Hope and Faith | Page 2

It was strange, how was this friendship suppose to work it was quite weird as her life was always in the shado. Avi's eyes stared down toward the feet of Lucia before slowly wandering up as she blushed. The reassuring strokes against the top of her head paid it's work. Deep breathes, that was always the key for her to calm down now sighing as leaned forward to rest her head sympathetically. "I'm sorry, this gaming thing is weird and I was hoping that I would at least be able to join in with a guild or a group of fellow players who needed assistance or protection and all I've done is melt like a Popsicle in the sun." The silver mane gangly draped across her eyes as she nodded. "Yes thank miss I would love to have some place to rest up while I am in game. It's a bit nerve wracking to think of creature or other players sneaking up to attack you while you are about."

Avi then glanced back down as she poked her fingers, "Umm which way exactly are we going again? Although I do have a few game related questions later to ask. For now let's get out of the wilderness." Her attitude slowly cheering up as she wrapped her arms about to embrace her comfortingly.

@Lucia Mierz

 

Lucia chuckled a little bit at the girl's words, melting like a popsicle wasn't necessarily uncommon. VR games could be scary, frightening even, the realism, the blood all took a long time to adapt to. It was only because of her own desperate attempts to avoid reality that she could face it so smoothly. The poor girl was naturally the same as many others, Lucia could only chuckle and shake her head trying to reassure her. "It's okay, truly, it's not something so unusual." Lucia tried to reassure the girl with a soft petting hand. Though the thanks and a variety of other things only made her chuckle a little. This poor girl put so much faith in her, Lucia naturally wouldn't treat her wrongly. Instead she held her a bit closer, an arm around her shoulders to keep her close. "It's okay, for now we're just going to find a safer place to talk, that way you won't have to deal with all of that rot. Somewhere you can get some practice and experience." She explained clinging to Avilon happily as she walked with the woman contently.

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Since that first meeting Lucia had spent a long time helping Avilon grow and get experienced with the game. Fighting wasn't that hard once someone got used to it, those that weren't good with real fighting would be able to use the system corrections to fight normally. Alternatively if Avi did like fighting properly, Lucia would coach her the best she could. Starting with simple scarecrows or skeletons as simple targets, Lucia would slowly try to upgrade her to actual moving enemies using undead creatures to help Avilon adjust at her own speed. Against a single opponent, then at two trying to push her to her limit hoping the girl would over come it to protect her.

The sound of battle could be heard from the training ground, Lucia expected the poor girl to be exhausted any minute now. Lucia had a small pot of a simple stew simmering over an open flame, something she was merely reheating since her own cooking skill left a lot to be desired. She waited patiently for Avilon to wear herself out practicing, keeping an eye on her own EN to track the girl's progress. If she happened to kill one of her minions, Lucia would gesture with a hand to turn more bones into another addition and send them after Avilon once more. She felt it was a sufficient method for training in the early stages when one should lay a firm foundation for future abilities.

 

Avi's avatar was quickly drained of stamina and health, each passing second as she felt the undead minions strike her she felt herself growing. The only difference is odd as her entire body was feeling the sensation of her strength. Her arms gripping the large makeshift starting weapon as she groaned slamming the flat end against it. I can't believe she is capable of simply casting more and more of these fiends without a single glance. How on earth can I ever measure up to guarding her like these guys when they can simply charge me endlessly. As her thoughts through her off she then yelped feeling the new monster now made a gash in her side as she was caught off guard. As she looked back over to her companion she took in a deep breath now leaping backwards for a second before then rushing forward once more into the fray.

A battle yell echoed through the woods now as she forced her blade in a crescent swing which wildly scattered the skeleton in it's wake. A brief blast of air pushing them back as well as she suddenly sighed. The girl gripped her hilt now breathing quite heavily from the limits of her physical capability was continuously pushed further and further by her opponents. As she looked back though more creatures now stepped up to the plate her eyes focused upon them as she kept hacking her stamina and health both dwindling till exhaustion struck. As she collapsed she gently propped herself against the weapon.

"S-stop please I c-can't do it again it's to much." The girl mewled now closing her eyes as she would await the strikes of the skeleton if Lucia wished to teacher tough love in training.

 

Lucia only chuckled a little hearing the conflicts. Lucia's magic power naturally wasn't endless, instead reviving the dead was even extremely taxing. Instead she was merely summoning a replacement every time one fell in combat, using her magic tools to rotate batteries between resting and active. If Avi had been watching Lucia, she'd notice the greenery around her was slowly withering as she drained more energy from the earth for casting persistently to push her charge to her limits. She wouldn't be merciful, this sort of thing needed viciousness and fear to properly be a good motivational force. She waited patiently keeping watch over things by keeping an eye on the woman's health as she fought and struggled.

Certainly not holding back, the Skeletons would begin shoving the poor girl around, their actions violent, but their strength limited to keep consumption low. They pushed, swung beat the poor girl who was trying to struggle for rest. Lucia couldn't help sighing softly though shaking her head in answer to the girl's pleading and mewling. "You can't stop yet dear, you have to pull out every drop of effort to truly grow and adjust. Your blade technique needs to be refined." She explained with a few sharp and cruel hand gestures a lavender light began to come from her fingertips carving a rune in the air. The same mark would appear on Avi's back as she'd see her health and energy filling up, even if she was exhausted, Lucia would keep filling up her HP and let the skeletons keep squeezing it back out of her with claws and teeth. The poor girl wouldn't have the death screen to look forward to while Lucia kept healing her.

"Just a little more now, we'll have dinner after you finish off this group." She explained loudly, hoping the girl would hear her with a gentle smile waiting for Avi to summon the last of her power to try and finish off the last few skeletons.

 

Avi laid there for a second, the skeleton still clawing and biting at her as she watched the bars, stamina and health quickly raise once more. The silver main tattered over her eyes bringing her back to the fight. The long slender arms once more extending her range between herself and the multiple foes. The skeletons bones clattering about as she now glanced over to watch the gentle smile emerging once more across Lucia's face. After noticing the wilderness once more she started to take note that in order for this endless wave of skeletons could come to an end shortly. Mercy was not granted nor respite, the only sign of compassion was the rejuvenation even though she wanted to just give up on training.

"Fine I guess I'll just have to finish them off once and for all," she winced glancing back to them as she waited for the approach of the skeletons. Her weapon raised as the skeletons charged forward the scratches aimed toward her she defended. The width of the blade parrying the attacks. The blade countering with a golf swing toward it's head causing it to shatter into pieced upon impact of the tree. "One-two-three," she whispered closing her eyes for a second before taking on a dancing rhythm that kept the damage minimal. Dodges and deflections acting as her new approach to her combat.

Breathe Avi just continue to breath and focus upon these foes before you and the purpose you serve. Remember to defend those you fight with. She then took on new purpose as she shuffled over acting as a barricade before Lucia to fix her technique.

@Lucia Mierz

 

Lucia chuckled sweetly nodding back, glad to see Avi working hard, though the dance-like technique wasn't necessarily unique, it wasn't something to scoff at either. Watching on with warm eyes, she patiently waited for Avi to finish them all off. As if with infinite patience, she tried to let Avi hone and sharpen herself in real combat against weaker opponents. Lucia would wait until Avilon was finally finished fighting before gently offering her a bowl of broth with a gentle smile. "Good girl, you did very well. Experimentation and practice is the best way to try and perfect a style." She explained gently trying to hold the bowl to Avi's lips with a kind smile, using her lap to gently prop the woman up.

She assumed Avilon would be too exhausted to sip and hold the bowl on her own she held the girl in her lap, propping her up with a delicate push before trying to softly feed it to her little by little. She'd occasionally blow on it for Avilon trying to support her with such a basic thing when she could simply use magic to achieve the same effect. Naturally she chose this way because it was usually a lot more satisfying to physically eat something after a hard fought battle and effort then it was to just suddenly feel full. Either way, Lucia didn't try to split hairs as she supported the girl who would ideally become her knight in the future.

 

Avilon's breath was heavy, her stamina partially drained but recovering after her long training session as she wandered to collapse beside Lucia. Even in a virtual reality it was still tiring to keep up such a work ethic in battle. It wasn't like that of her daily school return, perhaps she needed to test more of the game parameters constructing new builds to test. As she heard the rather docile voice of her companion she stopped looking over to the bowl ready to accept it but instead of her hands she felt the rim of the cool bowl pushed up to her lips. A shocked gulp would follow her expression as she slurped up the broth. the salty liquid was refreshing after the magically rejuvenated respites.

A gentle brush spread across her lips as she swallowed down small sips at a time. At first she wiggled about uncomfortably till she realized this was just a kind offering. After exerting herself she didn't even have to feed herself. Avi's eyes gently fluttered in her exhausted state now shuffling her weight over and making loud gulping noises as she couldn't keep quiet while nervous. As the broth was finished off she gasped and leaned back into Lucia now staring off embarrassed by the display she just performed in. "Thank you ..." she whispered still avoiding eye contact with Lucia.

 

Lucia chuckled a little seeing Avilon being so drained. She continued stroking the girl's hair while feeding her with a warm smile. "It was tough huh?" She whispered even while she brushed the other girl's hair. She continued holding onto Avilon until she was done with the soup, setting the bowl aside with a soft breath before letting the woman relax in her lap. Her hand softly stroking her hair idly while watching her with a content expression. "No need for thanks. Aren't you my responsibility at this point?" She asked trying to give the girl a soft kiss on the forehead.

It wasn't the first time Lucia had done something this close and affectionate, but at the same time she was doing it more and more often. As if trying to bridge the gap without words, there wasn't any kind of confession or any talk of feelings, instead, Lucia was just playfully pushing Avi little by little, letting her get used to one thing before moving onto the next. This time, she leaned down to kiss her lips as well with a warm chuckle. "Now, if it gets late we'll be in trouble with this ground camp. What would you prefer? Checking into an inn again or making our camp like usual just the two of us?" She asked giving the girl another soft pet knowing that they should start to make plans or else they'd get caught out at night time again.