Practice of Power (Esme, request)

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Esme grunted in response, not sure she was fond of his methods, but didn't complain further. When he reared back for another swing she threw up her physical shield, hoping it would held cushion the direct landing. She saw the scaled, an eyebrow arched but she didn't question it.

When she spoke again, she furrowed her brows, opening her mouth to speak before closing it again. Talk about switch personalities. She narrowed her eyes as he circled her, sword and shield in a ready position. Hearing his final comment, she rolled her eyes. Please, like you could handle the Guaridan Angel of the God of Creation, in bed. She shook her head, missing it when he charged forward, closing the distance. A chuck of her armor flew off into the clearing, and her eyes took on a cold look. You're going to pay for that. She said lowly. Guardian Seal. She spoke again, in a menacing tone.

Spell activated, she charged at Adrain full force, aiming for his left arm.

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Guardian Seal: She can seal a persons magical abilities for 15 minutes (two post rounds), blocking their mind from connecting to their manna channels. This prevents any more magical attacks, and ends any spells previously cast by the user. Can only be used on two person at a time. The person must be within 25ft of her. (Advanced level)

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"Ohh...feisty. I respect that...but what makes you so special that you think you can outlast me? Though you went to sex first, I had simply meant a nice meal, maybe enchanting that equipment with some real magic instead of that faded divinity..." he says coyly, actually happy to have some banter and ferocity in front of him.

"I'll fix it later.." Adrain says, turning and spinning into a full force blow on the opposite joint on Esme's armor though it was a wilder strike and easier to defend against. He heard the word guardian seal but didn't pay it as much mind, tanking the hit as it landed squarely upon his arm. He smirks as he spins around to another swing to Esme's side then leaning close to her ear, his hot breath upon her for a moment.

"Interesting...reminds me of an old Suvari technique. I suppose this would be a problem if I relied only on mana" he says as he then spins around to evade the likely fiesty counter attack in an almost dancelike maneuver.

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Esme rolled her eyes. Why wouldn't I, its all men like you think about. She stated, her sass at an all time high. She wasn't fond of his arrogance, claiming to repair the armor gifted to her by the gods like it was no big deal.

Faded Divinity. Like you can talk you wannabee spirit jumper. She retorted, knowing full well that the man she was facing wasn't the same as the one who'd helped her.

She blocked his second attack with her shield, landing her slash against his left arm. Blood dripped down her blade, but it didn't seem to phase him. She threw up her sword in time to block when he swing around, his face very close to her ear.

Her eyes widened as he spoke, using her shield to push away from him incase he had another attack coming. He doesn't just use manna... Magic still ran through his veins... but how? She searched his face with wild eyes, before they grew wider before narrowing out. You're a long ways away from the rest of the clans, dont you think? She questioned, putting the pieces together.

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"Really now...so little you know about me. I waited a thousand years, until I had finally found the one only to.." he pauses. Esme didn't care, it would only make him look like he was seeking pity. There would be a brief, noticeable window of contemplation, where the shroud of cockiness had faded, until he snapped out of it. "Let's just say I don't give a damn anymore. Rigid morality and honor hardly seem to have a place in reality."

"Spirit Jumper...interesting way to put it, but not true. Maybe I'll tell you later, maybe you won't care." he says, as the following events play out and in the gap between them, he looks at his left arm with the blood for a moment as scales shimmer into existence and cover the wound.

"Right...there is a variant of my people on this world. Far different, an interesting quirk in this timeline. However, the Deva bloodline does not exist here. Probably for the best." he says, then looking at her with a small smile. "You're the one who started using magic first, I just wanted a melee with a strong opponent after all" he says with a restrained laugh as he then charged Esme with a rapid speed, only to roll to the side, attempting to strike her shins where the armor covered her to knock her off her feet. Should this succeed, he would in the few seconds she was in mid air, almost instantly attempt to swing at her butt to knock her down into the ground.

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Esme saw his hesitation and for a split second wondered what he wasn't saying; but that moment passed and Esme recalled in the long run it wouldn't matter anyways. So she didn't ask. How depressing. She stated flately.

Esme watched, irritated as the scales shimmer over his arm, closing the wound she'd just made. How annoying.

She cocked her head to the side, unsure of what he was talking about. Even the Angel of Mylee didn't know everything. Uhh. Alright then. She shrugged. You really have a one track mind, don't you? She obverseved before he charged at her. She was prepared to block him until he rolled out of the way and knocked her onto her ass.

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"Probably." he replies simply. Esme was amusing in that she just didn't give a damn. It was sort of refreshing, people like to listen to stories whether out of empathy or idle curiosity. "I kind of like that you don't care." he says wryly. In the following events, he managed to knock Esme down, causing him to pause for a moment. He walked to her and offered a hand to help her up.

"In combat, even sparring, yes. A one track mind." he says, exhaling a little. "If you have any questions I owe it to you to answer at this point. Maybe take a break unless you want to keep going out of anger?" he says then walking to where the piece of the armor was knocked off. He kneels and picks it up, looking at it.

"...Interesting alloy. I see, it was once a conduit for your patron deity...that is what reinforced it and made it able to be a powerful piece." he says.

But then he frowns.

"It lacks elegance in function though. Without Myler's power it's mundane almost. I can fix that though." He says as he puts a light crystal on the ground and casts a small spell as an image of a blueprint seemed to manifest.

"So the first thing to fix is your clipped wings. An engraved glyph connected to a wind crystal can allow you to toggle to reduce the weight.." he says as mental images of Esme's armor seem to pick up a green line to them.

"Though I should probably reforge the curiass and pauldrons to add a mechanical shock absorb system with spell mesh so when you get hit on the armor some of that energy is converted to magic energy you can use for those Guardian abilities or some static effect like self regeneration. To do this, about a half inch thick plate to overlap of mithril alloy should work without adding too much weight." He says, then looking at Esme.

"Now for flight...it'll required a linked enchanting system to allow you proper control." He says walking to where Esme was and behind her.

"Show me your wings" he says though its quiet enough she could mishear it at which point he would insist and reiterate her wings, her wings.

"I'll have to design new pieces to overlap the top of your wings for control and direction but I need measurements"

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Esme shrugged. That tends to happen when you're just as old as the God who created this fucked up place. She answered before being knocked on her ass. She grunted as she fell, staying down for a moment. When he came to offer her a hand, she hesitated, but took it, pulling herself up and rubbing the back of her head.

Questions? I'm guessing you're expecting me to ask why you're different then when we first met? She shrugged again, But honestly, I don't really have anything to ask. And continuing to be honest, I prefer this verision. You seem a lot more interesting; he was just... quitely helpful. She rolled her shoulders.

She watched as he moved to grab the piece of armor he'd so casually broken off her from before, checking it out. She nodded as he mused about it, her eyebrows furrowing as he frowned. Well what did you expect to happen? He threw me out of Glade. And I mean threw me... Esme's face puffed up with colour for a moment, but she took a deep breath, turned her face away from his for a moment, and calmed herself down. Now was not the time.

She watched warily as he did his thing with the blueprints, curious as to where he was going with this. She didn't know much about making armor, the stuff she had now had kind of just appeared one day, as had she. Hearing the word "flight" her eyes widened a fraction, but she stayed quiet. Then he was walking behind her, asking to see her wings. W-what?! No! She spun around, waving her arms out in front of her. Hearing him explain that he needs to design knowing the measurments, she hesititated, but after a few moments she sighed, her body relaxing as the breath left her, like it was deflating.

... Fine... I guess it's not like you haven't already seen them. She took off the ring Aria had enchanted for her, and her large white wings were suddenly visible to him, large and beautiful. She stretched them out from her back, putting them out at their full span before relaxing them. It was like cracking her neck, and it felt great... except that was all she could do with them; not that she would say anything about that.

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"Yeah...that incarnation is a pretty tame one. I sort of shudder to think that might have become of me if I weren't born in the royal Ku-Deyu family." he says allowing it to rest since it made things simpler if he didn't have to do the full story for Esme. When she got flustered about being thrown out of the Glade he looked at her a bit inquisitively.

"That's the thing I just don't get about you. So Mylee made you, he gave you your mind and the liberty to think and act on your own volition so long as you served him. So if I remember from the other side's memory...he got pissed that you wanted a life and family for yourself? Things that both he and his wife Ai represent? He's the one who made you in such a way, however it works with those deities and angels. It's sorta fucked up and unfair to be honest...but Mylee's always been a nutjob...that hasn't changed between worlds." he says exhaling a little.

He laughs a little at the flustered reaction from Esme, but glad she saw the reason in the design need. Once Esme settled from exposing her wings, he would go behind her and cast a few spells, taking in the lengths, widths, and other dimensions of the wings, grazing them with his touch briefly before he then walks back to the front of Esme.

"Okay...that's good. You can do what you want now whether it's keeping them out or hiding them again." he says, then going a distance away as he touched the ground. Mysu and Mana surge from him as they go straight into the Earth. The reaction is dull at first, but at the end of it a large diamond shoots up from the depths with a bit of dust and commotion, at which point he shapes it into a hooked anvil by rearranging it's shape with Earth magic.

He then teleports out, returning several minutes later with a large sack of metal and an enchanted smiting hammer in his other hand. He puts them down then summons another round of Earth magic with fire as a granite forge assembles filled with lava for that side of the equation.

"Okay...time to get to work." he says as he swiftly begins to heat up adamantium for the wing armor pieces. As he begins to heat up the metal by causing flares on the forge, he looks back at Esme.

"I'll need your armor at some point to do the enchanting and augmentations. Just relax how you want right now." he says as he floats over the heated metal and begins to smash it into shape with the hammer in a two handed grip on the diamond anvil, after a certain point magical spheres begin to manifest around the armor to help shape it more quickly by gravitationally tugging and pulling.

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Tame, but he was still kind. So not a terrible person.. just not.. you know, interesting? At least from what I saw.She shrugged, moving past the topic. Sadly the next topic was just as unwelcome.

Look, he created me to protect him. Not to have a mind of my own, or a life of my own. He owns-owned, me and therefore I had to do everything he asked. So while he as a deity stands for something, he doesn't think it applies to his playthings. Which, yes he has called me that before. she sighed, agreeing with him when he called Mylee a nutjob. You haven't the faintest idea...

As he took the needed measurments, Esme winced away every now and again as his fingers grazed various parts of her wings. They were a sensitive area, especially now that's they'd gone so long out of use. Once he confirmed he was complete, she stretched them out once more before tucking them back against her shoulders, replacing the ring on her finger.

The next little bit had her confused, so she just watched as he worked, arching an eyebrow when he disappeared for some time before returning. Hearing him mention that he would need her armor she hesitiated. She wasn't wearing all that much beneath it, given that the armor looked like so, and back in Glade, she didn't change out of it much. Fine. Let me know when its required... but you're not allowed to look at me once it's off, got it? She glared at him until he responded.

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"Actually, he did create you with a mind of your own." he says, disagreeing with Esme's statement. "I know you worked with him for..ever, but the fact of the matter is, he zoited you into existence as you are now, which a sentient mind. To make a mindless servant is an easy task, he could have made you as mindless flesh golem. So he bears at least as much responsibility for your thoughts as you do. In any case, it's still unfair to you, that's my opinion. Not gonna twist the knife any more." he says shrugging.

Adrain noted that she seemed to flinch a little, but there wasn't that much he could do. "Tender? I might need to add an extra layer for when the armor is strapped on for cushion if thats a problem." he says, then shrugging.

When Esme had a protest of modesty, he laughed a little. "There's a robe in my bag over there you are welcome to, I prepared just in case I stayed here longer into the night since in the desert it gets cold pretty quickly." he says.

Over the next couple of hours, Adrain would forge into shape elaborate, beautiful even, wing armors with spellsilk lining with a mesh in between that would drape over the wings. Wind gems would be installed along the ridge of the wing guards over a long length, leading to the end of the circuit at the edge of the wings which would allow Esme to steer in flight. He would finish it by trying to color it to the same style but for a freshly made piece versus an artifact it could only come but so close, even if the craftsmanship was high.

After a point, Adrain would take off his tunic as he sweated over the forge. He then spends the next time creating pauldrons for Esme similarly, but he installed very large wind crystals in the center as the 'exhaust' would point to the back. Again in the similar style as the first pieces, masterworks by any standard. Finally of the 'new' pieces he would create an elegant circle for Esme, a metal band that would go over her forehead and looked otherwise unremarkable except for the four arcane crystals on the sides.

After he had created these pieces, he laid the circlet down at the setup near the oasis where Esme had no doubt been looking at the other pieces as they have been made. He takes a seat and drinks the water with his hands, exhaling as he stretched out his forearms and biceps.

"That's it for the new pieces...now I just need to augment your leg guards and reinforce your breastplate and arm guards. I'll add wind augmentation to the leg guards so that you can leap more easily and fly more quickly, and all of the pieces I'll reinforce with earthen magic to add firmness to the metal so that when struck it'll absorb more impact." he says, clearly having a long thought out plan for improving the armor, indicating a lot of mastery in the craft.

"If you have any requests, let me know now. The only piece I have to make from scratch now is the shock guard for the breast place, the rest is just augmentation with elemental gems and glyphs."

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Esme hesitated. Let me rephrase... yes I was created with my own mind, and am able to think for myself... but to think of, or believe in anything other than what he did, or what he wanted... wasn't okay. So while it was my mind, I wasn't able to have my own thoughts. She explained with a sigh, knowing if she told anyone these things, it may as well be him.

Hearing him comment on her wing pain, she shook her head. Sensitive, not painful. I mean, they're definitely sore, but thats normal. I did fall out of the sky recently. she shrugged. She took him up on the offer of the robe; it wasn't entirely about modesty. She was blunt, and forward, but she was still new to this world. She'd been an angel living in the clouds for as long as she could remember, and though she had a better grasp on the mundane emotions better than some of the other angels - fallen or other wise - it was still a new thing. That went hand in hand with the slightly technicality that she had never been nude in front of anyone but Mylee before. And him in a "annual inspection" sort of way.

She pulled the robe on carefully with her back to him, removing the armor piece by piece. Finally once she was finished, she tied off the robe and pulled her hair out from under it one one big swoosh. She sat on the ground and watched him work, having tired of pacing. She arched a brow as his shirt came off, but didn't comment.

When it looked like he was taking a break, Esme stood back up, stretched her arms above her head. He went on about different ways to help her flight in the future, but she remained silent, not sure what to say. No, no requests. You took this project on without warning, I'm just grateful you're doing this at all. She smiled, the rest of his words about the process going right over her head.

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"Hearing that, it makes me wonder if Kalonis was right. Just.." he stops, it was probably twisting the knife to keep pushing it any further, no reason to agitate the very easily irritated woman. When she protested the pain and the sensitivity, he didn't push it further, though he had a question.

"What was it like in Mylee's Heaven or whatever you call it. Was it worth living as his servant as long as you did?" he says casually. When Esme stood up and walked around, she showed a little emotion actually! She smiled a little, even showing gratitude.

"...Oh it's no problem really, I did ding that armor pretty good. It's good practice for the equipment I need to make for myself later for the trip to Morgg." he says, then having a thought come to mind and he rubs his hair through his head. he goes to his provision bag and pulls out some meat that was kept in a stasis field. He dispels the field and begins heating it with fire magic coming from both of his hands, putting it on a napkin with some slices of cheese and bread forming. He offers the first portion to Esme.

"Hungry? You've been here awhile. Sorry if it's not the fanciest, wasn't really expecting company and I'm sort of an easily pleased sort with food, don't really demand much." he says, then he smiled faintly. This girl was interesting.

"You have a beautiful smile, I wonder if I'm the first to have seen it since you came down." he says, both complimenting and poking a little fun at the lovely angel.

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Esme arched a brow but didn't push him further. She told him she didn't want his story, she would stick to that answer. Hearing his question she shrugged agian. The Glade. Its.... a very beautiful place over all. The Glade itself is for all the gods, a common ground. Everyone has their own place extending from it.

For a long time, I wasn't seen as his servent. I was by his side, through every single creation, every new revelation and discovery he had- after of course he'd learnt to create me, and her.. She paused, not wanting to give name of the other Angel by his side, his Healer. Every god had one; a Guardian and a Healer. She'd met Tres when she'd first arrived, Helena's Healer.

With time anyone would change, slowly go insane. Even a god. Not that I want to excuse him. She tilted her head up, glaring at the sky. She knew she shouldn't say more, she knew he could hear her and find ways to make her life worse. With a sigh she shook her head, returning her eyes to Adrain.

As he moved to cook something, she watched curiously, holding in a grimace as he started cooking meat. Once he handed it to her, she blinked at him, speechless. Oh... oh uhm... Thank you, i mean it was really nice... I just. I don't eat meat. I may have fallen from Mylees grace, but some of his teachings stand true... I'm sorry. She dipped her head down in apology, feeling terrible.

Hearing his compliment, her head shot back up, eyes narrowing. Don't flatter yourself.

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"How very interesting..." he says listening to the description of the Glade by Esme. Nothing overly specific was said. The comment about the other angel was interesting however. "Oh? What did 'she' do to you?" he says, though if Esme refuted the inquiry he wouldn't push it any further and leave it at that. The comment about gods going insane he chuckled slightly, somehow getting a bit of understanding that Esme had some concerns.

As Esme noted and explained her vegetarianism a bead of sweat went down the side of his head. He discards the meat into a rift and then disappears, coming back with a bowl of salad about three minutes later, putting it down before Esme like an offering.

"My mighty queen of peace who beats monsters but doesn't eat meat, I present thee with the savage remains of vegetables." he says coyly. The bowl looked like it came straight from a restaurant. As she scolded him about flattering himself, he shook his head.

"Oh come now drop the snark." he teases.

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I guess. Sorry, its hard to explain a heaven to someone, when to me thats never what it was. She shrugged, moving past it. Esme made a face as he questioned about the "her". With a sigh, she shrugged. Emerald. She didn't do anything exactly.. maybe thats the problem. She sighed again. Emerald is Mylee's other angel. The entire pantheon has two; the important gods do anyways. I was his Guardian, and she is his healer.

As he disappeared after her comment on food, she hung her head. She always felt bad saying that, but it wasn't worth eating meat. When he returned with his grand statement, she rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. Queen, right. She laughed, taking the bowl, the smile still there. I cant drop it, its my personality. she laughed.