Challenge 59 'Grit' - Valkyrie Profile - Skill Scrolls

[tehexile]

Title: Skill Scrolls
Fandom: Valkyrie Profile
Characters/Pairings: Lezard Valeth & Mystina
Word Count: 300
Rating: G/Gen
Tags: spoilers, bickering, in-universe game mechanics
Summary: Lezard Valeth learns the Guts skill.

"You've been looking at that text book for a long time, Lezard," Mystina called him in a sing-song, mocking voice, "I thought you knew everything there was to know in this library - more about magic than the Lady Valkyrie Herself, even!"

"Oh, I still do, but I thought I'd broaden my horizons," Lezard showed her the cover of the book he'd been reading.

"A martial arts manual? Changing career to a warrior, are we? Somehow I don't see you as the buff type."

"Fighting is about skill and technique, darling, and besides, I'm focusing on certain specialist interests. I have no delusions of being able to out-duel Arngrim any time."

"So, what's caught your interest in the world of the more mundanely physical?"

"This chapter is about guts, also known as grit or resilience," he said.

"Something you wish to survive?" she chuckled, "You do realise it's too late, yes?"

"For you, maybe, but I'm not sharing the book with you anyway. You'll need something more drastic to get that physical shell of yours back."

"Indeed, I think I'll steal one of your homunculi..."

"DON'T YOU DARE!" he snarled, summoning a whirlwind of fire. She cackled at the sudden seriousness of his words, although she wasn't too amused that she forgot to summon as strong a magical barrier as she could muster.

"Fine, I'd rather not share the body of your disturbing stalker crush, anyway," she pouted, "You realise that none of this will help you in your silly attempts to stave off death, right? You're an Einherjar. You're officially dead, reality is just yet to catch up, that's all. You've cheated death for the briefest of moments. You'll pay the price for that."

"I think you're confusing me with yourself, dear," he yawned, stretched and turned the page.