Private ✪ Finweald Let's Take A Step Back And Say Our Goodbyes

[Lune]

Lions' Headquarters

The migration of landers, players quitting the game, and the sheer scale of destruction in Finweald caused a lot of headaches. But fortunately for the Adventurers' Guild, these instead meant more jobs coming to them. And by more? It's a lot. Adventurers of any rank were securing multiple contracts, such as magia hunting, scavenging, emergency services, patrol, and rebuilding.

And for once, Lune skipped the frontlines and instead took a job to fix the demolished Lion's Headquarters. How the final battle turned had her thinking things over, causing her to avoid any kind of conflict for now while she collect her thoughts. So here she was, with some lesser-ranked adventurers, inspecting the damages on the exterior and the inside.

"It's worse than I thought." She commented. The blue-haired woman was not an engineer, but even she knew that it was a miracle the headquarters still stood.

Lune sighed at the prospect of a long day of work.

But planning forward was her thing. Equipped with a bundle of papers, Lune began to organize the other helpers as they move materials and deploy types of construction equipment.

"Yes, that pillar there." She pointed out, while the blue eyes glanced left and right, searching for a particular knight. The faerin protector that she expected to roam around the hallways was nowhere to be seen since morning, which was weird since all the other knights seem to be talking about him. Wonder what's up with that?

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

A lot was going through Hanno's mind through the whole week. There was so much to process, so much to consider. The problems and the new conflict between the Landers and the Starcalled. The distrust that now he had to face from the Landers, not only for being a faerin but also now adding extra problems to it, caused by the consequences of a disaster that was out of everyone's control.

He could only hope that his reputation would give him a free pass.

There was also the problems with Attia, the plea for help that continued to echo in his mind, with an uncertainty of what exactly had happened to her... And of course, the unexpected sight of Corvella, even if perhaps only an illusion in front of his eyes and ears... Maybe caused by the despair of the battle.

Or at least, it was what his mind tried to put as the logical approach to something so... Strange, and yet realistic.

It would explain a lot about @Lune, however.

... And as if the world had listened to his thoughts, as soon as Hanno moved past a hallway, his dropped eyes rose to start guiding and gesturing people around, to put some order at 'home'... But as soon as his gaze met Lune, he paused, pursing his lips and then partially smiling.

"Hey there, buddy." Hanno greeted, approaching and raising a hand.

"Glad to see ya. How have you been?" He asked.

He didn't even have time to see her after the combat, hurrying out to try to find his other friend that had asked for help. He knew fighting the magia and getting her revenge was one of her priorities... But how did she felt, knowing Szofrit was still alive? He hoped she didn't hold any grudges on it.

 

[Lune]

"Oh, hey!" Startled, Lune quickly called out the knight whose gaze she suddenly met. "I was just wondering why I haven't seen you around. I'm fine, everything was just a flesh wound!"

With how much they were impaled by lances made by laser into the ground, it was a surprise that both of them made out of that battle alive. Sure, she could attribute her body modifications as the result of that. But Hanno survived all of that with what, just pure badassery?

Then she remembered Freya sort of promised him that they will talk about things. Curses. Not to mention that it's quite awkward since during that climax of the battle the woman struggled to try and kill the defeated Szofrit while the others had to hold her back. Hanno was one of the many advocating to spare the mother of magia.

"But yeah, I did owe you some explanation. Mind going for a walk?" She motioned to him toward the long hallway as she passed the papers to another adventurer. Soon, they walked.

"So, new body, new form. Now I'm known as Lune around these parts...." That one is too long to explain. So instead she sighed while shrugging, before smiling at Hanno. "... I have my reasons. You can continue to call me Moonsong if you want, though."

Her eyes glanced at the golden locks on her left head. Sooner or later, the topic of Corvella would definitely be brought up. Knowing it was coming didn't help as the woman still felt anxious.

Are both of them even ready for the truth?

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno showed @Lune a faint smirk. "Tough girl." He said. This woman never ceased to impress him. For someone that was just asking him to train defensive techniques, she had grown in both power and resilience in a speed that was unmatched.

but his smirk soon faded, pensive for a moment while he considered his words before he finally answered: "Things have been busy lately." He admitted. "More than ever... So much has been happening. It is almost overwhelming." Hanno explained, with his mind being occupied by many problems that he couldn't even start counting. The new responsibilities, the incoming conflict, the amount of trouble that protecting the magias from a merciless prejudice would be, as if protecting faerins wasn't enough. And of course, the predicament someone dear for him was in.

Or rather... Two someones.

His gaze locked on Lune for a moment, and he nodded. "With you? Always." He said, pushing his obligations aside for a moment to join the blue haired for a walk.

"I did see you went for a full change. I'm going to miss the metal aesthetic, which was rad, but well. You still look great." He said with an encouraging compliment, with his expressions turning a bit more serious. "What do you prefer me to call you? It is your name." Hanno said, then leaned in, speaking quieter-

"Is someone after you? Or did something happen? Let me know if I can help." He reassured.

 

[Lune]

"I'll give the credit to my incredible mentor," Smirking, she deflected the praise. All that hard training did pay off, after all.

As they walked, the woman chuckled lightly at yet another compliment that @Hanno Futaba threw at her, before asking what name she preferred. "Then call me Lune. It is what I am now."

It seemed that he was worried for her.

"It's not that, no," She tried to explain her circumstances around the identity change. "It's just that... I needed a change. Something to leave the painful past behind, something to show that I'm ready to commit."

Like someone going through a breakup.

"Guess you could call it a ritual, or some sort."

She chuckled, before apologizing. "So yeah, sorry for just disappearing out of the blue." The woman stroked her hair again, inadvertently ruffling the blonde part. Another moment of silence as they passed the open field where the both of them trained for a period to prepare for the war; a war that they finally won.

"So Hanno, what are you up to nowadays?" Lune stepped out to the empty field, bathing in the war, sunlight.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno smiled, a bit flustered at the compliment retort, but ultimately nodded in agreement to her words. "Lune it is then." He smirked, a bit jestful. "Nice to meet'cha." Hanno winked, letting out a brief chuckle and then quietening to listen to Lune's explanation.

The simply 'no' would've been enough, since Hanno didn't wish to invade Lune's privacy if she didn't want to. But as she had chosen to elaborate, he gave her all of his attention, nodding pensively at the mention of a painful past... One that he wasn't entirely sure if was narrowed down to only one specific thing he knew, or if it went beyond that.

"A ritual sounds nice. I hope you can find the peace you need." He said, honest and with a faint smile on his lips. "You don't need to apologize. I will admit I was worried, but you had your reasons." Hanno reassured, not wanting Lune to think she owed any more explanation or apology.

He couldn't help, however, to linger his gaze on the golden hair she had on her, that shone when the sunlight touched it. The hair was familiar, one that prickled his heart at the reminder of what happened in the battlefield.

Lune's question made Hanno's lips purse fora moment, with all the problems rushing through his mind, before he took a deep breath, looking at the sky.

"A lot of things. But to summarize... I'm looking for answers... About others, about myself." He muttered, gazing down at his hands. "About what happened." He looked at the surroundings, still being reconstructed. "About what is happening." His eyes trailed off to the horizon. "And about what will happen." His eyes went back to Lune's, locking on them.

@Lune

 

[Lune]

"Thank you for understanding," She bowed a little, before listening to Hanno's number of worries. Even someone as seasoned as him was still looking for answers. "Answers, huh."

"Then maybe she can help."

The blonde part of her hair emitted a faint glow, and Lune's pair of blue eyes was replaced by a familiar pair of emeralds the next time she opened it. And then, there was it. A speech pattern of a particular someone that joked even in the face of danger. A protector in life, and a guardian in death.

"Or am I just going to add to the list of questions?"

Shrugging, 'Lune' chuckled at her own joke in a tone that was surely different from the woman that spoke seconds ago, before quieting down to meet the faerin's eyes again.

"And now it is my time to apologize, Hanno, for not trying to talk to you all this time." Her hand went to scratch the back of her head, unsure if the knight would forgive her for not contacting him despite somewhat being sort of 'alive'.

"Dayeon and I were just... have been thinking really hard on something. Something that took a lot of time to accept," Her eyes wandered to the horizon, before coming back toward him with a confident resolve. "But we finally got our answers, and so will you."

Slowly getting down to sit in the grass, she motioned Hanno to join her to sit on her side, as the wind picks up, her shiny golden locks fluttering.

"So, how about you? Tell me what's been on your mind."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Honestly, if I didn't, you should just not care about what I think." Hanno shrugged with a small grin, delivering a piece of advice @Lune probably already knew of.

His faint expressions, however, perked up in a vague surprise at Lune's words. "She..." Hanno muttered, knowing of who she spoke of. His posture straightened, and he watched intently as the golden hair of the woman brimmed, and the eyes shifted into a color that matched his own. Any doubt from before became a certainty, and as soon as the familiar tone and manneirisms showed, Hanno had to pause and take a deep breath to calm himself down.

He didn't even dare to use his spirit sight.

Remaining quiet, Hanno allowed her to speak free from interruptions, to voice her apology, her confession, and then her question, that followed by the invitation to sit, sealed the fact she was done talking.

"Every answer comes with one or two more questions." Hanno said, acknowledging the paradox of finding answers.

"You don't need to apologize." He said, approaching as he finally took a seat next to her, with his eyes remained on hers, which was the one thing that reminded him of her the most, even if the face it belonged currently was Lune's. "You had your own reasons as well... Besides, talking to me isn't an obligation or anything... So thanks, for talking to me right now." Hanno said, with feelings growing in his chest. A mix of bitterness and joy.

"Something... You accepted?" He asked, but not before she questioned her about his mind. A question that brought the feelings, all locked in his chest, in the depths of his mind, away and for no one else to hear. Not because Hanno liked to bottle things up, but because in the face of so manny challenges and obstacles, being the one that brimmed with confidence and determination.

But with Corvella... It was different. She is... She was his mentor. Hanno felt safe with her, just in the way he wished people felt safe with him, and in this safety, he left his guard down.

"So many things... Corvella..." He took a deep breath. "Nothing... Nothing of what happened so far was what I expected when I came back to Terrasphere." Hanno admitted. "So many people I care for... I... I've been welcomed to a list of people of people who were UI-Locked or outright gone forever... And you..." He clenched his fist, and his lips pursed.

"... You were gone and I wasn't even there to try to... Go and fight next to you. For us to be each other's shield, just as we trained..." Hanno shook his head.

"I miss Majolica and her leadership, her strength. I miss Ivan and his silly eloquence, and even his stupid curry. I miss Haru and his serene aura, that calm anyone down. I miss Janet and her bluntness and bossy behavior. I miss... I miss Kepler, and her amazing inventions and how she got us in silly situations. I miss her... I miss everyone so much." He frowned his lips. "Some... I don't know where they are right now... And the few that I know... They are either gone, or locked..."

Hanno turned to look at Corvella. "Even Bradwynne. He was just a kid, Corvella. For him to get UI-Locked! I should've stopped him-" He turned away, holding his head. "I know... I only know Majolica is safe, but even then, nowadays I don't know where is she..." Hanno's eyes shimmered as it watered, but he wiped them before it went further than that.

"... But what if the others are gone... What if Rias is gone? Janet? Sean is still around for a miracle... What if Kepler is gone?" He couldn't help but feel a lump growing in his throat just at the thought.

"And now... I don't have any of them with me." Hanno sighed, pursing his lips. "I keep fighting... I keep trying to protect others... But it feels... So dettached. Alone." His gaze fell. "It doesn't feel personal anymore. It doesn't... Feel like I'm fighting with someone else anymore."

Hanno closed his eyes.

"But I deserve it... If I couldn't protect, or be there for those that gave me a sense of purpose... Then this is nothing but a punishment I deserve..."

His eyes opened again, and he looked at Corvella, once more.

"I am sorry, Corvella. You taught me, but I don't think I've became someone... Like you."

@Corvella

 

[Lune]

She began explaining as Hanno sat down. "We did some experiment, because I was a little bit curious about my... existence." The woman looked at her own hands; the hands that belonged to a body that is not hers.

The revelation dropped as Corvella turned to look at the clear sky. "As it turns out, I'm not even an entity."
She quickly followed up with a bitter explanation, "The memory stored inside the Immortal Heroinewas embedded into this girl, manifesting itself as a separate personality."

Because Dayeon needed someone to guide her, to be her umbrella when the whole world rains on her.

It flattered her, but the realization that she's just a shallow copy is just...

"I... no, Corvella is dead." There's a slight hint of sadness, but it was quickly replaced with words full of resolve. "But her will lives. And I still have a purpose."

It was painful listening to the faerin, having to go through everything all this time without the people that he formed a bond with. "No, it was not your fault!" The woman quickly berated him with a sharp tone. "It was never your fault. Please don't punish yourself over those things, Hanno." She pleaded softly as her hand quickly went to grab his hand which was clenching tightly, trying to calm him down.

"Ivan... I found out he went with the King to Hylands about a year ago." She bit her lips, looking before she delivered the heartbreaking news to the knight. "He never came back," Shaking her head, she raised her head back after a while. "But such is life."

Every time she saw Hanno on the battlefield, he was always a dependable presence. A safe haven for those who needed protection. An immovable object.

Little did she know, deep beyond that sturdy exterior, Hanno was slowly breaking inside.

"Of course, you are not." Corvella chuckled, trying to lighten the conversation. "All those pains, all those sorrow..." She listed, looking at a group of knights passing through the hallway. "Yet you kept moving forward. You have become someone more, someone better. When the days are dark, they will still look up to you."

Gripping both of his shoulders firmly, Corvella stared at him with a reassuring look.

"A hero, that's what you are. And what does a hero always do?"

Face to face, eyes to eyes. From the mentor to the protege, from the past to the present.

"They always rise back up. Don't kick yourself down over how many were lost because you weren't there." Motioning all over the Lions' Headquarter building to prove her point, she smiled at him, a smile as sweet as sugar. "Instead, look how many are still alive because you were there."

Sighing, she closed the distance between them, pulling Hanno into a tight embrace. Her right hand patted and stroked his back gently while reassuring Hanno.

"You'll never fight alone."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno looked at Corvella as she explained her true nature... That she wasn't actually Corvella. That she was but an echo that reflected in Lune's psyche. The small hint of hope Hanno had in his heart, in expectance that what was happening in front of her to be a miracle, flickered away. This, however, didn't shake him as much as it usually would, for the sole reason that the faerin already had his questions and doubts.

"I... see..." Hanno muttered, keeping his gaze on her. "It isn't so simple... after all." His eyes fell.

The hint of sadness, however, brought Hanno's eyes up to the woman once again, and his lips pursed as he added: "If you are the Corvella I met, if you are another Corvella, it doesn't matter. You can see me, can't you? Can you feel?" Hanno said, which was something he applied to... Everything, really. Just like Landers. Just like UI-Locked. "In the end, you are still yourself. You live on." His fist clenched, perhaps being delusional.

But for her, he was willing to be anything. Be delusional, a fool, or even a madman. Even seeing who is supposed to be a 'reflection' of her saddened didn't hit him well.

Resolute, Corvella seemed to get back to her usual self, and his gaze went down to their hands, feeling the tight squeeze before his eyes went up once again, with her plea making him take a deep breath, forcing himself to try and push those thoughts away. It was tough, however, and as she revealed the last Ivan's whereabouts, his eyes averted, pursing his lips. "One after another..." Were gone.

He shook his head, trying to snap back, only to be held by the shoulders, side glancing at the fellow knights that wandered nearby, and then returning his eyes to Corvella, with eyes quivering, and tears forming again. "A hero... always rise back..." Hanno muttered, with flashes of past running in her mind. Of Corvella herself raising over and over, no matter what was thrown at her. Relentless and fierce, almost like a force of nature.

Hanno would never be like that if he continued like this... But even then... Even knowing this...

He heaved a breath through his mouth, with Corvella's sweet smile being locked in his gaze, reflecting the memories of a battle wounded Corvella, remaining firm despite all the pain and hardships... With the smile remaining clear in his sight, even when it blurred with tears a moment before he was pulled in an embrace, reciprocated while he no longer held anything back.

"I... I know I'm not truly alone..." Hanno breathed a sob, tightening the hold. "There are many others... but still... to not have those I care for with me... it is hard, Corvella... to not end a battle and cheer with them."

Those who he had mentioned so many times before, including, of course, her. He gritted his teeth, burying his face on her.

"I missed you... I still miss you." He said, taking a moment to control his emotions, trying to fix his broken voice. "Every moment... be on war, be on just... talking or... anything..." Hanno said, taking another breath, with his shoulders slumping.

"... But you are right... if I continue like this... I..." Hanno shook his head.

"I can't afford to stay like this." His throat closed, not wishing to acknowledge his following words.

"Not for a past that won't come back."

@Corvella

 

[Lune]

"Thank you. At the very least, you felt that way..."

If at least one person believed that she was real, then she was.

"I know," She pulled the hug tighter, feeling every tremor in his voice reverberating through her body. "I really, really miss you too."

They stayed like that for a while.

"It's hard to let go. But it doesn't mean you're weak." She let out words of encouragement, slowly letting go of the embrace but still maintaining eye contact. "I believe that you will make more connections, to find other people that you care, and cares about you."

Hearing Hanno talk about the past, Corvella chuckled lightly, before confessing. "You know, sometimes I look back into the past and think, what if I just run away that night? Let the people die and just live to fight another day?" But then she shrugged at the possibility. "I might've lived. But that's not what I would've done, is it?"

"Even if that moment comes back... I wouldn't have it any other way." She trailed off, sighing while smiling at her own fatal decision of the past. The memory of that one girl she escorted through the burning city reminded her that she protected the people, and that was good enough for her.

"I understand there are so many things that we cannot convey in words,"

Suddenly, Corvella got up from the grass, patting her pants several times before making her way toward the training weapon rack, deciding on a steel shield that mirrored what she wielded during her lifetime.

"So I think we should speak in our own language," Walking back to the middle of the field, she displayed a grin that she had shown countless times in the heat of battles, her eyes sharp and her form confident.

Pointing at Hanno, she signaled a challenge at him. "And let me see through these borrowed eyes." Whether he has already surpassed the Heroine, and is worthy to inherit the title of Hero; the one who rises against any adversary with an unbreakable will, swearing to protect the weak and innocent.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

The lingering embrace, and the recriprocating feelings made Hanno's lips turn into a bittersweet smile. Granted, it didn't stop his tears from forming... Even if these ones weren't just out of sadness this time. Eventually, the embrace loosened, and as nice and warm as it felt, they couldn't just stay there forever even if he wanted.

It was indeed hard to let things go. From a past that you held so dearly. But there was a faith Corvella had, that he couldn't just give no credit for.

"I... did meet a few already..." Hanno admitted, with his gaze lingering on Corvella's eyes, but perhaps this time meaning to be Lune. "... But still... I..." He took a deep breath, eventually nodding. "You will all have a dear place in my heart. No matter how many others I meet." Hanno said, mustering a small smile.

His eyes remained on Corvella, as she went on and mentioned her own past. Her own experience. How she preferred to fall to protect others, than running and living for how much longer. Maybe, if she had ran away, Hanno would've been speaking with her living form. But honestly, would it have been worth it? Considering she would need to stray away from her calling. From her duty.

Perhaps not.

"Immortal Heroine really sounds fitting for someone of your character, Corvella." Hanno said, looking at her. "Really, it is an undoubtable title." He noticed her gestures, pausing for a moment while keeping his eyes on her, taking a deep breath before he felt something curling around his hand.

Blinking, he turned to see his shield, suddenly in her awaken form, with the central eye wide open and looking at him, and the wiggling tentacles waiting.

Hanno wiped any remains of tears from his cheek and eyes, heaving a sigh and picking his shield up. "Really... What I will do with both of you." He muttered, looking at Corvella and readying his stance. "I won't be holding back."

@Corvella

 

[Lune]

"Immortal Heroine really sounds fitting for someone of your character, Corvella."

The woman chuckled at the sudden praise. "I don't know who coined that title, but I like it." Maybe the title was foreshadowing this 'return'?

Or just a coincidence.

"I won't be holding back."

"And so do I," She smiled confidently. This really brought back memories from the past. Back then, Hanno was just someone trying to learn how to use his shield better to protect people. Now, the Lion's Pride looks up to him.

She had been gone for so long, hadn't she?

Are you going to give it your all?

Of course I am.

This body, Lune's, was a lot stronger and faster compared to her real body when she was alive and had access to magic previously unattainable, allowing Corvella to display unseen variations of her techniques. Throwing her shield towards Hanno, it accelerated itself with gravity magic, bouncing back into the woman's grip after the surprise attack connected, blocked, or deflected.

"Here I go!"

She charged into a dash, trying to close the distance between them, readying her left arm as she punched forward with the smaller end of the kite shield with a herculean might.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno was already bracing himself when Corvella approached, certainly sharper and stronger than before. Yes, the blonde's "real" self may had become a statue, but she didn't stop in time. She was stronger than when they fought together, impressively so.

The shield approached in a flight, and Hanno bashed his shield toward it, blocking its advancement before he tried to charge at her direction- However, it didn't take long for her to recover the shield, that simply flied back to her, making the faerin wide his eyes open and surprised, receiving a full hit from the thrust, that was partially cushioned by the armor he had on him.

He frowned, showing a daring smirk to the woman, before turning quickly to throw a high side kick, hoping to try to stagger her, before retracting his leg, regardless if it had landed a hit or not, already spinning for a sweep, attempting to overwhelm Corvella's defenses.

@Corvella

 

[Lune]

Just to show that Hanno never forgot about her, he easily deflected her signature ranged attack. However, the purpose of that attack was to distract him before she delivered a shield thrust into the chest; a punch that would instantly knock a normal person should they fail to defend themselves.

To her surprise, not only the faerin endured the attack, but he didn't even stumble back. Like a blur, a speedy high kick suddenly approached from the side that was not protected by a shield, forcing the woman to raise her other arm to block the impact barely in time.

There was a lot of power packed into that small body, compressed into a single kick. Even when she successfully blocked it, the blow sent some momentum to her head, causing her to be disoriented for a while as Hanno already recovered from the kick, using the bounce from the kick to spin into another attack. Not good.

I don't remember him being this aggressive during our training sessions. There's no room for any counterattack at all!

The moment will come, sit tight.

The heroine decided to stay on the defensive rather than risk a trade blow. Noticing the sweep coming, she jumped up into the air at the last possible moment, where she was open for a split second while mid-air. Sensing another attack coming her way, Corvella braced, bringing the shield in front of her torso.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Even with the flurry of attacks and maneuvers with his kicks, Hanno already knew it wouldn't be enough to bring Corvella down. No, if it was so simple to defeat her, she wouldn't be the Immortal Heroine, after all. Hanno may be fast, and even have explosive attacks in succession, but he didn't have the same reflex Corvella had.

The sweep went blank, hitting no feet or leg, with the only hint of where Corvella was being the shadow that was cast over him, giving him an instinctive movement to throw a punch upwards--

A muffled thud could be heard, with a pain tingling in his hands and running through his arm as he noticed his fist had just met the hard surface of a shield, making he retreat his arm and leap backwards. Dust escaped from where his feet dragged on, and putting up an stance, he soon felt the blow, that he had ignored at first, returning with the double of pain.

He grimaced a bit, but a smile crossed his lips, and his shield rumbled.

"This fight is mine, Ghast-" He said, and his gaze locked on Corvella. "Not gonna lie, I thought I was done for... You held back a counter?" Hanno said, smirking. He had to close his eyes, and see the spirit behind that facade. For a moment, he had confounded things.

Corvella wasn't Lune, nor the other way around. He had to focus on facing the person he had learned with five years ago. He pushed the pain at the back of his mind, gambling to endure it further. There were no healers to back him up this time. And he wouldn't allow Ghast to take this pain for him.

"Bring it on." He prepared, putting his shield in front of him.

@Lune

 

[Lune]

The upwards punch was completely blocked, but somehow Corvella could still feel the impact of the blow getting through the shield, her arms, and even her ribs. As the faerin retreated to make some distance, so did the woman by tumbling backward.

"You gave me too much credit," She laughed, trying to brush off the pain from that last attack. "It was just purely a reflex thing."

For a memory that spent the last four years doing nothing, she wasn't doing too bad. With how long the body was exposed to steel, the shard already increased to a considerable size. She could've redirected some of the steel to block the impact, but right now she's not fighting as Lune. Her only weapon is the shield.

The heroine tightened the shield straps on her left arm, "Let's go." This time, she opted for the offensive by rushing at him, weaving left and right to catch him off guard while dodging potential oncoming attacks.

Contrasting Lune's raw, powerful attacks, hers were faster, with proper infighting techniques put behind them. Unleashing a barrage of punches first, she tried to swat Hanno's shield to the side to open up his defense, before putting the strength of her hips and shoulder to bring her right arm forward for a haymaker punch.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Who should I credit then?" Hanno inquired, bracing himself. "The reflex is yours." He pointed out, albeit not having much time to receive an answer, with his mentor soon advancing in a more imponent charge, one that he had to think quick if he didn't want to be overwhelmed.

Counter attacking the advance proved to be a challenge, with the feints making his gaze shift around, and his faulty left eye be abused on, even if it accidentally by Corvella, considering she probably didn't know about that weakspot he had.

His arm dragged his shield, trying to deflect and block the incoming attacks- And managing to avert a few, but still taking a good amount of strikes on his body, forcing him to retreat and recoil as he felt the blows sinking into his defenses. They weren't as strong as the powerful strike he had received earlier, but the rapid strikes were slowly mitigating his protection, and panging on the pain he had acquired from her previous perfectly landed strike.

He tried to recover, but to no avail, ironically only truly finding an opening to try to return to the combat when Corvella went for a decisive punch, in which Hanno tried to dodge his face, turning quickly to attempt a grapple followed by an ippon seoi nage throw.

@Corvella

 

[Lune]

With Hanno, she didn't pull any punches. Holding back would be a disrespectful move against her former protege. Expecting to finish the fight while the faerin was overwhelmed, she put it all on the next punch, only for him to dodge it at the last second, grabbing her arm before executing a throw.

The only way for her to recover from this was if somehow she could reverse the throw and bring him down instead, but at the speed that he was slamming her into the ground, Corvella completely missed the timing and instead grabbed on his arm tightly, hoping to at least bring him down with her using her own bodyweight.

Landing on the soft grass on her back, she managed to pull Hanno down to only a small distance between their face, but soon realized that she already lost the fight as his next attack would be undefendable. "Wow, I did not expect that."

"You got me there, Hanno..." She chuckled lightly, before exhaling. "... You really have surpassed me. Your heart was always ready."

Although the only person in his sight was just the blue-haired Lune, for just a few moments, the image of her armored mentor laying on the grass with a proud smile would flash. Hallucination? Illusory projections? The memory of a happier time, long gone?

Who knows. Who cares.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Even if the throw was executed without holding back, the intention of the faerin was rather to send Corvella to the ground so he could wrestle her to a defeating position, instead of a more merciless throw on the ground. However, it came with a cost of him not having as much balance as he should, followed by an unexpected pull from the woman that nearly sent him to completely fall on her, if it wasn't for his quick reflex of using his hands to stop his own fall.

Partially halting his fall, Hanno felt a hand free, pressed against the grass next to Corvella's head, while his other arm was on her grip, and her eyes were as close as they had never been before.

His memories echoed in the depths of his mind. A reminder of what had been lost, of something he wished he still have, of someone that he cared for, and missed for so long. It didn't really matter if it was some sort of phantom, or just a fragment, or anything, really.

It was part of her, and for him, that was already way too precious for him to ignore.

It took a moment for him to process the occasion, with any noise that would echo in the surroundings simply being deafened by the situation before him. The face, the golden hair, the emerald eyes that mesmerized him for a while, making him linger on that closeness for a moment, at least until her words reached his ears, making him snap out of it, leaning away slightly to have a wider view of Corvella.

"I've learned from the best. It is only natural." Hanno said, smiling sheepishly as he averted his eyes, uncertain, and breathing a sigh as she complimented him, making he look at her once again. "I'm not sure if my heart was always ready or not... But it sure is a mess right now." He admitted this much.

@Lune