Welcome to Gaia! ::

Slow breaths in. Slow breaths out. Visualize what it is you want your body to do. Anastasius told himself. His body moved fluidly as if of its own accord. The long stick he was utilizing- the chosen weapon for this day’s training- moved in tandem with him, slicing downward through the air at unseen targets before spinning across his back to strike another. The fluidity of his movements was due in part to experience and in part to the many hours of practice he put in. One could not simply grab hold of the long stick and begin to wield it. No, training and practice were what produced that skill. A skill that he nurtured and honed whenever possible. Now, it was as if the long stick had become an extension of himself, striking and blocking with ease and precision. Some might claim it to be a dance of sorts, and Anastasius could concede the point. There were times, when he was so focused wielding the long stick, he felt the same grace and purity a dancer might. He could get lost in the so-called dance for hours.

Such was the case today. He had not realized it, but the training had gone on for the better part of the morning. Break had just been called in order to allow the warriors and apprentices time to rest and eat. True to his form, it took Anastasius a moment longer to notice. “That time already, eh?” He muttered more to himself than to anyone else. The purple stallion lowered his weapon, shaking out his mane while he did so. Droplets of sweat flecked the ground- a testament to his hard work. Slowly, he started walking over to the rest area, rolling his neck to relieve the built up tension. It had been a productive day. One of his more productive ones actually. As such, he decided to allow himself a few more hours of practice and then call it done for the day. After all, all work and no play, as they say, Anastasius smirked. A perfectionist he may be but dull he was not.

WC: 354

The arena was starting to clear of warriors. Only a handful remained, but even they were slowly trickling from its center, determined to take full advantage of the break. Anastasius was among these few who took their time. Nearly always the first one to arrive, he was oftentimes the last to leave as well. A sometimes lonely endeavor, granted, but worthwhile if it meant him capable of defending his herdmates. Yet today offered a startling surprise.

The galaxy-touched stallion blinked. Had someone complimented him just now? Glancing over his shoulder, he was astonished to see a mare fast approaching him. Her coat was black with accents of purple and blue, her eyes a glowing shade of fuchsia. Anastasius felt his breath hitch for a brief second. He had never seen another like her before. He certainly had not received a compliment like hers before either.

“I thank you,” he bowed his head in gratitude. His gaze followed her movements as she drew even with him. “No one has ever said that of me before. It is an honor to be compared to such graceful souls.” He himself had generally viewed his movements as clunky and cumbersome. There was a swell of pleasure upon hearing it to be the opposite. “My name is Anastasius, but most call me Ani. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mimi.” Anastasius dipped his chin once more, in greeting this time. “I must admit though, you have piqued my curiosity. I did not notice any viewers during today’s training. Where were you watching from?” Despite his focus on his maneuvers, the stallion made it a point to keep note of all those in the immediate vicinity. He considered it part of his training as a warrior. The fact that Mimi had been watching but was herself unseen meant one of two things- either she was hiding in a vantage point or he had not been observant enough.

Whatever her answer, he found himself pleased she had been watching anyway. Why he felt such a way he could not quite pinpoint, but it was unimportant at the moment. “Was this your first time observing the, uh..,warriors?”

WC: 361