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Saraf was in a decent mood, done for the time being with his training among the other soldiers he served alongside in Oba's standing army. It had actually been good training, the sort that was almost as good as the sparring he got with his buddy Nuri. He looked forward to when he got back from his trip, though who knew how long it was going to take for him to travel around the world to tame various beasts from various places. He gave pause in front of the fountain, giving a glance at the one who was standing across it from him, then sat down o the edge of the fountain. The question now became how to spend the rest of the day. Normally he'd hit up Nuri for further training, a good sparring match, but with him gone he was... well, bored.

If he went home he'd end up running errands for his mother, that he knew for a fact, so he was in no rush to get back. Hearing a little mewling sound Saraf, something that caused him to turn, before he sighed, "Elred, you should be at home." He scolded the fancy perzi who had come to meet him. The feline had picked up the terrible habit of doing so, always meeting him about this time every day, as though he needed someone to escort him home.

The golden rings around Elred's neck jingled as he jumped on to the edge of the fountain, sitting next to Saraf, getting a scratch under the chin for his efforts. The cat set to purring even as Saraf complained quietly to the cat, "You really are destroying my reputation you know. How will I ever become a great general when I'm getting followed about by a spoiled cat all the time?"

Saraf lifted his gaze from Elred to look toward the one who seemed to be talking to him about the perzi that was sitting near Saraf. He turned to look him over, then gave Elred a glance, "He came from a rather well known breeder, a gift from my mother." He explained, scratching the perzi under the chin, something that caused Elred to instantly start purring. Saraf turned himself around, scooping Elred up to let the cat sit on his lap, and found himself asking, "You've been battling... with perzi?" He actually sounded a bit surprised, as though he'd never considered doing such a thing before himself. The idea of going out and picking on some felines seemed odd to him... though at the same time the man said that he wasn't having any luck. Did that mean he was losing to the cats?

Looking down at Elred, who was purring and preening, he just couldn't see it. He blinked a couple times then asked, "Are feral perzi intimdiating then?" He couldn't say that he'd run into any of them before, making him wonder about what Elred's wild cousins might be like. As he mentioned that he hadn't gone against anything bigger he asked, "Hm? Bigger things... are you a beast master then? Or in training to become one?" Was it possible that he was like Nuri?

Saraf gave a thoughtful sound as the man explained to him what was going on, as well as the troubles that he'd been having with the wild perzi. It seemed that the wild ones were not only dangerous but they traveled in groups? He looked down at Elred, finding it hard to believe, but if the man before him was unable to defeat them in groups then they must be something, huh? It kind of made him want to see them in action himself though he didn't really have any reason to go picking fights with the felines at the moment.

"Ahh, I see. It would be boring to do the same thing day in and day out, though at the same time it must be interesting guarding the palace." He murmured, finding that job to be one that was a touch interesting. At the same time he must not really see much in the way of action if his idea of a good idea was chasing around perzi, huh? He'd stick with his training in the army any day, at least it was an interesting way to spend his time he thought to himself idly.

Giving a half shrug he said, "I spend a great deal of my time training within the ranks of the Oban army. I mean to become an officer one day so it's where I spend most of my days, honing my skills so that I can attain that dream sooner then later." He fond himself inspecting the man before him, wondering if he was a part of the arm as well or if his sentinal training was something outside the army. Was he someone that could be useful to the plans that Nuri and himself had? The more he considered the man the more interested he became in him, especially with Nuri being away on his beast hunting trip.

Saraf gave a nod of his head, "It will take time and maybe even a little in the way of luck, but I will see myself there one day." He knew others wanted the same thing as him but he would prove he wanted it more through hard work and effort. There was always the problem that he was completely with those who had noble blood running through their veins which gave them a step up. Something he had to contend with, but he'd make sure one of them didn't get what Saraf wanted due to nepositsm alone.

"I thank you for your kind words." A little something extra, huh? Here was hoping that something extra would be just the edge that he needed. Giving a smile at the man's next words Saraf said, "I do thank you for the offer but becoming an officer is something I need to acheive on my own. A good word from your father, while it might be helpful, would also feel a bit like cheating."

The small smile on Saraf's face seemed to brighten as the young man suddenly offered himself up for sparring practice along with Reillan's brother. Now that was music to his ears, "That would be more then welcome. The more practice that we get the better, we want to fine tune our skills to their utmost after all." As an officer in the army or a palace guard it was equally as important for the two of them to train so that they would be prepared for anything that might try to surprise the pair of them. Curious Saraf asked, "How often do you train and when?" Things he'd need to know so they could plan a match.

Saraf gave a thoughtful sound, then a slow nod of his head, before he said, "I see, sounds like a good training regiment." At least he knew that if the man was training daily either outside the palace or against the perzi that he must be honing his skills. It was good to hear that, despite there being no battles laying before them, that his fellow country men were still training themselves. One never knew what was going to happen in the future and Saraf wanted to be ready no matter what might happen. The more people that thought this the better because it meant that there would be strong people who were able to see to it that Oba would remain safe.

"I thank you." He said, giving a nod of his head as Reillan said that he believed that climbing the ladder would be difficult but that he thought he'd make it. That even a stranger thought he had a chance put the normally grumpy and serious Saraf in a rather good mood.

"Having a sparring partner that you trust is a good thing. Those you spend time with will better know your skill level and how hard you can be pushed before you need rest. I have a sparring partner like that though he's presently away on beast master matters." A shame that he had to go but it was important to Nuri, so Saraf would merely wait for him to return... though he wouldn't be waiting idly. So long as Reillan didn't mind putting in the time then Saraf saw no reason why they couldn't become familiar with one another. It just depended on how well they meshed was all, something that could be figured out with time as well.

"He does seem quite adept from the sparring matchings we have, as well as the showing he made in the battle we were in up in Sauti. It seems having beasts serving at his side is a sort of bonus to go along with that. It's a good thing that he trains himself as well since his beasts won't always be at his side." Something that Saraf did worry about a little, but Nuri had proved that he was able to stand on his own. It was why he hadn't really been too worried when his friend decided to go on his beast capturing journey.

Now that Reillan mentioned that he bet Nuri would come back 'quite strong' he found himself thinking about that before he said, "Something I hadn't thought about... but you're probably right. I really need to work hard or else he's going to get ahead of me." Last thing he wanted was for Nuri to reappear and hand Saraf his own backside. Only more incentive for Saraf to get stronger he supposed.

"It's a fine line that we find ourselves walking." He agreed, knowing that he wanted to get stronger but not so much so that he was a large target. He wanted to be able to move, to dodge, he'd leave the pummeling to those foolish enough or brave enough to take up being a shield barer he thought to himself idly. Giving a smile he said, "I suppose that while I don't intend to make myself a sitting duck on the battlefield I am risking making myself one in general." Those who sought after high ranks tended to make enemies along the way. Something Nuri and himself would have to watch out for.

Giving a grin he said, "Oh, I will make sure that our names are spoke of." Of that he was certain. If Reillan ever decided that he wanted to join them Saraf was all for it, the more loyal soldiers he could find the better as he climbed the ranks.