Post by Roderick on Oct 9, 2022 12:20:57 GMT -8
Roderick would listen, wanting to take the time to focus and listen to his friend. He thought he did a good job using gestures and hand motions in his speech to show the beautiful scenery around them. He would hear that she hadn't traveled around the world just yet. Had she been wanting to do so? Was it just a side goal of hers to see the entire world? Or was it just her saying she hadn't seen the entire world as sort of just a fact about herself? In any case, she seemed to be now admiring the scenery for this fact. For she hadn't seen this place before. Or more specifically eaten at this place before. Which was a bit odd to him in hindsight. He had thought it was odd so maybe he shouldn't keep thinking too much about it. He felt like he should be happy that they would likely eat at this place again. "That's nice. Hope we can get something that isn't too formal to eat. We should just relax when eating." He would then hear her answer to his question from earlier about what she, or her group, would be doing once they moved to other parts of the mainland. Turns out, just the same thing they have been doing all this time. Just doing contracts or whatever. "Huh... heh, not sure what I expected. It probably should've been obvious to me that nothing would really change just because you changed a place or not. It's not like you become a new group by doing so." He should've realized that, but it didn't hurt to ask. It wasn't like they were going to change just by moving to a new place. He still had been curious though and still asked. No harm was done so he likely shouldn't be too hard on himself for asking it.
It did make sense. You wouldn't send the entire army to deal with a noise complaint. Scouting could be easily done by a few soldiers or a small squad. It also made sense financially and logistically. It would be overkill to do something so big unless said small task was very important. Then perhaps more trained troops could be sent to do the mission with lots of equipment or maybe just more people to do it. He did know of a few people who would likely warrant such extreme measures. Did he know these people personally? Of course not. Only through the media, books, in class, and the like. He knew of them, but it wasn't as if he knew them in person. Well, there was one. Her now. She was the leader of this military group, and he was able to imagine someone hiring an army to take her down or a few extremely trained people to do so. Assassinations and what not. It was similar to the murder of that General Gold fella she had been telling him about earlier. Of course, the difference was there that it was someone close to the guy. They were probably really skilled if they were a high-ranking person in that army of theirs before it fell but it was still only one person. It was likely from what she had been telling him that he perhaps caught the general off guard. She hadn't told him how they managed to kill him though. Maybe it was through poison? It could be that. Maybe the general was strong just like her and couldn't be beat so easily. So, poison was the way to go. Or maybe they just killed them in surprise because the general trusted them so much as to let their guard down. Could that happen to someone like her? The blue haired lady that he was sitting with at this very moment. He would think about it before coming to the conclusion that probably not. She seemed smart to him. Very smart actually from what she was telling him. He didn't think, despite her kind nature from what he's seen, that she would be taken off guard. She probably knew how the murder of the general happened and probably took measures to not let it happen to her. At least in his mind. He didn't think she could be hurt without some serious pre planning beforehand. Not only that, but it also still wouldn't be a guarantee since she was crazy strong. They would need something to even hurt her as well. Maybe some super weapon or the like. He wasn't sure.
Gosh, all this thinking did make him hungry. The brain did use a lot of calories to keep itself going... Was this what normal kids thought of or was he just special or different that way? He didn't know. Not like he could read minds or the like.
The thought of everyday possibly being your last did intrigue him. It was a thought he had thought about from time to time. Of course, he had thought of this just not too long ago. He would just listen to her speak. Listening into how despite all the preparations you could take to ensure that it wouldn't be your last, you could still lose your life or another's. That just was how life was. The unpredictable nature of it. Like the roll of a die. Chance. A bit like gambling the more he thought about it. Even with all your skill or experience, a random or astray shot might still be the end of your life. It was... chaotic. Combat was chaotic. He knew this. It was why he was so... thoughtful as to if he would survive a life or death scenario and why he thought so much about it. Could he survive a situation like that where he could die at any moment due to chance? Even with others more skilled or experienced than him falling or failing in the situation. He wanted to say yes. That he could but it was still random. No matter how much he thought to mitigate it. He continued to listen, hearing about her friend Teal again and how their time to make sure to know their troops could also be a detriment to themselves due to the chaotic nature of combat and how despite that, it was almost a guarantee that someone would lose their life in conflict. Despite all the training and experience, one might have beforehand. It was a thought in his mind that weighed heavy on him for the first few times he had thought about such a thing happening to him. A life-or-death battle... It was funny to him how he fantasized being in one when he was younger and even now. As much as he tried not to. In his hearing, he heard her talk about how that was just expected. To just accept the fact that, in her own words, Mr. Grim would be coming to take a soul. Anyone's soul in a time of battle. You could fight as hard as you could, kick and scream, try your hardest to fight against the skeletal hand of Mr. Grim but in the end, it would be taking a soul along with them. However, the kicking and screaming might be worse for the others. The sight of such a thing could be demoralizing to others and have Mr. Grim's attention is focused on them as well. You would have to be brave or just accepting about your fate so you wouldn't accidentally have others be dragged along with you. It was likely why you were trained plenty beforehand so that when your time was coming, you wouldn't panic or scream. He knew that even with so much training, you might break and freak out. Begging to not go. Would he be like that if... when his time came? The thought of dying had been coming to his mind... "... Hm... Guess it's why you all train so hard? So you'll be ready for the time that reaper comes?" He would ask, not so much in curiosity but because he felt the need to say something. With such a bleak topic on hand, he felt it appropriate to say something so the awkward silence wouldn't turn into a dreaded silence instead. He knew how tones could change with topics and with other factors as well. You didn't make a joke when someone was dying. Usually, it all just depended on what the person you were talking to was like and how you knew they would react.
He would notice the look on her face as he asked the question. He could tell she was in thought, likely about those that were possibly lost in her past. With her amount of time in this military group, he would be more than shocked if she said she hadn't lost a single person she cared about in her time of being a military leader. He was lucky he didn't lose anyone close to him in all his years, which to be honest were not much to some other aging peoples. Especially to those who were in constant external conflict and the like. Who did not have the assurance of being in a relatively safe place to live or sleep in. He was lucky in that sense as well.
His ears would be told to perk up, figuratively, as he heard her speak once again. Seems like she was done thinking, or reminiscing, about those dark places for now and time to answer some of his questions. He would make sure to listen about why she was so sociable. It seemed like it was practically mandatory to be somewhat sociable to wear an outfit like that. Given the context surrounding it and what it meant to others in the military group. That outfit meant you were supposed to lead and give orders to others below you. Not only that but to speak to others of equal standing to you so you could properly plan and strategize. It wouldn't be effective to be shy or quiet when you needed to be quick and proactive. Especially if you were in a battle where what order you gave could determine whether a few dozen died, or hundreds did. It went back to what he had been thinking about earlier. Despite your most rational decisions, there would almost always be some casualties under your command. Even with all your intelligence and possibly luck on your side. It would be like standing in a thunderstorm with no umbrella. No matter how quickly you tried to run in one, you were going to get wet in the end. He listened to how leadership, surprisingly, could be learned. It did help him give him some hope at this new knowledge. You could learn to be a leader and rise to the occasion. Sure, they were others out there where the role came to them more naturally. Some not even needing any training to learn how to do it but the feeling of it just being in their nature to do so. Perhaps it just comes to them naturally and it feels right to them. Maybe just where it felt most comfortable being in a group of people. Where their instincts told them they should be doing when others needed guidance. It sorts of reminded him of people who could swindle others out of some Zeni. But of course, those types of influence were different from each other, no? One was inspiring others and the other was deceiving others to give you what you desire. But besides that, he would hear at the end about how she still considered herself a student of leadership. Possibly implying she was still learning things about it even in all her years of being a commander of some sort. More specifically a leader to her troops. He didn't doubt you could still learn much more about things you considered yourself experienced in even with so much experience but to hear it from someone like her was quite something to him. "Hm... I guess I'll have to learn some stuff about that then if I want to live up to my name." His heart sped up a little as he felt the pressure just from saying that out loud in front of someone like her.
Stacking bonuses on bonuses one could say. Taking the best of both worlds and making something that could truly step up to the test of battle. It was something he did himself. Watching and learning from others and taking those bits of information to use. To better himself as he took the best of something for his own gain. When it was said like that, it sounded a bit sinister but it wasn't malicious in of itself. It was just how he did things. And he felt like it had worked out for him. Learning and copying from others and becoming better as a result of it. At least better in his perceived image of what he should be striving towards. Which was a bit vague in his mind to be fair. Taking a moment to keep on listening, hearing her say that it all did pay off in the end due all the experience she had acquired over the years. He wondered what that felt like? To know you have acquired so much skill over so long to the point you're not only good but great at it. He wasn't sure if he'd consider himself to be great at any particular thing. Even in video games he wasn't sure he was great at it. Just good at them since he did play a lot of them in his spare time. Which was the majority of the day usually. Or when he was just getting back from school and he wanted to procrastinate. Which was... almost every single day. He couldn't help it, it just felt nice to relax when you were supposed to be working!
Curious as to their whereabouts, he would ask where they were. He knew the people he used to know were probably living someplace far away where he was right now. They either moved or he had to move for one reason or another. it just worked out like that in the end. Not much he or they could've done about it at the time due to their age and knowledge. Besides, it wasn't like he knew them too well either to try and stop them from moving. They were just acquaintances at best during the time. As stated before, he was a shy person in his younger years so didn't talk to too many kids. If any at all when it happened. Besides, he still was trying to figure out how he should feel about certain things that had or would happen to him. Still trying to process his emotions and reactions to the world around him. Forming his views on things you could describe it as. He was very neutral and bored, so it was one of his past times. Trying to know how he should feel about things. Still listening, he would be keen on what she was saying about her friends. "Huh, neat. Are you still going North even once reaching Jingle village?" He was surprised at himself for knowing what town he was even in, but it could be chalked up to it being a spur of the moment and not wanting to embarrass himself. It could've been his brain just making sure he remembered it so he wouldn't be left there trying to remember where he was. Speaking of spur of the moment, he did feel a little proud of himself for using such a big word to describe her friend's location. He did hope she at least thought he was smart for using the word. He then heard that he could possibly check up on their location with the scouter she had given him. This thing could do anything! What else could this thing do that he didn't know about already? There were probably so many controls that he needed to learn before even attempting to try and figure out half of what this device he was currently wearing could do. "Oh? Really? Uh, how do I do that?" He wanted to test the device out to see if he could figure it out but decided against doing that for now. He didn't want to mess up this, very likely, expensive piece of equipment. If he ever joined up with her group, it was likely that was going to come out of his pay. Maybe even having to work under her to pay it off until he was in around his 500's! With his 500's being the number of years he would be working under her until he was able to pay off that scouter if he decided to try and figure out what it could do by himself and somehow break or mess it up. He was busy enough thinking if he had enough Zeni to rent a hotel or buy some food that he liked.
In the end, he would just have to wait until she told him how to use that mechanism of finding out where her friends were. Did it have a built-in GPS of important figures around the camp or what? Like tracking chips or something? He would believe it if she told him that was the case. With what he has seen she had at her disposal, tracking chips on their uniforms would be the most believable thing so far if he hadn't seen it with his very own eyes. That did bring up the question of if he was even allowed to tell anybody what he had seen here today? Was he under a vow of silence about what she was showing him now? It was a military camp but not an official one... he didn't think so anyways. Dang, he really needed to start remembering things or else it would bite him in the future.
But besides all of that nonsense, he would have to start focusing on the present, or past depending on how you viewed it, to listen to her retelling of what she had gone through in her history. He found it a bit humorous when she brought up memory problems as she spoke to him. A smile grew on his face under the mask he was wearing when she brought it up. Yeah, memory was a problem for him. A big problem. But it wasn't like he could forget his own age. That was too important. And like what she was saying to him, some experiences stuck with you for a long time. You are unable to forget the experience or emotion the event had caused you to experience. In other words, trauma. Like a scar for the brain. It did heal over time but for some, it never would truly fade away. Always staying there in the deep recesses of your mind. A part of you now and forevermore... kind of like marriage! Unless you got a divorce. Then it got complicated and well... gave someone else possible trauma... this was starting to sound a lot like a disease... Well, anyways, he would still listen to her. Quietly chuckling with her at her comment to herself. Not out of agreement but just it being a joke. It is not too true but something just to make someone else laugh. "No! No! It's fine! I actually like it. It's... nice to be able to talk to someone. Better than shoveling alone. At least to me. I like hearing your war stories. I just hope it's as enjoyable for you!" He would hope that helped lift her spirits before listening in once again to her small talk about General Gold again. So, he did have something he had been working on. From what she was saying, it sounded like it would've been a good thing. Hopefully to a lot of people out there. "Ah, I'm... sorry to hear that then. Wish he was able to do it then before all of that had occurred... but maybe you'll be able to do what he wanted one day. If that's a goal of yours..." He didn't want to have her do whatever that General Gold guy had planned if she didn't want to. He didn't even know what it was even about. She hadn't told him. Whatever it was, it was good so that was enough for him... right? Maybe she was already working on it, and he just didn't know it. Maybe this was it. Just helping others around the world. Albeit for a price. They still had to pay for their equipment, clothes, food and pay the soldiers and what not. That whole nonsense. And if she wasnt working on it, it was probably because it was too big to do alone, or they just didn't have the resources.
He would listen to her explaining her point of view on that matter. So maybe it wasn't a good thing in his eyes but only hers. As he had thought before, he didn't know what this General Gold guy had been working on. Only her saying it was a good thing. Once, or if, he found out and had been able to decide his views and feelings about the world, would he be able to decide if what they were working on was a good thing or not. He was still developing even as of now. Not only physically but mentally as well. Maybe this journey around places would help him solidify his stance on the world's problems. Or just on himself. He wasn't sure. Still working out what he was here for. And with what she finished her talk with, once he had seen enough of the world, enough to compare to what she's seen, he would be able to decide on what she was talking about. About what General Gold had been working on. He just hoped at the end, it was a good thing they had been working towards. Because he wanted to agree with them. "... yeah... maybe once I've seen enough... I'll be able to decide for my own..." So, that was a new goal he had. Gaining enough experience to decide how he felt about that project General something had been working on. He would ask what it was in the future. If he could recall it in the future but he trusted her to tell him once the time came. This new goal did also align with one of his preexisting goals too! To better himself in any way shape or form! Whether that be physically or mentally. To become the best and that whole idea. Which also led to another goal... attempting to achieve his other goals. Discipline to do them. He would need to force himself to do those things if he wanted to achieve any of his goals that he had set for himself. No matter how big or outlandish they seemed to him now. If he was able to just do the things he wanted to do, he would be able to start climbing that ladder to be the best version of himself. And maybe, just be the best at something in the world. He knew he could be something special. He just had to keep trying and trying until he was able to accomplish it. But how would he be able to do that? Well, gaining experience was one way to do it. It would be a slow journey, of course. It wasn't like he knew the best method of gaining experience yet but doing this? Going from place to place to help others? That could be a way to help on his way to achieving his goals. Then maybe he would be able to at least compare to her somewhat. It would be hard to do that with what he knew about her. She had seen quite a lot in the world so he would need to do at least a comparable number of things before he was able to do half of what she could.
Hearing her try to comfort him by asking such a question. He would feel a little better about himself for asking it. She at least knew it wasn't anything malicious in nature. His question was not being rude or the like. He simply was curious and just had enough boldness or confidence to ask the question to her. He would listen to her, listening to her explain her relationship with this General Gold fella and her clearing up that she didn't view him as a father or anything of the like. It sounded like she was trying to say that as a joke given the pause she gave before saying it so he gave a short and quiet chuckle at it so there wouldn't be an awkward silence following her attempt at a joke. Maybe he was rubbing off on her with his own jokes. But besides that, there were some in that group that did view him in such a way. Her specifying that it was mostly the younger troopers that looked up to the general in that light. He would wonder just how fatherly this General Gold was that she would say some would look up to this general in such a light. Was he cheerful and joyous? Had a warm aura around them that just gave you a warm and nice feeling inside of you? Or was it just because he always seemed to know the right thing to say? He didn't know yet but she did say that they were a great leader. Oh, he was getting his answer sooner than he expected as she explained to him what this guy was like. Hearing her describe him as a "jolly uncle". This was starting to make him think of Santa. It didn't help that he imagined the guy with a beard. Generals usually had beards, right? He seemed to think so. It just fit with the aesthetic in his mind. He would focus back in to hear her list out the three things that made him seem like a "jolly uncle". Good advice, good company, and good jokes. Yeah, that fit in his idea of what a jolly uncle would be like. He had really only seen uncles like that in idolized media. Usually at a table with lots of food and making everybody at the table laugh. He wished to be able to make people laugh like that whenever he would make a joke someday. Hearing her wonder on how different things would be in the South if he was still around, he would take a moment to think on how to reply "... maybe... would it be better? From what you've been saying, it seems like he was a good guy. Maybe it would've been even better than it is now...again sorry for what happened to him..."
He would feel that small snowball of confidence grow inside him when she laughed with him. It felt better to laugh with others about something than to laugh alone. Laughing alone felt... well, lonely. It just wasn't the same. But to why they were laughing, it seemed like she agreed with him. Was this such a common occurrence of people not reading the instructions of the MRE that they would mess it up? In turn, his joke of it being actually funny? He wasn't sure. Not like he had any experience with that. He could see that being the case though. He knew a thing or two about being lazy so people being so lazy to the point of not taking the time to actually read the smallest bit of instructions on how to properly set up a meal was believable to him. "Heh, yeah. We have come a long way. It would blow the mind of someone thousands of years ago about the thought of just being able to pour water on some powdery stuff and boom! You have some hot and ready food to eat. I'm glad I'm not the only one who seems to be surprised at the magic of such a thing being possible." Maybe it wasn't exactly powder in the MRE, but he wasn't sure! Never looked inside an MRE before...
Speaking on such technologies, other things of the like still amazed him. The fact they were able to store entire buildings in a small capsule only to pop it out anywhere they needed to have it was such an amazing thing to him. It was borderline magic! Even the simplest bits of technology they used were still quite amazing to him. Able to transmit snapshots of reality across the air into an object powered by lightning that was then conducted with the tiniest bits of metal that could store entire libraries of information. All of it is able to fit into the pocket of your pants. It would explode the mind of anyone who wasn't born with such luxuries that we take for granted today. He didn't go around everyday taking in awe of what they had but he did at least acknowledge from time to time about the fact they had what was essentially magic in their everyday lives. He, of course, knew there were differences between technology and magic. He had heard tales of wizards and the like. But he did wonder where the two differed. Was technology mostly physical? Needing earthly components in order to function? With magic being more supernatural? Not needing physical components and instead relying on esoteric things to function. Was it just the understanding of it? Technology had to advance but magic was there already. They need only attempt to grasp and learn all it could offer... Heh, not him thinking of things that he couldn't really understand. He barely understood the technology on his ear, less so about matters like magic. For the latter, it was not as if he would ever wield such powers. Perhaps he could utilize technology. He did like to think he was somewhat intelligent. But magic? That was a whole other can of worms that he wasn't sure he could truly understand. He had grown up using technology for most of his life. He couldn't remember the last time he had ever even come in contact with anyone using magic. Then again, it could be chalked up due to his deteriorating memory. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility. He very well could've met someone using magic and simply not be able to recall it as of now. But would he even know what said magic would look like. Again, the media didn't always portray an accurate depiction of it. And besides, he feels like if he ever did see magic, that would stick out in his memory as an important event... still, he wouldn't bet on himself to remember "important" events.
His views on workouts were possibly biased into thinking it was high intensity. He knew you could work out in other places other than the typical gym. Lifting heavy objects like rocks or small oak was indeed a valid form of exercise. Heck, even just picking up frozen meat and shipping it off to somewhere else could be counted as workouts. However, he had seen workouts in the media being portrayed as the stuff of sweating and grit. Pushing your body to the limits and almost torturing yourself in order to gain mass or muscle. So, there could be some bias in his thoughts of what could count as real exercise for him. This also brought up the fact he had never really worked out before. Not really in his mind. Perhaps it was just his views on exercise being warped but he couldn't think of a time where he really committed himself to truly working out his body. The closest he could think of getting to that was when he was home. Doing pushups and practicing his moves. Then again, he was pretty sure he did that for one day or two before stopping so that didn't really count in his mind. There was when he would run a lot with others. Running through grass and around the house whenever someone would want to race with him. Or when playing freeze tag. The memory of always being able to either out speed or out run them did make him smile under the ski mask. He would be out of breath, panting with his lungs feeling on fire. The air feels thicker somehow. Like blocks of air being forced in and out of his lungs. Thinking about it, he used to think of lots of concepts in blocks. Breathing, pain, and even how tough something was. He thought of it in blocks. He wasn't sure why. It was likely not of importance, but it was still an interesting fact about his early years that he did take in consideration. Sort of like the ice that was likely around the area. He hadn't realized he thought of such things up until this moment... he thinks... maybe he had realized this before and just forgot... in any case, he would listen to her speak to him. Listening into her views of what he had said. Seems like she shouldn't have been surprised on second thought. She seemed to be agreeing with his sentiment on shoveling snow not truly being an intense workout. Itt was simply something you would have to do from time to time whenever winter came. Like folding your laundry or making sure to wipe off any dust on your countertops or tables. You wouldn't count that as exercise now, would you? It was simply small stuff you had to make sure to do less of. You didn't want those problems to grow any bigger. He felt a little warm inside despite the cold when she said he has quite an endurance. Even if it was for only small, low intensive activities like shoveling snow. Looking to the side and seeing the shovel when she gestured to it. He would grip onto his knees then, pondering on how to reply. "Ah, thank you. Um..." He tried to make sure his nervousness on receiving such a small compliment wouldn't show. "... it was easy, really. I'm sure others in your group could do the same thing as I have. Probably better than me."
He would make sure to tune in from his thought world and into this reality when she seemed to be getting ready to speak once again. Having noticed her leaning back and thinking about his question. He wanted to be ready to listen in and not miss out on anything. She seemed to know quite a lot and experienced many things. Even small questions on whether or not she had been really hit with a baton or not during her training could reveal something important that he would need to know. He would hear about how your prior experiences, specifically about whether or not you've shot a firearm before or not, wouldn't really help with a military lifestyle. And upon further thought, it did make sense. It was like having experience with computers and thinking you could code. Yes, you have used a computer before. Maybe even having used one for almost your entire life. From your work life to just personal enjoyment, you could've used it daily. However, it didn't mean you knew how a computer actually worked and where to even begin on how to program one. It could be compared to something like that. You would know how to use a computer, but you wouldn't know how to make one. You could shoot an animal while everything was quiet, and you knew it was there. Hitting it with perfect aim. But could you land a perfect shot all the same when it was shooting back? With orders being shouted all over you? Your palms sweating on whether or not the line next to you could hold off other attackers? Your hands shaking and causing your gun to shake as you were trying to shoot off moving targets that you possibly didn't know were there or not. Hiding in bushes, trees, or hiding amongst man made buildings. Could you have the same aim as you claimed to have had whenever you went hunting? He would think not. Not even counting for the fact you possibly had less than 6 hours to sleep the other night and the food you had eaten tasted like paper or such. All of those factors would be on your mental state/fortitude. Not the skills you made through calm environments. "... ouch. That sounds like it would hurt. I hope they didn't hit you too hard. I don't think I've been hit by one, but I can imagine being hit with a thick hunk of wood would hurt quite a bit. Hope they hit you on the parts where you had padding or something. I know I would try to stuff my pockets to soften the blows." Then looking at his MRE, wondering if he should take a bite out of it now that it was done.
He would begin to take out the utensils to get ready to eat his MRE. He would pull down his ski mask just enough to where he could have his mouth out so he could actually eat the MRE. He would try not to mess it up too badly as he took out a portion of the smoking meal. He would hesitate, blowing on it to cool it down despite the already cold air before taking a bite out of the meal. It tasted quite... okay. It wasn't the best thing in the world he had eaten but what was he expecting. Hopefully not a 5-star meal from an equally reputable restaurant. Besides, he had decided to choose quite a bland meal choice to begin with because of his poor taste buds that were so awfully picky in what dared to enter his mouth. He would look up to her just in time to see her hand move to her rear. Did he miss some context in that short time of getting ready to eat? He noticed her rubbing it and upon listening to her retell a story, he would realize she was remembering a not so fond memory of being hit with a baton. So, he didn't look at something he wasn't supposed to. He felt a bit relieved at this. "Oh gosh. So, they did hit you hard. I guess you just have to learn the hard way, huh?" Would he be hit with a baton if he joined her group? He didn't want to be hit, let alone be hit with a baton. A weapon tailor made to hit someone and make it hurt. "Huh, sodas better than a bottle in a military setting it seems..." Bottle... did she use that word to not say alcohol around him or was that just how she said it? He felt mature enough to have such words be used around him. Not like he minded being treated like someone younger. He wasn't those bratty kids who acted older than they were... he hoped.
He could just feel the pressure of her staring at him. Able to feel her eyes intensely watching his every move on working out the device that was now on his ear. He didn't want to mess up before but now? He really didn't want to. He felt like if he messed up just one bit of instruction she gave him, she would be ready to call it out to him. In his mind, she wouldn't give out that call out so kindly as she had been before. Fortunately, enough, he was able to work out the device well enough and give out the power level of hers which needless to say, shocked him to no end. His wide eyes gave away all of his utter amazement of her terrifying level of power. It being of machines and seasoned warriors in his eyes. It was the stuff of movies. Being the overpowered main character of a story or maybe the seasoned mentor who knew quite a lot and seen quite a bit. He never would've thought, at least at this age, he would be in front of someone with that kind of power. Especially someone he considered a friend. He thought she was strong but not this crazy strong.
It was really shocking to him. It was half a joke and half serious. He wondered what kind of stuff you would have to do in order to gain such monstrous power. In his eyes, you would have to be seriously dedicated to fighting in order to reach such heights in power. The amount of training and discipline to achieve that would be insane. Walking on coals or walking through a snowstorm, bare naked type of training. Life on the line types of battles. All of that is very believable to him if she said she had done that type of experience before. He wouldn't doubt her. From what she had told him of her training, it was hard but he didn't think it was that hard. He was thinking of some average military training. Not extreme rules of life and death. Like just trying to stay fit and ready. Was practicing your aim with firearms that strenuous? Who had she been training to fight? Demons? On second thought, that was likely who she was training to fight. And then remembering she had fought demons before. So now thinking about how powerful she was and who she had to fight, it made a lot more sense to him then. Of course, she would have to be this powerful. Maybe she wasn't fighting on the front lines all the time given her rank, but she would still have to be quite tough to face battles such as those. He would then receive the answer to his question of what she was eating in order to get power like that, and it seemed it was more modest than one would anticipate at first. It seemed to be eating well and keeping up with maintaining your body. He was, at first, a little let down but this modest answer. She could've said she had to punch trees into houses or break boulders into fine rubble or eat protein packed meals with super soldier serum and he would've believed her. However, this momentary let down was then replaced with curiosity as she further explained how she got this powerful. The most important part of how she got this strong was her training. Well, he could've guessed that but what type of training? His mind raced with thoughts of supernatural feats. He heard her explain Ki once again. It seemed like it was more important than he once thought. It seemed like you had to nurture it. In his mind, he thought of a plant being watered. He wondered how you even brought Ki into your regiment. Did you just focus and say "Ki!" in your mind and you were now able to use Ki or something? He still didn't know a whole lot about it. He only knew you had to eat or work out to gain strength. He only knew inputs and outputs. He didn't know how you got the input to the output. Her strength was detailed even more as he heard she had started training at the ripe old age of FIVE. He was sure he didn't learn how to talk until he was around five. Let alone start working out his body at that age. He was wondering why she even started training at 5. Who was training her? Some old geezer with years of honing their skill? He listened to her on how people used Ki without even knowing but it seemed like when they did use it, it was far from actually using it in training. She even explained that a dedicated martial artist who focused only on their body could get over a hundred in power level if they trained hard enough. He felt weird at this and felt a sneeze coming on before stopping it. Weird, he just felt the sudden urge to sneeze all the sudden. There isn't even any pollen out here. He didn't think so. However, despite all those outlandish things he had thought, the fact she was saying she wasn't special compared to others AND that there were others who outclassed her was just bewildering to him. "...I'm sorry, all of that was like a blur to me... I'm... still trying to process all of this new information that you've been giving me." He began to rub his head in the information overload that was happening inside his mind. He was learning quite a lot in such a short period of time.
He took a moment to take in all she had said to him, taking a bite out of his MRE as he tried to retain all this information in a clear and concise manner. One in which he would be able to recall and make sense of in the future. It was a hopeless endeavor given the amount of information he had just received and his track record of recalling things, but it was worth a shot in his mind, nonetheless. He took a moment to focus as he heard her speaking. Clearing his mind somewhat of all the information that now occupied his mind, he would listen to her explain Ki once again. On how it was, in her own words, "the secret sauce that can inflate power levels above a hundred plus.”. She said that he would need to train that energy one day in order to achieve something like... this... his eyes would widen once again as he noticed her point a finger up in the air. Not too long after she did this would a blue point appear right above her finger. It would begin to grow bigger and bigger above her fingertip until it was around the size of a marble. However, unlike most marbles that he knew of, this marble was pure blue and floated above her fingertip. He would hear her whistle before watching this blue marble shoot up into the ever-darkening sky above them. Then blasting into, in his opinion, a beautiful display of fireworks in the sky. Almost like a show in the sky above them. His eyes and head had tracked the movement of the ball all the way as he didnt want to miss even a second of it. Sort of like a moth to a flame in his eyes. Or like a moth to a moving light bulb. Something profound and metaphorical. He wasn't sure. He was too focused on the blue marble of light. His head, along with his eyes, would look back down to her when he heard her speak to him once again. Trying his hardest not to let the words go in and out of his ears as he wanted to make sure he retained anything she had to say to him. She had done something he had only seen in the media right in front of him, so she had all his attention. However, just like the media, he would find it hard to believe. Him? Having potential to go far? His self-deprecating thoughts entered his mind once again. He couldn't be something great. Maybe he did have potential, but he couldn't do what she just did in front of him just now. He was just a nobody from whocaresville. He was so focused on his demotivating thoughts that what she said to him almost slipped by him.
He would focus in, listening to her next set of instructions to navigate the machines, proper term being scouter, controls. He would still be on edge and make sure to follow the directions word for word so he wouldn't mess up the machine or do something or press something he wasn't supposed to. Thankfully, he was able to do it properly and now a reading of his own power level was now coming up on the machine/scouter/whatever you wanted to call it. He saw the numbers spinning on the display before a number came up. 0. He felt a sudden rush of confusion at the reading before then it rose to 1. Then 5. Then it began to rise with his rush of sudden confusion before stopping at 150. This shocked him even more. 150??? Then it shot up once again as his surprise shot up as well. It then finally stopped at 384. He felt a wave of shock but the number didn't go up anymore. Oh... that was good! He wasn't sure entirely on how to feel about the reading this thing gave him. However, he felt like he should be happy. That was quite an amazing power he had inside him that he didn't know. This meant he was so much more powerful than an average person, right?!?! He would hear her speak up to him on his power level and even with his own thoughts betraying what she had to say about him, he would have to agree. He was this strong and he hasn't even begun to start training his ki... or train at all!
He felt that snowball of confidence begin to roll down a snowy hill. About to grow very large. He felt so many emotions at this. He was strong! Super strong! Not stronger than her of course but still crazy strong in comparison to a normal person! Was he still a normal person or was he something more now! Now his thoughts were trying to imply he was something more! He had to keep that in check but wow! Unreal! My gosh, this is amazing! He feels incredible! He felt like he could win in a tournament! He feels great! He could do any amount of training. He feels like he could do anything! He could even try to do what he always wanted to do. Start being disciplined and motivated. All this sudden rush of emotions would keep him fueled and happy. However, his thoughts were still there. So he was strong, So what? It's not like he has changed as a person or anything. What was the difference between then and now? Well, the difference was that he knew he was super strong now! He didn't know that before. Yes, but he still struggled to do the most basic things that he needed, not wanted to, do in his life. That was... true. But he could be better now! He could do the things he needed and wanted to do! He just had to keep this rush of good emotions going through him for long enough to do them! He just had to remember that he was super strong and fuel these good emotions! He just had to focus on them.
The MRE was about halfway eaten from where she was sitting. He had only really started to eat. He didn't want to eat too quickly in front of her. He didn't want to look like a slob right in front of her. But with how he was feeling, maybe he should! Or he shouldn't... or he should! No, he shouldn't. His MRE had finished cooking some time ago, but it would take some time before he would be done eating it. He would be snapped out of his good emotion fueled thoughts back into reality when she began to speak to him once again. "O-Oh, yeah! Of course! We totally can!" He even said totally! That was such a surfer thing to say. Saying he felt good couldn't even start to explain how incredible he was feeling right now. With what she was saying, it felt like he could actually be something one day. It was such an exhilarating experience!
Hearing what she was saying, his mind began to race with ideas. He could become king! He could become the ruler of something. He could do good for others. He could be someone amazing one day! He could unlock all the hidden potential inside him! That did bring a thought, however. What would he be the king of anyway? That... was something he hadn't thought about. Well, he had thought about it before so that wasn't entirely true but when he thought about it, what would he be the king of? Where would he rule over? Rule... that word... did not sit too well with him. It felt too... evil sounding. Too malicious in nature. It had a negative connotation to be specific. He had to use another word for later but still. What would he be the king of? Just a small town? Nah, that seemed too small. What about the continent? That seemed too big for him right now. Well... what about just a small region? Like the South? Now that was an idea. He could... govern that. Yeah, govern was a better word. He could govern a region. He wasn't sure where he was going to end up at the end of all this, but he felt like a region was just the perfect size for him. Not too big for him in the future and not too small where the title "king" was too much. King of a region was good. No, great! Yeah, that sounded great. Gosh, he would need to start learning quite a lot in the future. Not just about how to fight or in power levels or whatever but in actual leadership. How to run a nation and what not. That would be a lot of learning. Then if, no, WHEN he got into power, he would have to do so much work in order to make sure it was running not only functionally, but also well enough that people would enjoy living there. He wanted to help people after all. Gosh, then he would need to learn how to talk with people whenever meetings of world leaders happened, and he would need to make sure certain people were happy, so he didn't get into any trouble. Not only that, but he would also have to then be ready to be blamed with any perceived problems in the nation and- oh my gosh that would be soooo much work.
At the very least, for now, he felt quite amazing about himself. He felt incredible even. He could do this. Sure, he wasn't over an unholy 6600 in power levels, but he was still in the good hundreds. He was way above a measly 5. That number seemed so low to him now. Not too long ago, he was worrying that he wouldn't even have been above a 5 but he was nearly 100 times larger than that. He was super-duper powerful. He had this strength inside him this whole time and he didnt even. How didnt he know he was this strong? He felt like he would've known this. All those times of not being able to lift that heavy weight at the gym or struggling to maintain his hold on something. All those times he didn't feel like he was much stronger than the average person his age, but that machine said he was. Was it just a fluke? Was it just broken? Did it miscalculate? Maybe it just confused some Ki in the air from hers as his own or something. Could he really be this insanely powerful? He looked at his gloved hand for a moment. Curling it into a fist before uncurling it into a hand once again. Was he really this strong? Did he have this sort of power dormant inside of him? It was all him, right? So, why hadn't he felt this powerful in all his years prior? Could he just not access it? He remembered her saying that you needed to use it during training. Could he just not use it at all? These thoughts raced through his mind as the number 384 stuck in his mind... he needed to think of something else, but he couldn't. This was such a huge revelation to him. It was such a big thing that he couldn't just focus his attention onto something else. This had to be addressed in his mind. But he could address it later! When he would talk to her later about the matter of being a king and his potential. He would take a moment before letting out a sigh. He moved to eat his MRE and tried to clear his mind. He needed to focus and clear his mind. He couldn't eat well with these thoughts racing in his mind. He would sigh, feeling the food rest in his mouth. So much thinking did tire him out somewhat. Even if the physical chores did not. Maybe that was why he was so tired or lethargic all the time. He was just too tired mentally to do anything that he could consider noteworthy in his standards. Just too tired... too tired to do anything...
...Yet despite that... despite being exhausted almost all the time, he had reached this level of power without even noticing. Without anyone noticing. He wasn't only smart, he was strong. Crazy strong. He had untold amounts of potential inside him. Even with all the days, weeks, months, and years of feeling awful... he was this strong. He was still standing. He was still scary strong in his own right. He hadn't done anything he considered to be real training and yet he had achieved this power. He could be something. He could do something. He only needed the right kind of training and eating and all that jazz to do it. He just needed help. Did he really need help? He got this far alone. Come on, this is our first real shot! He only found out he was this strong because of her. Because she decided to meet with him. Because she decided to talk to him. Because she decided to be friends with him. Because she decided to help him. Despite all his annoyances and being such a failure, she decided to stick with him in this short, agonizing amount of time. He had seen what he did when he was alone. When nobody helped him. How far does he think he could get if he had the help of somebody else? Someone who seemed to care for him. She seemed to know what she was doing. She had started training at 5 for crying out loud... wait, at 5 power level or at the age of 5. He assumed 5 because it just entered his mind as age, but could she have meant power level? He didn't know- he was getting off topic! She could help him do actual training. Eat well. Have discipline and motivation to do the things he wished to do. Besides, not only could she help him physically but also mentally. She seemed pretty smart from what he had heard from her. At least from what she has been telling him. With a nice military lady who seemed to consider him a friend and seemed to believe in his potential, she could really bring that out of him. He could do things he could only dream of. He was only... what? 1/20th as strong as her? Oh my gosh, he was only 1/20th as strong as her. That's so much closer than he would've thought initially. He thought her power was unattainable to him but maybe... it wasn't. Maybe he could actually rival her in power one day! It would take lots of training, good eating, and long rests but he was sure that he could rival her one day!
He could truly become something unreal. He could be superhuman. No... Human. He didn't like the word superhuman. He could become a strong human. He... He could be something great. He... He would do something great.
("10,029 words. 53,030 words in total.")
Emargine "Azure" Cerola
It did make sense. You wouldn't send the entire army to deal with a noise complaint. Scouting could be easily done by a few soldiers or a small squad. It also made sense financially and logistically. It would be overkill to do something so big unless said small task was very important. Then perhaps more trained troops could be sent to do the mission with lots of equipment or maybe just more people to do it. He did know of a few people who would likely warrant such extreme measures. Did he know these people personally? Of course not. Only through the media, books, in class, and the like. He knew of them, but it wasn't as if he knew them in person. Well, there was one. Her now. She was the leader of this military group, and he was able to imagine someone hiring an army to take her down or a few extremely trained people to do so. Assassinations and what not. It was similar to the murder of that General Gold fella she had been telling him about earlier. Of course, the difference was there that it was someone close to the guy. They were probably really skilled if they were a high-ranking person in that army of theirs before it fell but it was still only one person. It was likely from what she had been telling him that he perhaps caught the general off guard. She hadn't told him how they managed to kill him though. Maybe it was through poison? It could be that. Maybe the general was strong just like her and couldn't be beat so easily. So, poison was the way to go. Or maybe they just killed them in surprise because the general trusted them so much as to let their guard down. Could that happen to someone like her? The blue haired lady that he was sitting with at this very moment. He would think about it before coming to the conclusion that probably not. She seemed smart to him. Very smart actually from what she was telling him. He didn't think, despite her kind nature from what he's seen, that she would be taken off guard. She probably knew how the murder of the general happened and probably took measures to not let it happen to her. At least in his mind. He didn't think she could be hurt without some serious pre planning beforehand. Not only that, but it also still wouldn't be a guarantee since she was crazy strong. They would need something to even hurt her as well. Maybe some super weapon or the like. He wasn't sure.
Gosh, all this thinking did make him hungry. The brain did use a lot of calories to keep itself going... Was this what normal kids thought of or was he just special or different that way? He didn't know. Not like he could read minds or the like.
The thought of everyday possibly being your last did intrigue him. It was a thought he had thought about from time to time. Of course, he had thought of this just not too long ago. He would just listen to her speak. Listening into how despite all the preparations you could take to ensure that it wouldn't be your last, you could still lose your life or another's. That just was how life was. The unpredictable nature of it. Like the roll of a die. Chance. A bit like gambling the more he thought about it. Even with all your skill or experience, a random or astray shot might still be the end of your life. It was... chaotic. Combat was chaotic. He knew this. It was why he was so... thoughtful as to if he would survive a life or death scenario and why he thought so much about it. Could he survive a situation like that where he could die at any moment due to chance? Even with others more skilled or experienced than him falling or failing in the situation. He wanted to say yes. That he could but it was still random. No matter how much he thought to mitigate it. He continued to listen, hearing about her friend Teal again and how their time to make sure to know their troops could also be a detriment to themselves due to the chaotic nature of combat and how despite that, it was almost a guarantee that someone would lose their life in conflict. Despite all the training and experience, one might have beforehand. It was a thought in his mind that weighed heavy on him for the first few times he had thought about such a thing happening to him. A life-or-death battle... It was funny to him how he fantasized being in one when he was younger and even now. As much as he tried not to. In his hearing, he heard her talk about how that was just expected. To just accept the fact that, in her own words, Mr. Grim would be coming to take a soul. Anyone's soul in a time of battle. You could fight as hard as you could, kick and scream, try your hardest to fight against the skeletal hand of Mr. Grim but in the end, it would be taking a soul along with them. However, the kicking and screaming might be worse for the others. The sight of such a thing could be demoralizing to others and have Mr. Grim's attention is focused on them as well. You would have to be brave or just accepting about your fate so you wouldn't accidentally have others be dragged along with you. It was likely why you were trained plenty beforehand so that when your time was coming, you wouldn't panic or scream. He knew that even with so much training, you might break and freak out. Begging to not go. Would he be like that if... when his time came? The thought of dying had been coming to his mind... "... Hm... Guess it's why you all train so hard? So you'll be ready for the time that reaper comes?" He would ask, not so much in curiosity but because he felt the need to say something. With such a bleak topic on hand, he felt it appropriate to say something so the awkward silence wouldn't turn into a dreaded silence instead. He knew how tones could change with topics and with other factors as well. You didn't make a joke when someone was dying. Usually, it all just depended on what the person you were talking to was like and how you knew they would react.
He would notice the look on her face as he asked the question. He could tell she was in thought, likely about those that were possibly lost in her past. With her amount of time in this military group, he would be more than shocked if she said she hadn't lost a single person she cared about in her time of being a military leader. He was lucky he didn't lose anyone close to him in all his years, which to be honest were not much to some other aging peoples. Especially to those who were in constant external conflict and the like. Who did not have the assurance of being in a relatively safe place to live or sleep in. He was lucky in that sense as well.
His ears would be told to perk up, figuratively, as he heard her speak once again. Seems like she was done thinking, or reminiscing, about those dark places for now and time to answer some of his questions. He would make sure to listen about why she was so sociable. It seemed like it was practically mandatory to be somewhat sociable to wear an outfit like that. Given the context surrounding it and what it meant to others in the military group. That outfit meant you were supposed to lead and give orders to others below you. Not only that but to speak to others of equal standing to you so you could properly plan and strategize. It wouldn't be effective to be shy or quiet when you needed to be quick and proactive. Especially if you were in a battle where what order you gave could determine whether a few dozen died, or hundreds did. It went back to what he had been thinking about earlier. Despite your most rational decisions, there would almost always be some casualties under your command. Even with all your intelligence and possibly luck on your side. It would be like standing in a thunderstorm with no umbrella. No matter how quickly you tried to run in one, you were going to get wet in the end. He listened to how leadership, surprisingly, could be learned. It did help him give him some hope at this new knowledge. You could learn to be a leader and rise to the occasion. Sure, they were others out there where the role came to them more naturally. Some not even needing any training to learn how to do it but the feeling of it just being in their nature to do so. Perhaps it just comes to them naturally and it feels right to them. Maybe just where it felt most comfortable being in a group of people. Where their instincts told them they should be doing when others needed guidance. It sorts of reminded him of people who could swindle others out of some Zeni. But of course, those types of influence were different from each other, no? One was inspiring others and the other was deceiving others to give you what you desire. But besides that, he would hear at the end about how she still considered herself a student of leadership. Possibly implying she was still learning things about it even in all her years of being a commander of some sort. More specifically a leader to her troops. He didn't doubt you could still learn much more about things you considered yourself experienced in even with so much experience but to hear it from someone like her was quite something to him. "Hm... I guess I'll have to learn some stuff about that then if I want to live up to my name." His heart sped up a little as he felt the pressure just from saying that out loud in front of someone like her.
Stacking bonuses on bonuses one could say. Taking the best of both worlds and making something that could truly step up to the test of battle. It was something he did himself. Watching and learning from others and taking those bits of information to use. To better himself as he took the best of something for his own gain. When it was said like that, it sounded a bit sinister but it wasn't malicious in of itself. It was just how he did things. And he felt like it had worked out for him. Learning and copying from others and becoming better as a result of it. At least better in his perceived image of what he should be striving towards. Which was a bit vague in his mind to be fair. Taking a moment to keep on listening, hearing her say that it all did pay off in the end due all the experience she had acquired over the years. He wondered what that felt like? To know you have acquired so much skill over so long to the point you're not only good but great at it. He wasn't sure if he'd consider himself to be great at any particular thing. Even in video games he wasn't sure he was great at it. Just good at them since he did play a lot of them in his spare time. Which was the majority of the day usually. Or when he was just getting back from school and he wanted to procrastinate. Which was... almost every single day. He couldn't help it, it just felt nice to relax when you were supposed to be working!
Curious as to their whereabouts, he would ask where they were. He knew the people he used to know were probably living someplace far away where he was right now. They either moved or he had to move for one reason or another. it just worked out like that in the end. Not much he or they could've done about it at the time due to their age and knowledge. Besides, it wasn't like he knew them too well either to try and stop them from moving. They were just acquaintances at best during the time. As stated before, he was a shy person in his younger years so didn't talk to too many kids. If any at all when it happened. Besides, he still was trying to figure out how he should feel about certain things that had or would happen to him. Still trying to process his emotions and reactions to the world around him. Forming his views on things you could describe it as. He was very neutral and bored, so it was one of his past times. Trying to know how he should feel about things. Still listening, he would be keen on what she was saying about her friends. "Huh, neat. Are you still going North even once reaching Jingle village?" He was surprised at himself for knowing what town he was even in, but it could be chalked up to it being a spur of the moment and not wanting to embarrass himself. It could've been his brain just making sure he remembered it so he wouldn't be left there trying to remember where he was. Speaking of spur of the moment, he did feel a little proud of himself for using such a big word to describe her friend's location. He did hope she at least thought he was smart for using the word. He then heard that he could possibly check up on their location with the scouter she had given him. This thing could do anything! What else could this thing do that he didn't know about already? There were probably so many controls that he needed to learn before even attempting to try and figure out half of what this device he was currently wearing could do. "Oh? Really? Uh, how do I do that?" He wanted to test the device out to see if he could figure it out but decided against doing that for now. He didn't want to mess up this, very likely, expensive piece of equipment. If he ever joined up with her group, it was likely that was going to come out of his pay. Maybe even having to work under her to pay it off until he was in around his 500's! With his 500's being the number of years he would be working under her until he was able to pay off that scouter if he decided to try and figure out what it could do by himself and somehow break or mess it up. He was busy enough thinking if he had enough Zeni to rent a hotel or buy some food that he liked.
In the end, he would just have to wait until she told him how to use that mechanism of finding out where her friends were. Did it have a built-in GPS of important figures around the camp or what? Like tracking chips or something? He would believe it if she told him that was the case. With what he has seen she had at her disposal, tracking chips on their uniforms would be the most believable thing so far if he hadn't seen it with his very own eyes. That did bring up the question of if he was even allowed to tell anybody what he had seen here today? Was he under a vow of silence about what she was showing him now? It was a military camp but not an official one... he didn't think so anyways. Dang, he really needed to start remembering things or else it would bite him in the future.
But besides all of that nonsense, he would have to start focusing on the present, or past depending on how you viewed it, to listen to her retelling of what she had gone through in her history. He found it a bit humorous when she brought up memory problems as she spoke to him. A smile grew on his face under the mask he was wearing when she brought it up. Yeah, memory was a problem for him. A big problem. But it wasn't like he could forget his own age. That was too important. And like what she was saying to him, some experiences stuck with you for a long time. You are unable to forget the experience or emotion the event had caused you to experience. In other words, trauma. Like a scar for the brain. It did heal over time but for some, it never would truly fade away. Always staying there in the deep recesses of your mind. A part of you now and forevermore... kind of like marriage! Unless you got a divorce. Then it got complicated and well... gave someone else possible trauma... this was starting to sound a lot like a disease... Well, anyways, he would still listen to her. Quietly chuckling with her at her comment to herself. Not out of agreement but just it being a joke. It is not too true but something just to make someone else laugh. "No! No! It's fine! I actually like it. It's... nice to be able to talk to someone. Better than shoveling alone. At least to me. I like hearing your war stories. I just hope it's as enjoyable for you!" He would hope that helped lift her spirits before listening in once again to her small talk about General Gold again. So, he did have something he had been working on. From what she was saying, it sounded like it would've been a good thing. Hopefully to a lot of people out there. "Ah, I'm... sorry to hear that then. Wish he was able to do it then before all of that had occurred... but maybe you'll be able to do what he wanted one day. If that's a goal of yours..." He didn't want to have her do whatever that General Gold guy had planned if she didn't want to. He didn't even know what it was even about. She hadn't told him. Whatever it was, it was good so that was enough for him... right? Maybe she was already working on it, and he just didn't know it. Maybe this was it. Just helping others around the world. Albeit for a price. They still had to pay for their equipment, clothes, food and pay the soldiers and what not. That whole nonsense. And if she wasnt working on it, it was probably because it was too big to do alone, or they just didn't have the resources.
He would listen to her explaining her point of view on that matter. So maybe it wasn't a good thing in his eyes but only hers. As he had thought before, he didn't know what this General Gold guy had been working on. Only her saying it was a good thing. Once, or if, he found out and had been able to decide his views and feelings about the world, would he be able to decide if what they were working on was a good thing or not. He was still developing even as of now. Not only physically but mentally as well. Maybe this journey around places would help him solidify his stance on the world's problems. Or just on himself. He wasn't sure. Still working out what he was here for. And with what she finished her talk with, once he had seen enough of the world, enough to compare to what she's seen, he would be able to decide on what she was talking about. About what General Gold had been working on. He just hoped at the end, it was a good thing they had been working towards. Because he wanted to agree with them. "... yeah... maybe once I've seen enough... I'll be able to decide for my own..." So, that was a new goal he had. Gaining enough experience to decide how he felt about that project General something had been working on. He would ask what it was in the future. If he could recall it in the future but he trusted her to tell him once the time came. This new goal did also align with one of his preexisting goals too! To better himself in any way shape or form! Whether that be physically or mentally. To become the best and that whole idea. Which also led to another goal... attempting to achieve his other goals. Discipline to do them. He would need to force himself to do those things if he wanted to achieve any of his goals that he had set for himself. No matter how big or outlandish they seemed to him now. If he was able to just do the things he wanted to do, he would be able to start climbing that ladder to be the best version of himself. And maybe, just be the best at something in the world. He knew he could be something special. He just had to keep trying and trying until he was able to accomplish it. But how would he be able to do that? Well, gaining experience was one way to do it. It would be a slow journey, of course. It wasn't like he knew the best method of gaining experience yet but doing this? Going from place to place to help others? That could be a way to help on his way to achieving his goals. Then maybe he would be able to at least compare to her somewhat. It would be hard to do that with what he knew about her. She had seen quite a lot in the world so he would need to do at least a comparable number of things before he was able to do half of what she could.
Hearing her try to comfort him by asking such a question. He would feel a little better about himself for asking it. She at least knew it wasn't anything malicious in nature. His question was not being rude or the like. He simply was curious and just had enough boldness or confidence to ask the question to her. He would listen to her, listening to her explain her relationship with this General Gold fella and her clearing up that she didn't view him as a father or anything of the like. It sounded like she was trying to say that as a joke given the pause she gave before saying it so he gave a short and quiet chuckle at it so there wouldn't be an awkward silence following her attempt at a joke. Maybe he was rubbing off on her with his own jokes. But besides that, there were some in that group that did view him in such a way. Her specifying that it was mostly the younger troopers that looked up to the general in that light. He would wonder just how fatherly this General Gold was that she would say some would look up to this general in such a light. Was he cheerful and joyous? Had a warm aura around them that just gave you a warm and nice feeling inside of you? Or was it just because he always seemed to know the right thing to say? He didn't know yet but she did say that they were a great leader. Oh, he was getting his answer sooner than he expected as she explained to him what this guy was like. Hearing her describe him as a "jolly uncle". This was starting to make him think of Santa. It didn't help that he imagined the guy with a beard. Generals usually had beards, right? He seemed to think so. It just fit with the aesthetic in his mind. He would focus back in to hear her list out the three things that made him seem like a "jolly uncle". Good advice, good company, and good jokes. Yeah, that fit in his idea of what a jolly uncle would be like. He had really only seen uncles like that in idolized media. Usually at a table with lots of food and making everybody at the table laugh. He wished to be able to make people laugh like that whenever he would make a joke someday. Hearing her wonder on how different things would be in the South if he was still around, he would take a moment to think on how to reply "... maybe... would it be better? From what you've been saying, it seems like he was a good guy. Maybe it would've been even better than it is now...again sorry for what happened to him..."
He would feel that small snowball of confidence grow inside him when she laughed with him. It felt better to laugh with others about something than to laugh alone. Laughing alone felt... well, lonely. It just wasn't the same. But to why they were laughing, it seemed like she agreed with him. Was this such a common occurrence of people not reading the instructions of the MRE that they would mess it up? In turn, his joke of it being actually funny? He wasn't sure. Not like he had any experience with that. He could see that being the case though. He knew a thing or two about being lazy so people being so lazy to the point of not taking the time to actually read the smallest bit of instructions on how to properly set up a meal was believable to him. "Heh, yeah. We have come a long way. It would blow the mind of someone thousands of years ago about the thought of just being able to pour water on some powdery stuff and boom! You have some hot and ready food to eat. I'm glad I'm not the only one who seems to be surprised at the magic of such a thing being possible." Maybe it wasn't exactly powder in the MRE, but he wasn't sure! Never looked inside an MRE before...
Speaking on such technologies, other things of the like still amazed him. The fact they were able to store entire buildings in a small capsule only to pop it out anywhere they needed to have it was such an amazing thing to him. It was borderline magic! Even the simplest bits of technology they used were still quite amazing to him. Able to transmit snapshots of reality across the air into an object powered by lightning that was then conducted with the tiniest bits of metal that could store entire libraries of information. All of it is able to fit into the pocket of your pants. It would explode the mind of anyone who wasn't born with such luxuries that we take for granted today. He didn't go around everyday taking in awe of what they had but he did at least acknowledge from time to time about the fact they had what was essentially magic in their everyday lives. He, of course, knew there were differences between technology and magic. He had heard tales of wizards and the like. But he did wonder where the two differed. Was technology mostly physical? Needing earthly components in order to function? With magic being more supernatural? Not needing physical components and instead relying on esoteric things to function. Was it just the understanding of it? Technology had to advance but magic was there already. They need only attempt to grasp and learn all it could offer... Heh, not him thinking of things that he couldn't really understand. He barely understood the technology on his ear, less so about matters like magic. For the latter, it was not as if he would ever wield such powers. Perhaps he could utilize technology. He did like to think he was somewhat intelligent. But magic? That was a whole other can of worms that he wasn't sure he could truly understand. He had grown up using technology for most of his life. He couldn't remember the last time he had ever even come in contact with anyone using magic. Then again, it could be chalked up due to his deteriorating memory. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility. He very well could've met someone using magic and simply not be able to recall it as of now. But would he even know what said magic would look like. Again, the media didn't always portray an accurate depiction of it. And besides, he feels like if he ever did see magic, that would stick out in his memory as an important event... still, he wouldn't bet on himself to remember "important" events.
His views on workouts were possibly biased into thinking it was high intensity. He knew you could work out in other places other than the typical gym. Lifting heavy objects like rocks or small oak was indeed a valid form of exercise. Heck, even just picking up frozen meat and shipping it off to somewhere else could be counted as workouts. However, he had seen workouts in the media being portrayed as the stuff of sweating and grit. Pushing your body to the limits and almost torturing yourself in order to gain mass or muscle. So, there could be some bias in his thoughts of what could count as real exercise for him. This also brought up the fact he had never really worked out before. Not really in his mind. Perhaps it was just his views on exercise being warped but he couldn't think of a time where he really committed himself to truly working out his body. The closest he could think of getting to that was when he was home. Doing pushups and practicing his moves. Then again, he was pretty sure he did that for one day or two before stopping so that didn't really count in his mind. There was when he would run a lot with others. Running through grass and around the house whenever someone would want to race with him. Or when playing freeze tag. The memory of always being able to either out speed or out run them did make him smile under the ski mask. He would be out of breath, panting with his lungs feeling on fire. The air feels thicker somehow. Like blocks of air being forced in and out of his lungs. Thinking about it, he used to think of lots of concepts in blocks. Breathing, pain, and even how tough something was. He thought of it in blocks. He wasn't sure why. It was likely not of importance, but it was still an interesting fact about his early years that he did take in consideration. Sort of like the ice that was likely around the area. He hadn't realized he thought of such things up until this moment... he thinks... maybe he had realized this before and just forgot... in any case, he would listen to her speak to him. Listening into her views of what he had said. Seems like she shouldn't have been surprised on second thought. She seemed to be agreeing with his sentiment on shoveling snow not truly being an intense workout. Itt was simply something you would have to do from time to time whenever winter came. Like folding your laundry or making sure to wipe off any dust on your countertops or tables. You wouldn't count that as exercise now, would you? It was simply small stuff you had to make sure to do less of. You didn't want those problems to grow any bigger. He felt a little warm inside despite the cold when she said he has quite an endurance. Even if it was for only small, low intensive activities like shoveling snow. Looking to the side and seeing the shovel when she gestured to it. He would grip onto his knees then, pondering on how to reply. "Ah, thank you. Um..." He tried to make sure his nervousness on receiving such a small compliment wouldn't show. "... it was easy, really. I'm sure others in your group could do the same thing as I have. Probably better than me."
He would make sure to tune in from his thought world and into this reality when she seemed to be getting ready to speak once again. Having noticed her leaning back and thinking about his question. He wanted to be ready to listen in and not miss out on anything. She seemed to know quite a lot and experienced many things. Even small questions on whether or not she had been really hit with a baton or not during her training could reveal something important that he would need to know. He would hear about how your prior experiences, specifically about whether or not you've shot a firearm before or not, wouldn't really help with a military lifestyle. And upon further thought, it did make sense. It was like having experience with computers and thinking you could code. Yes, you have used a computer before. Maybe even having used one for almost your entire life. From your work life to just personal enjoyment, you could've used it daily. However, it didn't mean you knew how a computer actually worked and where to even begin on how to program one. It could be compared to something like that. You would know how to use a computer, but you wouldn't know how to make one. You could shoot an animal while everything was quiet, and you knew it was there. Hitting it with perfect aim. But could you land a perfect shot all the same when it was shooting back? With orders being shouted all over you? Your palms sweating on whether or not the line next to you could hold off other attackers? Your hands shaking and causing your gun to shake as you were trying to shoot off moving targets that you possibly didn't know were there or not. Hiding in bushes, trees, or hiding amongst man made buildings. Could you have the same aim as you claimed to have had whenever you went hunting? He would think not. Not even counting for the fact you possibly had less than 6 hours to sleep the other night and the food you had eaten tasted like paper or such. All of those factors would be on your mental state/fortitude. Not the skills you made through calm environments. "... ouch. That sounds like it would hurt. I hope they didn't hit you too hard. I don't think I've been hit by one, but I can imagine being hit with a thick hunk of wood would hurt quite a bit. Hope they hit you on the parts where you had padding or something. I know I would try to stuff my pockets to soften the blows." Then looking at his MRE, wondering if he should take a bite out of it now that it was done.
He would begin to take out the utensils to get ready to eat his MRE. He would pull down his ski mask just enough to where he could have his mouth out so he could actually eat the MRE. He would try not to mess it up too badly as he took out a portion of the smoking meal. He would hesitate, blowing on it to cool it down despite the already cold air before taking a bite out of the meal. It tasted quite... okay. It wasn't the best thing in the world he had eaten but what was he expecting. Hopefully not a 5-star meal from an equally reputable restaurant. Besides, he had decided to choose quite a bland meal choice to begin with because of his poor taste buds that were so awfully picky in what dared to enter his mouth. He would look up to her just in time to see her hand move to her rear. Did he miss some context in that short time of getting ready to eat? He noticed her rubbing it and upon listening to her retell a story, he would realize she was remembering a not so fond memory of being hit with a baton. So, he didn't look at something he wasn't supposed to. He felt a bit relieved at this. "Oh gosh. So, they did hit you hard. I guess you just have to learn the hard way, huh?" Would he be hit with a baton if he joined her group? He didn't want to be hit, let alone be hit with a baton. A weapon tailor made to hit someone and make it hurt. "Huh, sodas better than a bottle in a military setting it seems..." Bottle... did she use that word to not say alcohol around him or was that just how she said it? He felt mature enough to have such words be used around him. Not like he minded being treated like someone younger. He wasn't those bratty kids who acted older than they were... he hoped.
He could just feel the pressure of her staring at him. Able to feel her eyes intensely watching his every move on working out the device that was now on his ear. He didn't want to mess up before but now? He really didn't want to. He felt like if he messed up just one bit of instruction she gave him, she would be ready to call it out to him. In his mind, she wouldn't give out that call out so kindly as she had been before. Fortunately, enough, he was able to work out the device well enough and give out the power level of hers which needless to say, shocked him to no end. His wide eyes gave away all of his utter amazement of her terrifying level of power. It being of machines and seasoned warriors in his eyes. It was the stuff of movies. Being the overpowered main character of a story or maybe the seasoned mentor who knew quite a lot and seen quite a bit. He never would've thought, at least at this age, he would be in front of someone with that kind of power. Especially someone he considered a friend. He thought she was strong but not this crazy strong.
It was really shocking to him. It was half a joke and half serious. He wondered what kind of stuff you would have to do in order to gain such monstrous power. In his eyes, you would have to be seriously dedicated to fighting in order to reach such heights in power. The amount of training and discipline to achieve that would be insane. Walking on coals or walking through a snowstorm, bare naked type of training. Life on the line types of battles. All of that is very believable to him if she said she had done that type of experience before. He wouldn't doubt her. From what she had told him of her training, it was hard but he didn't think it was that hard. He was thinking of some average military training. Not extreme rules of life and death. Like just trying to stay fit and ready. Was practicing your aim with firearms that strenuous? Who had she been training to fight? Demons? On second thought, that was likely who she was training to fight. And then remembering she had fought demons before. So now thinking about how powerful she was and who she had to fight, it made a lot more sense to him then. Of course, she would have to be this powerful. Maybe she wasn't fighting on the front lines all the time given her rank, but she would still have to be quite tough to face battles such as those. He would then receive the answer to his question of what she was eating in order to get power like that, and it seemed it was more modest than one would anticipate at first. It seemed to be eating well and keeping up with maintaining your body. He was, at first, a little let down but this modest answer. She could've said she had to punch trees into houses or break boulders into fine rubble or eat protein packed meals with super soldier serum and he would've believed her. However, this momentary let down was then replaced with curiosity as she further explained how she got this powerful. The most important part of how she got this strong was her training. Well, he could've guessed that but what type of training? His mind raced with thoughts of supernatural feats. He heard her explain Ki once again. It seemed like it was more important than he once thought. It seemed like you had to nurture it. In his mind, he thought of a plant being watered. He wondered how you even brought Ki into your regiment. Did you just focus and say "Ki!" in your mind and you were now able to use Ki or something? He still didn't know a whole lot about it. He only knew you had to eat or work out to gain strength. He only knew inputs and outputs. He didn't know how you got the input to the output. Her strength was detailed even more as he heard she had started training at the ripe old age of FIVE. He was sure he didn't learn how to talk until he was around five. Let alone start working out his body at that age. He was wondering why she even started training at 5. Who was training her? Some old geezer with years of honing their skill? He listened to her on how people used Ki without even knowing but it seemed like when they did use it, it was far from actually using it in training. She even explained that a dedicated martial artist who focused only on their body could get over a hundred in power level if they trained hard enough. He felt weird at this and felt a sneeze coming on before stopping it. Weird, he just felt the sudden urge to sneeze all the sudden. There isn't even any pollen out here. He didn't think so. However, despite all those outlandish things he had thought, the fact she was saying she wasn't special compared to others AND that there were others who outclassed her was just bewildering to him. "...I'm sorry, all of that was like a blur to me... I'm... still trying to process all of this new information that you've been giving me." He began to rub his head in the information overload that was happening inside his mind. He was learning quite a lot in such a short period of time.
He took a moment to take in all she had said to him, taking a bite out of his MRE as he tried to retain all this information in a clear and concise manner. One in which he would be able to recall and make sense of in the future. It was a hopeless endeavor given the amount of information he had just received and his track record of recalling things, but it was worth a shot in his mind, nonetheless. He took a moment to focus as he heard her speaking. Clearing his mind somewhat of all the information that now occupied his mind, he would listen to her explain Ki once again. On how it was, in her own words, "the secret sauce that can inflate power levels above a hundred plus.”. She said that he would need to train that energy one day in order to achieve something like... this... his eyes would widen once again as he noticed her point a finger up in the air. Not too long after she did this would a blue point appear right above her finger. It would begin to grow bigger and bigger above her fingertip until it was around the size of a marble. However, unlike most marbles that he knew of, this marble was pure blue and floated above her fingertip. He would hear her whistle before watching this blue marble shoot up into the ever-darkening sky above them. Then blasting into, in his opinion, a beautiful display of fireworks in the sky. Almost like a show in the sky above them. His eyes and head had tracked the movement of the ball all the way as he didnt want to miss even a second of it. Sort of like a moth to a flame in his eyes. Or like a moth to a moving light bulb. Something profound and metaphorical. He wasn't sure. He was too focused on the blue marble of light. His head, along with his eyes, would look back down to her when he heard her speak to him once again. Trying his hardest not to let the words go in and out of his ears as he wanted to make sure he retained anything she had to say to him. She had done something he had only seen in the media right in front of him, so she had all his attention. However, just like the media, he would find it hard to believe. Him? Having potential to go far? His self-deprecating thoughts entered his mind once again. He couldn't be something great. Maybe he did have potential, but he couldn't do what she just did in front of him just now. He was just a nobody from whocaresville. He was so focused on his demotivating thoughts that what she said to him almost slipped by him.
He would focus in, listening to her next set of instructions to navigate the machines, proper term being scouter, controls. He would still be on edge and make sure to follow the directions word for word so he wouldn't mess up the machine or do something or press something he wasn't supposed to. Thankfully, he was able to do it properly and now a reading of his own power level was now coming up on the machine/scouter/whatever you wanted to call it. He saw the numbers spinning on the display before a number came up. 0. He felt a sudden rush of confusion at the reading before then it rose to 1. Then 5. Then it began to rise with his rush of sudden confusion before stopping at 150. This shocked him even more. 150??? Then it shot up once again as his surprise shot up as well. It then finally stopped at 384. He felt a wave of shock but the number didn't go up anymore. Oh... that was good! He wasn't sure entirely on how to feel about the reading this thing gave him. However, he felt like he should be happy. That was quite an amazing power he had inside him that he didn't know. This meant he was so much more powerful than an average person, right?!?! He would hear her speak up to him on his power level and even with his own thoughts betraying what she had to say about him, he would have to agree. He was this strong and he hasn't even begun to start training his ki... or train at all!
He felt that snowball of confidence begin to roll down a snowy hill. About to grow very large. He felt so many emotions at this. He was strong! Super strong! Not stronger than her of course but still crazy strong in comparison to a normal person! Was he still a normal person or was he something more now! Now his thoughts were trying to imply he was something more! He had to keep that in check but wow! Unreal! My gosh, this is amazing! He feels incredible! He felt like he could win in a tournament! He feels great! He could do any amount of training. He feels like he could do anything! He could even try to do what he always wanted to do. Start being disciplined and motivated. All this sudden rush of emotions would keep him fueled and happy. However, his thoughts were still there. So he was strong, So what? It's not like he has changed as a person or anything. What was the difference between then and now? Well, the difference was that he knew he was super strong now! He didn't know that before. Yes, but he still struggled to do the most basic things that he needed, not wanted to, do in his life. That was... true. But he could be better now! He could do the things he needed and wanted to do! He just had to keep this rush of good emotions going through him for long enough to do them! He just had to remember that he was super strong and fuel these good emotions! He just had to focus on them.
The MRE was about halfway eaten from where she was sitting. He had only really started to eat. He didn't want to eat too quickly in front of her. He didn't want to look like a slob right in front of her. But with how he was feeling, maybe he should! Or he shouldn't... or he should! No, he shouldn't. His MRE had finished cooking some time ago, but it would take some time before he would be done eating it. He would be snapped out of his good emotion fueled thoughts back into reality when she began to speak to him once again. "O-Oh, yeah! Of course! We totally can!" He even said totally! That was such a surfer thing to say. Saying he felt good couldn't even start to explain how incredible he was feeling right now. With what she was saying, it felt like he could actually be something one day. It was such an exhilarating experience!
Hearing what she was saying, his mind began to race with ideas. He could become king! He could become the ruler of something. He could do good for others. He could be someone amazing one day! He could unlock all the hidden potential inside him! That did bring a thought, however. What would he be the king of anyway? That... was something he hadn't thought about. Well, he had thought about it before so that wasn't entirely true but when he thought about it, what would he be the king of? Where would he rule over? Rule... that word... did not sit too well with him. It felt too... evil sounding. Too malicious in nature. It had a negative connotation to be specific. He had to use another word for later but still. What would he be the king of? Just a small town? Nah, that seemed too small. What about the continent? That seemed too big for him right now. Well... what about just a small region? Like the South? Now that was an idea. He could... govern that. Yeah, govern was a better word. He could govern a region. He wasn't sure where he was going to end up at the end of all this, but he felt like a region was just the perfect size for him. Not too big for him in the future and not too small where the title "king" was too much. King of a region was good. No, great! Yeah, that sounded great. Gosh, he would need to start learning quite a lot in the future. Not just about how to fight or in power levels or whatever but in actual leadership. How to run a nation and what not. That would be a lot of learning. Then if, no, WHEN he got into power, he would have to do so much work in order to make sure it was running not only functionally, but also well enough that people would enjoy living there. He wanted to help people after all. Gosh, then he would need to learn how to talk with people whenever meetings of world leaders happened, and he would need to make sure certain people were happy, so he didn't get into any trouble. Not only that, but he would also have to then be ready to be blamed with any perceived problems in the nation and- oh my gosh that would be soooo much work.
At the very least, for now, he felt quite amazing about himself. He felt incredible even. He could do this. Sure, he wasn't over an unholy 6600 in power levels, but he was still in the good hundreds. He was way above a measly 5. That number seemed so low to him now. Not too long ago, he was worrying that he wouldn't even have been above a 5 but he was nearly 100 times larger than that. He was super-duper powerful. He had this strength inside him this whole time and he didnt even. How didnt he know he was this strong? He felt like he would've known this. All those times of not being able to lift that heavy weight at the gym or struggling to maintain his hold on something. All those times he didn't feel like he was much stronger than the average person his age, but that machine said he was. Was it just a fluke? Was it just broken? Did it miscalculate? Maybe it just confused some Ki in the air from hers as his own or something. Could he really be this insanely powerful? He looked at his gloved hand for a moment. Curling it into a fist before uncurling it into a hand once again. Was he really this strong? Did he have this sort of power dormant inside of him? It was all him, right? So, why hadn't he felt this powerful in all his years prior? Could he just not access it? He remembered her saying that you needed to use it during training. Could he just not use it at all? These thoughts raced through his mind as the number 384 stuck in his mind... he needed to think of something else, but he couldn't. This was such a huge revelation to him. It was such a big thing that he couldn't just focus his attention onto something else. This had to be addressed in his mind. But he could address it later! When he would talk to her later about the matter of being a king and his potential. He would take a moment before letting out a sigh. He moved to eat his MRE and tried to clear his mind. He needed to focus and clear his mind. He couldn't eat well with these thoughts racing in his mind. He would sigh, feeling the food rest in his mouth. So much thinking did tire him out somewhat. Even if the physical chores did not. Maybe that was why he was so tired or lethargic all the time. He was just too tired mentally to do anything that he could consider noteworthy in his standards. Just too tired... too tired to do anything...
...Yet despite that... despite being exhausted almost all the time, he had reached this level of power without even noticing. Without anyone noticing. He wasn't only smart, he was strong. Crazy strong. He had untold amounts of potential inside him. Even with all the days, weeks, months, and years of feeling awful... he was this strong. He was still standing. He was still scary strong in his own right. He hadn't done anything he considered to be real training and yet he had achieved this power. He could be something. He could do something. He only needed the right kind of training and eating and all that jazz to do it. He just needed help. Did he really need help? He got this far alone. Come on, this is our first real shot! He only found out he was this strong because of her. Because she decided to meet with him. Because she decided to talk to him. Because she decided to be friends with him. Because she decided to help him. Despite all his annoyances and being such a failure, she decided to stick with him in this short, agonizing amount of time. He had seen what he did when he was alone. When nobody helped him. How far does he think he could get if he had the help of somebody else? Someone who seemed to care for him. She seemed to know what she was doing. She had started training at 5 for crying out loud... wait, at 5 power level or at the age of 5. He assumed 5 because it just entered his mind as age, but could she have meant power level? He didn't know- he was getting off topic! She could help him do actual training. Eat well. Have discipline and motivation to do the things he wished to do. Besides, not only could she help him physically but also mentally. She seemed pretty smart from what he had heard from her. At least from what she has been telling him. With a nice military lady who seemed to consider him a friend and seemed to believe in his potential, she could really bring that out of him. He could do things he could only dream of. He was only... what? 1/20th as strong as her? Oh my gosh, he was only 1/20th as strong as her. That's so much closer than he would've thought initially. He thought her power was unattainable to him but maybe... it wasn't. Maybe he could actually rival her in power one day! It would take lots of training, good eating, and long rests but he was sure that he could rival her one day!
He could truly become something unreal. He could be superhuman. No... Human. He didn't like the word superhuman. He could become a strong human. He... He could be something great. He... He would do something great.
("10,029 words. 53,030 words in total.")
Emargine "Azure" Cerola