Hyacinthe

Day 1 - Level 7
"Well, I'm here in Light territory at Clytemestra's Ancient Lair near the Beacon of the Radiant Eye to be trained by Salicaceae, a golden Imperial. She doesn't talk much and is all business, though I think I did almost make her chuckle despite herself."

"I am being trained alongside Tethys, another Imperial gal, also rather serious. I don't think she completely appreciates my refined comedic abilities. We'll see if the monsters are any more discerning..."

"Here we go! This isn't so difficult. Those monsters don't *dodges* stand a chance against my speed and tactical brilliance. Just watch me dance around these creatures. I feel stronger already (archives level 8)"

"By the Arcanist! We've only just begun and... what is that... thing? There's this giant red toad thing! It looks right at me! No worries fair ladies! I dance circles around it, hypnotizing it with my gaze. I can't resist *flicks tongue at the Molten Wartoad* and I.... *faints*"

(time passes as he lies on the forest floor like a pile of soggy noodles)
(Salicaceae deals with the Wartoad and everyone gains another level)

(Level 9)

Hyacinthe comes to his senses, now level 9, takes to the air, and finds himself face to face with a Blue Wartoad.

"What evil magic is this? Didn't we just kill this thing? How many of these hideous beasts are there?" He watches as Salicaceae balances building breath and her attacks, bringing the Wartoad to the ground. Hy cheers on Salicaceae as she shreds a pack of three Mistwatch Shellioins, but she is unable to recover fully from the back-to-back Wartoads before being faced with a pack of three Toridaes. Dodging Salicaceae's deadly attacks over and over, they then take down our three brave warriors, bur Salicaceae has done what she intended, shown her charges the seriousness of the responsibility they intend to take upon themselves.

Hy catches a glimpse of a mischievous twisted grin on her maw as she catches his eye just before he faints for the second time, barely aware of the shaking of the ground as his teacher crashes to the ground beside him.

---

"We begin again. Sal gives us the cold gaze of her amethyst eyes as Tethys and I shake the ringing from our ears. I look over at her and grin, pretending I don't feel it. Teth and I watch more carefully as Sal gives a more measured lesson, methodically slicing through the monsters that come at us. Physical fighters are removed first, then mages disposed of with ease as Sal quickly builds up the fiery breath she uses to eliminate them. Very flashy!"

(Level 10)

"I am gaining on Teth. She is very strong, but I think I will be more cunning. I fly in loops to distract our foes, but I am also watching my teacher. She continues to build breath to the max and keeps it there to have reserves when monsters dodge. Most of the time, she rallies her strength and takes out the foe with one breath. But when magic-using foes come in pairs, she takes the opportunity to replenish her breath by wounding them first before elimination. Or, and this is very cool, instead of attacking with her claws, she grabs them in her iron maw and actually saps the strength of her victims to boost her own health!"

"But this is interesting.... Why does she take out the Common Podids, Mistwatch Shellions, and Salve Kamaitachi before any other foe? She missed the Mistwatch! The spell it throws covers Sal in Ice! This is bad. This is very bad. What will happen.... no? nothing? She shakes it off! Nothing to worry about. Sal's fine. It can't be that bad.

"I notice that Sal doesn't rally her strength against the Brilliant Psywurms or Wetland Cerdae. They are just a bit stronger than she can rally and she must attack with both claws and fiery breath when faced with them. I will have to remember that."

(Level 11)

"Sal is in trouble, Her health is low and she’s barely able to keep enough breath, but she ignores that and hangs on, never panicking, slowly building breath then sapping health from our opponents. Sometimes though, the enemy dodges and it looks bad again, but she is making progress. Teth is also in trouble now. She needs to complete the next level soon! I, however, am at full health!"

"A Mistwatch Shellions dodges again and Sal is left nearly breathless! She survives, but now it turns to me! I dance a twisting real in the air, making faces at the stupid, purple lump.... Och! Suddenly I”m frozen! The Mistwtch Shellioion got me! I can’t move. I'm so c c c cold! it’s growing dark and I’m..." *faints*