Art by me, based on a rough sketch from a commission an artist abandoned and ran away with my money, but all line work, detail, colouring, magic effects and shading done by me as well as the background fully done by me
~ "Alright, this is the place" Ion said as Flint and him arrived in a desolate place up in the mountains, "the training grounds of the dragons, it was nice of them to allow us some time here, though it is strange to me that they did" Flint said as he gazed over the grounds, "I mean, you are a dragonkin so you have every right to be here but me... last time I was in a dragon area, we kind of got kicked out..." "Well that was then and this is now, besides last time you did get to spend the night in the village, being able to watch my ceremony" Ion answered, "true but nothing really has changed since then, besides you fully becoming a Shadow" Flint interjected as Ion shook his head. "What do you mean nothing has changed? Did you forget who you are?" Ion asked kind of sarcastically, "you are the Geo, a close ally to the Yggdrasil who these dragons are sworn to watch over and protect, that is something they or you knew the last time we were here" Ion continued. "I know, but I am surprised they took it at face value, I mean you made me wear my birthday gift instead of my Weaver attire which would signal me as a Geo better" Flint started saying, "and I know you are the Yggdrasil and your work should be good but I mean, the dragons should still be cautious..." "Cautious of what? You planning on slaying them all?" Ion asked, again in a sarcastic tone, "No! it's just... how do I say... anyone could claim to be someone affiliated with the Yggdrasil and they should better assess those claims, not just for their sake but your as well" Flint responded as Ion smiled and laughed, "what's so funny?" "Oh, the dragons and even myself can easily assess that you are who you claim to be" Ion answered as Flint looked confused, "I guess you still don't realize it but that's ok, you are still just starting out" Ion continued as Flint continued to look puzzled, "your Aura, it is not like a standard Psynergic Aura, it is different... I can't really explain it myself as I don't have a full understanding of it but it is similar to how my Aura is and how Zephyr's is now too" Ion finished as Flint pondered the last part of Ion's sentence, he had only just awakened his Aura more recently but Zephyr did not long after Ion did, was Zephyr's Aura different back then? Then what changed? Unless it had something to do when he became the Zephyr of Zephyrs, the position of that House in which Ion was of the House of Yggdrasil and himself as the House of Geo.
"So we heirs of the Domain Houses have a different Aura then?" Flint asked as Ion smiled and placed a hand of Flint's shoulder, "now you are getting it, though again I don't know exactly why that is but there is a connection there to something" Ion said as Flint looked like he was going to say something but then didn't, he just figured out that connection as he knew something that Ion didn't but that was information he promised his great grandfather not to reveal, even to the other heirs as they would learn in time on their own, it was up to them to do so. "Ok, but still if I am representing the Geo here, why didn't you want me wearing my Weaver attire? Flint asked as Ion took his hand off Flint's shoulder, "the Weaver attire is the attire of the House of Geo, if I am going to take part in my roots and represent them..." Flint continued as Ion made a smirk, "you are here representing yourself" Ion cut in, "You may be the Geo but you are also you, I seen your face every time you put this on, you couldn't wait to do so, this outfit and colours suit you more then some generic 'clan garb' and I know you see it too" Ion cut in once more as Flint looked a bit humbled. "You got a point there, I do like this attire more then any other one I have..." Flint started saying, "but that doesn't mean I don't want to wear my Weaver attire, I am a Geo, a Weaver of Creation of Gaia, it does represent me in that aspect" Flint continued. "You are right but right now you are not 'Flint, Weaver of Creation' remember why we came here" Ion interjected as Flint made a small laugh, "right, I guess right now I am learning to be 'Flint the Sword Master'!" Flint said as Ion smirked, "more like 'Flint the Sword Squire' to me" Ion said chuckling back as Flint made an angry grin, "hey, for someone who never really used a sword before, I was quite impressive the last time" "Impressive yes, but quite unrefined" Ion countered, "still though I think I deserve better then 'Flint the Sword Squire'!" Flint interjected. "Well I could call you Florian the Sword Squire, it would be more honorable since that is actually your rea..." Ion started saying sarcastically, "no, no, 'Flint the... Sword Squire' is fine... I got to keep some of my... pride" Flint said as he cut off Ion. "Ok then my 'Squire' shall we get started? Can't let Zephyr get ahead while he is out in the Sky Lands now can we" Ion said as he took position on one side of the grounds, as Flint walked over to the other, placing his bow by some nearby rocks before taking his stance facing Ion.
"Do you remember one of the first lessons I taught you?" Ion suddenly asked as he thrusted his sword into the ground, Flint pondered it for a moment, "one of the first things a swordsman needs to learn is their footwork, to be nimble on the battlefield to make every strike count" Flint answered, "good and one thing that helps with the is the clothing you wear, your Weaver attire constricts the legs too much which is fine for Weaving creation" Ion started saying, "makes really poor attire for a swordsman, let alone a swordsmaster, especially one that wants to be more arcane!" Ion continued as he took sword in hand and darted towards Flint, surprised by the sudden onslaught, it took Flint a moment to realize how fast Ion was closing in before he was able to just barley dodge out of the way, "see, your other clothing would of caught you flat footed, you would of not been able to make that dodge" Ion said impressed by Flint's footwork, "I guess there is a bit more to this then just the basics" Flint said with a smile as Ion pointed his sword towards him, "correct, now draw your sword and give me everything you got!" Ion commanded as Flint changed his posture, Golden Gaia surrounded his arm as it connected to the ground, a sword started forming from the Earth beneath rising up to Flint's hand, "you better be ready" Flint said with vigor as Ion came in with another strike but blocked it with his own sword, they continued for a while as the sparks flied from the clashing metal, Ion's movements more fluid while Flint's a bit more raw but he was getting the practice he needed. "Good! Let take this up a notch" Ion said as Azure lightning engulfed his blade while the Aura swirled out from him, Flint let out a big smile as Golden Gaia enveloped his sword, while his Aura swirled out from him, clashing with Ion's, "oh, this is going to be fun!....." ~
