Steel vs Water (Price)

[Rui Ming]

In the training grounds there were many environments for which one could practice. In this particular one it was that of an artic scene. It was bitter cold and it required true connection with mind and body or very good reflexes to stay balanced. Or in Rui's case it required an affinity for the element. Here and this place there were two ice fields on either side of the circular arena. Icy cold water was in the middle with several smaller ice platforms to stand on. Rui stood on the water as if it were nothing as he raised his palm and then thrust it forward. He didn't speak any word. The water responded to his movement rising sharply in a wall and then hurtling forward. Rui extended two fingers and jabbed further.

The water responded by assuming the shape of a spike and speeding towards a wall impacting with terrific force leaving a gaping hole as it fell into the snow and ice on that particular side of the field. It was amazing what enchantments this place had to create a place such as this for grueling training regimes. He almost liked it but, he wasn't going to let that deter him as he quickly spun where he stood and made a shopping motion with his palm flat and parallel to the surface of the water. A sharp arching wave formed and crashed into one of the sides as Rui can could be satisfied. The water rippling and the smaller ice platforms shifting constantly. This was truly a place where a battle could be waged.

But, would someone just randomly challenge him? He noticed that several were watching Rui in awe as he stood on the water's surface so easily and didn't even look like he was expending energy. Deeper in the water though underwater and moving so freely Saeri was lurking. She was watching and immersing herself in the water the residual magic in the water to keep it icy cold and the ice solid making her sigh with contentment. It was much like her home plane and she did not mind. The water around Rui agitated sending smaller ripples as some of it turned into a misting steam yet it was not hot but, bitter cold like the water as Rui absorbed the released energy. He was waiting. What he was waiting for he didn't know.

[Price]

As usual, Price was taking his daily constitutional through the training grounds. While for most people, a constitutional would consist of a simple jog, maybe a few laps around a track, or basic calisthenics, Price, as could be expected, was of a whole different calibre.

For Richard Price, a constitutional meant he ran to the training grounds, partook in some strenuous physical exercise, and then challenged someone on the grounds to a spar.

Today, as Price was jogging, a light sweat on his body, he was missing his jacket and shirt, wearing only a pair of loose black pants, with his sword strapped by a shoulder harness over his back. He began to feel a bit colder, and stopped a second to try and deduce as to why. Narrowing his eyes, he scrunched up his mouth a little and closed his eyes, focusing on the chi of the world, feeling where the more chilly flow of Chi was coming from.

"Interesting..." Price remarked under his breath, as he took off again towards the source of the frostiness.

It wasn't long before he found it. A playing field, of sorts, constructed almost entirely of ice, with a large pool of likely very cold water in between two large fields, with smaller icy islands amidst it. on one of the main fields was an Asian student, casually and almost off-handedly manipulating the water and ice about him.

Naturally, Price hated him on sight.

Who is this ass-clown? Must think his magic is just sooo good. Look at him trying to entertain these lackeys nearby with his little magic show. Gah, people like him make me sick, constantly undermining those of us who don't need magic to do battle.

"Hey!" Price called out to him, crawling up on to the opposite large field. "Waterboy! Your skills sure look pretty, but I'm willing to bet they couldn't do jack in a real fight. Of course, I'm willing to prove this to you, if you don't believe me."

Price smirked as he considered leaning against the back wall, but then, remembering his shirtless nature, decided against it. As it were, the boy was temperate enough to not be too bothered by this cold, as long as he kept his mind focused, but would rather keep that focus low and deal only with the air about him, rather than the even colder solid ice along his back.

[Rui Ming]

Rui paused sensing the focused chi of this individual long before he had made his entrance into these grounds. Someone else who understood the balance of the body and spirit. Rui shifted his attention to the watching areas above considering this was a bowl sort of arena. By bowl it meant that the contenders would be in a descended area while the onlookers got to oggle at it all. His hands were in his flowing robes his black hair falling against his shoulders for a moment. His eyes studied this man that came in with an air of arrogance and he didn't even make a sudden move at the name. Insults and counter-insults would get them nowhere. Rui was looking for something much more then a pissing game.

"You're welcome to try," Rui said formally as he walked towards the water and people murmured some even gasped as Rui was walking on the water something that is considered a feat to many but, this was merely a display. A display to challenge the man who had called him Waterboy.