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[Merci d'Rue]

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Training was going well, the group watched as Willow and Merci danced around each other their skills very closely matched. Not many of the current crowd had seen the Matriarch battle and they watched wide eyed as it became apparent that the Matriarch had worked just as hard at her skills as any Warlord.

The Warmaster had trained her well, she was no bit of fluff. Willow long had proved herself as one of the best and hardest to conquer in a duel. The years of fighitng had made Willow a heavy hitter, while merci was limber and fast healing. It was nearly a draw when the mistake occurred and by a small chance Merci gained the upper hand. Both women breathing heavy Merci had won the battle but many felt that it could have easily gone either way.

Again Matriarch! Willow demanded and Merci smiled. Of course! let me just catch my breath... A thought occurred to Merci as she checked over her armour and it grew in strength a whim really and she looked at the concealed arena and those standing watching. Umbrans stood about and Merci feeling she could trust them all explicity said to Willow. How would you like to try something new?

Willow saw the look on her face and her hands dropped to her hips in the ussual fashion of her mother. Oh? What is that? Merci smiled the thought gaining momentum. Once people proved their skill by battling without armour, without clothing, though typically this was done by men I am of a mind to try it. Now the reaction amongst the watchers was varied, a few mouths dropped and a growl could be heard from the warmaster. It was soft but Merci's ears picked it up. Willow leapt at the idea. Okay! Let us try it I have always wished to try it.

So the two women decidedly removed gloves, sleeves, gorgets, chestpeices, leggings, even sandals and outer clothing and stood, blue hair down one back and green hair down the other. Merci commanded, Step back this may be bloody. Never had any witnessed such a sight I am sure and it was quite the match, with so much at stake, the two women tussled for quite a while before one went down, Willows hits heavier and Merci's heals coming in at just the right moment. Finally the match ended Merci only slightly winning once more and the crowd broke into applause, all had been rivoted to their spots waiting and happily watching the two naked Gladiators.

Only in Umbra a few said as they smiled...

The exercise had gone well and as they dawned their clothing Willow exclaimed. I shall fight naked by your side any time Merci...
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May destiny guide you...

[Willow Smythe]

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As Willow began to put her armor back on, she mused. She heard calls from their fellow Umbran audience, but one stood out....
"For no protection m'ladies that battle lasted far longer than my own expectations." This was quite the complement, she knew the expectations were high to begin with.

For years a single thought plagued Willow,

am I no better than the armor I wear?
She had tried time and again to put such thoughts from her mind. Merci presented her with a chance to prove herself, she could hardly turn it down. She knew the cuts would be deeper and she would be slower to swing. But Willow knew as well that one day there may be a battle in which she will be with out the aide of her armor. She may not win that battle but her duty would be to hold off her enemy as long as possible. She had to be prepared for anything, as any Umbran knows.

The combination of leather and metal may feel as if it were a second skin, Merci and Willow's skills did not lay with armor. Her armor is a tool, no better or worse than the weapons in which they inflicted their wounds. Armor nor weapon decide what combinations to use, they do not decide when to fall back and when to advance.
She may have lost the duel but she had won so much more. Willow smiled as she saw her arm fading from blood lost. Umbra was known for it's unconventional ways, trainings should be no different. Willow looked forward to next weeks trainings.
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Malorn ‎(12:14 AM):
I'm an idiot