~*^*~Post Two: Reserved~*^*~
The Dancer
- Forum
- RP Fan Fiction
- A Day and a Half
~*^*~Countdown to Destruction~*^*~
High Priest Yagudo = WHM
Knight Templar Yagudo = SAM
–––––––––––––––––––––-
//Day 121//
A hundred and twenty-one days. A hundred and twenty-one ticks in the wall. A hundred and twenty-one ticks in blood.
One third of a year. One third of a year she had been capture and held here. A thurd of ayear that she had been tortured. She was painfully reminded of this by the throbbing in her temple, the sharp pains in her lungs and chest, and the copper taste of blood in her mouth. Not for the first time, she had wished taht she had tried that fight on white mage. Then at least she could be able to recover even if she couldn't cast magic. But these damn shackles were restricting her usage of job abilities, so being a dancer was pretty much worthless.
A sharp pain struck through her chest, causing her muscles to spasm. Her small, frail body wracked with coughts and a new wave of copper flooded into her mouth. Once her body stopped its spasms, she turned her head and spat out the blood and took a long, shuddering breath. The Yagudo had been…careless with her today, and she had sustained more internal injuries than was normal. At the end of the…session, she could hear the High Priest screeching at the High Templar for having tortured her too much and forcing it to cure her.
"It'll be here soon, squa-!" Saerun looked up at the sound of the High Priest Yagudo's voice.
"Good…we'll get our revenge then…and we'll dispose of the girl after," Saerun sighed. They were of course talking about her. But what exactly were they waiting for? Why did they want revenge? She had never done anything to truly aggrivate the Yagudo. In fact, the orcs probably had a better reason to kidnap/torture her than the Yagudo…didn't they?
She looked up and glared at the High Priest and Knight Templar as they stepped into her small cell. The Knight Templar scoffed.
"You Elvaans are so disgusting…" It said. She glared at it.
"Oh yes, cause it's my fault that you've trapped me here, bleeding," She muttered spitefully. The over a hundred days of torture had left its mark on her, both physically and mentally. She knew that she had a two inch scar along the side of her face, just in front of her right ear. Thankfully her small, front ponytail probably covered it well. However the whip lashes from over a week ago still hadn't healed, and she was certain that she would have the scars on her back for a very long time.
She was snapped out of her thoughts as a sharp blow to her face caused her head to crash against the wall with a sickening thud.
"You will not speak to us that way you little cretin!" The Knight Templar screeched at her. Saerun felt a warm liquid slowly dripping down her neck. Her vision swam and the darkened to the sound of the High Priest screeching at the Knight Templar.
//Day 122//
"Scream for me, little elvaan." Saerun tried her best to keep her screams in check, but to her dismay, a whimper escaped her mouth. The problem with the yagudo is that they didn't need tools in order to torture. Their featherstorms could slice her skin open, their screeches could cause neurological pain.
'I took my armor and job abilities for granted…' Her strong armor had been taken along with her weapons and had been replaced by a flimsy robe she would have had reservations about wearing even as a level one White Mage. 'That Azoth was really expensive too…' She coughed and sputtered as the blood from the open wound on her forehead poured into her mouth and nose.
The Yagudo High Templar simply stood there in front of her with the equivalent of a smirk on its ugly face.
"Damn…you…" She muttered softly, half hoping it would hear, but knowing that if it did, she'd be in for a world of pain. Cursing these buggers was the only thing keeping her sanity intact. Unfortunately it heard, and was in a good mood. It's good moods were always the worst.
"Now, now elvaan…where are your manners? I've told you many times before…CALL ME MASTER!" The large feather which had been twirled between it's talons, found itself embedded in her shoulder. Saerun gasped at the pain and did her best to keep the tears welling up in her eyes form falling.
"Nev….er…" She murmered, but her mind was screaming something else entirely. The Yagudo tsked softly.
"This could be so easy, child…just call me master and I'll stop…" She looked up in shock. She had never been given this option before. certain the Yagudo had demanded respect, but had never…
Her mind and body were screaming at her: 'Stop it! Stop being so stubborn! It hurts…please stop!'
"You can stop this pain…just say the word…" It's voice was almost…soothing….her mind was running a mile a second. The 'offer' had thrown her for a loop, allowing the pain to permeate her mind.
"That's too bad…" Apparantly she had been silent for too long. The Yagudo reached forward for its feather/dagger and twisted it while still embedded in her shoulder. Her mind, still in turmoil, had no forewarning of this, and the spike of pain took her completely by surprise. A loud shriek of pain escaped her mouth. After the spike of pain faded down to a dull throb, her body collapses against the wall, spent of energy.
The Yagudo stared at her for a moment before pulling it's dagger out, eliciting yet another sharp gasp of pain.
"All of you elvaan are so stubborn…too bad…" it then unleashed a feather storm at her, impaling her with the feathers in some places, and slicing her skin apart in others. Unprepared for the assault, tears fell down her face, mingling with the blood. She couldn't help it, she broke down sobbing.
"Please…s-stop…" She whispered. It was the fourth time she had broken down in front of them.
'No more…please…I can't-! No more!' Her body shook in pain with the sobs. The High Templar walked over to her, and she flinched with the sound of each step. It knelt down next to her and she averted her eyes.
"Say the word…and I'll stop and get the healer for you…" Her mouth worked, but no sound came out. It waited a few moments before pulling out several of the father/daggers embedded in her skin. She whimpered in pain.
"…Master…" the Knight Templar smirked and pulled out the remaining daggers, this time without pain. He stalked off, presumably to get the High Priest. She stared up at the ceiling, laying in a pool of her own blood, as the pain faded somewhat and her rational mind came forward. Her heart sunk.
'Oh Altana…What…have I done…?' She was about to fall asleep when she heard the sound of several Yagudo squaking and the clash of swords. Her eyes snapped open and she waited with baited breath. Was someone actually coming…?
"Saerun!" A powerful male voice called out through the halls.
"I-" Her voice cracked. "I'm here!" She called out as loud as she could, which wasn't terribly loud. It was loud enough though. Only a few seconds later, a literal Knight in shining armor appeared. He had silver hair, carrying a large shield and heavy armor.
"Oh Altana…! Sae!" He rushed over to her and helped her sit up, before casting a large cure on her, closing most of her major wounds. He quickly and easily broke the shackles on her hands. Her eyes closed as the warmth of her power returning filled her. A moment or two later, she opened her eyes to meet the concerned blue eyes of her father.
"Hi Daddy…" He looked relieved that she recognized him.
"Let's go home honey…I'm here to get you out of here…" Saerun glanced around.
"My daggers…where are they?" A moment later, her father held up two daggers.
"I saw these and thought that they might be yours…" He helped her to her feet. "Alright let's go home…"
Sweeter words she had never heard. The two walked out of the cells and then made their way towards the entrance of Castle Oztorja. Her father, with his bad limp, and she, with her wounds, made for a bit of a slow pair.
"Sae, sweetheart…I can't imagine the pain these beasts have put you through because of me… I am so, so proud of you… So many have been broken because of you…" She looked up into his smiling face and tears welled up in her eyes. She shook her head vehemently.
"No… I *did* break, daddy… I-… they promised not to hurt me anymore if I called it…master…and I did! I…I couldn't take it anymore…" The tears fell, in shame of what she had done. He stopped and knelt down to her level. Hee gently took her chin in his hand and forced her to look him in the eyes.
"Child- Oh don't give me that look, you're still a child to me- there's only so much that any person could ever take…If getting you to call one of them master was the best that they could do for over four months, then I'm even more proud of you for it," Tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, the words that she had longed to hear for over four months were being spoken. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of her shoulders. Her father was here and he had saved her.
"Father…" She turned around and hugged him tightly. A warm smile appeared on his face as he hugged her back.
"I love you, Sae…"
"I love you too, Daddy…" He pulled her away and gently tugged her along.
"Come on, let's go…" He quickly limped along and she followed him. Her happy feeling fell away as she sensed movement. From the slight shift she noticed from her father, she knew he had felt it too.
Her daggers were in her hands in a flash and she quickly stepped out of the way of an arrow shot at her. She clanced up, seeing many Yagudo ninjas sitting in the rafters.
"We're near the exit, let's go!" The two of them ran as quickly as they could, her father using his shield to block the attacks while she twirled and danced out the way.
She could see the door to Meriphataud Mountains when she heard a groan behind her. She spun around and her heart dropped to her stomach to see her father kneeling on the ground, an arrow sticking out of his leg.
"Father!" She quickly started running towards him.
"STOP! LEAVE HERE! GO!" She stopped, stunned at the commanding voice coming from him. A Yagudo stepped behind him, wielding a great katana. Her eyes widened.
"Behind you!!" She sprinted towards him, but she was too late. The yagudo thrust its great katana through her father's chest. The world stopped.
"No!!!" He collapsed to the ground just as she reached him. The yagudo laughed and backed away into the shadows. She gently turned him over and placed his head on her lap. He was still conscious, although barely.
"Daddy…" She whispered softly, tears flowing down her cheeks. His hand moved and he placed something in her hand.
"Take…this…get out of here…" His voice was weak.
"…Why…?" Her voice was choked with emotion. He smiled slightly at her.
"Because…I love you… you are more than worth it…don't ever forget that…" She nodded. "remember…all that I've taught you…grow and be happy, Sae…I am so proud of you…" His eyes fluttered closed and she felt the chill of a spirit passing by her. She closed her eyes and murmured the traditional San d'Orian funeral chant softly.
"I hope you enjoyed that, he was weak!" It was the High Priest standing behind her. She set his lifeless body down gently and then turned around, glaring at the High priest surrounded by its lesser yagudo.
"What a pathetic excuse for a knight! I was hoping for a challenge!" Something in her mind snapped. She was overcome by a blinding rage and her vision went red.
"…how…dare…you…! How…Dare…You…! HOW DARE YOU?!" Her daggers were in her hands and a second later, she was in front of the High Priest. Less than thirty seconds later, it was ripped apart to shreds by her daggers.
"SCREAM FOR ME!!! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU TOLD ME?!!! SCREAM FOR ME!!!" The other Yagudo were horrified at the sight. Once she was done, the High priest dropped to the ground, undoubtably dead. A dark smirk appeared on her face and she held her dagger up to her face and licked the blood off of it.
"HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE TORMENTED?!!! HEHE!!" She left forward and quickly slashed at the remaining yagudo. One or two hits were all it took to destroy any one of them. A minute later, she stood there gasping for breath, drenched in the blood of her foes. She looked around at the carnage around her, dead yagudo bodies littering the ground.
"Heh…heh…" A soft chuckly quickly became a full blown insane laughter.
Suddenly, there was the sound of something falling and her laughter cut off and she was instantly in an offensive battlestance, scanning for the threat. Her eyes were drawn to her father shield and she slowly walked over to it. A sparkle then drew her eyes to the ground and she picked up a small ring which he had pushed into her hand earlier. She glanced between the ring and the shield, sanity slowly returning to her. She silently picked up the shield and glanced at the ring. A Jeuonan ring. Two charges left.
"Jeunonan ring…Activate." Her vision went black.
––––––––––––
She was floating…it was black, all black, surrounded by black. Why did she hurt so much? Who was she?
Look! A glimmer of light! She ran (floated?) over to the sparkle and touched it. It was warm. She jumped as she was teleported to the verge of a curtain of light. She glanced around and then slowly parted the curtain and light shone into her eyes. Once they adjusted, she saw a copy of herself in front of a large screen standing on a small pedestal. The screen was currently blank. She turned around and glanced back into the darkness and shivered as memories assaulted her mind.
Torture,pain!Somuchpain!Crying,death! Father! She pulled herself out of her memories. What happened before she was captured…? She searched her memory but couldn't find anything in her memories about the time before…
I got my revenge…what else am I supposed to do…? She glanced again at her clone. Her look alike looked like she was…sleeping…she was so…peaceful. I must be the one who remembers…I am the alternate…She knew this in her heart. I will protect you…Sae. She didn't know how she knew her other's name.
Name…what is mine?
Just as she knew her other's name, she knew her own.
Heavens help the ones who try to hurt you Sae… I am Sobe, your other. The ones who try to hurt you will make the Yagudo look like child's play…
I will protect you.
~*^*~Life is pleasant, Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.~*^*~
Isaac Asimov
High Priest Yagudo = WHM
Knight Templar Yagudo = SAM
–––––––––––––––––––––-
//Day 121//
A hundred and twenty-one days. A hundred and twenty-one ticks in the wall. A hundred and twenty-one ticks in blood.
One third of a year. One third of a year she had been capture and held here. A thurd of ayear that she had been tortured. She was painfully reminded of this by the throbbing in her temple, the sharp pains in her lungs and chest, and the copper taste of blood in her mouth. Not for the first time, she had wished taht she had tried that fight on white mage. Then at least she could be able to recover even if she couldn't cast magic. But these damn shackles were restricting her usage of job abilities, so being a dancer was pretty much worthless.
A sharp pain struck through her chest, causing her muscles to spasm. Her small, frail body wracked with coughts and a new wave of copper flooded into her mouth. Once her body stopped its spasms, she turned her head and spat out the blood and took a long, shuddering breath. The Yagudo had been…careless with her today, and she had sustained more internal injuries than was normal. At the end of the…session, she could hear the High Priest screeching at the High Templar for having tortured her too much and forcing it to cure her.
"It'll be here soon, squa-!" Saerun looked up at the sound of the High Priest Yagudo's voice.
"Good…we'll get our revenge then…and we'll dispose of the girl after," Saerun sighed. They were of course talking about her. But what exactly were they waiting for? Why did they want revenge? She had never done anything to truly aggrivate the Yagudo. In fact, the orcs probably had a better reason to kidnap/torture her than the Yagudo…didn't they?
She looked up and glared at the High Priest and Knight Templar as they stepped into her small cell. The Knight Templar scoffed.
"You Elvaans are so disgusting…" It said. She glared at it.
"Oh yes, cause it's my fault that you've trapped me here, bleeding," She muttered spitefully. The over a hundred days of torture had left its mark on her, both physically and mentally. She knew that she had a two inch scar along the side of her face, just in front of her right ear. Thankfully her small, front ponytail probably covered it well. However the whip lashes from over a week ago still hadn't healed, and she was certain that she would have the scars on her back for a very long time.
She was snapped out of her thoughts as a sharp blow to her face caused her head to crash against the wall with a sickening thud.
"You will not speak to us that way you little cretin!" The Knight Templar screeched at her. Saerun felt a warm liquid slowly dripping down her neck. Her vision swam and the darkened to the sound of the High Priest screeching at the Knight Templar.
//Day 122//
"Scream for me, little elvaan." Saerun tried her best to keep her screams in check, but to her dismay, a whimper escaped her mouth. The problem with the yagudo is that they didn't need tools in order to torture. Their featherstorms could slice her skin open, their screeches could cause neurological pain.
'I took my armor and job abilities for granted…' Her strong armor had been taken along with her weapons and had been replaced by a flimsy robe she would have had reservations about wearing even as a level one White Mage. 'That Azoth was really expensive too…' She coughed and sputtered as the blood from the open wound on her forehead poured into her mouth and nose.
The Yagudo High Templar simply stood there in front of her with the equivalent of a smirk on its ugly face.
"Damn…you…" She muttered softly, half hoping it would hear, but knowing that if it did, she'd be in for a world of pain. Cursing these buggers was the only thing keeping her sanity intact. Unfortunately it heard, and was in a good mood. It's good moods were always the worst.
"Now, now elvaan…where are your manners? I've told you many times before…CALL ME MASTER!" The large feather which had been twirled between it's talons, found itself embedded in her shoulder. Saerun gasped at the pain and did her best to keep the tears welling up in her eyes form falling.
"Nev….er…" She murmered, but her mind was screaming something else entirely. The Yagudo tsked softly.
"This could be so easy, child…just call me master and I'll stop…" She looked up in shock. She had never been given this option before. certain the Yagudo had demanded respect, but had never…
Her mind and body were screaming at her: 'Stop it! Stop being so stubborn! It hurts…please stop!'
"You can stop this pain…just say the word…" It's voice was almost…soothing….her mind was running a mile a second. The 'offer' had thrown her for a loop, allowing the pain to permeate her mind.
"That's too bad…" Apparantly she had been silent for too long. The Yagudo reached forward for its feather/dagger and twisted it while still embedded in her shoulder. Her mind, still in turmoil, had no forewarning of this, and the spike of pain took her completely by surprise. A loud shriek of pain escaped her mouth. After the spike of pain faded down to a dull throb, her body collapses against the wall, spent of energy.
The Yagudo stared at her for a moment before pulling it's dagger out, eliciting yet another sharp gasp of pain.
"All of you elvaan are so stubborn…too bad…" it then unleashed a feather storm at her, impaling her with the feathers in some places, and slicing her skin apart in others. Unprepared for the assault, tears fell down her face, mingling with the blood. She couldn't help it, she broke down sobbing.
"Please…s-stop…" She whispered. It was the fourth time she had broken down in front of them.
'No more…please…I can't-! No more!' Her body shook in pain with the sobs. The High Templar walked over to her, and she flinched with the sound of each step. It knelt down next to her and she averted her eyes.
"Say the word…and I'll stop and get the healer for you…" Her mouth worked, but no sound came out. It waited a few moments before pulling out several of the father/daggers embedded in her skin. She whimpered in pain.
"…Master…" the Knight Templar smirked and pulled out the remaining daggers, this time without pain. He stalked off, presumably to get the High Priest. She stared up at the ceiling, laying in a pool of her own blood, as the pain faded somewhat and her rational mind came forward. Her heart sunk.
'Oh Altana…What…have I done…?' She was about to fall asleep when she heard the sound of several Yagudo squaking and the clash of swords. Her eyes snapped open and she waited with baited breath. Was someone actually coming…?
"Saerun!" A powerful male voice called out through the halls.
"I-" Her voice cracked. "I'm here!" She called out as loud as she could, which wasn't terribly loud. It was loud enough though. Only a few seconds later, a literal Knight in shining armor appeared. He had silver hair, carrying a large shield and heavy armor.
"Oh Altana…! Sae!" He rushed over to her and helped her sit up, before casting a large cure on her, closing most of her major wounds. He quickly and easily broke the shackles on her hands. Her eyes closed as the warmth of her power returning filled her. A moment or two later, she opened her eyes to meet the concerned blue eyes of her father.
"Hi Daddy…" He looked relieved that she recognized him.
"Let's go home honey…I'm here to get you out of here…" Saerun glanced around.
"My daggers…where are they?" A moment later, her father held up two daggers.
"I saw these and thought that they might be yours…" He helped her to her feet. "Alright let's go home…"
Sweeter words she had never heard. The two walked out of the cells and then made their way towards the entrance of Castle Oztorja. Her father, with his bad limp, and she, with her wounds, made for a bit of a slow pair.
"Sae, sweetheart…I can't imagine the pain these beasts have put you through because of me… I am so, so proud of you… So many have been broken because of you…" She looked up into his smiling face and tears welled up in her eyes. She shook her head vehemently.
"No… I *did* break, daddy… I-… they promised not to hurt me anymore if I called it…master…and I did! I…I couldn't take it anymore…" The tears fell, in shame of what she had done. He stopped and knelt down to her level. Hee gently took her chin in his hand and forced her to look him in the eyes.
"Child- Oh don't give me that look, you're still a child to me- there's only so much that any person could ever take…If getting you to call one of them master was the best that they could do for over four months, then I'm even more proud of you for it," Tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, the words that she had longed to hear for over four months were being spoken. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of her shoulders. Her father was here and he had saved her.
"Father…" She turned around and hugged him tightly. A warm smile appeared on his face as he hugged her back.
"I love you, Sae…"
"I love you too, Daddy…" He pulled her away and gently tugged her along.
"Come on, let's go…" He quickly limped along and she followed him. Her happy feeling fell away as she sensed movement. From the slight shift she noticed from her father, she knew he had felt it too.
Her daggers were in her hands in a flash and she quickly stepped out of the way of an arrow shot at her. She clanced up, seeing many Yagudo ninjas sitting in the rafters.
"We're near the exit, let's go!" The two of them ran as quickly as they could, her father using his shield to block the attacks while she twirled and danced out the way.
She could see the door to Meriphataud Mountains when she heard a groan behind her. She spun around and her heart dropped to her stomach to see her father kneeling on the ground, an arrow sticking out of his leg.
"Father!" She quickly started running towards him.
"STOP! LEAVE HERE! GO!" She stopped, stunned at the commanding voice coming from him. A Yagudo stepped behind him, wielding a great katana. Her eyes widened.
"Behind you!!" She sprinted towards him, but she was too late. The yagudo thrust its great katana through her father's chest. The world stopped.
"No!!!" He collapsed to the ground just as she reached him. The yagudo laughed and backed away into the shadows. She gently turned him over and placed his head on her lap. He was still conscious, although barely.
"Daddy…" She whispered softly, tears flowing down her cheeks. His hand moved and he placed something in her hand.
"Take…this…get out of here…" His voice was weak.
"…Why…?" Her voice was choked with emotion. He smiled slightly at her.
"Because…I love you… you are more than worth it…don't ever forget that…" She nodded. "remember…all that I've taught you…grow and be happy, Sae…I am so proud of you…" His eyes fluttered closed and she felt the chill of a spirit passing by her. She closed her eyes and murmured the traditional San d'Orian funeral chant softly.
"I hope you enjoyed that, he was weak!" It was the High Priest standing behind her. She set his lifeless body down gently and then turned around, glaring at the High priest surrounded by its lesser yagudo.
"What a pathetic excuse for a knight! I was hoping for a challenge!" Something in her mind snapped. She was overcome by a blinding rage and her vision went red.
"…how…dare…you…! How…Dare…You…! HOW DARE YOU?!" Her daggers were in her hands and a second later, she was in front of the High Priest. Less than thirty seconds later, it was ripped apart to shreds by her daggers.
"SCREAM FOR ME!!! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU TOLD ME?!!! SCREAM FOR ME!!!" The other Yagudo were horrified at the sight. Once she was done, the High priest dropped to the ground, undoubtably dead. A dark smirk appeared on her face and she held her dagger up to her face and licked the blood off of it.
"HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE TORMENTED?!!! HEHE!!" She left forward and quickly slashed at the remaining yagudo. One or two hits were all it took to destroy any one of them. A minute later, she stood there gasping for breath, drenched in the blood of her foes. She looked around at the carnage around her, dead yagudo bodies littering the ground.
"Heh…heh…" A soft chuckly quickly became a full blown insane laughter.
Suddenly, there was the sound of something falling and her laughter cut off and she was instantly in an offensive battlestance, scanning for the threat. Her eyes were drawn to her father shield and she slowly walked over to it. A sparkle then drew her eyes to the ground and she picked up a small ring which he had pushed into her hand earlier. She glanced between the ring and the shield, sanity slowly returning to her. She silently picked up the shield and glanced at the ring. A Jeuonan ring. Two charges left.
"Jeunonan ring…Activate." Her vision went black.
––––––––––––
She was floating…it was black, all black, surrounded by black. Why did she hurt so much? Who was she?
Look! A glimmer of light! She ran (floated?) over to the sparkle and touched it. It was warm. She jumped as she was teleported to the verge of a curtain of light. She glanced around and then slowly parted the curtain and light shone into her eyes. Once they adjusted, she saw a copy of herself in front of a large screen standing on a small pedestal. The screen was currently blank. She turned around and glanced back into the darkness and shivered as memories assaulted her mind.
Torture,pain!Somuchpain!Crying,death! Father! She pulled herself out of her memories. What happened before she was captured…? She searched her memory but couldn't find anything in her memories about the time before…
I got my revenge…what else am I supposed to do…? She glanced again at her clone. Her look alike looked like she was…sleeping…she was so…peaceful. I must be the one who remembers…I am the alternate…She knew this in her heart. I will protect you…Sae. She didn't know how she knew her other's name.
Name…what is mine?
Just as she knew her other's name, she knew her own.
Heavens help the ones who try to hurt you Sae… I am Sobe, your other. The ones who try to hurt you will make the Yagudo look like child's play…
I will protect you.
~*^*~Life is pleasant, Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.~*^*~
Isaac Asimov
~*^*~The Victory of Defeat~*^*~
Sobe walked into the cathedral, dressed her her navy blue Shinobi Gi, black sitabaki and red kotes. She glanced around, seeing the friars in their normal navy and black robes, and the clerics attending the sermon in their white robes.
"Of course he wouldn't be right here…" She muttered to herself, and then headed off towards the manuscript room.
(Wouldn't that be too easy though? He likes making you run laps around Ronfaure if you're late…)
Of course, Sae had to throw her two gil in. Sobe just groaned, before tucking a lose strand of hair behind her ear.
(*Yes, yes…I know that…*) She peered into the manuscript room, opening the door and walking in. Yet again, she saw no sign of him there.
"Ugh…one other place to check." She walked back out, closing the door to the manuscript room gently behind her, then walking down the stairs into the reliquary. It was a quiet, and empty room, the most notable feature being the altar that Pagisalis stood guard over. Sobe walked in and looked around.
(*He may as well be a Ninja for all that I'm able to track him…*)
"You are late." A man's voice spoke loudly in choppy english behind her. Sobe jumped and spun around in shock. There, standing behind her was Master Daiki Hotaka.
"Sir…Hotaka…" Sobe mumbled, looking away from him. The tall, elvaan male raised an eyebrow at her.
"You have problems. Calling me by title. We will address later." His voice had a thick far eastern accent, which made it hard for her to understand his words at times. "Come." The long, silver haired elvaan walked out towards the stairs. Sobe quickly jogged to keep up with his long strides.
"You are late. I told you 1. You here at 1:03. You meet me at the overly tall whatchacallit in the plateau. Run there now." Sobe stared in surprise for a moment. "Am I not clear? Run! Now!" Sobe jumped and then started jogging towards West Ronfaure, shaking her head as she did so.
"Run…to the crag…in La Theine Plateau?!"
As in-shape as Sobe liked to consider herself and Sae, she wasn't sure that even she could make it to the crag from the Chateau while running the entire way.
(*I guess I'll find out soon enough…*)
Sobe made it as far as the first clearing of the Plateau, before doubling over, gasping for breath.
"So not…as easy…as I thought…" She pulled out a bottle of water, before drinking half of it down. She pulled it away, staring at it and comtemplating dunking the rest over her head to cool herself off, but shook her head.
(Go Sobe! Keep going!) Sobe huffed.
"This isn't as easy as it looks, Sae…"
(Oh I know.) Sobe rolled her eyes, chugged the rest of the water, before putting the bottle back in her bag and continuing on. It took another twenty minutes, but eventually Sobe made it to the Crag of Holla, breathing heavily. Master Hotaka stood there, watching Sobe impassively.
"Thirty-five minutes. Next time you do Twenty-seven." He then pointed to the ground. "Fifty push ups. Now." Still just trying to catch her breath, Sobe got down into push up position and started doing pushups. By the time she got to thirty, her arms and upper body were screaming in protest. When she finally got to 40, her arms gave out, and she collapsed face-down into the dirt.
"You giving up?"
Sobe gritted her teeth. No, she couldn't give up.
"Never…" She said between her teeth, shoving herself back up to her hands and knees. Master Hotaka simply watched, almost looking disappointed. Each pushup that she did was slow, and each individual muscle seemed to protest even the slightest movement that she made.
(*Three more…Two more…-Ack!*) Sobe caught herself from nearly falling over. (*Almost…I can…I can do this…!*) She did one last push up before collapsing to the dirt, gasping for breath. Master Hotaka just shook his head at his student.
"Get up, stubborn one. I have important lesson today." Sobe leaned back onto her knees and pushed herself up from there. She stood and brushed the dirt off of her Gi before looking up at him. He stopped leaning against the crag and straightened up.
"To know to win, one must know how to lose. You, stubborn one, do not. You must learn when to back away, to plan again. You failed my test. Should have stopped when body told you to, not force self to keep working." He walked over to her, and once again, Sobe found herself mesmerized by the sheer power that he radiated even when doing something as simple as walking. She was snapped out of her thoughts when he continued speaking.
"You must learn when to ask for help. When to lay down your weapon and surrender. That is lesson for today. I will fight you, you will not fight back. Understood?" Sobe's eyes widened.
"Wha-" She was cut off by a powerful backhand to her cheek that knocked her to the ground. Anger flared up, and she leapt up to her feet. "What the hell?! Oof-!" She doubled over, and staggered back at the punch to her stomach.
"You cannot fight back." He delivered another backhand, which knocked her off balance and she fell back, her head hitting the dirt and stars swam in her vision from the blow. The Master watched and waited as Sobe slowly pushed herself back up to her feet.
"You know I am stronger than you, yes?" Sobe nodded her head reluctantly, though the action made her wince. "Then surrender. Lose to me, stubborn one. Say the word, and will stop."
“You can stop this pain…just say the word…” The Knight Templar's words from years ago echoed to her, and her mind flashedback to her time in that dark, bloodied cell. Red filled her vision, either from the memory or her rage.
"NEVER!" The Master frowned. The stubborn one was not accepting her lesson as he had hoped she would. In fact…it appeared to be making it worse. Something else was happening here that would need to be addressed. But for now…
It was painful, for both Master and Student. Attack after attack Master Hotaka launched at Sobe, and attack after attack Sobe took, and pulled herself off the ground from. The Master watched as her anger swelled and receeded, like the waves of the ocean, her stubbornness following it.
"Lose." She took a blow to the shoulder. She said nothing.
"Lose." A kick sent her flying backwards, leaving her sprawled out on the dirt, breathing heavily.
(*So…so tired…but…I can't…*)
"Losing is not the same as accepting defeat, stubborn one." He walked up to her inert form and stared down at her. She looked up at him, his words giving her pause.
"What is it, then?" He smiled a bit to himself. Perhaps the situation was not as bad as he had originally perceived.
"It is accepting your weakness. Accepting another is stronger than you. Respect it. It is respecting the ones stronger than you. Can you accept this, stubborn one? Can you lose to me long enough to grow stronger, so that I may teach you what I know? You asked me to be your teacher, to be your Master. Is my job to protect you, even from own self." Suddenly, everything clicked to her. The lesson of losing, his insisting that he call her Master…To lose was to make oneself better in the long run. He asked her to submit to him, not as a form of indignity, but so that he could help her and make her better. Her eyes widened at this revelation. Her stubbornness wasn't doing anything but holding her back. Perhaps…she could swallow her ego, and silence that part of her mind that screamed at her to keep fighting, to never give up.
She slowly rose to her feet, meeting his eyes once she stood fully. He sighed and settled into his fighting stance again. Therefore, he was startled when she suddenly averted her eyes and kneeled before him. He stepped out of his stance to watch.
"I surrender to you, Master. Please…teach me what you know, and help me become stronger. In body AND mind."
A pleased smile made its way onto his face. Perhaps the stubborn one would learn after all.
"I shall, Sobe. Homework for you though." Sobe nodded. The Master held out a hand to help her to her feet, which she took with gratitude. "You have explored your mindscape. But rage controls you more often than you notice. You will change the center of your mind. Build place that brings you complete peace, no anger allowed to enter. When anger threatens you, you retreat to place. Reflect on why anger controls you so often. Understood?" Sobe winced at the thought of her anger, but nodded.
"Yes…Master."
"You'll do. Meet at cathedral two days from now. One sharp or run laps around forest!" Master Hotaka walked off, without even waiting for a reply from Sobe. She simply shook her head, and winced. Her injuries were going to hurt later on.
She was going to need a quiet and peaceful place to work. She grinned as she thought of the perfect place. But first…she'd need to get to the Sanctuary of Zi'Tah.
last edited 729 weeks ago by Saerun
Powered By
Saerun Admin replied
729 weeks ago