set after the olympics

Garnet-Delta had been doing its utmost to keep on top of its magic, its tactics, and otherwise hone its skills; all while Master Vargas worked on his important plans. There had been promises, time and time again, to make it into a weapon; and most of the forging it had done itself. But it was only guessing at what it needed to be, making estimations and praying that every step it took took it closer to its goal.

Which was, in all honesty, incredibly frustrating when there was already someone who knew all the answers, just constantly out of reach. What wouldn't Garnet-Delta do to get some quality time learning with Master Vargas? It would spend every waking moment around the once-Overseer now Master given the opportunity; but time and time again it pushed itself to the side.

Master Vargas always had a more important project. Always something that made its wants seem insignificant. It toiled away in the background, a deep yearning in its chest to prove itself worthy of the Master's time.

Ironically, it took the Master being pulled away by some random event off in the rest of the caves, with a bunch of strangers, for it to click into Garnet-Delta's mind that maybe the Master had more time to spare (or, that he was willing to spare time) for things that weren't as important as his primary goal. It felt paradoxical. It felt... Wrong. But as it waited for Master Vargas to return from the Olympics, guarding a closed door like a loyal dog, it formed one single determined plan. It would ask Master Vargas to take some time to teach it.

It had waited a day and a half, and picked a time where Master Vargas was in-between running tests on its experiments. "Master Vargas," it had chirped, firm but even still, non-committal, never asking too much. "If you have time, I'm ready for your lessons." It blinked at its Master, ear flicking. "I'll be hunting in Canis, at the Bone Fortresses."

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Hunt it did. It still struggled, in privacy, when its life was not threatened. It could make anything happen when its life was on the line, but when its concentration was interrupted by the startling sound of bones clattering, it was just as likely to have its magic backfire as it was to work.

Frustration clawed at it, wanting to have something to show for when Master Vargas arrived. It could do great things-- but even after seven cycles it still struggled with things it considered basic; vanishing chief among them. It didn't need to turn invisible to hunt rats, but it knew that was an impressive feat to those not mastered in magic.

Maybe it should have just been glad that the magic had fizzled out, rather than turning it a bright shade of pink or something. (The same, it tried to assure itself, had happened with Vargas when it was younger-- but that had been intentional, hadn't it?) The last thing it wanted was for its Master to arrive to it in the middle of a magical blunder. But stewing over that, rather than catching anything, meant it was still empty pawed as it stalked down the rows of bone buildings.

@Vargas

Vargas had simply bellowed brief laughter in return. "It's about time!" was all he'd said. It did not occur to him that Delta had been waiting for his approach, particularly with Hemlocke meant to be half in charge of its training. After all, the last thing he'd told it had been, 'Garnet-Delta, find me when you're instructed to by your handler, and I'll give you the first of your lessons.' It seemed that time had finally come. Either Hemlocke had failed in its duties, or Garnet had forgotten, but Vargas would thankfully remain ignorant of either possibility.

When it informed him that it would be hunting, Vargas took his time. He did not rush into Canis. He left it to think, perhaps, that he wasn't coming at all--too busy, again, or perhaps forgotten.

When he did come, it was with slinking silence, always a stealthy predator despite his massive size. He did nothing, at first, to hide his presence--but he did begin perfectly, magically, imitating the twittering of fighting, distressed Red Rats some thirty yards downhill, amongst a pile of bones and boulders perfect for such things.

...He'd been unaware there were actual rats about, having chosen the spot with unerring instinct, and watched with interest as one bolted, terrified of the Ghost Rats now at conflict in its den.

It was a tactic he'd used before, to show Delta--but if Garnet-Delta were hunting, now, and wanted a lesson, this was a good first step: a reminder. A refresher course in what he had taught it in the past. If it thought to check the surroundings, it might see him; if it went straight for the sound, then it might not.

@Garnet-Delta

Garnet-Delta's ears flicked up like a hare hearing a wolf, but it was the predator, and its white arrow tips honed in on the sound with surprise. It listened as the sound of something small pelted through the bones, sending small rattles echoing through the alleyways. With a soft snort, the half-feline crouched down and slipped into a stalk, dipping in and out of various bone structures. It had more experience with Orion, but the fortresses here were familiar territory just the same.

The sound of red rats in distress, fighting-- each other?-- was curious enough. They would probably draw attention if anything else was nearby, bigger lessers, opportunists and scavengers. It would be easy prey to snatch up once they had weakened each other, but it couldn't count on its assumptions.

It tried to summon venom, just to be safe, but its stone resisted, sending another ache through its throat and piercing at its mind. It couldn't keep failing, not with the looming knowledge that Master Vargas would be testing it soon. Teaching it. It was ready! It knew it was ready. And now... Now it was getting anxious, and distracted.

Focus.

Garnet-Delta crept along in the shadows of one of the bone structures, ears swiveling. It paused some distance from the source of the sound, and its red eyes swept the area surrounding the pile of discarded bones. It was just some rats, but Garnet-Delta wasn't Alpha, it wasn't even Beta-- a particularly big rat could cause serious injuries to it. So its hesitance was justified, caution instilled it in over seven cycles now. The Canis air was stale and dusty on its tongue, its tail twitching as it waited for the dull ache to leave its throat so it could try again.

Then, it spotted the looming shadow, several paces off; big, still, but faintly glowing that familiar chartreuse. The little feline turned stiff as stone, and for a moment, forgot to breathe.

For a brief moment, it felt like the hundreds, maybe thousands, that had hid among the bones from its Master. The many who had died. It could never impose such fear, could never bring that chill down another being's spine... Did it go for the rats? Was Vargas waiting, expectant to see how it would take them down? How long had he been there? Garnet-Delta was chilled to the bone, frozen in place.

@Vargas

He watched in motionless silence, an unnatural stillness to him borne of long centuries of practice. Often he'd melt back into the shadows (...figuratively speaking of course), slowing his breathing, pretending he simply wasn't there. That nothing was in the space that his hulking form currently occupied.

It worked, though moreso when he added magical shadows to it; right now he hadn't (using his magic to watch instead), and his glowing toxicity was a giveaway for the alert. He noted the exact instant when Delta spotted him: it was creeping along, almost invisible itself, its pulse calm at first--that of a predator--and then quickening as it abruptly froze. He could see it facing him, in the dark, motionless--afraid?

Vargas lurched into motion, pacing forward.

"You've remembered your prior lessons, I see. That is good: an assassin must always assume itself hunted as well as hunter." Though his voice was not raised, it was still booming, and he glanced over as the rats scurried in every direction to avoid his no-longer-stealthy presence.

"Now: I know Hemlocke was in charge of your initial training, so tell me two things. Both are so that I know what I am working with--so we do not cover already-familiar ground too deeply, and so I know what to mold into what you wish to be. First--what has Hemlocke already taught you? And second, detail your known magics for me, please."

It was important to know the clay to work it, if one were to go all metaphorical--or, to be more literal, to know exactly what Delta knew before launching into training. There was no point in teaching it how to sneak if Hemlocke had spent cycles doing that already, and so on.

Vargas came to a halt several yards away, patient, alert, and waiting.

@Garnet-Delta

Thankfully for Garnet-Delta, it had inadvertently passed the test laid out before it. Whiskers curled back, pressing flat to cheeks as it raised its ears toward the booming voice, blinking at Master Vargas's approach. It stood straighter, resisting the urge to twitch its tail.

"Thank you, Master Vargas," it mewled, voice humorously small compared to the behemoth's deep gutturals. Every ounce of praise was kept close to the chest, reminding it what this all was for. Recognition? No, purpose. It was stoic in its belief that it would be the perfect weapon for its master.

The leviathan asked it what it had already been taught, looking for a starting point. A lot of its training had been done by itself, but it would not completely discredit Commander Hemlocke. After all, it had been given direction, motivation, and criticism to guide it. That was more than enough.

"Commander Hemlocke taught me stealth and escape tactics, in case I was grabbed, midair maneuvers, and how to defend against various magic," Garnet-Delta chirped, "it had me practice my mental fortitude. Remembering details and messages." These it had worked hard at improving on its own time, which it would get to shortly... "On my own, I have honed my skills at pursuit and evasion," Garnet-Delta announced, keeping its voice even and clear as it reported. "Both stalking on foot, and from above. I have memorized most of Orion; should anything try to chase me through the city ruins, I have a number of escape plans... Which can also be used to get into places others would not expect, hiding spots for watching and waiting." It attempted, briefly, to touch Master Vargas's mind to share the mental map it could picture with accuracy, but its magic slipped off the side of his mind, unable to pierce the veil.

It should have expect as much. Keep talking. "... Obviously I cannot rely on knowing every area in the caves," it would take a lifetime it didn't have to learn, "but it was pertinent to make sure if I was being tailed, I could lose them before returning to the Warren to make a report." It flexed its claws. "I have also practiced my magic on lessers, and on a stranger who admitted to having no allies." It did not know if Master Vargas knew about the owl that the Doctor had been healing.

"I've turned their bodies against them. I've sent rats into the mouths of snakes with my magic, and caused birds to fall and break their wings." There was pride in the report, but also an edge of ruthlessness. "I have studied how snakes hunt, and replicated my own venom for paralyzing my foes." Its tail twitched. "... Unfortunately, magic has a risk. I've learned to not rely on it entirely, as a failed attempt to turn invisible can turn into an allergic, vibrant reaction." But the magic has not failed when it has needed it, only when it has used it carelessly. It did not feel embarrassment at this admission; it had seen the same happen to its Master with its own eyes.

Garnet-Delta blinked up at Vargas, slightly spreading its wings out to either side as it reached its nose upward toward the towering Master. "But besides lessers, I have not... Killed." Not yet. It could have killed the owl it dragged back to the Doctor, and it could have killed the puffin that had tormented it while its Master was away.

It would not directly admit to weakness in this respect, but it needed to know how Master Vargas killed, down to the deepest instinct, if it wanted to become a ruthless weapon like its superior.

@Vargas

sorry for the absolute wall it's helpful monologue lesson fun time

Vargas listened with total, silent attentiveness, his eyes unblinking as he stared at Garnet-Delta. He was going over, in his mind, not only each point offered but how they combined into a whole; and not only that but Delta's method of reporting, and where it had taken initiative...

Stealth and escape tactics were both useful. Delta was small, and the ability to evade would be a good start, should the former--stealth--fail. This showed wisdom and practicality. Pursuit, too, in this vein--this was also good, and Vargas ticked this off in his mind. Memory was also of interest. Smart. And memorizing escape plans; that would make it difficult to catch. He began to address some of these points--and others--a moment after Delta had finished talking; after he'd had time to digest it all.

"Escape tactics will be useful. Honing your memory is also wise--not only for messages, but to remember details about your target, should you for some reason be required to stalk them in the longer term. Orion was a good choice of location to learn, for the reasons you stated--good thinking. As for magic--you know my thoughts on that. It is a useful tool, but not to be relied upon, not without some form of backup plan." He paused, thinking over this clay, and poking at it in his mind, finding the points that it yet lacked. He imagined it stalking, hunting, with what it already knew; fleeing, memorizing, darting about Orion. Where would it falter? What were its weaknesses? What could he improve?

"You have a very solid foundation to work with. A very good start," Vargas began, and turned, pacing down along one of the paths winding down among the bone fortresses. He barely fit through some of them, not without knocking bones scattering. He jerked his head lightly toward his path with a glance at Garnet, indicating for it to follow as he spoke on. "You have done very well. Now, we will look at several points. First, where would you fall short, with what you already know? -Though that is a rhetorical question please do provide any answers that I do not address. This should be the cornerstone of your training: you must always seek your own weaknesses, and strive to improve them. Weaknesses of experience, knowledge--and ways to make up for other weaknesses, like physical, magic."

Long strides carried him at a slow and measured pace toward the heart of Canis.

"What I notice first is this: if there is any form of magical detection, your size will not protect you. If you are fleeing through Orion it does not matter how well you know the place if your heartbeat shows to their magic. If you are stalking, it does not matter how well you perform if your target is on alert, with guards, with magic. We can address this! First with magic itself; you could learn magic to watch a place remotely, through fungus, plants, water, and not be detected because you are not there. This would be wise to add to your repertoire in time regardless, with your tasks as they are. I would suggest finding someone skilled in this to teach it to you. But it is only a tool, not a weapon to be relied on. Next, you can learn disguise. Those seeking out stones and heartbeats will think nothing of another rat in the dark. That is not meant to be insulting," the Master added, with a matter-of-fact glance Delta's way. "But if you fold your wings against your back, and you find a place with rats, and scent yourself with their odor--if you scurry about with them close by, and study their behavior, you can pass as one easily enough."

"That is my advice on what to work with in my absence, after this lesson, then: to find someone to teach you remote 'watching' magic--I would suggest Master Astraea but I doubt he'd find the time for you. Someone else, then. And watch and learn the rats and other lessers--bats, birds--with whom you might blend in, in each cave. Learn which are native and common to which caves and use them."

Vargas paced farther down, winding now into a place where the fortresses were larger than he was, where the bones of the failed were piled so high that it was like walking the alleyways of city streets. Beyond this lay the Chambers, with all its rock structures creating a honeycomb more than an open cave.

"Venom is a good idea. So is controlling the body--I do this myself, but it is, at least when focusing on the blood, a difficult thing to control and often, they can still use their magic. Be cautious of that. Hm--I would also suggest learning to fight, both against physical combatants and those who focus on magic, just in case you are cornered. And hone, too, your ability to speak with and convince others, to infiltrate as Hemlocke does--perhaps they can help you with this--for gaining the trust of a target. Again, neither you should rely on but having a grasp of all of this will make you into a well-rounded weapon with the ability to call on a number of tools at your disposal, all of which you should be familiar with. Now," he said, coming to a halt, looking around.

"We are going to focus on stalking, first. I am your target. You know nothing about me, only my physical description. Let us say you have been sent to kill me here, among these stones and bones. As you arrive in Canis, how do you begin?" he asked, turning to face the hybrid once again.

@Garnet-Delta

Garnet-Delta sat at attention, long, lagomorph ears pricked all the way up to their white points as it kept its paws neatly together. It took initially to Master Vargas's remarks as criticism, not as a bad thing, but as more to add to its checklist. A definitive answer to what it needed to work on. Details about your target, it noted, and not to rely on magic. Contingency plans. White nose twitched, and it nodded.

It had not been expecting praise immediately to follow, and its fur on the nape of its neck rose with surprise despite its attempts to be still, calm, and composed. A very good start. Small words from its master, enough to set its heart thundering around in its ribcage like a feral animal in a trap. Garnet-Delta's crimson eyes watched as Vargas stalked down the path, not rising until the behemoth gestured for it to come.

The cat-hybrid sprung forward, falling quickly into stride behind Master Vargas, tail puffing up behind it. Done very well? Done very well! It had to swallow its ego to listen, whiskers quivering with the effort to pay close mind to the task set out ahead of it.

First: Where did it fall short?

Garnet-Delta nodded, eyes wide with awe. Did Master Vargas constantly strive to become better? Of course he did; he had been an Overseer, and his dedication to improve and serve had earned him a place as a Master. Like a small candle in a hurricane, it took this small flickering flame and tucked it close to its chest; it would not forget this instruction.

Paws fell in line behind Master Vargas, paws sinking into the massive steps of its role model, the one it had always admired and strove to reach. Master Vargas plainly stated that he was not intending to be insulting, but the thought hadn't even occurred to Garnet-Delta. It absorbed every word like a dry sponge thrown into a pool, frantically trying to pull in as much knowledge as possible... and maybe, paying a bit too much mind to the serious, practical energy the Master gave off. It took the suggestions: watching from afar or learning a disguise. It had practiced on rats and lessers plenty, but it had not quite prepared itself for the intelligence of its future prey (even paltry as its target's mind may be, they were still cognizant beings). This oversight sent pins and needles through its limbs as it continued forward, itching with the desire to fix its blindsides immediately. Master Astraea, the name stuck in its brain, even as its Master brushed aside. Someone else, yes, someone like Master Astraea, perhaps.

Or, it could try to prove itself to yet another Master. A touch dangerous, but more so an opportunity to learn more. Impress its own Master, maybe. "Very well. I will investigate, and learn this magic from someone." Regardless, it would experiment with the lessers it could imitate. The Doctor may have suggestions or ideas for such things, having studied them for a long time.

Garnet-Delta spread its wings as the bones began to rise like walls, and it took flight to hop upon the sturdier structures, stalking behind Master Vargas while also ensuring it could keep a side-eye out for potential dangers... Or perhaps, just a desire to tread upon narrow perches as it walked, tail flicking as a counterweight for balance.

Again, it noted the glaring problem with its abilities: it had neglected the magical capacity of its targets. It accepted the recommendation to practice fighting both physically and not; it had practiced wrestling with same-sized siblings, and magic on lessers, but it would continue to push itself in that respect. Infiltrating was something it had neglected also; it did not like those outside of the Sentinels, and it found such a thing hard to stomach. It's necessary to become a well-rounded weapon, it thought of the puffin, claws half-flexing out of their sheaths. "Infiltration is one of the few things I have not much experience with," Garnet-Delta admitted, "I find it easier to swallow the thought of pretending to be a rat that getting along with, say, the Morganite and its friends." Just a random example. "I could use the most improvement there." It didn't like it, but it would be earnest with its Master.

Garnet-Delta stopped in the same step that Master Vargas did, settling its haunches on the bone structure that brought it almost level-- but not quite-- to its Master's bright chartreuse gaze.

"With your description, I would surmise that you couldn't fly. Even with your height, I would still have an advantage at a high enough ground to stay out of reach... So I would first seek a good vantage point, somewhere I could blend in and couldn't easily be discovered." Garnet eyes flicked toward the ceiling, searching for a perch, perhaps. "... From there, if I had not seen you, I would proceed with caution. If I could find you via heartbeat detection, that would be the best. Your shape is distinct, and large, and once I had that I could proceed, keeping a safe distance."

Nose twitched, a nervous quirk as it tried to adapt its answer to include Vargas's comments thus far. "My instinct would be to try to be invisible, but... As you've said, others could detect me with the same magic we could use." Not every gembound would be paranoid and constantly searching, but it was something that it was now considering. "I would like to set a trap. Assuming that I can take my time, it would be ideal to watch your behavior and learn what I could. What you eat, where you drink, where you roam and sleep. Learning those patterns would help me plan..." What would they do for a trap, to kill its Master? (Or, at least, something as big and powerful as him.)

... That, it wasn't certain about. It didn't want to go too far, instead fully expecting with a raise of its chin that Vargas would have criticism and compliments? for its initial first few steps. It was ready to listen with baited breath.

@Vargas

Vargas listened, attentive, studying every movement the Garnet made, every twitch--out of habit, not with any real intensity. It was proving to be as good as, if not better than, its originators--better than Hemlocke in some ways, in its ambition to serve and perfect itself, but with Hemlocke's intense loyalty.

This--Garnet-Delta would likely feel--garnered his unmitigated approval.

When it spoke of feeling more comfortable among rats, Vargas even laughed--agreeable, amused, and dour all at once. "Some of them are foolish beasts, yes. I think I would be more inclined to kill them," he agreed, simply. Some of them whined and railed and simpered, with no redeeming qualities. They spoke of 'fairness' and 'justice' in a world of chaos, where only one's own strength determined their survival--and success.

If they wanted something, they would have to win it for themselves. If they wanted to whine for it, well; they could die.

Now Garnet-Delta was moving on to plans, to stalking and spying, and Vargas turned and gestured into the honeycombs. He spoke with patience, as if to point things out, and not with contradictory aggression or accusation or the like: gentle corrections, additions, pointers. "Planning is good, if you have the time for it. But in terms of staying high, the catacombs ahead are small, narrow. I can barely squeeze through them in some places--staying high or unseen may not always be an option. Too, you must always assume your prey knows it is being stalked. I would see you as soon as you would see me, if you came physically close--even through walls--with my magic. If you were talking your time to stalk me, study my movements, my habits, I would be watching yours--growing suspicious, perhaps, or making plans of my own. You don't want that," he added, and it was not an ego-related threat so much as matter-of-fact. Prey knowing the hunter was present might turn the hunter into the hunted, and that was... well, that was bad.

"Do you have the ability to sense the lessers close, even now?" he asked, head tilting just a little.

He looked upward, studying the ceilings of the catacombs--some narrow and low, as he'd said; others high. He turned this way and that, concentrating, narrating what he saw: the red pulses of a hundred lives interspersed through the stalagmites, going about their oblivious business. "I see several of those batcat creatures, here and there. I see other bats, too--some might be dangerous to you. Some see with hearing, and not sight, so invisibility would not help. But... if you imitated them, just distant enough to avoid their attention, too, that might help. -Can you sense them? Watch them--see how they behave. See if you can make yourself invisible to me, by becoming one of them," Vargas instructed. "You must be able to watch unseen, as you say, in order to set that trap--so let us start with that."

@Garnet-Delta

Approval, like heroin, was fed directly into its bloodstream. Its head held high, as it listened eagerly for the criticism. What it could fix. Fed directly with Vargas's patient energy, it let go of its ego. This was more important than anything it thought. The Master had experience, and it would learn.

The thought that its prey would know it was being stalked made its ear twitch as it comprehended the weight of that. It didn't want to be too cautious and miss out on opportunity, and yet, it took the warning earnestly. Same as with magic, it had to presume its target was as capable if not more than itself.

Master Vargas prompted Garnet-Delta, and with a gleam in its eyes and a faint pulse of its gem, the pinpricks of heartbeats that swelled into the shapes of the Greaters and Lessers all around came into its peripheral. "Naturally," it answered with confidence. It followed its Master's gaze upward toward the pocketed catacombs above, listening with both ears at attention.

With the task set before it: to become one of the bats, without getting too close and drawing attention, Garnet-Delta's wings spread out. It watched for a moment longer, on one particular individual-- one that seemed roughly its size through the lens of magic-- and then turned its gaze back on to Master Vargas.

What kind of trap can kill my Master? This was a being it knew, and it had to presume its targets just as capable, enough to make its nerves prickle. It pondered, a brief blip of distraction that it pushed down for now.

"Very well," it did not tell Master Vargas of its intention to merely mirror one of the other bats before it took off. Hopefully it wouldn't stand out-- one of dozens. It flew up, as quietly as it could, into one of the empty, quiet sections of the catacomb's roofing. It curled its tail under its stomach, and tucked in its fore-paws, using primarily its hind-legs and wings to cling to the surface above-- not an easy task, it slipped a few times before it found somewhere easy to rest.

From there, it watched, and it tried to copy the lesser from afar. Once it knew more about them, perhaps it could venture closer, perhaps blend in with the small cluster of groups. It didn't dare, yet.

Periodically, it turned its magic back to Master Vargas, waiting for a sign.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas watched, that faint 'grin' that split his face a natural one but, too, one of approval. His skin was rigid, he hardly had expression but for now, for once, it matched his feelings.

This one had promise.

He hoped that beneath its clipped responses lay a cunning intellect. Its more complex responses certainly indicated as much, and if so, he might have a true gem here. And he began to call out, even as he watched, scrutinized, sent out his senses once again--he'd let them falter, allowed Delta to attempt to take up some secret space on the ceiling, if that was where it chose to go. Visual sight had quickly lost it to the Chambers' shadows. "Quick reflexes will always be important to you. But what to do in any given situation will only come with experience, and that is why we will practice, and train. Resourcefulness is important. But how to use the terrain, the weather, your prey's habits to your advantage--that will also only come with learning." He paused, magicka flickering up again, once he judged that Garnet-Delta had had enough time to hide itself properly.

Again he could see the distant figures: the few bats along the ceiling, the batcats here and there. They each stood out, in their own way; this one resting, that one moving just a little from place to place, another grooming itself. But he could not pick Garnet-Delta from them. The throb of their heartbeats was vague; a dim red shape shifting in the dark.

He gave it time. He studied each form, the group as a whole, looking for anything that stood out.

At least, he cried out, voice booming: "Very good! Now your final task, for this session." The lesson had been something of a short one, but so much had been information and instructions for future learning that Vargas didn't want to overwhelm Delta. Too much at once would be impossible for it to remember; they had to learn, and teach, in steps. "Approach me, as subtly as you can--continue pretending to be a bat! See how long it takes for me to pick you out; I will call out when I think I have found you. In the UNLIKELY event that you make it to me," he added, a grin in his tone, "strike me somewhere and we will consider you a very good assassin-in-training." He had his own ideas on how to do this, of course; the hybrid could pretend to be hunting, or simply take wing and fly overhead, or idly groom its way closer. Or it could sit tight, and wait for Vargas to make a mistake in identifying; it would be some form of disobedience but he'd praise that thinking all the same.

Meanwhile, he continued to speak, though his eyes--and senses--searched. "I will make a final note, before I assign you your missions and further training, and schedule another lesson. That is, in certainty. The reason I am giving you all of these... fallbacks; all of this insurance to learn about, is an important one! Perhaps only one in ten of those you are to watch, to follow, will sense you as I can. And if you have a plan," he went on, shifting to his other forefoot to turn, scanning to one side, above, behind him; "with a nine out of ten success chance, surely that would be enough-? What of ninety-nine out of one hundred-? But I put it to you this way: it depends on how long you want to live. Perhaps you will be lucky and your first ninety-nine tasks will succeed, flawlessly, with an excellent--but not perfect!--plan. Perhaps you examined it for loopholes and found nothing, or only one, one small chance of failure and deemed it 'unimportant.'" Toxic eyes shifted back upward, ahead, to his left; he watched as he spoke, a critical eye searching each bat-like silhouette. "But eventually--first, or tenth, or fiftieth--it would fail. So it is a matter of how long you wish to live. Long enough for ten missions? One hundred? A thousand? -Plan to never fail. Never. Ensure your plans are as foolproof, as flawless, as you can make them. Study your approach. Study your prey. Study your magic, and practice. And if you do so, well. One with a one hundred percent success rate is not going to fail."

In practice? Near impossible. But it was important, Vargas knew, not to ever say "that's good enough." Good enough was never good enough.

Only perfection mattered.

He already had an inkling of his next set of lessons: when he spotted Delta--or it struck him--he would end this lesson.

It would be tasked to learn the things he had covered--to find a trainer in some, and practice on its own. But more than that he would make himself its target, truly; task it with finding him alone, off his guard, and hitting him again. At his neck, or head. He would tell it to use a particular 'weapon'--some crystal, perhaps--and tell it to train itself first and get him when he least expected it, in the future. It meant he'd have to constantly be watching over his shoulder for Garnet-Delta, and for spies--but that was good practice, anyway, was it not? His guard should always be up.

One hundred percent.

@Garnet-Delta

(I figure after this round he can give it its future task & we can wrap it up if you want!)