Kiro winced at the bird. It was far too loud, given its proximity to his ears. For now, he ignored it, still not fully filled in on the true nature of the thing. If it was any ordinary bird, he would certainly have swatted it away for the annoyance. But given it was Raven's, he put up with it. "Go ahead..." he said to Raven. "Don't worry, I won't be far."
And with that, he headed out to the best open area in the vicinity for practice, and began tentatively testing the balance and weight of the staff. He decided not to actually start swinging it around, wary of the strange shadowy bird.
And with that, he headed out to the best open area in the vicinity for practice, and began tentatively testing the balance and weight of the staff. He decided not to actually start swinging it around, wary of the strange shadowy bird.
Raven smiled to herself and reached to pet the animals. "Woah!" She pocketed the note and reached to pick up the wolf pup. "This is awesome! You're coming with me. I'll ask Kiro to help me come up with names," the girl was truly excited. So fluffy! Actual real animals instead of the spirits she conjured. "So cool!" Although she was having trouble with how she'd get them to follow her. After a moment of thinking she put the wolf pup down and tried urging the raven onto her shoulder.
Meanwhile, Shad flew off into a tree as he watched Kiro. Providing for once, very non-useful information. In spirit form, he tended to become a cocky and sarcastic boyo. "Become monkey!" He cawed. "Monkey monkey monkey," he sang bobbing his head along to a non-existent beat.
Meanwhile, Shad flew off into a tree as he watched Kiro. Providing for once, very non-useful information. In spirit form, he tended to become a cocky and sarcastic boyo. "Become monkey!" He cawed. "Monkey monkey monkey," he sang bobbing his head along to a non-existent beat.
The first page on the instruction manual (again written in braille) instructed Raven to try and reach out with her Individuality to the two animals. They were specially constructed for Raven and had the ability to form a contract via her individuality and like both Kiro and Raven these two creatures were orphans and had been dumped in a pet store for some human's enthusiasm.
In light of the bird's urgings, Kiro scowled and stopped his bizarre balancing act. His gaze fixed on the bird. "Don't you start," he warned, swinging the staff to point one end of it at the bird accusatorially. "Do not call me that." There were a few areas of context where he was fine being called 'monkey'. This was not one of them. Being compared with the Monkey King from Chinese mythology? Fine. Being called by his codename? Fine. Being called 'little monkey', or similar pet names by Lilith? Fine... in private, at least. But being directly called 'monkey' was something he hated. And that was how he interpreted the bird's use of the word.
The black haired girl didn’t fully understand what she was supposed to do, but she tried anyways reaching out mentally for the animals. Trying to do as instructed and form a contract or whatever it had said.
Shad stopped and tilted his head at Kiro. “Sorry,” he cawed bowing his head as a form of respect and shutting up after that.
((Sorry Tis short. Am on slep pill. Slowly dying as one does lol))
Shad stopped and tilted his head at Kiro. “Sorry,” he cawed bowing his head as a form of respect and shutting up after that.
((Sorry Tis short. Am on slep pill. Slowly dying as one does lol))
Raven would connect with the raven first seeing through his eyes as he stared at Shad and Kiro arguing. It was a beautiful thing. Seeing something for the first time even IF it was through a raven's eyes.
Kiro was surprised the bird stopped so easily. With a shrug, he got back to testing the feel of his new staff, still planning to save actually swinging it around until Raven was there.
Raven was speechless. Seeing was so much more beautiful than Shad had ever been able to tell her with words. She looked around at all the colors excitement filling her chest. She smiled and looked to the wolf pup. “You’re turn lovely,” she told herself as well as the pup. Reaching out with her mind.
The wolf offered Raven the same familiar sensation of a pact or contract forming enabling her to see everything the wolf did
Full of excitement the blind girl urged the animals to follow as she ran outside. Dragging her walking stick behind her. “Kiro! Kiro! Guess what! I’ve got a gift to,” Raven called to the white haired boy.
Seeing her, Shad took off and flew to land on Raven’s head. Eyeing the raven and wolf with a critical stare. In the end, he just fluffed his feathers and let them be.
Raven was practically hopping up and down. “I can see I can see! There are so many colors!”
Seeing her, Shad took off and flew to land on Raven’s head. Eyeing the raven and wolf with a critical stare. In the end, he just fluffed his feathers and let them be.
Raven was practically hopping up and down. “I can see I can see! There are so many colors!”
Kiro blinked, lowering the staff to glance at Raven. "Wh-what do you mean you can see...?" He asked. He had seen many miraculous things around Lilith... but curing blindness? Surely even Lilith was not that powerful... right?
It was at that point that Kiro noticed the animals, flinching slightly at the unusual sight of them, mostly a gesture of confusion more than anything else. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at - beyond the obvious, of course. And couldn't even begin to guess what those creature were doing around Raven.
It was at that point that Kiro noticed the animals, flinching slightly at the unusual sight of them, mostly a gesture of confusion more than anything else. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at - beyond the obvious, of course. And couldn't even begin to guess what those creature were doing around Raven.
I yawn slightly and walk out "What's all this noise?" Sat down on a log looking at the two kids
The raven turned to look at Lilith. Then the girl looked as well. “Lilith! I can see isn’t it great! You gave me these animals. I did what you said and bonded with them. Now I can see through their eyes!” She explained happily. Sitting in the grass.
Shad tilted his head but went with it just fine.
Shad tilted his head but went with it just fine.
Laughed softly and shrugged "I do hope you enjoy your gifts"
((What perfect timing for me to die. Wonderful. Sorry guys))
Raven nodded enthusiastically. “I love them! I just need to name them but, Kiro now I can’t actually watch you practice,” she said sitting down in the grass. Shad leaving and disappearing into thin air. “Isn’t it great?!”
Raven nodded enthusiastically. “I love them! I just need to name them but, Kiro now I can’t actually watch you practice,” she said sitting down in the grass. Shad leaving and disappearing into thin air. “Isn’t it great?!”
"Uh..." Kiro zoned out for a moment before blinking back into reality. "S-sure..." he said. Perhaps it was better that he didn't think too hard about what apparently had just happened. He was surprised Raven was managing to hold it together so well. If Kiro had acquired a whole new sense, he was pretty sure he'd be in some sort of hysterical state about it. He'd probably end up appearing like one of those homeless drug-users, stumbling around in a babbling stupor. He was impressed by the emotional control Raven was displaying.
And still a little weirded out that Lilith could somehow managed to make this happen in the first place.
Kiro's stance faltered. All that aside, Lilith was now watching him. And that suddenly made him feel a bit awkward about the whole thing, given he desperately wanted to impress her. He was also a little uncertain about the fact that the first thing Raven was going to watch was him practice with a weapon he had less experience with. There was a great potential for embarrassment. "W-well uh..."
Kiro awkwardly got back into position and began slowly turning the staff in a wave like motion, making small, fluid circles with each end in an alternating pattern. It took him a few moments to work up the courage to start moving beyond that. That, and he was trying to work out where to actually start. The staff was a whole different animal to a sword, and Kiro's stance was one which much favoured the latter. He pointed the staff forward like it was a blade, then began a few horizontal sweeps based on swordsmanship movements, which seemed a little inefficient and awkward with a staff involved. Little by little, he was picking up in confidence, and the last swing in the sequence had him spinning his entire body with the momentum of the staff, lunging the weapon forward and dropping into a crouch - not too dissimilar to something he had seen in a martial arts movie, albeit with less expertise.
A little self-conscious about the fact that he had a lot of work to do with the weapon, he then shifted into attempting something a little less useful in combat and a little more show-off-ish in general. In two smooth arm movements, he completely shifted the staff so that it was now mostly extended behind him, then, he angled that end downward and hopped back. Sure enough, the butt of the staff jammed into the ground; and his last step in the reverse movement had him leaving the ground in an inhumanly springy leap. He found his body swinging in an arc that allowed him to fully stretch out beyond the staff, as he shuffled his pivot point further up the shaft until he was supporting himself on the opposite end to that which was on the ground. His movement came to a stop when he was directly positioned vertically above the staff, suspended upside-down, one hand still on the weapon, outstretched and balancing precariously. And then he flipped himself back around.
Kiro's trajectory did not take him back toward the ground. Rather, he swung himself round toward the staff itself, carefully balancing the weapon upright. His prehensile feet clasped the shaft of the weapon as they came into contact with it, and Kiro shifted his grip so that he was now fully the right way up, holding on with both feet and one arm, the other arm outstretched for balance. From here, he slid down the length of the staff, then stepped off it, swinging it around behind him as he hopped onto the ground, ending with the weapon outstretched once again ahead of him, held in both hands, a swift swing of his tail adding an extra flourish.
And still a little weirded out that Lilith could somehow managed to make this happen in the first place.
Kiro's stance faltered. All that aside, Lilith was now watching him. And that suddenly made him feel a bit awkward about the whole thing, given he desperately wanted to impress her. He was also a little uncertain about the fact that the first thing Raven was going to watch was him practice with a weapon he had less experience with. There was a great potential for embarrassment. "W-well uh..."
Kiro awkwardly got back into position and began slowly turning the staff in a wave like motion, making small, fluid circles with each end in an alternating pattern. It took him a few moments to work up the courage to start moving beyond that. That, and he was trying to work out where to actually start. The staff was a whole different animal to a sword, and Kiro's stance was one which much favoured the latter. He pointed the staff forward like it was a blade, then began a few horizontal sweeps based on swordsmanship movements, which seemed a little inefficient and awkward with a staff involved. Little by little, he was picking up in confidence, and the last swing in the sequence had him spinning his entire body with the momentum of the staff, lunging the weapon forward and dropping into a crouch - not too dissimilar to something he had seen in a martial arts movie, albeit with less expertise.
A little self-conscious about the fact that he had a lot of work to do with the weapon, he then shifted into attempting something a little less useful in combat and a little more show-off-ish in general. In two smooth arm movements, he completely shifted the staff so that it was now mostly extended behind him, then, he angled that end downward and hopped back. Sure enough, the butt of the staff jammed into the ground; and his last step in the reverse movement had him leaving the ground in an inhumanly springy leap. He found his body swinging in an arc that allowed him to fully stretch out beyond the staff, as he shuffled his pivot point further up the shaft until he was supporting himself on the opposite end to that which was on the ground. His movement came to a stop when he was directly positioned vertically above the staff, suspended upside-down, one hand still on the weapon, outstretched and balancing precariously. And then he flipped himself back around.
Kiro's trajectory did not take him back toward the ground. Rather, he swung himself round toward the staff itself, carefully balancing the weapon upright. His prehensile feet clasped the shaft of the weapon as they came into contact with it, and Kiro shifted his grip so that he was now fully the right way up, holding on with both feet and one arm, the other arm outstretched for balance. From here, he slid down the length of the staff, then stepped off it, swinging it around behind him as he hopped onto the ground, ending with the weapon outstretched once again ahead of him, held in both hands, a swift swing of his tail adding an extra flourish.
Clapped impressed and walked over "Well done Kit... that was an amazing display for your first attempt" Smiled ever so slightly and messed up Kiro's hair petting him like he was still a child (which he is... still)
Raven was awfully stunned and confused. Staring at Kiro even after the little show ended. "What people can do that?" She asked amazed. "How? I usually can't even run without falling on my face!" She marveled at Kiro's dexterity and skill even with a new weapon.
The black-haired girl scrambled to her feet as she'd sat down part way through. "That was amazing! Teach me how to do cool stuff like that too! Please?" She begged exitedly.
The black-haired girl scrambled to her feet as she'd sat down part way through. "That was amazing! Teach me how to do cool stuff like that too! Please?" She begged exitedly.
Kiro reached behind his head to tug at his hair bashfully. From Lilith's praise to Raven's excitement, it was somewhat overwhelming, and his cheeks were turning a little pink. A serious expression overtook his face as he attempted to act cool and unbothered, his body language tensing as he stood rigid, turning his head to one side and glancing at the others through the corner of his eye.
"My individuality lets me jump higher and faster than normal people," he said to Raven. Though in truth, his manoeuvre had been fairly simple in terms of physical capability, its complexity entirely in balance instead, and the associated skills therein. "A normal human could probably do what I did then though... maybe... but it would take a lot more practice than even I had... and I have had a lot of practice at jumping."
Though what Kiro didn't realise was that during the last couple of years, his jump height and running speed had increased at a rate faster than one might expect if he matured by human standards. Whilst his individuality was fairly basic compared to flashy powers and super-agility, with enough training he had the capacity for exponential growth. From the slow perspective of a growing child, he barely noticed this fact.
"I don't think I would be a good teacher though... things that seem easy to me are usually harder for others... unless they're super powerful or have individualities like mine..." Kiro continued. "I would probably just end up accidentally getting you hurt from expecting you to be able to do things that turn out to be too hard."
Appearances of indifference aside, Kiro cared for Raven's well-being. He didn't want to be a reason she had gotten hurt. Especially given he had seen plenty of humans with permanent injuries from falls that he would survive with little problem.
"My individuality lets me jump higher and faster than normal people," he said to Raven. Though in truth, his manoeuvre had been fairly simple in terms of physical capability, its complexity entirely in balance instead, and the associated skills therein. "A normal human could probably do what I did then though... maybe... but it would take a lot more practice than even I had... and I have had a lot of practice at jumping."
Though what Kiro didn't realise was that during the last couple of years, his jump height and running speed had increased at a rate faster than one might expect if he matured by human standards. Whilst his individuality was fairly basic compared to flashy powers and super-agility, with enough training he had the capacity for exponential growth. From the slow perspective of a growing child, he barely noticed this fact.
"I don't think I would be a good teacher though... things that seem easy to me are usually harder for others... unless they're super powerful or have individualities like mine..." Kiro continued. "I would probably just end up accidentally getting you hurt from expecting you to be able to do things that turn out to be too hard."
Appearances of indifference aside, Kiro cared for Raven's well-being. He didn't want to be a reason she had gotten hurt. Especially given he had seen plenty of humans with permanent injuries from falls that he would survive with little problem.
hmm, Raven if you want to learn a style to fight with a weapon I can help. Any ideas on what sort of weapon you might like to learn? I suggest something with defensive capabilities and something that utilizes your new-found animal sight" Smiled ever so slightly and hugged Kiro "You are growing fast Little Monkey and I am very impressed with you"