Pushing Limits (Yuki)

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki looked away from him knowing that perfectly well that she haven't been eating her meals properly. She been only eating one meal a day which normally was her evening meal but her other meals were left untouched only having tea to hold her though out the day. It was unhealthy she knew for sure but between her insomniac and her lack of appetite that she had not been properly eating but it never bothers her much because she appeared healthy. "I been eating...."



She was glad that Adrain understood and didn't push for a reason behind her wanting to brush his hair other than it's something that will make her happy. Slowly snuggling her head into his shoulder letting the dam on her emotions broke the tears flowing free.



"I told you the truth even if it is on a string I would love it, even as a joke." She said once the well had run dry with her tears. Smiling brightly knowing that she currently seemed unstable with her emotions changing quicker than the direction of the wind. "Happy to see the sunrise? Maybe after I am away from home for a few months I could be happy to see the sunrise" Closing her eyes for a moment wantig to enjoy the moment a bit longer before having to return to reality that was called life. "Adrain... if you don't mind can we stay like this a while longer?"

[Deleted]

"...Not enough." Adrain says with a slightly scolding tone. "I can see it in the way you move, the way yours hands can shake at times, and your hair a little thinner in some places Magic requires physical strength as well as mental, using magic a lot actually is largely what gives me my physique, even if I do some staff fighting exercises and other things, it causes caloric burden and it's part of the energy the mage contributes to the spell. It's been noted a few times that a fat mage would suddenly turn skinny after using a number of high powered spells in a dire situation." he states, poking Yuki's forehead. "So I'll cook meals for you myself if I have to if you worry about your mother doing something to them, but you need to have a healthier approach. Plus I'd rather you be well which will lead to you being just a little happier by itself"

"Then one day I will test that theory." he says with a teasing chuckle. He was going to have to use this in some way to make amusement out of Yuki one way or another. When Yuki asked if she could stay like this, the mage's face reddened, but as timelinewise this is prior to other events, he nods. "Of course Yuki, as long as you would like." he states, letting Yuki be comfortable for a time.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki lowers her head a little ashamed that Adrain had noticed the little signs of her malnutrition, she had done her best to hide it from people. The explanation of why she needed to eat healthier because magic burns a lot of calories meaning if she didn't eat at least eating one more meal a day. She quickly shook her head at the mention of worry that her mother might be doing something to her meals. "No, it's nothing like that. I just haven't had much of an appetite lately that is all. Also is that an invite for dinner?"


She giggled a little at the thought of Adrain testing the theory on the string. "You could give me the string now and check." Moving to rest her head on his chest feeling and listening to his heart beat. It was steady and warm and a lot more stable than many things in her life, deciding to enjoy the moment for as long as possible.


Slowly pulling away remembering that Adrain most likely had some beautiful strong woman in his life, even if she did have a little crush on him. "Would it possible for us to do a little bit more training?" Asking with one hand curled up at her mouth so the words were a bit muffled while her other hand was lightly clinging to her nightie.

[Deleted]

The mage hoped that Yuki woudd take seriously the demands for fuel that her body will need for the path ahead of her. He had heard of young women who would do this treatment, and they would suffer for it. The fact that Yuki then took it as something of an invitation to dinner could not help but to amuse Adrain when she seemed hopeful at the prospect. At least the mother wasn't tampering with the food, as far as Yuki could tell in any case.

"Hah...well I suppose I could indulge you with a dinner of some sort." Adrain says teasingly to Yuki, ruffling his fingers through her hair playfully whilst she was all curled up against him. It would probably get a rise out of her but all in fun. When she said to test the string theory, he reached to a thread of his robe, pulling the string off and dangling it in front of her nose like one would do to a cat.

When Yuki pulled away and asked to do a bit more training, he nodded, standing up and looking Yuki in the eyes. "Very well...perhaps some of the defense training to see where you stand right now. My concern with you would be you getting kidnapped again. Which means that somebody will want you intact and alive." he says, circling around Yuki as he talked.

"It will be an abrupt strike, attempting to take you by force with as minimal noise as possible." he says, then when behind Yuki, lunging forward and snatching her, pulling her left arm behind her back with his left, whilst holding his hand over her mouth with his right.

"Sorry for the discomfort." he apologizes momentarily, keeping a firm grip with both hands. "So an attacker trying to get you by yourself in the gardens in a dark corner would try to establish control and keep you from making noise. Once you are here, your options are reduced. The first thing you should probably do is to bite any hand that goes over your mouth so that you can one, call for help, and two try to cast." Adrain says, removing his hand from her mouth.

"Now to break the grapple, you can attempt a groin shot if you can kick up and behind hard enough. If the angle is poor then try to jam your free elbow upward into the ribs from the abdomen." he says, using his now free hand to guide Yuki's free arm in a motion that would approach roughly the spot indicated. "If you are wearing a shoe with pointed heels, you can try to stomp your attacker's feet. Force is multiplied when it comes through a single point, its the entire premise of fencing and piercing weapons. The legs are usually the strongest parts of the body, so even if they are wearing leather boots it should damage, startle, and hopefully allow you to pull free." he says, then releasing Yuki completely.

"Your other option is to either cast an Etheralize spell which will turn you into pure air for a time or to channel a raw mana burst which would create a blast of wind radiating from you. You can also use air magic to project and louden your voice such that it could both deafen the attacker and then amplify your calls for help. Once you are able to free yourself, use your pendant immediately to fly, channeling wind mana through your feet to try to accelerate your movement."

[Yuki D'Avranches]

"If we are going to do the dinner of some kind; then could we do it after the exams?" Asking which soon was followed by a pout as her hair got ruffled. Brushing back down her hair since there was no reason for it to get tangled in it when she has not even slept for the night yet. Eyeing the string she decided to humor Adrain a little by batting at it like a cat would, before grabbing it from his hand and tieing it around wrist loosely.



As she stood up she watched Adrain circle her suddenly feeling nervous about the training. Her eyes following his every movement until he moved behind her before she could turn around and look at him she felt left arm being pulled behind her back. All reasoning went out the window as she opened her mouth to scream only to have it muffled by Adrain's hand. Feeling her heart racing as panic welled up within her, her body freezing up as her mind went back to the day of her kidnapping. The hands of a random stranger on her as she almost got dragged into the alley further, her breathing becoming heavy as she willed herself to not faint.



Some of her fear lessen upon Adrain removing his hand from her mouth enough to process that she wasn't in real danger. That she wasn't back on that day where who knew what else would have happened if she wasn't saved by her current guard and Diamond. Listening through her panic state as he gave her some instruction on what to do if there was a next time of her getting kidnapped.



Upon being released she collapsed to the ground, as silent tears run down her face while trying to catch her breath and calm her heart rate. It was then that she realized that she was still shaken up over her almost kidnapping even if she tried to push it out of her mind and pretend it didn't happen her body remembered. Placing her hand on her chest feeling her heart calm down a little. Once she composed herself a little she looked up at Adrain tears still flowing hiccupping a little bit. "Sorry." Apologizing for her reactions as she used the back of her right hand to wipe away the tears.

[Deleted]

"Sure, it can be a celebratory sort of thing. Just use that as motivation if that works for you to continue your studies and excel at them." the mage says, seeing that there were probably a few good reasons that she would request as much but there was no reason to press her for a reasoning on that. Whether it was to make sure she had time to study or not rouse suspicion from that mother.

At first Adrain thought Yuki was listening as he went into the self-defense lesson, but at the end of it, he could immediately tell that she had a traumatized experience and when she started to sob, having a silent meltdown of sorts, he knelt down, looking at her in the eyes, an apologetic expression on his face.

"No...I'm sorry. Maybe that wasn't the best way to start off a self-defense lesson. I will make you a ring that will allow you to teleport to a safe location in a panic so you'll be able to at least use that if something happens." he says, then leaning forward and embracing Yuki in a comforting manner to try to help her calm down since she seemed to usually find comfort in contact with him.

"Maybe it'll be better to focus on magic training for now once I make you the ring and if you really want physical training, we'll take a different approach."

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki didn't hear much of Adrain said as her mind try to reassure her more that she was safe. The moment Adrain's arms embraced her she flinched at his touch at first until she realized that he wasn't trying to harm her but comfort her. Resting her head on his chest accepting the comfort offered while her mind fought an inner war between trying to completely reassure her that she was safe that no one was going to harm her and that she wasn't safe that everything all been a dream that when she opened her eyes she was going to wake up in a cave or a dungeon somewhere.


After some time the more logical side of her brain won out, the flow of tears slowing down. The only things that remained of her attack were the hiccuping and a noticeably trembling of her hands. "I want to do physical training. I don't want to feel defenceless. I want to over come this." She mumbled into his chest not completely wanting to give just yet on learning how to properly defend herself.


Not moving her mind finally resister what Adrain said about a ring that will teleport her to a safe location. "Does it have to be a ring?"

[Deleted]

When Yuki eventually realized that he was comforting her and began to stop panicking, the mage rubbed her shoulders until she calmed down and was able to react in a way such that wasn't completely riddled with panic. He felt genuinely horrible that it evoked this much of a reaction. When she started to talk again, he gradually let her out of his grasp unless she clung onto him at which point he would acquiesce until once more she was well enough.

"If you want to, it is a sign of strength, but we have to find a way to get you over the trauma that would paralyze you with fear in such a situation. In that case you need to be able to react appropriately and with a quick mind. You are intelligent and quick, it's just removing the fear. To do that would require conditioning, basically doing the same thing until you stop having that crippling response and get desensitized to it. At least, that's typically how you would go about it."

When she expressed hesitation about using a ring, a small bead of sweat went down his head.

"...I suppose a magical ring would evoke bad memories wouldn't it. Well, what format would you prefer?" he says, having momentarily not taken into consideration the previous experience with rings.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

"A sign of strength. By chance is there another to help me overcome the trauma other than us doing multiple trials." She asked after calming down to accept the comfort before allowing herself out of his grasp so that they could talk face to face. "Thank you as well."



Yuki nodded her head at the mention of the ring evoking bad memories. "Would a bracelet work?"

[Deleted]

"Well..." Adrain starts out, not fully prepared to answer that inquiry at first. How does one help with such trauma without trying to desensitize it. "Hypnosis, Bravery Spells, uh...summoning me through your amplifier to deal with it...really this sort of thing requires effort and strength of will on your end, there isn't an easy solution to replacing fear with bravery when someone's been scared like that." the archmage says, releasing Yuki when she moved and calmed down enough to wish to move away. When she asked for a bracelet, he smiled and nodded.

"That would be fine, perhaps then I should make you a personalized amplifier instead of using the generic one, one that will amplify your wind specifically on top of the emergency recall ability."