Gemstone Knights (Full/Closed/Started)

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

I rubbed my cheek, hoping I hadn't turned too many shades of red, as I looked at Camber curiously. I could only faintly remember the last time someone had over looked me making a fool of myself. Usually if anyone talked to me it was in hopes that I'd say something dumb, so they could tease me about it.

Why isn't he? I wondered, he's got no reason to be nice. I just met him.

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head and tame my tongue, before I spoke again.

"I-uh- I usually use a long bow; though I've got a sword for close combat." I said, as I patted the sword on my hip. He didn't need to know about my dagger.

We stood in silence for a moment, as my eyes wandered down to the scuffs on the toes of my boots. I was afraid that I had been too terse with him, but didn't know how to correct it. He seemed nice and I didn't want to offend him; though I didn't have much practice being sociable.

If Father were alive, he would've taught me how to be kind. He wouldn't be pleased if he knew what I had become; a gruff and hateful beast. I thought about Father, about his bright smile and wonderful laugh.

"...How'd you learn to shoot?" I heard a voice in the distance ask.

I wasn't sure if the question was directed towards me or not; or even who had asked it. My mind was too filled with memories of my father to think of much else; though I managed to reply.

"...Father taught me, back when I only came up to his belt buckle...We were in-"

Reality hit me.

I jerked my head up and glared at Camber suspiciously.

What did he do to me? Was that- how did he- what just happened?

He seemed startled at my sudden change.

"A-are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

I started to ask him about what had just happened, and then thought better of it, "I- yeah; fine."

I turned my back towards him, still uncertain about what had happened.

Did he mess with my head? Or...no, that was all me...wasn't it?

I crossed my arms as I watched the people sparring in the field in front of me. I wasn't going to storm off quite yet; though I was going to guard my tongue, and my mind, far better from now on.

Camber | Training Arena

I sort of frowned, but then tried to smile again. So it was a bit of an awkward conversation. And maybe she was lying about being fine- actually, it was pretty obvious- but it wasn't my place to pry. I shrugged it off, and watched the people sparring. At least she hadn't, like, walked off, then I would've felt REALLY awkward.

I thought back to my family. I hadn't seen them much since I'd discovered this Knight stuff. I always made good excuses for it, wandering around, bringin them back things to show them where I'd been. I wondered if the missed me, though. I was always trying my hardest here to train to be a knight. I wanted to fill the role I'd been given so badly. But.... Had I been neglecting my family because of it?

I rubbed my face, absentmindedly brushing some of my hair back. It needed combing again. Maybe I'd do tthat later.... Or I'd just forget again. I hoped this feeling or doubt would just pass by, that something would help me not second guess myself...

Samara "Sammy" Chase | Training Area.

I glanced down as Stormy reached out for my hand. Light pink lines were formed aginst her skin as scars. She quickly pulled her arm back, but not before I saw them. I studied her blushing face as she looked down, tilting my head before knowing what to do. First, I looked around, making sure no one was in the way. Next, I lightly took her arm, and basically pulled her along.

The walk wasn't long, I just brought her to the side of the training area where colorful and delicate plants lined the outermost parts. We were to our destination before she could protest. Looking around quickly, I knealt down and took the plants into account. they weren't the ones I was looking for. Before I moved on, I thought of a use for one of them. The plant was rather large and had bright green leaves that were noticably larger than the rest. I reached out and picked a few leaves, and stacked them lightly in my left hand. The leaves were quite leathery and strong, just what I needed to wrap her arm after the other was applied.

A few steps to the right, and I found my prized plant. I had never been quite interested in the details of plants, but I found their medicinal purposes helpful. I only knew the basics of the benefits. I twisted the plant's leaves off of it's branch, and a strong aroma lifted into the air. Setting the first leaves down, I ripped to small green patches into small parts into my hand. It was then when I finally looked back up to Stormy. Holding my hand out, for her to mimic, I poured the bits into her palm.

"Spit on them." I began, then I realized how commanding it sounded. "The plant needs liquid to work properly." I corrected myself, picking up what I had put down. I smiled up at her, hoping I wasn't coming across as pushy.

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

I kept my back turned on Camber for several long minutes; but finally risked a glance over my shoulder. He seemed timid and vulnerable; like he hurt inside as badly as I did. I felt a prick of sympathy somewhere deep within my chest; I quickly shrugged the feeling off.
I waited a few moments longer, until he seemed to settle a bit, and then slowly wandered off. The whole conversation had been uncomfortable; and I obviously wasn't making the situation any less awkward, so I simply removed myself from it.
I shuffled along until I had moved a few hundred yards away from Camber, and then sank into the shadows behind a pillar. I leaned against the ancient stone, my fingers carefully tracing the carving on the pillar, and watched the rest of the field.
I watched the few people left in the field sparring; analyzing their every move. I liked my bow far better than my blade; but swordfighting still interested me. The thrusts, parries, foot work; it was all beautiful to me. But soon the fight lost its charm to me, and my eyes began wandering once more.

Growing impatient with the lack of excitement, I pulled my bow from its tube; it was quickly strung, and I started to search for a suitable target. My gaze settled on a cherry tree about twenty yards to my right; to a small blossom directly inline with the trunk.

I pulled an arrow from my quiver, being careful to select a basic field tip, and knocked it; two breaths to steady my aim later, the polished arrow was flying through the air. I watched in satisfaction as the arrow nailed the blossom to the tree. Higher in the tree I saw Monach butterfly resting on a knot; I carefully selected a second field tip from my quiver, and took aim.

I smirked as the arrow pierced the center of the butterfly, tacking it to the tree as well.

Who am I kidding? Father never did have anything to work with. There's no way to make a girl who enjoys murdering butterflies charming.

I saw a streak of motion as a dull brown bird took flight from a branch in the tree; in a flash I had loosed an arrow towards it. I felt a moment of panic, as I realized that the weight of the arrow hadn't been right.

I hope that's not an exploding head I thought, as I sank into the shadows further, hoping no one noticed me.

Samual Heartstring| Training Area

I sighed sadly, looking around to see if anyone was open for any form of interaction. There was a girl who caught my eye. She was practicing with her bow on a tree. So far, I'd seen her hit a butterfly, and loose an arrow at a bird. She seemed a little ashamed of the one at the bird. I couldn't see why: She hit the target, and she hit a very small area. She also did it very quickly. If it where me, I would be proud of my skill, even if I was a little battle-shy. I plucked 'Devil Went Down to Georgia' and contemplated leaving the pole for company.

Jessa Grayson|Training Area

I let out a breath of relief when the bird fell to the ground; dead, but still in tact. No explosion.

That would be hard to explain, I thought, Yeah, I was trying to shoot a bird, and accidentally blew it up...

I slowly peered around the pillar and scanned the crowd of other knights for a reaction; but, to my relief, no one seemed to notice my poaching...except that boy leaning on the pillar. He seemed impressed, well amused at least, by my shooting.

That's only because he doesn't realize how close I came to causing an explosion.

In a moment he resumed playing his...lute, wasn't it? I couldn't remember. I sighed again and glanced back at the bird lying on the ground beneath the cherry tree. I smirked as I saw an old, decrepit tom cat 'stalking' the dead bird.

That's got to be the laziest cat ever. He seems perfectly content to eat the prey I killed for him...oh well, at least it won't go to waste...even if it is only a sparrow...my arrow! That damn cat's trying to carry off my arrow!

I sprinted across the field, my sword smacking against my leg with every stride; in a few bounds I was standing a few feet from the cat, who was hunched over my bird, gnawing on a wing. He looked up at me, the bird, and my arrow, dangling from his mouth; one false move and he'd be gone, taking everything with him. He growled at me; his hackles standing on end.

"Drop it," I growled.

He growled again.

"Drop it, or you get next arrow," I threatened, as I took a step nearer the cat.

He dropped the bird and hissed at me.

"Get out of here! Shoo now!" I ordered, as I waved my arms at him.

He hissed once more, but slowly began retreating towards the shadows of the pillars. I quickly dislodged the arrow from the bird's ribcage, and tossed the carcass after the cat. I hit him in the head with the bird, making him hiss, snatch his prize, and then skulk into the shadows.

I began to gripe about my day, to no one in particular, as I cleaned the blood from the broad tip.

"First I had to try and find an invisible man-" I complained, as I requivered the arrow and stood.

I'm not sure Angelus was really ever here.

"-and then Camber pretended to be all-nice; nearly made me gush about Father." I discovered that the arrow that had 'killed' the flower was well out of my reach.

I easily swung myself into the tree. "All that before things even got weird. Now I'm arguing with cats...as if they could understand me." I jammed it into my quiver, and looked up at my last arrow.

"Now I'm talking to myself. Great. I'm just as senile as Bryce is...maybe it comes with skill...no, everyone else seems fine. I'm just crazy."

I started to climb towards my final arrow. "But what the problem is, is that I'm so bored...maybe it would've been a good thing if the bird had exploded; at least then something would be happening."

I stopped mid-reach, my hand hovering just above a the branch, as a devious idea hit me. I grinned evily, jerked my last arrow from the tree, and then continued to climb until I had hidden myself well behind a veil of leaves and blossoms.

I pulled an exploding arrow from my quiver, and turned it over in my hands. I checked where everyone was standing, to be sure I didn't injure anyone, and then swung out of the tree upside-down. I quickly loosed the arrow into the air, aiming it towards nowhere imparticular on the far side of the arena, and then scrambled back into my hide-away.

Something's gotta happen now.

Sam Heartstring | Training Area

Lacking anything better to do, I continued watching the girl. She managed to get her arrow away from the cat, costing the cat a free meal. Which was okay because the lazy tabby was getting fat. Then she seemed to get an idea, and began climbing a tree. I switched songs to something old and soothing because I was bored. She balanced on a branch,and shot off an arrow. I flew straight, until it hit a wall. And then it exploded like something out of a Rambo movie. This caused me to fall over, which annoyed me a little. Fortunetly, my instrument didn't break. I wondered briefly why she did it, but had to admit; it was a better distraction then "Mary had a Little Lamb"...

Nabaat Graveborn

James and Camile...? They were why Angelous started to distance himself from me.

In my anger I turned back to Angelous, trying to control my anger. But looking at the sadness in his eyes, my anger was extinguished and replaced with my own sadness. I even felt despair in my heart, but I take a deep breath in hopes of controlling my sadness long enough to resolve this. But the pearl whispered in my head of a listener, I would not take to kindly to this. I grab a dagger from my shoes and by the point I threw it at the door and its a clean stick. I hear a curse from the other side, and the pearl was right.

"Get out of here!" I yell though the door.

I heard some noise but it eventually stopped, I look back to Angelous who's expression hasn't changed one but even from the dagger. I wait a second looking to the ground then back at him.

"Forget Camile and James, they know nothing of true love Angelous. Why must they matter and not what you believe is true?" I ask.

Angelus Pacis | His chamber

I felt my heart hurting in my chest, but didn't let it hurt me too much. "I've consulted the Emerald the day you declared your love for me and after James and Camile pressured me away from you. The Emerald told me that you were the one for me and those Diamond Knights had no right to take away my free will. Ever since that night, I've been trying to get the chance to confess, but James and Camile kept pressuring me away." Tears stung my eyes. "Just please, turn your back on the Black Pearl before it takes away your free will. Would you at least try...for my sake if not for your own. If you still love me now as you did then, turn your back on the Black Pearl and come back to the White Pearl...and to me. I beg of you."

Aaron Macleod | Inside castle

My back was beginning to ache from looking in this hole, who was this women? Master eventuality sat down out of my line of sight and the women was nearly as well so I stood up and pondered for a second to what I should do. They don’t appear to be enemies but something about the master’s cautious behaviour said otherwise.
I looked back through the hole and there she was staring at me, there’s no way she could of, then a dagger pierced the door inches from my head “Christ.” I said instinctively while clamping it shut, stopping anymore colourful language coming out.
“Get out of here.” She yelled.
The sudden shouting and dagger made me lose my balance; I moved away from the door a few meters till my body calm and stayed at a further distance from the door. I think I’m not gonna get yelled at anymore but better safe than sorry. I began wondering why everyone else isn’t curious to what’s going around here.

Nabaat Graveborn

I was furious with James and Camile, I looked out the window as I saw the rookie knights training. There were only half of them, I hadn't listened to what Angelous had just said. And yet something told me I was going to have company soon. And I was only proven right but sudden noises outside the door.

"Company..." The Black Pearl whispered in my head.

The door flies open and James is the first to rush me, I draw my sword and catch him across his face knocking him off to my side. Camile charges next and catches my hand with her sword forcing me to drop it, she swings again and I catch the blade with my hand as blood started dripping from it. I somehow manage to take the sword from Camile as I turn the blade around and catch her in the stomach pinning her into the wall. I'm not allowed a moments rest as James grabs me and tries to choke me from behind, I struggle as I walk backwards slamming him into the wall. Angelous standing there not even helping me, I wind up a kick and kick James in his unprotected shin. He lets go as I turn around punching him a few times in his jaw.

But eventually I grab him by his shirt and throw him out Angelous' window, he goes flying out and when he lands. He lands on the back of his head, I didn't need to check his vitals to know he was dead from the fall. I take deep breathes from the struggle as I had completely forgotten about Angelous.

Sam Heartstring | Training Area

I decided to go talk to the girl in the tree, seeing as, besides the blast, I was still bored. I unstrung my lute and slung it on my back, straightened my clothes a little, and began to walk. I tried to think of something better to say other than 'Hi, why'd you just blow up a wall?' but when I got there, I kinda just said, "Hey, my name's Sam. Why'd you just blow up a wall?"

Terrance Donovan | A tropical beach

The wind was blowing gently off the sea, rustling my hair and making my hammock sway slowly. The golden sand, the tall palms, and the turquoise ocean had done wonders to clear my head. My mother had taken me and my brother on vacation, and with permission from the Master Knight I had taken some time off from my duties as a gemstone knight to find myself.
I turned over carefully, relaxing almost to the point of sleep. With a contented moan, I let my mind wander back to the Realm of Knights. I wondered what the other rookies had been learning while I was away. i wondered if they had killed Nabaat yet. Probably not. I stretched, then curled up, allowing the softly crashing waves to lull me to sleep.

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

I looked down at the boy-with-the-lute irritably. He had taken the explosion way too calmly to suit me; and no one else seemed to really care either.

"Hey, my name's Sam. Why'd you just blow up a wall?" he asked.

I sighed and swung myself down out of the tree, landing beside him lightly. I fingered the scratches on my bow, closely examining each one to be sure the wood wasn't damaged; it wasn't. The finish was severely scratched, but the wood was unharmed from my little 'adventure'.

I looked out at the other knights who were all still milling about aimlessly; no one seemed to care that I had just exploded the wall behind them.

Why'd you just blow up a wall? I turned the question over in my mind, Why [i]had I blown up the wall?[/i]

I unstrung my bow and pushed it back in the tube on my back before I answered.

"I-argh! I want something to happen! I can't stand this Sam! This- this nothingness. Nothing is happening!" I growled as I clenched my fists and paced a few steps off.

Wait, he did say Sam, right? I sighed, I should introduce myself.

"...I'm Jessa," I said as I turned around, and then add under my breath, "Not that you care."

Samual Heatrstring | Training Area

He giggled, then laughed, "If I didn't care what your name was, why would I tell you mine? And, quite honestly, I'm bored outa my mind too. You sure are talented with that bow," he adds, looking around. "Well, I think the others may not have noticed because they're fighting duels, or absorbed in conversation. They didn't really notice my songs either... *Sigh* Did you see where the Grey Bullet, err, the Gray knight went?"