Gemstone Knights (Full/Closed/Started)

Samderson "Sam" Russando | Training Area

Confusion floods my mind as a few other rookies disappear into the castle and leave the rest to linger outside in the training area still. Were we supposed to leave now? The Master Knight wasn't done with our exercise, was he?

A few rookies group up and begin talking, but I stay where I am, leaned against a pillar watching. I try to play back what happened in my mind, knowing it had to have been the Rogue Knight - ...Or was that just part of the exercise too? - but I must not have been paying as close attention as I thought since I have no recollection of anything past the throw of the daggers and disappearance of three or so of my fellow rookies.

Increasingly bored with self-entertainment, I sigh and glance around to find one of the rookies standing off to their own. Figuring rejection is better than standing around doing nothing, I set off towards them and try my best to seem polite and less eager for conversation than I actually am.

"You wouldn't happen to have any clue as to what we're supposed to do now, would you?" I ask, making my presence known.

Spoiler

Open ended for anyone.

Stormy|Training Area

"You wouldn't happen to have any clue as to what we're supposed to do now, would you?" The sound of a male's voice made me jump. I hadn't been paying much attention to anyone since I'd gotten here and I didn't really plan on it. I wasn't very social, and I wanted to make that clear. Glancing up at whoever had bothered me, I shook my head and then went back to staring off into space.

I wasn't really trying to be rude, that wasn't me, but since my mom had died, I'd been keeping to myself more.Talking was out of my comfort zone, but I'd had a lot of people ask me how I'd been doing since the accident. People gave me glares when I didn't answer them, and that made me feel that much worse. With a sigh, I looked back up at the blonde boy.

"I'm Stormy," I said, my voice quiet. I tried to give him a smile, but I gave up. Smiling wasn't my thing either. I'd spent weeks crying and not once had I had a reason to smile. I didn't break eye contact, though, as I waited for him to respond.

Camber Harper | Training Arena

I looked at the girl who approached me... As far as I could remember, her name was.... Jessa? Yes, that was it.

"Trouble?" I thought for a moment. "... No, I don't think so... Surely someone would have told us by now if we would... There's enough of us here that still don't know what we're really doing, that's why there's so many instructors... I certainly don't hope we'll get in trouble, I'm certainly not rushing up there after them. No, even with five or how many others there also, I'd be getting in over my head." I gave a nervous laugh.

Bellatrix Sharp|Training Arena

I stood in the arena for a few moments after Terrence left before realizing I didn't have another sparring partner. After looking around and seeing the others clustered over to the side, I sheathed my sword and walked over to the clump.

Camber was talking to Jessa, and Sam stood a little farther away, leaning against a pillar. "You wouldn't happen to have any clue as to what we're supposed to do now, would you?" he asked, not addressing any particular person.

"No, I don't," I answered, leaning next to him. "I'm guessing those guys have...whatever that was...under control by now, so...no, I'm not sure what to do next. I suppose we could keep sparring, but no one seems to want to do that... I don't know. I kind of want to go shoot stuff. I haven't practiced with my bow in a while. How about you?"

Samderson "Sam" Russando | Training Area

The rookie jumps, startled, and I take a step back. She shakes her head, not speaking, and looks away from me for a little. Sighing, she glances back and introduces herself as Stormy.

"Samderson," I say, "But everyone calls me Sam."

Another rookie, Bellatrix I think was their name, leans against the pillar beside me and answers my original question.

"No, I don't," they say, "I'm guessing those guys have...whatever that was...under control by now, so...no, I'm not sure what to do next. I suppose we could keep sparring, but no one seems to want to do that... I don't know. I kind of want to go shoot stuff. I haven't practiced with my bow in a while. How about you?"

I turn to them, listening, and shrug.

"I'm no good with a bow, but I'm okay to spar," I say, my hand going to the hilt of one of my swords to show my weapon of choice, "If you're up for it...I guess. I don't know."

Spoiler

Whoops! Sorry, FA.

As Sam answered my question, I noticed Stormy standing nearby. "Oops!" I squeaked. "I interrupted you, didn't I? I'm sorry! I always talk too much..."

Sam reached for his sword and offered to spar, and I reached for mine as well. "I'm up for it," I answered. "Stormy, I don't know what you want to do; you were here first..."

"We can all spar," Sam offered. "We can rotate, or fight two on one, or something."

"Sounds good to me," I said. "Stormy?"

Stormy wasn't paying attention, though--she was looking back at the tower. "What's taking them so long?" she murmured.

Spoiler

It's chill, just making sure you saw it c:

Stormy|Training Area

"I think I'll just watch," I muttered, keeping my eyes on the tower. Things were moving so slowly here. If we had something to do, why didn't we just do it? What was up with all of this stalling? Why couldn't we just get a move on already? All of this waiting around had my jumpy with anticipation. I knew things were going to get a lot harder, but I didn't like just sitting around.

Doing nothing meant I was left alone with my thoughts and lately my thoughts had been going back to the accident. Every time I thought about it, I got this hallow ache inside my chest, like someone had ripped my heart out when my mom had died and it was still trying to heal. The rest of me was fine, I had no physical damage except the few cuts on my wrist that hadn't quite healed up yet, but they would go away. Bruises and broken bones were nothing--I'd break all of my bones if it brought my mom back, but I knew it wouldn't. Cutting had been like a drug to me before: it fixed me for the moment, but when the pain was gone, the memories were back.

I got the familiar feeling of being suffocated, like everything was closing in on me. Taking a deep breath, I reached into my jacket pocket and felt for the blade I kept there. I wasn't going to use it, I didn't cut anymore, but having it there made me feel better. I closed my eyes and gripped the blade between my fingers, letting the cool metal calm my nerves. Things really needed to get going, I wasn't sure how much more of myself I could handle.

Jessa|Training Area

I giggled nervously, relieved that I hadn't annoyed him.

"Yeah, me too," I replied.

I absently twirled a strand of hair around my finger. I felt awkward, standing here in front of Camber. I didn't really know how to talk to people, in general, least of all men; yet I couldn't exactly walk away.

No, now I've gotten myself into this mess; I've gotta say something...think Jessa.

"So, um-you, uh..."

"I what?" he asked as he leaned forward to hear me better.

I cleared my throat, embarrassed, "You...You have a nice stick-staff! A nice staff!"

My face flushed red.

Oh god, now he does think I'm an idiot...stick. Where did that even come from? I know that's a staff; like Gandalf has... I wonder if it is a nice staff? With my luck it's not, and he really will think I'm stupid. Why did I come over here?

Spoiler

@ShadowVyper Actually, just saying, I don't really think Camber would smirk. He's kind-hearted. I understand you wanting to put little quips of his in there to make the post longer, but you could..... Message me or something to see what he would say. Just a suggestion.....

Camber Harper | Training Arena

"You think?" I shrugged. I never really thought about it that much. "I like it. It's sturdy, but light. Easy to use." I tried to seem as natural as possible when talking to her, she seemed a bit... Flustered at the slip of her tongue. "What kinds of weapons do you use?" I couldn't remember right off the top of my head, and maybe I could get her to feel.... a little less awkward by having her talk about things she was familiar with.

(There's a comp here. I might be able to post every now and then)

Samual Heartstring|Training Area

I stopped at the entrance. The feeling disapeered. That was odd... I thought, looking around, So, should I go to the castle, or stick around? Sighing, I absently strummed my lute. I hadn't seen much of the reason the Gray Knight had left. About two daggers and a black blur. But I assumed it was the Black Knight. If it was, there was another training knight that had hit the road before me, and the Gray Knight had beat the Black Knight before... I thought, My combat skills are close to null, I'd just get in the way. So I leaned against a pole and played a hope song.

Samara "Sammy" Chase | Training Area.

Everything about this place seemed off, like nothing was running quite as planned. Glancing around the training area, my eyes were first drawn to flowing white curls, then to a spar going on near the girl standing by the lined towering pillars that we've known to surround us. Slowly, I made my way around the battles, and brought myself beside the girl. It wasn't that long of a walk when you're enthralled by what's going on around you. The movements and expressions of the fighters, showed how they were going to attack next. One would ever so slightly turn their shoulders, signaling they were expecting an upper torso hit, since they were expecting an attack to the top of their body, the most reasonable counter attack would be to return the opposite gesture they would be expecting, and attack the lower body.

I noted certain fighting techniques with each person, as I stood beside the girl, her gray eyes looked deep in thought. She was taller than I, only by a few inches, and her hair looked even more stunning up close. My thoughts focus on what I was looking on, rather than what was going on around me. I tilted my head and reached up, twisting my finger around one of the perfect curls. The girl jumped, seemingly snapping out of her thoughts. My eyes opened wide, and I dropped my hand.

"S-sorry," I forced out. She looked confused as I continued. "You're just so, so pretty." I mentally slapped myself, wishing I wouldn't have said anything. Apparently first impressions weren't my friend, they just made way for more awkward conversations. "Anyway, I'm Sammy!" I smiled up at her, hoping she would be okay with my awkward meeting.

Nabaat Gravebron - Angelous Chamber's

"Another reason?" He asks.

"Yes another reason, I need the power of the Black Pearl for one last reason." I said.

I turned and looked out the window as to see the training arena, I remember years back when I had first arrived here. Memories flooded my mind as I remember the first day I had ever met Angelous, he was handsome for his age as I was only beginning my teenage years then. But I had trained hard with Angelous to become a knight like him ever since making it to the realm of knights, I had worked closely with Angelous. I had even admitted my love to him in front of other knights, that fated day I would never forget. Still brings a smile to my face thinking about it. But I was a fool at the time, things changed ever since then.

"You know seeing the rookies just arriving and training here, brings back memories of when I had just arrived. I still remember that one day where, where I had made my love for you known." I said.

I turn back to Angelous as I see something wrong, he looks away from me and goes to his desk. He pulls out the chair and takes a seat in it, I felt something was wrong. This was not like him at all, but I pressed on anyways.

"Angelous, what happened since that fated day?" I ask.

Angelus Pacis | His chambers

I sighed, trying not to unveil too much of my past. The Crystal told me that there were rookies listening in, so I had to be careful with what I said. I looked at Nabaat. "I was pressed away by James and Camile. They said I wasn't worthy of your heart and vise versa." I lowered my voice. "I can't tell you how much it hurts to remember all that pain I suffered from taking full responsibility of your mistakes since that day. There was no possible way of getting around those two Diamond Knights. After they heard that you loved me, they tried their absolute hardest to keep me away from you." I couldn't stress enough that I had unmasked feelings for her. I still wanted to confess the true reason why I took full responsibility for her mistakes: I did all of that not out of honor, but of love. I wanted to tell her that before she took the Black Pearl. Now the accursed gem was eating away what should of been mine. I raised my voice. "Turn your back on the Black Pearl and return to the White Pearl while you still have your free will. The longer you hold the Black Pearl, the more of your free will the Gemstone will take away from you and gain a greater chance of taking over you. For the gods' sake, don't let the Black Pearl take away your free will. If not for your own sake, then do it for mine. If you still love me now as you did back then."

Stormy|Training Area

I couldn't keep the shocked look off of my face as I looked at Sammy. Not only had she played with my hair, but she'd called me pretty. It wasn't like people didn't tell me that all of the time, it was that no one had done it so... awkwardly. It seemed like I was already making friends, even though it was unintentional.

"Stormy," I said, my voice naturally quiet. I stuck my hand out for her to shake and regretted it as soon as I did. Her eyes fell on my wrist and the scars that covered it. I pulled my arm back and put it behind my back, looking down at the ground and blushing. Even though my cutting was in the past, I was still ashamed of my scars. Would they keep people from wanting to be friends with me? Would they make me hated?