Me: There, longer, you happy?!
Mushra: Eh.
Me: you can never be satisfied…
Mushra: nah, I just like bugging you.
Me: oh no, really?
Mush-
Me: NOT, take that! Enjoy, readers! ^^
Chapter 7 – Control of Power
"Alright, I think we've got everything cleaned up!" Mushra announced as things knocked over in the panic had been replaced to their proper position and the burns had been put out and cleaned or covered as well as they could be. He looked it over one last time, nodding to himself as others were dispersing to either speak to one another or leave. Those who left seemed to be speaking ill of the experience, while those who stayed completely moved past it and disregarded it as another intense training session that tends to happen at the gym now and again. Especially on the upper levels that are set up for hyper battling, though aren't always used.
"Oh, should I head home to finish off the meal with the kittens, or shall we stay until our little fire friend returns?" Kutaal asked his friends and both Binka and Mushra shrugged.
"I don't think she'd really want an audience waiting around for her after that." Binka put her two cents in, looking to the other two. "Besides, I'm getting hungry!"
"Then I shall set off to remedy that! I assure you, a feast shall be waiting for you all upon your return, haha!" he announced proudly, as he only needed one voice of support apparently to decide. He charged off and out the door with that, Mushra shaking his head.
Alex was talking with some of the other gym members, about some of the previous mishaps, telling stories of some of the more hilarious situations which Alex was enjoying. Though, Winter not as much, so she gravitated toward the bench where she sat and pondered if she should have went after his sister, if she should have done something, if the other two had even tried seeing as how they hadn't come back with Jaden and they seemed a little worried in their return, and Sago a bit marked up.
But not blaming them, she focused blame on herself and considered if Jaden needed space or not, just barely catching the conversation of Heather and Sago who were sitting at the other end of the bench.
"…Was I wrong for what I did…?" Sago asked, wounded arms crossed as he considered this. He winced now and again and had to relax his arms, leaving him seeming very fidgety. He looked to Heather, though, trusting her judgment purely for who she is, personally and as the greatest friend to the woman he'd been attacking out there. "Did I go too far?"
Heather looked to him, considering him and his question for a moment. She bounced around where she sat and shrugged, before sitting still and really thinking it through before she replied. "…Originally? I thought you were, yeah. In the moment, I was ready to kick your butt all over New Yora. I didn't get your purpose right off the bat, and we're…we're all in this fragile, really honestly post traumatic state, and my initial reaction was that being way out of line."
Sago took a breath and sighed, taking that as confirmation for his fears.
So Heather faced him, sitting with her legs hanging on either side of the backless bench, hands planted on it as she leaned forward. "But as I realized what you were doing? And especially when I saw that it was working, I knew it was needed. We've been going for weeks, Sago. Yeah, everyone needs time, but you also need to test and push in that time to see…where you're at in recovery, and she just hasn't had enough of those proper pushes. And I know her. She wants to be past this, so bad, she was just trapped. And I think what you did freed her. I honestly do." She added the last sentence, with conviction, in hopes that he could see that he'd done the right thing.
He glanced to her, and she kept his gaze as he took in all she'd meant, in his silence. He shook his head. "Maybe you're right, but I can't believe that until she returns and confirms it. If she does."
"She will."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know her." Heather spoke confidently.
Sago knew that to be true, he'd seen it, they worked so well together, and he'd rarely ever seen them disagree or argue in a way beyond their silly habits and teasing. "If you know her so well, tell me this… Am I due an ass-kicking after initiating that little battle out there?" he asked with a small smile, and Heather couldn't help but smile and nod as if to say, 'well, possibly'.
"…You initiated what..?"
Sago turned, Heather leaning to look past him, to Winter who had caught on to their conversation, especially the last bit. She looked confused but edging on furious. Sago was silent for a moment, and Heather moved to stand, as if she was going to explain for him, but he took it on himself before she could.
"…We chased down Jaden, confronted her, and tried to speak with her… I realized that words weren't going to get through to her, as I…empathized to a degree from personal experience and that experience led me to believe she needed to be pushed like I was." He told her.
She raised her brows, and the anger was becoming more present than the confusion. "…Push her how, Sago?"
"I started a fight with her. A real fight, with Hyper attacks and all." He admitted, not bothering to explain why he had because he could see there was no point.
"You attacked my sister?!" Winter suddenly shot up to standing, most the people in the gym looking toward them now.
"Winter, it's not how you think." Heather tried to defend. "Water boy had the best intentions, if you just—"
"Best intentions, he attacked her! He just said it was a real fight! With your fucking Aqua attacks?!" she demanded to know, not usually one to so angrily curse, and Sago nodded, almost shrinking back but still keeping her gaze.
"Look, Winter, I was trying to help her." He stood, trying to explain himself then, in that in between where he both felt unsure and yet defensive about what he'd done. "She needed the push."
"Who are you to decide anything about what she needs?!" Winter demanded, giving him an ironic push.
His jaw tightened. "…Her friend."
Winter stared him down, but not for much longer as the doors opened wide then. And from the surprised look on her face, the other two decided to see who had entered. And they were just as surprised. It was Jaden.
I I I
As I'd expected, everyone was waiting for me once I returned to the gym. My friends waiting, I could handle without complaint and was hoping for—the extra Enterran's, however, I could have done without. But no matter.
I looked over each face; the other members taking brief notice of me, Binka and Mushra who seemed surprised but relieved and happily so, Alex as well. Then there was Heather, Sago, and Winter who were around the line of benches closest to the door and all three of them looked on edge and a little miffed the moment I walked it. But they seemed to calm, or at least Heather did, the longer I stood there.
And I stopped standing there in the doorway, fully entering to come stand where everyone in the gym would be able to see and hear me, despite the uncomfortable stage-fright-y feeling it gave me as well as guilt to do so. I saw that the damage was mostly taken care of. I really didn't want to waste time, as I had plans that I wished to get to and soon, but it was only courteous to give some sort of apology.
"I realize half the audience to my almost literal melt-down is gone, so hopefully the rest of you can pass on the message?" I began with a nervous air. "Sorry for the disruption of training—I promise, my next outburst will be a little more entertaining and not as dramatic, k?"
Some of the other gym members laughed and nodded, which eased my nerves a bit as I looked to everyone. My friends seemed confused, some of them worried. My stomach flipped, I hated being a reason for any of those looks, but I wasn't going to dwell on that.
Walking to join the boys and the girls, I went straight to my point. "I think Heather, Winter, Alex, and I need a change. Clothes wise."
That just confused them more, but again, I wasn't going to dwell. I looked to Sago and walked up to him, noticing how he looked like a regretful culprit ready for punishment for what was done wrong. But instead, I just stopped in front of him and put my hands on my hips. "Would you mind terribly to lend me some money?"
He raised a brow, seeming as if that took him off guard.
"We might be staying here for a while as we keep trying to figure things out, so we might as well suit up in proper attire for staying here on Enterra." I explained with a shrug, and I just saw the confusion and underlying worry in his eyes as I didn't seem to be angry at all.
"Y-yeah, of course. I'll go get some from the apartment." He nodded and went out somewhat quickly. I felt bad. I know he was confused and worried as to how I felt because of what he did. And I would take the time to explain to him, but not just yet.
It didn't take long for him to get the money and come back. I'd just been reassuring Winter that I was perfectly fine, despite the look of my clothes and the wounds that were healing up. Though thanks to her, I realized I looked like a complete wreck. Scratches on my arm, a bit of blood here and there smudging my skin, and bruises as well. Winter was just edging on a promise of a lecture she'd give to Sago, and I tried to assure her it wasn't need, once Sago returned. I didn't even hear him enter, but he'd apparently stopped behind me.
"Here you are…this should be enough, I think." He'd said, and I turned in surprise but took it thankfully, observing it—it did seem like enough, a bag full of coins that were Enterra's currency in most places, and the bag was just barely wider than my open palm.
I gave him a smile. "Thanks. Yeah, this should be enough. Whatever's left over I'll be sure to return." I assured him.
He shook his head, "Don't worry about it."
I almost considered saving this shopping trip for later… Just the look of him, even if he was trying to hide it, he looked so…sorry, and worried, and guilty under the surface. But no, we need this and now.
I walked to Heather with Winter come up behind me, and I waved Alex over who joined us in no time. They followed my lead, making our leave, though I turned with a brief walk backwards. "We'll see you guys later! At the apartment! Be back!"
Once out, I picked up my pace with a bit of excitement. For what, I wasn't sure. I mean, I guess the prospect of going to shop for attire was a bit exciting, but…I still had the rush in my chest going through my veins, and it wasn't going away.
"Jaden." Winter spoke up then, and I looked to my sister. She still looked worried and I wondered how much Sago and Heather had told her about what happened—I mean, obviously she knew the gist of it, or she wouldn't have been so pissed. "What the hell happened? You act like it was nothing, but Sago said he attacked you, why would he even—"
"Winter.." Heather began as if she was going to explain. I knew she'd caught on, that's why she didn't intervene during the fight. But I took the responsibility of explaining from her—beside, Winter was asking me and wouldn't except the truth unless it was from me.
"Look, here it is; Sago and Heather were trying to calm me down, to reassure me. Sago realized it wasn't going to work, but we all know I needed to get past that fear and worry holding me back. So he came up with a way to push me. Which was to put me into the situation I feared with different circumstances and in the process, he…he pushed my power, Winter. I gave my Hyper attacks names!" I gushed, still so pumped about that.
"You whaa?" Alex asked in confusion.
"H-hyper attacks." Winter started to explain. "It's just the attacks, the defined attacks Hyper Enterran's can do. For example, Mushra's Hyper Flame, or Sago's Aqua Dragon. There's times they can use their power in spurts, and us as well of course because of…the experiments, but some attacks are very specific in nature and greater in power, and usually have a name to them." She looked to me then, though. "So…so what, you were able to attack? You've been doing that, we all have."
"Yeah, but not perfectly. I know half the attacks I've done, I had no control over other than sometimes initiating it. It was never to the level I intended, whether it be too weak or too powerful, and it was just…not working. I didn't have control, I didn't know or understand the power perfectly. But what Sago did pushed it, and I was able to really…feel it, and get closer to understanding it. I named at least three—no, four attacks. It was awesome!"
Winter seemed like she was ready to say something more, but my sudden almost nerd-like enthusiasm seemed to deter her. She even laughed. Shaking her head she sighed. "Well, as long as he doesn't…do that without warning again. Or without you agreeing…"
"It's all good, frosty, I can handle myself." I rubbed my sisters shoulders a bit and she nudged me for the nickname, but leaned into me for the moment as we walked. "Let's just…leave it at the fact that, I was having a panic attack and…after what Sago did, how he pushed me, I was able to realize what I needed to do, or just what I was able to do, and to not be so scared of every little thing anymore." I took a breath and glanced to the other two. "I feel like…I want to stay in this world, and face its hard ships, because I don't want to leave behind the wonders here. I will face whatever hardships I have to." The others nodded, Alex a little unsure, but she seemed to at least nod in understanding of where I was.
"So…what are we doing again?" Alex asked then and I looked to her.
"Well, if we're going to stay here, we're going to be dressed and armored up properly to fit Enterra; you don't see anyone else in jeans or shorts and T-shirts, do you?" I raised a brow and Winter laughed, Alex shrugging to agree I had a good point.
"Besides; I always wanted an Enterran uniform."
We walk with renewed energy to the same adjoining clothing and armor shop we went to before when we gave Alex the tour. As soon as we arrived, we rushed back to our designated colors we'd been adoring before; Winter and Alex amongst the blues and greens and blue greens, and me and heather around the reds and oranges.
Firstly, I focused on the basic needs of clothing—top, pants, shoes, and undergarments. Their undergarments were basic, more securing for breasted people in the upper area, and regardless of gender the underwear seemed like longer boy-shorts. Which I was perfectly fine with and just snagged a pair.
There were so many sorts of tops though. Softer fabrics, thicker, vests, jackets, cloaks—no, shirts is what I needed. Going through the reds and comparing sleeve to non-sleeve and midriff to none-midriff, I had finally found the right one. It was something akin to an Asian tunic, though not completely. It could undo at the bottom a bit and at the top, but could also be tightened to close if I chose. In the front the length seemed as if it'd come to my hip, but as it went around the side and down the back (on either side), it would reach down to just around the back of my knee. It was sleeveless, with curved, orange designs around the right shoulder. Very appealing for me. Next was pants just some basic black ones, tight enough to avoid being caught on anything, but loose enough that it wasn't some leather or skinny jeans situation of I-won't-be-able-to-function.
In my process of looking for shoes, though, I caught sight of this weird but cool cloak number. It was longer in the back than it was in the front but the waist and down of the cloak was cut in three pieces around so they opened in three, leather, thick strips but also came together. Then upward, as it was only half a cloak it only covered the left side, and the left and only sleeve more covered the arm than wrapped around it. It had three laces of thick string that started in the back of the cloak; on at the top went over the shoulder and around the neck and latched into a hole at the front, then another string that went just over the breast, and then one that went over the hip. It was a deep maroon color and I was in love. Of course, I didn't know if it'd fit, but I would at least try it.
Slinging it over my forearm with the top and pants, I set back to looking for boots. And was sidetracked again when I spotted a pair of gloves. Red, with black lining on both end, and a red-orange stone on the back of the palm. I would have just given them an approving but-not-now look, until I considered that…well, IF I got the cloak, I'd be sort of bare on the other arm… So what the hell. I grabbed them up, cause I at least had to buy the pair even if I wasn't going to use both.
Finally I found shoes. They were pretty cool, too, and gave a little extra black to the attire so the gloves didn't stand out. Around the food, it was just a simple red, but it got darker as it went up the boot until it sort of faded into black, it was very interesting and cool. So I got'em.
And off to change I went. Their changing rooms felt a little more secure than those of home, though it still provided the upon top sides, you know, for friendly neighbor conversation. I put my uniform to the side, and began removing the rest which was so messy, I couldn't believe I was still wearing it. I slipped on the black pants, and they fit pretty well. Next was the tunic; I undid the latches at the top and around the bottom so it would go on smooth, and once it was on, I did up the latches at the top and left the bottom. It fit well, and I looked at myself in the mirror briefly, just looking at the pants and top together and it looked great.
Then it was the boots. I was one to enjoy the freedom of my feet at times, but I think I could handle the boots. Slipping them on, they seemed to fit well enough that I could move around in them without problem, and I was able to tuck the bottom end of the pants into them and still fit comfortably. I did a bit of movement to test, and it felt fine. It covered enough, but also have me movement. The top breathed enough but didn't feel as fragile as one of mine from Earth.
Then, I looked upon the cloak and had only a split moment of hesitation before I grabbed it up possibly too excitedly. I slipped it on the left side of my body, and started latching from the waist first, as maybe that'd be better. Then over my chest, and then around my neck. I moved around in it first, and it felt fine. The tunic had a short collar that prevented the string from rubbing my skin directly. It hung a bit, but not problematically, and it was tight enough to keep the cloak securely on without confining me too much either. Then I snatched on the right clove, and looked myself over with an excited smile.
And I just stood there.
I was…a completely different person. The only thing remotely obviously as an indication of me was my hair style, how it was cut, and my eyes in their deep greenness. But so much red, clothing that seemed so unnatural yet natural at the same time. My hair its red shade, my face…I couldn't even describe how my face seemed to have changed. Did I look older? Not exactly…or maybe…at least older in that aspect of not being as innocent and carefree, perhaps. And looking at how different I was, I stood there and let myself accept the fact that I was completely different. The greatest indicating being that implanted stone still in my shoulder. I sighed and reached a hand to run over it. It was still sensitive, but not as much. I wonder if that was due to time since it was implanted, or my clawing it and it healing over, or both. Either way, it's become even more a part of me. And in that moment, I accepted it.
I was Jaden…Hybrid, half Enterran and half human.
Taking a breath, I snatched up my stuff and exited the changing room, not really sure how the purchases different when it came to clothing. I went to find someone to speak with and found the front that was practically similar to how the cashiers seemed on Earth, the register was just different. But there was a single person waiting, who gave me a smile as I approached.
"I see you've made some stylish choices! Are you ready to purchase?" he asked.
I smiled back. "Yeah, I just—do you know me?" I asked apprehensively, hoping he knew OF me.
"Hmm…I think I might… Friends of the three Warriors of Enterra, am I right?" he asked. "You girls were such an anomaly…and I heard you'd been through a change recently? Oh, my apologize, I sound like a gossip!"
I shook my head and laughed. "Eh, its fine. Yeah, we have. Um, well, as I'm sure you can understand, I really don't know how purchases clothes goes, here. Do I need to bring the clothes back to you to…assess the price?"
He shook his head. "No, no. We keep decent stock of our items for these situations because people tend to come here for uniforms such as you, though not always. I have had a few come in that had just come out of a fight, their clothes ruined, and they needed new clothing as their own were ruined! When not being worn, we can usually either pull up the price of the item, or we assess the weight of the item, that usually defines the price. Luckily, I know most every price here, if not every price! Worry not about that."
I sighed. "Oh good, thanks… I like how these feel on me, I wasn't really up for changing again." I laughed, as did he. "Oh, um, I have three others, you may see them in here. I'll be back up here with them once we're ready, alright?"
He nodded. "I shall be here." He joked and I smiled, nodding and going off to find the others.
I searched through the clothing aisles and shelves and such first, not noticing any of them, before I went for the changing rooms. "Guys? Anyone of the hybrid nature in any of these?" I asked.
"Alex is." Alex said from the changing room on the end and I moved to wait outside it.
"Already find something appealing?"
"I think so, hopefully. I'd love one of your opinions, of course, I'm not used to this worlds clothing."
"My opinion is at the ready." I assured her.
In little more time, I heard the door click and she exited adorned in blue, black, and grey, with a dash of brown. She had a top underneath a sort of hoodie number, the top being black, and the hoody a navy like blue. Then she had a grey and black skirt, the top had a sort of belt bit that was grey, the rest black. Then boots that were mostly brown, though the top was a grey. She had short, fingerless gloves, black and…a brown satchel hung over her shoulder.
"Well, I think your outfit is both cool, and efficient in being an outfit that you can move around in." I began with. "And the bag, is smart, just surprised you'd want one." Moreover, surprised and curious as to why she feels she might need one.
"Well, you never know." She shrugged, but she seemed pleased with her clothing. She, too, wore something sleeveless, her stone fully exposed.
"Good point. Well, after the other two are done, we'll go pay, we don't have to change back. Help me find the others?" I asked, and she nodded happily. I didn't waste time looking through the clothes again, and instead wandered over towards the armor and other assorted things.
As we searched, Alex just caught Winter entering one of the changing rooms and we went to wait, especially once I heard a familiar voice in one of the other changing rooms muttering something like, "Wait until hot head see's this."
After some time, and some complaints from Heather's end to herself, questioning how something worked and how in the world she was supposed to get it on and off whatever it was, she was the first to exit even so.
And I realized why she'd muttered about Mushra seeing her. I had to chuckle, and admire her. Because her uniform was very akin to our favorite little hot head, but of course with her own still to it. A little more red to her armor than orange. But her under suit was black, the legs of it going down to her boots, the sleeves going to about her elbows. The armor protected her shoulders and chest, and as she turned in it I saw it was all connect around her body, the armor at her hips connecting in the back to the rest of the armor. And as she moved, I notice that at some joints of it, it moved. And though she seemed to be having trouble with the chest of it and figuring out how to get her stone out in the open, saying that it'd look awesome because the armor could set right along with it, she'd tested it. I'd help her later.
She had another bit of armor for one elbow, and then orange forearm gloves, and orange boots. Wearing all the orange and read seemed to bring out the reddish nature to her brown eyes that had been there before, but seemed more obvious now.
I could only smirk, and once she caught my face, she smiled very cocky-like, and posed.
"I look awesome, don't I~?"
"As ever, of course." I laughed.
"Just wait until Mush' sees, and he will weep when he knows, I rock it better." She stated, flexing proudly and happily, obviously as pleased with her uniform as I am with mine.
Shaking my head, I heard another door unlock, and out came Winter. And unsurprisingly, her clothing reflected her; bright blues, with grace and beauty in its style.
She wore a sleeveless top that had a tunic like upper part to it, where it latched in the front and had a short collar, but I wasn't sure it had the same length as mine. Around the collar and over the shoulders and chest, there were light, ice blue, cracking designs over the top, which was a strange mix of the same ice blue and a perhaps a light grey. There were sparkles of something around the design, which gave it a frosty look. She had two bits of shoulder armor, blue and grey, the right one half covering her flake-like implant, and another, more like a band around her upper arm of the same color. Then there was a corset of the same color, with a blue and barely blueish green half long skit that went around her right side. She had grey pants, and deep grey/blue boots.
I shook my head. "You look great, sis; like you'd made it yourself." I informed her, and she smiled at that, seeming very pleased.
"Really?! Oh, I love it! And you guys look amazing!" she gushed, looking over each of us, leaving us all to take a moment to appreciating our individual style and just the fact that we were all secret realizing this was a step further.
With that step, we went and made our purchases excitedly, and I was glad to find that only over a little than a half of the money was spent on all our clothing together. We thanked the employee and went on our way and each one of seemed to have a little more power to our step.
On our way back to the apartment now, Heather stopped us nearly there when she spotted a dumpster. Clutching and showing us her old closed balled up in her grasp, she started heading for it. We slowly followed her example, and one by one, we relinquished our former attire. It felt like a small way of letting go of just another part of our old selves.
We didn't dwell though, and we doubled back, returning in no time.
Though, with the apartment just in sight, I remember something…
"Guys, I'll be right back, okay? Just go ahead in or wait here, I won't be long!" I told them, heading off towards the gym and beyond it, ignoring their questioned. With a quick and determined run, I wasn't wrong; I was quick. I arrived to the area me and Sago had fought. It wasn't long before I saw it—his cloak. I hurried to it and picked it up, checking over it, worried I'd sliced the fabric or the belt collar of it in the find. To my relief, it looked like it'd just unhooked, and with it in hand, I hurried back, meeting the others just outside.
To answer their questioning looks, I held up the cloak and they just shrugged, other than Heather. Winter entered first, hesitantly and then quicker as we all filed in after her.
We come in to see the guys and Binka in discussion at the table, Binka up and teetering toward the door and the boys sitting cross legged, Kutaal and the others sounding like they were in the kitchen.
Of course, once we were all in, they slowly looked to us. Binka first, who I noticed just started grinning ear to ear and I couldn't help but wonder what brought the smile to her face. And then the boys, who were just in awe; I also wondered about that, wondering just what sort of awe that was, but it was humorous nonetheless.
We all spread out, and even posed a bit to show off.
"What do you guys think?" Winter asked excitedly. "Really brings out the Enterran's in us now, huh?"
"Heck yeah it does, haha!" Binka all-but cheered, coming over and checking out the armor on Winter and Heather. "You girls look great! And about time you started doing as the rom…what were they again?"
"Do as the Rome do, that sounds about right." Alex joked under her breath, but Winter give Binka the correct statement.
"Right right! Oh wow, you guys look awesome!" she continued gushing in such approval.
"Ay! Hot head!" Heather called Mushra out then, walking his way and he snapped out of it, standing.
"What, shorty?" he asked, crossing his arms.
She stood toe to toe, even if not nose to nose, with him, and then suddenly started flexing and posing, "I wear it better, twerp!"
He gave a 'wait, what?' look, before he suddenly started posing and flexing as well as his way of saying 'oh please'. I shook my head at the two of them.
I pull my eyes away from them to look on Sago's awe again, and he was making his way to me instead. There was still that awe, but there was more underneath still, of course. Even if he was still currently hiding it.
I handed over his money bag then. "So? Worth giving up some of your stash for, you think?" I asked as he eventually took it.
He narrowed his gaze, and then shrugged, smirking. "Eh…I guess. Enterra does look good on you."
For a fleeting moment, the smirk and that comment seemed to put a flutter to my perception of him. Savoring that for a moment, as it hadn't made an appearance in some weeks now, I still quelled it. Smiling downward, I looked back to him. "Thanks."
He tied the bag to his hip with a nod.
Looking to the others, Binka still admiring the others and the two dorks still showing off in their own way of having fun, I decided now was a good time. I edged toward the door, and nodded for it as I asked him, "Can I...talk with you?"
He barely hesitated before nodding and we exited together. He looked to me and I kept walking, further out away from the apartment, before I finally said or did anything. First off of course, I handing him his cloak.
"It's not ruined, I think I just unclipped it. Sorry about that." I laughed as he took it.
He shook his head, taking it appreciatively enough and latching it back around his shoulders, before he looked to me. "…You're apologizing."
I took a breath and sighed, keeping walking as we talked. "Look, Sago… I know what happened back there, and how it felt for me at first. But…just don't feel bad or sorry about that. I know you have reason, but you really don't."
"Meaning?" he barely laughed.
"Look, I admit, you caught me off guard; there really was no helping it, with what you were doing, and me having what…I think might have been a panic attack, it couldn't be helped. And even though you were a bit relentless," he nodded at that and I continued quickly, "It was what I needed, Sago."
He looked to, as if he doubted that but wanted to believe it.
I stopped him then, grabbing his shoulders then and looking him in the eyes. "It was, really. Not to mention, something me and Heather have been asking you and Mushra for, for months on end when it came to sparring between us, so hell—I say that makes you progressive in doing that."
That didn't seem to provide him much comfort, so I went on.
"The most important thing, that you have to realize, is that what you did and what you were trying to do worked."
"It did?" he asked, not sounding sure.
I removed my hands, and nodded. "You saw how much better I was doing, fighting. And I gave name to attacks, you heard them. I was able to feel all that potential of power, and control it—I hadn't done that so far!" I gushed, the excitement there again, and it pulled just a bit of a smile from him. "I…when I ran, I went up to the hill. You know, from the kidnapping, there were traces of damage the centipedes left…and I hated looking at it, it was such a reminder… So I got rid of it."
"Got rid of it..? How?"
"I altered it. Using my powers, I burned away the ruined dirt, the slashed trees, the scales left behind, and made that tip of the hill into something new, something…to me that was beautiful, and would never again remind me of that disgusting parasite and what he did. And you need to understand, that most of that was all thanks to you." I finished, hoping he understood. "Sago… Thank you. For helping me feel my strength again, to find my grip on it and myself. I can now control, and learn the length and limits of what I was fearing… What you did, it's something I'll never forget."
It took him a moment, as I stared him down, never breaking eye contact. But he sighed, and I saw the relief wash over. There were still traces of the guilt, but that couldn't be helped. I just needed him to understand that I don't fault him for what he did and I am thankful.
"And just to ease a little more of that guilt, you gotta also understand something we've been sort of conflicted over with all this." I chuckled bit, shaking my head. "Even if we went through hell to get here, this…is something me, Winter, and Heather were always aching to be in our mind, body, and souls. So the more we can accept this, the better we are for it."
"Understood. You don't have to keep trying to pull guilt off, Jaden, at least leave some for the surprise of it all." He stated, smiling a little bigger, and I nodded.
"Alright, alright… Now…I also have to ask…"
He raised a brow.
"When you'd done that, you…said you went through something similar." I began, thinking back trying to let me know he empathized. I couldn't help but wonder, and each brief moment I'd thought on it thus far, the curiosity was grown.
He slowly nodded. "I did."
"You don't have to at all, but… I was just wondering if you…felt like elaborating?"
He considered my question for a moment, looking off into the distance, and…there was something about the look on his face, how it changed…something about him grew smaller, it seemed like. He cleared his throat. "There are other factors that I'd have to explain, for you to understand. And maybe you should know, anyways. But…it's a long story."
Me: first off, if anyone wants to see what the characters look like, especially the uniforms described in this chap, just go on deviantArt and look up either JadenTheFangirl, or WarriorEntSavior (the latter is a dA account dedicated to art for this fanfic series).
Mushra: WHY DID YOU CUT ME OFF, JERK.
Me: because I can.
Mushra: and you better have a me focused chap like you're doing next with Sago!
Me: patience, young one.
Mushra: *whacks me with his staff*
Me: dude, why—
Mushra: because I c-
Me: HOPE YOU ENJOYED, REVIEW IF YOU LIKED, NEXT CHAP S-*is tackled*
