Board Thread:Roleplay/@comment-27550231-20160726000337/@comment-28358106-20160818185619

It's the tenth time this session.

Aurum slowly picks herself up, her face contorted with a look Jorge is not used to seeing. Her training clothes are dirty and scuffed and somewhat more colorful, as the bright red and orange fall leaves stick to her capelet. She brushes them off, saying nothing, and steps over to retrieve her wooden sword.

She's sweating, her round, pert face flush, her breathing heavy. She's not fatigued, Jorge knows. Golems don't get fatigue from exertion, although they are programmed to mimic its physical effects. What Jorge recognizes are the signs of embarrassment and frustration.

Two weeks ago he had made an offhand comment about her footwork being lazy. He hadn't meant anything by it then, but he was now seeing that she felt differently. She had become quieter, more subdued. Hesitant, somehow. She wasn't her normal, outgoing self. She was still as courteous as ever, but during conversations where she was present, she stayed silent unless she was directly spoken to. She avoided looking him in the eye. And when Aabi was around, she was practically invisible...except when Jorge would catch her looking at Aabi. Not in a spiteful way, but almost in  wonder, as if she were studying her.

Finally, he asked Aegis about it. Aegis hadn't noticed anything different, except that Aurum seemed to have increased her solo practice sessions to several hours a day.

And now, as Aurum readied herself for their last engagement, he looked into the eyes of a girl who was trying her absolute hardest to the best of her abilities...and not improving one bit.