Can you fix it? (Preston)

[Donovan]

Donovan would sigh as he looked inside the bag he was carrying. Inside it being the remains of his left arm. The metal was fine, but the rest of it was done for. He had just finished talking to... getting yelled at by the requisitions officer. Something about, "What did you do to my master piece!" Or some such. Either way he started crying and that's when Donovan left... that was weird. So, now he was off to find someone named Preston, the guy he had met a few times, though he never really talked to him he didn't seem much like a fighter... however Donovan heard the Preston had been helping out other students with their items and he had even heard that he was even better than the Requisition's officer! That is impressive. But, right now that was all just talk. Donovan wanted to find the guy and talk to him, himself.

[Preston Salabim]

Preston was in the library, reading a book on the physiology of Qi beasts compared to their physiology before their mutations!

[Donovan]

It takes Donovan awhile to find the library, as he was unfamiliar with any such building before and its description made no sense to him. Why would anyone devote a building to books? And then it clicked! This must be a room where they store masterful fighting techniques and training resources! This would be a place he would definitely have to visit in the future when he wasn't out on business.

He walked into the building and was gasp at the amount if books. So much fighting to read and learn about! He was excited!!! Then he saw Preston, already had a book open in front of him and noting that this was not the only book in his immediate vicinity. Maybe there was more to this guy than Donovan originally thought. He walked over and stared at the book.

"So, what technique's are you learning from this book?"

He asked completely interested to find out! Especially since he saw the word Qi beast and the other word looked similar to physical so maybe this is a book about how to take down Qi beasts with your bare hands! So cool!

[Preston Salabim]

He looked up at Donovan with a perplexed expression.

"Excuse me?"

[Donovan]

Donovan pointed to the book.

"The book, what cool new moves are you learning?"

He asked excitedly. If he were a dog his tail would be wagging, he was buzzing with so much excitement and wonder.

[Preston Salabim]

"None. This is a book on the physiology of Qi beasts and how they mutated during the awakening. Anatomy and the like."

[Donovan]

"Oh... so like... it tells you their weak spots right?"

[Preston Salabim]

"Very few creatures have specific weak spots. This is about understanding the changes animals underwent during the awakening. This isn't a combat guide."

He replied tersely.

[Donovan]

"Oh..."

He said a bit deflated.

"Then... what is the reason for reading this book?"

[Preston Salabim]

He took a deep and slow breath. Bringing his right hand up to adjust his glasses before regarding the bottom rung brute that decided to interrupt him. It was bad enough that he had to babysit Allison and ensure that she maintained a base level of competence, but at the very least she had the decency to be embarrassed by her lack of class and lapses in tact.

"To better understand the world, both as it was and as it is now. By understanding how things have changed, and why, we can predict how they may continue to change. By understanding the rules of the world we live in we can understand how we can bend those rules to our will. Humanity has always thrived by their brains, not their brawn. It was our creation of tools that put us above the animals, and it is our understanding of Mana that allows us to continue to thrive in this ever-evolving world."

He had to resist the urge to slam a palm into the table.

"Do you never think of anything beyond the reach of your fist? I struggle to imagine how you have survived this long when you seem to lack the foundational levels of forethought for your actions and curiosity of the world around you."

[Donovan]

The mans words were interesting. He said a lot of things that didnt quite make sense. But, he did realize the last part was most likely a question!

"Ah!"

He would say taking a seat.

"In- well, where I grew up strength was the only true measure of someone's worth. But, I ended up having Qi and I was treated poorly and even disgraced because of it. But, I had a dream, were a girl told me that having Qi doesn't make me a lesser being but rather Qi is a part of me that can serve to make me stronger. So I came here."

He nodded. Only to realize he hadn't actually answered the mans question.

"Oh! As to how I survived I just survived by being stronger than those that wanted me dead."

He would say matter of factly.

[Preston Salabim]

"Yes, I am aware of how Vindicta operates."

It wasn't hard to peg him as one of them.

"But there is also a difference between being strong, and walking into fire or acid without a thought."

[Donovan]

Donovan tilted his head in confusion.

"I've not walked into fire nor acid..."

[Preston Salabim]

"I literally watched you tackle something into a pool of acid."

[Donovan]

"Oh! That wasn't without thought. While the acid was corrosive, and was killing the creature, there was no guarantee that it would just stand there and die. I took a risk to make sure the creature died in the acid fast. I'd rather be hurt than risk someone dying because I chose to do nothing. That thing showed it could stretch its limbs, it very well could've snagged one of us while our backs were turned and dragged or tossed us into the Acid. I wasn't keen on taking that risk."