Stick 'em with the pointy end

If Artorias had been told as a pup that he would one day be the Aegis of the Hallows and an accomplished weapons instructor, he would have laughed his head off in disbelief. Now, as the Carpathian brute was training with his wife out on the shimmering sands of the Austral coast, he couldn't remember a time when he hadn't enjoyed teaching. Whether it was their children with their basics or practicing new weapons with his mate, Artorias lived for that a-ha moment he saw in all of his students' eyes as they learned new skills and tricks and refined their techniques. Teaching Briar was no exception—if anything, it was twice as fun for the added company! He loved doing things with his Queen, from the mundane routine chores to the special occasion activities and everything in between. So watching her as she learned this new skill with him brought out that proud teacher moment in the Aegis.

Step by step, Artorias watched as Briar began to smoothen out her movements, growing more confident and sure in her footing and her pacing. What started as clumsy attempts meant to feel out the basic action gradually grew to a more natural movement. Briar's fluidity increased, and soon the dire brute was watching his gorgeous mate take precise slashes and stabs at the training dummy. Behind him, Art's tail began to wag with delight, the corners of his lips curling up into a proud grin from around the hilt of his dagger. When Briar eventually stopped and looked back at him for her evaluation, Artorias simply closed the distance between them and nuzzled the side of her head with his own, careful to make sure he avoided Briar's dagger while pointing his own safely away too. "You're a natural, my love!" he praised her, stepping back a pace to regard her with his warm gaze. "You've got the basics of movement and simple attacks down pat. How about you pick your next lesson? Would you like to learn defensive stances with your blade or would you like to put these moves into practice with a spar?" Artorias would let Briar decide what she felt she'd gain the most from: another set of moves for her beginner repertoire or some live practice with the ones she'd just learned.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"