03 - Inner Demons.

[00:52] After the recent rumor, Zachary couldn't help but to keep himself cloaked when he was walking in the area of the Dojo.

The old lantern hangs around while being carried by his gentle right hand, with his left one to be pulling off the hood covering his head.

"" Speaking within his mind as the blue iris gazes through the area of the dark caves, perhaps the answer was always here.

"I must've missed something," the soft toned voice spoke out towards nobody but himself before his feet begun to kick the ground, moving forth.

"The whole place is eerily comfortable for me to stay after learning illusion and studying under Kirai," the young man adds before stopping his steps in front of the lake, by the sandy shore.
(Zachary tyr Drake)
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[00:53] Zachary tyr Drake says, "I wonder if Kirai left any trace behind as a clue."
[00:58] As so he spoke, there was a strange occurrence around the water - The memories of Kirai must've been connected to it somehow, and the fact that he claims to return as a demon of vengeance before he died.

Surely meant something.

"His fighting stance wasn't normal after all, it was filled with shadows in which he could control." The lantern was dropped onto the sandy shore gently before staring into the water with thoughts lingering.

"" Zachary turned his head over his shoulder while gazing down at the study desk, along with the papers left behind by the many.

"" He adds, in his thoughts as he walks towards the table.
(Zachary tyr Drake)
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[00:58] Zachary tyr Drake says, "Let's see."
[02:10]
{LOAD GAME}

[02:11] After hours of studying what's available on top of the study desk, Zachary moved back to the sand part of the cave before taking a seat just by the water.

Blue iris stares into the steep water before traveling itself over to the deepest darkest part of the lake, a perfect opportunity to take his training to the next level, he knows of it.

"" Giving a thought before resting for a bit on the ground, he needed a time to meditate above the surface.

Focus.

Clearing his mind before closing his eyes to begin his warm-up on meditation, reaching his own inner peace before encountering something rather... Dark.

It was within his very own mind, the recreation of his darker self from the past during his life in the slums.

Regardless, he was able to keep his stability without having much thought, it wasn't as if his inner demons are strong with a bright light emitting beside him after all.

But sooner or later, he must train to overcome it without any lights, but with the mere shadows.
(Zachary tyr Drake)
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[02:21] Breathing control.

Slowly and carefully, the young artificer controlled the flow of his air, inhaling through his nose while exhaling through his mouth, letting a stable flow of air to work its' path.

Minutes turns into hours working with his breathing control, it was soon time to finish up with his breathing control before taking one deep breath through his nose.

His eyelids began to open revealing the blue iris to gaze upon the center of the lake which is the deepest part of the water, he stood up before jumping straight in after getting enough air gathered in his lungs.

"" His feet began to touch the surface of the water before his movement became faster, and eventually - he ended up jumping right in.

The descend was slow and yet careful.

Even after touching the water, he could feel the memory of a certain event, the very first time he studied with Kirai before it traveled all the way to the end of the man's life.

Closer and closer into the depths, his eyes began to close before connecting his palms altogether - sitting on the very bed of the water while focusing on his mental state.

Clearing it, opening the path for his inner demons to come.
(Zachary tyr Drake)
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[02:31] A silence which will be broken by entities.

The first one has arrived, however its' presence and power is at an extraordinary height, approaching Zachary like a force to beckon with - It was, resembling a huge shadow figure, one that he must overcome.

But to no avail, it came with a gargantuan pack of a punch right in the mind, pitch black surrounded Zachary both physically and within his mind, it was filled with a grievous amount of fear.

Striking Zachary's state of underwater meditation with no mercy, all he could do for a couple of a bloody long time is to flinch, to endure the pain and immobilization, the suffering of his past and present!

Zachary, released a moderate amount of air through his mouth at the shocking moment of fear which he must endure once more.

Pockets of bubbles were released towards the surface - But after a while, a miraculous light appeared in the form of himself, whispering a couple of words to himself.

And then calmness.

A couple more hours were spared for him to fend off against whatever it is haunting his mind.
(Zachary tyr Drake)
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[02:39] Confidence and courage.

Zachary was unlike Kirai, he had zero knowledge in water magic - However, within the very core of his heart was heard a scream, a very loud scream coming from his courage and great confidence.

Boiling throughout his bloodstream as the heat began to cover his body from the inside, causing the very water surrounding him to boil in a small proximity according to his body size.

The darkness surrounding him would soon be abolished by the intense amount of heat radiating through his body, he was glowing slightly due to it as well.

And within five mere minutes, he battled against his first inner demon with his mind - Fear versus courage, and in this case, his courage was able to overcome the fear.

Little by little, his courage grew stronger, giving him the strength to battle against the second inner-demon of him at ease, this one was against his present self.

However, after the first one - Zachary's presence was a lot larger than the upcoming fear for it too, was eradicated at ease.
(Zachary tyr Drake)
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[02:47] The third, puny inner-demon of his came forth to challenge him.

A small crack of smirk was drawn on his face before his eyes opened, shining a flaming bright light towards the incoming final inner demon of his, it was dissipated with only a mere stare from a great amount of courage.

And with that, his hands begun to thrust upwards before kicking his feet upwards, raising towards the surface of the water with a bright expression over his face.

Landing on top of the sandy shore at his great victory against himself, the heat would cool down after it was no longer needed.

The sight of the light source coming from his lantern was imminent, walking towards it to pick the object up, "The first one was a monster, the second and third were ridiculously weak," the soft toned cadet was able to speak again after reaching land.

"I should definitely rest now," he was actually, proud of himself on this day as he walks outside the cave to begin his cadet life once again.
(Zachary tyr Drake)