Sometime before the break of dawn when the morning birds were just beginning to stir and the small creatures of the forest scattered to their burrows to rest for the day. A lone monkey lazily lay within the giant peach tree somewhere within walking distance of the Wuju dojo. How he loved the scent that radiated off the fruits as they ripened, ready for the picking. The sweet aroma casting a gentle air about it, and Wukong, embracing his senses in memories.
His eyes opened slowly opened to observe the very slight change in darkness at the east. A light smile spread across his features as he breathed in the refreshing scent of dawn.
Wonderful day! The monkey thought, Perfect for training! As he rolled off the branch, his tail spun about it allowing him to inch his way down before simply dropping from a high spot in the tree. He'd bend his knees to compensate the impact, squatted for only a brief moment before standing and bounding off excitedly towards the dojo.
As he'd arrive, the sun would just barely be peeking over the edge of the horizon. Wu would make his way quietly towards Cordellia's sleeping area with quiet foot falls, careful not to disturb Yi who was likely off meditation by this time of morning.
Opening the door, he'd slowly peek his head in with a blank look on his face. Eyes wide in anticipation half-expecting her to be asleep, and half-hoping to startle her if she wasn't. His fingers curled about the edge of the door as he slid it carefully open.
Should she be asleep, Wukong would creep towards her cautiously before getting in right in close. Nose practically touching nose. He'd take in a deep breath, then shout, "CORDELLIA ITS TIME TO TRAIN!" Leaping backwards with a playful snicker.
Should she not be slumbering, Wu would stare a moment, then quickly smile cheerily, waiting for her to notice.
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 5, 2013 7:29:54 GMT -5
Cordellia was splayed out across the bed, even though she was raised a Demacian noble, there was no way one would be able to tell by walking in her sleeping area. Her clothes from the previous day were bunched up and tossed onto the corner of the now rather messy bed. Her thin pale limbs stuck out from under the messy sheets, though the room was a total mess, her face was a picture of peace, her soft breathing causing her chest to rise and fall at a steady pace. She would stir ever so slightly as his nose touched hers, only to be started awake with a start. Her eyes snapping open as she bolted up right, effectively headbutting the Monkey King with enough force to cause her head to rock back with the sudden burst of pain.
WHY did everyone seem to smack their heads against his? He'd blink a couple of times as her head came into contact with his, looking both slightly surprised, but more amused. A slight redness appears upon his noggin as he stares wide eyed at Cordellia. He can't help but chuckle at her reaction, reaching a hand out to lightly shake her, "Wakey wakey, Cordellia! Get up, it's time to go! You have uh... Until I finish my peach to be ready!"
He'd produce a peach from his armor, and take a large bite from it, "Go go go!" Laughing as he stood up, and headed out of her room to let her get dressed. As he stood just outside of her door, his foot would tap quickly - always hyper and moving in some way. He'd take another bite, quietly enjoying the flavorful fruit he'd always favored.
"HURRY!" He called through the door, "Only a couple bites left!" The sound of slurping juices could be heard as he drank it up, rubbing her arm across his chin when he couldn't catch it all in his mouth. "MMM!" He teased, thinking it might encourage her to hurry, making her hungry and all. Not just the fact he might play a dirty trick if she's not ready quickly.
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 5, 2013 21:10:13 GMT -5
Cordellia groaned as she brought a hand up to her head, softly rubbing the spot that had connected with Wukong, it had been like hitting a stone wall. She'd lay there for a few moments, not really listening to what he said as she had blinding pain shooting through her skull. Rolling off her bed she'd throw on some clothes an quickly brush her hair, instead of tying it in the braids she just had it free and flowing down to the small of her back. Snatching her sword from under her pillow she groggily pushed open the door, sheathed sword clutched in hand, "So.. what?" She questioned still somewhat tiredly.
Wu leaned in close and grinned, "What do you mean what!?" He questioned excitedly, likely splashing some juices in her face as he wiggled the mostly eaten peach in front of her, "It's time to train!" He'd hand her the remaining portion of the peach, and turned to head out of the dojo, whistling cheerfully as he went along.
What on earth had the monkey planned? He seemed rather eager regardless.
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 7, 2013 0:58:45 GMT -5
"Time to..." Her mind flashed back to Demacia when she first joined the military, her grip around the peach would relinquish slightly. Her eyes taking on a glazed over look for the briefest of moments,
"GET THE HELL UP YOU WORTHLESS SACKS OF FILTH!!! NOBLE OR PEASANT YOU'RE ALL TRASH UNTIL I SAY OTHERWISE!!!!"
Cordellia smirks at Wukong, "Training, right then." The change was almost instantaneous, from groggy and half asleep to completely wide awake and alert. Not caring that Wukong had just been eating the peach she would quickly attempt to finish it off before following him, back straight and eyes straight as though she were still in the Demacian military being drilled into the dirt by her commander.
Wu couldn't help but perk his brow a bit at her instant change in demeanor. He'd lean in right close again, squinting his eyes at her at eye level.. Nose practically touching nose, "Heh.." Green eyes studied her quizzically, "I hope you like peaches." He said in a slightly more quiet tone before standing upright and crossing his arms. With a spin on his heal, he'd chuckle and make his way out the door.
Assuming Cordellia followed, he would lead her a good distance from the dojo to one of the many peach trees a few miles out. As they arrived, he'd move towards it and lean back. It was huge compared to the Monkey King as he folded his arms and grinned, "So!" He said, pointing up, "Harvest peaches."
Another Wukong appeared directly in front of her, seeming to spring up from the earth, "Ah!" He said to startle her, "Hehe. But not with your hands." He pointed behind her, and assuming Cordellia turned, another Wukong would be standing there as well, "With your shards. Each one you cut into rather then cutting the stem of-"
Another appeared upside down, hung off a nimbus cloud, "- will result in a consequence. I don't know what yet, though!" All the clones disappeared in a poof of smoke and monkey coins, leaving just the one to stand beside her, looking up at his long loved peach tree, "I'll catch them as they fall." He reassured her.
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 8, 2013 16:53:48 GMT -5
Cordellia looked into his eyes when he stated he hoped she liked peaches, not flinching moving back as his nose pretty much touched hers. She smiled softly in reply and simply didn't answer, following him as she was lead a way from the dojo. She looked amused by the playfulness of the Monkey King as he used his clones while explaining what they were doing out there at the peach trees.
"So.. You want me to use my shards to cut down the peaches?" She tilted her head to the side, confused as she asked the question. She unsheathed her sword and a focused, the white cracks of light began to web out over the blade, "Alright... I can do that."
In the blink of an eye, the tip of her blade had tore itself away from the blade and sliced through the air toward a particular peach. Instead of cutting the stem however, she impaled the peach sending juice squirting from the wound almost as though it were like blood.
Wu tilted his head as he watched the one shard embed itself within the peach, tilting it again in the other direction a second later. His arms returned to being folded over his chest as he chuckled lightly, "One." He counted.
"Try again, Cordellia! You'll need to focus your aim, your energy use and however many shards you're comfortable with using at once." A clone appeared in front of Wukong, and quickly scaled the tree to reach the peach she had pierced, plucking it off and sending it falling to the ground where another clone would stand to catch it.
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 8, 2013 20:20:20 GMT -5
"As many as I am comfortable with at once?" She questioned, she bit her lip and nodded, "Alright."
Cordellia held the blade upright and closed her eyes, the soft white glow that emitted from the cracks intensified. The blade looked to almost melt into white glowing petals of light, before surrounding Cordellia. If Wukong focused on her eyes when she opened them, they were filled with hatred as she pictured those that had harmed her friends and family. Raw, fury boiled behind the light brown eyes, picturing every one of the peaches in her mind, associating each one with a Noxian she had met in the battlefield. Never once had she learned their names, but she never forgot the face of a slain enemy.
The while glowing shards around her exploded outward toward the peach tree, with enough force to kick up dust and blast the hair back from her face, each of the hundreds of tiny shards sliced through the air. The energy fueling them raw and chaotic, barely controlled with anything but fury that Cordellia kept suppressed inside her until she fought for real. It was something Wukong wouldn't have picked up on during the spar, but it was there and it was deadly. Almost terrifying for most. The bark of the tree would erupt as the shards crashed into and sometimes even through the wood, most of the peaches were cut to ribbons.
Cordellia dropped to her knees, tired from using so many at once... She growled at herself, she should have known better, she should have controlled them... She sighed and looked to the mangled tree, hoping she hadn't hurt the Monkey King, doubting she would have.
Wukong watched her focus, though as he saw the fury within her eyes, his hand lifted to scratch the side of his head lightly. The staff would come around just as she unleashed the shards towards the tree, and hit rather hard against Cordellia's mid-back intending to beak her focus entirely before she could maul the tree to pieces.
"Wrong! Try again." He chuckled warmly, "What is battle if all you have to control it is your fury?" He questioned, "You'll blind yourself. A-" Pausing, he'd grin, "Actually!" Wukong would pull the cloth from around his waste, and quickly stepped in behind her to wrap it over her eyes, "You cannot see." He said, "The world around you is in darkness. The peaches are the light. If you pierce the light instead of freeing it from the darkness, you have to wash Master Yi's underwear for a week."
He folded his arms, "One shard, one ball of light. No hatred. No fury. Just calm."
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 9, 2013 20:44:25 GMT -5
At the loss of focus, the sharps would still hit the tree, only some of the glinting shards embedded themselves within the tree, the others simply over shooting their targets or harmlessly clattering to the dirt. She shot a glare at Wukong, the anger in her eyes however fades rapidly as she let out a heavy sigh.
Now blindfolded, she tried to picture the peaches as the shards slowly move through the air, seeming to almost float upon air currents, as they rebuilt the sword. Cordellia faced the tree and tried to focus upon the peach. No way in hell was she washing the old man's underwear, that's just nasty! She almost cringed at the thought.
"GET YOUR MIND BACK ON THE DAMNED TARGET!!! HE KILLS YOU BEFORE YOU KILL HIM?! HE'LL FUCKING KILL THE MAN NEXT TO YOU!!! THE MAN NEXT TO HIM!!! HE'LL KILL YOUR MOTHER!!! YOUR GRANDMOTHER!!! YOUR FUCKING PUPPY!!!!"
The voice of her caregiver roared in her mind as she focused, the crippled ex-soldier had trained her when her parents were killed, kill the target before it kills you, that's what she was taught. That's what was drilled into her mind, there was no focusing on light. It was just kill the enemy to protect those around you.
She let out a frustrated growl, "I can't see any light!"
Wu squatted down beside her, raising the staff to smack the back of her knees when she growled with frustration. It'd be enough of a tap to knock her off balance, but not force her to the ground. A smile lingering upon his features, half grinning with his eyes closed, "Yes you can." He responded to her protests, "Why cling so tightly to your anger? Is it worth it?" He questioned, "What matters more to you, Cordellia? Fighting a war, or understanding yourself?"
Wu balanced on the balls of his feet with his long braid tangling lightly with his tail, listening and 'feeling' the air about Cordellia. Of course he sensed her anger. Her body language gave that away as clear as day, not to mention her voice! "Each peach is a light." He explained again, "Each light is tranquility. Free it from the darkness."
Opening one eye, he chuckled as he leveled a single green eye upon her, "Or face the wrath of Master Yi's underpants!"
Post by Cordellia Spiritmight on Aug 9, 2013 21:43:00 GMT -5
Cordellia stumbled as the back of her knees were hit, causing her to almost want to swing her sword at the monkey. She sighed and tried to relax, simply standing upright with her head bowed, her sword in her hand hanging loosely as the tip rested upon the dirt, "It's not that easy..." She said quietly, the images of her dead mother and father floated into her vision, she had been called to identify it was in fact them. The rage and sorrow that swelled up within her was still fresh, the words of her caregiver sounded in her mind as she pictured them.
"They died because they weren't strong enough."
Those words had cut like a knife into her heart, to see her father, the man she thought was near invincible in her eyes. Killed and then called weak as she stood before the broken bodies of her parents. Of course there was rage and hatred. Noxus had stolen her father from her.
'Each light is tranquility, free it from the darkness.'
She tried to picture the peaches upon the tree as small lights, the faces of those she had slain in skirmishes were still there, frozen in their last moments, fear, sadness, regret, hatred all showing in the eyes of the slain. Their faces twisted in agony as she cut the life from their bodies in the name of Demacia.
'Or face the wrath of Master Yi's underpants!'
The unexpectedly joyful sound caused a small smile to creep upon Cordellia's lips as her anger was replaced by amusement. She tried to picture the peaches again as small white lights, the faces of those killed melting away away in her mind as did her anger when Wukong's playfulness sounded.
Wukong tilts his head lightly to one side, his smile ever remaining as prominent as it had been. Died because they weren't strong enough? The words echoed within his mind as he mulled it about, bringing his fingers up to stroke the scruff of hair at the base of his chin, "Hmmm." He pondered, looking thoughtfully up at Cordellia, "Nothing is easy." he agreed, "But everything is harder if you're so focused on your rage."
He'd roll a peach along his hand, beginning to playfully contact juggle it as he remained balanced on the balls of his feet. His tail working to keep him balanced as he does so. He'd explained his view on wars, and death before and knew Cordellia had heard them. But did she understand them? "What do you think Wuju is, Cordellia?" He questioned, "Is it a form of fighting? An art? A philosophy? An understanding of yourself? Is it a weapon for war, or peace?"
He would watch as she begin to focus, letting the peach stop atop the tip of his fingers before rolling into the palm of his hand. Watching the tree intently.
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