Paradox looked at the beads and held them delicately in her fingers. "Thank you Sirona," she said again. They were simple but beautiful in their message and simplicity. She returned the slight bow to the angel.  She gave a smile as she saw how comfortable her friend was with her new role. She was happy to see that she'd found her place at last. She'd been searching for a long time to find where she belonged, and it seemed that here was the place that needed her most. It was nice to see her in her element, and not still seeking it. She had grown a lot in their time apart. 

She straightened upright and flicked her ear lazily to the side as they continued walking through the palace. The angel took her to one of the side doors on the edge of the large room and they quickly found themselves outside once more. Near them was a large building, built very close to the main part of the cathedral. Sirona called it the Mafunzo, the training area. She found it quite interesting that the clergy practiced combat, considering their preaching of goodness and light. However, she understood that some battles were hard-won and needed to be fought so that the light could be brought forth to others. It was a paradox in and of itself, preaching peace and yet still training to fight because peace is difficult to obtain without itself inciting violence.

She stopped a moment and craned her neck up to read the words above the door frame of the Mafunzo. Lit from within the structure were the words, no mercy for the wicked, which was something she also felt the need to question but didn't. There were reasons one became wicked and corrupt, and sometimes mercy and forgiveness were needed to remedy that cause. Though some wicked people were unable to be saved, despite the best of efforts made for their character. It was sad in a way, but she was able to understand the thinking behind the phrase. Sirona had definitely grown and changed some since they last met. 

As they walked into the building, she felt the ground beneath her change to smooth sand as they went through the building. She heard the clacking of sticks and turned her ears, then head, in the direction of the sounds. Two young men were busy sparring on one of the sand mats on the other side of the building, from their clothing, she could tell they were part of Sirona's staff. She dipped her head slightly to hear Sirona better as she spoke. She returned the young angel's mischievous smile and nodded. "I'd be honored to spar with the new Goddess if you'll let me."

She walked to the edge of the arena and unstrapped her saddlebags and other belongings. It felt strange being free of her burdens, though light as they were, she still felt almost naked without them. She wouldn't use her bardiche for this practice, instead selecting a large wooden staff from the selection of weapons on the wall. She quickly plaited her mane and tail, the feeling of a sparring practice bringing her back to her youth. The young in the herd were taught how to defend themselves from an early age. Bears, cougars, wolves, and other such large beasts would more than happily prey on an unsuspecting foal if given the opportunity. With her tail and mane braided and tied out of the way, she made her way with the staff towards one of the square sections of sand. She held her staff in both hands defensively, similar to how she'd hold her bardiche. "Whenever you're ready, Sirona," she said eagerly.

Sirona smiled back to Paradox again. ”It would be my pleasure.” She replied to the request of a spar, she had no issues with such an idea. Let alone a friendly spar with a friend like Paradox. She watched as Paradox dropped her belongings and picked a staff from the rack of weapons close by. Sirona stepped into the sparring ring on the other side, and taking a cue from Paradox, also picked up a quarterstaff for use in this spar. ”I’m most proficient in using a sword and shield, but it’s nice to try and learn new weapons when I can.” Sirona spoke as she released the clasps keeping her sword and shield attached to her side and settled them on the ground.

Curious she watched Paradox take care of her hair and mane while she readied herself. Sirona gave the staff a spin around to test the balance of it as her own instructor had shown her how to do. As she had said her experience was with a sword and shield, but in her new position Sirona figured it best she became better versed in other weapons just in case.

Tucking her wings in as tight as she could against her armoured back Sirona nodded to Paradox’s words of starting when she was ready. Sirona took two quick hopping steps forward and jabbed out with the staff before catching it part way through that attack in a feint and instead shifting her weight and the staff it around in an attempt to his Paradox in the left side. Sirona was making sure that she wasn’t using any of her new power in this spar either, no, this was Sirona as if she was mortal still, she didn’t want that unfair advantage over Paradox for this.

Paradox held her staff with both hands in front of her defensively as Sirona approached her. She quickly moved forward, thrusting her staff towards her chest and torso, before changing it's course and coming into the side. She saw the movement and reacted accordingly, shifting her weight back onto her haunches into a levade. She tucked her forelegs up to her belly in the controlled half-rear and felt the staff flash just beneath her. Had she not moved, the staff would have hit squarely into her flank. If it was a sword, it would have mangled her ribs quite nicely, severing muscle in her shoulder and essentially rendering her foreleg useless.

She spun on her hindquarters to the side and trotted lightly in a side pass to the young angel, her tail raised high out of harm's way. She was careful not to expose the long sides of her body, instead of keeping her front-facing her directly. One of the handicaps of her kind were their long equine bodies. Though strong and powerful, they were rather difficult to protect the middle and back end from attack. Considering this was a mock fight, she wouldn't use her hooves and take advantage over Sirona in that way, she had no intention of actually hurting her sparring partner. Moving to the side, she took a low swipe down for her lower legs and then curving up before continuing the arc around and going for her shoulder. 

She shifted her weight to her hindquarters and rolled back to her previous direction so that she could attack from the other side. She attempted a thrust towards Sirona's torso and there was a sharp clacking of the wood as they made contact with each other as her attack was parried. She couldn't help but smile as she sparred with her companion. "I hope you're not taking it easy on me," she grinned as their staffs collided again. "It's been a while since I've had a good challenge. " She leaped towards the angel and then sprang back to the side. 

Paradox dodged her attacks far more gracefully than Sirona would have assumed given Paradox’s hindquarters being what they were. But that was a bit of prejudice left in Sirona before she started to learn more about the world outside of the Monastery where she had woken up many years before. Though now she knew how she came to be in these lands, her brother banishing her, she had less to look for in that respect. Instead turning her full attention to the world she was now in and learning more about the races that lived therein.

Sirona in turn blocked the strikes from Paradox and smiled at the centaur’s words. ”I am not, I’m only holding back my powers as a Goddess, not my skill.” Sirona replied as she stepped back away from Paradox only to have her leap forward making Sirona come up for a block only for Paradox to then jump back again but to one side.

Sirona twitched when she felt Paradox’s staff catch her in the shoulder, but Sirona was wearing her armour and that took most of the impact. Sirona moved with the impact in the same direction that it had hit her, dropped into a roll to get under anything else while swinging out to hit Paradox’s in the upper leg. She wanted a challenge, Sirona would give her one, without trying to hurt Paradox either.

Paradox saw the young angel roll swiftly away from her, using the energy from the receiving blow to give her momentum. She had just enough time to see her pass beneath her, but no time to react as she felt Sirona's staff across her upper leg on the inside. She was careful to remain still until the angel popped up and was on her feet again. She had no intention of stepping on the young Goddess by accident, even without shoes a misstep could easily bruise or fracture a bone in almost any limb. She wasn't exactly what one would call a lightweight. Were this an actual fight, she'd be up prancing around like a small child squishing a spider, with no qualms to who or what she was squishing with her hard hooves and massive frame. It was rather crude but effective.  

Once Sirona was again standing upright, she twisted her body to better see her opponent. Seeing how she was now near her exposed unprotected haunches, she leaned her human half almost entirely onto her equine back, her head almost resting on the beginning of her tail, as she parried the blows towards her flanks and rump. Her kind, though clumsy at times, were very flexible, especially through the spine in their upper half.  They were able to contort themselves to see the underside of all four feet if need be to check for stones or other objects caught in the hoof. Some of the most flexible could twist their upper halves and rests their chests and chins on their rumps. The sight of which was intriguing, and yet somewhat nauseating to watch.

Still lying on her haunches, her staff up defensively, she turned quickly on her forehand to spin her undefensive flanks and haunches away from the attack. Should the hind muscles be damaged in a real fight, she would be in quite a jam. The hindlegs and the heavy muscling there was her main source of power, just as with horses. If the engine was damaged, she would surely flounder for the remainder of the quarrel. She popped back upright when they were safely out of Sirona's range and continued in an upright position. She jumped lightly back and forth, using her front legs like springs to increase the speed of the movement, eventually falling back to the edge of the ring. She began a slow easy canter along the edge, dipping into the center to spar with the young angel from any direction.

 She came up next to her on the side and started a pirouette with Sirona in the center. Spinning around her companion, she used her staff to take blows towards her legs, upper arms, and torso. She would brush her flanks lightly against her as well in a half-hearted attempt to throw her off balance a little as well, between her combined weight and circular movement. She smiled at Sirona, enjoying the feeling of her muscles working hard beneath her as well as having great contentment with her present company. She stopped and locked staffs with the angel for a moment before continuing. 

Sirona was surprised at how flexible Paradox proved to be as she leaned her human upper body over top of her lower equine body. She blocked Sirona’s attacks from that position and then moved away from Sirona’s reach in a few quick steps. Sirona watched Paradox for a moment as the centaur got herself upright again as she cantered around the ring. Sirona grinned as she came in and out to attack Sirona who blocked what she could and slipped aside what she couldn’t.

Arms, legs and torso shots were blocked, but Paradox had more experience with the staff weapon and that was clear. When Paradox started to use her flanks to nudge Sirona to try and get the angel off balance Sirona grinned and started to flap her wings some more to counter what Paradox was doing. Plus more movement meant more stuff for Paradox to keep track of as well.

They locked staffs again for a moment and Sirona’s bright blue eyes were almost glowing from light within and without. They broke away from each other again and Sirona moved in close again quickly, swinging her staff around. However Paradox made some maneuver that Sirona hadn’t expected and the next thing Sirona knew the staff was getting pried from her hands and went clattering to the ground a few yards away.

Sirona blinked, grinned and raised her hands. ”I yield.” She said and looked to Paradox with the same warm smile. ”Well fought, my friend.” Sirona bowed to Paradox in respect.

Paradox locked staffs with Sirona, staring at her eagerly through the two poles, before suddenly grabbing Sirona's staff with her hand and twisting it over her own pole. The wooden staff went spinning overhead and clattered noisily to the floor a short distance away. She planted her own staff firmly into the ground by her front hoof and smiled as Sirona yielded and bowed in defeat. "It was a hard-won victory," she said standing proudly. "Excellent opponents are often hard to come by and dare I say you are one of the best I have come across." 

She strode over across the ring and picked up Sirona's staff. She then carefully placed the staffs back on the rack for the next individuals to use. She turned around and caught up with Sirona. "Sparring does work up an appetite," she said as she walked next to her. She fiddled with undoing her mane as she walked and section by section of hair soon came free as she made her way down her back. She would untie her tail later. For now, she didn't mind having it up and it kept it from getting accidentally slammed in a door or tangled in something. 

"We were taught how to protect ourselves with staffs and branches from a very young age," she said as they walked along. "The Herd Mother and Fathers wanted to make sure the Children were always able to protect themselves if they were attacked by wolves or bears or hunters. A lot of things would think a young centaur would be a nice meal. When we're older, they teach us how to use swords and bows. I was never good at the bows, but I got the hang of swords rather quickly." She was quiet as she reminisced about home. It'd been quite a while since she'd ventured back to the highlands where she was from.

She'd been in the civilized world, man's world, for so long, she'd probably be quite saddened to see her herd in a new light. They were primitive yes, but also ignorant in their ways of shunning others that weren't of their kind and quickly dismissing new ideas. They were very hesitant to try new things, sticking instead with tried and true methods of how to get things done, even if they were rather antiquated. She was one of the few that sought to discover things outside of the woods. She was probably the only one to have ever stepped foot in a house, read a book, or walked confidently down a street full of people without fear or resentment. She glanced at Sirona and asked, "what would you like to do now?" 

”You are too kind, with the staff I am not at your level, Paradox.” Sirona replied with a smile as they walked together again. ”Your people train well then, Paradox, I mist say.” Sirona complimented. ”If you wish to get more training with a bow we do have a few experts in the Clergy who would be happy to help.” Sirona offered, knowing exactly who she’d pick if Paradox liked that idea.

”You mentioned sparring can work up an appetite, I agree, shall we go and get something to eat perhaps?” Sirona didn’t need to eat anymore, but she still enjoyed it anyway. As they walked towards the dining hall Sirona spoke. ”Since we last spoke I have learned more of my past. I was in a tight spot at one point, wounded, unable to fly and disarmed, chased by bandits. I used a spell I didn’t know I had in that desperation; this was before I ascended to. I ended up forcibly summoning my own older brother from world that I am from, named Gabriel. He’s an archangel, we aren’t related by blood though. Turns out, he isn’t the only sibling I have in these lands, two older sisters are wondering around as well, one’s nice the other… well, she’s a bit… Uriel has a temper and an attitude that doesn’t suit this place well. Arti is the nice one, but she’s different in her own.” She didn’t mind explaining this to a close friend like Paradox.

”Turns out I am from another world, though I kind of guessed as much years ago. I came to these lands because Gabriel banished me from our home, he called it Heaven I was asking to many questions as to why another older brother, oh I should add I am the youngest and all the older ones are archangels, where as I am a normal angel, well, was normal. Anyway, he banished me because he didn’t like the questions I was asking, but he was so angry with me that he used too much power. It’s why when I woke up here I had little memory of my past. Uriel just hates me because I don’t follow Gabriel around like a trained puppy like she does.” Sirona sighed, she wanted to get along with her family, and she did like Arti, but Gabriel and Uriel made it really hard to want to see either of them.

Paradox and Sirona arrived in the dining hall and Sirona smiled. ”They’ll cook up anything you like, Paradox, just ask.”

Paradox chuckled as she walked beside Sirona. "You are far too complimentary," she said with a smile. "You held up well I thought. Considering a staff is not your weapon of choice and against a considerably larger opponent, I thought you did quite well. You need to give yourself more credit. As for a bow, I'm content to keep my loyalty to the staff and blade for now, but should I change my mind. I will gladly let you know. I'm sure you have many members here that are experts in their fields." She nodded at the mentioning of food and followed Sirona towards the dining hall.

Her ears perked forward in interest as Sirona began to discuss what she had been up to since they had last parted ways. It had seemed she had discovered a family of sorts that she wasn't aware of previously. She was sure it was a relief to her to know that she wasn't in this world completely alone. One brother and two sisters, Gabriel, Arti, and Uriel. The names were faintly familiar, likely something she'd heard in passing but hadn't paid close enough attention to investing any serious interest. She concentrated harder as Sirona became more in-depth in her discoveries. 

Heaven, that was a place she had heard of before. People talked about it sometimes and it was occasionally mentioned in literature. Something like an afterlife, a place of eternal peace and sanctuary for where one went to under certain circumstances after their bodies died. It was a place for spirits and souls and nothing of the flesh, at least that's what she'd heard, she hadn't visited the place personally. Her time would come to see it herself, but for now, she had no immediate rush. She listened as she talked more about herself and other angels. It saddened her to learn that they didn't get along.

She missed her family sometimes. All of her Sisters and Brothers and Mothers and Fathers, but she knew they didn't always get along the best either. Especially the younger males and the older Fathers, like horses, sometimes the younger males would be driven off to go start their own herds instead of being allowed to stay. But they would always remain nearby, and eventually, their herds would merge with the main herd again after they had grown out of their mischevious teenage years. It was just the way life worked. She hoped that after enough time had passed between Sirona and her siblings, that they too would eventually merge back into a group again, but that was something only time would tell for certain.

She looked up from her thoughts as they made it to the dining area. Politely, she asked for some fruit and bread and folded her legs neatly underneath a table so she was near level with Sirona when she took a seat. "It seems you've discovered quite a lot in your travels," she said looking at her. Her food arrived momentarily and she slowly started eating an apple from the basket of fruit. She was quiet for a moment. "Do you regret having this knowledge of your history? As upsetting as it is, would you prefer ignorance to knowledge of such things, even if they are uncomfortable to know and recollect?" 
 

Sirona smiled at Paradox’s words. ”In truth I am practicing with a variety of weapons, but the bow is something I haven’t started any training on yet. In time I will I know, but, for now, I prefer to fight with a sword and shield like I was trained in the past to do.” Sirona explained as she then went on to explain everything that had happened since the two of them had seen each other the last time.

Paradox got her food and Sirona got a bit of stew and some fresh bread and butter, she didn’t need to eat but she didn’t want to be rude. Plus the food was really good and her sense of taste hadn’t stopped working with her immortality. After each of them had taken a bite Paradox asked more from Sirona who thought a moment. ”I’d rather know than not know. I get along with Arti just fine, so I’m happy to have her in my life. As for Gabriel and Uriel, well, once they knew I didn’t have my memories of them this was their chance to forgive and forget, but, instead, they kept hating. They know this place is open to them at any time if they wish to speak, they have but to come and try to talk. I’ve done what I can, so it’s their turn now to decide if they wish to talk things out. Then again, unless Uriel gets a mind of her own and starts thinking for herself instead of letting Gabriel think for her, it will have to be him that decides to come to me. Uriel won’t.” She sighed and shrugged. ”But, as I said, I’d rather know they were family, despite our differences.”

A few bites later Sirona had a question for her friend. ”How much of Onnen have you explored, Paradox? The lands are rather… strange at times.” She gave a small chuckle.