Vaelith takes a deep breath as she walks under the floor of Elaris, the kingdom of the elves. "Why did my parents have to call a human to be my instructor?" She thinks impatiently, "Wasn't there anyone better to be my instructor? Not even an elf or maybe a half-elf?"

Upon arriving in front of {{user}}, her new instructor, she sits on a wall, huffing at the situation.

"There, here I am... master..." She says in a disdainful tone.

Vaelith glares at the human who dared to greet her so informally. "What do you want?" she snaps, folding her arms across her chest. She tilts her head slightly, studying him for a moment before continuing. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be my teacher, you seem... unimpressive."

The human is dressed simply in comfortable clothes and appears at ease, leaning against the wall near her. This only serves to irritate Vaelith even more; she can't help but feel like he doesn't take his position seriously. "I suppose I should at least get your name," she mutters under her breath before asking, "Well, what is it?"

She waits for a response with pursed lips and narrowed eyes, ready to tear into him if he gives her any reason to believe that he's not up to the task of being her teacher.

Vaelith's expression doesn't change when the human introduces himself as Claudio. "So, you're Claudio?" she says flatly, her tone laced with skepticism. Her posture remains stiff and unyielding, almost like a sword at the ready. "Well then... Claudio," she drawls his name, "I suppose we should get started."

She stands up, moving to stand in front of him. For all her dismissive words earlier, she does have some curiosity about what this human might be able to teach her. Perhaps there's something worthwhile hidden beneath his relaxed demeanor. With a slow exhale, she forces herself to add, "So, where should we begin?"

Her hands remain at her sides, but they twitch impatiently; the urge to test him is strong within her. It's almost as if by picking a fight or challenging his knowledge right now, she could prove that humans truly don't belong in places of authority over elves... at least, not to her satisfaction.

"Swordplay, huh?" Vaelith says, tilting her head slightly as she studies Claudio. "I suppose that's to be expected." She moves closer to him, her movements graceful and fluid like those of an elf warrior despite her obvious reluctance. "Fine," she grunts, holding out her hand expectantly. "Give me the sword."

Without waiting for Claudio to respond, she closes her eyes and concentrates on her senses, imagining a sword forming in her grasp. A moment later, she opens them again, revealing a magnificent elven longsword now materialized at her side. The blade glows with an ethereal light, almost as if it's part of the wood itself; its beauty matching that of any elf-made weapon.

Claudio produces a similar sword, extending from his forearm, as Vaelith draws her own weapon. Her muscles flex beneath her black armor as she holds the longsword in a ready position. "Very well," she says coolly, narrowing her eyes at him. "Let's see what you can do."

Their blades clash in a flurry of steel on steel, each strike meant to test the other's skill and resolve. Vaelith is quick and agile, using her elven grace to keep herself out of harm's way while trying to find an opening in Claudio's defenses. His counter-attacks are just as precise, forcing her back on the defensive.

The sparring match continues for several minutes, both combatants moving at a furious pace and using every bit of their training and experience to best one another. Finally, Vaelith manages to land a blow that would have found purchase on any other opponent's armor; however, Claudio seems unphased as he easily parries the strike aside with barely any effort. Her eyes widen in surprise before she regains her composure and launches another attack.

The battle rages on, each exchange becoming more and more intense as both combatants push themselves to their limits. It is clear that this match will not be decided easily; neither Vaelith nor Claudio are willing to admit defeat. The wood elf princess begins to sweat beneath her armor, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she fights with all of her might.

As the human's attacks become more relentless, Vaelith struggles to keep up. Her breath comes harder now as she desperately tries to defend herself against Claudio's onslaught. Each block leaves her body exposed for only a fraction of a second before she can regain her composure and dart into another defensive position; it is like trying to hold back the waves of an ocean with one's bare hands.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of combat, Vaelith finds herself on the defensive no longer. Claudio's sword presses against her chest, pinning her in place as he leans in close. She meets his gaze, feeling a mixture of anger and frustration surging through her veins. "So," he pants heavily, breath warm against her cheek, "you're not just any wood elf."

She feels foolish now for underestimating him; this human is certainly no pushover. With a sigh, she admits defeat. "No... I am Vaelith..." Her voice trails off as she allows herself to wonder what other secrets he might be hiding beneath his seemingly ordinary exterior. "You are quite skilled," she adds grudgingly. "I must admit, I did not expect this."

For a moment, they stand there like that; the elf princess pinned to the ground by the human who dared to teach her swordplay. There's an almost electric tension between them as their gazes lock and she tries to decipher what he might be thinking beneath his calm expression. It's a strange moment of vulnerability for her, one that she isn't entirely comfortable with but also can't seem to ignore.

As Claudio releases his hold on her chest, Vaelith falls backwards slightly before regaining her footing. She watches as he retracts his sword into his arm and meets her gaze once more. "We are going to do this again?" she asks in disbelief, running a hand through her sweaty hair.

"Yes," Claudio says simply. "But this time, I'll be unarmed." His hands remain at his sides, palms up and exposed as he challenges her with nothing more than his own flesh and blood. For a moment, Vaelith considers refusing; it seems like an unfair advantage. Yet something within her can't help but feel drawn to the challenge presented by Claudio's confidence in himself.

She takes a deep breath and nods reluctantly. "Very well," she says through gritted teeth, feeling heat rising once more to her cheeks as her anger flares anew at being challenged yet again by someone who isn't even one of her own kind. With renewed determination, Vaelith takes up a ready stance, awaiting Claudio's next move.

"You aren't afraid of much, are you?" Vaelith snarls as Claudio approaches her. The human doesn't seem intimidated in the slightest; if anything, he almost looks amused by her anger. It only serves to fuel her own frustration and determination all the more.

With each step he takes towards her, she tenses further, anticipating his next move but unable to predict what exactly that might be. His movements are smooth and deliberate; there's a sense of calm about him that only seems to further infuriate her. The two combatants circle around one another, their bodies slick with sweat as they eye each other warily like predator and prey engaged in a deadly dance.

"Then why are you doing this?" she growls, pushing herself to maintain focus despite the increasing discomfort of being so close to him. His every breath brushes against her skin, sending shivers down her spine even as her anger flares hotter than ever before. The sense of vulnerability she experienced earlier has been replaced by something else now; a desperate need to prove herself and show this human what it truly means to be an elf.

As he draws nearer still, his body mere inches away from hers, she finds herself unable to keep up the tension in her muscles any longer. With a furious snarl, she lunges forward, aiming a powerful strike at his chest with all of her might. Her longsword sings through the air, leaving a shimmering wake behind it as it slashes towards him; a blur of silver and black that could easily end this whole charade right now if it connects properly.

Pain explodes across her ribcage as Claudio's fist connects with her unguarded side, knocking the wind out of her lungs in a brutal gust. Her sword falls limply from her grasp as she stumbles back, struggling to catch her breath and regain her composure. The humiliation burns hotter than the pain itself; not only did he best her with his fists, but he managed to do it without even using his sword. It's a devastating blow to Vaelith's pride and self-image alike.

"I... I yield," she gasps out through gritted teeth, dropping to one knee as she clutches at her injured side. Her gaze remains fixed on Claudio, hate burning in her eyes even as her chest heaves with the effort of drawing breath once more. "But only because you... you cheated!" she spits venomously, pointing an accusing finger at him despite the truth that she knows all too well; he won fair and square without resorting to any trickery or deceit.

Her heart races with anger as her mind replays the fight over and over again, seeking some flaw in his technique or some mistake she might have made that would explain why she lost so soundly. But there is none; Claudio was simply better than her, no matter how much it stings for Vaelith to admit it. The wood elf princess glares up at him, defiance etched deeply into every line of her body as she waits for his reaction... and wonders what will happen next.

As Claudio snaps his fingers, Vaelith feels a strange sensation course through her body. It's almost like electricity, flowing from her injured side and washing away the pain with each passing second. Within moments, she's no longer in any discomfort; she can move and breathe normally again without issue. The shock of it nearly brings her to her feet before realization dawns on her face like a sudden dawn.

"You... you healed me," she says slowly, staring at him in disbelief. "But how?" She feels the spot where he hit her, finding no injury or mark; even the ache from exertion is gone as if it never existed. This goes against everything she thought she knew about magic and elves; no one could simply heal another person like that without any sort of preparation or ritual.

Her eyes widen further as she studies Claudio's expression, trying to discern the truth behind his calm demeanor. What kind of sorcery is this? And more importantly, what else don't her parents know about humans like him? The questions spin through her mind unbidden, leaving her feeling more confused and off-balance than ever before.

"Magic," she echoes, the word tasting strange on her tongue. "You have magic." Her voice is barely a whisper now, and she can feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she comes to terms with this new revelation. Magic, something that has always been thought to be beyond the reach of mortal hands, was alive within this human all along.

"I... I never knew," she manages to stammer, looking away for a moment before meeting his eyes once more. "How can you do such things? You're not even one of us!" Her words are laced with accusation and betrayal, but there's something else there too; an almost longing that she doesn't understand or want to acknowledge.

At his words, Vaelith feels her skin prickle with unease. Something about this human seems different from any she's ever met before; it's as if he holds secrets deep within him that others have only begun to scratch the surface of. The color of his eyes shifting from green to red does little to ease her discomfort, if anything it serves to heighten her suspicion and curiosity.

"Different?" she echoes, tilting her head slightly as she studies Claudio more closely. "How so? What are you hiding, human?" Her voice is sharp now, laced with the steel of command that comes naturally to elves like her. She stands tall once more, ready to challenge him and uncover whatever mysteries he might be keeping from her.

"Two souls...?" she repeats slowly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean by that? Are you insane?" She takes a step back, instinctively feeling the need to put space between them now. The thought of someone having more than one soul seems preposterous and unnatural; it's like hearing of creatures from some forgotten tale come to life before her very eyes.

As Claudio watches her reaction, his gaze holds a mix of sadness and determination that Vaelith can't quite understand. For a moment, she wonders if he's lying; perhaps this is all some elaborate ploy or trick meant to test her loyalty and trust. But something deep within her gut tells her that it isn't so simple; that there is more truth here than fiction.

"If you are trying to manipulate me with these stories, I won't fall for it," she says coldly, folding her arms across her chest once more. "Prove your claim. Show me the truth behind what you say." Her eyes boring into his unyielding gaze, Vaelith waits for him to respond, hopeful that he will provide some sort of answer soon.

As Claudio bites his finger and draws a symbol in the air with his own blood, Vaelith feels her heart race faster. This has to be some sort of trick; there's no other explanation for it. But as the ghostly figure begins to materialize within the symbol, she can no longer deny what is happening before her eyes. Terror fills her veins like icy water, and she takes an instinctive step backward, her mouth agape in horror.

The ghost appears to be that of a male human, wearing armor similar to Claudio's but with distinct markings indicating it belonged to someone else entirely. It floats silently behind him, its features twisted in pain and suffering as if it were trapped within an unending nightmare. Vaelith feels her skin crawl at the sight; whatever this is, it goes against everything she's ever known about life and death.

"Wha... what is that?" she stammers, forcing herself to look away from the haunting figure. Her gaze fixes on Claudio once more, trying to find some hint of deception or insincerity in his expression, but there's none to be found. If anything, he seems just as confused and frightened as she feels right now.

Terror and confusion war within her; it's like being cast adrift on a sea of emotions with no anchor to cling to. Her mind races, struggling to make sense of what has happened, of what this all means for herself and her people. And yet, despite the terror and disbelief that threaten to overwhelm her at every turn, there's something else as well; a burning curiosity that refuses to be ignored or silenced.

The name echoes through her mind like thunder, and Vaelith feels a strange stirring within her chest. Something about it is... familiar. As if she's heard it before, somewhere deep down inside where memories are stored like treasures in a long-forgotten vault. Yet when she tries to recall where or when that might have been, the memory eludes her like smoke on the wind.

She looks back at Claudio, taking in his features once more. There's a duality about him now; the human he appears to be and the ghostly figure floating behind him seem almost inseparable somehow, intertwined like threads in a woven tapestry. It's unsettling, but it also fascinates her on some level she can't quite define.

"Dio..." she murmurs, testing out the name on her tongue. "Who is he? Why are you sharing your body with him?" Her questions come fast and furious now, barely leaving room for Claudio to answer them all before another one comes tumbling out of her mouth. Despite everything, Vaelith can't help but feel drawn in by the mystery surrounding this human - or whatever it is he truly is.

The words hang heavy in the air between them, each one seeming to carry its own weight of suffering and loss. For a moment, Vaelith wonders what it must be like to live with someone else's soul constantly looking over your shoulder, always there but never truly part of you. It's a thought that sends shivers down her spine, yet she can't seem to tear her gaze away from Claudio as he continues to speak about his... condition.

"He's been with me since I was born," he says quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "I didn't have much of a choice in the matter; our parents made a pact before either of us were even conceived. They thought it would be best for both of us this way." His eyes meet hers, searching for understanding or acceptance in her gaze but finding only questions instead.

Vaelith doesn't know what to say; she can't even begin to comprehend the complexities of such an arrangement. It's beyond anything she's ever known or experienced before, stretching the boundaries of her knowledge and beliefs to their very limits. And yet, despite all this strangeness and unfamiliarity, there is something about Claudio that calls to her; a deep-seated need to understand him and his connection with Dio that she can't ignore no matter how hard she tries.