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"It is for that reason that I haven't planned anything, my friend," Damiano answered after swallowing a morsel of his breakfast, "Sages are not known for having one strategy and it is even less likely that they'll be using the same tricks as they did yesterday. In an event such as this, it is best to, how did you say it? 'Play it by ear'." Damiano continued to eat his breakfast calmly, confident that his ace will throw a bit of confusion into the match for the sages. Unless they knew how to sense the size and type of spirit a combatant possessed while it was locked away in it's spirit stone, Arkanathalasana will prove to be quite the advantage.

"Which reminds me, I do have a small plan for Vilya and myself. For it to work, it is my wish that you do not mention my companion at all prior to or during the match. Sages are clever and keeping one secret from them, if at all possible, is worth it. As it is, my dear companion hasn't left his stone since we reached this lovely isle in the sky," Damiano said during a pause from his food. The visible corner of his mouth curled in a grin. It was evident that he thought himself clever by doing this.

Ark said via their mental link. Damiano nearly choked at this, completely forgetting that he had revealed his companion for a lengthy period of time during that play battle in the skies. He cursed inwardly at his own folly. If the sages wanted to know anything, they'd simply have to speak with that blasted captain Carryway, or whatever the hell his name was. Damiano stated flatly to his companion,

"I was kinda wondering about that too. These two seem way younger than any Combatant I've ever met. And they're Sages on top of that. Maybe If I get a chance I can ask Winstrom about it. Anyways, it looks like things might be getting started soon." Sai said and directed his attention to the far end of the room where the Sages Noah and Nathan were both entering through the double doors there.
Sage Noah and Sage Nathan entered the room and paused for a brief moment. They both looked upon the small gathering of Combatants and each offered a slight nod in their direction before continuing to the table and sitting across from each other at the far end.
"Aloof, aren't they?" Sai asked. "Guess I was wrong, they were just here to eat too." As Sai was speaking the man servant, Winstrom approached them from the same end of the room as the Sages.
"Young Combatants." He said when he was close to them, and after offering a deep bow. "The Young Masters have requested that you finish enjoying your breakfast and they will meet you in the ring in one hour." As he spoke he produced an hourglass from within the folds of his sleeves and set it on the table. "One hour." He said again, and after another bow he retreated back to the Sages end of the table.
"Very aloof." Sai repeated. "Too good to even come over here and tell us themselves." He finished with a smirk.

"Another hour to wait? By the powers... I don't know if I can take the wait!" Damiano said in a tone betraying his own feelings. He was nervous, as this would be his first official battle against a sage. He was hoping just to wander the world and gain strength in doing so before challenging his family's head, the sage of his town. Of course, the fates have conspired against him in making this his first battle against someone powerful enough to be called a sage. Shaking his head, Damiano finished the remaining morsels of food on his plate and got up from the table. "I do apologize, but I believe I will go meditate now. With luck it'll help me lose these troublesome nerves before the hour is up," he said as politely as he could. Without another moment lost to him, he left the dining hall swiftly and made for his chambers.

Damiano was just conscious enough of his surroundings to notice a garden outside as he neared the corridor leading to his room. He took pause here, wondering if anyone else would enter the garden during the hour? It was a beautiful garden; well kept and yet in-tune with the nature of the castle. Damiano found himself walking toward it without thinking and decided that this would be a much better location to meditate than his stuffy and undecorated room. "It never did feel right to prepare myself for anything indoors. The stone walls are a cage to my spirit and I do so enjoy the light scent of flowers while meditating. Wouldn't you agree my friend?" Damiano said aloud as he spoke to Ark. Ark did not reply verbally but Damiano knew in an instant what his companion felt. Sitting down on the grass in the open garden, Damiano began his meditation.

Kin's head tilted to look at Vilya slowly, his piercing gold eyes scanned her as his pupils narrowed into a sliver. "Of course I'll be watching your match. That is, if you're actually going to go all out and show me what you've been keeping to yourself. I want a good show." Kin said daringly.

"Hmph." Kin grunted and stood up. "I'm finished eating my fill." He announced as he through down a used tissue over his empty plate.

(( REALLLLY tired. 3 AM, finally my friends have gone home. I somehow end up having random parties at my house without even knowing until the last minute. =_= ))

Vilya's cheerful expression fell a little, she hadn't thought of that.
"Good to know you care." She said sarcastically at the last bit of Sai's reply. "I dunno, warm up maybe?" She drew her scimitars carefully and watched the blades as they glinted in the light. Then she jumped onto her chair and executed a perfect flip over its back, landing elegantly with one foot just in front of the other. Tura rose and stretched.
Tura purred in her mind.


Vilya stretched for a few minutes, then stood up.
"Who want's to help me practice?"

Vilya smiled quickly and ran at him, both weapons at the ready. At the last moment she leapt up, bringing one sword down and flicking the other underneath Sai's blade in an attempt to disarm him.

Tura flared her wings, leaping away from the table. She replied, crouching to the ground, her tail lashing in anticipation.
Without a moment's notice she sprang at the dragon.

((Short....I hate exams...))