The Empress and the Knight

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue hadn’t expected [member="Asterion"] to act in a surrendering way when she held the blade up. Thinking it was just a means of proving how the Force could be helpful in dire situations of being unarmed she pointed it at him and smirked at his words. Hearing him mention physical and mental prowess, however, did make her perk an eyebrow.​

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Suddenly she’d felt a little twinge at her mind that made her shake her head and close her eyes for a moment. After trying to shake it off her eyes opened to the sight of hundreds of warriors standing behind Asterion. She gasped as she tried to comprehend this as a trick before they all marched towards her.​

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Whether due to panic or her own sense of survival the first thing Nimue did was unleash as powerful a force push as she could towards them. These were, after all, illusions created by Asterion. No matter how physical they might have been to her they would still be effected by him. The push itself was a means to try and hit him while taking as many of them out as well.​

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After that she drew her blade up and rushed forward, using the speed for to help as she went into the fray. Swinging her arms around, hitting at any and all enemies she passed, as she tried to reach the knight responsible.​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Rooting his body to the ground and leaning into the push emitted by Nimue, Asterion braced himself and pushed harder with the vision as she started to move forward, flailing her weapon with unclear precision and panic.

As it had started with a roar, Asterion pulled out and killed his connection to her and crossed his arms again, letting the evening peace and calm flood back into her sight with the vision eradicated.

”You panic, you become clumsy and you become predictable.”

The Knight had faith that she would comprehend reality before she laid a barrage of strikes on his body.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Almost as soon as she’d reached him the illusions were gone and Nimue stopped before the blade could his [member="Asterion"] right across the chest. Seeing what she almost did she recoiled and regained herself, looking to him when he’d told her how her actions were too predictable.​

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“Then what should I have done?” she asked. “Let your illusions get the better of me? Break them? How? You’re the teacher after all.”​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Her tone of voice irked him. Teacher? Well, she could try and treat him like one and stop the attitude. The knot in his brow creased slightly at her petulant reply to his obvious observation.

”What do you do? You overcome – improvise – adapt!”

He moved forward and called the sword to him, ripping from her palm into his with a satisfying hit on the palm.

”You don’t panic and charge like a moron into the enemy, waving a blade around hoping to hit someone because you’ll be dead before you even have the chance.”

He started to jab the blade forward, pushing her back one step at a time.

”The Force relies on you being clear, precise and in control regardless of the numbers of enemies you see. You want to command an army? A blind Ronto would do better than you, princess. An army is NOTHING compared to what the Force could do to them if you control your emotions correctly.”

Asterion now started to hit her limbs, her thighs, arms, torso.

”Stare death in the face and BEAT it rather than succumb to it!”

With no sign of backing down, this would put her under pressure from being belittled and attacked, and would see what she called upon to retaliate or surrender.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Given his little sudden bout of anger towards her words she understood what he meant about adapting all too late. She was, after all, still a student. But apparently that wasn’t an excuse [member="Asterion"] would take lightly. Before she knew it the blade was taken out of her hand before her started jabbing it towards her.​

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As he spoke about not being blind to charge in like a moron in battle while keeping emotions in check and trying to lead armies she was too busy trying to focus on not being stabbed. She kept backing away with each little jut and thrust he gave, managing to keep from having her belly pierced. But when he started jutting at everything else it was trickier. Some she avoided but others managed to make their mark, she getting little scars and scratches around her shoulder, legs and so forth.​

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All the walking back and Nimue didn’t realize she’d reached the other end of the landing where she was almost likely to drop off. After feeling her ankles against the stone she realized how cornered she was before looking back to Asterion, telling her to face death and not succumb to it. If that was what she needed to do then so be it.​

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As he would try to stab again she would catch the blade, but not with her hand. Her open palm had managed to summon enough of the Force to hold it the blade specifically. Only using that one hand she would push Asterion’s blade away from her before using the other to reach out and take another blade from the equipment nearby. As before she managed to summon it to her hand before standing in a fighting stance.​

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Instead of saying something smart or the like she stood there, her eyes blazing, and said “Again!”​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion made a strike, but hitting an invisible orb, the blade simply bounced upwards in deflection, and then Nimue had called her own weapon to her hand. The Sith liked that resolve, when pushed she really shone, and even her call for more wasn’t a request; it was an order. Who was he to deny her?

”You go it. Sweetheart.”

Stalking to her right, Asterion held the training blade and made to strike, and was met with powerful defences.

”Remember, don’t think about what you’re doing – let the Force enhance your mind and flow through your movements!”

He jumped back to avoid a swing at his head, and parried her thrust. Both spent equal time advancing and retreating, their footwork a strange dance between each other.

”Your enemy will want you to fail – don’t give them the satisfaction. See yourself bigger and stronger than they are!”

The Force was then applied to send Nimue back, to disorientate her and get her to focus on her surroundings – if she could do that and focus on him, she would be progressing.

”Come on! You’re better than this, fight like you mean it – fight with hate for those who want to hurt you!”

The Dark Side was a powerful ally and would allow Nimue to tap into her strength as a warrior, out for victory, out for power, and out for blood – she could be a formidable ally and frightening foe. Asterion smiled at her confidence.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Before he’d made his advances on her to continue the training Nimue had taken a deep and solemn breath before bringing her blade up to defend against his attacks. She began to feel the force course through her actions as she blocked one strike after another. As he spoke she took his words into account while still trying to swing for his head before parrying a trust he attempted on her. The constant clashing of blade against blade was almost more constant and louder as Nimue continued her barrage against [member="Asterion"] while he still continued to give her advice.​

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When he’d sent a Force blast her way it had knocked her off her feet. But Nimue was now a little quicker than before. When she landed on her back she immediately rolled backwards before getting to her feet and coming at the knight again with another barrage of hits and strikes. As she fought it was clear she was trying to keep up the pressure, trying to find an opening before finally disarming him by knocking the blade out of his hand or forcing it out one way or another.​

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If she’d managed that then she’d have the blade pointed right at him, a more confident beam in her eyes. Either way it was clear Nimue began to understand the idea of letting the Force guide her fighting actions.​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

With her strikes, he half let the blade fall out of his hands onto the floor, have allowing her to physically twist it from his grip. He strikes were a little more precise, knowing where to hit and what to aim for.

”Nice. Powerful and precise strikes is the way to go. Everyone has weak spots, places you aim for that will cripple them just enough to really hit hard. No mercy.”

Hopping back a few steps, Asterion pointed to the ground beneath him, all paved stone intricately laid.

”You’re rich enough to get this section replaced, so how about you use the Force inside you to rip up the ground from under me. Make me move, make it difficult for me to get to you - as if I was a General out to kill you, or a hunter droid, or even a battle tank. Remember, don’t try. Just do it.”

He started to walk towards her.

”And if I reach you, I’m either going to kiss you or hit you.”

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

As she stood there with the blade still pointed at him Nimue kept her body tensed and ready if he was going to try anything funny. She was getting used to his first little lesson about not trusting anyone after all. She glanced down as he drew the circle around him before telling her what to do. She looked back up as he gave the scenario before saying the consequences if she didn’t succeed.​

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“And given how you told me not to trust anyone, I think I know which.” She said in answer to his options of what would happen. “So…”​

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Nimue reposition herself and used both arms, sticking them out as she tried to use the Force to bring the stones up from under [member="Asterion"] . Using both hands in a underhanded tossing motion she managed to bring a large chunk of the ground up and out while some of the small stones flew up as well, a little close-call given how close Asterion had been towards her. The more she realized it was more about feeling it and not thinking about it did Nimue see the true potential in the Force. ​