The Test of Time [Liltotto/Johann]

Tardiness was something he hardly got bothered by these days, at least when it wasn't a consistent problem. At least it gave him an opportunity to continue whatever he was reading, to sit in peace and collect his thoughts, or, in some instances, get some mild practice in.

Today was a case of the first option, as the old man had his eyes scanning and studying the pages of a linguistics book as he waited, occasionally glancing at his watch from time to time. Thankfully, however, Liltotto wasn't too late, and Johann could sense her constant bursts of energy across the city, feeling her energy signature coming closer.

Just as she entered, he calmly slid his bookmark into place, closing it and setting it aside as he stood. He smiled, shaking his head lightly. Judging from her appearance, she had made a mad dash to try and get here in any remote sense of punctuality. It didn't seem like an intentional blunder, not that he was going to punish her or anything.

"Not at all. Good morning, miss Lamperd."

He took a few steps away from where he had been seated, the gentle taps and clacks of his walking cane, doubling as his Spirit Weapon, echoed through the training arena.

"Ready whenever you are."

Just as she wished to gauge his abilities, he too wished to understand the abilities and capabilities of his fellow Vandenreich members, even if some of them were of origins that he had little ways to aid. As Liltotto manifested her Spirit Weapon, Johann simply gave her a light, confident smile as he subtly turned the handle of his cane to the left.

"Just as well for you, my dear. I may be an old man, but..."

As she suddenly blinked forward to close the distance, the shaft of his cane quickly shrank, its color shifting to a pale, ice-like blue as the rapier, Ullr Brands, manifested. He was quick to respond to her attack, a flurry of slashes and cuts, with simple, quick deflections reminiscent of fencing as he took a few small steps away. Blocking wasn't the aim, merely redirecting the force of her attacks.

"...That doesn't mean I can't tango with the rest of you youngsters!"

A comment that was more directed at the other members of the Vandenreich rather than Liltotto herself, yet still carried the confidence and pride of a man that, despite his older years, was far from helpless. He studied the flurry, keeping note of her attack pattern. He felt the splash of some kind of acid on his arm, melting through his sleeves and burning his skin.

He wasn't exactly pleased to see her immediately go with melee, but, she also was not exactly a Quincy. Taking a few extra steps backward to get some distance, Johann drew the rapier close to his chest, before tilting it forward and suddenly surging forward with a burst of speed, aiming a thrust at her dominant arm.

He could tell that she wanted to keep pressure on him, likely to break his guard and get a hit in. But, Johann's footwork and swordplay remained immaculate, his eyes sharp and focused as he readjusted himself, taking steps back as needed, deflecting and parrying when she attacked. His rapier, currently at least, wasn't suited for cutting and slashes as other weapons, instead playing to his strengths and experience as a fencer.

"Not bad, though your footwork could use some...well, some work. Put more pressure on your toes to give you more push when kicking off."

As she slammed her foot against the ground, Johann instinctively activated his Blut and leaped to the side, protecting against damage that may have been caused, while also minimalizing it. His Spirit Weapon shifted back to it's cane form, and as his attention shifted back to Liltotto, he saw the bow, as well as the arrow.

An approving smile came to the old man's face at the sight, and his cane switched to its Almsima form, far quicker than it had changed to the sword and back. Changing into a crossbow, Johann swiftly aimed it at Liltotto, and fired an icy arrow that sought to tear through her own, targeting her arm in return.

"Of course, my dear. There's always something new that you can learn. The world is ever-changing, after all."

Johann was hardly surprised to see her quick reactions, he expected nothing less of those he worked under. His weapon quickly shifted back to it's neutral form as the elder regained his footing after his dodge. Even for those at their ages, it was never a detriment to receive more advice, and there was always more to learn -- something that he was already painfully aware of.

So, as Liltotto vanished from view with the use of Steigen, Johann hoped that this was an additive to his piece of advice from before. As her body flickered back into view, the old man lifted his cane, grinning as she cut upward, using it to try and trap prevent her weapon from moving, keeping it from doing further damage to him.

Even if they were sparring, and he knew that she wasn't aiming to kill him, he certainly didn't plan on giving her the attack freely. While Liltotto could easily pull the weapon away, Johann wasn't going to make it that simple. Twisting his wrists and cane, he promptly forced the weapon to the side in attempt to keep her posture open as he thrust his cane out with a quick, startling, but ultimately harmless jab.

"Very good! Techniques such as those are important when you don't have the space or time to build up momentum!"

Johann noted the disappearance of the weapon and sidestep of his retaliation, but he was quick to adjust himself. He brought the cane back, Ullr Brands emerging once again as he brought the sword to his chest.

He took a step backward, giving himself some breathing room as the weapon began and finished its transformation. As it did, he held it out in front of him, holding the stance of a fencer.

His footwork was balanced expertly, ready to lean to a defensive retreat or a pressuring offense at a moment's notice. Seeing her open , Johann took a step forward, reaching forward with a powerful lunging thrust at Liltotto's open chest.

It left him open to Liltotto's unorthodox retaliation, not allowing him to recover properly, and leaving his sword arm doused in the acidic water. The arm of his uniform was eaten away, as well as some mild injuries on the flesh itself.

Returning to the en guarde position, paying no mind to his injuries, the old man smirked.

"Not bad. A clever idea to use the most of a limited space, and can better ensure that you hit the target."