"That wasn't horrible," Roza said with an expression that hinted it might have been slightly horrible.
"You don't have to sugarcoat it, sweetheart," Luca said with a laugh. "I'm pretty sure that we all know that was horrible."
"First, don't call me sweetheart," Roza growled. "Second, I only said it wasn't horrible because it wasn't as bad as the first time."
"Only because it was a lower level on the simulation," Aidan called out.
"I think we'd have a better idea of what we were doing if we had someone show us what it should have been like," Peter said eyeing Roza and me hopefully.
I looked over at Roza with a shrug letting her know I was okay with it if she was. She narrowed her eyes at Luca and Peter. The longer she glared at them, the wider their smiles grew. I suppose they knew her decision.
"Fine." She huffed.
"No magical powers," Clayton said timidly taking a step away from me as he said it. I tried to keep the sneer off my face, but I don't think it worked.
"We'll try our best." I retorted sharply.
"Play nice, Comrade," Roza said sweetly pulling me to her. She brought my face down to hers in a passionate kiss. Her tongue slipped into my mouth as I brought her body closer to mine.
We both released a moan as she pulled away. I tried to chase her lips, but she pushed me away with a giggle. She pulled a stake out of thin air and handed it to me as another one materialized.
"How did you do that?" I asked breathlessly.
"I have stakes hidden everywhere." She said with a wink before walking to the center of the simulation ring. "I'll go first."
The Guardians moved to the edge of the ring and watched Roza as she prepared herself. Her back was to me, probably to prevent herself from being distracted. The level was two, the same one the Guardians had been working to get past, and they were fighting in a group.
I saw the subtle shift of the stake in Roza's hand. She'd tightened her grip and moved her hand further up the shaft. She slid her left foot back and crouched low. Her left hand was at the bottom of her chin and the butt of the stake in her right hand was in line with her sternum.
I saw her entire body tense as the Strigoi appeared. Instead of appearing all on one side, the Strigoi appeared around the ring. There were four, and this would be the only wave she had to get through.
She moved her chin down and to the left to look at the Strigoi to the left of and behind her. She faced the Strigoi in front of her and slowly started turning her body to the right. Probably without the Strigoi's knowledge, he started tracing the outside of the circle as she turned in the same direction.
"It's important to get the Strigoi out from behind you. If they're behind you, unless you have eyes in the back of your head, you can't be prepared for their attack." I began commentary for the benefit of the attending Guardians. "Roza is manipulating the Strigoi to move with her. Most likely, the Strigoi doesn't even know why he's moving, but he is."
"Are you sure it's not because she'd using some power against him?" One Guardian asked from the bunch.
"I'm sure. It's a subconscious action that happens when you're focused intently. It's the same in good relationships. If you're interested in someone, you'll unconsciously mimic or mirror their actions." I said trying to keep the annoyance from my voice.
By that time, Roza had successfully moved the Strigoi in front of her and to her right around the ring to their companions. The four Strigoi were now within the same half circle of each other, much easier to deal with.
Roza made a move forward that brought two of the Strigoi into action.
"It's easier to hold your ground and let the target come to you. You have a better chance to use their momentum against them. If you're backed into a corner, try your hardest to get out, but in an open setting such as this, you need to let them come to you." I instructed as the two Strigoi exchanged blows with Roza. She quickly took them out, blocking with her left arm and staking with her right.
"If there are more than two Strigoi, it's important to take out the first ones as quickly and efficiently as possible. The stronger Strigoi are most likely to attack last. The younger, weaker ones are sent first to weaken the Guardian or Moroi. Even if these younger ones die, they tire their intended victim enough for the stronger ones to have a better chance of killing and feeding." I said, explaining her efficiency.
"On the off chance that you're fighting more than four, they might send in strong ones, then the weak ones, and finish with a wave of the strongest. This is to lull you into a false sense of security and make you drop your guard before sending in the strongest to finish you off."
Roza had singled out the strongest Strigoi and was now free to move about the ring as she chose. I was surprised at how accurate the Alchemist had made this simulation. I was tempted to snoop a little to figure out how they programmed the Strigoi to fight so well and so life-like (oxymoron, yes, I know), but I assumed that, being Alchemists, they were very thorough with their assessments of Strigoi that came through their labs.
"You can sometimes do this with two Strigoi, but it's much safer to wait until you have just the one. You'll be able to move freely, as Roza is doing now, which will give you a huge advantage when fighting. If you couldn't tell, she's dragging this fight out intentionally. I suggest you take note of how this Strigoi fights and how Roza counters each move."
The Strigoi was getting agitated and was starting to throw more and more power into his moves. Roza used her forearm to block what would have been a nasty kick, but I doubt she felt it. The pain of his kick spread across my forearm so fierce that I released a hiss.
Roza's eyes flicked to me in concern. I barely saw her move as she flipped the Strigoi over her shoulder and onto the mat. She drove the stake through his heart without a second thought and was by my side in the next instant.
"Are you okay?" She asked quietly, taking my forearm in her hands and probing it gently. She looked up at me apologetically when I released an involuntary hiss.
"I'm fine, Roza. You should have continued fighting. I think they were actually learning something." I said lightly, prying my arm out of her grasp.
"Well, now you can teach them something." She said with a smile.
"I'm not sure how much I can teach them after your exhibition." I chuckled.
"Well, I showed them how to fight in an open space while waiting for them to come to me, which is most likely going to happen if they're protecting someone. Why don't you show them what to do if they're by themselves fighting in an enclosed space?" She suggested.
"That's a good idea."
"I have those occasionally." She said with a shrug. She pushed me into the ring and shooed me to the middle. "Dimitri is going to show you guys how to fight in an enclosed space. This will be useful if the Strigoi storm the building you're in or if you're doing a raid of their hideout. This fighting will be offensive versus the defensive fighting I showed you."
I started out the same as Roza: crouched low, grip firm and high on the stake. I was starting to get used to feeling the Strigoi. It was in no way pleasant, but I was at a place where I could just ignore it for the most part.
I quickly assessed the Strigoi, locating the one that the others looked to the most.
"If you can locate the leader and kill him, they're more likely to make mistakes or run. Because this is a simulation, they won't run, but they'll make mistakes." I heard Roza explain as I squared off with their leader. Definitely not the oldest Strigoi I'd ever fought, but he was old.
I stalked forward, far enough away from the other Strigoi to not risk any potential danger and close enough to my target to keep him from running. The Strigoi looked slightly panicked at my advance but quickly righted himself to prepare to fight me.
"Most Strigoi lead with their fists. They rely on their legs to get them places, so they don't use them to their advantage." Roza explained my next move. It surprised me how well we could read each other. She knew what I was going to before I really knew. "We tend to fight how we see other people fight, meaning that most Guardians also lead with their fists, but by leading with a kick, you knock them off guard, both literally and figuratively."
I sent a swift kick to the Strigoi's kneecap and was satisfied when the bone snapped and the Strigoi fell to his knee. A violent hiss escaped as he tumbled back when I kneed him in the jaw.
"Only when they're down on the ground do they think to use their legs." Roza scoffed as the Strigoi kicked out at me. I jumped backward to move myself out of his range and looked around me quickly to assess where the other Strigoi were. It didn't look like they'd moved at all.
"Another advantage of attacking the leader first is that the other Strigoi don't know what to do." Roza chuckled. "On one hand, if they attack and help the leader and end up killing the Guardian, the leader will take it as a lack of trust. On the other hand, if they don't attack and end up losing, they're either dead or in trouble with the even higher-ups for not protecting their superior. There's really no good outcome for them so they pick the one that will likely end in their ultimate survival: don't help."
I'd focused back on the leader and exchanged a few more blows, letting the Guardians see how a larger opponent would counter a smaller opponent. While I was by far the largest man in the room, most of these Guardians would be larger than the Strigoi they were fighting. It was unlikely that Roza would ever fight a Strigoi smaller than her.
"Without their leader, each Strigoi will try their luck on their own. There are always exceptions, but as the general rule, they don't unite after their leader is killed." Roza said after I'd staked the leader. I was still crouched down from where I'd slid my stake into the chest of the Strigoi so I spun low on the balls of my feet to face the remaining three Strigoi.
They all looked at each other silently challenging the other to go first which gave me the opportunity to draw closer to the one on my left and engage it. This Strigoi was much weaker than their leader. Her punches didn't pack as much power, comparatively for a Strigoi that is, and she was slow to block any offensive moves from me.
"This is the kind of Strigoi you want to take out quickly. They're not the best and are only going to succeed in making you more tired." Roza said as I quickly staked the female and moved to the next.
It seemed that the last two got smart and decided to team up.
"This happens occasionally. The Strigoi wise up and know that attacking in a pair is safer than attacking alone, especially against a powerful opponent." I sent a wink Roza's direction and focused on the two monsters in front of me.
I knew that, even though they were attacking together, one of them was going to hold back and let the other take the brunt of my hits, and I heard Roza explaining what they were about to do as I charged toward the more outgoing one.
"His first mistake is taking a step away from Dimitri. By backing down before the fighting even starts you set the tone that you're the weaker one. Stand your ground and you're more likely to hold your own when battling. If you notice a Strigoi take a step back without prompting, you've got a weak Strigoi." Roza stated.
"And weak Strigoi you take out quickly," Clayton said, looking toward Roza for approval. Roza gave him a small smile and a nod before turning back to me.
I couldn't help the glare that I gave Clayton as I staked the weak Strigoi. I didn't mean it as a threat, but I could tell from the way his face paled that he took it that way. I could feel Roza rolling her eyes when I smirked. The last Strigoi wasn't a weak Strigoi, but he wasn't extremely powerful either.
"At this point, most Guardians will be tired. You've taken on three Strigoi, two of them being weak, but still. Your best chance at getting out of this alive it to take out the last Strigoi quickly. The longer you drag out the fight, the more time you have to grow more tired and more weak. This also gives the Strigoi a chance to find a weakness in your technique."
"What weakness is in Belikov's technique." A Guardian behind me asked. I was tempted to turn to look at who it was, but I could feel Roza rising to the challenge.
"Dimitri doesn't have a weakness in his technique." She growled, Darkness bubbling under her skin giving her a glowing effect, like a Dark Angel.
"But he does have a weakness." Christopher quipped.
"What's his weakness?" The same voice that asked earlier pondered.
"Rose," Christopher stated never taking his eyes off of me. The Strigoi had been throwing punches left and right while this was happening, and I was content blocking each move. I wasn't tired really, but I was ready to end the fight and see who'd asked about my weakness.
I caught the hand that was flying toward my face and spun under it, twisting the arm behind the creature's back and driving my stake deep into his chest. My eyes fell on the only Guardian that was behind me and looked into the terrified eyes of Guardian Foster. I smirked at his expression and made my way back to Roza's side.
I stood behind her with my hands on her hips.
"Do you think you guys can do better this time?" I asked lowering my lips to Roza's neck.
"I'm sure they can manage," Pavel said motioning the first round of Guardians into the ring. Both Roza and I tensed as the Strigoi appeared. It was an easy feeling to get used to once it manifested, but it hurt every time they showed up.
I noticed most Guardians were taking what we'd told them and applying it to their own fight. The Guardians managed to win this time, but not without casualties. Four of the eight Guardians had been 'killed' during the fight, but it was better than all eight.
"It can obviously use a little work, but it was much better than your previous attempts," Roza said looking to Pavel for further criticism.
"That was much better than the previous attempts. I think you guys need a little more practice fighting Strigoi by yourselves in this simulation ring before you're prepared to up the level as a group." Pavel instructed directing attention away from Roza and me.
Roza cuddled back into my arms and released a sigh when I tightened them around her.
"Do you think we could go hunting tomorrow night?" I asked brushing my lips against her ear.
"We'll have to ask Amca and Baba, but I think we're prepared for that." She said looking up at me over her shoulder. "I think we harmonize nicely."
"I couldn't agree more," I said with a smile. She extracted herself from my embrace and moved over to Pavel presumably to have a chat about hunting.
I looked over to where the Guardians were sparring with each other and took a calming breath. As I inhaled, something took over and my eyes focused on the Guardians across the room. Trey Foster and Clayton Shaw both wore cocky grins as they chatted quietly.
I felt my Light pull toward them and then pull something back into me. I felt stronger as their grins faded from their faces. Their confidence was replaced with fear as they broke away from each other looking all around.
Their eyes eventually found mine, and I could see the anger radiating off of them. Soon, even their anger dissipated. Roza had made her way back to me and was also staring the Guardians down, and then it hit me.
"I took away their confidence," I whispered.
"And I took away their anger," Roza said with a smirk. "They're left with fear and happiness?"
"Odd combination, but I guess that works? Is confidence the only thing I'll feed on?"
"Highly unlikely. I feed on anger and sadness, but also any strong negative emotion. I can feed off the fear you left behind, but anger is the strongest." She said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So, you'll feed off negative emotions and I'll feed off the positive," I said with a gentle smile.
"I guess? It's just another way we balance each other out. Amca said that he'd be more than happy to pick a place for us. He said that there was nothing but harmony between us." She said with a light laugh.
"I couldn't agree more," I said placing my hands on the back of her thighs to lift her up. She automatically wrapped her legs around my hips and her arms around my neck.
"Belikov, put her down! We aren't done training yet." Pavel called out giving me a stern look. Roza gave a growl and tightened her body around me as I tried to put her down. Pavel continued to give me a glare when Roza didn't unhook herself from me.
"It's not my fault," I called out, putting my hands up to show that it wasn't me that was keeping Roza in place.
"Yeğen, unhook yourself from Guardian Belikov." Pavel sighed.
"Can't, Amca. We're living in harmony." She said with a snicker. I tried to stifle my laughter but earned another glare from Pavel for my efforts.
"You two are testing my patience," Pavel muttered quietly, but it was loud enough for Roza and me to hear him.
"We'll behave." Roza sighed jumping down from her position.
"Speak for yourself," I grumbled pulling her back to me. She slapped my arm gently and pulled back to a more respectable distance. I chuckled as Pavel walked over to our weapons and picked them up.
He tossed Roza her swords and was about to toss me mine, but something stopped him.
"How about you fight unevenly," Pavel said gesturing to the two of us. "Roza will be armed, but you'll have your fists. When you finish a simulation, you two will swap."
"I'm game if you are," Roza said with a shrug. I helped her clasp her back scabbard around her and kneeled in front of her to strap her hip scabbard around her waist.
"I'm game," I said taking her hand and giving her knuckles a chaste kiss.
"Start 'er up, Jas!" Roza called out walking into the simulation ring.
Roza turned her back to me, and I stepped up behind her and turned my back to her. I heard her pull out her swords, and the gentle ring of metal on metal caused me to shiver. The pain returned as I saw ten Strigoi standing around the edges.
"What level did you put this on?" Roza called out.
"Ten." Came Jasper's amused voice. I heard Roza release a growl right before the outgoing Strigoi leap for us. I tuned out the soft whisper of metal slicing through the air and focused on blocking the moves that were being thrown my way.
I stopped the Strigoi's punch with my forearm, careful to minimize the damage as not to distract Roza with her swords work. I used my Light to keep several Strigoi away from myself and from Roza. She methodically lopped off heads as I held them in place. I kept fending off the attacking Strigoi until Roza could assist me in beheading them.
Had we just used our magic, we could have eliminated the ten in a matter of seconds, but we were doing this Pavel's way.
"Rose, sheath your swords. Dimitri take yours." Pavel called out tossing me my weapons. All ten Strigoi were down and we were just waiting for the next wave. The pain that accompanied this wave was worse than the one before.
"How many?" I muttered to Roza as we backed up against each other.
"Rough estimate, fifteen," Roza replied. I could see her Darkness swirling up from under me before shooting out to the majority of the Strigoi. She released two at a time for me to hack off as she battled the same two until I could get to them.
The last of this wave we took out together, her Darkness, my Light.
"Last wave. Neither of you get weapons." Pavel called out. I could help but smile and pull Roza closer to me. She shared my same smile as a new wave of pain appeared. I winked down at her and sent my Light out in a ring, trapping any Strigoi in the band.
Roza sent out one tendril to each of the twenty Strigoi around us effectively causing them to dissipate leaving just the two of us smiling at each other and a room full of speechless Guardians.
"I'd say you two are good to go," Pavel said breaking the silence. "You'll be going to The Pyramid Club. I'm sure Dimitri could make sure that you're dressed properly."
"Why is that?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows. I felt Roza's unease grow as Pavel's expression, but I was thrilled with the response.
"It's 80's night."