Inspiring Boar

Out in the clearing of the woods, amidst the hushed whispers of the wind falling against the leaves, they found themselves challenging whatever limitations they have- for Nerin, this is the limitations of his body, just how far it can bend and flex... of all things, it was something related to his skeleton - to his very bones. Relatively gruesome magic, of course, but..

Anything related to biological tends to be gruesome.

Blood. Bone. Poison. Even the magics of Nature are gruesome- with various infections, bacteria and viruses becoming a possibility. In his case, however, it's something far more grittier, something you would never guess when you look at Nerin. His body was his ultimate weapon, always - and he would hone it to be something greater at all times.

"Zus.."

"I was going to train with you not only in what you wanted, but also in manifestation of my Bone magic; I know how you're disturbed by it, but I think it's about time you learn how to suppress your fears and actually face it on, regardless of how you feel."

"Magic is always Will. It's manifestation of our inner self- lest you wish to keep it suppressed, it's time you conquer your fears."

It's not to say that Nerin had no fears at all. Quite on the contrary, he had many.. but often he acted through it, putting on a façade that allowed him to get by without falling to such fears. A useful skill, especially if you consider world at large, but..

They've not come here for such semantics.

"Previously, you looked interested in learning Wano's magic. Energy, was it?"

"Is this what you want us to do?"
(Nerin)

Out there in the wild, where no one else but the team and the clouds would witness their training.

Zus stood proud and tall before Nerin, a determined gaze locked on his friend. The mongrel was prepared to take him on, though, when the word bone was mentionned, doubt and fear slipped through Zus seemingly unbreakable fascade of a brute.

Born in the wilderness and having spent the majority of his life in it, Zus often came out as clueless of the world surrounding him and it's practices. A fireball, a bubble, a gust of wind or an arc of lightning coming his way was alright.

But seeing a man able to deform his own form, to stab himself and turn his bones into weapons-- this gruesome art grazed with witchcraft in the savage's eyes.

This, he was not comfortable with. The powerful and savage Zus was in fact, scared of many things and it severely crippled him, and his growth. He had not yet unlocked the will of fight through anyobstacles falling upon his path. No, like a savage beast, he ran away whenever he felt in danger.

It was time to break this loop.

"This is what Zus wants to do..."
(Zus)

He knew that aspect very well.

Perhaps like nobody else, he understood Zus to a fairly good degree; he understood that he didn't have the same perception on things as those raised in civilization, and while that much often deterred people from either accepting him as one of their own, or perhaps even wishing him harm--

Nerin wasn't like this. He never was.

Instead, he saw someone who's yet to unlock their potential, understand how things work in this world, and how one should adapt to it; he had no doubt that one day, Zus would become formidable in many meanings of that word - not only formidable in combat, but also able to rely entirely on himself only, and nobody else.

It's at that day he would feel safe letting him do anything, without ever intervening, lest he needed help.

"Good."

"Long-term goals, some ideal in your mind, it's what you should have. Without direction, people usually fall apart - remember that, whenever you have to rally someone, or break them apart."

Without meaning, the pack falls.
With clear sight, it perseveres.

While demeanor of Nerin often suggested fairly simple and outgoing personality with the rest, deep inside he understood such truths perfectly- and moreover, he was very much ready to act on them too if he had to. Especially if it threatened what he held dear. And yet..

"Energy is often manifestation of your will, of inner strength. Tell me, then.."

He comes a little closer; the knuckles of his hand begins to writhe and stir, the control of Bones perfected over time, the self-taught technique which Nerin had been working on all along. Slowly, the first blades begin to protrude - now, they do not shed nearly as much blood. Perhaps, he's getting better at it.

"Do you think you can persevere against this?"
(Nerin)

Goals.

Zus wasn't missing these.

As mundane and trivial some of them were, the mongrel dearly onto those. Despite his look and behavior, Zus wasn't this impenetrable wall of flesh and savagery people thought of him to be. It was already hinted that, he held somekind of strong feelings for the people around him. He's quick to anger and slamming someone's face against a wall is something he wouldn't hesitate to do if pushed.

But watching someone suffer was insufferable for him.

This colossal, bidepal, beast had an aspect only select few were able to see. A golden heart.

His goal was impossible for him yet so simple. He wanted recognition, not as somekind of Warlord with dozens of wives and many victories over the battlefield but as a Beacon of Hope, a colossal shield to protect the weaklings, the ones that could not save themselves.

Zus started at Nerin's knuckles in horror, his body trembling in fear as he watched his friend's body dissorting in gruesome ways. It was certainly painful, it must be painful, so why is he doing this?

The mongrel was fighting against his fears, his whole body shaking-- screaming for this wild beast to run yet, he was still standing but.. could he take more?
(Zus)

A step, after step, after step.

It wasn't clear just how Zus would react to this, but the gruesome visage of bone magic was not possible to deny; for someone who's usually so up to everything, so energetic, so ready to tackle the world as a whole... it's almost odd why exactly Nerin decided to practice some of the most gruesome magics out there.

Distorting his own body in the most wicked ways.

"Don't flee." It's not spoken in demanding tone, but rather encouraging- yet firm at the same time, almost as if pushing Zus into a certain direction. He knew of the potential he's had, and this could be wasted otherwise.. should he submit to the fear as a whole.

As one walks upon the ashes, they should not fear, for in fear, lies death.

It wouldn't happen now, it might not happen anytime soon - but one day, this weakness could be very well the reason to a fall, a fall that he would rather never have to witness or even hear about. If it were up to him, they would already be somewhere at the top.. but you can't just bend the world to your liking like that, can you?

It takes work. Work that's about to happen here.

"Focus on your sight, think of what you dream of, and disregard anything that stands between you and them." Whether it's fear for something like this or anything else. And yet.. the bones only extend outward, prompting soon to become full-fledged weapons of horror - capable of slicing flesh just as much as bruising it.

"Tap into the wellspring of this inner strength. Visualize it. Push it outward." It was a secret to many techniques. To experience powerful emotions, and then overcome them.

Though, with all of this encouragement...
The majority rests on Zus, still.
(Nerin)

These visions of horror were insufferable, excruciating for the mongrel to witness. In his light, this practice was no different than self-harm, Zus could remember his friend's blood dripping from his fingertips, his words when he said how painful this art was, how his body wasn't prepared for it yet. When Nerin first revealed this, the boar's reaction may came out to be childish but, the concern was deep.

These brothers and sisters he made along the way, this brute wanted to protect them, he wanted to protect them with his life. But what he was supposed to do when the harm came out from themselves?

There was no one to punch to solve this direction.

No one to go after.

All Zus could do, was to endure it and accept that sometimes... nothing can be done.

Zus wanted the stars but the stars, will not come down to the pit he's stuck in, this bloody and dirty pit in which he'sjust a worm like others, a worm like many, who gave is bestt to crawl out of this shithole and reach the Heavens. Potential is potential, it is not absolute. Many have the potential for Greatness but never actually reach it, potential, is nothing when it comes to life.

The animal gritted his teeth, clenching his fists into firm balls as a radiant hue emanated from his form, mana pouring out in it's purest and rawest form as Zus fell deeper into this Abyss where emotions, dreams and monstrosities intertwined.

When it comes to life and sucess, Will always supplants potential.

Zus body ceased to shake as his most primal feelings and urges poured out in the form of mana. A beautiful sight to behold, a powerful light casted, an extension of Zus' will and desires to bring out the best of himself in this world.

He stepped forth, eyes turned white as the constant flow of power made it so his hair spiked.

"ZUS NOT AFRAID ANYMORE!" He roared!


(Zus)

Almost any moment, he expected him to run- but deep inside he hoped that he would not. This manifestation of Will would be an important breakthrough for Zus to be had, just as it was important for Nerin to actually master the technique of Bone magic. This ability to actually bend the flesh and body with Biomancy, as well as even ingrate new things in it, and perhaps transcend what it really means to be human..

This step, almost evolutionary.
It was important, more than ever.

None of them had anything to start with. None of them had backing of powerful families, of nobles, of wealth that they could immediately tap into - no, absolutely none had anything. Perhaps that's why they banded together, to rely on each other rather than non-existing family support, to grow together and defy their barriers, whether they come from within or outside.

Even now, the bones so ever shifted. No doubt a stimuli for Zus' fear, to perhaps cause him to flee, and yet... that just didn't happen. No matter what bladed shapes his bones took outwardly, it just wouldn't happen; in truth, it would seem that he handled himself just fine. The body of Nerin adapted and merged to such technique, bleeding less and less, perfecting along the way, but..

For now? His focus was on his friend.

When not a sign of fear was shown, but instead ferocious roar, he couldn't help but draw a genuine smile. He's made it at last, and perhaps had taken his first steps into harnessing mana- after all, it is said that mana is easily harnessed and released when there's powerful stimuli coming, strong emotion that clings onto one's mind.

In this case, it was his fear - the fear he managed to defeat.

"...And you made it."

There's almost a visible flicker of pride in his eyes- pride in another. To remember just how Zus was like not so long ago, he's come a long way already - and Nerin was certain that he'd walk through a lot more.

"You're truly not afraid anymore."
(Nerin)

This feeling of unwavering power surging from his form, had him shock. How and where did it came from? This raw and uncorrupted blue miasma dancing as the breeze brushed over his form causing a few wild strands of hair to fall over his features only to slowly return to their initial spot, as this power's source came from the savage's very core-- only to move upwards as if it urged to graze the skies.

These emeralds now turned into sapphires looked at his forearms in contemplation, the mongrel could see his veins popping out of his sun-kissed skin as if he was under undying pressure. In this state, Zus felt like he could do anything.

His dreams, were perhaps not so distant afterall...

Yet, as his emotions slowly died out over time, so did his raw and pure manifestation of unwavering Will and Hopes. This piercing and beautiful light now casted out into nothingness.

"This feeling, I want to taste it again.." he revealed as he looked up in the skies, feeling blessed by the Gods when in fact, he was blessed for having friends pushing him onward. As mundane it sounds, friendship led to variety of emotions, all useful for self-empowerement.

Perhaps Zus will understand in the future.

"Thank yee for helping Zus.." he said with a whispering voice, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he understood.. he finally made a breakthrough.
(Zus)

Such brilliance.

It almost caused Nerin to wish that he'd have grasped something more dignifying, something that doesn't inspire gritty disgust or disturbance in people- but then again, he always viewed his own magic as something fairly useful, with many applications that could come in handy. So long as he thinks that it's good.. it shouldn't be a trouble, right?

It should do fine. It should serve him well.

As much as he may think of his own magic sometimes, the fact remains a truth that he was genuinely glad that Zus was making it somewhere far; those that discarded him as some hopeless boar that would never learn anything had clearly no idea what he's really capable of, and just how much good he can do, if anyone were to extend their hand out and show them about it.

Of all people, Nerin was willing to be that person.

Steadily, the bone blades retract. It's the first time that he doesn't straight up snap them off, or just awkwardly stands there until they somehow fade away; now, there wasn't nearly as much blood covering is hands, barely any but a crimson stroke.. and so, with a wipe, it was already clean, the bones reforming back to normality.

As if nothing ever happened.

"You will, Zus." This wasn't just encouragement, but full-on confidence that he'd be able to grasp more. If he already went this far, he had faith in him. He'll manage it and he'll do good.

"--And don't mention it. That's what friends are for, right?"

A smile in response. Though, for now, this piece of training was over - with more to come, no doubt.
(Nerin)