remnants of crystal that even now were beginning to fade and disappear. It was quiet. The only sound in the room was that of his labored breathing, the light clacks of his boots on the floor, and a distant beep of some sort of...equipment. He wasn't sure. Machines in general were still a great mystery to the Ylissean prince.

It took him several moments to shake off the cloying daze of his slumber. Once he realized where he was, he spun in place. "Robin." He hurried to the spot he'd known her to be, hoping to find an empty space. But she was still there. His hopeful expression faded, and his hands drifted down to his sides as he gazed up into the crystal of her lovely face. Still asleep. He supposed this meant she had not been murdered, and he was glad of that. His own death had been rather gruesome. But it also meant that there was no telling when she'd wake up again, and that he would return home to find her room empty.

He lifted his arm, pressing his gloved fingertips against the crystal case, just where her hand rested...the hand that still bore the ring she was gifted during the winter. He could feel the presence of his own matching ring beneath his glove. Whether she woke or not, he would be true to her.

"Robin, I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I...should have proposed to you sooner. I had thought you would find me too hasty, and advise me not to become distracted with such things so long as this fight needed our focus and attention." He bowed his head. "Forgive me."

He wanted to say so much more, but his voice echoed oddly in the chamber. It mattered little in any case; she couldn't hear him, and neither could anyone else. Slowly he eased himself down to the floor and sat there, head tilted up so he could look at his beloved. The world had surely not stopped for either of their sakes, but he needed a moment just to catch his breath, and to miss her in earnest without fear of interruption.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tazendra knew which day Chrom would be awakening so she had made an effort to arrive at the hospital to check in. She didn't know what she was supposed to be doing, but she'd clearly wronged Chrom, so needed to make amends.

What amends? She didn't know. Tazendra tried to stand up non-threateningly, which looked about as natural to her as a tiger trying to tap-dance. "Good day."

[Someone doesn't know how to deal with 'hi, I killed you, but I was being mind-controlled', so jsut deal with it by being upfront and charging towards it. Metaphorically speaking.]

Chrom turned his head to look at Tazendra. He recognized her from that night, of course, but there was no hint of malice or apprehension reflected on his young and honest face. "Greetings."

He pushed himself up to his feet. He supposed he couldn't stay sealed in this room forever. Loathe as he was to leave Robin's side, he knew she wasn't going to awaken just because he wished it. Besides, this woman seemed like she was in need of amends. Chrom had fought back when he'd been killed, and had probably managed a few licks of his own. What was more, she probably needed the reassurance that there was no enmity between them.

"Are you well?" he asked with a light nod.

"I was uninjured in the melee that followed the discovery," Tazendra said. "As for being well, I cannot say that I am. I have wronged you."

Chrom held up his hand as though to stem her apology and shook his head. "You've done nothing to wrong me. I knew from the beginning that your actions were not your own, so there is nothing to forgive." His hand fell back to his side and he smiled. "This is not the first time a friend's hand has been forced to strike me down. I can't say it's something I anticipated happening on a regular basis, but perhaps you may take comfort in knowing you aren't the first." He actually chuckled at that.

"We are still allies, Tazendra. Be at peace."

"That is well said," Tazendra said. "I will attempt it, but it is.... it is unsettling to think that such things are possible."

Because Tazendra knows her strengths: loyalty and raw combat power. Subverting her loyalty is worse than weakening her skill at combat, because it turns a strength into a liability.

"Yes. I imagine it would be," Chrom said, his brows arching sympathetically. He glanced at Robin, remembering her own discomfort and fear when she'd been manipulated to do the same. Then he turned his gaze back to Tazendra. "There is little advice I can give, save that we must press forward."

That was good advice for him too, he supposed. He couldn't stay locked away in this room forever waiting for Robin to open her eyes.

"Has the one responsible for this been discovered, and caught?"

"They have not," Tazendra said. "There was some confusion when we were discovered, and the culprit escaped."

"I see," Chrom sighed, disappointed. "Then I suppose we have no leads either. What about the preparations to face Palitutu?" He moved forward at a brisk pace. There was no sense dwelling on the past; they had to move forward and deal with the next big threat on their hands. "Has a plan been made?"

"There was a discussion on the role that the citizens should play, and whether we should meet Palitutu in her chosen location, or when she attempts to fulfill her threats." Tazendra said. "But I do not recall the results, but I am certain there is some manner of plan."

Tazendra's opinion of plans was that she generally approved of them, but was happy to tell the planners what she was good at, then show up and do it.

It had been a long time since Chrom had sent a missive around about his intention to take over the training school that had first been set up by Olivier before she had succumbed to the stasis that was so keen to eventually take so many of them in comparison to those that were left. Not that anyone, not even Sephiroth, could be to blame for having been much too busy to remember much of intentions from a month ago.

For the most part, the silver SOLDIER had recovered much of the rest that he had denied himself during the investigation, and it was during a casual walk through the 10th District that had reminded him as Sephiroth sought out one of the empty training halls in which he'd usually take a few hours in the day within which to train himself. He'd diverted back towards the building which, to be honest, he'd not ever been inside.

Still, Chrom had extended an open invitation and even if the man wasn't around, at the very least Sephiroth could take a count of the various facilities that were made available. Who knew that there might be something for him here that might ping at his interest; something with which potentially to reinvigorate.

Angeal had forever been the teacher, not Sephiroth, but it still sometimes made him wonder if he should not offer expertise where it was needed. He had sparred with a few of the more proficient sword-fighters of their group, but to what end?

It was fortunate that Chrom was present at the school, but not entirely coincidental. He had little to do at home, and his services in aiding the refugees were not really required at the moment. Simply put? He came to the school because he didn't know where else to put himself. He felt lost. But training made sense; it always made sense. He simply felt better with a blade in his hands, whether it was crafted of the finest steel or a blunted length of wood meant solely for practice.

He moved through his routine fluidly, Falchion in his hands as he guided the point of the blade to dip and weave, cutting down enemies that didn't truly exist. His form was excellent, and his strength was obvious in the tautness of his muscles. He was young, and not quite the broad-shouldered powerhouse of muscle that some of the other Heroes were, but he seemed comfortable in his own skin.

Chrom paused at the sound of footsteps, relaxing his stance and sheathing his blade before taking a step forward. From what he understood, there had been no further murders after Zelda's tragic death. But there were also no leads to finding the culprit.

Narasimha, he'd been named. And apparently he was the one responsible for transporting all of them to the Empire several weeks before. Chrom had no idea what the man looked like, and doubted it mattered, if he was a skilled Illusionist who could change his appearance as he pleased.

But it was not Narasimha who stepped through the door, it was Sephiroth. Chrom smiled. Any ally was always a welcome sight. "Greetings," he called out, stepping off of the mat.

Training always did make sense. There are several old sayings that follow the lines of active-body, active-mind and if nothing else at least in fitness and training there was always a bar to push.

Sephiroth did take a notice of how quiet it seemed within the training school as he progressed through the various rooms, not so much closely inspecting but gaining an idea for himself of the type of activities each might be used for. But then it was equally likely that he might have come at the wrong time of the day. Even Heroes of Light had lives that they led within Aqures Ixen and he certainly wasn't the only one to hold down employment. Perhaps that in itself was part of the problem? Had they integrated too much?

He paused just a step into the doorway, frowned a little at the fact that he hadn't caught the notion that someone was moving around in the next room before he looked into it but just as easily dismissed it. What did it matter, that he hadn't noticed?

"Good day." Was the smooth reply as Sephiroth dipped his head in a light nod before stepping off to the side of the room. One simply didn't walk over practice mats with boots on, after all. "I apologize if I disturbed you."

"Hardly," Chrom chuckled, unbuckling his sword belt and hanging it next to his armor and cloak upon the wall. "If anything it's a welcome reprieve from the silence of this place."

He didn't care to be alone with his thoughts, so the practice helped him to focus on a different task. The company of an ally helped a great deal with such matters. It had been some time since he'd last communicated with Sephiroth through letters about this place, but he couldn't blame the man. Time was a scarce commodity as of late, and peaceful days were growing hard to find.

"Have you come for a tour, or for that spar you mentioned?" he asked, turning to face the visitor.

Watching Chrom unbuckle his sword belt and hang it up made Sephiroth feel acutely aware of the fact he was missing something; he didn't make a habit of equipping himself with his own sword or armor while only on a stroll about the City, anymore. Yet sometimes, he often found himself wondering if he might one day regret the decision. To hide that moment of discomfort, Sephiroth cast a long glance about the room.

"Alas, I've come ill-equipped for a spar today." He flashed a quick smile back as he met Chrom's attention once more.

"But I wouldn't turn down a tour, if you'd be inclined."

"I would be happy to do so," Chrom returned with a friendly smile. He retrieved his boots, sitting on the bench shoved up against the wall to don his footwear. Then he rose to his feet and led the way. "The room we're in now is smaller, meant for private practice sessions with just one or two people. There are many of these. Here," he opened the door that led to a room stocked with all kinds of padded and wooden weapons, "we keep the practice arms. Just about anything one might want for their jobs can be found here. Firearms with soft corks," he pointed, "blunt-tipped arrows, spears, padded gloves, all weighted and balanced to be as close to the real thing as possible, and in different sizes to accommodate shorter and taller Heroes." He pointed to the back of the room where another door stood ajar, but darkened. "The armor is back there. Mostly padded chestguards, gloves, and face masks, but we've some real armor there too to help those who are new to their Jobs grow accustomed to wearing protection. The weight and bulk can take some getting used to, as I'm sure you're already aware."

The friendly smile caused a similar twitch to the ends of Sephiroth's mouth, which is something considering he's not really the big-smiles type.

Easily he falls into step as Chrom steps from the mat and nods as an explanation of the room they were in was given. It seemed to make sense, given the rooms that Sephiroth had seen already on his own little wander around, that there were a great many rooms which were tailored for one-on-one or one-on-two combat. Perhaps two-on-two at a push depending on if they were talking martial arts or armed combat.

The equipment room though, now that was interesting. At Chrom's invitation Sephiroth steps close enough, or just inside the door enough to have a long look around, his sharp attentive nature picking up on each item as it was listed off. All very well and in good order; it had seemed that Chrom really was serious about having this place as a dedicated training hall.

To think that they had armor, in order to allow people to adjust to it was something Sephiroth both appreciated the need for yet also lightly huffed at. Not quite a scoff, but more to the fact that he'd not had such an introduction and had quite a heavy opinion that some things were best learned through hardship and good old fashioned trial and error.

"I didn't know what to do about it when I first arrived here. In full Warrior get-up in the peak of summertime." He tried to make light of what could have been perceived as an almost arrogant huff a moment ago. He realized he probably hadn't meant to come across so harsh.

"Some might argue, it's better to sink or swim with it, though."

"Swimming might be an impossibility," Chrom laughed openly. Once Sephiroth had his fill of the weapons, Chrom closed the door behind him, leaving it unlocked just in case there were others who meant to get in some training before the facility closed for the night. "I'm unaccustomed to wearing much armor myself, as I have greater mobility without it. Showing up as a Crystal Knight was a unique experience."

That was the nicest way he could put into words the agonizing pain of falling into one of Morgan's pit traps while saddled with the gaudy armor. It was great at stopping claws and blades, not so great at being dropped down a steep pit.

"It does get easier with practice, of course, which is why we keep it on hand. Over here, I'll show you the bigger room where we hold group lessons." He led the way toward a wide set of double doors, pushing them open into a large outdoor courtyard. The roof was covered with a thick sheet of glass to let in natural light, but the ground was mostly dirt with some occasional patches of hardy grass that hadn't been trampled by scuffling boots.

"There's another with a padded mat," Chrom said, holding the door open, "but it's best to simulate battles held outdoors in this type of area."

"Um-hm," He chuckled alongside Chrom, but did not laugh so openly, otherwise there wasn't any sign much of the fact that he didn't wholly agree with the other man. Those that couldn't swim, or even attempt to, he'd argue weren't worth the time in training; Hero of Light or not. It was certainly an old hang over of an attitude from his time in Shinra -he never did do well with the fresher recruits- but it had always served him rightly before. As for Crystal Knight; well Chrom was lucky to have had access to such an advanced job right off the bat, in his opinion.

As the double doors to the indoor-outdoor courtyard were opened and Sephiroth stepped through he found himself having to squint for just a few seconds until his eyes adjusted to the natural light. It wasn't as if there weren't windows in the other rooms, but it certainly was more open and spacious in this space.

He nodded again to Chrom as he explained about the idea of simulation. It was a concept that the SOLDIER knew well; better to get as much experience in a range of circumstances as possible and then one could never been surprised what the real world might throw in your path. That thought almost felt too philosophical.

"That makes sense. Being as it also encourages awareness in spatial awareness to be improved." Sephiroth commented as he looked around inside the courtyard, pacing a little as if he might map it all just by walking around and looking. It was one thing being in a room where, after a time, one might learn exactly the number of paces from wall to wall, it was totally another to have features that resembled those that might be on the plains, or in some forest et cetera.

If he were able, Chrom would have loved to have a room dedicated to each of a variety of natural environments, but the city had size limits, and there was really no practical way to have a swamp room next to a desert room next to a thick forest. Unless there were an illusionist, he supposed.

...Actually, that wasn't a bad idea. He'd have to consider that.

"You're welcome to use any of these spaces for your own purposes as well," Chrom offered. "A schedule of lessons and room reservations is posted near the front door, so you can check the list and see what suits you." He waited near the doorway for Sephiroth to examine the room to his liking. "We would also welcome a guest instructor, should you feel so inclined."

It might not be so bad, in helping others to expand the wide-range of possibilities that could be brought about with the illusionist job, either. Kinda of a two-way training, in that way.

"I might well have a look into it." Sephiroth spoke of the general purpose of the training hall. After all it would be a shame not to come and use the facilities that someone had clearly put a lot of time and effort into getting into working order once more. It made him smile, where he'd been picking the random unused sports or weights halls that he came across within the 10th and often feeling like he was trespassing in a way, this essentially gave him a dedicated place to come. He imagined Terra might like it, to come as well.

After another couple of minutes, Sephiroth wandered back towards the doorway where Chrom waited. He huffed something of a dry chuckle at the suggestion that he could instruct.

"I'm afraid I'm hardly the most suitable tutor you might be able to find."

"How do you mean? Gods, man, you could be my equal on the battlefield," Chrom grinned. Maybe his better. He wasn't sure, as the two had never had an occasion to cross blades in the past.

He folded his arms as he looked back into the training room with a smile on his face. "I'm aware of your time restraints. You give much to Esdham and the defense of our forces all over the world." Chrom glanced at Sephiroth once more, one brow lifted. "But 'hardly the most suitable' as far as skill and prowess goes, I don't believe that for one moment."

"Perhaps." An accompanying flash of a grin followed at Chrom's first comment. Indeed, he and the other man had never taken an opportunity to cross blades as of yet. Sparring had been only been something relatively new on Sephiroth's list of hobbies; such activities he'd enjoyed with his friends, once upon a time and so had been sacred almost, until recently.

He followed Chrom's line of sight back over the training room. The temptation was very much to also pull his arms up into being folded but the fact that he was aware of Chrom doing it made him hold that automatic gesture of his back and away from being expressed.

"Even if it wasn't for the limited time my usual schedule affords me, I'm not one that has the qualities that would be desired in a mentoring role." He cocked his head to the side a little, inclining it towards Chrom.

"That's how I meant."

"Ahh," Chrom inclined his head with a grin. It was a shame, but he wasn't about to pressure him to show up and present a lesson if he was unaccustomed to instructing students. It was a talent, to be sure...one Chrom wasn't often sure that he had. Mostly he just showed his students the way he did it, then encouraged them to imitate him. Simple, really. He could make individual corrections when he observed those imitations. "Understood, then."

He pushed away from the wall he'd been leaning against. "Is there anything else you'd like to see while you're here? We've covered the basics, unless you have a longing to explore the water closets."

It was borne from a difference of function, perhaps. In where Sephiroth had been sent in front of mostly over-enthusiastic recruits to SOLDIER to weed out those that could from those that were just dreaming as opposed to actually encouraging skill development. He was almost too sharp in picking out the flaws, and in many ways his own highly trained skills were a burden in that he found it hard to see the potential in flaws.

"I wouldn't say no to an infrequent sortie though-" He smiled again at Chrom and hoped the man took the meaning for what it was. That included potential sparring sessions with Chrom himself, too or perhaps even as a guest in an key-lesson or two. The grin grew wider at the further comment about the other facilities that the training center had; it seemed Chrom had at least something of a similar sense of humor as him, perhaps.

"I'm sure they're all in working order...." Sephiroth almost chuckled, before another thought -one that wasn't ever too far away in these days so soon after Zelda's demise- near enough dropped it from his face.

"...I suppose it's quiet here, at the moment..."

"Yes," Chrom inclined his head. His expression wasn't quite so grim, but there was a touch of regret nonetheless. "I should hope that indicates something positive. They still trust us to protect them." Even so... Chrom shook his head. He still wished he could have done more, but if he started to mope, who would punch him in the face to snap him out of it? Robin wasn't here anymore, nor was anyone else from Ylisse.

He rolled his shoulders and straightened, bearing a calm smile on his face. "But I confess it's been sometime since I've had the pleasure of squaring off against another skilled swordsman. I would be glad to cross blades with you when you can spare the time."

Hope. There was that word again, a word that had worked its way into Sephiroth's vocabulary almost without him noticing. He'd always think of Zelda when he thought back about it, and how she'd always seem able to light up a room with her presence alone. She gave hope to so many...

"If there is one thing I've come to learn, that is never to attempt to understand the logic of the citizens of this World. That said, rightly or wrong, what other option do they have but to trust us? They face annihilation alongside us if we fail, yet we're the only ones that may yet be able to fix everything."

Sephiroth's face turned into something of a grimace as he thought that uncomfortable set of thoughts through once more. It didn't make a lot of sense to him either, even after so long. He was glad that Chrom then changed the subject, making a noticeable effort to collect his mood from the floor.

"I shall keep it in mind-" A firm nod, to enforce the mental note taken. "-I'm not sure of the plan with regards to the upcoming Festival and the security arrangements but as soon as I'm assigned we'll arrange a time."

"I'm pleased to hear it, then." Chrom was actually looking forward to the festival. He hadn't even thought that such a pleasant affair would be interrupted by Palitutu and her Doom Squad, or anyone else with nasty plans and motivations. But that was why Robin was the tactician, and not Chrom. At least Sephiroth was on top of things, and he gave a nod of gratitude.

"Let me know if you need a stand-in during those days," Chrom offered. "You should have a chance to relax and interact with the townsfolk as well, and ah..." Well, there was really no gracious way to put it. "My significant other isn't here at the moment, so my presence would be fairly limited regardless."

He offered his hand to shake Sephiroth's once more before they both decided to call it a night and part ways. "Thanks for coming by."

"This is the place, Jaelyn?" Selphie asked her moogle.

The duo were standing in front of the Training School on a warm morning. Selphie was staring at the building with trepidation and knew that it was about time she took her training in the art of the sword more seriously. Her hands kept fidgeting with the hilt of the short sword at her hip. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to the weight of the sword at her side.

"The one and only training school," Jaelyn nodded with a slight bob of her head. "You should be able to pick up a few more pointers on that sword you've been carrying around."

"Still..." Selphie murmured as she started walking up the steps toward the entrance of the school. "The sword still feels weird to me but let's see what happens in here."

The perky brunette opened the door to the training school and peered inside to see who was lurking inside. "Helloooooo? Anybody home?"

Most of Chrom's group lessons took place in the afternoon, so Selphie was in luck. He'd been working through his own fitness routine to get himself warmed up for the day when he heard the young lady's call. "Come in!" he shouted back. "I'll be with you shortly."

He finished his last set of push-ups before standing to his feet, rolling his shoulders and shaking out his arms. He wiped off his sweat with a towel before hanging it neatly and stepping out of the practice room and into the hallway. He'd never met Selphie personally, but he'd seen her here and there. It seemed she'd brought her Moogle for company, or perhaps moral support.

"Greetings. What can I help you with this morning?" he asked cordially with a friendly smile.

Selphie was struggling internally about how to address the Prince and her hands were fidgeting nervously before she finally. Does she go for the polite approach or go with the stereotype for addressing Princes? Any coherent thought she may have had before encountering Chrom escaped her mind as she waved her hands in front of herself nervously. The perky brunette wasn't exactly a shy person but that didn't mean that she had much experience dealing with the opposite sex outside of a battle field.

"Uh..." she stumbled. "Y'see..."

Jaelyn watched with a bemused look on her furry face as Selphie's face turned a slightly darker shade of pink. The girl was a good head shorter than the Prince as she looked up with an awed look. It was then that the moogle realized that Selphie had never encountered royalty before today.

"While my companion here finds her voice," Jaelyn spoke kindly. "She seems to have finally recognised her shortcomings in using that sword she has belted around her hips and was hoping too --"

Selphie reached up and covered Jaelyn's mouth with her hands, an embarrassed grin on her face. The perky brunette closed her eyes briefly and took a few deep breaths to find her centre before looking Chrom square in the face. There was a seriousness in her eyes that wasn't usually present and was a clear enough sign that Selphie was serious about her request.

"I'm no good with a sword but it's the only weapon I've got besides some mid-level black magic," Selphie explained. "I know this school is open to training but... I need a crash course in using a sword as soon as possible so I don't feel entirely useless against Palitutu."

Chrom smiled, impressed by her resolve. Anyone who wanted to defend the city from Palitutu was a worthy ally in his eyes, whether a beginner or a veteran. "Understood. Follow me and we can choose a practice weapon that suits you." He gestured with his hand before turning down the corridor, leading the way to a locked storage room. He dug the key out of his pocket, opened the door, and moved aside.

Dimly lit by the small window set into the roof overhead, racks of various wooden and blunt-edged metal weapons were neatly stored and arranged on racks and in barrels.

"Which Jobs do you currently have equipped to your crystal?" he asked, allowing Selphie time to move through the room and get a look at her options. A person's strength and agility could change a great deal with the jobs they had; Chrom had noted that he wasn't quite as strong when he'd exchanged his Paladin job for that of Santa Claus, for example.

Selphie moved into the room and began rifling through the various barrels. Her preferred weapon was nowhere in sight as she pouted slightly. It seemed that she was doomed to a sword until she found something that suited her better. Eventually, the perky brunette would unsheath the sword at her side and start comparing the weight and size of the practice swords to find the right one.

"Uh... Red Mage and... Gambler I think? I've never really used the second job though and I don't want to deal with that blowhard Biggs unless I absolutely have to to get another." Selphie explained as she finally settled on a wooden short sword that close enough to her regular weapon. She set the wooden weapon against the barrel as she sheathed her sword.

"Red Mage is an all-around job from what I've read in the library but I'm used to a different type of weapon entirely from where I came from," the girl continued as she picked up the wooden blade and frowned. "A sword just doesn't feel the same as a nunchaku."

"I imagine not," Chrom smiled, watching to see what she considered and inevitably chose. "I can't say I'm familiar with that particular weapon. Swords come in a variety of styles and sizes, it can be difficult to choose one best suited to your needs. For you, I would favor speed over strength, in which case a lighter blade," he nodded to the short sword she'd selected, "is advantageous. You might want to consider a shield as well, for added protection as you'll have an arm free to hold it. Those are in the back."

She had some decent Jobs. Red Mages were versatile, and able to accomplish a variety of tasks that might otherwise be restricted. He'd never used it himself, nor was he familiar with the skills of a Gambler, but neither sounded particularly suitable for charging in the front lines.

Selphie briefly explained what the blunt force weapon was before she gave the wooden sword a test swing. She'd gotten a few pointers from Flynn so she had the basic form down at least. "Yeah, we studied them when I was younger but the instructors at Garden -- that's what we called the school where we trained to become mercenaries -- didn't want me using anything sharp and pointy so, that's when I picked the nunchaku. Your enemy can't attack you if they have broken bones or take a swift crack to the back of the head."

Selphie looked at the shields briefly before shaking her head. Perhaps the sword she'd been using was too heavy for her. She had some Gil saved up from monster hunting and would likely select a better one but the girl didn't feel like she had the strength to wield a blade one-handed. "I like to think I'm pretty strong but I'm not strong enough to wield a sword one-handed. I'm gonna have to play a supporter role in the event of a fight breaking out."

Selphie was lacking confidence with her choice and was starting to wonder if picking up a different weapon would be better. There had to be other choices at her disposal that were similar to her customary weapon.

Chrom was unphased when she said she'd been trained to become a mercenary. Such professions were not unusual in his world, and many began their education at an early age much as Selphie probably had. He nodded in understanding. "True. There are many ways to disable one's opponent on the field. The Shepherds I led wielded a wide variety of weapons and talents. I only had the one."

The wooden sword he'd plucked from the barrel was given an artful twirl with a pivot of his wrist as he smiled, indicating which one weapon and talent he favored.

"Here. Let's find you something lighter, then. If you want to use two hands, you shouldn't be using a blade that short. Two-handed blades are best used for those who need a longer reach and are already quite strong. I'm guessing speed is one of your better attributes, so let's focus on something that makes use of that." He stepped up beside her, using his thumb to guide the various wooden pommels aside as he searched for a proper weapon.

He came up with a training sword carved of cherry wood, polished smooth with leather wrapped around the handle. He gave it a light heft. "Try this one. It's a couple inches shorter, but I imagine you could try a few test slashes without any problems."

Selphie was impressed with the display from Chrom at the basic technique with a sword. She placed the practice sword she'd pulled out earlier on the top of a nearby barrel as she accepted the sword he'd selected. The minute she gripped the blade, one hand over the other, she could already feel the difference. It felt more like a Rapier or one of its cousin blades as she put a few feet between the two of them.

"Let's see," Selphie said curiously before swinging the blade down as her eyes widened in surprise.

It was far lighter than her original choice and felt more like an extension of her body than a cumbersome lump of metal in her hands. Perhaps it was because it was wooden but the style of the weapon itself was making all the difference. Jaelyn was nodding her approval as Selphie quickly put her original choice back in the barrel.

"Yep," Selphie nodded with an excited grin. "Definitely using the wrong type of sword. I'll have to see how much Gil I've got saved up to find something similar to this one. Is it a Rapier or an Estoc? Light and generally used for thrusting attacks, using the wielder's speed if I'm remembering correctly."

"It's a sabre," Chrom smiled, glad to see she was familiar enough with swords to name two of them. "I think you'll find it more versatile than a rapier or estoc, as this one has an edge as well as a pointed tip. You can slash and pierce with it, depending upon your needs. I'll fetch you a buckler from the back. With the right stance, you should be able to maintain a decent defense against most attacks."

He slid past her, turning his body to the side, then moved into the back room. He emerged with a wooden buckler as promised, as well as some padded training armor and a wire mesh mask for her head. A wooden weapon was dull, sure, but it could still put a nasty bruise in someone if used with enough force.

"If you like, once you've built up enough training and confidence in the classrooms, we can go out to the Calm Plains and defeat a few monsters. That should give you the gil you need to purchase your first proper weapon."

"Oooooh, I remember those now. Guess I remember more from my lessons than I thought," Selphie admitted. "They're the ones that curve up at the tip."

A weapon that was both light and strong would be perfect for her as Selphie stepped back to give Chrom more room. It was a long time since she'd ever seen so much training gear and at first, it had her gawking a bit in surprise. Eventually though, she knew that if she didn't have it on, she'd be black and blue by the end of the day without it. The perky brunette moved forward to relieve some of the burden from the Prince.

"Right," she replied with a nod. "I have some Gil stashed from work that I was saving for a rainy day but now it looks like it might be a good time to use some of it. In the meantime, we'd better get to work."

"Right," Chrom agreed, appreciating her determination. She didn't seem like the type who would complain or drag her feet about coming to lessons, and he determined she'd likely prove to be a good student. She was enthusiastic too, not registering the slightest hint of disappointment or unease at the thought of fighting monsters. "Choose a buckler that suits your size, and meet me in the training room at the end of the hall. You'll want something that covers as much as possible, but not so bulky that it hinders your ability to move."

Rather than hovering over her shoulder, Chrom left the armory. He slid open the door to the smaller and personal training room, sitting down on one of the chairs to pry off his boots. Right now he wanted to concentrate on the movements of the upper body rather than focusing on footwork. Once he was confident she could swing a sword with some competence, they could practice on solid ground in the footwear of their choice.

"Something that suits my size..." Selphie murmured as she examined the buckler that Chrom had pulled out. It looked like it might have been too big for someone of Selphie's stature. She held the offered one in her hands before working her left arm into the straps. It felt awkward to hold and a bit too heavy as the perky brunette put it aside.

"Are there any more?" She asked. "That one felt too big. Maybe something a little smaller...? Hmmmm..."

She paused to examine the buckler a bit more closely and felt that it looked to be around the size of a large dinner plate. Selphie had never fought with a shield before so choosing one was proving to be a challenge. She was leaning towards something around the size of a smaller sandwich plate as she started looking for something a bit smaller.

Chrom continued to wait in the training room. He was a patient man, and wasn't about to stomp back to the armory and see what was taking her so long. Choosing one's defense was a crucial element to combat, and someone who chose poorly was putting their life at risk.

So he waited, leaning against one of the walls, listening to the faint sound of her voice down the hall.

When Selphie didn't get a response to her question, she frowned a bit and thought her way through the problem. The larger buckler's felt strange in her hands and would probably be more cumbersome than useful. She recalled a lesson from her early years in Garden when they were choosing their weapons.

"Choose something that feels natural." Was the lesson that the perky brunette was recalling.

She took the smallest buckler's she could find in the armory and laid them out side-by-side and studied them carefully. Some were small and wider, others were longer and narrower. They were only using wooden sparring weapons but eventually, she settled on a small, wide buckler about 8 inches across. She pulled on the padded training gear quickly enough and with the sabre and buckler in hand, she finally entered the training room.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I couldn't figure out which shield would be best. I guess you didn't hear me when I was asking a question..."

Chrom shook his head. "No, I didn't. I apologize." He'd heard some murmuring, but thought she was just talking to herself. Ah, well, she'd managed to find some suitable gear, so they could begin.

"With a weapon like yours, you'll be relying more on speed than brute force, so your footwork should be light. Knees bent, front foot pointed forward, and twist so that your sword arm is presented." Chrom demonstrated accordingly, holding his wooden weapon out while keeping his left shoulder turned away. "You can see just by looking at me that turning to the side makes you a smaller target. There's less of you to strike, and it's more difficult to hit your vitals. Make sense?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sad Chrom in the Snow

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At the Training School - Early July, around the time of Kaji's letter

Just FYI that Chrom didn't wake up until the 10th, if that still works!

Works for me! Could be any day really after.

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A couple days after Rukia Mom'd Selphie

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So... Rapier or Estoc style is my question?

NEITHER BWAH HA HA HA

EXCALI -- wait. wrong canon! xD

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