"Am I... even allowed here?"
Out of reluctance, I brought Homei over to a bar since she insisted.
"Well, you wanted to come, so just make up your mind. Do you want to follow me or not?"
"I... I just..."
Her voice is croaking up. Normally I would comment on her being cute, but there's so little light in this bar that I can only see the bare outline of her dress now.
"I didn't think you were this assertive..."
I straightened my hand, and chopped her head.
"Ow!"
"Don't get weird ideas. You wanted to come, so here we are. Let's go."
She can only follow me quietly, being uncomfortable with everyone around us.
Walking towards the counter, I see a familiar face.
"I'd like to smash up some scraps please."
"Who's this little lady next to you?"
I knew he'd question it. Homei's too young to be a v.vitch in the first place.
"She's a future candidate. I'm giving her a tour since she insisted, so here we are."
Nodding his head, the bartender let us in.
*** ***
" 'sup, Van- Whoa! Who's the girl?"
Dekon sure looks surprised at me bringing Homei here.
"Homei, Dekon. Dekon, Homei. She's my cousin, and she wanted to see what I'm up to on Friday and Saturday, so I brought her here."
"She is seriously cute. Anyway, enough about this, let's see what you got, Vance."
Holding up a tiny container with a centipede, Dekon shoves it towards me.
"I want you to force the exoskeleton off this centipede. You've been practicing, have you not?"
... Ugh.
I knew this would happen - He'd give me a test on what I learnt last week to see if I'm serious or not. I haven't practiced at all, but how can anyone practice such a cruel technique in the first place?
"... Fine. I guess... I guess I can try. Take care of Homei for me."
Dekon held Homei back, signalling the danger of being close to me as I performed this. Good, that's good. I can use this technique without restraint.
Placing the container on a stone slab, I focus my mind on its exoskeleton.
... Focus.
... Focus... Only on the exoskeleton.
I have a batch of white paint, and I want it to be grey. The exoskeleton is the black object to dilute its purity...
... White... object?
Briefly glancing around the room for something white, I looked up a bit and focused on its general direction.
Okay... This is the tricky part.
Muscles often contract and relax in rhythms in order to perform tasks, such as moving one's arm, or walking, or even defecating.
Forcing the muscles to move as I please, in a swallowing motion, allows me to remove the bones from only one single opening and direction.
I don't think this theory would work on exoskeletons, though. I'd have to come up with my own theory.
... Like... Peeling an orange all in 1 go.
... Slit the exoskeleton in multiple places... And take it all out at a go.
The exoskeleton on the centipede slowly and gradually leaves its body, and the centipede squirms and wriggles in pain. I can't even begin to fathom how horrid this technique, though powerful, is.
Okay, now to complete the cannon part...
Black object -> White Object = Dilution.
Bone... Cannon!
The exoskeleton hit the plastic part of the sealed cover, causing the entire container to fly upwards, towards the ceiling light. Oh, so that's what I saw as a 'white object'.
Flying up around 3 meters, the technique finally lost power, and is beginning to fall back downwards. Catching it with both hands, I observed the contents of the container.
The centipede stopped moving, and next to it was its exoskeleton. There was some fluid around the container walls, floor and probably the plastic cover, which may be its blood. The pain of having your shell removed, then forced to move in such a motion in a weakened state, must have been too much for the little fellow.
... I feel a surge of regret through me. I just killed a centipede I have never even met before, for my own reasons... That's cruel. No matter how dangerous it was, I shouldn't have killed it. Had I redirected the exoskeleton through the transparent top, the container wouldn't have to fly up with it and the centipede might still live.
"Amazing."
Dekon walked towards my direction, congratulating me.
"That's spectacular. I have yet seen such a magnificent Bone Cannon done by an amateur. You definitely have what it takes to become a great body magic v.vizard."
"Don't congratulate me, man. I feel horrid."
"Oh, that? Don't worry. Once you see enough death, it all becomes natural."
He speaks as if he's seen death many, many times. I'm really disgusted by that...
"Vance, that was so awesome! You made the container fly!"
Homei rushes over excitedly, only to see the contents of the box and retract in revolt.
"Ugh. That's messy."
"I don't come here to 'hang out' with people, you know, Homei. I train myself here repeatedly to be strong enough to protect those I cherish when the time comes."
Hearing that, she seemed to blush a little.
"... Am I the person you cherish?"
She's asking a stupid question again. Well, she's not that old yet, so I guess it'd do well to humour her.
"You're one of them."
She face seems flushed with red, and she turned sideways shyly. How cute- ?
Someone's tapping my shoulder.
It's... Miko?
"Yo. Renna wants to meet you."
Who's Renna?
"Uhm... Who's Renna?"
"She's the most powerful v.vitch in here. Having a chance to talk to her's rare enough. Don't miss this." Pointing at the small viewpoint at the second storey, he instructed me to go there.
"Wait, who is this Renna person?!"
Oh boy, here comes Homei.
"Okay, I'll go. Take care of her, entertain her, do whatever. Just... Keep her occupied."
Who exactly is this Renna person? I seem to recall her name a bit, like someone's mentioned her before. Was it Xavier...? Or Dekon? Ranko?
"Come on, little missy. I'll show you something cool."
Good, Miko's leading her away.
But, yet somehow, I have a very bad feeling of leaving Homei alone.
I don't know why. I just feel awful leaving her alone for some reason.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
V.Vizard! 18
"Vance, I want to go with you."
Homei... I really don't know how to answer you on that one.
"You've always been busy on Friday night and Saturday. I don't ever see you during those periods. What could you possibly be doing? I want to go to that TAT place you keep talking about!"
Can I even bring Homei into the TATA?... I really don't know. Maybe I should ask Dekon- He doesn't have a cell!...
... Ranko!... No. If I had her number, Homei would flip out.
Xavier! Yes, Xavier! Surely he'd be able to clarify this and hopefully not let her go!
"Uhm... Let me call someone first, to see if you're allowed. Is that fine, Homei?"
Homei's pouting her face.
I can't stress how cute she is when she does that, the Han purple straight hair with that serious expression, and the locking of her elbows and her back straightened, hips facing back- I... shouldn't indulge too far into this. It's seriously eroding my senses of what's cute and not.
I dialed Xavier's number. On normal circumstances, I would have no such reason to dial his number. But, as the Assistant Chief Engineer, it's apparently a requirement to be able to contact everyone on the team, so I have his number. Putting it on loudspeaker to dissuade her, the phone ringed patiently for a while before Xavier picked it up.
"Hey, Xavier?"
"What?"
"Is it uhm... Is it fine if I bring a 15 year old girl to the TATA this Friday?"
"Well, yeah. Definitely. We're not exactly secretive or anything. Anyone can go in so long as they know the passcode. "
That wasn't an answer I was expecting!!!
"Yay! So, I can go, Vance?"
Homei has that sparkle in her eyes now. She used to be so doll-like. In fact, she still is. But, looking at me like this... It's like a biological weapon...
"... Yes, Homei. You can come."
"YAY!!! I GET TO GO WITH VANCE~!"
Well, Homei sure seems a lot livelier than usual. That's a good thing, I guess. But, from the reactions of those three idiots that constantly tease her, she seems to be 'just the way she is' to them, so... Is she, trying to get my favour with her cuteness?
... Whatever she did, I think it's taking its intended effect...
And so, Homei's going to the TATA with me this Friday and Saturday.
*** ***
Oh, it's those three bozos again.
"It's the terrorist!"
" "Geh!!" "
"That's rude! Sheesh."
They're as rude as ever. I only remember that guy's name Penne, I don't remember the other two.
"So, Penne, is it?"
"W- wh- what, you haven't had enough fun humiliating me?"
Humiliating? Why would confessing be a humiliating thing?
"What do you mean, humiliating? Confessing to the girl you like is a great show of both courage and passion. Especially if you're adamant about it."
Penne's blushing. Ahh, they're at that age where they have an inner conflict between the childish side which thinks girls are gross, and the manly side which desires girls.
"Well, don't fret over it too much. It's only embarrassing because you're still half a child, and you're not willing to accept failure. Once you grow up, you'd actually want to confess to the girls you like."
" "Eww!!!" "
The other two boys just recoiled in revolt, but Penne's just standing still, pondering over what I said. If he's truly developed a passionate love for Homei, he would easily understand what I'm trying to imply.
They're such boys.
"Thanks, arch-nemesis! I feel... I feel like I will be able to win Homei's heart someday!"
Wait, did he just call me arch-nemesis?
"I'm the arch-nemesis now!?"
"Yeah! You're the one Homei likes and gets all lovey-dovey over! I want her to get lovey-dovey with me too!"
Homei DOES change when she's next to me! It's really as if she's trying to entice me with her emotions or something! Although that makes me feel special and really happy about it, it also saddens me how dishonest she is.
"Yuck!" "That's disgusting, Penne!"
... He has resolve, I'll give him that.
I don't think it would be easy to win her favour when he's only known her for like what, more than a year? I've known her for all her life. If I may, I'm good enough to be her father. Maybe she would call me Uncle Vance or Dad or even- Why am I thinking that far? It's impossible! I have got to stop these delusional impulses!
But, should this Penne boy actually succeed... I can consider Ariel as a marriage candidate without being hounded by Homei that badly, and I can take my time to decide my soul mate. That's... not bad of an offer.
"Well, good luck with that, actually. In fact, please do. I support you on that."
"Ugh... Curse you and your kindness, arch-nemesis! Is THAT what you use to win Homei with?"
What? Win her over with kindness?
No, I don't think I won her over with kindness. If that was a possibility, she would open up to Butch, not me.
"All the best to you, Penne."
I'd just walk away, and pretend none of this happened...
"Penne, you traitor!" "It's like I don't even know you anymore!"
Ignore everything. Just... Walk.
*** ***
"Hey, Xavier, is it really fine to allow Homei into the TATA?"
Taking the chance that Palchou's heading to the toilet, I sneaked a conversation with Xavier.
"It's perfectly fine. In fact, if she becomes a future v.vitch, we can give her a basic tour of the place."
... How have I never even considered this possibility!!! This is backfiring horrendously.
"You look like crap. Surely it's not that bad to bring her to the TATA."
"I can only hope you're right, Xavier. I can only hope."
God knows what she would do, how she would react. I have to pray I don't meet Ranko for those two days.
Homei... I really don't know how to answer you on that one.
"You've always been busy on Friday night and Saturday. I don't ever see you during those periods. What could you possibly be doing? I want to go to that TAT place you keep talking about!"
Can I even bring Homei into the TATA?... I really don't know. Maybe I should ask Dekon- He doesn't have a cell!...
... Ranko!... No. If I had her number, Homei would flip out.
Xavier! Yes, Xavier! Surely he'd be able to clarify this and hopefully not let her go!
"Uhm... Let me call someone first, to see if you're allowed. Is that fine, Homei?"
Homei's pouting her face.
I can't stress how cute she is when she does that, the Han purple straight hair with that serious expression, and the locking of her elbows and her back straightened, hips facing back- I... shouldn't indulge too far into this. It's seriously eroding my senses of what's cute and not.
I dialed Xavier's number. On normal circumstances, I would have no such reason to dial his number. But, as the Assistant Chief Engineer, it's apparently a requirement to be able to contact everyone on the team, so I have his number. Putting it on loudspeaker to dissuade her, the phone ringed patiently for a while before Xavier picked it up.
"Hey, Xavier?"
"What?"
"Is it uhm... Is it fine if I bring a 15 year old girl to the TATA this Friday?"
"Well, yeah. Definitely. We're not exactly secretive or anything. Anyone can go in so long as they know the passcode. "
That wasn't an answer I was expecting!!!
"Yay! So, I can go, Vance?"
Homei has that sparkle in her eyes now. She used to be so doll-like. In fact, she still is. But, looking at me like this... It's like a biological weapon...
"... Yes, Homei. You can come."
"YAY!!! I GET TO GO WITH VANCE~!"
Well, Homei sure seems a lot livelier than usual. That's a good thing, I guess. But, from the reactions of those three idiots that constantly tease her, she seems to be 'just the way she is' to them, so... Is she, trying to get my favour with her cuteness?
... Whatever she did, I think it's taking its intended effect...
And so, Homei's going to the TATA with me this Friday and Saturday.
*** ***
Oh, it's those three bozos again.
"It's the terrorist!"
" "Geh!!" "
"That's rude! Sheesh."
They're as rude as ever. I only remember that guy's name Penne, I don't remember the other two.
"So, Penne, is it?"
"W- wh- what, you haven't had enough fun humiliating me?"
Humiliating? Why would confessing be a humiliating thing?
"What do you mean, humiliating? Confessing to the girl you like is a great show of both courage and passion. Especially if you're adamant about it."
Penne's blushing. Ahh, they're at that age where they have an inner conflict between the childish side which thinks girls are gross, and the manly side which desires girls.
"Well, don't fret over it too much. It's only embarrassing because you're still half a child, and you're not willing to accept failure. Once you grow up, you'd actually want to confess to the girls you like."
" "Eww!!!" "
The other two boys just recoiled in revolt, but Penne's just standing still, pondering over what I said. If he's truly developed a passionate love for Homei, he would easily understand what I'm trying to imply.
They're such boys.
"Thanks, arch-nemesis! I feel... I feel like I will be able to win Homei's heart someday!"
Wait, did he just call me arch-nemesis?
"I'm the arch-nemesis now!?"
"Yeah! You're the one Homei likes and gets all lovey-dovey over! I want her to get lovey-dovey with me too!"
Homei DOES change when she's next to me! It's really as if she's trying to entice me with her emotions or something! Although that makes me feel special and really happy about it, it also saddens me how dishonest she is.
"Yuck!" "That's disgusting, Penne!"
... He has resolve, I'll give him that.
I don't think it would be easy to win her favour when he's only known her for like what, more than a year? I've known her for all her life. If I may, I'm good enough to be her father. Maybe she would call me Uncle Vance or Dad or even- Why am I thinking that far? It's impossible! I have got to stop these delusional impulses!
But, should this Penne boy actually succeed... I can consider Ariel as a marriage candidate without being hounded by Homei that badly, and I can take my time to decide my soul mate. That's... not bad of an offer.
"Well, good luck with that, actually. In fact, please do. I support you on that."
"Ugh... Curse you and your kindness, arch-nemesis! Is THAT what you use to win Homei with?"
What? Win her over with kindness?
No, I don't think I won her over with kindness. If that was a possibility, she would open up to Butch, not me.
"All the best to you, Penne."
I'd just walk away, and pretend none of this happened...
"Penne, you traitor!" "It's like I don't even know you anymore!"
Ignore everything. Just... Walk.
*** ***
"Hey, Xavier, is it really fine to allow Homei into the TATA?"
Taking the chance that Palchou's heading to the toilet, I sneaked a conversation with Xavier.
"It's perfectly fine. In fact, if she becomes a future v.vitch, we can give her a basic tour of the place."
... How have I never even considered this possibility!!! This is backfiring horrendously.
"You look like crap. Surely it's not that bad to bring her to the TATA."
"I can only hope you're right, Xavier. I can only hope."
God knows what she would do, how she would react. I have to pray I don't meet Ranko for those two days.
V.Vizard! 17
Palchou has a son.
Palchou has a son.
That bastard, Palchou, has a son.
Unbelievable.
... Well, whatever. That's that in the afternoon. Homei should have the liberty to do as she wishes. I'm her cousin, not Uncle Sarsan. I should respect her decision.
... I don't think I can rest easy after seeing that poor boy's face, though. I did encourage him to confess, but not everything in life is that smooth. He would have to learn that himself.
So be it, I guess.
*** In the darkness of the church... ***
"I demand a status report. Start from my right."
A lady with beige hair tied in a ponytail wearing a deep green robe spoke with a commanding voice. Her voice was supposedly crisp and clear in the silent of the night, but the church walls rebounded and echoed her voice, making it all muddled.
"A total of 2203 rats have been bred, my liege."
"A total of 2587 rats have been bred, my liege."
17 other people report out their current status. They were breeding rats in order to release them all at an underground coliseum named the Trash Arena for True Atheists, abbreviated as TATA.
...
"A total of 2489 rats have been bred, my liege."
"Good. The invasion shall begin next Sunday. Remember to increase the amount of food as the numbers propagate."
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES, MY LIEGE!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
"Today's session is adjourned then. We shall meet again next Friday night, when the v.vizards are having fun in their little playground."
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
The 19 men storm out of the room.
"Ariel. How are things?"
An old man in his fifties walk into the room, his sideburns white and his beard black. Wearing a brown robe, he's easily around 180cm tall.
"Lord Albus... We will be fully able to attack in 5 days."
"Good. Very good. And how is Lady Etria?"
The woman in a deep green robe named Ariel averted her gaze for a bit, almost in shame, and replied.
"Lord Albus... Lady Etria has successfully mastered Divine Armor and has attained a remarkable proficiency in Divine Weapon."
"And what of Divine Shield?"
Ariel refused to speak of the matter, hinting that the results were not of pride at all.
"I see. Well, Lady Etria has yet to be involved in an actual grave situation. Given her talent, I am sure she will be able to use Divine Shield then, but just to be sure, I would like you to give me a deadline."
"A... deadline, Lord Albus?"
"Yes. A deadline. I want her to be able to use and master Divine Shield by an acceptable date. I will give you that long to train her, until I deem you... expendable. Is that clear, Ariel?"
Gritting her teeth, she can only accept the ludicrous offer of awakening a person's innate power prematurely.
"... Yes, Lord Albus."
"Good. I expect you to give me spectacular results, Ariel."
"Yes, Lord Albus."
And so, the woman in a deep green robe left in misery.
*** ***
With a simple vanilla-flavoured Swiss roll in my mouth, I headed to work.
Today's sky is clear, the sun hurts my eyes a bit but I can get over it.
I always wonder why the railroad had to be built in such a direction, where every morning I have to look down to avoid my eyes being burnt by the sun. I'm lucky that I head home in the afternoon, and avoid staring at the sunset on my journey home, or my eyesight would have deteriorated horrendously. Who designed this landmark?
Well, it's bad enough that I can't see anything 20 meters away, but it's good enough for me to look around and enjoy the scenery without having itchy, uncomfortable glasses over my eyes.
I wonder how all the geeks can stand wearing glasses without that annoyance above their nose.
... ?
Hey, it's Ariel! That beauty I met while I was still looking for work 12 years ago! That distinctive beige hair tied in a ponytail is unforgettable. It makes her look really beautiful. Well, appearance wise she's splendid, but personality wise she's a pretty tough nut. She's now eating some cup noodles on a bench.
"Good to see you again, Ariel!"
"?"
She's looking over at my direction. Well, at least she looked up and acknowledged me as a human being, so I'm actually a bit glad she still thinks that people exist.
"Oh. Hello again Vance."
"I see you're as beautiful and stern as ever."
"Don't flatter me. It will never work."
"I know. If I didn't know that, I would probably say something ridiculously mushy and disgusting. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
"No."
"Good. All according to plan. Keheheheh. So, what are you up to recently?"
She's so strict.
Come to think of it, she could be on par with Homei on the Cold Attitude scale. Well, Homei's cold because she doesn't open up to anyone else but Uncle Sarsan and me, while Ariel's coldness comes from her strictness to regulations and rules. I've admired this trait of hers, but it's the one thing keeping me from asking her out. I don't want to have to deal with a strict girl like that, setting my dress codes and my walking posture, my behaviours and the like. She might as well date a programmable cyborg at that rate.
"I have worked as a secretary for almost 12 years now. I've been tutoring young children privately these days, if you want to count that too."
A secretary? Those girls who take notes, arrange files and split your work for you? She is so supportive, but her strictness is on the level of Homei getting mad at someone, like that young boy yesterday.
"A secretary? Seems befitting for you."
Ariel silently nodded in agreement as she slurped the last of her cup noodles.
"So, how's your luck these years?"
"I found work as a management and repair engineer. I'm now the Assistant Chief Engineer of my team, and well, I'm enjoying myself."
"A mere assistant chief engineer? Hmph."
... That's really rude...
"You shouldn't disrespect my position like that. I can work more than twice as fast as my Chief Engineer, but he's a big-time bootlicker. He always has been the 15 years he's worked there. Eventually I just gave up because it's too much work to fight for a position with him."
"Well, you do stink of trash, so I suppose you have worked hard in your own way."
She can never saying a compliment without an insult, can she.
"Thank you. Well, time's ticking. I have to head over to work soon. It's been nice stopping by to have a chat with you, Ariel."
"I suppose you want my number now?"
Her number? If I take her number- No, if Homei sees her number on my phone, that would be big trouble. As much as I'd like to, I might really have to pass on this one.
"What, you think every guy would automatically want you for wearing that sexy crisp black jacket and squarish glasses that make you look motherly? I'll... pass."
Oh my lord. I just listened to myself and I almost got enticed by that.
"As crude as usual, aren't you? Well, you're still honest, I'll give you that. Take my card."
? She has a card? I thought... I thought secretaries take the cards of their companies, so why would she have her own card?
As I took the card into my hand, I realised - Oh, she's giving private tuition as well.
That makes sense. She did mention that.
I tucked the card into my wallet snugly, and closed it shut.
"Don't just keep a person's business card without looking at it, idiot. That's so unprofessional."
"It's not like I'm interested in getting private tuition or anything, and it's not like the card would automatically grant me a special, private session with you. Well, unless, you wanted that to happen, in which case, I'm sorry for not noticing the subtle details."
"Hmph. Crude." With that, Ariel stomped off in her noisy high heels.
At least she's alive. I hope she finds a husband whom will take good care of her. She's been with me through the tough times we haven't found jobs yet, after all. I'd at least like to see a kindred spirit like her do well in life.
I know this is very idealistic of me, but actually, I'd like to see everyone happy and living life wholeheartedly. It's kind of impossible, because of the economy's work structure, but if I can make as many happy as I can, then it was worth living thus far.
Palchou has a son.
That bastard, Palchou, has a son.
Unbelievable.
... Well, whatever. That's that in the afternoon. Homei should have the liberty to do as she wishes. I'm her cousin, not Uncle Sarsan. I should respect her decision.
... I don't think I can rest easy after seeing that poor boy's face, though. I did encourage him to confess, but not everything in life is that smooth. He would have to learn that himself.
So be it, I guess.
*** In the darkness of the church... ***
"I demand a status report. Start from my right."
A lady with beige hair tied in a ponytail wearing a deep green robe spoke with a commanding voice. Her voice was supposedly crisp and clear in the silent of the night, but the church walls rebounded and echoed her voice, making it all muddled.
"A total of 2203 rats have been bred, my liege."
"A total of 2587 rats have been bred, my liege."
17 other people report out their current status. They were breeding rats in order to release them all at an underground coliseum named the Trash Arena for True Atheists, abbreviated as TATA.
...
"A total of 2489 rats have been bred, my liege."
"Good. The invasion shall begin next Sunday. Remember to increase the amount of food as the numbers propagate."
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES, MY LIEGE!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
"Today's session is adjourned then. We shall meet again next Friday night, when the v.vizards are having fun in their little playground."
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
The 19 men storm out of the room.
"Ariel. How are things?"
An old man in his fifties walk into the room, his sideburns white and his beard black. Wearing a brown robe, he's easily around 180cm tall.
"Lord Albus... We will be fully able to attack in 5 days."
"Good. Very good. And how is Lady Etria?"
The woman in a deep green robe named Ariel averted her gaze for a bit, almost in shame, and replied.
"Lord Albus... Lady Etria has successfully mastered Divine Armor and has attained a remarkable proficiency in Divine Weapon."
"And what of Divine Shield?"
Ariel refused to speak of the matter, hinting that the results were not of pride at all.
"I see. Well, Lady Etria has yet to be involved in an actual grave situation. Given her talent, I am sure she will be able to use Divine Shield then, but just to be sure, I would like you to give me a deadline."
"A... deadline, Lord Albus?"
"Yes. A deadline. I want her to be able to use and master Divine Shield by an acceptable date. I will give you that long to train her, until I deem you... expendable. Is that clear, Ariel?"
Gritting her teeth, she can only accept the ludicrous offer of awakening a person's innate power prematurely.
"... Yes, Lord Albus."
"Good. I expect you to give me spectacular results, Ariel."
"Yes, Lord Albus."
And so, the woman in a deep green robe left in misery.
*** ***
With a simple vanilla-flavoured Swiss roll in my mouth, I headed to work.
Today's sky is clear, the sun hurts my eyes a bit but I can get over it.
I always wonder why the railroad had to be built in such a direction, where every morning I have to look down to avoid my eyes being burnt by the sun. I'm lucky that I head home in the afternoon, and avoid staring at the sunset on my journey home, or my eyesight would have deteriorated horrendously. Who designed this landmark?
Well, it's bad enough that I can't see anything 20 meters away, but it's good enough for me to look around and enjoy the scenery without having itchy, uncomfortable glasses over my eyes.
I wonder how all the geeks can stand wearing glasses without that annoyance above their nose.
... ?
Hey, it's Ariel! That beauty I met while I was still looking for work 12 years ago! That distinctive beige hair tied in a ponytail is unforgettable. It makes her look really beautiful. Well, appearance wise she's splendid, but personality wise she's a pretty tough nut. She's now eating some cup noodles on a bench.
"Good to see you again, Ariel!"
"?"
She's looking over at my direction. Well, at least she looked up and acknowledged me as a human being, so I'm actually a bit glad she still thinks that people exist.
"Oh. Hello again Vance."
"I see you're as beautiful and stern as ever."
"Don't flatter me. It will never work."
"I know. If I didn't know that, I would probably say something ridiculously mushy and disgusting. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
"No."
"Good. All according to plan. Keheheheh. So, what are you up to recently?"
She's so strict.
Come to think of it, she could be on par with Homei on the Cold Attitude scale. Well, Homei's cold because she doesn't open up to anyone else but Uncle Sarsan and me, while Ariel's coldness comes from her strictness to regulations and rules. I've admired this trait of hers, but it's the one thing keeping me from asking her out. I don't want to have to deal with a strict girl like that, setting my dress codes and my walking posture, my behaviours and the like. She might as well date a programmable cyborg at that rate.
"I have worked as a secretary for almost 12 years now. I've been tutoring young children privately these days, if you want to count that too."
A secretary? Those girls who take notes, arrange files and split your work for you? She is so supportive, but her strictness is on the level of Homei getting mad at someone, like that young boy yesterday.
"A secretary? Seems befitting for you."
Ariel silently nodded in agreement as she slurped the last of her cup noodles.
"So, how's your luck these years?"
"I found work as a management and repair engineer. I'm now the Assistant Chief Engineer of my team, and well, I'm enjoying myself."
"A mere assistant chief engineer? Hmph."
... That's really rude...
"You shouldn't disrespect my position like that. I can work more than twice as fast as my Chief Engineer, but he's a big-time bootlicker. He always has been the 15 years he's worked there. Eventually I just gave up because it's too much work to fight for a position with him."
"Well, you do stink of trash, so I suppose you have worked hard in your own way."
She can never saying a compliment without an insult, can she.
"Thank you. Well, time's ticking. I have to head over to work soon. It's been nice stopping by to have a chat with you, Ariel."
"I suppose you want my number now?"
Her number? If I take her number- No, if Homei sees her number on my phone, that would be big trouble. As much as I'd like to, I might really have to pass on this one.
"What, you think every guy would automatically want you for wearing that sexy crisp black jacket and squarish glasses that make you look motherly? I'll... pass."
Oh my lord. I just listened to myself and I almost got enticed by that.
"As crude as usual, aren't you? Well, you're still honest, I'll give you that. Take my card."
? She has a card? I thought... I thought secretaries take the cards of their companies, so why would she have her own card?
As I took the card into my hand, I realised - Oh, she's giving private tuition as well.
That makes sense. She did mention that.
I tucked the card into my wallet snugly, and closed it shut.
"Don't just keep a person's business card without looking at it, idiot. That's so unprofessional."
"It's not like I'm interested in getting private tuition or anything, and it's not like the card would automatically grant me a special, private session with you. Well, unless, you wanted that to happen, in which case, I'm sorry for not noticing the subtle details."
"Hmph. Crude." With that, Ariel stomped off in her noisy high heels.
At least she's alive. I hope she finds a husband whom will take good care of her. She's been with me through the tough times we haven't found jobs yet, after all. I'd at least like to see a kindred spirit like her do well in life.
I know this is very idealistic of me, but actually, I'd like to see everyone happy and living life wholeheartedly. It's kind of impossible, because of the economy's work structure, but if I can make as many happy as I can, then it was worth living thus far.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
V.Vizard! 16.5 (Homei's Sunday)
It's nice to know that he's actually making an effort to come with me today this Sunday.
I'm so happy he made time for me. This is the best.
"So, Homei, you had your eyes on that cherry and skull hair pin for a while now, didn't you?"
<3 He remembered! He remembered the hair pins that I really liked!
"I think that would look good on you, sine you're a lot prettier with your hair down."
... Ehe. Ehehehehehe... He likes it when my hair is down...
"?! Is that... THE TSUNDERE QUEEN!?"
... I don't like that voice...
"It is! Hey guys, look! It's the Tsundere Queen! She's hanging with that cousin of hers again!"
It's those three idiots Penne, Diego and Boris again... They're laughing at me...
Vance, please hold my hand tight... Just pull me along and away from these three... Please...
"? Homei, your face is back to that expressionless self... What wrong? Is it those three over there?"
"... Yes..."
I can still remember that stupid song of mine they made just to insult me.
"Hey guys, let's sing that again. You know, that!"
" "Yeah!!" "
Oh God, please... Don't sing that... I squeezed Vance's hand tighter, to give him a signal to move away, but he just wouldn't. What's he doing?
<<< ... (cue beat!)
Penne : Repeat after me!
Goons : (Repeat after me!)
Repeat after me! (Repeat after me!)
Tsundere queen! (Tsundere queen!) Tsundere queen! (Tsundere queen!)
HOMEI! (Homei!) HOMEI! (Homei!)
She so tsun, she like li-quid- ny-trojan!!!
(She's so tsun, she's like liquid nitrogen!)
HOMEI! (Homei!) HOMEI!!! (Homei!)
If you stand right next to her you will get AI^S BOON~!
(If you stand right next to her you will get ice burn~!)
Iceburg! (Iceberg!) Iceburg! (Iceberg!)
She's an ASS, and she ends her sentences with DAYSOO!!!
(She's an S, and she ends her sentences with desu!)
HOMEI! (Homei!) HOMEI! (Homei!)
She so tsun, she's like a stinking WEEABOO!
"Be honest with me. You like to tease her, and you even put your feelings into a song for her sake, right?"
Wow. That's a really serious tone of voice I'm hearing from a guy who fools around all day.
!?! Wait...! By 'do it', did he mean...
"I like you. Please go out with me!"
... A confession.
Even if he does this now, even if he wants to know more about me, I won't appreciate a man who can't read all my signals, who's so immature to play around and mess with me, who can't seriously look me in the eyes and say 'You're the highest on my priority list.'...
"I refuse."
... I turned him down really quickly. Maybe that was a bit too harsh, but I don't plan on showing any hospitality around these people.
"I... I see. That's... too bad. You're missing out."
Me? Missing out? What, is he trying to BAIT me to accept now? What a dastardly tactic!
"I'm not missing out anything, stupid Penne. Vance is infinitely better than an amateurish, immature STUCK-UP like yourself who doesn't put his heart into understanding what others think. I'm not missing out at all, YOU'RE the one missing out because you can't show concern for others and you've been without an actual, proper girlfriend for all your life."
... Oops, I may have let loose a bit too much there.
Penne just walked away, completely devastated.
"... Homei, remember when I said your monotonous voice creeps me out?"
? "Yeah?"
"Yeeeeaaah... That is nowhere compared to you scolding him down just now."
... Oh no! That's the first time I've shown Vance my angry side!... It's... so embarrassing...
What will he think of me. He probably thinks I'm a bad girl...
"Vance?"
"!? Palchou?!"
? Vance is talking to a man who's holding Penne's head...
"What have you done to my son?"
Why is VANCE SAYING that?!
"Why are you saying that, Vance? You're unwed and childless!"
"That should be MY line, Vance. What have you done to my son?"
... Wait, so that man... Is Penne's father?
"Daddy, that man there made me confess to that girl, and she rejected me."
Penne looks really depressed. Is this his first rejection or something?
"I... haven't really done anything. Your boy there flirted with my cousin and got dropped like a rock."
"... That's your cousin?"
"What, you don't believe me?"
Vance turns around, squats down and looks at me. What does he want?
"Homei! Huggle me!"
<3 He wants a huggle!! Huggle huggle huggle!!!
I ran behind him, pressed his head against my chest, and nudged my body against his hair and scalp, while wrapping my arms around his neck. Ahh, I can smell it~ He washed his head with shampoo before meeting me today~! Hehehehehehehe~!
"Okay, that's enough, Homei. That's quite enough."
? Vance is standing up... Does he not want a huggle?
"What daughter would ever do THAT to her father?"
! He was using my love for him... to clarify doubts between us... <3
"... I see. Well, I won't pursue this matter then, if she's a cousin. See you tomorrow at work."
"Okay. It's been hard on you, Palchou! I'll be relying on you as always!"
! That man's Palchou the Chief Engineer?
"Vance, is that the guy whom you always talked about, the guy who bootlicks his boss?"
"Let's not waste anymore time on things you already know, Homei. Let's get you those hair pins."
<3 "Let's!"
I'm so happy he made time for me. This is the best.
"So, Homei, you had your eyes on that cherry and skull hair pin for a while now, didn't you?"
<3 He remembered! He remembered the hair pins that I really liked!
"I think that would look good on you, sine you're a lot prettier with your hair down."
... Ehe. Ehehehehehe... He likes it when my hair is down...
"?! Is that... THE TSUNDERE QUEEN!?"
... I don't like that voice...
"It is! Hey guys, look! It's the Tsundere Queen! She's hanging with that cousin of hers again!"
It's those three idiots Penne, Diego and Boris again... They're laughing at me...
Vance, please hold my hand tight... Just pull me along and away from these three... Please...
"? Homei, your face is back to that expressionless self... What wrong? Is it those three over there?"
"... Yes..."
I can still remember that stupid song of mine they made just to insult me.
"Hey guys, let's sing that again. You know, that!"
" "Yeah!!" "
Oh God, please... Don't sing that... I squeezed Vance's hand tighter, to give him a signal to move away, but he just wouldn't. What's he doing?
<<< ... (cue beat!)
Penne : Repeat after me!
Goons : (Repeat after me!)
Repeat after me! (Repeat after me!)
Tsundere queen! (Tsundere queen!) Tsundere queen! (Tsundere queen!)
HOMEI! (Homei!) HOMEI! (Homei!)
She so tsun, she like li-quid- ny-trojan!!!
(She's so tsun, she's like liquid nitrogen!)
HOMEI! (Homei!) HOMEI!!! (Homei!)
If you stand right next to her you will get AI^S BOON~!
(If you stand right next to her you will get ice burn~!)
Iceburg! (Iceberg!) Iceburg! (Iceberg!)
She's an ASS, and she ends her sentences with DAYSOO!!!
(She's an S, and she ends her sentences with desu!)
HOMEI! (Homei!) HOMEI! (Homei!)
She so tsun, she's like a stinking WEEABOO!
(She's so tsun, she's like a stinking weeaboo!)
She so void! (So void!) She so void! (So void!)
She don't have anybody- >>>
BAM! A loud explosion resounded above their heads.
" "GAH!?! " "
"Not again! It's the terrorist!!!"
Vance stepped up! With that Air Bomb technique thing again!... What's he going to do?
"Hey, you."
He's pointing at Penne?
"Wh- wha- what do you want, old geezer?"
Vance looks like a real knight in shining armour like that. He's not the most handsome, but he's the best.
"You actually like Homei, don't you."
!?
"HAH- AAAAH!?! N- NO- NO- NO! I... I DON'T!"
"Be honest with me. You like to tease her, and you even put your feelings into a song for her sake, right?"
?! He's pinning Penne down really well! That's my Vance!
"I... That song was made... To... To..."
"Whatever the reason you made that for was, it was to get her attention to look at you, right? It's filled completely with your emotions for her. You keep calling her cold, and unloving, but she's not. It's even proven from the fact that you gave her the term 'tsundere' instead of just using 'tsun'. Not to mention, you're the main rapper in that song of yours, weren't you? You actually want to know more about her, don't you?"
Vance is really brutal... To be intimidating a boy like that in public like a real adult... Penne is looking down, and his face is completely red.
"Then, old man, if... If it was that obvious..."
"Do it."
? What? What did Vance mean by 'do it'?
"... Thank you, old geezer!!!"
...? Penne is walking towards me?
"... Homei."
Wow. That's a really serious tone of voice I'm hearing from a guy who fools around all day.
!?! Wait...! By 'do it', did he mean...
"I like you. Please go out with me!"
... A confession.
Even if he does this now, even if he wants to know more about me, I won't appreciate a man who can't read all my signals, who's so immature to play around and mess with me, who can't seriously look me in the eyes and say 'You're the highest on my priority list.'...
"I refuse."
... I turned him down really quickly. Maybe that was a bit too harsh, but I don't plan on showing any hospitality around these people.
"I... I see. That's... too bad. You're missing out."
Me? Missing out? What, is he trying to BAIT me to accept now? What a dastardly tactic!
"I'm not missing out anything, stupid Penne. Vance is infinitely better than an amateurish, immature STUCK-UP like yourself who doesn't put his heart into understanding what others think. I'm not missing out at all, YOU'RE the one missing out because you can't show concern for others and you've been without an actual, proper girlfriend for all your life."
... Oops, I may have let loose a bit too much there.
Penne just walked away, completely devastated.
"... Homei, remember when I said your monotonous voice creeps me out?"
? "Yeah?"
"Yeeeeaaah... That is nowhere compared to you scolding him down just now."
... Oh no! That's the first time I've shown Vance my angry side!... It's... so embarrassing...
What will he think of me. He probably thinks I'm a bad girl...
"Vance?"
"!? Palchou?!"
? Vance is talking to a man who's holding Penne's head...
"What have you done to my son?"
Why is VANCE SAYING that?!
"Why are you saying that, Vance? You're unwed and childless!"
"That should be MY line, Vance. What have you done to my son?"
... Wait, so that man... Is Penne's father?
"Daddy, that man there made me confess to that girl, and she rejected me."
Penne looks really depressed. Is this his first rejection or something?
"I... haven't really done anything. Your boy there flirted with my cousin and got dropped like a rock."
"... That's your cousin?"
"What, you don't believe me?"
Vance turns around, squats down and looks at me. What does he want?
"Homei! Huggle me!"
<3 He wants a huggle!! Huggle huggle huggle!!!
I ran behind him, pressed his head against my chest, and nudged my body against his hair and scalp, while wrapping my arms around his neck. Ahh, I can smell it~ He washed his head with shampoo before meeting me today~! Hehehehehehehe~!
"Okay, that's enough, Homei. That's quite enough."
? Vance is standing up... Does he not want a huggle?
"What daughter would ever do THAT to her father?"
! He was using my love for him... to clarify doubts between us... <3
"... I see. Well, I won't pursue this matter then, if she's a cousin. See you tomorrow at work."
"Okay. It's been hard on you, Palchou! I'll be relying on you as always!"
! That man's Palchou the Chief Engineer?
"Vance, is that the guy whom you always talked about, the guy who bootlicks his boss?"
"Let's not waste anymore time on things you already know, Homei. Let's get you those hair pins."
<3 "Let's!"
V.Vizard! 16
" I'd be heading down to the TATA today for a rather important session. I won't be able to make it to that shopping date I promised today, so how about tomorrow? Is Sunday fine with you, Homei? - Vance "
" Okay. - Homei "
I'm glad she's so understanding. I'm also grateful for the invention of the cellphone, but let's not go that far. If I keep going down the list, I'm going to have to thank many, many things for two hours straight.
*** ***
"What's up, Vance. You made it."
Dekon's wearing that bright Hawaiian shirt again with those blue Bermudas. He sure isn't kidding when he said he has a set of clothes for every day of the week... What does he even work as?
"Hello, Dekon. I'm looking forward to today's fleshsmithing training."
"Ahh, yeah. I don't think you'd have the affinity for it, since it's a rather rare type of magic, but it can't hurt to learn a bit, can it?"
Definitely!
"Yeah."
"Okay then, first I would need to check something."
He places his entire left hand on my stomach.
... ? What's he doing? He's just closing his eyes and staying silent...? ... I feel something moving around in me, but maybe it's just a lingering feeling from yesterday or something. Like... My insides are being twisted like there's a whirlpool in the center of my stomach.
"The way I see it, your body can handle... Around 18 kiloUrtils."
Kilo-what?
"What? Urtils?"
"Yeah. Urtils. Just as how energy has a unit in Joules, just as how force has its units in Newtons, magical impact force is measured in Urtils. The term was coined by Johann Urtil. Well, only the 'geeks' use them around here, but it's nice to know things like these should it come down to an equation battle."
What the what?
"Okay... So, what?"
"Well, the maximum I can output with my fists, if I just concentrate really hard, is around 102 kiloUrtils. That's enough to shatter matter with a net force of around 2,000 Newtons. Additionally, people usually have a natural magic resistance of around 16 kiloUrtils, so yours is unusually high. People like that come around once in a while, so don't worry."
"Your point being... ?"
"I'm going to train your body to use magic defensively and to heal yourself."
I'm not sure about the 'defensive' part, but healing myself's always great.
"Also, I'd be giving you an advanced technique, for you to master on your own time. Just like what most mentors would do."
Hooray. An advanced technique. Why do I feel so demotivated though?
I mean, sure, I can't even make Ice Pelter properly, but that's an elemental technique I have no affinity for. Maybe... Just maybe, i really have an affinity for this!
"Stand straight, and imagine this - You, are a piece of rubber."
I... am a piece of rubber.
"Good. I like that focus. Now, you, are but a plain piece of rubber. All unnatural forces coming towards you... Will be rebound."
All unnatural forces coming towards me will be rebound...
"Like this one!"
Gfbgh!?!
He punched me!!! Dekon punched me in the gut!!
"Oh my lord! You punched me!"
"Good work, Dekon. You're rather good at this."
... Really?! How is that good!? I just got punched!
"I set that attack to be around 20 kiloUrtils. Do you feel any pain from that?"
"Quite a bit."
"Perfect. You have a really high tolerance, you know?"
? I don't get this entire magic resistance thing.
"People with a naturally high magic resistance can negate weak magic attacks. Just for an instant, when I punched you, I felt your magic resistance increase just enough to take the hit well. Of course, since fleshsmithing attacks are both magical and physical, you couldn't block the physical pain. The only pain you've felt just now are my knuckles pushing into your gut."
Wait, there are two types of pain now?
"There are two types of pain?"
"Yeah. Allow me to demonstrate on your left hand. I'm about to hit it with a 30 kiloUrtil attack. You ready?"
Oh lord... Please save me. I'm a piece of rubber... I'm a piece of rubber...! I'M A PIECE OF RUBBER!!!
Pak! He planted his fist against my hand.
... ? It didn't hurt that much? It felt like a rather gentle punch, that's only fast, not powerful. It's a very slight sting, and that's pretty much it.
"You..."
?
"You just increased your magic resistance to take that 30 kiloUrtil attack like it was nothing... Are you really a beginner?"
I what?
"... You're scary good. You might even master this technique in a day."
??? He's saying it as if I really have affinity for fleshsmithing.
"... So, Dekon... Do you think I have any affinity for this field of magic?"
"No."
Huh?
"If you had an actual affinity for fleshsmithing, you wouldn't need to be this fit. An affinity like that won't even require big muscles, or any form of exercise at all, to become just as powerful as anyone else. Look at yourself - You're a bit fat, but you're also fit. You're definitely not meant for fleshsmithing, even though you're good at it."
I don't even know what's going on anymore. If I'm not good at fleshsmithing, then what am I good in?
"It's more likely to assume that you have a better affinity with body magic."
"Body magic?"
"Some people like to call it life magic, some call it mutations, but the general category fleshsmithing falls under is body magic. Maybe you're good with other types of body magic, and that naturally gives you a standard proficiency in fleshsmithing. Or, at least, in controlling your natural magic resistance."
... Okay, I roughly get it, and I don't. It's like being generally good at Science, but not an expert physicist, or... something.
"... How about you show me that advanced technique first, and give me a goal to achieve?"
Dekon stared straight at me, as if saying 'You probably won't need this where you're headed' but he just reluctantly shrugs.
"Okay. Follow me, this technique I'm about to teach you... Can get really painful."
... I don't like the sound of that all of a sudden.
*** ***
He brought me to a room upstairs in the bar above the coliseum. Within the room were some mice, a snake, a jar of ants, some frogs in a tank, and a lot of other funky animals.
"Before you learn this advanced technique, you will need to learn how to patch up wounds on other people and even yourself. In fact, I'd teach you how to heal yourself quick in combat."
We spent two hours looking through the first aid kit, and him explaining how each of the things inside can be used. I didn't really need that since I have gone through standard first aid courses for Homei's sake in case she got injured, but it can't hurt to jog my memory.
"Now, for Combat Heal, think of yourself as a rapidly growing sea anemone, or a starfish. The important part of Combat Heal is to imagine yourself as a creature that can replace and heal itself quickly. The visualisation applied on yourself, to feel the animal's very basics, is really important for combat Heal to be effective."
Okay. Seems easy enough.
"To heal others in combat, use a combination of the Combat Heal with the Nutrient Redirection theory."
What? Nutrient redirection? Is that like pouring my blood into someone else?
"Nutrient... Redirection?"
"Basically, think of the strawberry plant and its asexual reproduction technique : Running. To use Combat Heal on others, you would have to touch their wound, and just as how a strawberry transfers nutrients to its runner, you have to redirect your Combat Heal to the target. Think of which parts of your own body you want to heal, and transfer the effect to the frog."
Sounds simple enough.
Picking up a frog from the cage, he looks at me seriously.
"You ready to try it?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take this chance to show you the advanced technique. It's really potent, because you are crippling your enemy on purpose, and wounding them even further. If you don't do Combat Heal right, this is a life we're losing here."
Wow. Sounds pretty scary.
"Allow me to demonstrate first. I'd scream out the name of this technique, so remember it well."
?
"Bone Cannon!"
The frog's hing leg bones are forced out from its frog heels which have now gone bulgy and limp from the muscles and purple from the blood, and the bones are now floating in the air. Forcefully, the bones are driven into a black board on the wall.
"Heal it, quick!"
Okay. Imagine myself as a starfish and a strawberry plant at the same time... I'm going to grow back these legs, while passing that effect onto the frog... It's weird becoming a strawberry plant-shaped starfish but I can roughly visualise it.
Combination : Combat Heal + Nutrient Redirection!
Blood stopped flowing out from its heels, or rather, where the heels used to be. Success! I healed it!... But...
"What the hell was that technique?! You forced its bones out!?"
"Bone cannon. Remember this well, Vance. It's a very specific technique where you force your opponent's bones out, and slam the bones onto a black surface or object."
... That sounds scary- Why does it have to be black?
"Why black?"
"The extraction theory is as how pus is forced out of the pimples, or how a creature has to defecate, apply the waste effect on the bones to force it out. The effect where you lift it up and attack is as if your imaginary hands hold it up to place it in an ink vat."
That just confused me further. First black and now ink vats? What?
"Ink vat? Why ink vats?"
"Bones are naturally light-coloured, and the whole technique is really similar to forcing white paste out of a tube, and putting it in black ink. You can choose to place the bones against any other colour, but against black, its destructive force is the most powerful because of black being its almost-literal polar opposite."
That sounds like a wicked sick technique. The black object requirement thing's a bit hard to get by, though, but I'm sure I'd see its true effectiveness soon... Well, not like I'm about to use this technique without thinking first.
"Well, go and learn it on your own time, okay, Vance? I'm a bit busy today because of Ranko." He just shoved me out of his room and closed the door on me.
Now that I look at this Bone Cannon technique...
... I kind of wished magic wasn't this... cruel.
I actually kind of regretted coming along today to learn this, this... monstrosity.
" Okay. - Homei "
I'm glad she's so understanding. I'm also grateful for the invention of the cellphone, but let's not go that far. If I keep going down the list, I'm going to have to thank many, many things for two hours straight.
*** ***
"What's up, Vance. You made it."
Dekon's wearing that bright Hawaiian shirt again with those blue Bermudas. He sure isn't kidding when he said he has a set of clothes for every day of the week... What does he even work as?
"Hello, Dekon. I'm looking forward to today's fleshsmithing training."
"Ahh, yeah. I don't think you'd have the affinity for it, since it's a rather rare type of magic, but it can't hurt to learn a bit, can it?"
Definitely!
"Yeah."
"Okay then, first I would need to check something."
He places his entire left hand on my stomach.
... ? What's he doing? He's just closing his eyes and staying silent...? ... I feel something moving around in me, but maybe it's just a lingering feeling from yesterday or something. Like... My insides are being twisted like there's a whirlpool in the center of my stomach.
"The way I see it, your body can handle... Around 18 kiloUrtils."
Kilo-what?
"What? Urtils?"
"Yeah. Urtils. Just as how energy has a unit in Joules, just as how force has its units in Newtons, magical impact force is measured in Urtils. The term was coined by Johann Urtil. Well, only the 'geeks' use them around here, but it's nice to know things like these should it come down to an equation battle."
What the what?
"Okay... So, what?"
"Well, the maximum I can output with my fists, if I just concentrate really hard, is around 102 kiloUrtils. That's enough to shatter matter with a net force of around 2,000 Newtons. Additionally, people usually have a natural magic resistance of around 16 kiloUrtils, so yours is unusually high. People like that come around once in a while, so don't worry."
"Your point being... ?"
"I'm going to train your body to use magic defensively and to heal yourself."
I'm not sure about the 'defensive' part, but healing myself's always great.
"Also, I'd be giving you an advanced technique, for you to master on your own time. Just like what most mentors would do."
Hooray. An advanced technique. Why do I feel so demotivated though?
I mean, sure, I can't even make Ice Pelter properly, but that's an elemental technique I have no affinity for. Maybe... Just maybe, i really have an affinity for this!
"Stand straight, and imagine this - You, are a piece of rubber."
I... am a piece of rubber.
"Good. I like that focus. Now, you, are but a plain piece of rubber. All unnatural forces coming towards you... Will be rebound."
All unnatural forces coming towards me will be rebound...
"Like this one!"
Gfbgh!?!
He punched me!!! Dekon punched me in the gut!!
"Oh my lord! You punched me!"
"Good work, Dekon. You're rather good at this."
... Really?! How is that good!? I just got punched!
"I set that attack to be around 20 kiloUrtils. Do you feel any pain from that?"
"Quite a bit."
"Perfect. You have a really high tolerance, you know?"
? I don't get this entire magic resistance thing.
"People with a naturally high magic resistance can negate weak magic attacks. Just for an instant, when I punched you, I felt your magic resistance increase just enough to take the hit well. Of course, since fleshsmithing attacks are both magical and physical, you couldn't block the physical pain. The only pain you've felt just now are my knuckles pushing into your gut."
Wait, there are two types of pain now?
"There are two types of pain?"
"Yeah. Allow me to demonstrate on your left hand. I'm about to hit it with a 30 kiloUrtil attack. You ready?"
Oh lord... Please save me. I'm a piece of rubber... I'm a piece of rubber...! I'M A PIECE OF RUBBER!!!
Pak! He planted his fist against my hand.
... ? It didn't hurt that much? It felt like a rather gentle punch, that's only fast, not powerful. It's a very slight sting, and that's pretty much it.
"You..."
?
"You just increased your magic resistance to take that 30 kiloUrtil attack like it was nothing... Are you really a beginner?"
I what?
"... You're scary good. You might even master this technique in a day."
??? He's saying it as if I really have affinity for fleshsmithing.
"... So, Dekon... Do you think I have any affinity for this field of magic?"
"No."
Huh?
"If you had an actual affinity for fleshsmithing, you wouldn't need to be this fit. An affinity like that won't even require big muscles, or any form of exercise at all, to become just as powerful as anyone else. Look at yourself - You're a bit fat, but you're also fit. You're definitely not meant for fleshsmithing, even though you're good at it."
I don't even know what's going on anymore. If I'm not good at fleshsmithing, then what am I good in?
"It's more likely to assume that you have a better affinity with body magic."
"Body magic?"
"Some people like to call it life magic, some call it mutations, but the general category fleshsmithing falls under is body magic. Maybe you're good with other types of body magic, and that naturally gives you a standard proficiency in fleshsmithing. Or, at least, in controlling your natural magic resistance."
... Okay, I roughly get it, and I don't. It's like being generally good at Science, but not an expert physicist, or... something.
"... How about you show me that advanced technique first, and give me a goal to achieve?"
Dekon stared straight at me, as if saying 'You probably won't need this where you're headed' but he just reluctantly shrugs.
"Okay. Follow me, this technique I'm about to teach you... Can get really painful."
... I don't like the sound of that all of a sudden.
*** ***
He brought me to a room upstairs in the bar above the coliseum. Within the room were some mice, a snake, a jar of ants, some frogs in a tank, and a lot of other funky animals.
"Before you learn this advanced technique, you will need to learn how to patch up wounds on other people and even yourself. In fact, I'd teach you how to heal yourself quick in combat."
We spent two hours looking through the first aid kit, and him explaining how each of the things inside can be used. I didn't really need that since I have gone through standard first aid courses for Homei's sake in case she got injured, but it can't hurt to jog my memory.
"Now, for Combat Heal, think of yourself as a rapidly growing sea anemone, or a starfish. The important part of Combat Heal is to imagine yourself as a creature that can replace and heal itself quickly. The visualisation applied on yourself, to feel the animal's very basics, is really important for combat Heal to be effective."
Okay. Seems easy enough.
"To heal others in combat, use a combination of the Combat Heal with the Nutrient Redirection theory."
What? Nutrient redirection? Is that like pouring my blood into someone else?
"Nutrient... Redirection?"
"Basically, think of the strawberry plant and its asexual reproduction technique : Running. To use Combat Heal on others, you would have to touch their wound, and just as how a strawberry transfers nutrients to its runner, you have to redirect your Combat Heal to the target. Think of which parts of your own body you want to heal, and transfer the effect to the frog."
Sounds simple enough.
Picking up a frog from the cage, he looks at me seriously.
"You ready to try it?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take this chance to show you the advanced technique. It's really potent, because you are crippling your enemy on purpose, and wounding them even further. If you don't do Combat Heal right, this is a life we're losing here."
Wow. Sounds pretty scary.
"Allow me to demonstrate first. I'd scream out the name of this technique, so remember it well."
?
"Bone Cannon!"
The frog's hing leg bones are forced out from its frog heels which have now gone bulgy and limp from the muscles and purple from the blood, and the bones are now floating in the air. Forcefully, the bones are driven into a black board on the wall.
"Heal it, quick!"
Okay. Imagine myself as a starfish and a strawberry plant at the same time... I'm going to grow back these legs, while passing that effect onto the frog... It's weird becoming a strawberry plant-shaped starfish but I can roughly visualise it.
Combination : Combat Heal + Nutrient Redirection!
Blood stopped flowing out from its heels, or rather, where the heels used to be. Success! I healed it!... But...
"What the hell was that technique?! You forced its bones out!?"
"Bone cannon. Remember this well, Vance. It's a very specific technique where you force your opponent's bones out, and slam the bones onto a black surface or object."
... That sounds scary- Why does it have to be black?
"Why black?"
"The extraction theory is as how pus is forced out of the pimples, or how a creature has to defecate, apply the waste effect on the bones to force it out. The effect where you lift it up and attack is as if your imaginary hands hold it up to place it in an ink vat."
That just confused me further. First black and now ink vats? What?
"Ink vat? Why ink vats?"
"Bones are naturally light-coloured, and the whole technique is really similar to forcing white paste out of a tube, and putting it in black ink. You can choose to place the bones against any other colour, but against black, its destructive force is the most powerful because of black being its almost-literal polar opposite."
That sounds like a wicked sick technique. The black object requirement thing's a bit hard to get by, though, but I'm sure I'd see its true effectiveness soon... Well, not like I'm about to use this technique without thinking first.
"Well, go and learn it on your own time, okay, Vance? I'm a bit busy today because of Ranko." He just shoved me out of his room and closed the door on me.
Now that I look at this Bone Cannon technique...
... I kind of wished magic wasn't this... cruel.
I actually kind of regretted coming along today to learn this, this... monstrosity.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)