04.06.3502, 08:00, in the AOs hideout in Stean.
At the faint sound of his master's footsteps, Mimicry instantly shot awake. The various tactics she had deployed to wake him in the past had taught him to instinctively wake at her approach. Rubbing his eyes, he got out of bed and prepared for her arrival. The morning sun bathed his room in its brilliant light as he let Blur know that he was up with an annoyed shout.
After having breakfast together with his master in the hideout's dining area, they started to walk to the training room in the basement. On the way there, a portrait on the corridor’s wall piqued his interest. Reading the title inscribed in the golden frame, he could discern that it was a painting of the deceased countess Liandra Starfall, who had lived from 2781 to 2823. Elegance accentuated by the high nose bridge in combination with her striking facial contours, she exuded a refined air befitting of her status. His gaze stopped at the black wavy hair cascading down her back; it bore an uncanny resemblance to his master’s.
“Get moving we don’t have all day” Blur shouted from the end of the corridor, giving him an impatient stare.
Reluctantly he peeled his eyes off the lifelike piece of art, jogging down the hallway and catching up with her.
“I will teach you the basics of two different abilities in the next three days. After that you will have to refine them yourself through experience and practice”, she casually explained as they entered the wide training room, which was divided into four areas.
Because the AOs used live blades during training, there were no sparring weapons present in the room. Mainly a tradition, this served as a way for operatives to hone their intuition through life threatening situations, allowing for greater awareness during fights. Quite obviously that lead to occasional deaths, however these were brushed off as a member simply being too weak.
Twin, another member of the AOs standing in the center of the room, noticed the two of them and made his way toward them. Donning a black leather jacket over a white shirt, his tired blue eyes and disheveled brown hair gave him a haggard aura.
Blur couldn't stop herself from smirking at the sight of his worn down appearance, “How long have you been stuck here for first aid duty now?”.
“You were the one to schedule this, you sly witch. Never mind, just don't cause me more work” Twin shot her an annoyed look and turned around. His tall and muscular figure was slightly hunched over as he trotted back to the medical station.
A chuckle escaped Mimicry seeing someone other than himself being teased by his master.
Suddenly he sensed a looming presence behind him. Reflexively somersaulting, he barely evaded the vicious kick that had been aiming for his lower back.
Before he could use the momentum of his roll to jump to his feet, Blur had already dashed after him and smashed her fist into his unprotected side.
He tumbled back, feeling his ribs ache in protest, but luckily thanks to the repeated fractures over the past few years, they didn’t break.
After a brief moment of orientation that couldn’t have been longer than half a second, he was steady on his feet again, drawing his dagger and readying to counterattack.
As always, his master didn’t bother to use a weapon in this situation, instead tip-toeing around at inhuman speed, the air flickering around her as she did. She attacked him with a variety of close combat techniques, her black-blue lab coat swayed as she went in for what looked like another punch.
Seeing this he turned to the side, intending to cut her arm off, he swung his blade at Blur’s right shoulder.
He saw the air wavering and felt his arm get grabbed, unable to react in time he was tossed over his masters shoulder and slammed into the hard stone floor. His body turned numb from the impact, struggling for breath he renounced himself to the seemingly inevitable fate of being made fun of. To his surprise the playful chiding he was used to didn’t come.
“The first of the two abilities you will learn is Waver: Air Control. It allows us to manipulate airflow, however the potency of it heavily depends on the distance between you and the air you wish to affect. Hence we use it for discreet signals on long-range and to propel our bodies or to trip opponents up on short-range. Since the air manipulated for the acceleration of your body is in your direct vicinity, it allows for the potent boost of speed, which you saw me employ. It has many other uses, but you will have to figure the rest of them out yourself”, in tandem with her explanation she procured a scroll out of one of her pockets and threw it on the ground next to the beat-up Mimicry.
“It holds the incantation needed for receiving the initial ability from Terex. This will allow you to use Waver, but training is still needed to effectively utilize it”. After elaborating, she looked around only to notice that a panther-like animal had appeared at the entrance of the room.
Strolling over she identified the visitor as a Lynxio, a special race which usually only lived in the Herian mountain range in the East of Nyxara. Boasting six legs, it studied her approaching figure attentively with its vermillion eyes. Its fur was black with patches of white, the Lynxio's trademark.
Curiously eyeing the animal she noticed the barely visible blue tattoo on its right hind leg and her eyes lit up in understanding. “Long time no see Sliver. What brings you to Nyxara? Aren't you stationed in Panderium’s capital, Votal?”, she inquired in a perplexed tone.
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Sliver’s red cat eyes glimmered with intelligence and without the slightest movement of his jaw, he answered promptly, “Your information is correct, I’m in fact still stationed in Votal. The reason for my presence today is actually an unofficial one. An out of control experiment of the Corrupted has been captured by the authorities in Panderium.”
“What are you scheming?” Accustomed to his antics, Blur was interested in what risky escapade the body-hopping member of the AOs was planning this time.
Sliver’s baritone voice resounded as he laid out the rough details of the seemingly impossible mission, he had planned, “In a fortnight the captive will be executed at Goldenspire square. That’s the moment when it’s most feasible to retrieve that individual. With your Visage-Swap you could easily infiltrate the royal guard and get right next to the guillotine unnoticed. That's why I’m here to extend a team-up invitation. If we were able to acquire the captive we could possibly unveil the secret of the Corrupted’s power source, which we have been chasing for so long. Should you be interested just notify me, you already know how to. And never forget, ensuing chaos bears opportunity, although I’m sure you of all people, are well aware of that” With that the black Lynxio vanished as if erased from existence, a special skill of the species allowing them to hide their presence.
“I could swear that he took that body just so he could do that, show-off”, Blur scoffed inwardly and shoved the mission to the back of her mind.
Mimicry still laid on the ground holding the scroll over his head, when his master returned and squatted down next to him.
“Is the floor that comfortable?” she asked feigning interest.
“Certainly more comfortable than your undodgeable punches” he quipped self-deprecatingly. And was promptly forced to jump to his feet in order to evade a right hook aimed at his jaw, letting the scroll fall to the ground in the process.
A small giggle escaped Blur and the corners of her mouth curled into a teasing smirk, “Undodgeable? You just dodged one didn't you?”
“It doesn't count, you took your time with this one” he criticized, his voice raw and reached for his dagger with his free hand.
In response to this the pale scientist went a step back and held up her arms in a conciliating manner, “First receive Waver. Then, once you have a preliminary grasp of it, we can fight some more.”
Trusting her, he stopped reaching for his weapon, piously clasped his hands together, fell to his knees, closed his eyes and began to recite the incantation, “Terex, the all-illuminating blue sun, shining beacon of light, I pray to you in utmost sincerity, with all my heart. I beseech you to bestow the Waver boon upon me.”
The room’s atmosphere shifted drastically, the air growing thick and the light seemed to dim.
Rays, colored in different shades of blue, started to gather around the kneeling Mimicry as his tattoo’s projection materialized. The luminescence was slowly drawn towards the pulsating nine-edged star on his thigh.
He watched in awe, as the light slowly entered the projection. Suddenly, cryptic symbols intruded his mind, making his temples throb. His features contorted into a mask of torment and he did his best to remain in his praying posture. A painstaking minute later all the light had finally been absorbed and the pain subsided.
Looking down, he saw the projection gradually fade away. “Why do I always end up with a massive headache? This can’t be normal, right?” he criticized and nearly flinched when realizing that he had thought out loud.
“It actually is normal for you to feel sick after the boon prayers or really any kind of prayers that are aimed at gaining power. The slight headache you get is actually really tame compared to the symptoms sustained with the acquisition of higher level boons”, Blur answered in a matter-of-fact tone. She had waited patiently for him to finish the beseechment and once again, tiny green sparks were leaving her eyes.
Mimicry feel into thought at this revelation, “Could the substance my master is using be related to an injury she sustained during a boon prayer? It couldn’t be, if she got hurt that badly from it, how would the others even survive the backlash? Unless she’s the strongest in the whole organization. Could the perils of boon prayers mean that I won’t be able to advance at a certain point?”
His ruminating was abruptly interrupted by his master handing him a piece of paper. Taking the thin sheet, he noticed that Blur’s right glove bore a dark-red tinge at the knuckles. Cutting his observing short, he perused the paper and noticed that its entire surface was covered by a grotesque and bizarre symbol.
“First you need to memorize this symbol, then outline it and extend your intent to your link, which would be your tattoo. When you envision the effect you desire, it will activate the ability and follow your will” Blur finished her explanation with a demonstration, making the air above her palm sway.
Eagerly following his master’s instructions, he jumped right into the task, but after a few tries he quickly realized that it would take a lot more time than he had originally anticipated.
His initial attempts failed due to him outlining the symbol incorrectly. Countless tries later and with a headache building up, he succeeded. However this success was short-lived, his focus shattering once he tried to envision the air before him wavering.
During his continuous failures, Blur had left the room and returned with a cup of black coffee. With it clasped in her hand she observed her student’s efforts and occasionally took a sip, savoring the aromatic taste.
“You should try coffee some time. It might allow you to properly concentrate ” she jested, holding her coffee up as if she was trying to sell it to him.
This comment resulted in Mimicry's focus breaking yet again and he threw his master an annoyed look. “Instead of praising the, oh so great coffee, could you maybe give me some tips?”
“Alright then, here’s a piece of advice, since you have been making a fool of yourself for the past hour. Don’t close your eyes and try to outline the symbol only mentally, just look at the paper. Effectively, this allows you to skip a step of the activation.”
Surprised to receive an actual answer and not a humorous remark at his performance, he hurried to implement the tactic into his practice.
A few attempts later, the air above his stretched out palm quivered slightly, he had done it!
“Great, now do it without the sheet!” Blur remarked tersely. She had gotten another cup of her favorite drink and was looking at him with anticipation.
Mimicry’s initial euphoria was immediately thwarted and he let out an exasperated sigh. “Is it so fun to ruin my feeling of accomplishment?”
“Yes, it actually is. That stupid look on your face is just gold.”
He frowned at his master’s reply but quickly shook off his annoyance and started to outline the symbol in his mind. As the chaotic lines and cluttered edges slowly came together, he felt that he wasn’t far from accurately redepicting it. And sure enough, less than five minutes later, air flowed around him in rhythmic streams.
“It just clicked together, like the lines and edges were longing for each other!” Mimicry exclaimed, a satisfied look on his face, as air tousled his short black hair.