Jakaul moved through his exercises, his staff whirling around. He was a soldier, plan and simple. His father had been one before him, before he'd died, and it was all he'd ever wanted to do. As he'd grown, others had said it would never happen, he was too kindhearted for it. He'd never listened to them, always practicing, doing his best to get better.

And he'd made it. He was, however, always being forced to prove himself, and his ability against those that were bigger and stronger than he was. He managed it, most of the time.

After awhile, Jakaul slowed to a stop, breathing heavily. Silently, his hand ran over his staff. It was an old thing, well worn and used often. His superior had urged him to get a new one, but it was the one thing he refused to do. It had belonged to his father, and it was still in well enough condition that it did not need to be replaced. This was the kind of staff a man could use his entire lifetime.

Taking a single deep breath he turned and headed for the wall, leaving the area open for someone else. He sat, closing his eyes and leaning against the wall.

Rikalu let out a growl. Her parents were making her to go and practice with her master, she was learning how to use dual weapons like them. She scoffed, despite her parents beign alive she wished that they were dead. Nothing she ever did was good enough it seemed, though she always told them she was well more than old enough to take care of herself.

They told her it was typical for a heiress to learn atleast the basics of fighting. She sighed, she'd rather much be off somewhere looking for new herbs to create potions. She preferred them over weapons. She had a special talent to make different kinds of potions that could heal, kill, poison, and many other things.

She switched into what was clothes used mostly for training,so she did not get her good ones dirty. She wasn't all that good with dual weapons, if anything she was better at using a scythe like her brother. Who, for a while now, had left to go off and find his own place.

She walked onto the training feild, where her instructor lead her. He showed her a few new stances and told her to practice them after she did her warm-ups and stretches. She started to do as he said. After a few minutes he left, having something to attend to and told her to just practice the same thing over.

Jakaul watched the people who trained, for awhile, though his eyes seemed to stop on a girl and her master, or whom he assumed to be such as he'd seen the man around before and he was generally regarded with high esteem. He pulled himself up when the man left, moving past him to leave; he received a nod in reply.

His eyes turned back to the girl as he returned to leaning against the wall, waiting to see what she would do. Throughout the time he'd seen her, she hadn't seemed overjoyed about being there.

Rikalu did each step, with what her master had always regarded, grace. Her more of a lean build allowed her to move more quickly than most. She finished her normal routine and started on the new ones that her master had showed her. Normally for most people the master would have to show them mulitple times for the student to learn. But she had a better memory than most which served her well in this area.

She sighed, going threw the new exercises once. She felt eyes on her and glanced over as she turned in that direction as she started again. She moved her eyes away once more, as she performed one of the more difficult moves. She messed up slightly on one part and ended up slicing her leg.

"Dammit..." she muttered as she wiped the blood off with a cloth she kept with her. It wasn't the first time she did this. Most everytime she would slice herself or something on way or anther when learning new things.

Jakaul watched her, slightly amazed at her movements. They were smooth and graceful. For a moment, he allowed himself to be lost, then he shook his head slightly, clearing it before returning to watching her.

He saw it an instant before it happened, her blade heading for her leg, but he had no time to yell out a warning. Quickly, he made his way across the field. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked. He knew that injuries left untreated could have serious outcomes. His mother had drilled that into him quite well when he was younger.

Rikalu looked up when she heard shouting. She looked back down at her wound, touching it. She let out a small hiss from the stingy pain, "Yes, I am alright." She said, wishing she had grabbed her potions bag. She had forgotten to get it on her way out, already being late for practice.

She tryed to stand, but felt down. "Ouch..." she said, inspecting it once again. It appeared to be deeper than most of the times she had been cut. The gash was deep, and she needed to hurry to her room for the bag. She knew ecatly which one she needed for this.

Jakaul quickly reached her side and knelt by her, letting out a low whistle as he looked the cut over. "That's quite a gash you've got there," he said. "Come on, I'll help you to the medic."

Carefully he shifted and wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her stand.

Rikalu blushed slightly as he did this, "No, it's quite alright, I shall not need a medic." She said as she looked up at him, "Just take me to my house, I have potions in my room I can heal this with. Better than any medics I know of to." she said, then told him the directions to her house, "Please if it wouldn't be any trouble for you to."

Jakaul gazed down at her a moment before shrugging with his free arm. "One destination's as good as the next, I suppose," he said finally with a half smile. "Just don't put too much pressure on that leg, and use me as your support. It should keep it from worsening until it can be taken care of."

Rikalu nodded, "Yes, I know. It's not like I haven't sliced myself before. I'm not a little kid." She said, glaring at him somewhat. She looked down at her leg and tryed to just put a little prssure on it. Her leg came right up as she let out a small hiss.

"It's no good, I won't be able to use it at all till it is healed. You're going to have to carry me I suppose, otherwise I am going no where." She said with a sigh.

Jakaul nodded his apology to her first statement, then watched as she attempted to put weight on her leg.

"Very well," he said, shifting slightly and bending over to place his other arm under her legs before standing, picking her up as he did so. His other arm shifted up to just under her shoulder blades so he'd have a better grip on her. He remained stationary a moment, getting used to the added weight, light as it seemed to be, and for her to get a better grip on him.

Rikalu nodded, slining one of her arms around his neck. She hooked her hands together, making herself more secure. She feared being dropped, though she doubted that he would drop her, "Alright, let's go. If you're ready."

She then looked down at her wound. Noticing a few drops of blood fall to the ground, "Dammit..."She muttered again. The peice of cloth she had used to try and stop the bleeding was already soaked with blood.

Jakaul followed her gaze to her leg and tightened his grip around her, beginning to walk at a fast pace in the direction she had told him her house was. That was a very bad wound. Some people blinked at them as they past, and several of his friends blinked in amazement when they saw him with Rikalu in his arms. However, none of them approached as they could tell he was in a hurry. Before long, they arrived, and Jakaul slowed waiting for the girl to tell him which one was hers.

Rikalu blinked, suprised at how quickly they had gotten there. She searched the houses, out of all of them hers stood out. She hoped he wouldn't freak out when he learned about who she was. "That one over there." She said, pointing to a very large building. It was almost like a castle, only a bit smaller. Her family had lived there for generations.

Jakaul blinked at the house a moment before he continued up to it. His eyes flickered down to the girl momentarily. She looked too young to be the lady of the house, which meant that ... she was their daughter, more than likely. Of course, it never paid to assume anything. His gaze shifted down to her leg, and his pace picked up once more. It needed attention, and soon.

Rikalu also glanced down at her leg, the cloth was coming loose from the weight of the blood. She kicked it off the rest of the way to where it hit the ground. She winced slightly, it still burned. She looked up once more as not to draw attention to her leg, they were almost there thankfully.

"Almost there," he murmured, more to himself than to her, really. Finally, though he made it to the door. "Would you mind doing the knocking?" he asked with a small smile. After all, his hands were kind of full.

Rikalu shook her head, smiling, "Np need, a maid is already coming." she said, when moments later the maid opened the door. Her eyes widened for a moment, but returned to normal moments later.

"Hell Miss Rikalu. May I help you."

"No, we just need to get in." The maid then moved out of the way. "Let's go." she said to Jakaul.

Jakaul blinked at the appearance of the maid but said nothing as Rikalu got them in. He nodded to the woman as he entered before waiting for further instructions. He glanced down at the girl ... well, lady, in his arms. "Where to?" he asked.

"The second floor and it will be the third door on the right." She sai pinting to the spiral staircase. She hated the formal way the servants and maids talked to her. It was the last hing she wanted, "And once we get there I'm going to need you to grab the dark brown leather bag hanging on the hook by my bed. It has the potions in it."

He nodded. "I can do that," he replied as he began to head up the stairs, careful not to bump her leg on anything.

He'd always hated stairs like this, they were fairly impractical and made carrying anything up and down them nearly impossible. Still, they were here, and he managed to get her up the stairs and to her door without any mishaps. Then, he waited for her to open it before turning and taking her in and over to the bed.

Gently, he placed her down and went to retrieve the potions bag.

Rikalu looked down at her leg, it seemed worse than she thought, "Thanks for your help. Sorry if I caused you any problems." She said as she reached into her drawer by her bed. She took out another peice of cloth and some water in order to clean it again.

"I don't believe I have even introduced myself, I'm Rikalu. And you are?"

Jakaul returned with the specified bag. "Jakaul," he replied as he handed it too her. And it wasn't a problem at all, my lady," he said. "My training was done for the day."

Which was the truth. He just had to report in another two hours.

Rikalu nodded, "Well, I see then... I was forced to go and practice dual weapons. And no need to say "my lady", I get enough of that from the maids. I don't really like the training, unless it's with my scythe. Though I prefer this." She said, talking about potions.

She took the bag and found the potion she was looking for. It was a silvery blue with a yellow tint. She grabbed another clean cloth and poored some of the potion onto it and rubbed it on the wound. Within a few minutes it had healed, "Well... that worked quicker than I thought." She muttered more to herself. She put the potion back into the bag and tested her leg. There was a slight soarness, but that alsways happened, "All better." she said wityh a satisfied nod.

"Impressive," he replied, eyes showing that he meant it. "Who's your teacher?"