New beginnings.

[confidentia]

Who: Ace, OPEN
Where: Hero Training facility
When: The second half of September, but before visiting the Sage
What: Having taken up the position of an instructor of magic at Chrom's school, Ace takes his time adjusting to his new responsibilities. Anyone is welcome to join as either a student (Black Mage, Summoner, Chocobo Knight) or a sparring partner, whether it's before/during/after a practice, or maybe they're just having a lunch break together. Anything goes!
Warnings: None, so far.


Him, a teacher? Ace had never even come close to being a model student during his time at the academy. Most morning lectures had him slumped over his desk as he caught up on lost sleep, which, in hindsight, hadn't been the most... respectful way to go about his lack of interest.

( How he nonetheless managed to achieve near-perfect results on tests was always beyond his classmates' comprehension. )

Maybe he wasn't the most well-suited candidate for the job, but it didn't mean he wouldn't at least make a solid attempt. On top of his time spent in Crystallis, he'd been given the benefit of a thorough military training, so should his experience serve to ease another Hero's concerns, he was willing to do his best. If anything, it granted him an opportunity to keep a closer eye on what the others were up to.

More importantly, though, it helped him take his own mind off certain things.


The cadet’s specialty was magic, but since there was never a shortage of those eager to know more about the Chocobo Knight Job, he often brought Suzaku over for company. He had some doubts, initially - but as it turned out, the gold-feathered bird clearly enjoyed his newfound abilities, spending every moment of downtime on circling the skies over the facility.

On the slower days, he allowed himself a change of his routine. Swapping magical tomes for a training sword and robes for his ordinary uniform, he dedicated an hour or two to pursuing the often neglected - but no less important, now, that he had more offensive skills in his repetitoire - art of swordsmanship. Used to training alone, he usually didn't consider asking anyone for assistance. It was less than ideal without the familiar battle simulations at the ready, but imagination served well enough in filling in blanks. So long as he put his mind to it, he could still make the same leaps and lunge forward with the same ferocity as if the enemy was an actual creature rather than a lifeless mannequin.

And for what it was worth, footwork had always been his strongest suit. Handling heavier weapons, however… less so. While nothing could rival the flexibility of a card deck, it was high time he took upon himself to branch out a little, right?

Comments

[shepherd_prince]

'Waaaaaark!'

From within the training academy's walls, Chrom stiffened at one of Suzaku's happy sounds and quickly cast his eyes about him. There was no telling when his chocobo Warken would appear to tackle Chrom and smother him with feathery attention. The bird behaved more like a rabid stalker than a trusted mount, but that did seem to follow the traditional quirky Shepherd pattern.

But if the sound wasn't coming from Warken, then who? Or...er...what chocobo?

Putting up his practice spear, Chrom took his cloak from where it hung on the wall and slung it over his shoulders as he walked briskly through the hallways. He glanced in each of the open rooms, satisfied that they were relatively chocobo free.

Then, at last, he arrived in the training room that Ace had selected for his magic lessons. Chrom stopped short when he saw the bird. He almost missed it, as gold was so similar in color to yellow, but he noticed there was a definite sheen to the bird's feathers that Warkin and all other chocobos he'd encountered thus far had lacked. "Are you training birds to fight alongside us now?" Chrom chuckled. "I'm not sure we have any helmets that will fit them."

[cantante]

The invitation had come as something of a surprise, a sentiment that had little to do with a lack of interest in Ace's new employment. In all likelihood she would have dropped by to visit him eventually even without it, if only to deliver the lunch she had forgotten to set out for him earlier.

However, the tension and uncertainty since their return from the Rift was a constant barrier between them ever since they had come back. The events they had witnessed seemed so long ago, no doubt helped along by the vague conversations and brief touches that was all that was exchanged between them since. On the surface neither had pushed the other away, but Tear knew well who was most at fault for the distance.

It had gone on long enough.

It's only with a small feeling of nervousness that she approached the area where she was told he would be training, Sein floating behind her with a thinly veiled expression of hope. It was q good thing he couldn't see the faint frown that came over his Hero's expression when she saw her partner.

Sighing softly, she handed the small bundle to him without a word before approaching quietly with voice detached. "Your stance is too wide..."

[pole_position]

"Hello?"

Pyrrha peeks her head into the entrance to the facility. There's a telltale 'wark' behind her - she clearly has a chocobo companion along for the trip. But she's not sure if birds are allowed inside, so she's being polite.