Private Oh, Great

[Firrerreo]

"They designed these to feel pain. To what extent? Do they feel all pain? What pain causes them to flinch? Which causes them to blank out? There's no play. When you fight these again, won't you want to have that sort of information?"

Well, there certainly was some play, especially for Firrerreo. Not to cause pain itself, but the need and desire to study and learn. He needed to know how this all worked. To improve his own designs, to make something greater. As he focused on the last, curled his charred fingers around the hilt of his blade, he found that determination. He would make something better than these.

It shifted to deflect the dagger thrown, and Firrerreo stepped right into it's guard. His own dagger flashed up, right under it's chin. Straight up through it's head. She was, tough, right that they shouldn't waste time. The prize, whatever it was, they could make use of first.

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

As the final creature hit the ground, so too did Adean, both in relief and exhaustion. Against all odds, they'd done it. The hoard was pushed back, destroyed. She sat there, catching her breath and waiting for the instructor to step into the arena. Another minute passed, no one entered. Why was no one approaching?

"Well done, acolytes," the voiced of their instructor rose over the arena, a chuckle on the tail end of their words. Adean could see them among the other students, making no move to advance onto the field. "Certainly worthy of a prize." From their robes, they drew a blade - a smallsword that gleamed as one having never seen combat before but with something else. Alchemized, no doubt. "But, oh, how could I have forgotten? There's two of you and one of these. What a shame."

Adean's heart sank in her chest. Of course, there would be a catch to the exercise. Of course, she'd now be expected to take on a member of the First on her own. She, who had dedicated her time at the academy to sliding by unnoticed, was now on full display. The Epicanthix struggled to her feet, pulling her dagger from the spawn who'd fallen on it with an exhausted grunt.

There was no way she could beat Firrerreo, that much she was sure. Even if it was possible, she wasn't sure she wanted to. She'd heard how those on the receiving end of his wrath had fared. She could only hope he wasn't feeling particularly cruel after she'd spoke against his suggestion for pain. "Let's get this over with."

Firrerreo ​

 

[Firrerreo]

Firrerreo didn't even look up. He was crouched beside one of the bodies, his hands already getting to work at carving flesh from bone. Full dissection, here in the middle of the arena. His Familiar as ever looked around for him, but he didn't seem to be paying attention. After a moment he did glance up, first to the instructor, then to Adean. He squinted briefly.

".. Yeah, go on and take it already. I need help with the dissection here."

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

Adean half expected the remaining 1 on 1 to be over before she knew it. As much as she readied herself for an attack, she was ready to flinch the moment something came her way.

An attack didn't come. Adean's brow creased in confusion, her stance relaxing just a tad as she looked at Firrerreo before the disinterested acolyte spoke. Surely he was joking, right? But when no attack immediately followed, Adean slowly backed away from the arena, keeping a careful eye on Firrerreo and his familiar as she approached the instructor to retrieve the weapon. It was heavy in her hand compared to the daggers, but well balanced. A fine weapon for doing the nigh impossible.

Returning to her temporary partner in battle, Adean kneeled next to the flailed form Firrerreo was working on, stabbing each of her daggers into the excess skin of the torso to keep it open. "...Thank you for that. What do you need help with?"

Firrerreo ​

 

[Firrerreo]

"Don't thank me. I have two blades already."

There was an odd sternness to his voice as he continued his butchering, especially with the assistance of her daggers to keep the carving board clear. Mostly. He continued idly carvings, but every now and then he carved symbols. Letters. They watch. They don't like us being friendly. One by one, carefully as he continued to actually carve and learn. It was both things for him, a way to talk, and a way to continue his actual learning.

Adean Castor

 

[Adean Castor]

Adean bit back a comment that she also had two weapons already, even if one's leathers were fried to a crisp. It was no longer pretty, but it would do a job. Still, she wasn't about to turn her back on a moment of kindness, even if the other acolyte claimed it was more convenient than anything.

"I see," she mused, fingers drawing along the carved flesh as if she were taking note of some anatomical feature, spreading the creature's ichor-like blood to obscure the carved message. She had her own thoughts on the situation. Had she been more powered by spite, she would've offered a 'let them' and continued on her friendly way. A particularly naive part of her would argue that they only held such power over the acolytes because they let themselves be ruled by this 'no friends allowed' mentality.

"This blood, if we can call it blood, I wonder if it's flammable."

Firrerreo ​