In search of training!

[04:02] The Gehennan blinked, looking to Saba.

He didn't look like one of ashurs. At least... The boastful sloth wasn't with him. But that felt pretty on the nose. Maybe somebody pointed him this way.

Either way, a flash of blue danced from his feet to his hair. Showing off his aura briefly.

"Guess I ain't a bad place t'start, kid. What? You actually tryin'a'learn the stuff?"
(Eztli)
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[04:08] Huh, so the first person he came across was someone who could teach him some energy magic... That's just kinda, lucky? Eh, maybe fate was smiling on him for some reason. Whether or not that was true, didn't matter. What mattered was he didn't have to put in actual effort to find a teacher.

Which to say the least, was very ideal for the lazy teenager.

"Mhm, been thinking it'll add something neat with my fire, might even help me with my blacksmithing." He'd shrug before continuing. "Either way, I've gotten it in my mind that I want to learn it."

He'd take a few steps towards Eztli. "So, will you teach me?"
(Saba)
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[04:12] Eztli looked the teen over, assessing him.
…
. . .

Those weren't good answers. At least not ones he'd have said. But it wasn't often he came across aspiring Energy Magi.

What the hell. The Gehennan shrugged.

"Sure, kid. But you might find real fast you don't wanna learn it. I've heard I'm a brutal teacher. But believe me. Artaghh makes my work look like a walk in the park."

A gentle glow surrounded the Gehennan, his energy flowing for Saba to see!

He was totally showing off.

"What all you picked up so far? You tap into it at all yet?"
(Eztli)
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[04:23] Saba blinks.

"Does... Does this count?"

As he finishes speaking, his snaps his finger as his body is engulfed by a bright flame. Yup, this was definitely not energy magic, but hey... It's something right.

No, not it wasn't. Though as he actually stared at the blue energy aura that surrounded Ez, something kinda clicked in him. It looked a lot like Katja's, but hers was green.

Eh, it's probably nothing.

Either way! He was on fire now, so that's cool.
(Saba)
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[04:28] The Gehennan was...

UNIMPRESSED.

He shook his head. That was a 'No' if he ever saw one.

"So. Entirely green, keh? S'fine."
Hmm... What to do here...

"You wanna give it a shot now? Cos I got an idea f'you got time. You probably won't like it."
(Eztli)
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[04:28] Saba says, "Hm... I mean, I have nothing else to do right now."
[04:29] Saba says, "Except for sit on a bench and do nothing."
[04:29] Saba says, "Which is always a good time."
[04:31] Eztli offered Saba a grin.

He had one...

"C'mon, then. An'ere. Take this."

As he wandered towards the West woods he dug through his pack, offering over a set of lightweight Mythril chains! Hooks were on the end. It looked very worn.

"... I'll show you what t'do in a sec."
(Eztli)
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[04:33] Saba tilted his head to the side. Chains? Well.. I guess this was a thing that was happening now. He'd give a slight shrug as he grabbed the mythril chains for Eztli.

"Right, so just follow you now?"

He'd give another shrug, as he walked around Eztli, and stopped behind him. Right, it was following time.

"Lead the way, I guess."
(Saba)
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[04:39] And with that? He returned to where... Shit... More than ten years ago he started his own training.

Good grief. He was getting old.

"So, kid. What do you know 'bout Energy right now? You know 'bout it. S'a start. But what details d'you got? Ever seen it in action?"

He spoke but... Was not looking at his fellow Gehennan. He was instead looking at the trees.
(Eztli)
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[04:44] The Gehennan glanced over at Eztli. Right, what exactly did he know about energy magic. Well, nothing actually, though that's probably not the answer his new teacher was looking for. Though, he had seen it in action once or twice.

"Right, well I've seen it once or twice, a friend of mine uses it." Wait, were they still friends? Hm, he didn't actually know. He hadn't seen Katja since their fishing trip. Well, friendships don't break that easily right?

"Though, her energy looked a bit different than yours." He'd give a slight shrug as he followed Eztli's gaze towards the trees. Huh, wonder why he's staring at them.

"But, yes I've seen a couple of times. The uhh, aura, and the constricting thing. That's about it. How they manage to use said magic, I couldn't tell you."

Hopefully he appreciated the honest answer.
(Saba)
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[04:58] "Not a clue, eh? S'fine, kid. S'fine. I didn't know a thing when I started either. I spoke t'Artaghh. An' he told me what t'do to unlock it. S'easy once y'get the knack of it."
…
. . .

That one. The Gehennan nodded towards a tree in the grove! It was a small one. It should do. "Right. F'starters? We need that tree outta the ground. Tie y'chain 'round it. You get a freebie. You'll pull your next one out yourself."

With no warning, Eztli burned bright! Blue aura igniting! "Energy comes from y'core. Everybody has it, but not everybody can use it like I can. But when y'do? You put -EVERYTHING- into it."

He balled a hand to a fist a few times! Bracing himself for something. He leveled a palm at the base of the tree. A blast of blue light flung from his palm and into the dirt! Sending wood and dirt flying 'round.

Not that any hit Saba or Eztli. As the smoke cleared the younger Gehennan would find an orb of energy surrounding the both of them. Both it, and his aura fading as the tree toppled to the earth.

"... We're gonna see f'you can tap into your energy first an' foremost. S'gonna be real easy seein' if you got it."

He turned 'round! Pointing to the top of the crater!

"Bring it up there. Got it?"
(Eztli)
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[04:59] Eztli says, "I'll give you pointers as y'go. See what you figure out on your own."
[05:17] "D-did you just..."

Saba blinks. From a distance it looked like Eztli just randomly punched a tree. But! Thankfully Saba was actually paying attention, so his eyes happened to pick up the ball of what appeared to be energy magic.

Hm. Right, well that was clearly beyond what he was capable of right now. Well, the energy part. He could in theory use enough fire to topple a tree, but that wasn't the goal here.

What he needed to do, was somehow manage to lug this big old tree to the north of the crater. Which... He might be able to do? Hard to say really. There was only one real way to find out.

So with a slight shrug, the Gehennan would walk over towards the fallen tree, bending down slightly, so he can properly wrap the tree with his chain. It'd take a few moments, before he was confident that it was secured.

Right, how hard could this be? It's just a tree, right? He'd grip the chains in both of his hands, as he slowly, and I mean slowly dragged the tree.

He didn't even manage to get the tree five feet away from it's location, before fatigue sat kicked in. Holy shit this thing was heavy. With sweat covering his face, and probably his entire body, he'd continue to drag the tree.

He'd get to the staircase before he collapsed, huh he got further than he thought he would, but his task wasn't over. He still had the stairs to climb. Which, was probably going to be way worse than getting the tree to this point.

He'd clear his throat, as a frown spread across his face. He just needed to hit his second- fourth wind, and he could do it. Which surprisingly it actually came! (Rolled a 16 out of 20) Using literally everything he could muster, he drags the tree out of the crater.

A slight chuckle escaped from his lips as he collapsed onto the ground. Holy fuck, that was awful. Slowly, he'd roll over onto his back, as he stared up at the sky.

"Spirits, that was awful." Was all he could manage as he laid there gasping for air.
(Saba)
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[05:38] As Saba slooooowly. Suuuurely made his way out Eztli watched.

And he didn't like what he saw. Not a speck of blue.

"You did good. You're starting from th'right place. Not many folk your age can do what y'jus' did."

As he was catching his breath, Eztli stamped to the log, placing a boot atop it and squinting down...

Oh no...

"But Energy Magi ain't most folk. We're on a whole different level. Which is why we're doin' this again."

With a nudge, the log went rolling. Clattering LOUDLY at the bottom. All Sabas work going down the drain in an instant.

"We're doin' this till you figure out how t'draw it out."
…
How do you describe energy? He probably should have considered that before getting a student. When he himself did it he just threw himself at the wall and clung to what he could.

"This ain't just y'body. You gotta put your mind in this, too. At leas' for now. You gotta will your energy out from y'core. Else this will be a pain until you finally grow the muscles t'do this without it."

He exaggerated drawing his aura out. Closing his eyes and taking in a DEEP BREATH. As if to show off thinking DEEPLY. Slowly drawing his energy from his core and allowing it to glow!

"When y'ready t'try again jus' head down. Crafthold ain't gonna miss either of us till this is done."
(Eztli)
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[05:41]
{LOAD GAME}

[05:58] Oh god, he needed to do it again? Fuck. He'd gently roll over onto his stomach, as he placed his arms on the ground, and using what physical strength he has, pushes himself back to his feet.

Spirits his knees felt weak, plus his arms were heavy. "R-right, well if I'm doing this again I'm getting setting my bag down." Without another word, Saba gently set his bag down next to the tree, but as the bag was set down, the button that prevented things from spilling out, popped out.

Thus! The contents of the bag was revealed, and spirits that was a lot of ore. Over eight pieces of ore rested in his bag, which probably didn't make this whole endeavor easy for the lad, at least now it'd be easier.

He was seconds away from walking down the steps when it hit him. This wasn't supposed to be easy. A small sigh escaped from his lips, as he walked over towards his bag. With a frown still ever present onhis face, the Gehennan would close his bag, and gently place it back on his well back.

He'd grit his teeth, as he walked down the stairs, and by walk I mean limp. Right, so fifth wind? Spirits, please just give him a fifth wind. Thankfully his prayers were answered.

With the chains in his hands, Saba began to drag the log up the tree. Every muscle in his body was screaming out in pain, but he needed to push through it. If he was ever going to learn this energy magic, he'd need to be able to do at least this.

There was a slight flash, it was only there for maybe half a second, but for just a moment. There was a flash of blue that surrounded the teenager. Of course he wouldn't notice it, he was far too busy pulling the tree. Which, he actually managed to get up the stairs. Though that did take quite some time.

Finally with his task completed, he'd collapse on the ground again, as he once again attempted to get some rest. "Spirits, that was actually worse than the first time." His green eyes slowly rested on Eztli, as he silently pleaded for this to be over.
(Saba)
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[06:03] There was something! He was getting somewhere!

And for half a second he was actually starting to doubt himself.

Green met green as direct eye contact was made.

And a boot fell upon the log.

"You see it, Kid? For a moment you tapped into it. Think you can do it again? Try to get your mind into that moment again. T'order that power back t'your bones a second time."
…
He nudged the log JUST an inch forward.

"F'you need a reminder on that feelin' we got all day. Gravity is a bitch."
(Eztli)
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[06:23] His eyes had begged for mercy, pleaded for it. Yet none was given. He wanted to cry, every fiber of his being was screaming at him to start weeping, as he watched the tree stumble down the stairs. Truly gravity was a bitch.

Yet he wouldn't cry. Instead, he'd roll over onto his stomach again, as he gently pressed the palms of his hands onto the ground. His muscles screaming out in agony as he got back to his feet. Right, he'd do it again this time.

He took one more deep breath as he stared at the tree from above the stairs. "Fuck." Is all he can manage as he hobbles his way down the steps. His legs nearly gave out several times, but he managed to pull through.

Carefully he'd lower himself down, as he gripped the chains as tightly as he could with both of his hands. Just. One. More. Time. That's all he needed to do, or that's how he rationalized it to himself.

Pull. PULL. PULL!

Helet out a primal roar, as he dragged the tree up the steps one last time. He was gripping the mythril chains so hard his hands actually started to bleed, not a lot but it was noticeable, and once more there would be a flash of blue.

It was a quick flash like the first one. He needed to do this, he needed to get this fucking tree up the stairs. Again, the blue flashed around him. Almost there.

Another flash.

With one final push, he was there. The flashing of blue stopped as he collapsed onto the ground once more. Even if Eztli asked him to do this again, odds are he'd probably just die.

So once again, his green eyes stared down Eztli's, pleading for mercy.
(Saba)
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[06:30] Green met green.

And now, Eztli seemed content.

This was, like, three different tests in one. And it all passed with flying colors. The Gehennan took a knee, narrowing his eyes INTENSELY. A Canteen offered over in a silent gesture of freedom.

"Remember this feelin', Saba. Hold onto it. Train and train and train until you can draw your energy at will. Then we can step this up. It only gets harder from here."

He sat down with a 'Thud!', letting his Canteen be taken for the time being as he stuck with the recovering Gehennan.

"Th'more you learn t'use your energy the more you can depend on yourself. This ain't like other Magics. This is all you an' your spirit. It never leaves you."
(Eztli)
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[06:42] A smile spread across his face. It was over, thank you spirits. It was finally over. His hands slowly made their way toward the canteen, which he firmly grasped, well as firmly as his tired muscles could handle at this point.

Without any hesitation, he'd bring the canteen to his lips, pouring as much of the water as he could down his throat. Most of it missed, but he managed to get some water into his system, and that was far better than nothing.

"Right... Thank you Mister Eztli." He'd finally mumble after some time. "I uhh, I think I'm gonna need a favor."
(Saba)
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[06:44] "Well I basically jus' killed you. So I probably owe you that much. Didn' wimp out after all. 'Sup, Kid?"

He dragged the tree on over, idly wrangling his chain out from around it. Lugging it over his shoulder.
(Eztli)
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[06:44] Saba says, "I uhh, I can't move.."
[06:44] Saba asks, "Can you carry me back to Crafthold?"
[06:45] Eztli says, "..."
[06:45] Eztli says, "Yeah, I guess that makes sense."
[06:46] Saba asks, "I uhh.. I don't have a house either... Can I uhh, stay with you?"
[06:46] Saba says, "At least for the night... I really need some rest."
[07:00] Without much warning, Eztli lept to his feet! Scooping Saba over his other shoulder like a sack of Potatoes.

"I'll set ya up in th'Clinic. They should sort y'out."

Without much a care in the world he'd trudge through the woods, Saba in tow.
…
"Kah. Fine. That works too, I guess. Jus' don' touch anythin'. Got it?"

He couldn't exactly squint at his student, but it felt like it regardless.
(Eztli)
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[07:00] Saba somehow manages to nod his head. "Yes Mister Ez."
(Saba)