#🌷ᴸᵃᵛᵉⁿᵈᵉʳ ᵇᵉᵍᵉᵗˢ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵍᵉⁿᵗˡᵉ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ. - Julia

[fjalarspark]

piggy back! :D

🔥⊰⊰⊰ ―― [AU-ish; in the past]

Knelt atop his knee, Azelle awaited the blunt thud against his back, standing swiftly and sweeping his little niece up and off the ground once her small arms clasped around his throat. He hoisted her up, standing, but he wasn't much taller than little Julia herself― he wasn't built strong and well, simply small and lithe, and physical prowess wasn't his forte. But, her joyous, singsong giggles were plenty enough to urge him onward, to entertain her young little heart. Azelle even found himself giggling.

Together, they ventured the walls of Belhalla’s palace, the crooks of his elbows securely tucked under Julia’s knees to keep her in place. There was a fun little pep to his step, chiming more joyous giggles from his little niece. Azelle couldn’t help the soft smile that found his face, though his face was tinted pink. Where were they off to? Perhaps the library? The gardens? Where might they dare to venture henceforth?

Azelle hummed to himself a small sound, hoping to warn Julia that was going to speak; she seemed to be dozing off, and he didn’t dare to startle her. 

“Where might we be off to, little princess?”

[fjalarspark]

Survival of the Fittest

You better not be exhausted of war games just yet! Your survival professor has thrown a surprise test at the lot of you, and it’s worth a good chunk of your final grade to boot. One of you must head into the Sealed Forest and survive through the night, with only a small pouch of tools and a weapon to aid you. There is a twist: one of your classmates will be playing the role of an assassin from the enemy army, hunting you down. [ Grants Bow + 1 ]

🔥⊰⊰⊰ ――

                   Heart racing, thoughts askew, Azelle fiddled with the bow in his hands; it wasn’t his weapon of choice, and he’d been robbed of his tomes and precious volumes. He couldn’t rely on the sweet, familiar course of magic through his veins, and he couldn’t fathom another way to survive; he was hopeless. But, if he’d survived in Grannvale, the Sealed Forest surely did not compare...right? He wasn’t entirely certain, but his resolve was hardened, and determination settled upon his face both awkwardly and readily; he would survive, he had to. But, he also didn’t think that the academy would allow him to die under their supervision, so the worst he’d receive was a grade that made him sick to his stomach. Onward!

                   An awkward hold on his bow, his mind distracted by the swaying pouch of various utilities at his hip, finger strumming the bowstring as though it were an instrument, Azelle kept himself low to the ground, cast under shadows, hidden as well as he could make himself. Stealth wasn’t his forte, being invisible was, but not stealth, not when he was alone...When he was hopefully alone. Creatures surely prowled in the night, beasts and monsters, ready to ravage what flesh they could catch in their maws. Azelle swallowed thickly, heaving in a breath that was meant to calm him, but it held no value; he was as nervous as ever. 

                   Unsteady on his feet now, Azelle relented to sitting back against one of the many trees that he couldn’t climb. If only he’d been more agile, more athletic, he’d be less threatened on the ground, a bird shot down. He relied on distance during battles, casting spell after spell which never truly required any serious physical strength...Could he even nock an arrow into place? He sighed, head swaying in a shake. Just a few long hours and he’d be back in his dorm, dreaming away the Sealed Forest’s terrors...A few, long hours.

@nagargent