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Positive Trivial: Training with Lilith

Written
"I have better things to do with my time then play with a child," Lilith, current coven head said, sending off a sheet of papers with a coven scout.

"Even the head honcho has to train," Hunter, or rather, a coven scout with golden armor under his cloak, usual raven mask for scouts in place, commented, sitting on the edge of her desk. Notably, he is shorter. A few years younger. Not a literal child, but he is a younger teenager.

"Yes. And I do. On my own. Like you can," Lilith said curtly. "Or wait until the Emperor decides to grace you with another private lesson." There is just the hint of jealous bitterness in her tone.

"You know he's an even busier man and he expects me to learn on my own at this point," he countered.

"Then why don't you?!" She snapped, slamming her hand on the desk top.

"Because even scouts can port for distance. I want to use it in a fight," he said. "And none of THEM can do that. But you? You can. You're also one of the few witches who will get in close for a fight."

"Its less dangerous to use spells at a distance," Lilith said coldly. "A child shouldn't go for brute force."

"But I won't always be a child and the Emperor wants me to be his personal bodyguard one day. That means needing to be able to handle someone in close range. Come on, Lilith, this is essentially protecting the Emperor for the future!" He said.

"No, you can practice with someone else," Lilith said.

He sighed at that. Then he hopped off the desk. "Fine. I guess I should see if I can find someone younger who might be able to do the trick. It would be pretty bad if I beat up an old lady..."

He hears the pencil snap behind him and he grins to himself under the mask.

"Fine. Maybe you could do with a proper lesson," Lilith ground out, a barely heard 'golden brat' under her breath, standing up and grabbing her raven staff. Hunter wisely says nothing else now that his provocation has worked.

They head out to a private training area and what follows is a training spar. Lilith is able to port from place to place with only a brief pause in between, able to dodge any of Hunter's efforts, which takes a lot longer for him to do. He tries to catch Lilith off guard, but even when he manages to come from her blind side, she's quick to get out of his way and counter.

After a particularly nasty hit sends him to the ground, she stops. "....Golden Scout? Are you okay?" She approaches, and there is genuine concern on her face. "It may be time to stop."

He pushes himself up. "What? Getting tired, grandma?" He asked, voice cheeky as it ever were.

The concern is gone, replaced by annoyance. "Then don't be so dramatic when you get hit," she counters. "Lets start again."

The sparring goes on. Again and again, Hunter trying to get close, and Lilith keeping him away. Anytime he goes down hard and she starts to show concern, he makes another cheeky comment. Seemingly unbothered by any hit, no matter how bad it seemed to have been accidentally.

But what does get him to pause- "How....do you always know when I'm in your blind spot?" He asked, breathless after his most recent barrage attempt.

Lilith pauses at that. Considers him, and then sighs. "Its the air."

"The...air?"

"Yes. You're never fully 'gone' with porting magic. Its why only people with extensive experience should use it to try and get through obstacles. You are still present, all you are, is energy," she said, holding up a hand, forming a white fireball that matches the magic of her porting, in contrast to his red energy.

She sent the fire floating towards him, slow, so he doesn't run from it. She twirls it in the air around him. "Close your eyes. The cloak will help," she said. He does as he's told, closing his eyes behind the mask. "You can feel it. The slight shift in the fabric along your shoulders. Its small, but the air around the fire is heating up, its changing because of the energy of the fire. Its the same when someone is porting. The air will have a shift in temperature, so a shift in the air, and if you're aware, you can feel that shift. Its not much, but that displacement can be the difference between being caught and being able to dodge," she said and snapped her fingers, the fire vanishing. "That's how I can dodge you even when you're in my blind spot."

He opens his eyes, looking at her. "So that's how. That's...pretty impressive," he said, a little awed.

Lilith preens at that. "Well, of course. Its to be expected. It can also help you when you're the porter. Being able to react to that shift takes being able to process and act on it fast. Which is necessary for rapid porting. Now....are you done with your break, brat?" She asked.

"Of course, old lady," he responded.

The sparring continues a while, until finally, finally, Hunter manages to get in a solid hit. It doesn't knock her off her feet, but it does make her stumble.

By then, they're both breathing hard, though Hunter obviously harder then Lilith whose more worn from doing that much high level magic for a sustained amount of time. "Lucky shot."

"Maybe," Hunter said with a shrug. "But this was....very enlightening. Thank you, Lilith," he said, with enough sincerity it causes Lilith pause.

"....right. Well, are we finally done with your need for attention?" Lilith asked.

Hunter chuckles. "Of course. I should leave the Coven Head to her work."

They part ways, with Hunter heading back to his room in the tower. He drops his staff, taking off his mask, cloak, armor...and shirt with a pained hiss.

He's absolutely covered in bruises and he gets to work at treating his injuries with potions and bandages. But the look on his face is one of determined satisfaction.


Significant Neutral: Coven Head.

Written
"Sir, do we have to? We've attacked this place plenty!" A coven scout says to the Golden Guard.

"Lilith has led these attacks and didn't take proper notes. I don't need you to fight, I just need you to provoke the house demon," Hunter said.

"Sir...sir, you don't know what it's like. The games he plays...." The scout shudders.

"What I know is the house demon doesn't kill or maim you. You'll live. Now go," Hunter ordered. "Or I make you."

The scouts are obviously very unwilling, but with a long enough stare down, they head to the Owl House. Hunter moves to the sky on his artificial staff. Soon the air is filled with screams as the scouts are attacked by an owl....tube....worm creature the shoots out of the ground and seems to have an infinite length. Hunter takes notes.

The scouts are all very effectively taken care of and pulled into a demented tea party.

Time skips as Hunter sends the most disturbed home. He keeps a few for his final tests. Which means approaching until he notices the ground shaking.

He vanishes, leaving the scout to another round of playtime. Over and over until he has a clear radius to work from.

Another skip and he's alone. He's in a tree, where he can see the Owl House from without provoking the house demon that lives in the door. He sees flashes of Luz, Eda, King, and Lilith. Eda and Lilith are seen in trying to use magic to...very little effect. They're near powerless. Luz can be seen using pieces of paper to great effect.

He takes more notes, watching a while.

Another skip to being in what appears to be a workshop, Belos working on a large device. "What the Titan told you is correct. Even with Lilith seeming to help the Owl Lady's curse to achieve a witch form, now they're both near powerless. They can barely levitate a stone with great effort," Hunter said, sitting on the edge of a work bench. "The human can achieve a lot with those glyphs in a calm setting, but I don't know how dangerous that would be in a real battle even if she taught them."

"I have seen the human's efforts. A perversion of nature and the Titan's Will, but the Owl Lady and Lilith will not be a problem for His Will. Nor the human, but do be careful. Even a dull knife can cause injury," Belos said calmly, more focused on his work.

"Of course, uncle," Hunter said. "I have the house demon's perimeter so our scouts can keep an eye on things."

"And it's consistent?"

"I think it was Lilith's intent to not write a thing down to make her the best to deal with her sister," Hunter said with a scoff. "A disgraceful way to use her position."

"Yes. That is also another issue. We will need a new Coven Head," he said, straightening up and grabbing a rag to wipe guck off his hands. Hunter can see his face now. A blue eyed man with....a plant? Some kind of rot streaking across his face. He does bear some resemblance to Hunter.

"It's not Kikimora?" Hunter asked with surprise.

"The problem with Lilith is she had too many personal ambitions. Kikimora may not have a criminal sister, but she has always sought out improving her own reputation. No, she will not do. I need someone who understands the value of unity, the greater good for the empire, and serving the Titan," he said, picking up his mask.

"Do you have someone in mind?" Hunter asked.

"Yes. I believe the Golden Guard will do nicely," he said.

Hunter starts at that, standing up. "Sir?! Are...are you sure?"

"Have you not served me loyally and with excellence until now?" He asked with some amusement.

"I-yes."

"And do you intend to keep doing so?"

"Of course! I would never do anything else."

"Then I can think of no other candidate. Congratulations, my Golden Guard," he adds, touching his shoulder.

"Th-thank you, sir. Should I organize a press conference?" He asked.

"That will not be necessary. The scouts know to follow you. We will change recruitment posters and that will do it without having to bring up the ugliness of Lilith," he said, heading for the door.

Hunter paused. "But most don't know my face...?" He asked.

"That was perhaps another mistake. Allowing for the coven leader to be too much of an individual," he said with some thoughtfulness. "But that is why the Golden Guard is the leader. Understand?"

He paused. "....understood," he said, voice level and professional.

"Good. See to the posters," he said and left.

Hunter watched the door close turning to the machine. He pulls off his mask, just looking at his reflection in the metal for several long moments.

He sighs and puts the mask on again as the memory ends.


Significant Neutral: Amity's Offer.

Video 1, video 2, and video 3

Written
The memory starts with Hunter riding down a mine cart. "Just a little further..." There is an anticipation in his voice. Moving out into an open cavern....and a sudden, very abrupt end to the track.

The cart is off, he goes flying, rocketing to the earth, only to have a red bird fly in front of him, turning into a wooden figure attached to a staff, which he grabs, bringing him to an abrupt stop inches from the ground. He lets out a shaky breath as he touches down, letting go of the staff as it turns back into the red bird.

"....thanks," he mutters to the bird, uncertain even as it chirps at him happily. "Still don't understand you." He turned to climb back up to the other end of the track, heading down the tunnel at a sprint. Only to come out to a lake.

A dry lake.

"...no....." He rushes for the lake, jumping down to the bed, and rushing around. He looks under rocks, under the roots, sifting the dirt. "No no no no!" He pulls hard at his hair, moving to the lowest point in the lake, hitting his knees and starting to dig, pulling at the dirt. The dry, dry dirt.

"Its not here....there's nothing...nothing here..." He starts to laugh then, staring at the turned up dirt. Then...he begins to dig some more, making the hole bigger as the laughter dies down.

There is the sound of footsteps behind him. "Don't worry. I won't pick a fight," he says, tired. "There's no Titan Blood."

"Then...why are you digging?" The girl asks. A girl with lavender hair, and a small, furry demon are there. Amity and King.

"Oh, its simple really," Hunter says, turning to them, his voice starting to sound unhinged. "Belos needs Titan's blood to make a new portal key. Can't get to the human realm without it," he says, voice chipper and manic.

"There's blood in the key?" The girl asks, but Hunter doesn't care much.

"S-since I failed my last mission, I thought, 'hey, a chance to make up for it!' B-but I can't go back empty handded," he continues, still that high, manic, chipper tone, followed by another unhinged laugh. Which suddenly turns very grave and serious. "Not again."

Then back to chipper. "Long story short, this is ma grave. Want me to make you one too?" He offers.

"This is really bumming me out," King says.

"That's just life, rat," Hunter offers almost calmly. "Everyone has a use. And if you don't?" He raspberries, up again. "Bye byyyyyye." Then oddly calm. "Your friend gets it."

King and Amity continue to talk with King confused and Amity talking about Luz sending strange human codes. Hunter tunes them out as he keeps digging in the dirt. (Its a misunderstanding, Lumity is very cute and Amity just has trauma.)

As Hunter digs, something starts to tug at his cloak, trying to get him away from the dirt. Its the red cardinal. "Hey!" He snaps, trying to shoo the bird away. "Go find a better witch to be with."

He then lets himself drop down in the dirt and pull a bunch of it over his head with a groan. The bird chirps at him before landing on him.

Amity approaches, kneeling beside them. She speaks kindly. "You know, you were right. We do have a lot in common. I grew up thinking everything was an opportunity to justify....existing." The bird goes to land on her shoulder. "But there are people out there who won't make you feel worthless. You just...have to let yourself meet them."

He looks up, seeing the hand she's offering him. He looks up to her face, and there is a kind look.

And then his eyes are drawn to the key with a gasp. He pushes himself up slowly.

"Wwwwhat are you....?" Amity starts, looking confused. Then looking down in horrified realization. He lunges and she manages to dodge.

"Aw come on! Being nice usually works for Luz," Amity says in dismay.

Hunter lunges for her again, King getting in the way to launch a sonic attack at him. The bird gets in between, turning into a staff again. Hunter grabs it, and tries to port with a stumble. "Real staffs are weird," he says as he gets his balance again.

A purple mud suddenly wraps around him, Amity looking far more serious now. Hunter ports a few more times until he's finally able to get out from the mud, appearing in the air and sending down a rain of bouncing electric blasts.

What follows is Hunter repeatedly porting around Amity, with King getting in the way some, mostly Amity using the purple mud to defend herself and fend him off as he tries to get the key or knock her out. Until she manages to encase him in a lot of mud and he uses a lot of earth manipulation to break out and send a blast of earth to knock her down.

He gets Amity away from her staff, King is neutralized with his horns lodging him in a root, and he gets close to her again.

"If you really wanna help, then give me that key!" He demands and he is very much Unhinged To The Max.

He gets the key off her neck, but she catches it first. His staff is on her hand and behind her head, but she also has a blade made out of the mud to his neck.

His breathing is ragged. He's never used a real staff this long before and it drains him a lot faster then the artificial one. "Listen. You're strong, and I'm tired. If this continues, you'll probably escape," he says, meeting her eyes. "But here's the thing. We know where to find you." Her expression is cold, determined. "And your human." And that is enough to bring fear to her face. "So just....hand over the key."

"....fine," she says, surrender. "Just. Stay away from Luz."

He doesn't answer, holding out his hand for the key.

She dismisses the blade and drops it, turning away. "Appreciate it," he says, still tired, breathless.

But he pauses. Just a moment. "I, uh. Mean that, too," he says, an earnestness to his voice before he gets on the staff and flies away.