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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 3, 2018 14:56:25 GMT -8
Everything about this was overwhelming for him. He'd never been around so many people in one place, it was maddening how large this place was. Not just the territory but the Academy itself. How could anyone think with so many people around? It was like one could hardly turn a corner without bumping into a freak. And he understood this place was a concentration of them, but between the lack of space and the blood boiling inside of him, it was only a matter of time before he lost his shit. And it wouldn't be hard. Elder's see that you could barely go five steps without someone being within arms reach. It would be easy to rip them to shreds in a moment of lost control.
And that is not why he was here. He would not mourn the loss of life if he struck any of these people down. His Sin wouldn't be one of destruction but rather one of weakness. He needed space to focus this energy inward, to rebalance himself. Right now with everything happening so fast he was like a leaf in a hurricane, being whipped around in circles and all directions. Completly at the mercy of every gust of wind, every outside influence pushing at him. He needed to be like the boulder, unyielding in its decision to stand its ground. Once he'd achieved that then he could set his sights on becoming his own hurricane once more.
He'd found a place that appeared quiet at first glance. And with the size of the training ground, he could feel himself relax, even if just a little bit. The sounds he heard were those of nature, not the voices and screeching of people. He'd found himself a large rock lodged in the ground, large enough that he'd have to climb up it to sit at its top, but it was the perfect representation of what he needed. First, he would conquer the rock, an easy task as he perched on the top of it, sitting with folded legs and eyes closed. Then he'd need to conquer himself, a far more daunting task.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 3, 2018 15:04:36 GMT -8
Refined, they called her.
One of those who looked after new trainees. Tried to see them from different points and make them feel more...welcome. Well. That wasn't her forte. She had grown up fighting for everything, and this academy, as they called it, was no different. They fought for power, they fought for recognition. Even though it was billed as a place of welcoming and discovery, they still valued strength. She didn't try and hide behind her age and circumstance- this was what she was used to. It was calming, to her. There were others, though, that would have a much harder time accepting the gift of their power. Accepting the status they were required to maintain. She'd struggled with it herself, at first.
Slowing and taking one of the ear buds from her head, she stopped the jog and started walking into the clearing, eyes on the male who seemed to be meditating atop a rock. Trying to find his center. She removed the second earphone and pocketed both, eyes searching the clearing. Nobody else...? She would stick her hands in the front of her jacket, hoodie down. She'd stop about fifteen feet away and speak loudly enough to be heard-
"What're you doing?"
Trainees came out here to advance themselves, but this one was....
She would continue to stare at the back of his head.
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 3, 2018 15:20:34 GMT -8
He had a lot of exercises that he used to reach his center. It was something that he was doing almost as long as he could walk. Different techniques worked for different people and in different situations. Right now he was feeling the heat of passion, he was feeling it burn within him. He had two options on how to deal with that, he could try to force the fire down and put it out, or he could use it to burn away the sickness that was infecting his soul. He favored the latter of the two options.
With eyes closed and breathing steady, he took the time to bring himself down. To create a headspace of pure darkness, a void where nothing but himself could reach. Inside of that void was the fire that he felt burning within his soul, the flame pulsing in time with the fire in his veins. It was familiar in a lot of ways, but the fire within had never been this intense, it was almost blinding within his mindscape, and the heat that washed over him from it felt like his flesh was searing from its proximity. He knew in one compartment of his brain that it wasn't real, but in that moment he could feel it. Into the fire he'd feed everything that was poisoning him. His rage at what he'd become. The uncertainty of what was to be his fate, where his place in the universe was now. Something that until recently had been a known quantity without question. Now he wasn't so sure.
But those feelings were weaknesses. Distractions, and into the fire he'd feed them. The fire burning brighter and stronger, but the pulsing slowing and matching pace with his resting heart rate. That was until he was interrupted, the voice felt distant like an echo across the void. But it resonated with the fire which erupted upward and outward engulfing his mindscape. His eyes snapped open and his head whipped to face the direction of the intrusion. His eyes narrowing at the woman.
"I was enjoying peace." He nearly spits the words at her. Further proof of how alien this place was where even out here he could not find peace. Perhaps the Elders didn't send him here to train, but to burn in this strange new Hell.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 3, 2018 15:23:36 GMT -8
"I see."
She stared further. He reminded her of someone. Someone she met long ago, before she'd trained with the supervisors or was even Captain. A boy she'd had to fight to leave a gang. But he seemed so young, where as this one was...she tilted her head a little, continuing to examine him.
"You're doing it wrong."
This one was probably around her age but he seemed so...angry, at so small a thing. Interesting.
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 3, 2018 17:08:14 GMT -8
He just grunted and turned back to face straight ahead, closing his eyes once more. She was right, he was doing it wrong. He shouldn't have engaged her verbally. He would try to shut her out and return to his void with the flame. Peace to him at this moment was solitude, and if she insisted on sticking around he'd have to do his best to ignore her. It was clear that he wasn't going to get any otherwise.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 3, 2018 17:22:21 GMT -8
She'd stretch, then walk over and sit against the boulder he was perched on, bringing her knees to her chest and picking her fingernails.
"I can help, if you want."
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 5, 2018 14:18:09 GMT -8
He let out a small sigh and slowly opened his eyes once again.
"Help me enjoy the peace and being alone? Sounds counterproductive."
His words dripped with disdain, but he was trying to behave. For now. He wasn't here to make enemies... yet.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 5, 2018 14:49:05 GMT -8
"You didn't say alone- just peace. And judging by the class you've shown so far, I doubt sitting on a rock in the middle of our training fields is going to bring either. We have sensor boards that show where people are when on the grounds. Lets us make sure nobody dies out here, but also lets students find and pick fights."
It's not what happened to her, but it could have just as easily happened that way. She would look over at him.
"If you really want solitude, go back to your room. If you want peace, it starts with your attitude."
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 5, 2018 15:09:48 GMT -8
"Sounds like what you want is a fight."
Since she mentioned it. And apparently came all the way out here for little old him. He didn't know about the sensor boards that track them here. Or that people could access it to track people and pick fights. But that's what he was reading from this. As for his attitude, if she didn't like it she could leave. He was here first and she was intruding on him. Not the other way around.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 5, 2018 15:13:22 GMT -8
She let out a little sigh. There were very few people here that she felt some kind of....impression with. They were angry, maybe, that they'd been taken forcibly from their homes and brought here to discover their powers. Maybe having this boy vent would.....
"Yes, that's exactly what I want."
She'd roll his eyes, but put her headphones away and push herself to her feet, rolling her left shoulder a little. Still sore, after her fight with Krane.
She'd watch him with some melancholy, to see what he would do.
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 5, 2018 15:18:24 GMT -8
He'd just close his eyes again and shift his weight but remain where he was on his rock. The pounding in his veins burned for a fight. To smash her against this very rock, to feel the spray of her blood. His sword and his arm were thirsty, thirsty in a way he was only starting to understand. But that was not why he was here today. She was a physical manifestation of the hurricane that was trying to drive his destiny. It was up to him to choose to be like the rock and hold his center.
"Then go find someone that cares. Fighting won't bring me the peace I'm seeking."
Once again he'd try to bring himself back to the void so that he could summon his flame. Summon his flame so that he could feel this ill intent into it before it burst through his flesh unbidden. Then there really would be a fight.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 5, 2018 15:29:44 GMT -8
His flame would find an interruption from her fist, which she would aim to collide flush with his cheek and blast him off his rock. Despite the force of the blow, she would not appear angry in the slightest. Assuming she hit, she'd land and sigh, bringing her left hand over to massage her right palm. She spoke, but it may be that he wouldn't hear as she didn't try to force her voice to carry far.
"You need more than peace. You need to be taught humility and respect. Kid will never find peace without rethinking his attitude."
Despite her massage, she'd be monitoring his position.
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jan 5, 2018 15:56:21 GMT -8
The blow had no reason not to land, and he'd topple from his rock. Rolling with the impact and springing to his feet, The sword hanging at his back begging to be drawn. Begging to be freed from his shackles as the blood in his veins began to pound. The wars of drums beat in his ears and his lips twisted into a half snarl before he forced it away to a stony expression. Repressing and suppressing his emotions.
"Humility. From the girl claiming one has an incorrect way to find inner peace. Who lashes out with violence so she can chide. You are a child and not worth my time."
He was a warrior, if she wanted to fight him, then she'd need to prove herself a warrior in turn. That took more than throwing a punch at someone with their eyes shut. He'd turn and walk away. There would be another rock or another tree.
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Post by Emily Suddenfield on Jan 5, 2018 16:13:56 GMT -8
She would continue to rub her hand, slightly miffed that Krane's head was so thick that the damage could stay with her for a few days. She wasn't even looking at him as he spoke- she had intended to perhaps help him to grow while fighting him. Let him wear himself out then give pointers. But his ego and self-righteous indignation were over 9000. So she would lean back against the rock.
"Your superiority complex is astounding. Good luck kid."
He acted like he deserved her respect, while talking down to her and disrespecting her at every turn. She felt her desire and drive to teach him anything slip away- leave it to another nut cracker to break through his immaturity.
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