The tavern was not crowded at all, in fact, it was probably the emptiest Jade had ever seen it. When she walked in, nobody turned her way. Everyone was looking in the direction of their own business which was a good thing. Breathing heavy and half tired from the shprt run she had to do to get here, jade walked to the bar counter and ordered a light wine. The bar tender knew exactly what she wanted for He had served her many times. It was a red wine that was slightly watered down to make the taste a bit smoother and less heavy on the throat.

“Coming right up mam, and by the way, did you see your little friend?” The tender asked as he handed her the small glass filled with the wine she ordered. “What fr…Damn” Jade said out loud as she remembered the meeting she had to do with Nero. “Hold the win for me. Ill be back tonight” she said as she jolted out of the door. The bartender stared at her as she left the tavern humming to himself about the things men think about.

Running all the way to the training grounds, she walked into the grounds and found only one figure in the shadows. He was just standing there not moving. Was this him? Only one way to find out. Jade locked in one arrow into her bow and launched it at the figure. If it was just a training dummy, then Jade would feel really dumb, but if it was not a dummy, then Nero would need to act fast.

He was still waiting on her, why did Nero always do this to himself? He would make plans with people and then they would never turn up but he would still wait a long time for them. He was getting somewhat sick of it really. Kicking at the grounds of the Training Grounds the half demon thought to himself, “Where the hell is she! If she does not get here soon then I will find her and ram my damn blade down her throat for making me wait like this.” A small sigh left his lips before Nero rose up his right arm, which was mainly red but the fingers and palm glowed with a bright blue colour. The arm was also engulfed with a blue aura, this arm was the only demonic part of Nero, the reason he was called a freak and the reason his family had never been proud of him.

He cracked the bones in his hand before once more resting it down by his side; Nero was really starting to get mad now. Why would this Jade say she would meet up with him and then just not show up? Did Nero really mean that little to everyone he met? Was he just like the dirt they would wipe from the souls of their boots? Was he nothing more than a freak among those in Arda? With these questions in mind Nero gritted his teeth together and said softly, yet still with anger in his tone, “Damn her!” It was only as he said this that the half demon heard the sound of the air being ripped apart, he had heard this sound so much in his life and instantly knew someone was shooting an arrow at him.

Quickly Nero stepped to his left side and the arrow flew by his form, he seen the arrow connect with a training stand and could not help but laugh while he turned to see the one that had fired the arrow. It was she! Locking his eyes onto Jade he said with the same angry tone, “Took you damn long enough Missy!” The training was about to begin.

"Took long enough?" jade said softly as she walked a few steps closer to Nero. "If i mean that much to you then you should have come for me." She said in a laughing tone. She was here to train with him, not hurt him or get hurt. This was only going to be a training match between to warriors. Well one warrior and one silent assassin. "By the way. Nice dodge" She said licking her lips softly and crossing her arms. Her bow was strapped back on her back but she held a dagger tight in her hand. Of course a dagger verses a sword was unfair, but she had an agile nature that made her a bit on the better side. Actually, she really didnt know. She assumed that was the case.

"So how long were you waiting for me" She said as she slid her left hand down the side of her left leg. She was feeling for her throwing knives preparing them to be used in any second. She wanted to have a little fun with Nero before this training round ended. She quickly decided not to use her dagger or throwing knives and turned around and ran into the more tree filled area.

The trees would give her perfect cover and this would test her true assassin skills and his ability to fight knowing not where the enemy is. The perfect test for them both. "Get me if you can sugar" Jade said as she jumped into the trees and jumped between silently. She prepared her Silver throwing knife as she waited for the perfect time for her to strike. The training had begun, this was going to be a hard test for both of them.

Nero listened to the words of Jade but he did not answer her, instead the half demon just raised both of his hand behind his head and crossed them. He continued to listen to Jade while at the same time thinking to himself, “Wow will she ever stop talking….” Of course this thought was soon answered as the woman turned and began to run towards the trees. In seeing this Nero rolled his eyes and yelled out towards her in a mocking tone, “You damn tree hugger! I just knew you were going to the damn trees!” With this said Nero started walking, yes walking, towards the trees with his arms still behind his head.

Jade might have been a skilled Assassin but Nero on the other hand was very skilled with his blade and had been in a lot of battles in his life so could sometimes determine projectile attacks by the sounds they made against the air and such. Once among the trees Nero let a small yawn slip passed his lips before he said, “Come on now, can we get this started already Jade? I’m getting a little bored down here waiting on you.” With this said Nero lowered his right arm back down to his side while circling his left hands around the hilt of the red queen. He was ready to battle with Jade but at the same time knew that the trees would maybe work to her advantage in this kind of battle, or rather training. However Nero did not care, as far as he seen it this was nothing more than another day with Jade, another day of her shooting at him and another day of his getting out the damn way as usual! Stupid woman an her damn arrows!

Tree hugger eh? That comment didnt really offend Jade for it was slightly true. She loved anywhere there was tons of cover and shadows. The man looked as though he was skilled in some ways but when it comes to secrecy and staying silent, he failed. Miserably.

Jade crept through the trees quietly as she hopped from one tree to another. She was preparing something for him but the question would be if he would be able to detect it somehow. Jade ducked and dodged through the trees and landed in a tree behind Nero. The wind was blowing hard and silently. There was a wierd smell in the air, but of course none of this really mattered. Jade planned an attacked that was excelent in ingenuity.

Jade untucked one of her shurikens and prepared to throw it. The wind was blowing hard in her direction so it meant if she threw it the right way, the wind could blow it backwards. Now all she had to do was angle it properly so that it would double back and go straight for nero.

Jade launched the shurken and sure enough, it doubled back towards Nero in a split second. That was only part, for Jade knew something about this man kept him able to hear things such as shurikens. Would he hear a dagger to the back? Jade jumped from the tree in a silent fashion and drew her dagger on the way down. She aimed a downward attack for the back, nothing fatal. Right after she had a quick leg sweep with a rising kick planned. All while the shuriken made its way back. Lets see how he faired to this onslaught.

Nero was still waiting, this is one thing he hated about training with Jade, she would mainly attack from afar while he was more of a close combat person in truth. Letting a yawn slip along his lips Nero could feel the boredom flowing over his form, however he was suddenly snapped out of it when he heard the leaves of the trees moving together and then the sound of something swiftly moving with the air. Quickly he jumped forward and turned around only to see another throwing weapon of Jades rip into the ground with great force. Of course this was not all that he seen, for the demon also seen Jade falling down towards him with her dagger withdrawn ready to attack him.

Nero ran forwards slightly, yes he was trying to run into the line of fire from Jade, soon enough he moved his sword and stood in place as Jades dagger connected with it thus protecting Nero from the attack. However he knew the Jade worked, she would attempt some kind of kick soon as well and so Nero quickly pushed his feet off of the ground and used the weight of his sword to push himself over the form of Jade thus avoiding her kick attack. In doing this Nero had the woman right where he wanted her; she was now on the ground and within close range at that. With this in mind Nero turned to face Jade once more, but in doing so he had also swung his blade with great force heading right towards the woman’s head!

Jades attacks missed, but she was planning somehting of her own. She was prepared to make it seem as though he had the upper hand just so she could fake him into opening himself up for a wide open attack.

Just as she thought, he had retaliated with an attack of his own. Not just anny attack, a full strength attack that left him very exposed. Of all the training they had done, why did he forget about the speed of her. jade quickly rolled from under his attack and watched the sword crash into the forest floor.

She then used her quick and nimble speed and maneuvered herself to the side of him where she aimed a straight forward kick right for the mid section. Right after that she did a barrel roll backwards and ducked off into the shadow bushes. She used the bushes as cover as she sent one throwing knife through the bushes aimed right for him.

Fighting Nero upfront and close was suicide. She would stay ranged and stay completely away. In deciding this she jumped into the trees and stalked Nero from the trees.

"You are a close courter fighter. I can be, but i prefer watching you think you know my ranged attacks all to great. I will show you."

Jade said as she ducked between trees again. Her bow was about to play a big role in her next attack as she predicted him seeing her ranged attacks, but this next one he will never see coming.