abraxaslogs | [ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

[ The observation gets a wide grin since: no point in pretending like it isn't true, even well before he'd admitted as much in his own words. The same goes for not having used one in the war because that's likely just as readily apparent. ]

No, I didn't. Would've made going on the offensive from wyvernback more difficult so I mostly used bows for the longer reach. Or an axe or magic, but that was even less often.

[ All that to say: archery it was. And still is, even if he's not brought his bow along with him this time around to avoid having too many (obvious) weapons on him. ]

Swords were something I trained on when younger. Where I grew up is known for archery and I always knew I wanted to be a wyvern rider so the two went well together. Except for now, because now I'm paying for being farther behind than I'd like.

[ Well, and then there's also - ] Training on them again might be partially inspired from seeing those far better with swords on the supply run.

[ Wynvernback? Geralt tilts his head. ] You rode wyverns into battle?

[ Must not be the wyverns he knows. Those are not creatures to be tamed. It makes sense. If the mount is winged, a bow is obviously a better weapon of choice. The thought leaves Geralt contemplative for a moment. A world where wyverns are as common as horses for a mount is...interesting.

(Is there a small, childlike part of him that sincerely wants the opportunity to ride a wyvern? Yes. Possibly. A little.)

But. Ah. Now he understands. ]

You mean Ciri? Don't be too hard on yourself. She trained under me.

I did myself. When it came to flying most people were split between wyverns or pegasi, and horses were as popular as ever to round out the options of not being on foot.

[ More information than Geralt was asking for - continuing an ongoing trend there - but truthfully, Claude's relieved to have found someone he doesn't have to explain the concept of wyverns to, since he's inferring from Geralt's question that the other man's familiar with them. Relief's an understatement, really. ]

I have a small... version of the one I raised in the Horizon here, if you'd like to meet her sometime. She's a baby there but well out of the unfortunate biting everything stage, which can't always be said for her adult self back home.

[ It occurs to Claude, not for the first time, that this is a conversation which wouldn't make much sense outside of Abraxas. He remembers Geralt's wolf well, though, so between that and everything else about the Horizon it's one less thing to explain. And it's better to focus on than his lacking sword skills, though there's only so long he can avoid that topic and he grins again. ]

I did kind of put two and two together about you and Ciri when it comes to training. She'd mentioned training when she was younger, and you mentioned raising her, so. [ A slight shrug after which he studies his collapsible blade once more, then adds thoughtfully, ] I think she thought I was trying to flatter her, but her skills really are something to behold.

[ If Claude prods correctly, he might even prompt Geralt to go at length about the difference between a dragon and a wyvern, and how annoyingly common it is that people conflate the two species (who are not at all the same.) ]

Wyverns are much more aggressive in my world. I'd like to meet her.

[ Why not? He hasn't actually stepped into Claude's domain, nor Claude in his. He may as well see what's there.

As for Ciri, that all sounds, mm. Like Ciri. ]

Unfortunately, I'm not taking students. [ He already has two, and Geralt is selective as it is about who he does decide to take under his wing. ] But you have an hour of my time while Roach is grazing.

[ At the mention of meeting her, he nods with a smile. Dragons vs wyverns solidarity is in the near future at some point, even if he doesn't know that part just yet - Geralt wanting to meet her despite what he knows from his own world would offer up several bonus points if he was keeping any kind of ranking. ]

They can be plenty aggressive in mine as well and especially ones in the wild. Even the ones raised or trained by people still have their moments here and there, but that's part of what I enjoy about them so much.

[ Maybe it'd be worth creating something in the monastery in the horizon as well when it comes to the wyverns which could be available to them from those memories of the academy. Something worth talking to Sylvain about at some point since it's not his domain. That thought and anything else about wyverns is filed away for later when the mention of not taking students gets a partial shrug from him considering everyone's rather busy around here, but. The hour gets Claude to put the brakes on whatever he was about to say to peer at Geralt curiously. ]

An hour, hm? My instructor used to tell me that was the right amount of time to hone a skill, but that was meant more to get me to focus on my own. Are you looking to shake off rust of your own?

[ Claude's kidding since he has a feeling he's the only rusty one here by a wide margin, but he follows it up with a gesture of the sword in his hand as if to say, practice or something else? ]

[ Moments here and there, huh. Is he referring to a nip or two, or unfortunate souls being eaten? Humans have often tried to tame what shouldn't be tamed. ]

The monsters shook it off for me.

[ Geralt reaches for his sword, drawing it from the leather bag. Between the silver pendant that sits on the hilt and the runes etched down the length of the blade, it's clear Geralt had the weapon made to specification. As close as he could get to the one he left behind.

He steps back, his fingers curled loosely around the grip. No harm in seeing what another man can do with a sword—but he's obviously waiting for Claude to take the lead and set the pace. ]

[ There's a wisp of a grin at the mention of monsters and what other varieties of something considerably more hands on they would provide. He'd answer it if it wasn't for shifting back into a stance he remembers well. Never mind that it's not executed particularly well in ways that'll solidly tell on him as being an archer first and foremost if Claude hadn't verbally done so already.

A second is spent studying Geralt's sword from what he can see first, and then to the man in question himself. An appraisal like he was trained to do to look for weak spots or opportunities to be exploited - an old habit even if now is meant for a lesson of sorts and nothing more. At least here there's no battlefield to survey and no enemy to be encountered. Just someone whose skills he's very curious to see for himself.

Which is why he takes the first step to swing in a classic opening move for training, one meant to test an opponent's reflexes and ability to parry and counter. Despite the rust: what he was trained for was to be quick both with a weapon and on his feet, and it's because of the rust that dexterity will come in handy for however Geralt chooses to react. (Or that's what Claude's hoping, anyway.) ]

[ If Claude knows his swords, he'll probably recognize it as a bastard sword—and aside from the faint runes and pendant, it has few ornaments. Unfussy, like Geralt himself.

Sparring is, for him, a slightly different skill. He grew up training with his fellow Witchers. It's rare he faces off with another human without intention to kill. Still, he's learned to stay his hand—something he was taught is as important as knowing when not to hesitate.

He steps forward into the blow, swinging his sword up to catch the blade, shoving back not as hard as he can, but hard enough. Claude is fast. It isn't really a matter of Claude's skill that Geralt's faster—that there isn't as much effort in how he moves as there might be with someone else. But he's not moving at his full speed or strength when he counters with a downward strike. ]

[ It might not be Geralt's full speed, unbeknownst to him, but the way he moves? It's uncannily like Teach. In the split second it takes Claude to process that - nearly a millisecond too long since it's distracting - the counter comes.

Given that he hasn't exactly studied under Teach in a long time since all that admiring of the other's work on battlefields doesn't exactly count as training? The force of the strike knocks his attempt at a parry back, and that means switching his stance to brace against and absorb it to prevent being knocked aside. So far. Were this an actual fight rather than for fun any number from moves might come next from Claude, but this is about swords. He'll stick to that.

Now it's his turn to counter with a feint and a side strike to test the other's reactions again. This time Claude balances his weight to spring away again, what with a lifetime's amount of experience facing off against opponents bigger, faster, or stronger or all three. Of course, there's also a healthy dose of hubris in there for assuming he can defend himself into being evenly matched. ]

[ Geralt, too, stays with just his sword, forgoing any Signs he might've used. He allows Claude to recover and counter—and this time, he simply ducks out of the swing. Momentum is easy to predict; he spins to the side, flipping the sword to his other hand, swinging left instead of right.

For someone who's rusty, Claude isn't bad. Forgotten habits, maybe. Or training that didn't stick once swordsmanship was left for archery. It's different, compared to facing off with Ciri or Nadine—people who trained under him from the start, using his style.

Geralt gives a little room for Claude to advance if he wants. He's not trying to end the fight early. ]

[ There's a sizable moment where Claude considers the room to move after his own dodge in case Geralt swings again. He doesn't, so that leaves him evaluating whether it's a trap only in the sense of something he'll have to feint out of. Things coming back to him little by little and now instead of Teach's (few and far between words) he considers Nader's. Footwork comes to mind, a pattern of steps he needs another second to mentally walk himself through.

One way is certainly convenient to buy that time. It goes hand in hand with there being only so long Claude can go without talking even if he's supposed to be (and mostly is) focusing. ]

You remind me of the combat instructor I had as a kid, if he said about one percent of what usually comes out of his mouth. [ He grins while idly rotating the sword in his grip, considering Claude's well aware he has no room to talk about anyone's talkativeness or lack thereof and his own tendency for it is on display right now. ] And if you gave yourself a title like Geralt the Undefeated.

[ There's an explanation behind 'the undefeated' title, but now's not the time for it. The next set of training now being recalled from the depths of his mind means Claude puts the footwork to use in both advancing and to test a series of strikes to see which might stick, if any. ]

[ When Claude takes a brief pause, so does Geralt; it's evident he's letting Claude set the pace, not trying to catch him off guard. The sword hangs loosely in his grip. He's been a little curious how Jayce's collapsible swords hold up in combat, and though he doesn't think it's made for extensive use, it's yet to falter. Sufficient for someone who isn't using it every day.

He raises an eyebrow. Quite the title to give yourself. That's either irony or arrogance. Geralt has titles. Just not exactly ones he's picked—though he supposes he's claimed well enough the one Jaskier bestowed on him. ]

Can't claim the same.

[ Had his arse kicked plenty, but the point is he's still breathing, which is all that matters. Claude advances; Geralt both ducks and blocks the blows—and if he can catch Claude on the back foot, he'll let Claude's momentum trip him up and forward. ]

[ There's another flash of a grin in there before Claude begins his ill thought out tactic. It could be effective, maybe, if he'd taken another couple seconds to plan or put together those puzzle pieces of the sheer amount of skill he's up against in what he's seen so far hints towards, but he's operating on the misguided assumption he's already figured that much out.

He hasn't; that much becomes readily apparent when momentum does betray him and he stumbles forward a couple steps before catching himself. Agility's only a slight help here in recovering to swing around to the side in a whirl to face Geralt again to not leave anything exposed to opportunity even if he's slowly picking up on being the one to set the speed. ]

Think you probably would've earned that title in Fodlan based on this. Plenty of people from Faerghus would be lining up to admire your skill.

[ Not an idle compliment; If Felix were here, Claude has no doubt they'd have to find some way to keep him from wanting to spar with Geralt constantly. Maybe even Sylvain to some extent, though that particular Faerghan's preferred weapon is a lance rather than a sword. He'll have to be a decent enough substitute for either one by taking another swing to see what Geralt does next. ]

[ Though Claude stumbles, Geralt refrains from knocking him off balance to the ground altogether. He's already stepping back when Claude spins around. The lack of any real exertion gives him away a little, how much he's holding back—though not out of courtesy. More to allow the sparring match to continue as it should. Instead of, you know. Lopping a head off within a handful seconds. Which is usually how long a real confrontation with him lasts. ]

Admiration brings attention. And attention breeds trouble.

[ Not worth it. Maybe it says something, that Geralt is not necessarily rejecting the assertion. Only the outcome of it. A Witcher lacking confidence in his own skill is a dead Witcher.

So is one prone to showing off. There's a reason he's almost never spotted training or engaging in any sparring. When he does it, he does it alone.

This time, when he counters, he moves forward quicker than he's been moving up until now—pressing forward, without relenting, with the intention to disarm the other man. ]

I suppose. We have plenty of wandering mercenaries who've earned tales which go before them, but often times everyone's sharing the tale without realizing the subject's already come and gone.

[ He hasn't forgotten Geralt isn't a mercenary, called himself a witcher instead, but that's the closest Fodlan comparison Claude can think of right then to how that might work. Mostly because he shouldn't be thinking about it and should definitely be focusing on anticipating Geralt's next move.

Which - the advance isn't what he'd predicted though he should have; there had been the sense of the other watching and waiting and here it comes into full play when Claude's least anticipated it. The advance puts him into retreat, one backwards step after another that rings warning bells as he tries to parry the attacks with varying levels of success. Low ones considering he's solidly on the defense now right up until metal clashes against metal and his sword leaves his hand to hit the ground with a solid thump in the dust beneath their feet. ]

Well - I think that seals my yielding. [ Another grin even as he absently drags part of a sleeve across his forehead since Geralt's not winded - somehow - but Claude's taking a second to be less out of breath. Just one second. ] I wouldn't mind getting to try you at archery sometime if you have a bow handy since it's a little more my speed than this.

[ Realistically, the result will be the same there if so. Claude's got enough ego to survive both this defeat and that one, and intrigue about Geralt's skills triumphs over any other feeling about it anyway. ]

[ The flicker that crosses Geralt's face suggests he's more than familiar with that. Stories being told, when he has come and gone, passed to villagers who may have never seen a Witcher before in their life. Until he arrives.

He gives Claude the courtesy of a hand up, if he wants it. Not the worst swordplay he's ever seen. (He's seen a lot.) Rusty, to be sure. On the bright side—only up from here. Isn't that what they say?

He tilts his head, acknowledging that. ] Perhaps you'll even have something to teach me.

[ The remark is wry, but there's room for sincerity. Can he use a bow? He can. He doesn't miss, given a second to aim. But he doesn't really bring one into combat; crossbows are more useful for hunting, and for Geralt, practicality comes first. It's rare he puts his hands on a longbow.

So. Maybe his turn to be rusty. ]

[ He'll take the hand in getting up after retrieving his sword from where it fell a quick reach away, then Claude spares a glance down at the dust covering him which ends in a slight grimace. Nothing he can't brush off and nothing unfamiliar from past training sessions, but he'll leave that for now because dust isn't nearly as interesting as what Geralt says.

That has Claude quickly looking up with a grin, anything about swords temporarily forgotten. Sort of. ]

I'd like that. [ Said while collapsing the sword back into its portable form and tucking it away before he casts a thoughtful glance around them. ] For another time, that is. And if you're looking for a change of scenery or somewhere with actual targets, I have a small archery range in the Horizon which works well enough. You can meet my wyvern while we're at it, even though it won't be quite the same experience as meeting an adult one.

[ Unbeknownst to Claude, in the near future the Horizon will have a variety of adult wyverns to either be met for the first time or for the possibility of rides, but for now it's all about the baby wyvern. She's charming enough in his eyes so Geralt will quickly be added to the list of those introductions. ]

Then again, there's probably a cactus we can use out here just as well if you'd prefer that.

[ Archery ranges, gun ranges. The Horizon is becoming a veritable training ground. He would not mind it in the Horizon; Geralt prefers the discretion, and they'd only be idling away the hours. Find some familiarity around a seldom-used weapon.

Besides. He is interested in meeting that wyvern. More than the bow, in truth.

He sheathes his sword, returning to Roach to finish saddling up. ]

I'll be by.

[ He hops on his horse. If Claude has more to add, he'll be saying it to a retreating back—Geralt's already riding out, deeming his last words good enough for a parting. ]

[ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

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wrapping!