Welcome to Gaia! ::

The wait was more painful than having to watch someone eat food whilst you were starving at lunch, the thought made Lotty's stomach growl like a menacing cave-monster at the thought. She began twirling her chocolate brown hair around her finger. Micha'el however was attempting to peer over the many pairs of shoulders before him, it was like a series of waves going over ashore. Giving up he turned back to Lottie. He sighed and swept some of his blonde hair from his glasses.

When a girl bumped into them Micha'els eyes narrowed, and he had to push back his glasses between his eyes. Lottie dismissed her at first, taking the apology but then she laid eyes upon her. She tensed all over and nudged Micha'el. With a grunt he looked up saying, "what?", following her gaze he almost scoffed, he whispered "Tsuna Miki?!" Lottie reached up and put her hands against his mouth to shut him up, but she quickly turned around when she realised it was too late and the girl must have heard him gasp. Leaning back against Micha'el she could feel his white and gold book pressing against her back. Raising her hands she smiled and said "Heyyyyy Tsuna. Please don't mind him he's just a uh... bit excited, he's a massive fan" trying to get on the girl's good side. Knowing her reputation she thought better the good side than the bad! Micha'el shook his head, "Wait, NO, I'm not a fan" before shaking his head againa nd correcting himself, "I mean, not that i don't like what you do to the haters or anything I just uh...." without further ado Micha'el was suddenly crouching behind Lottie's small frame hoping to become one with ehr shadow and become unnoticeable.

Nyru looked around at the small group of students from Ravencrest, there were perhaps only 15 compared to the eager 30 from Merlin. It was beyond him to think that only around 30 more would be coming from this crowd of students. "...I uh..." his mouth stayed agape as he looked down at his ally and best friend, "what do we do if they misbehave? I mean" he shook his head to correct himself, "we've been through worse, the Queen said she couldn't think of anyone better, she's even trusting some lesser guards to be trained to the standards that we left.

"Uh... sure..." Lottie said, staring at the girl who stood just a little above her. She felt Micha'el crawling up her back once the confrontation was over but suddenly she was being shoved aside again as Tsuna brushed past and inserted herself in front of them. Micha'el pulled a disgusted look and crossed his arms, "cheat".
Lottie gazed upa t him, "Micha'el!"
"What, she's jutt gonna end up taking the space on this trip before we can get in." he rolled his eyes. This girl had some nerve, sure she was scary and liked to pick fights with random students, but that doesn't mean she can cheat and use it to her advantage. He whispered " who wants her over there anyway, she's a magnet for trouble".

The group of students beneath them was like looking at a moving shadow, they were all dressed darkly with a hint of colour here or there. It was customary for their visit here to symbolise the country they came from but Nyru had wondered if they all looked a bit foreboding. It doesn't exactly help the prejudices of the 'assassin-like' image they have already. "Claudia" Nyru couldn't help but try and hold back a small chuckle, "I don't think she would do that. She's probably having less fun than us anyway" he looked down at her, "she has to put up with Jessamine". He had images of the girl getting into arguments with the Queen herself, that dark haired, pale-faced doll knew how to fight and do her orders but she wasn't afraid to voice her opinion. Especially if it meant getting filthy or standing around for too long without time to re-do her make-up. It was like a bad-mannered Izzy. He could have shivered at the thought. "How many of them do you think will get through?" he asked, nodding over towards the several lines of Hope students waiting to use the Orbs of Reflection parted along the front of the stage.

Suddenly he was being lifted by the scruff of his shirt and he felt his clothes pull tight around his arms, his heart was pounding so hard that he thought it might burst through his rib cage. She lectured him about reasons for going on this trip, all he could do was keep his breath and try and reach for the Aria that hung by his side but the heavy white and golden book was just out of reach. He let out an "oof" when she dropped him back down as the girl behind him got rejected, scowling at her he said "fine. I will". Without turning around to look at it he reached back and put a hand on the clear orb. It was a mystical relic with a red aura that whispered inside of it like smoke, like blood mixing with water. Lottie looked baffled, "how do you know you'll get picked?"
"I know" was his only reply, looking deeply into Tsuna's eyes with a seething hatred. The orb's aura turned white as it analysed him, searching deep within him as he thought of why he should go on this mission, going through his secrets and hunting down his memories like a spreading, invasive virus. Unlike the girl before him the Orb of Reflection's aura covered the inside surface as if it had condensated. He felt it turn ice-cold and brought his hand away. Lifting his palm he showed it to Tsuna and Lottie, within he held a small rhombus shaped crystal as clear as diamond. Closing his fingers over it he said nothing and left Lottie alone with Tsuna, pushing through other lines to leave the courtyard. Lottie was still trying to hide her excitement that he was accepted and watched the orb turn back to red before glancing at Tsuna, giving a nervous chuckle before saying "oh please, after you honestly I'm sur you'll get in fine..."

Nyru could have let out a great sigh when Claudia mentioned that day they chose to follow the queen and protect her with their lives, he seemed a little saddened if anything, "Yeah... biggest choice of my life..." he felt something strange in his chest, a falling, shrinking coldness as he thought about leaving his family and sister in Absolute to serve the Queen and follow his heritage rather than wiping it and becoming a child of the Valiant Crown. "At least I have you and Laxion now though, eh?" he changed the subject now though, cheering up again and rubbing his knuckle over Claudia's blonde hair, "I mean, i suppose i made the right decision"

Lottie waited with bated breath, most of her hoped that Tsuna wouldn't be accepted onto the mission. Could you imagine being stuck with this chick on any mission?! No! It shook her spine to think she might have to cooperate with her. Perhaps she could show off in front of her but even then it would be more fun without her, she brings nothing but trouble. As Tsuna placed her hand on the orb she couldn't help but wonder what her sister Lilly would do if Tsuna ever laid a finger on her... freeze her to the sound of music? She almost chuckled at the thought. Making brief eye-contact with her when she revealed the crystal Lottie felt a cold rush up her back, the crystal wasn't like Micha'el's and was... well, it seemed broken. Watching her move to one side she dare not say anything else, and could barely shove away the thought of being with her on this trip when she was putting he own hand on the orb. With much excitement, she was accepted too and quickly turned around to find Tsuna still there, "oh!" she clutched her hands at her chest, holding the crystal dearly. "You surprised me I uh... got in too, see"

"Claudia!" Nyru looked at her in shock, "you can't go thinking that sort of thing so early! I mean-" he couldn't finish for he was looking away attempting to hide the blush. Breathing out to calm himself down he added " anyway. Who said Laxion would be the one to ask. I don't even think he's one to ever think about marriage" with a proud tone, even if there was a slight shred of doubt. It was true, Laxion had mentioned in the past how he thought there was a futility to marriage, 'why does anyone need a ring and a piece of paper to promise you won't love anyone else. Its for people that don't trust their partners', Laxion's words rung in his head. It had some merit, he had to admit. After a brief silence Nyru asked "Do you think the Lightcleaver actually... cuts through light? Or is that a myth?" out of a shy curiosity, the two of them hadn't boarded the vessel before and so he was wondering if what Alexis said was a tease or just legend.

((I'm rpetty sure they havn't been on the Lightcleaver right?))

At Tsuna's comment Lottie couldn't help but scour at he from behind and think awful things, muscles she thought, she didn't need muscles! Not everyone needs to be bulging to be strong. But the second comment actually madeher feel bad, it reminded her of what she had said before with Micha'el. Quietly she followed and after a few minutes she had the bravery to speak up from behind Tsuna. "Tsuna!" she said, crossing her arms and putting a brave face on, "We're not all weak like the boys you beat up! Meet me in the training hall in an hour... we can like... spar or something"

"Hm" Nyru thought, imagining what it must be like on the Lightcleaver, "thank the crows that we have the Zeppelin butlers to tend to the students when we travel. I don't think i'd want to be left on that flying ship with the students, even if they are quiet and shady most of the time. " he gestured to the sudents around them, they were, for the most part, very well mannered, but the few of them could stir up a few tricks. The butlers would survive though, not a single butler in the City of Crows didn't know how to control an unruly youth, hang them upside down for a few hours, or chain them up beside a Moaning Myrtel. He shuddered at the thought of it, Moaning Myrtels were horrific summonings from the shadows, echos of lost spirits whimpering to no end. It would drive any man mad. It was a surprisingly good way to keep people in line as a form of punishment.

((sorry the posts are a bit rubbish D smile )

Lottie arrived at the training hall just after Tsuna, she had to find and drag along Micha'el - who already didn't want to come and would prefer to read his books in his room all day. They opened the doors and the hall was grand, so large that platforms hung off the ceilign and poked out of the walls a few stories high. On the ground it was mostly clear apart from a slightly raised platform int he centre as well as an array of weapons hung up along the walls around them. The moment she saw Tsuna with Terra Shaker she felt a shiver go up her spine, but Micha'el's moral support was gone already, "I'll be watching" he said, waving a hand and walking past her. He made his way to the side between Tsuna and Lottie were there was a circle cut into the wall like a cylinder. When he stepped onto it the circle beneath him glow and began to levetate, taking him up to the viewing platform that was a balcony of stone, heavily decorated.

"Well" Lottie began, nervously standing and rocking slightly, "Terra Stomper looks... nice - wait!" she then suddenly became energised, "is that thing also a gun?! I LOVE THOSE WEAPONS". Micha'el dropped his forehead against a pillar of the balcony, "Lottie, why..." was all he could let out.

Feeling something move on his side, he prepared for a great bug of somekind that he was used to fidning in the Land of Crows, but low and behold it was his sword being taken by his one and only ally. "Claudia!" he exclaimed, but she jumped back and with a snigger threw his sword. Nyru spun and clasped the hilt of his sword as it came flying towards him, "What are you doing?!" he asked again only to see her bow and arrow summoned, "oh...". Much to his regret however, they had made a crowd already - it was funny how quickly word spread when you had students looking up to you. The Ravencrest Student were already turning around and giving them space, one or two of them cheering on either Claudia or Nyru. Nyru let out a sigh, "fine". His circlet unfolded and became a helmet covering his face. Nyru put his arm aside and readied, his left hand up and ready to summon any shadows he may need. He knew that Claudia excelled in ranged combat, so he knew that getting up close to her was his goal, but it would be too dangerous until she was distracted - so he had another plan. Nyru suddely thrusted his snake-sword forwards and its blade divided and extended like a bladed whip that came zooming towards her.

She tried her best but her attempt at conversation apparently didn't go down well with Tsuna. Much to her surprise, Lottie saw Tsuna coming at her faster than she expected with her hammer raised up high in the air and ready to come down with such force it would leave her head flat on the ground. Adrenaline hit her like like a boost of energy injected into her veins, she jumped back just in time to miss the shot as it came down into the floor leaving behind a burst of power that threw her body a few extra feet back. She landed on her feet and could have grimaced, she wanted to yell at her for not starting fairly but who was she kidding, no real fight would ever start fairly! Lottie threw out her arm and in it unfurled a long black glaive, it was like a giant black needle with a long dark navy hilt. Because Lottie was only small it could easily stand as high as herself but she didn't seem to have trouble lifting it. Swinging her arm back and then forwards she threw her glaive like a giant arrow soaring through the air directly at Tsuna. To follow up she came running after Tsuna herself hoping to throw in a punch of her own!

Nyru tried to move himself to dodge each arrow but it was difficult to do so whilst Claudia was running across it lieka tight rope, he thought it quite rude to use some weapon for such a comedic action! The last arrow was too quick to avoid, so instead he summoned Declasia's symbol and quickly summoend a shield of darkness that shattered from the impact as quickly as it was created. As she jumped off Nyru pulled the whip tight and it shattered into segments, each blade rushing off in it's own direction with dark lightning following in it's tracks. HE swung his arm holding the hilt commanding every blade segment to come rushing for Claudia in an attempt to slice past her. His second attack came after, the blades came back to him and formed his sword, which he stabbed into the ground. Beneath the ground the blade extended and travelled through like a worm before attempting to erupt under Claudia's feet. He couldn' deny it was difficult fighting against a ranged fighter with onyl a sword, and dividing his snake sword into many blades required a lot fo concentration. Like splitting up your focus from one child to a dozen mischievous toddlers.

Her fists were met with open palms as Tsuna abandoned her weapon to defend herself. Her nonchalant personality was beginning to scratch the surface of what Lottie could deal with, she must have been used to dealing with students that were only cocky enough to fight her. Lottie had always been a firm believer in seeing the reflection of a person in their weapon, Tsuna must be heavy handed, she liked to pack a punch and deal with something quickly. What about over a long period of time? "He's not worthless" she said, gritting her teeth and trying to force herself further but Tsuna's grip was too tight, "And I'm not a kitten". Lottie's blue eyes then glowed every so slightly, as if reflecting something ghostly, "a kitten's claws aren't scary". Above her, her glaive was spinning slowly on it's point, facing down towards Lottie's head, it had the same glow, then around it were the grey ethereal shapes of other swords, each one was different, some were broken without a hilt or part of it's blade missing. Lottie's glaive, Haku was it's name, stabbed down in the space between them and during the surprise Lottie pulled away. Haku stood still point deep in the floor, btu spectral blades hovered around her, "My glaive is enchanted, it was once in the hand of a great general in the Order of Injustira, when he fell his best men swore an oath to protect whoever used the weapon. They may be gone now, but their weapons are forever loyal to Haku". She couldn't hold back from grinning, she loved showing off her weapon in all it's glory!

Claudia was faster, and immediately on her feet and launching an arrow. Nyru recognised the attack straight away and ignored the gasps around him, it was a rain of arrows that would be like a hundred needles falling onto him. It was usually a distraction ro something to slow her targets. Looking up her saw the tiny dots getting closer. Nyru thre wout his spare hand and as if pulling a blanket over him he threw it wide around his head and knelt to the ground, an org of shadow materialised and upon each arrow falling unto him it crackled and got closer to shattering. As soon as the ordeal was over he stood up and le the shield fade, he couldn't help but feel like he kind of wanted to impress everyone. So he used a skill that only the most skilled shadowmancers could use. He used his fingers to quickly draw Declasia's ankh in the air before him, he then brought back his fist and clenched it. The same image appeared behind him in giant form, and from it was summoned the torso of a giant shadow with it's giant arm stretched back behind it. He then threw his punch towards her.

He already knew the outcome, he was merely using an ability they both could use.