2022-08-26 - Asking the Right Questions
| Title: Asking the Right Questions | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Fate invites Kyouka out for training session, and they make some unexpected progress in Kyouka's development as a mage. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Nishitama Park District | |
| OOC - IC Date: August 26, 2022 - Thursday, Jan 07, 2016. | |
.****************************** Tama Outer City *******************************.
- +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* Nishitama Park District +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The largest, but least densely populated area of Tokyo, Nishitama is on the
westernmost border of the great metropolis, where city has become town,
which becomes forest, which finally becomes towering mountain. Consisting
mostly of woods and mountains, Nishitama is home to lush greenery, ample
wildlife, and fresh flowing water that has yet to be tainted by the city
below. Fishing and hiking are popular here, and in good weather,
city-dwellers who long to stretch their legs can camp out in the forest
without ever leaving Tokyo's borders.
The spiritually inclined can find a wealth of opportunity in Nishitama's
mountains. The nearby Mount Mitake has been regarded as sacred since time
beyond memory, and a Shinto shrine at its peak safeguards its considerable
power. Mount Mito was forbidden ground throughout the Sengoku era, a policy
which preserved some ancient beech trees on its hills. Finally, the
2000-meter Mount Kumotori is the tallest in the area, with a clear view of
distant Mount Fuji and much of the region from its summit.
All of this natural beauty is a mere hour and a half from Shinjuku Station
even at the extreme end of the district.
- +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* Players +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Fate Testarossa (T|5th) <Fate Testaros Kyouka Okazaki (U|10th) <Kyouka Okazaki
.*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+--+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
It's nearing the end of Winter Vacation. Though as a result of it still being Winter Vacation, Fate invites Kyouka to a more rural region in outer Tama early in the morning. It's about an hour and a half by train, much less if one were to fly.
It's cold, though the ground isn't covered with snow right now even if the mountain is a ways up. She's dressed in what looks like a tracksuit with a winter jacket, gloves, and a winter hat. And the first hour of the session? She has them spend running, just running without transforming.
This is almost certainly not a problem for Kyouka given her background, the interesting thing perhaps is just how athletic, and competitive this kid is even untransformed. She not only tries to keep up, despite her legs not being as long - but she actually tries to continually pull ahead and take the lead.
When the hour is up, they've settled into this wide forest clearing. Fate doesn't even look winded. "Okay. Now that we're warmed up." Fate says with this sense of cheer, "Let's transform and get started."
<Get Set. Drive Impulse - Ignition>
It happens quickly, as she's clad in her barrier jacket, one piece at a time, violet lightning highlighting her between a helix of gold. Bardiche materializes as a poleaxe, and she holds him at her side.
"So we'll start with a simple exercise in dodging spells. Once I gauge where you're at, I'll increase the difficulty. I noticed during our recent battle that Strike Wolf doesn't appear to have an Auto-Protection functionality, or if he does, it isn't active at this time. As a result, dodging is even more important for you."
Fate takes a beat pause, "Speed is not as important as reflexes, and instinct. So don't worry about increasing your speed yet. Just work on dodging as you are. The quick judgment call, and forcing your body to move accordingly. I'll be modulating the power of my spells as low as possible, so at most if you get struck - you'll feel a sting. But they are lightning spells, so the more you get struck, the harder it becomes."
<Photon Lancer.>
Spherical globes of white light wink into existence around Fate, with violet lightning coruscating off the surface. It's an old spell of hers, not even the most recent version, but it's ideal for training at the earliest stages. "Ah this almost nostalgic, isn't it Bardiche?"
<Yes Sir.>
"When you're ready, go. Don't leave the clearing for now, we'll move on to the forest later."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka hasn't mastered flight yet. She contemplated making a run in her transformed state--she's pretty athletic, after all, but she'd rather not wear herself out more than she has to, especially going into a training session. So, train it is. Good thing she's used to getting up early.
She herself is dressed to work out, in sweats and a hoodie, with gloves and a beanie for good measure. She also comes with a small backpack--if asked, she explains that she's brought snacks for the both of them, and there's a pair of large water bottles strapped to the sides.
... All of which she has to haul with her for that hour long endurance run, but she bears it without complaint. That hour long run is definitely not a problem for her, however. She's actually a bit more worried about Fate, at least initially. She does her best to both pace herself and not get too far ahead, but when she sees you pushing yourself, trying to keep up and also to pull ahead, well... that makes her grin. And she subtly pushes herself just a little bit to help encourage you, too. At least, as long as it's clear that you're still managing to keep up.
All the same, when they get to the clearing she's glad enough to drop off her excess load for a bit, stretching her shouldres out. When you instruct her to change, she nods. "Alright, Testarossa-sensei." Of course, she says that without any sense of derision or tounge-in-cheekness. It's not her first time taking instructions from someone younger than her.
<Stand by ready.>
"Strike Wolf, set up!" Her own transformation is just as brief, surging purple energy surrounding her, Strike Wolf's gauntlet form forming on her hand, along with the matching gauntlet on her left.
She listens attentively as you explain the exercise. She frowns a little when you mention Auto-Protection, looking to her device. There's no reply for the moment. "Right... The barrier jacket seems like it can take a bit of punishment--" she distinctly recalls being thrown into a firetruck by a shockwave "--buuuuut I probably shouldn't test my luck."
"Got it," she says, as you issue further instructions. That phrase 'as low as possible' does give her some pause. Hopefully that means 'to the minimum possible to still be a spell' and not 'as low as Fate can do with her superior magic power.'
She watches with great interest as you form the spell, then takes a few hops back to at least put some distance between the two of them. She takes a quick moment to limber up, and then nods, settling into a ready pose. "Alright... I'm good."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate blinks at being called sensei, but doesn't seem to shy away from it.
"It can, but defending against Magical Spells and Physical Attacks are quite different." Fate notes, of her Barrier Jacket, "The Ogre was a being that used mostly Physical Attacks."
Kyouka says she's ready, and Fate has a thin smile, "Alright. Let's begin." It starts slow, the globes however are not slow - they fire off quite swiftly. It's just she's only letting one go at a time.
She waits to see how well Kyouka takes to it, before raising Bardiche and adds in every so often, an extra Photon Lancer fired directly form his head, like a bullet from some long barreled rifle. Still though, she's just remaining in this one spot on the ground, firing, and firing. Her accuracy despite not moving from that spot to get a better bead on her is pretty... wildly good. Which means that Kyouka has to stay on her toes to keep evading.
If she gets struck, Kyouka gets perhaps a three second breather before she starts firing again, at least at this low setting.
However, Fate seems to be assessing what strategy she's going to use for this, whether she's going to stay on the ground, or go aerial with leaps, and how she handles dodging in mid-air without the ability to fly.
She's not going to bump up the difficulty until she knows that much.
"That shield I put up during our spar before?" Fate asks, while still firing at her, "Without knowing anything about magic, and being unable to cast spells as of yet, how would you tackle it if your opponent raised one during a more serious battle?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka will gladly use another title if Fate supplies one (or stop if she says to stop, for that matter.) But when in Rome... (or Japan, for that matter.)
AS for dodging those Photon Lancer shots, go... well her first instinct is to just dodge, reacting purely by gut at the speed of the first one and just turning her body and leaning back to let it pass by her. "Whoa! Alright..." She's a bit more prepared after that, and actually starts moving back and forth. She starts with quick hops from side to side, though as you start adding in extra shots she responds with bigger motions and start making leaps into occasional soumersaults, or handsprings or other things to becomes a more unpredictable target.
A few shots get through, here and there, but each time it does she tries a different tack--she's testing out different strategies just as much as you're assessing her. And if you're wondering about mid-air dodges, the answer eventually comes. On one leap, she realizes you're about to fire an extra shot--a small spell circle appears in mid-air at her feet and she kicks off of it. Instead of completing the arc of her jump she's suddenly angling straight down at the ground, letting the shot pass through the space she just was. She recovers with a quick flip to land in a crouch, and from there bounds off again to keep moving.
That's her answer to the lack of flight, at the moment. It's probably the same thing she did to catch the falling woman to get over the crowds.
She considers your question, though the momentary distraction earns her one of the few successful hits. But she shakes it off, and waits for the process to resume before answer. "I guess that would depend on my positioning... hup!" Another jump. "If I was grounded, I guess I could try to power through it, but it'd probably be easier--whoop--" A last moment stop to keep from running into a bolt. "--easier to redirect, come at it from another angle."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate tries her best to note what she was doing each time a shot lands. However, Kyouka's instincts are solid, and she takes note of all the various strategies she's using to defeat them. "When you say power through it - do you mean through raw strength? A single blow?"
Fate asks gently, but there's a certain urgency of clarification, "And I mentioned auto-protection before. What happens if the mage can reform that field instantly, from a different angle to compensate? What if they don't even have to do it consciously, because their Device does it for them?"
It's an interesting scenario perhaps, she could just show her, but part of this is trying to get her honest assessment in a battle while she's being harried by Fate's attacks. It's one thing to sit still and think on tactics against an unfamiliar opponent, it's another in the middle of a fight.
"Alright. You've done well so far. I'm going to turn up the difficulty slightly."
<Plasma Lancer.>
This time, runic rings form in mid-air, as glowing arrowheads form within them. "There's a difference between this spell and the last one I used. I won't tell you what it is. You'll see it first hand... Fire."
One arrowhead lances out. Fate waits for her to dodge it and then says...
"Turn."
The arrowhead stops in mid-air, catching in another runic ring, before changing direction and firing straight at Kyouka's back.
Fortunately there's a tell, but despite that being telegraphed slightly, can she still dodge it?
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka is having quite a few more near-misses now that she's trying to keep up a conversation--though she's definitely prioritizing evasion over talking, so there's some lapses in her replies. "Well, a single blow, sure, but you'd have to have to be able to brace yourself for it--at least, that's my thinking for doing it with physical attacks. The set up and wind up to do all of that in a real fight probably isn't worth it." Her tone indicates that she's speculating, but obviously not considering magic at all.
"Then... I suppose that's when you'd want some magic to your follow up question," she replies to your follow-up. She's frowning a bit as she contemplates--or does her bet to contempalte while still dodging around your attacks. "A barrier like the one you showed me seems suited to blocking point attacks, but I suppose if you had a bigger attack, like... an explosion, or if you could attack from multiple points at once, at least one might get through..."
She takes a moment to pause and catch her breath as you announce that you're turning up the difficulty. Again, she watches the spell change with interest.
This time, at least, she's ready with a leap to the side to dodge the first one--so she's got at least a little bit of distance when she hears you say 'Turn.'
That didn't sound like you were talking to her--recognition hits, and she turns just in time to catch the arrowhead in her gauntleted hands, trying to brace the attack. So, that's a no for dodging. But she managed something, at least.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate watches her dodge, or at least try to she then nods succinctly in the aftermath. "Don't worry that you didn't dodge that. That's usually a surprise for most people the first time they face it. Even very experienced opponents." Even Signum had trouble with it the first time she used it.
Fate remains in the same spot, "I'm going to do more of those. It'll be in that one - two kind of rhythm. You'll always be dodging at least twice now."
More start to fire, each time if she misses the first, she punctuates a 'Turn' afterwards, and it comes back at her from a different angle. Kyouka will note that it doesn't come straight back, like just a complete reversal of trajectory, but seems to adapt whichever way she dodges.
"It's not a bad idea, if you're strong enough - or have a powerful enough spell - Turn."
Another arrowhead like spell shot changes course towards her. "An explosion is also an idea. Though one would have to center it in on the mage itself, rather than somewhere in front of where the field is directed. Turn. A powerful enough explosion might disrupt the barrier though."
Fate then offers her another solution, "If you're not powerful enough though to break a barrier in a single blow - Turn - or it would take too much of your energy. Another option is to overwhelm it - with a bombardment. Many smaller hits - Turn - from different angles."
And like she has said, mid conversation, so many spells form and fire - and redirect on her. One at a time, to get her used to this 1-2 rhythm of dodging. It's only one extra step, but it's a useful extra step in her eyes.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yeow!" utters Kyouka in the aftermath of catching that blast head on. Most of the hits have been glancing, at least. She shakes her hands out to get rid of the momentary numbness as she turns to face you. Far from being concerned or disappointed, she's actually grinning a little. "I have to admit, that's a neat trick."
She nods as you mention the new rule for the training exercise. "Got it!" She takes to the new rhymth of the exercise with relish--it's definitely more challenging now, but that just makes it more interesting. She's having to exert herself more, being mindful of both you and what's going on behind her, meaning her battlefield awareness is being pushed as she experiments with both turning to track the rebound shots to dodge them, and also just moving without looking, trying to predict and react without sight. It's a mixed bag of results, but as ever she's continually experimenting.
She's even adding in more of those mid-air direction changes, adding a horizontal rebound in the opposite of a sideways leap, or on one occasion attempting two directs in the air before touching down again.
"Right..." she says, to acknowledge Fate's observation that an eplosion would have to be centered on the mage. Again, her side of the conversation is halted and comes in fragments--unlike you, she has quite a bit more to process at the moment. "Overwhelm it, huh...?" she repeats thoughtfully. She seems to be contemplating it as she leaps. "Like trying to break through a boxer's defense..." she muses out loud as she tries to relate the idea to something she's done before."
"Different angles, kinda like this?" she asks with a slight grin in between two attacks.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
"Right."
Fate says of it like trying to break through a boxer's defense.
"Just like that. As an example..."
Fate fires off one more Plasma Lancer. "Turn."
Then she actually rises into the air above the treeline, as a runic ring appears at her feet. <Photon Lancer - Phalanx Shift.>
And suddenly the entire line parallel to her is alit with so many globes that they seem beyond counting. The entire line takes up the whole width of the clearing. It's not actually her showing off. It's just a demonstration. "My teacher taught me to do this to overwhelm a barrier."
Another runic ring appears in front of her, a good distance into the clearing, then two more layers beyond it. <Multi-Defenser.>
Fate raises Bardiche, then lowers him abruptly "Fire."
The spell fires asynchronously, the first line of sphere pounding into the first barrier like raindrops. Eventually it warps, cracks, then shatters like glass, before it strikes. The spell then strikes into the next layer of barrier, pounding into it until it breaks too. Then the next - eventually all of them are gone. The sky is still alit with smoke and the smell of ozone.
"Strike Wolf may be 'incomplete' but magic - spells - they come from the bond between wielder and Device. I don't doubt as you two grow closer, that some will come to you. Then you will be able to apply this kind of theory to developing them. Or create new spells entirely."
Fate lowers herself back down, "Until then. You can simply apply that kind of offensive magical theory to physical attacks. Even if you can't use spells yourself - knowing how magic works and how defend against it and combat it...? That's more important than any number of spells you can learn."
Fate tries to offer a supportive smile, "You'll get there. One step at a time."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The last attack fired off before you rise into the air for your demonstration she manages to backflip over the return strike without looking, landing in a ready crouch for the next one. But then you do rise into the air, and you summon...
A rather alarming number of projectiles. Enough that her immediate reaction is to spring backwards to gain more distance and assume the best defensive stance she can. After a moment she relaxes--she realizes attacking her like this, at this point, would be wildly out of character for you--at least, if she's judged you correctly so far.
She lets out an appreciative whistle as she watches your demonstration. She in no way is taking it as you showing off--she recognizes the value of what you're trying to impart, and how she can apply it, even at her current level of skill. "This is all useful information... the more I see the better of an idea I get of how things work, the more new possibilities I can imagine."
She returns that supportive smile, "Thanks. I appreciate it."
But that bit about creating new spells. She snaps her fingers as if she just remembered something. "Oh! Speaking of, Strike Wolf and I have been working on something..." She scans the surroundings, looking for a decent place to show it off.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
It's reasonable that someone would be alarmed by such a spell. It is after all a spell that's meant to inspire fear, at least, that's what her Mother told her - she doubts that was Linith's intent.
"I'm glad I'm able to help in that regard. You're welcome."
Though when she says that Strike Wolf and her have been working on something, some curiosity flecks into Fate's eyes. While she wants to continue training in the fundamentals, anything new she's learned might help guide that training.
"Please, show me."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Intended or no, it definitely inspired some panick in Kyouka. She's nible, but that only gets you so far in the face of overwhelming numbers.
She grins as you ask her to show you, hopping into a tree to scout around. "It's not really combat-related... well, not by itself, but Strike Wolf and I were working on movement, and... Okay, there!" She points to a nearby rock wall. "I need a large surface to show it off properly."
It's a short jaunt, especially for two magical girls, and when they get there, Kyouka faces the wall. "Okay, Strike Wolf, let's go." She plants her feet and stands upright, with her hands outstretched. A series of concentric circles inscribed with runs appear underneath her feet. "Freerunning mode, activate!" The words Freerunning Mode appear across Strike Wolf's surface, and a surge of energy flows up from the circle over Kyouka's body, up to her head and then down to settle on her boots.
And then she charges right at the wall, jumping up to make contact and keep running upwards... and then she stops, and stands upright--or sticks right out from the wall, from your perspective. She looks 'up' at you and gives a little wave. "We, uh... figured out how to enable me to run and move on any surface. It's not flight, but..." She demonstrates with a series of flips and rolls, but vertically up and down the wall and laterally, moving parallel with the ground.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate listens to Kyouka say it's not really combat related, but doesn't say anything, other than, "Okay." And quickly flies off after her towards that rock surface. And then she activates that mode...
"Huh."
Fate then watches her run up the wall, then sticks to it.
Fate remains with feet firmly planted on the ground. "That's very impressive." Fate says, and she actually sounds sincere? Not like she's patronizing her at all. In her eyes, progress is progress. "And don't look down on yourself because you can't fly. Many mages can't. Many friends of mine didn't learn to fly for years. And some never do, they simply learn to fight in a different way."
Fate smiles her way, "It's still a step forward."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka grins a little bit as you declare it impressive, and she takes you at your word. She jumps off of the wall--jumping up from her spective, arcing down to the ground, where she lands right side up in a crouch next to you. "Thanks! We were working on movement, and ways to do it better... before I could only jump or run straight up, but this gives more flexibility. I could, for instance, actually dodge something if I needed to. It even works upside down."
She nods a bit as you explain that not all mages can fly. "Yeah. I feel like... I'll get it eventually? But right now I'm playing to my strengths, you know?"
She grins and nods at it being a step forward. "Yep! Lots of steps on walls, in this case," she says with a small laugh. "So... should we get back to it?"
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate's smile doesn't fade.
"Yes, we should."
<Photon Lancer.>
More of those magical spheres form. "But now that I know you can do this. We should do it here. Dodging while running up a vertical surface isn't the same as doing it on the ground. There's only so many strategies you can use."
The way Fate sees it, if she doesn't train her this way, and Kyouka tries to evade up a brick wall during a fight - and figures out only then that she can't necessarily dodge as expected, it's her fault as her trainer.
"Are you ready?" Once she does, "Fire."
The spheres move out, once at a time, she's backed off the difficulty somewhat. Plasma Lancer wouldn't be that useful firing it at a rock wall anyway, once it strikes, it dissipates.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka wasn't planning on giving this a stress test just yet--she'd hoped to practice on her own, first, but... she's having the same thoughts Fate's having. No better experience than actually doing it. Plus she does need work getting used to the change in perspective, too.
"Alright." She quickly reactivates the mode, and hops back and up onto the wall with a backflip. She settles into a stance so that she's ready to move, and looks 'up' at you. "Alright, go!"
And back to dodging and springing around. Her movement seems relatively unhindered in this mode--though some astute observation may reveal that she's keeping her maximum height somewhat in check, but other than that she moves just like she was on the ground. Though the extreme angle of the attack also takes some additional getting used to.
"Okay, this is..." she says in between movements, "A bit weird looking at you this way... how is it for you?"
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate finds herself intrigued by it, how her movement seems unhindered. She finds herself flying up now, and bombarding her with Photon Lancer after Photon Lancer sphere, but not really picking up the rhythm yet, just testing out how she moves. Then... she asks what it's like for her.
"It's interesting. It makes me wonder if it's function acts more upon local gravity than upon the wall itself."
Fate seems to mull it over for a bit...
"It might be indicative of some of the kinds of spells that Strike Wolf may be specialized towards. Though maybe not too, not all movement spells necessarily tell you what the Device's specialty is."
Pause, "I notice you were limiting how far you jumped out from it. I'm guessing that's because if you go too far away from the surface, gravity reasserts itself as normal?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka does get hit with the occasional Photon Lance sphere, as before, but also as before she's constantly adjusting and trying new stuff out. At the very least she makes an odd profile this way.
"Well, when I was practicing ascending up a wall and noticed my movements were limited, I asked Strike Wolf if we could treet the wall as the floor, so..."
From her wrist, the device confirms with an <Affirmative.>
"Yeah, we're still working on that... But once I had the idea, we worked together to figure out how to implement it, so... your guess is as good as mine, still." And then she nods to your last observation. "Yeah, actually. I can switch it to different surfaces, so I can go over edges or around corners, but I still have to stay relatively close for it to work. We're still experimenting with it and figuring out how to tweak it."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
"That's very impressive."
Fate says as she listens to her experimentation. And limitations.
Though it also begs an important question.
"Strike Wolf. Did you know you could do that before she asked?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka looks to her device, also curious in the answer to this. She'd just taken it as one of those 'things you and your device work out over time' deals--though admittedly a few days might be kind of fast. But even so...
There's quite a bit of processing time before the answer eventually comes. <Negative.>
The mage herself frowns a little as she contemplates that answer, and then looks to her trainer. "Is... that good? Or bad?"
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate listens for the answer, then is quiet for a while, as if assessing this...
"It's good in the sense that incomplete doesn't necessarily mean Strike Wolf is missing functionalities as a result of it, just his ability to recall them."
Her red eyes look up to try and meet Kyouka's. "It just means we need to ask the right questions, possibly at the right time. And perhaps he'll recall them then."
Though as a simple test, she suddenly creates...
<Defenser Plus>
A concentric runic ring appears, a barrier like before, hovering outwards from the palm of one of Fate's gauntlets.
"Strike Wolf, can you defeat this barrier with a spell?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka considers Fate's expanation. "Okay, I see your point. There's been a few things that I couldn't get Strike Wolf to explain, but that he could still just do."
She nods as you mention asking the right questions. "Yeah, I've been doing my best to investigate and try and figure out more about him, but... I'm not a computer person. Or a magic person, I guess." At least not yet.
She watches that barrier form again, and looks down curiously at her device curiously as it processes the answer.
<Affirmative. Adjusting parameters.> Strike Wolf seems to modulate itself in some way, and how the energy within itself is distributed. <Piercing Fang.>
Kyouka holds up the gauntlet and looks it over. "Huh..." She looks up at Fate. "I think I know what I'm supposed to do with this..." She crouches, though her odd perch means it takes her an extra moment to figure out the trajectory.
And then she leaps, and aims right for the barrier, slamming her fist into it with all of her might. True to its word, it starts to penetrate the outermost layers, although Kyouka has to eventually drop back down to the ground--the forest floor, not the wall. From there she looks up to Fate. "Well?"
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate watches, and waits as Strike Wolf processes, and then...
... a spell is cast, and her eyes light up. Fate doesn't put additional power into the barrier, she just waits as Kyouka clashes into it, to see what it can do. The fist smashes into it. And Fate waits, and waits. It's perhaps a testament to how experienced a mage she is that her protection spell holds even against a spell that's designed to break it apart.
However, at the end of the attack, a spider web of cracks forms across the structure of its Golden runes from the impact point, to the outside, a few pieces in the center start to chip off. A smile alights on her face.
'Well?'
"Good work." Fate says in reply, looking at her with those red eyes. "It seems that even if Strike Wolf is damaged, he responds to need. Which means that it might be possible to discover spells by training you in a different variety of situations."
However, she then adds...
"That might not be enough. Some spells may only come in battle, from the bond between you and him. Without him being complete, it might be more difficult for him to access or form some spells."
Fate pauses, then flies up a distance, putting herself in a position that would be difficult for Kyouka to reach, short of an intense amount of leaping. From where she is - Kyouka and Strike Wolf suddenly hear telepathically.
<<Strike Wolf - Can you hit me from where you are - right now?>>
It seems she's testing whether all of its spells are meant for close range.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It takes her a moment to register the damage, so difficult to assess it up close, while focusing on her blow and already planning how to make a safe landing. But then she does see it, and she smiles too. It might not have broken completely, but it's still a start.
She also loves seeing that smile on Fate.
"Thanks!" she says in reply to the compliment.
<Thank you.>
Kyouka gives Strike Wolf a grin. She knows his condition, and is willing to work with what she has, to work harder herself to try and compensate, but it still makes her glad, for both their sakes, that they're discovering how capable he can be.
She nods as Fate continues explaining about training in a variety of ways... "You won't get any argument from me on that. It's good training methodology anyway." And then that somewhat somber warning. "Right..." It's the most dangerous 'variety' to train in, when the stakes are highest, yet some things you just can't replicate in training...
She watches Fate fly off, is already guessing her intent and yet, Fate might be able to make out Kyouka's head moving back and forth, looking at the tree line, at the rock wall, instinctively looking for an avenue of attack.
That telepathy is a new one, though.
Kyouka doesn't move, but instead looks down to Strike Wolf, and waits...
<Error. Suitable device mode not registered.>
"Huh..." She then closes her eyes, tries to replicate the telepathy so that Fate can hear her next question. <<Can we register a new device mode, then?>>
<Functionality not available.>
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate nods at Kyouka's agreement on the training methodology. They have to know what Strike Wolf is capable of, before she can figure out what to train her in - other than the fundamentals. While there are dangers in one learning too much all at once...
... at the same time, they don't exactly have a great deal of time. Jail Scaglietti won't WAIT for them to feel confident in their ability to take him on. And she understands that Kyouka is facing a threat far above where either any of them were when they were on her level.
Strike Wolf eventually responds, that there's a suitable Device Mode not registered. And Fate immediately starts to fly back down, at Kyouka's response, and Strike Wolf's reply...
"That doesn't necessarily mean there isn't one. Just that it isn't registered. He might have difficulty accessing it in his incomplete state. However, it's not impossible that he is simply designed solely for close quarters combat."
That's a tougher road perhaps, but certainly not one she looks down upon. After all, the Belkan Knights typically focus more on Close Quarters combat, Fate was in fact in part unusual for how focused she was on it despite her Midchildan magic. However...
... that was by design, Precia Testarossa wanted an enforcer that could intimidate mages who are used to ranged spell duels.
"So for now, we'll focus on determining spells that require mostly Close Quarters."
In short order... Fate asks the Device if it has a spell that can help Kyouka strike her accurately when she's moving quickly or evasively. If he has any spells that can stop, or hinder her movement. And if he has any spells that could be considered bombardment, by the sheer number of blows that land. There's a pause between each, as she waits for a response, to see if he'll demonstrate something new.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka is all too aware of the looming threat posed by Jail Scagleti--or rather, she's aware of how much she truly doesn't know, and it's the not knowing, perhaps, that bothers her more than the imagined danger. Either way, she's also aware of her own unreadiness to face it. It pains her to have to admit to that fact, but... it hasn't even been a month since she found Strike Wolf, it's scarcely been a week since Setsuna first reached out to her, and yet the more she finds out, the more she realizes the enormous scope of what's out there, and the more she sees how far she has to go.
The thought of her working to improve herself still lights a fire in her though. She wants to rise to that challenge. She just hopes she'll have the time to get there.
She nods as Fate comes back down to their level, regarding her device contemplatively. "I suppose it's possible," she says of him being built only for close quarters combat. "I mean... maybe that was one of the criteria for him picking me, that I'd have the skill to use him in this state. That I can help make up the difference..."
She doesn't blame Strike Wolf, not at all. She knows he would do more if he were capable of doing so, but until then... she'll step up. That's what partners are for, after all.
"Right. Close quarters combat is at least something I'm familiar with."
And through the barrage of questions....
When Fate asks if Strike Wolf has a spell to help her attack more precisely while moving at great speeds, Strike Wolf processes for a while, and then returns with an <Affirmative.> A spell circle appears underneath her feet, energy rushing up from her feet to encase her body before quickly retracting to her boots and gauntlets. <Wind Strider.>
Kyouka looks herself over, then experimentally tries out a few of the flips and other evasive maneuvers she'd been practicing before. She's a lot faster with the spell active--not ridiculous levels of fast like Fate possesses, but certainly far more nimble than before.
"I think this is helping me compensate for the extra speed I've got, too..." she says after she's done testing it. "... I think he might have taken some inspiration from Sonic Move. I hope that's okay. If not, we'll change it."
She can't help but admit that it was an amazing spell, but she doesn't want to copy other people's techniques without permission.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
"Not necessarily." Fate says of skill, "A friend of mine had no fighting skills whatsoever when she picked up her Device. What she had was the capacity to use magic, and a heart open to forming a contract with her Device."
Fate floats down and gestures with a hand towards the left side of Kyouka's chest, "Everyone capable of using magic has an organ called a Linker Core. That doesn't mean it's important to every Magical Girl - but it is important to Mages who use Midchildan or Belkan magic."
Fate regards her with a curious look, as if trying to determine her reaction, "That is what I mean by capacity, most people on Earth, this isn't well developed. Yours must have been before picking up Strike Wolf. However, the capacity isn't enough if you're unable to accept the feelings of the Device."
Fate says gently as she imparts this knowledge of the world, "There are Magical Schools on this world where people learn to use magic, hidden from the knowledge of civilians worldwide. However even with the capacity, the majority of mages will never reach even your level currently. It takes something more."
This is basic knowledge where she comes from, however it isn't here, and thus she takes her time imparting it to Kyouka to understand perhaps the responsibility of wielding a Device. That people might study magic their whole lives and never reach where she is at the beginning of the road.
Given what Kyouka said of herself before, it's not really any surprise that she's familiar - even comfortable with Close Quarters Combat. Fate simply bobs her head.
The questions come and... a new spell occurs. Fate simply watches her as she experiments with the transportation spell that makes her faster. "Good work. Strike Wolf - Kyouka."
After a moment, she nods at her evaluation. "Inspiration is fine. I don't mind. It doesn't work precisely by the same principles. The idea is simply the same in spirit. What's important is that you develop yourself as a mage, and to do that you'll need a variety of spells to respond to many different kinds of situations. And both practice and experience in applying them properly."
There is some thought, and...
"There may be questions that I wouldn't even think of asking myself, that you would. I recommend trying it in private. Asking Strike Wolf questions about responding to one situation or another that you can think of. It might help you develop new spells - or at least start the process of considering new ones for the future."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka considers herself a pretty rough and tumble gal, but... she's also a bit of a softy, despite that, and Fate's line about having a heart open to forming a contract does make her smile a bit.
It doesn't hurt that she also knows what forming a contract is like.
But when Fate gestures at her chest, she blinks a bit, looking down at herself. She places her right ahdn--the hand where Strike Wolf resides--over it as she contemplates Fate's words. "A Linker Core, huh..."
She listens intensely as you explain about magic and accepting a device's feelings. She's silent for a long time, contemplating that.
When she speaks again, her voice is quiet, and soft. She's mentioned the summary of events before, but this rendition is far, far more personal. "I don't know how I got so much magic. I'm guessing it's not just my active lifestyle, but as far as Strike Wolf's feelings... The day I found him, I'd just gotten off the bus, and I heard... it wasn't quite a voice, but somehow I knew it was a cry for help. That's when I found that mage. I got Strike Wolf away from him, and... all I wanted to do was to help keep him safe. But to keep all the people safe, too. I couldn't run, or he'd chase me, I couldn't fight, not against magic. I needed a third way, and... Strike Wolf offered it. I think he just wanted to help protect everyone, too. And when we made the contract, it was..." She takes a deep breath and tries to find the right words. "... like... like I'd has this flame burning inside of me all my life, but that suddenly... it had an outlet, I guess? Any time I'd get angry at someone being bullied, it felt like it'd get bigger for a moment, but with Strike Wolf's help, there's just... so much more of it that can flow from within me."
She blushes a little and lets her hand drop. "Sorry, this is probably too personal to talk about, huh?"
She smiles as Fate acknowledges the new spell, and then says it's okay that she drew inspiration from her own Sonic Move. "Okay, that's good. I love learning new techniques from people, but they need to be freely offered. Though... I guess magic isn't as simple as just... teaching someone how to do a particular kind of kick or punch. It sounds like it's a lot more... personal, to the user and the device."
She goes ahead with the follow-up questions, then. Binding or restricting movement doesn't seem to get a result, but a bombardment... does.
"Can you put up some targets, or put up a really strong defensive barrier so I can test this?"
Assuming Fate obliges, she takes a ready stance, and then Strike Wolf declares: <Fang Fury Barrage.> And with that, she's off like a shot, attacking from one direction, withdrawing, approaching from another to attack, and again and again. It's a more artfully executed version of what she tried to do against the Ogre a few days ago, now that she's been able to invoke the device's help.
"Yeah... I'll keep at it. I hadn't thought to ask questions in this way, but... it makes sense, I think. I kind of already do the sort of thing with my regular martial arts, imagining different scenarios, so I guess it makes sense to do it for my magic, too."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate, being an alien from Midchilda does not exactly have the same gender expectations as someone from Earth. She grew up in a household with three women after all, isolated from even Midchilda's society. Thus she does not even consider Kyouka's appearance, presentation, or focus on martial arts to be 'tomboyish'. She grew up learning to fight, and she's a girl. There's no contradiction - just as Fate grew up learning to fight, and is a girl as well.
There's a lot of basic knowledge to impart. And Kyouka answers that she doesn't know how she got that magic, and Fate simply continues to listen to her story. And when she finishes and apologizes, Fate quickly answers, "No, it's really okay. Thank you for sharing. I don't mind it getting personal."
There's a lot she could share of herself, and her experiences, but it's... also a lot. It's complicated, and she doesn't want it to dominate the conversation, as she knows it often would.
Instead she focuses on Kyouka's story, "Sometimes it just happens. My friend wasn't the most athletic girl." Fate actually smiles fondly thinking of having to protect her in dodgeball, "She still isn't." There's a pause though as she considers the mage. "You hearing his call for help - indicates you had that capacity though. Most people wouldn't. That passion is likely what allowed you to make that bond with him though."
Fate does ask out of curiosity, "That anger over bullies. Is that why you learned to fight to begin with?"
As Kyouka moves on though to discussing the Device, Fate nods again, "That's exactly it. Some spells can be taught to others, or copied by various methods. However, in most cases they aren't developed like that." And upon her request...
<Multi-Defenser Plus>
Several barriers of lit up concentric Midchildan runes appear in various places. It's more difficult to maintain when it's not close by or aligned properly, but she doesn't tell her that. It's best to enable her training.
Standing still as she concentrates on the spell, she watches with simple movements of her eyes, back and forth as Kyouka tests her new spell, a barrage spell. One by one the barriers get slowly worn down, then broken. She might note it's a bit easier right now to break them than earlier.
"Well done. You've already gone from knowing only one spell, to quite a few in a short time. You should be proud of your progress."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka, sadly, grew up on Earth, and while she's confident in her own presentation and interests... she's also not unaware of how they appear to the rest of the world. Especially in certain cultures she's visited.
There's a reason she got so stubborn, after all.
And she's sensed that there's... a lot more to Fate's past, but hasn't asked, or even made mention of it. She figures Fate will share when she's ready, or when the time is right. The parts of Fate she has gotten to know are plenty interesting enough as it is.
She does smile warmly as Fate indicates that her hearing that call for help meant she had the capacity to begin with. "Yeah, I think I kind of realized that later, when I was thinking back on it. I almost didn't make it, though..."
And then Fate asks about learning to fight, and she shakes her head. "Well... not directly, it's..." She pauses, trying to figure out how to explain. "My family moves a lot. There's a lot of places where people don't think girls are as capable, plus I was always kind of an outsider, too... And when people told me I couldn't do things, well... I wanted to prove them wrong. Once some kids teased me because I didn't know how to play baseball, and I spent the next two days doing nothing but practicing hitting a ball."
She laughs a little bit. "My dad said he was kind of sick of baseball by the time we were done. But I managed to show them up after that. And that's kind... kind of how it went. There was always something I could do. Baseball, soccer, running, climbing, and even martial arts. I didn't do it just to fight bullies, I just did it to prove I could."
There is a pause for a moment. "... Though I will admit to having thrown a punch or two before to make someone back off. But I hated it when people looked down on me, and... by extension, when anybody looked down on anyone else."
And then when she finishes testing that spell, she stops in the spot she started from, breathing a bit hard from the exertion. "Whew... Okay, I think I'm starting to get a better feel for how this stuff works." She smiles and nods to Fate, "Thanks. But I couldn't have gotten this far without our help, so... I really appreciate the help in figuring this all out. And good work to you too, buddy," she says to Strike Wolf.
Strike Wolf doesn't emote in quite the same ways as his owner does, but he still sounds pleased as he replies, <Thank you.>
Kyouka looks at Fate contemplatively, and then at her device. "Hmmm.... Testarossa-sensei, do you have... a smaller version of your phalanx spell?" The version she saw is... far too intimidating for what she has in mind.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate's head tilts as Kyouka tries to explain about her family, and how they moved a lot, and that there are a lot of people who don't think girls are as capable - plus being a foreigner. "Some boys in my class are like that. They're usually a lot quieter about it after their first dodgeball game against Suzuka and me. They say it'll change when we're older. Somehow..." There's a pregnant pause, as there's something steely in her gaze, "... I don't think so."
A pause.
"I do understand why it'd be so hard moving from place to place - not knowing anything of that place, and those people. Thankfully my class likes that I'm ... foreign."
Fate Testarossa isn't exactly the most Japanese name, but she doesn't clarify where she's from exactly.
"... And we have a similar competitive drive. If someone told me I couldn't do something that I want to do, I'd do whatever it takes to prove them wrong."
There's a faint smile though as she addresses the idea of not wanting to be looked down upon, or anyone else looked down upon, "It sounds like you're a kind girl, Kyouka." It's probably not the takeaway that Kyouka imagined from that one??? But it's certainly what Fate took away from it!
As she winds down from the spell test, Fate nods at both Kyouka and Strike Wolf, "You're welcome." Though as she's called Testarossa-sensei, perhaps she looks a bit shy, however she doesn't actually seem like she doesn't actually dislike it?
"Ah, I mean. I have a lot of smaller scale variations of that spell. I don't really use it often anymore as there are a lot of limitations to it."
There's a distinct pause, as she holds up fingers one by one to discuss the limitations, "It's only useful when your opponent is immobilized - if they can break out of any bind you're using for that - then it becomes remarkably ineffective. Creating that many - you have less control. Thus each is only a straight shot." A second finger, "And you're immobile while using it, you have to stay in the spell circle you're creating to maintain it. Leaving you open."
Granted, that's not what Kyouka asked for, but she's trying to teach her about magic as they go. "These days I prefer spells which don't hinder my mobility. However... if it's smaller scale you want..."
<Photon Lancer - Multishot.>
There's that synthetic chime from Bardiche, and roughly six bright orbs appear - three on either side of her, violet lightning playing across its surface in arcs. "This one is much easier to maintain... just to demonstrate." Fate actually flies, and the orbs move with her, in synch. She even throws in a spin, just to demonstrate how they continue to keep pace with her. "Fire." Two of the orbs fire, though not at Kyouka, they're just shot at random at the sky - until they dissipate.
"It's much more versatile, in that I can choose the number I fire at any given moment. It works well for aerial combat in that sense, if you're pursuing a foe, or trying to outflank them."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka can't help but grin as Fate describes her dodgeball prowess. "If you play dodgeball like you wield magic... I bet that would be something to watch." She can only imagine the possibilities. And when she that steely resolve in your expression, her grin grows even wider.
She nods in agreement as voices the difficulties in moving. "Yeah...", she agrees. "And I've moved far more than most... but it's true that it's not always all bad." Though the way Fate says foreign...
She's looking at Fate curiously for a moment. She's putting a few thoughts together--Fate's attendance at Infinity Institute, her deep knowledge of devices, that last name, the foreign exchange program... She has a strong hunch, and it's possible her expression shows around the visor enough to let on what she thinks, but she doesn't say anything.
But when Fate compares herself to Kyouka, the latter girl's grin just about splits her face in two. "Kid, you're speaking my language. I knew there was a reason I liked you."
There's an inordinate amount of warmth and affection in the way she says 'Kid'--no mockery or derision. She knows far better than that. But however hard she tries to be polite and formal, to follow all of the rules of etiquette in order to fit in better, sometimes she just can't help but let her true feelings out.
At being described as 'a kind girl', however... she blushes and looks away. "Aw, geeze, when you put it like that..." She glances sideways towards Fate. "Thanks, though."
She does feel a bit better when she sees you blushing in turn, though, at how she's addressing you. And then gently, oh so gently for someone complaining a moment before about being called 'a kind girl' a moment before, she says, "If it makes you uncomfortable I can just call you Fate. Or anything else you prefer, if there's a title you like better."
She listens intently as Fate describe the limitations and usages of her phalanx spell, nodding along to show that she's paying attention. There's a lot more to consider with magic than with just martial arts, so she's more than eager to absorb whatever knowledge she can. Even if she can't put the knoweldge to use offensively, it can still inform her defense.
She might think of herself as more of an athletic type, but she really is a pretty studious pupil, in the end.
"That makes sense..." she says of Fate's preference for mobility. "I think I'd hate being stuck in one place too long to do some big fancy thing, too..."
She observes intently as Fate demonstrates the spell, and nods. "Okay, that's definitely more like what I had in mind." She holds up her gauntlet, as if making sure that Strike Wolf has a good view of the action. "Okay, Strike Wolf. Let's say I was facing a spell like this and I couldn't dodge for some reason. Could you defend against it?" It should be pretty clear why she wanted the smaller version--much safer to test.
<Processing...> announces the device.
After a few moments, Strike Wolf lets out his own chime. <Howling Wind.> A band of magic forms around the gauntlet, and within its confines a turbulent mass of wind starts to gather and coalesce.
"Huh." Kyouka looks at her gauntlet curiously. It seems to be just staying there, collected, as if waiting for some sort of signal to activate. She looks to Fate. "If you would be so kind..."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
"Ah. I'm pretty good. Suzuka is better though." She says it so matter of factly, "I'll beat her one day." And Fate is in fact a terror on the Dodgeball field, it's just, Suzuka outedges her, and she's not even a mage. She keeps listening to her, talk about how it's not all bad, but... she's certainly moved far more than most.
The grin and calling her 'kid' though, there's this small startle in her eyes, and then just this quiet smile at being told she's liked by someone. In the past she'd have had a hard time accepting such things, but not anymore.
Kyouka seems obviously flustered at being called kind, and Fate just keeps up her smile, "I'm just saying what I see." Before... "Ah. No. It's fine. I've just never been in the teaching position before. Not to... this extent. It's something I'll have to get used to."
She's called upon a lot in magic class, but she's considered too young to be a teacher's assistant yet.
The conversation turns to magic again, and the Phalanx Shift and... "It was really effective when it worked." A beat, "Until it wasn't." The most dramatic example was her duel against Nanoha, however she doesn't bring it up. Nor does she bring up the other variation the Book of Darkness created. She doesn't consider it all that nice.
Fate... watches Kyouka now, with Photon Lancer up and ready. As Strike Wolf creates another turbulent mass of wind. There's a sort of analytical eye, as she if she's examining the spell from all angles. After a moment she obeys her request, "Fire."
Two orbs zip towards Kyouka, followed up by two more. She hasn't actually down regulated the power as much as usual this time, if this is a protection spell, then it won't actually be an effective test if she sends it at lowest power. However, she's careful too, that it's not too much either.
She's not trying to hurt her after all.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka raises an eyebrow. She wouldn't have believed it if anybody else had told her Fate could lose to someone at dodgeball, but if Fate herself days it, well...
At least, it's something to strive towards. It's good to have goals to strive for. She's still trying to catch up to all the mages she's met herself.
Among her many qualities, Kyouka is also honest. Sometimes to a fault. At least, when she's not concerned about manners and customs. So when she says she likes someone, she definitely means it.
As Fate insists on her kind comment, she just replies with an embarassed, "Yeah, yeah, I understand..." It's just hard, with how she's built up her identity over the years, to be called out for it. As for the title... "Okay, Testarossa-sensei it is, then. Let me know if you ever change your mind."
She respects Fate's skills, and appreciates that she's taking her time to help her, so the least she can do is show respect and take the endeavor seriously.
"Had to mix it up, huh?" she asks when Fate mentions that it stopped working at some point.
She nods and sets her stance, drawing her hand back. And then when Fate fires... She thrusts her hand forward, and the turbulent energy is released into a disc shape, with the winds pushing outwards and away from the center. Two of the shots are stopped dead in their tracks, but the other two are simply deflected to the sides. "Huh... wasn't what I was expecting, but... I guess it can deflect attacks as well as stop them."
Once the attack is clear she stands up, thinking out loud. "There's plenty of instances where deflecting a blow in martial arts makes sense, instead of trying to stop all that energy... I should probably be careful, though. Stuff moving too fast might not be deflected in time, or something that's too heavy..." She looks up to you to hear your thoughts.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Just wait until she sees Suzuka. One would not think at a glance that she's the Dodgeball Queen of Infinity Elementary. However...
Fate hears that embarrassment again, but doesn't comment on it quite yet. Before nodding firmly, "I will."
'Had to mix it up, huh?'
"Ah no. It was just beaten rather... decisively." It sounds like she should be upset with that, given how competitive she is, but she's actually smiling, and has this nostalgic look in her eyes.
The spell is fired at her, and Fate blinks as the spell actually deflects two shots.
"It's an effective defense. Good work, both of you."
Fate listens to her note that about Martial Arts, and there's a momentary pause... "It's important to test the limitations of that spell, and it may be hard without a partner. Unfortunately it's the kind of thing that will require greater force to test adequately." She notes, because well... that's just how it is. "Deflecting a spell could do collateral damage." She admits, "However, the longer a spell travels, the weaker it tends to become. Redirecting a spell without spells specialized for it will cause it to lose a lot of its momentum - and power. So the danger is not so great."
Abruptly however, she lowers herself to the ground and lands, "You've made a lot of progress today. I think it's best not to push too hard in a single session. It can't be easy on Strike Wolf either." As she looks up at her. "I think we should take a break for lunch. We'll see where you're both at after." Fate smiles, "If you discover any other spells in your own training sessions, be sure to text them to me. I'll keep them in mind for the next time we train."
