A Feeling So Foreign
Today was the day. The Proving Grounds were blanketed with snow as per usual, but that wouldn't deter Rickter from attempting what he wanted to. On this day, for the first time since his initiation, he was going to attempt to forge a new Pact. Telion accompanied him as she normally did when it came to training, with word passed onto her from Hannah that she'd be joining later. It was a bit unusual for the brunette to go out her way to do that, seeing as how she was normally out doing other things, or just simply remained indoors where it was warmer for the time being.
While the wolf was excited about his plans he was also a bit nervous, with an underlying sense of worry lingering in the pit of his gut, and a lingering feeling in his mind that he paid little mind to for now. "So, it's my understanding you've never done this before?" Telion checked as she walked with a few fingers tugging at the fur padding around her neck, her iron staff carefully held in the other hand as she walked next to him with a look of intrigue. The wolf himself had decided to wear the chainmail gear he had, knowing full well that he'd be working up a sweat this time around. All their previous training sessions together, would amount up to what Rickter hoped to achieve by the end of today. He knew of the process itself, but never considered exploring the avenue before.
Whereas now extra weaponry could better help serve him in the long run, for the more versatile he was as a Reaver, the better off he'd be once the second half of the Argent Hand trials commenced. "Forging new pacts, no. But I remember the lessons I'd been taught, and if they're an indication of what to expect..." He remembered very well what it was like at first, therefore, expecting another trial of suffering through it felt all the more part of the idea. The benefit of Pact weaponry typically was typically worth the pain and suffering, but the wolf had to ascertain just how much pain he'd have to endure beforehand. "Needless to say, this won't be easy. For me... or you." At that note Telion looked to him worriedly then, picking up on the grim tone in his voice when Rickter brought up his left arm. He'd worn the shield to the Proving Grounds from his house when they'd left, and now, when he'd leave them he'd be doing so with it a part of him instead.
"For me?" She asked half-heartedly with an averted look of concern. Rickter looked to her and noticed this behavior, taking a step closer as to look down into her eyes when he did.
"Any time a Reaver is forging a Pact with a weapon, there is always the guarantee of pain." Telion's eyes widened after learning this, looking more into Rickter's eyes so show him the full front of her concern.
"Pain? Even after the initiation?" To that he nodded and it resulted in her biting her lower lip. "What do I have to do?" She sounded reluctant to even ask, and yet, still she offered to see it through nonetheless. Rickter admired that about her, even in doubt, she could still find the courage to carry on.
"Just come at me with everything you have. Don't stop until I've said otherwise." The levity in his tone did not lift when he expressed this, not until his eyebrows rose a little to inquire in turn. "Understand?" The bard nodded once more, taking a step back as she watched him, her staff tracing a line as it dragged through some of the snow. Rickter spared her one more look, a trusting look, before focusing on the shield attached to his left arm. A simple construct of iron and wood, and yet, soon to be a magical artifact to ward off the strongest of blows. The wolf brought his gloved hand up to the surface of the shield, pressing it against the wood near his arm as he focused on it then.
Concentrating on funneling his aether Rickter then channeled it through the Reaving rune on his nape, lacing the surface of it with aether as the area of contact began to glow a teal color. The rune on his nape felt as though it did something akin to a hum for a moment, before the rest of his aether started to spread and seep into shield itself. Breathing slowly and steadily he continued to channel his aether into it, until finally the shield itself started to hum with the same resonance as his rune. It was done then... Now came the hard part. Telion had watched with a sense of awe about her, undoubtedly curious of the nature in which Pact weapons were made. While he could've elaborated on the matter to her, the wolf felt there was little time for such a notion, for now that his aether embodied the shield he needed to finish cementing the Pact.
"Alright," he started with his shield arm held before him, taking up a defensive stance as he watched Telion with a serious stare, "don't hold back no matter what." Though reluctant to agree with him Telion nodded, spreading her feet out and apart as she readied her stance. With the staff in two hands and Rickter solely focused on her, the wolf inhaled deeply when he watched her make the first move.
Frost 28th, 120th Year, AoS
While the wolf was excited about his plans he was also a bit nervous, with an underlying sense of worry lingering in the pit of his gut, and a lingering feeling in his mind that he paid little mind to for now. "So, it's my understanding you've never done this before?" Telion checked as she walked with a few fingers tugging at the fur padding around her neck, her iron staff carefully held in the other hand as she walked next to him with a look of intrigue. The wolf himself had decided to wear the chainmail gear he had, knowing full well that he'd be working up a sweat this time around. All their previous training sessions together, would amount up to what Rickter hoped to achieve by the end of today. He knew of the process itself, but never considered exploring the avenue before.
Whereas now extra weaponry could better help serve him in the long run, for the more versatile he was as a Reaver, the better off he'd be once the second half of the Argent Hand trials commenced. "Forging new pacts, no. But I remember the lessons I'd been taught, and if they're an indication of what to expect..." He remembered very well what it was like at first, therefore, expecting another trial of suffering through it felt all the more part of the idea. The benefit of Pact weaponry typically was typically worth the pain and suffering, but the wolf had to ascertain just how much pain he'd have to endure beforehand. "Needless to say, this won't be easy. For me... or you." At that note Telion looked to him worriedly then, picking up on the grim tone in his voice when Rickter brought up his left arm. He'd worn the shield to the Proving Grounds from his house when they'd left, and now, when he'd leave them he'd be doing so with it a part of him instead.
"For me?" She asked half-heartedly with an averted look of concern. Rickter looked to her and noticed this behavior, taking a step closer as to look down into her eyes when he did.
"Any time a Reaver is forging a Pact with a weapon, there is always the guarantee of pain." Telion's eyes widened after learning this, looking more into Rickter's eyes so show him the full front of her concern.
"Pain? Even after the initiation?" To that he nodded and it resulted in her biting her lower lip. "What do I have to do?" She sounded reluctant to even ask, and yet, still she offered to see it through nonetheless. Rickter admired that about her, even in doubt, she could still find the courage to carry on.
"Just come at me with everything you have. Don't stop until I've said otherwise." The levity in his tone did not lift when he expressed this, not until his eyebrows rose a little to inquire in turn. "Understand?" The bard nodded once more, taking a step back as she watched him, her staff tracing a line as it dragged through some of the snow. Rickter spared her one more look, a trusting look, before focusing on the shield attached to his left arm. A simple construct of iron and wood, and yet, soon to be a magical artifact to ward off the strongest of blows. The wolf brought his gloved hand up to the surface of the shield, pressing it against the wood near his arm as he focused on it then.
Concentrating on funneling his aether Rickter then channeled it through the Reaving rune on his nape, lacing the surface of it with aether as the area of contact began to glow a teal color. The rune on his nape felt as though it did something akin to a hum for a moment, before the rest of his aether started to spread and seep into shield itself. Breathing slowly and steadily he continued to channel his aether into it, until finally the shield itself started to hum with the same resonance as his rune. It was done then... Now came the hard part. Telion had watched with a sense of awe about her, undoubtedly curious of the nature in which Pact weapons were made. While he could've elaborated on the matter to her, the wolf felt there was little time for such a notion, for now that his aether embodied the shield he needed to finish cementing the Pact.
"Alright," he started with his shield arm held before him, taking up a defensive stance as he watched Telion with a serious stare, "don't hold back no matter what." Though reluctant to agree with him Telion nodded, spreading her feet out and apart as she readied her stance. With the staff in two hands and Rickter solely focused on her, the wolf inhaled deeply when he watched her make the first move.
"Every side attacks you when you don't take sides."
