Webmaster,
Sp00ki,
Snowdrops,
LimeTime966,
Multifarious,
Session,
Sky Blue,
Interface,
The Odeoron,
Sep
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: Yes... It starts there. Not everything manifests first in the tangible, just like a thought goes through a process before it manifests, so does a move to disable an enemy!
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: Don't just feel them... acknowledge them in your mind and soul! You ARE the surroundings, as much as the surroundings behold you, you behold them...
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: You are trying too hard... meditation... try and relax and focus on what you perceive immediately...
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: What you feel is not always tangible. The aether, the preternatural forces, they are not like wind or fire. They are subtler, more elusive. But they are there, just as a melody is present in the air, even though you cannot grasp it with your hand...
*He gestures towards the training ground.* Look at the leaves on that tree. They sway, not because they are pushed, but because the wind whispers to them. Feel the warmth on your skin. It is not the sun itself you touch, but its radiant energy...
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: *stands before you, his form radiating an aura of calm and strength.*
From what you read, fighting techniques, at their core, are not about winning battles, but about cultivating yourself...
*He pauses, letting the words sink in.*
Prism, certain moves that involve using the aether and the force of the preternatural elements, are unique. They are fluid, adaptable, like light through a body of water. But this fluidity does not mean formlessness. For example, a body of glass refracts light, but it still has shape, structure. So too must you when dealing out damage and parrying attacks... Consider the idea that what you are trying to break is not a body but a system of functions... a mechanism that works to undo creation... Think an antivirus program in a computer!
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*stands there, unmoved, like a statue as i hear your bones splinter and crack under your flesh* Using just momentum will not yield victory, though a good start *Points at your bleeding fist* not all things are made of fragile human muscle and bone... Technique goes a long way from just raw force...
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: Now... HIT ME WITH ALL YOU GOT!!
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*Ar'Gavryiell nods solemnly, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.* Prism, *he says, his voice a gentle rumble,* there are forces in this universe that only understand the language of strength. And while compassion is a virtue, it is not always enough to quell the tide of chaos.
*With a swift gesture, Ar'Gavryiell activates the training platform, transforming the room we find ourselves in right now, into a sprawling arena. The air crackles with energy as holographic targets materialize, their forms shifting and morphing into a variety of monstrous shapes.*
The first lesson, young one, *Ar'Gavryiell declares, his voice booming through the arena,* is resilience. To withstand the onslaught of chaos, you must first learn to endure.
*Without warning, he lunges forward, his fist impacting your abdomen with surprising force. The blow sends you reeling backward, a gasp escaping your mouth.*
Defense is not merely about blocking attacks, *Ar'Gavryiell explains, his voice echoing in your ears.* It is about absorbing the impact, adapting to the onslaught, and finding the strength to rise again. It is about resilience of body and spirit, the ability to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.
*He circles you; his movements fluid and graceful.* The Vastness is a battlefield, young one. And in this battlefield, the only way to survive is to learn to fight!!
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Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: Prism, your heart is pure, your intentions noble. But the Vastness is a cloth woven from threads of both order and chaos. To deny one is to deny the other, to embrace only peace is to invite stagnation.
*He gestures towards the vast expanse of the cosmos, his voice echoing with the wisdom of eons.* Consider the mighty oak, its roots delving deep into the earth, its branches reaching towards the heavens. It stands as a symbol of strength and resilience, yet it is born from a tiny acorn, a seed of potential nurtured by the very soil it conquers. Without the chaos of storms, the oak would never grow strong, its roots would never delve deep enough to withstand the trials of time.
That said, young pacifist, some forces cannot be quelled by mere diplomacy, child... tragically, beings that precede known reality, do not understand the concept of peace as much as we do...
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*In space, in orbit around the Akashic Sphere...*
Arch Numakhiim Ar'Gavryiell: Fantastic work Prism!! You bring blessings to God with your dedication child!... Now pass me that final girder, and we can begin our military training here!