Annoying Practice (Rui Ming)

[Onira]

Once again, Onira fouind himself staring menacingly at a surface. A day or so ago it was dirt, where he was experimenting with symbology. That didn't turn out so well. However, this time he was looking at water. A pond in-fact. He had used Alchemy on water many times, and had become fairly good at it. However, he couldn't control it per se. He could spin it. He could make it mvoe. However, himself not being an elementalist, he couldn't disobey water's tendency to fall down whenerv you moved it up. Not like rock. When you made that into a spike it stayed there. However, with water there was a lot of... sloshing. It seemed to always naturally seek balance and equality, something Onira was desperately trying to change.

He knelt down slowly, his knees resting in the soft dirt next to the pond. It was quite green in the specific training ground, many trees, plants, and the like finding a happy place there near the water. A lot of their food source right there, it seemed. But, trees were easy to change. Water... now THAT was a challenge.

Gently, Onira placed his palms against the surface of the pond, still looking at it with a menacing gaze. Many thoughts flashed over and over in his mind.

I'm gonna die.

Worse! I'm gonna fail. I'm gonna fail miserably. THEN I'm gonna die.

No! That won't happen! I just have to focus.

But what if I lose concentration? Then the water'll get mad at me. It'll hunt me down and cut off my PENIS!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

Onira roared out load, trying to challenge the voices in his head with an even louder one. Strangely enough, it seemed to work. And then, back to it.

"Alright. Here I go. Just me and the water. Hi water! I'm your friend. Gooooooood water."

A familiar light began to glow in-front of Onira as his palmed tattoos lit up, the surface of the wat breaking instantly to let a quick shaft of liquid burst out of the surface, standing tall of at least 8 feet. It was beautiful. It was glorious. It was... gone?

"Damn it!"

The water fell in a small splash against the water's surface, creating a few ripples along it. Truly it was a sad day for the world of alchemists.

[Rui Ming]

Soft and noiseless steps marked the passage of Rui Ming the Elementalist. He walked in these moments of silence in his own quiet reflection as he studied the region. There were many who used disgusting and weak forms of elementalism. It was not true elemtnalism. They used abilities outside of it showing that they were not pure elementalists. It was a sad sight that made Rui sickened. He never really liked the fact that people mixed things when they should not have. All for the sole purpose of stacking their abilities into something that they claimed was powerful. Was that really the point of things? Did they have the right to claim they understood the elements when they used crude forms of it? Rui believed that they did not and that is eye he was a master of the water element and not some crude apprentice.

A loud sloshing noise caught his attention as someone with lit palms touched the water and caused it to shoot up into a powerful spike. Rui blinked for a moment. Well well someone learning water manipulation? Alas whoever was trying did not understand the principle associated with water and just as it shot up it also fell. Splashing into the ground and Rui only made a small note that this was not an elementalist. He saw the strange markings on the palms that was not elementalism. Something else that he had not encountered yet but, he wasn't sure what it was. Rui walked past this young man and onto the surface of the water as if it was nothing more then the common ground not even sinking on it. He felt the whispering the sounds of life in this place.

"When manipulatiing water you must understand the bonds of equality. Water will fill whatever container you place it in but, without that it will only spread until you can not use it," came Rui's soft voice accented by the langauge. "The key to manipulating water is constant movement or having it in a container when you are not using it," Rui finished.

-=And why did you tell him this?=-

~Because he seemed dissapointed.~

"If you duel me then I will perhaps teach you the trick to manipulating a step better then what you do," Rui announced as the water rised in a smooth piller to Rui's open hand that was above it. He rested his hand on top of it as if it were nothing more then stone.

"What say you?"

[Onira]

Onira was deeply concentrated on ideas about the water. No theories yet, but the concentration would come to make him if not just a little surprised at seeing... walking?

"Gaah!"

Onira fell backwards quickly onto his rear, those violet eyes wide with a bit of both fear and surprise. Walking on water? One would figure that, considering the magic school, such a thing was not particularly unheard of, but even so. Walking on water was just... strange. At least, though, he knew what he was talking about. The alchemist smacked himself on the forehead.

"Of course! A container. But, that brings up a whole new set of prob-"

Onira cut himself off when he heard the stranger begin to speak again, somewhat adding to the effect by raising a pilar and resting his hand on it.

Feh! Show off.

He thought, but still paid attention, if not just a little bit surprised at the quick challenge. One couldn't help but wonder if the little bit of advice was actually just a set up so he could get a challenge. But then...

Some more information? Well, that would be something. I mean, I could probably do with what he's already given me, but still, the info might make it a little easier. A fight, though...

Onira placed his fingers in his chin and began rubbing it, eyebrows furrowed and himself obviously stuck in thought. This was quite a thing. He didn't really like fights. They could be a nice release, sometimes, but it was generally unneeded and harmful.

"Alright, I accept."

Onira rolled backward on the dirt, squating with palms to the ground and lookign up at the stranger.

"You start."

[Rui Ming]

He gave a small smile when Onira accepted the reaction to him walking on water was a priceless one as he gave a nod. The first thing he did was ground himself so to speak to the element feeling the rippling and the shifting. He would call Saeri if he had to but, it was something that he did not want to do. Saeri might present an unfair advantage. The water pillar dropped as if the bottom of a container had been opened and it quickly fell. He shifted himself for a moment and gazed at the young man for a moment. His own blue eyes were steady the violet ones that belonged to the young man. He shifted his stance for a moment his other hand coming out of the loose robe. HE gave a formal combative bow as he readied himself. Rui would not hold back the air of those one said that he could not.

"Very well then, I am Rui Mu Ming, my destiny is to master the nine elements and gain something that many would call intangible." Rui spoke quietly as he again gazed. "Please do not hold back for my safety. Any injuries we sustain I will have my summon heal afterwords."

And with that he attacked. One hand moved out the hand flat over the water in a parallel movement. He made a one-eighty degree chopping motion. The water in front of his feet stirred and came out in a five foot wave launching quickly towards Onira as Rui shifted his other hand and raised it. A pillar of water raised and Rui made a sharp jabbing motion his palm open with his other hand. The water catapulted forward and Rui jabbed forward with the hand a bit more except with only two fingers. The water assumed the shape of a spike being disguised by the wave. The water spike went through the wave and speeded towards Onira sending two seperate attacks at different timings. The theory was by launching the wave first Onira wouldn't be expecting the speedier spike to slam into him.

[Onira]

Onira cocked a brow at his opponent. It seemed that he was quite respectful either to battle or his own opponent. Either way, it showed that there wasn't any specifically bad blood between the stranger and Onira, one hoping not, considering they just met. It would be a bad day if otherwise.

The stranger began to move, quickly sending a fairly large wave towards Onira and blocking off his vision. Behind closed doors, as it were, he had already sent a water spike foreward, as well. How lucky one was to have a denser product at their disposal.

At the first sign of just the wave, Onira pushed in to the Earth, his palms lighting up against the ground and a rounded, six foot barrier appearing in-front, the wave most likely splashing against it, but the much more important Bang! noise against the Earth being heard. Onira sighed.

"I guess this guy really DOESN'T want to hold back. Such a pity. I thought I could be friends, but if he's actually trying to injure me..."

Onira quickly erected a wall behind himself as well, using the same method, and cocooning him in a six-foot sphere, from which he could currently escape harm. For the time that would be all he would do. He would get a good few minutes of air in the cocoon as well, if, for instance, the stranger decided to try and drown him. Not that he would.

"Well actually, I wouldn't put it past him..."

Onira shook his head at the thought, not all that pleased that he had come up with it.

"No! He's a good guy! Right...?"

[Rui Ming]

Rui was impressed that Onira had so casually dispensed of his attack by using a wall of thick earth to block him. Interesting so whatever he was using could affect the element of earth. That was very interesting indeed. Something that Rui may have to look into if it could expand his knowledge of the elements. He shifted for a moment as he saw Onira creating a sphere of earth from the size of it he hazarded that the man had a few minutes of air to work with. Giving him time to think. On a hazard scale Rui would guess that he was supposed to delay and waste his mana breaking through. A clever strategy but, Rui could recover his mana as he dished out attacks. The water agitated around him and broke into a mist-like steam not even hot as he gazed at the sphere for a moment.

"Clever defense, though I have a trick."

Rui concentrated for a moment spheres of energy forming around his hands and dropping into the water. He sent another wave this time with the balls of energy. The energy and wave slammed into the wall togeather creating an explosive force that blasted apart a side of the sphere and sent water to rush in and maybe trip up the man. Rui smiled softly and gazed at him.

"You have skill that I am curious in I will try to restrain some of my attacks,"

He sent a blunt blast of water at Onira hoping that the surprise of losing his shield would score a hit.

[Onira]

Sadly, almost as soon as Onira had finished speaking did he hear, and pretty soon feel, the rush of energy-fused water crumble one side of his sphere. It instantly thrashed him into the opposite side of the sphere, Onira cringing at the impact and losing his hands place against the Earth, and thus his ability for a moment.

He was forced underwater for a moment, quickly pulling up and gasping for air. His opponent now began to speak, one listening not the most clearly, but still catching the point behind it. At the comment he grinned, seemingly gaining some confidence in himself. Of course, he was generally confident in his own abilities, but for the last little while he had been a bit depressed due to his failure in trying to increase his abilities. It was a little better, now.

Onira raised his hands up to touch the top of the sphere, Rui now just beginning to launch his attack. Without hesitation, Onira converted most of the rest of the sphere into a big, round shield in-front of him. This would easily withstand the wave, but there was more to it. By slightly changing a few pieces of stray wood, as well as some more Earth, he had alchemized two large springs behind the shield. It took the force smoothly, and then when the wave's main force had finished, It recoiled, sending a fairly-sized wave right back at Rui. Onira chuckled lightly as he made his escape quickly backwards onto more dry land.

"Well, I thank you for this demonstration, but I gotta ask ya. How good are you at Science?"

Provided he got out of the pond, Onira would instantly take to squatting, both hands back on the Earth, waiting with a fairly large bunch of ideas already beginning to brew.

I'm enjoying this WAY too much.

[Rui Ming]

Mist formed again as Rui released the energy in some more water to recover his energy while watching his opponent's shield stop his sudden attack. Intriguing his opponent was definantly knowledgable of force, velocity, and even other factors that were associated with physics and mathematics. Something that intrigued Rui because he too was familiar with it. You had to be if you expected to be able to control the elements. Know the limitations of what you worked with and then amplify it through the power of magic. He saw the recoiling wave his robes moving elegantly as he merely moved his feet finally he raised one foot and brought it down on the surface. The water was stopped as if it impacted a sudden wall and was frozen in place.

"I am familiar with the sciences, though what I know is also more in-tune with the elements themselves rather then what you are using. If it is a form of science you are employing I am impressed that science has come that far," Rui spoke as he prepared for his next manuever.

He considered it for a moment. Each time he had seen this man make a move it involved his hands. Perhaps if he could paralyze his arm movement by striking the nerves...

Yes that might work.

He shifted his feet and spun the edge of his robe cutting into the water having a metal edge and finally he slammed his hand into it launching the water forward. Not as a wave this time. No a hailstorm of water needles. He shifted and prepared a similar attack this time watching the water into the air and shaping it into needles again coming in from above. The needles would do minimal if any damage. The goal was numbers in hopes of striking nerves to hinder his opponents movements. Rui had never moved from his spot though as he gazed at the seen in front of him.

[Onira]

Onira watched the stranger as yet another attack was thrown. It was quickly becoming evident that taking the defensive was becoming Onira's major task in the fight. Of course, there was the possibility that a magical endurance battle could be played out, but that could take a while, and without knowing one's magical ability, it could also be a loss. Too risky. But, he had more problems for the moment. Not enough time to think.

Seeing the needles begin to form, Onira Performed what would be expected. Once again, he cocooned himself, this time in a much smaller sphere (about 4 feet high), and also in a harder, rounder form, so that instead of the needles being able to imbed themselves and possibly do more, they would bounce off. Of course, with this, Onira would also be able to hear impact, which would help him if not just a little bit in timing his attack.

The needles bounced off (provided they did), and upon hearing this, the young adult suddenly pushed into the ground again, many stone spikes bursting through the surface of the water. Not Particularly high enough to hurt the stranger severly, but enough to skewer a good part of his leg, and probably keep him there without some form of assistance (magical or otherwise). As well, Onira made sure that the spikes were kept many with little space between, so that the chance of impact was higher. After all, as long as the wound wasn't serious, he could probably heal it up.

Almost as soon as the attack was over, the front of the sphere opened up a bit just so Onira could see the damage of the attack. At first warning, he could bring the cover back up, but for now it was no big deal. One just had a bit of curiosity. That, and he didn't want to kill someone due to blood loss or anything else. He wasn't a murderer, even if he didn't particularly fight what one would call "nicely".

"Are ya allright?"

[Rui Ming]

It was only Rui's sensing of the earth moving beneath him that saved him in-time as he quickly used an ability of his that turned him into a water-like state. The spike passed right through him as he felt into the water again the mist-like steam appearing but, for all purposes in that moment Rui had dissapeared. The cost of hiding behind a defense was you couldn't see where a resourceful opponent went. Rui traveled forward very slowly not even disturbing the water and suddenly launched an attack. Several glowing balls of energy appeared in the water though not quite seen given the fact that it was more deeper in the water then on the surface. Rui lashed out with another wave of water sending the energy and water straight at Onira's defense.

Since it was smaller this time Rui would probably flood it forcing Onira outside of his little defense. Rui didn't shift to his physical form yet but, he did move to the surface so he could call out. The water shifting around would mean that Onira couldn't pinpoint his force.

"Fast on the defense I see but, can you defend against what you can't see?" Rui called.