Training of the Royal Court (Closed)

(Friday of Week 19)

It was near dawn when the pair arrived at the forest, with Mirai on an errand with her Honne and Ren and Rider was at some unknown place, Caster and Rayden had decided to take this opportunity to grow as combatants and as teammates. Upon arriving Rayden took a deep breath and gave a look around at the scenery enjoying every bit of it as if he were finally at peace. Reminds me of home. Rayden thought back to his years training in his village where he would enter the forest in the morning and not return until dusk. "This is how one should train, not in some sort of facility. Don't you agree Caster?" Rayden turned back to look at Caster, Rayden had always proffered the mornings but had been scolded by Mirai as being obnoxious, he wondered how Caster would fair waking up to train so early in the day.

Caster yawned, stretching and giving a light shrug. "There is something about it, yes, but honestly I like the assurance I won't burn it down and get mauled by Smokey the Ursa."

The forest was nice, and it reminded Caster of watching the countryside roll by while riding on the train through Remnant. He turned to Rayden with a smile. "So tell me, sir knight, what you had in mind for this little stroll of ours."

Rayden took two steps forward and turned around to face Caster with an expression of utmost seriousness. He drew Chevalier from its scabbard and dug its blade into the ground before him. Past mistakes had taught Rayden never to take a training expedition lightly and he hoped to teach this to Caster as well. "This is no mere stroll Caster, this is a training exercise. We exist in a world filled with incredible dangers which we must survive against. The point of this exercise is to give us a small taste of what that world is like. We shall survive off the land, defend against Grimm, and look out for each other. Over the course of this expedition we will not slip up in the slightest, if we do our lives and the lives of those we must protect are forfeit." Rayden dug Chevalier out of the ground, swung the dirt away, and re sheathed it before turning around and walking. "It is our duty to grow stronger...and I hope that we will be able to become better teammates." Rayden continued his militaristic walk with his back toward Caster. What Caster would not be able to see would be Rayden's nervous and wide eyed expression. I hope that wasn't too much.

'Whoa. I guess Rayden is really serious about this.' Biting his lip slightly, Caster gave a small nod that he know Rayden couldn't see, taking long strides to catch up with him.

"Hey, you're right. I didn't mean to seem like I wan't taking this seriously, I was just trying to lighten the mood. What's the plan?" Caster began walking next to Rayden, pushing his hand into his jacket pockets.

"It is fine Caster I know you meant no harm. My issue is with forest, they bring both good and bad memories." Rayden continued to walk as he gave himself a break from talking so much and knew there would be much more to come. After a few minutes he finally spoke up again to answer Caster's question. "Considering this is our first exercise I did not wish for us to do something too difficult. Quite some time ago I found a cave in this forest. Upon trying to explore it I found it was quite dangerous and labyrinthine for one man alone. Our goal is simple, find the cave and explore it." Rayden remained silent once more, but considering their lack of equipment this expedition would be much harder than Rayden let on. 

After about a half hour's walk the duo reached the edge of a clearing and Rayden gave a satisfied look. "Caster draw your weapons." Taking his own advice Rayden donned his helm and drew Chevalier followed by releasing Sistete. Now in full battle gear Rayden seemed like a terrifying force as he held Caster toward the center of the clearing.  Once the were in the middle Rayden took a deep breath and raised Chevalier high into the sky. In a simultaneous action Rayden brought Chevalier down against his shield with extreme force and let out a bone chilling battle cry. The two explosive sounds resonated through the clearing and spread into the forest, appearing to shake the trees. Such a forceful yell from one as quiet as Rayden would have brought fear into any who did not know him. 

After the sound had ceased the trees continued to shake but this time from a different threat, a threat seeking a challenge. Rayden peered into the forest and found numerous eyes staring back him, he smirked as he prepared for battle. "Caster prepare yourself! Step one is securing a safe base camp!" From the North and South came two Ursa each and from the East and West came five and six Beowolves respectively. From the East attacked three Beowolves toward Caster while the others remained behind to observe. From the North came one of the Ursa ready to devour Rayden. 

Rayden held his ground not wanting to leave Caster defenseless as the Ursa came toward him. 

Enemy Count
Ursa: 4 Beowolves: 11

Caster was about to respond to Rayden when he was cut off by the direction to draw his weapons. Unsure of what his teammate was doing, he slowly raised up his hands, shaking them in a "jazz hands" way.

"Rayden, what are you-" Suddenly the sound of Rayden's battle cry made Caster jump, blinking in confusion and feeling his heart race in his chest. "doing..?" A response wasn't needed, however, given the shaking in the trees. The next order Rayden gave assured Caster he thought correctly, followed by Grimm charging them.

Spinning in a less graceful than usual manner, however still fluid and quick, Caster pointed two finger at one of the beowolve's head. "Bang!" he shouted, a pellet of ice forced like a bullet using kinetic dust. As it shot Caster gently lifted into the air, letting it force him back and attempting to flip over another member of the pack.

Caster's attack pierces the Beowolf's neck and brings it falling at the ground as it begins to bleed out from its fatal wound, his attempt at jumping over the other is successful but still leaves the remaining wolf coming toward him. 

With Caster off fighting his own battle Rayden charges toward the Ursa. Noticing its prey has chosen to end its own life, the Ursa brings its paw upwards and swings it down toward Rayden who blocks with his shield. The weight of the attack pushes down on Rayden's shield but he bears it and prepares his own attack. Bringing his sword across his shield with incredible strength Rayden severs the arm of the Ursa and backs off as it begins its attack enraged. 

While these fights are going on, the eight remaining Beowolves move back into the forest out of the few of the duo, likely preparing for a surprise attack. 

Enemy Count 
Ursa: 4 Beowolves: 10

"Gosh, a noisy bunch you are." Caster smirked, pushing his palm against the underside of the wolf charging him's muzzle, staring at the beast with no fear as he forced the jaw to clench. "Gale!"

Wind dust shot up, hopefully forcing the wolf's neck to snap as Caster attempted to kick what would hopefully be a body away, pointing a hand at the third would. "You must be angry, my good sir! Just cool down!" With a slight wink, Caster shouted "Blizzard!", firing a blast of ice dust.

The wolf's body falls to the floor, limp and lifeless but the same could not be said about the second wolf. Though Caster's attack froze most of its body, one arm and the head escaped the chilled blast. The wolf began to claw at the ice as it tried to escape before letting out a ferocious howl to its brethren. The other wolves reciprocated the howl but nothing emerged from the forest. The smell of dead and dying wolves however did attract the attention of the both southern Ursa. The larger Grimm charged toward Caster preparing to tackle him. 

With only one arm to attack the Ursa become quite predictable letting Rayden evade its attacks without the use of his shield. Rayden takes a quick glaces at Caster's situation and considers helping him, his thought are interrupted however when the Ursa makes a swipe that nearly connects. Close. This must end. Rayden leaps back and detaches his shield from his arm, he tosses the shield at the Ursa's face obstructing its vision. The shield is easily swatted away by the Ursa but Rayden is no longer behind the shield. He took the opportunity of obstructed vision to leap high into the air and bring his blade down into the Grimm's skull ending its life. 


With the death of its comrade the other Ursa becomes enraged and charged toward Rayden. He presses the triangular button on Chevalier and prepares for the next fight.

Enemy Count
Ursa: 3 Beowolves: 9   

"Whoa there, big guy." Caster was actually laughing, ducking away from the Ursa and behind the flailing beowolf. "Ursa, ursa! It's going to get me! Please sir, help me!" Suddenly he pressed a palm to the icy surface covering the Grimm's back and produced a face yawn. "Up and away!" With that a blast of wind dust forced Caster off of his feet, with enough of a blast to knock the beowolf quiet forcefully into the Ursa.

Giving a glance at Rayden, Caster kicked his feet directly into the dead Ursa's side, riding it's body onto the ground and lifting his arms. "Ta dah!" he grinned, hopping off and looking around the area. "We should do this more often!"

The frozen wolf was sent flying toward the Ursa but it would take more than that to surprise it. Just as the previous one swatted away Rayden's shield, this Ursa hit the Beowolf with great force ending its life and sending it off to the side as it continued its charge toward Caster. 

Rayden noticed Caster had come quite close to him and smiled at his progress on the task at hand. "Yes we should but there was something my master would often say to me. 'One should finish all that is on his plate before he asks for seconds.'" Rayden nodded his head toward the charging Ursa and a pair of red eyes hidden in the forest. "Don't drop your guard Caster always remember that." With his advice delivered Rayden shot off toward the other Ursa with the chain of his weapon in one hand and the bladed sickle in the other. 

It is only moments later that Rayden and the Ursa are within range of each other. The beast brings down its paw in a great vertical swing at Rayden but he rolls to the left. With a quick spin of his chain Rayden launches his sickle at the Ursa catching it by the side and pulls, leaving a deep gash and an incredible amount of pain.

Enemy Count
Ursa: 3 Beowolves: 8

Caster laughed, smiling and watching Rayden attack the Ursa head on. He looked around, trusting Rayden had the situation under control and keeping himself ready.

"But Rayden, I'm starving! Can you blame me when Rider hogs all the Grimm for himself?"

Rayden snickered at Caster's comment while circling his opponent. At least he has a good attitude. The smile on Rayden's face was quickly erased as he put his attention back on the Ursa before him, the gash in its side had taken its effect and the beast began to stagger but still had enough fight in it to charge at Rayden. After extending his chain as far as it could go, Rayden began to swing the weighted pommel in a circular motion to build up momentum before launching it toward the Ursa's face. The hit connected blinding the Ursa in one eye and causing it to fall to the floor. At Rayden's feet, the Grimm tried to lift itself back up in order to attack but upon turning its face up to growl it would be met with the barrel of Obiettivo. Rayden kept a straight face and pulled the trigger ending the beast. 

Rayden turned toward Caster and notices a multitude of red eyes fixed on his friend. "Caster it appears you will have quite a feast in a few moments!" Rayden changed Chevalier back into is sword form and aimed Obiettivo at the other two Ursas. He fired a shot at the ground near their feet drawing their attention toward him. 

As the Ursa shifted their interest toward Rayden, the eyes saw their opportunity at what seemed like an easy meal. From the shadows shot forth a pack of 8 wolves, the wolves that had previously lost members of their pack, and charged straight toward Caster. 6 of the wolves attacked head on while 2 others attempted to flank him from either side.

Enemy Count
Ursa:2 Beowolves: 8

'Feast?' Caster blinked, turning his gaze to see six beowolves charging at him. "Ohhh". At first his look was of surprise, but it melted to a sly grin as he readied both hand like guns, pointing them at two of the Grimm's heads as he hopped up. "Bang".

With surprising grace Caster flipped upside-down as he flew backwards, twisting his body to turn and seeing two more beowolves. Extending an arm, Caster crushed one of their windpipes as he smashed against it's throat.

"Whoops! Excuse me, sir!" he laughed, the contact stopping Caster's momentum as he outstretched an arm to the other Grimm. "Up and away!" The burst of dust sent the beowolf flying towards a tree with bone breaking force as Caster used the backlash to land on the ground with a slight bow, looking at the approaching five beowolves and smirking. "Ah, my next volunteers! Let's make this the grand finale."

Outstretching his arms behind him, Caster smirked as he said "Up and away." His body shot forward at the Grimm until he flipped and let a foot smash against one's face with a loud crack.

"Combust!" he shouted, extending both hands to keep the other three wolves at bay while riding the crushed skull of the one he kicked onto the ground, pointing at the chest of one of them. "Prepared to be electrified! Volt!"

A shot of electric dust struck the beowolve's chest and Caster turned to see the fire disappearing, pointing to the ground and chuckling. "Blizzard." he yawned, freezing the ground and watching the beowolves fall in front of him.

"Thank you, my lovely volunteers." Caster bowed, pointing at both the Grimm's head and standing back up with a "Bang.", blowing off both their heads and laughing to himself.

Rayden changed Chevalier back to its sword mode and charged at the Ursa picking up Sistete along the way.  He did however manage to catch Caster's movements against the Beowolves and smiled. "What a lovely performance Caster!" Now it is my turn. 

Rayden closed the distance between he and the two Ursa in only moments with one directly in front of him and the other two his left. Both attacked simultaneously but Rayden was prepared. He brought his shield up to protect his left and slashed outward and diagonally with Chevalier. The attack cut through the Ursa's ligament causing its attack to stop. 

Rolling to the right, Rayden now placed one of the Ursa between himself and the other. Spotting an opportunity to end the battle Rayden sliced at the the first Ursa's knee causing it to fall, wounded but still very much alive. Not wasting any time however before the Ursa rose once more, Rayden leaped over the best toward the other giving it a kick to the back of the head and knocking it onto the other.

Rayden landed as gracefully as he could on the other side and looked toward Caster. "Caster, I require assistance for the finale! Ice to hold them together and a lift to the heavens for myself." Rayden held his ground as he prepared for Caster's actions. 

Enemy Count:
Ursa: 2 Beowolves: 0

A large grin crept over Caster's lips as he outstretched an arm, focusing on the two Grimm as he joyfully shouted "Blizzard!" The blast of ice dust surrounded the Ursa until the were frozen into place, their bodies stuck together now. "I'll have to ask you two to hold still for my lovely assistant, now."

Taking out his wand, Caster set down a slightly angled towards the struggling beast. "Now, if you would just step here..." A slight chuckle escaped his lips, prepared to boost the knight with a blast of dust once his heavy body was in the air.