Some Autonomous Weapon. Time for a Change of Heart?

Nereza nodded, hiding the slight feeling of envy for Ophidia's apparent fighting capabilities. It might have been greater if EVERYONE wasn't a better fighter than her. At least, everyone who was supposed to fight on their own. But, she liked polearms then.

Maybe just a little, she could test the waters. "Aside from being an autonomous scythe weapon? My only qualities are a "necrotic" element, and and grades. I've yet to score below the ninety-eighth percentile." At this point Nereza may have been bragging a bit, but she decided that she deserved it at this point anyways.

She stared at the remainder of the sandwich, as if it who she was holding the conversation with. She wasn't used to talking about herself in this sort of light, and it was making her nervous. She would have to avoid Ophidia after this, whatever happened. Yes, that was the only way she could keep everything straight. The best for both parties.

Never scored under a ninety eight, huh? Ophidia was smart, but even she got the occasional B. That was pretty impressive. What was this necrotic element though? Was she implying she could make people's flesh rot? That was kind of a scary thought, actually. Maybe she'd just make sure?

"By "necrotic"... You mean your scythe can induce necrosis in people...?" Ophidia questioned, staring at Nereza with interest. If Nere could do that, there was no way she couldn't be autonomous. Even just one hit from her could prove decently effective. Though, that was none of her business, and she knew it.

Nereza nodded at the girls statement. She truly hated talking about her element, and it was making her regret bringing up this subject at all. It was the root of dry personality, and the very anchor of what she perceived as her destiny, after all. But in a way she couldn't explain, it felt like this had to be done.

"Indeed. One solid hit can decide the opponents fate before the match has even ended." She stated in a factual manner, taking a moment to nervously adjust her hair over her left ear. "It is unfortunate that things are not so easy to hit as Mr Wickie." She added, sure it wasn't unusual to name your test dummy. It wasn't like she was THAT lonely.

Ophidia couldn't help but give a small laugh at the joke, then shoot Nereza gentle smile. "If everything was that easy to hit, the school would be out of buisiness." She replied, popping another chip in her mouth.

Now that she thought about it, no DWMA might be a good thing. That would've meant she could skip proving herself and just become a librarian. Ah, dreams, you make life seem so much harder than it actually was with your entrancing idea of a simple life. Too bad you can't change fate.

Nereza's eyes widened in lieu of Ophidia's peculiar reaction. Had she said something amusing? She was certain she was being completely sincere. "Is she laughing at what she said?... Or what I said" She began, challenging her own thoughts. She looked down to the ground again, biting her thumbnail, as she mulled it all over. There was a sort of empty curiosity in her eyes as she did so.

What an odd state of mind she was in. She was obviously too tired for this engagement, but she didn't know how to step away. Even had she an idea, she wasn't sure she wanted to this time. It was one conversation right? It couldn't change THAT much.

There! Emotion! Even if it was a reaction of confusion it was something. At least Ophidia now knew Nere wasn't a robot. Nereza seemed to have spaced out over there, so Ophidia figured she should probably try to get her out of her own head. Not that it was really her business, but whatever.

"You ok there, Nere? Did I say something wrong?" Ophidia asked, popping another chip. HAD she said something wrong? That probably wasn't good. After all, this was a first impression. Bombing out was bombing out.

Nereza's eyes sharpened, and darted to match Ophi's, as she quickly drew her thumb from her mouth to place it politely in her lap. Had she just forgotten she was alone? Where were her mind at today anyways? Nereza beat down an embarrassed blush, killing it before it ever reached her face. After a few seconds, the surprise had already vanished from her face, leaving it with the vacant expression again. This really wasn't like her at all.

"I'm completely alright." She explained, picking up what was left of her food to begin eating again. It was more out of nervousness than an actual hunger at this point. Nereza thought for a few minutes on a concept that couldn't hurt.(?)"You said fighting comes naturally, yes? Would you be willing to give me some pointers? As one student to the next?" She asked, trying to maintain a casual dead tone.

Ophidia was more shocked at the response than anything, however she quickly switched it back to an inviting smile. Had Nereza just asked for help? Yes... It was a bit subtle, but she had. Who was Ophidia to say no though? There was no reason to not give the weapon a few tips.

"Of course. Any time you want." Ophidia replied, thinking for a moment. What would she teach Nereza though? She knew about pole-arms and oversized garden tools used as weapons... What did she know about using a wrist blade? It WAS a scythe blade, and she WAS a scythe meister... She's think of something.

Nereza promptly began her way to stand. It took a short, shaky struggle, her hands on her knee's, but she found her way into an upright position, peering down at the meister. She extended a single hand in an almost mechanical fashion. "Now will suffice. You were off to train anyways, yes?"

Nereza didn't know if this was polite, but if it wasn't, then bravo. She couldn't take this conversation thing any longer. Simultaneously, no part, and every part of Nereza wanted this to go further. She needed to step away from this. She would get a few tips, and then the two could go their separate ways. Like they never even knew each other.

Ophidia wrapped a hand around the two-column handle of her scythe, her other hand reaching up to grab Nereza's and pull herself up. "Yeah, I was." She replied, resting the scythe on her shoulder with the blade towards the air. Speed wasn't an option with a weapon like this unless you had a lightweight weapon-partner, she knew that much.

"Anything you want to know in particular, or just whatever comes up?" She asked, placing her free hand on her hip and stretching her back. It wasn't often that Ophidia had someone to train with, so this would be a good change of pace from tryibg to combo attack the dummies...

Nereza struggled a bit to bring the girl up. Even on the best of days she probably wasn't much of a match for a meister who found fighting natural. However, she intended to fight, and most certainly learn. "I will leave the lessons up to you." She replied, and turned to walk a few meters away. Finding a resting place, she faces Ophi, and gives a principled bow.

She had personally faced many in the DWMA. However, most of them were pairs, or upper classmen. Exhausted may not be the best way to gauge, but she wanted to see where she landed against a single opponent.

Ophidia noted the bow and returned it with her own bow, then readied her scythe, holding it with both hands, diagonally and closer to the horizontal axis. The head of the scythe was facing her opponent and on the elevated end. Her legs were in an open stance, braced for any kind of impact. This was the ideal stance for this scythe, due to it's weight.

"Let me know if you need to stop." Ophidia said, before making a charge for Nereza. Her eyes were narrowed with focus. Her mind was noting changes in Nereza's stance or openings she could exploit. Something inside her mind had clicked, as it always had when she began a match. She chalked that up to her heritage.

Nereza nodded to affirm Ophi's offer. She would note the shift in character. The girl already seemed much colder, and the match had only begun, not so much a a single blow between them. The transition in mind sets was seamless. An absolutely flawless display."I will not use my element." She stated blankly. After all, it would be a shame to lose an arm to rot during a sparring match.

Her own stance was low to the ground, legs well spread into a stable position. Both arms were extended slightly to the sides as counter-balances, suggesting this stance relied on balance, and movement. It would seem likely that Nereza would start defensively to gauge Ophidia's capability. He right hand shifted into a gauntlet, chains spiraling up her arm, and around her torso. She stood her ground for now, the single loose chain swinging for Ophi's legs.

Ophidia's mind was blank. Nereza's words were nothing but gibberish to her now. Her body and mind were busy monitoring her surroundings and adapting accordingly. she did not speak, and it was now her turn to hold a stone etched poker face. This wasn't madness, it was how her brain worked. Calculating. Plotting. Ready.

The gauntlet's appearance confirmed Nere's weapon choice. The arm where the gauntlet covered would remain safe if she struck it with her scythe's blade, meaning it was somewhere she could hit to cause minimal damage to Nere while still making progress. The chain sweeping at her legs was an easy call. She tried to slam her scythe's blade onto it to hold it in place and make a small hop over it. If successful then she'd continue her charge toward Nereza, her scythe now drug in the air behind her, ready for a swing.

Nereza felt a slight shiver in fear. Ophi was completely unfazed by the comment. Odd being on the other side of this. It gave her second thoughts on this. She probably couldn't keep up, and if Ophi got lost in the moment, and didn't listen... No use being hung up. Fight.

Nereza's chain was promptly slammed to the ground, calling her back to the fight at hand. The other sections coiled up like a snake to try and catch the scythe, and hold it in place. Meanwhile, Nereza made her own advance, loose, and much less aggressive. She took her time in comparison, moving mainly to keep from being caught flat footed. She aimed her gauntlet to strike at Ophi, or parry her blade, depending on the chains effect.

Nereza could move her chains, noted. They had snagged her scythe, but this was no problem. Nereza's goal was to disarm and attack. There were a few methods to deal with this, Ophidia deciding quickly on a plan. She wasn't letting go of the scythe, instead pulling it seemingly futilly towards Nereza.

The opening that Ophidia had left was obvious. Nere had an edge with her gauntlet, where as Ophidia's scythe was disabled. No brainer, this was when Ophidia would have chosen to make a strike. Especially if the oponent was a sitting duck like this. However Ophidia was Ophidia and Nereza was Nereza. Nothing was set in stone, and she was ready to adapt her plan if need. She still held her gaze fixed blankly on Nereza, remaining silent.

Nereza continued her move, seeming un-fazed. Under the facade, she was half panicked. It was like the kind girl from a moment ago was completely buried in the heat of battle. A sparring match no less. She was given completely to her blood-thirst. Could Nere be sure she was safe practicing with her? Was there really anything to learn here?

She removed the blades from her gauntlet, and made a swing for Ophi's center mass. She really wasn't trying to do any damage obviously. Otherwise she would have aimed a sharp claw strike to the throat, or something of that nature.

Nereza's bladed chains were heading for her. Now was the time to go, and Ophidia wouldn't waste it. She released the scythe's handle, quickly darting to the right of the blade and at Nereza, sustaining a relatively minor cut to the arm. Sometimes you have to take injury to inflict a bigger injury.

If she got close enough, she'd try a heavy punch at Nereza's gut, while preparing her other arm to block the gauntlet if it moved, even if that created a few more cuts. If Nereza had kept away, then Ophidia would need a new plan. One that included scythe retrieval.

Nereza was making a follow up attack. A punch to the Ophidia's center mass. She lost the draw though, and her mind had registered Ophi's counter. Now, as always, a thousand tactical solutions sprang to mind, but, she freezes again. She begs her body to move, but the movement won't come, and in a flash, it's too late.

Nereza sustains a heavy blow to the gut, sending her reeling backwards, and sinking to her knee's. Her hand was in a tight ball clenching her stomach. The chains around the scythe went slack with her concentration. She was so tired. All she could do at the moment was cough, and hope Ophidia's mind was enough to make up for her inability to speak.

Ophidia was ready for the counter, or the block, but neither came. A direct blow. She may not know how to use her wavelength, but she could hit. Taking a deep breath, her blank look returned to a smile, a gentle sparkle in her eyes just as before, approaching Nereza and holding out a hand.

"Did I hit you too hard?" She asked, seeming completely un-phased by what had just happened. This was normal for her, fighting off instinct. Sure she was trained well, but that was only the motions for using the weapon. Instinct was her guide, and she had come to terms with what she really was.

Nereza looked up. The corners of her vision were blurred from the strike, and exhaustion. She was sure that she would pass out soon. But no, she wouldn't. Least of all right now. This was a first impression, and it couldn't be THIS pathetic. This loss was even quicker than usual.

"I-I'm alright. Nothing hurt but my pride." She attempted to just, but made no move for the hand. She was sure she would vomit if she tried to move. She really wasn't cut out for this at all was she?

Ophidia let out a small sigh, sitting down on the ground across from Nereza. "I hit you too hard, didn't I? Sorry about that..." Ophidia said, remembering exactly what she was. Her parents were killers, and for all she knew her entire family line could have been. Killing was an instinct, and she had turned it into a job. It's only logical that she would attack full force, right...?

Yes. There was no way Ophidia was a monster like her parents. She wouldn't let it come to that. She would take responsibility in making sure Nereza would be alright, and the same with anyone else she hurt. After all, what kind of meister would punch someone in the gut then just leave them there?

Nereza stayed in her place for a good while, complete silence over the area. When she had finally fought off that terrible nauseous feeling, she sat up once more. Her face wasn't turned in the pain she was feeling, and she looked completely normal again by now. The throbbing in her torso served as an effective reminder that she wasn't.

"I am not sure that I learned anything from that. She stood back to her feet, finding it ever more daunting a task, and shaking the whole way to her feet. "Shall we try once more? She suggested, yanking her chain back to her side.

Ophidia was thrown off a bit by Nereza's words. "Are you sure...? I mean, you were down for quite awhile... I wouldn't want to hurt you too bad..." She questioned, walking over and grabbing her scythe. Lugging it over her shoulder she began to think.

What if Nereza was pushing herself too hard to become autonomous...? Maybe it was a family thing...? Or maybe she had something to prove too? No matter what, it couldn't be good to take solid blows like that too often... Maybe Ophidia should hold back a little...? Maybe...

Nereza gave a single stoic nod in response to the question. "I have engaged you to learn. We will continue until aught of such has been accomplished." She would remark, likely showing the closest thing to a vehement response since their meeting.

She reassured her position, her hand straining to form a wide offense ready claw of a gauntlet. The chain flicked to life, and coiled back up her body, waiting to be projected again. "Whenever you're feeling inclined." She spoke plainly once more, marking her ready.

Ophidia sighed, getting herself into the ready position. "Just don't push yourself too hard, okay?" She replied, the sparkle in her eyes fading again and her warm smile replacing itself with an uncomfortable scowl. She was a soldier first and a person second.

She let loose a charge, devoid of words. Ophidia would have made a wonderful assassin type, but having grown up practicing with sticks and brooms, pole-arm meister was what she knew. For now, however, she was fighting, and a head on charge was her tactic.

As if there was any other option. After all, even when pushing herself "too hard", Nereza had gained so little ground. Over-exertion was the only possible answer. It was either that, or admit defeat, and find a meister. She wasn't in the habit of giving up though.

Nereza simply nodded, knowing now the nature of Ophidia's mindset. Ophidia was the real weapon here. With the flick of her wrist, the chain lashed out violently towards enter mass. She aimed to meet force with more force.

Ophidia tried to make a slide under the chain, her scythe blade staying parallel to the ground as she did. With any luck, this would get the blade and herself under the chain. There were more chains, however, and she had a hunch that Nereza wouldn't leave it at only one swing.

Knowing she was at a disadvantage in a slide, she needed an opening to get back on her feet and continue charging before she lost too much momentum and became a sitting target... Easier said than done...

The chain hissed over Ophidia, missing its mark. But, Nereza took note of the momentum. It would be hard for Ophidia to change directions now. That left her wide open to attack. After a split second hesitation from striking a comrade, Nereza flicked her fingers downwards, signaling the second chain to fling down atop the meister. Meanwhile, the second one began to retreat back to Nereza's side.

This was an enemy she would have to pacify quickly. It was only a matter of time before Nereza lost the ranged advantage. In close quarters, Ophidia was faster, stronger, and her weapon had superior reach. Nereza wouldn't stand a chance when and if the distance was closed.