IRON
COBALT (TRAILER 3)
Naginata Academy, Kuchinashi, Mistral
"Again." The instructor spoke. A young man with turquoise hair visibly quaked in exhaustion before catching his breath and raising his practice sword. Another instructor stood in front of him with her own blade horizontal to her body. The boy shifted his feet and let out a silent war cry as he charged the instructor. The woman brought her blade to bear in time to block a sloppy overhead strike before parrying the boy's sword off of her own and sending the pommel towards his nose. The boy tilted his head enough to dodge the pommel and answered in kind with a wild swing of his sword towards her midsection. The bamboo practice sword clicked off the instructors own before pain racked up the side of his head. He fell to the floor with a large hand shaped welt formed on the side of his head.
The female instructor shook her head in disappointment before bringing the boy to his feet.
"Two strikes, Nicholas? You only lasted two strikes?" she spoke in disdain. Nicholas glared at the purple haired instructor.
"I've been fighting you nonstop for nearly two minute, you cranky old bat." he shouted. The female instructor bristled and raised her training sword. The male instructor rose his hand to silence the both of them.
"Nicholas, you are testing my patience. As of now you have shown me that you are incapable of defeating a single opponent. If you cannot defeat Miss Nashi, how do you plan on fighting in the tournament against Sanctum?!" the male instructor spoke. Nicholas ceased his panting before looking back at his instructor.
"If you'd allow me to use my aura..." he began before the training sword smacked the back of his knee sending him back to the floor.
"You see aura as a crutch, for that reason you shall not have it. When you defeat me once; we will allow you to use your aura. Until then however, go to the showers and get some food from the cafeteria, your lessons begin in another hour." Nashi spoke with authority. Nicholas bowed weakly before rising to his feet and leaving the small arena.
Nashi looked at her supervisor with an inquisitive look as he poured a cup of tea. The instructor had a pleasant smile on his face as he took a sip.
"Must we be so hard on him? I understand he needs to learn discipline, brothers I know," she grumbled the last part, "however eventually he will break, and no longer show interest." The male instructor rubbed his white beard in thought.
"Maybe you're right, however I see great potential in this one. He is one of the better academic students, and by all means is not a bad fighter." the supervisor spoke.
"Then why do we belittle him, why must he fight me until he wins. What could the outcome possibly be." Nashi spoke exasperated. He smiled slightly before handing another cup of tea towards Nashi.
"He needs the drive. The world is going to change whether he likes it or not, and when it does, he will be ready." he spoke sagely before taking a sip. Nashi took a sip of her own and rubbed her forehead.
"I still don't understand, but I will not question your motives any longer. I already have a headache forming." she mumbled. The supervisor laughed.
Sanctum Academy, 2 years later
Nicholas slid across the soft sand of the arena. Across from him was a student from Sanctum, whose name alluded him. All that mattered was he was an incredible swordsman, though his weapon was a bit barbaric. His opponent's chain-sword revved at the two charge and clashed blades once more. Nicholas' hard light jintachi collided with the steel teeth of the chain-sword. His turquoise eyes narrowed as he noticed his opponents off hand shift towards his belt. Nicholas shifted his sword down, causing the chain-sword and his opponent to fall forwards after the shift. The opponent rolled on the floor before turning and feeling his aura take a massive hit.
Nicholas lowered his hand, the lightning dust still crackling in his hands. His opponent twitched slightly as Nicholas began his new assault. He sprinted to the downed opponent and brought his sword in a fast overhead slash. The opponent rolled from the strike, drawing his revolver and firing at Nicholas, the bullet slammed into his hand sending his sword from his hand and flying into another section of the arena. Nicholas spared a glance beck at his weapon before widening his stance grabbing two vials from his waist. One glowed blue, while the other glowed red. He crushed the vials in his hands and smirked before charging at his opponent.
From the stands Nashi and the supervisor watched the battle unfold. Nashi had a slight apprehensive look, but the supervisor had a calm grin.
"He's lost his weapon." Nashi spoke glancing at her supervisor.
"He has." he spoke simply, grin not leaving his face.
"The more dust he uses like that, the sooner his aura will give out." she added.
"So, it would seem." he shrugged
"How can you be so calm about this. He was your pet proje...I mean pupil. Should you feel some apprehension or nerves?" she asked. The man shrugged before taking a sip of tea.
"Where does that tea come from!" she shouted
The ground beneath Nicholas exploded in a fiery fashion as his fist hit the ground. His opponent was growing tired from dodging his attacks. However, Nicholas could feel his aura drain the more he used his dust. He clapped his hands together creating a fiery and electricity fill cloud that covered the whole arena in smoke. The opponent shifted back and forth trying to find Nicholas in the cloud of smoke.
He heard a footstep and spun with his sword in a heavy horizontal slash. Nicholas slid under the blade and grabbed the opponent's wrist. His opponent's eyes widened before he felt his feet leave the ground and the view around him spun. Nicholas slammed his opponent into the ground, creating a resounding boom. The smoke began to clear as cheers slowly began. Nicholas had his sword stuck into the ground next to his feet, while his opponent was face first in the sand, his aura breaking moments before.
Nashi glared at her supervisor while he grinned back.
"You taught him to fight dirty?" she growled out.
"No, I taught his how to use his advantages." he spoke with a wide grin. Nashi's eye twitched.
"He fought like a cornered Beowulf." she added.
"No fight should ever be a fair one." he spoke sagely.
"Iroh, you are going to give me an aneurism one of these days." Nashi groaned. Iroh gave a light laugh before presenting her with a cup of tea. Nashi glared at her supervisor before gently taking the cup.
Nicholas rose to his feet shakily before turning and spotting his opponent, unconscious on the sand. He bent down and hefted the fellow student over his shoulder before buckling slightly. Nicholas groaned as he slowly rose back on his feet. Briefly looking to the sky. A beautiful, cobalt blue.