10/10/16
I'm trying to think about something ridiculous in the game to talk about. Got it, why were the enemies at the end of Elma's final affinity mission 2 level 80s? WHY!? I mean I wrecked them with Absolution but still, geez that's pretty unexpected.
Anyway as of this moment the story is about 16000 words and if Word is to be believed 8000 of those, AKA half of that is in these last 4. Then I found out that most of that is in the last 2. Talk about a back end XD
Well! I've had nothing but a blast writing this and right now I'm headed back to give Chapter 9 a HUGE work over. It's not terrible not at all, I think if I posted it as is it'd be good but I just want to get more out of it. 10 I think is pretty perfect but 9 needs more. It's why I put off 7 and 8 for a day, to give me more time to flesh it out.
Understanding
Ga Buidhe turned to see Kruse enter, stretching and yawning before putting down his pack of supplies. Standing across from Ga Buidhe he bowed to her.
"Good morning."
"Morning…"
Standing straight up he stretched again "So how did your most recent missions go?"
"Fine…as always…"
He shook his head "Alright then, was hoping for more conversation. Always business with you."
"If you do well today maybe I'll take part in some of your idle chatter."
Kruse chuckled "I'd appreciate that."
"Take your stance."
Taking a deep breath he nodded and did so. Ga Buidhe continued to watch him, bringing a hand to her chin and thinking before giving what looked to be one of her smirks. "You've been busy."
He raised an eyebrow as she turned and grabbed her weapon, giving it a few spins before falling into her stance.
"Just like that?"
"You didn't spend these last few days sitting on your hands Kruse. You've made progress."
"You can tell that just by looking at me?"
A small laugh came from Ga Buidhe "Of course I can. But I'll let you tell me Kruse. Do you think I should put my weapon away?"
After a few seconds Kruse shook his head.
"Very well then. Be ready."
Kruse took a deep breath before looking at Ga Buidhe. Nodding to himself he whispered "I can do this, I can do this…"
Giving his blade a quick spin he then charged at her, quickly Buidhe swung her weapon out, tripping Kruse before kicking him back to his starting position. Spinning her weapon she aimed it at him as he stood.
Keeping his eyes on her he waited, then she shot at him. Ducking underneath her spear he rolled to her side. As the weapon came back around he flipped out of range. As she pursued he moved aside, feeling it cut across his side before striking at her.
Pushed back she spun and struck him again. Gritting his teeth he moved forward and struck Ga Buidhe across the back before rolling away and under her weapon.
Standing and facing her the pair came to a brief pause. Kruse took note that despite all the time fighting Elma and Buidhe, this was different. Ga Buidhe's weapon had a much longer range and while the end was the most damaging point she had the strength behind her to make any strike with the staff hurt as well.
Gripping his blade tighter he nodded to himself, approaching her is dangerous but it was the only way. He hasn't backed down from any challenge and was not about to start now. Quickly he charged in, ducking under her weapon then leaping as she tried to trip him again.
Raising his blade above him he brought it down with immense force. Buidhe held her spear up horizontally, stopping the blade above her head. Weapons above them Kruse used the opening to kick Ga Buidhe's sides before breaking away.
Quickly she followed him, weapon flashing around her, landing such powerful blows on his it pushed his sword back, leaving him open to multiple strikes against his body. Gritting his teeth he reached out and caught the end of her staff, right under the spear head. He noted surprise in her eyes and ignored the pain in his arm from stopping her oncoming attack. Quickly he followed through with a savage stab at her chest, knocking the wind out of her.
She took several steps back, hand coming to her chest. Nodding to himself he pursued, renewing his attack with increased fervor. Buidhe noted the change in his assault and fell into a defensive position. Even so his blade managed to get through and struck her several times. However as the onslaught continued Kruse noticed he was landing fewer and fewer hits, then she was finding the openings in his assault and returning the favor.
Following one particularly savage blow to his chest he decided to fall back and get out of range. As he caught his breath he shook his head "She adapted in the middle of my assault…heh, I shouldn't be surprised and yet I am."
Ga Buidhe stood watching him as he took his stance again "You've come a long way Kruse and before you ask, yes I mean it."
As she took her stance, Kruse smiled "Thank you, but I definitely couldn't have done it without you knocking me on my ass all those times."
After a few seconds of staring at each other he spoke again "I feel like now is the best time to ask this."
"I imagine it's something you've been wanting to ask."
"Were you just smiling?"
The silence was eventually filled with Ga Buidhe's laughs before she spoke "Yes. I was."
Kruse smiled at that "Well, master. Shall we continue?"
Without another word they charged at each other.
Following their session Kruse was now sitting up against a rock wall, eating the meal Lin made him.
"Y'know it doesn't hurt to make this place a bit more. Comfortable."
Ga Buidhe who was leaning against one of the stone pillars looked around noting how bare the Wrothian Stronghold was "I suppose we could use some…essentials."
Kruse chuckled as he spoke "I've talked to a lot of Wrothians back in New LA, if it isn't about training or fighting, killing and surviving you guys don't really give it much thought."
"It's how we've always been."
Kruse noted a small shrug as she continued "But…I suppose there is nothing wrong with…change."
"Are you sure about that?"
She looked at him "I wasn't at first. Our people have done what they do for ages. Yet a small trip to this remote planet of Mira and a fateful encounter with you humans has…filled Ga Jiarg's head with so many ideas he would never have considered mere months ago. You changed him and in essence changed all of the Wrothians."
"I can see why you weren't too happy with us when we showed up at your front door that time."
Ga Buidhe walked over to Kruse and sat down next to him "It wasn't just that…"
"It was also because of all the injured Wrothians right? You were under a lot of stress."
At her silence he continued "Elma told me not to say this but you're not nearly as hard as you seem, are you?"
Ga Buidhe's eyes found him, after a few moments she shook her head "I am a warrior. I am my prince's adjunct. I am who my people look up to when he is not here. My skills lie in battle, in defense of all Wrothians."
"But?"
She looked at Kruse again "But I am also one of the Wrothians. I do not wish to see my people harmed. We are warriors and dying in battle is an honor. But I want to see my people off of Mira, I want to see us home. For that we all must grow stronger and learn to survive."
Kruse smiled "After our mission in Cauldros with you and Ga Jiarg, Elma saw it as a sign that we're all friends now. I'd like to hear it from you. Are you and I friends?"
Ga Buidhe chuckled "I suppose there are worse things than being friends with a hopeless man such as yourself."
"Thank you."
The pair shared a laugh as Kruse finished his meal and stood, starting to stretch he asked "Will we be going another round?"
Ga Buidhe stood and looked at Kruse "How long has it been since we began training? How many sessions have we had?"
"In about a month and a half, twelve sessions I believe? Could be a bit off...maybe I should keep a log book or something."
Ga Buidhe crossed her arms "In all this time, have you told your leader, Elma, how you feel?"
Kruse gave her an odd look "Why do you want to know that?"
"Because I don't understand it."
"Don't understand what?"
Ga Buidhe began pacing "Since you've landed on Mira you've been engaged in a war for survival with the Ganglion, you've defeated every Ganglion Commander that has come for your head and you destroyed their immensely dangerous Zu Pharg. You've also done battle with Ga Jiarg and I and defeated us, not to mention the countless hostile Indigens and deplorable Tyrants that you've slain. You have all these achievements behind you and the end of the Ganglion is now closer than ever before."
She turned to face him "Yet with all this experience and all these triumphs you are somehow unable to tell the woman you love that you wish to be her mate?"
Kruse brought a hand to the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly "Well, when you say it like that you make me seem stupid."
"That would be because you are stupid."
"It's not that simple."
Ga Buidhe shook her head "You humans. Every time I think I understand how you work, every time I think I've figured out what drives you. You somehow succeed in proving me wrong yet again. Wrothians need only see the strength in each other, the devotion to the united cause to deem mates worthy. I now see a warrior before me fit for one as skilled as Elma is…"
Kruse looked at her "Um…thank you…and you're right. I've been a part of a lot of crazy things. I've faced overwhelming odds, never alone of course but I was there. By comparison I can understand why you'd think telling Elma how I feel would be easier but it's honestly the hardest thing I've ever wanted to do. She's more than just a brilliant warrior, she's…she's an amazing person. Everything about her, no one else I've met compares. In a lot of ways I honestly feel that I don't compare…and it's those doubts that keep me from telling her."
Ga Buidhe sighed "Well then you must learn to control your doubts, you can't let the little words in your head dictate the actions of your body."
"I know…if you don't mind me asking, I'd like to know why you care about this so much. Why are you trying to help me?"
Buidhe shook her head "I'm merely trying to understand you humans."
Kruse raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms "For some reason I doubt it's just that."
Ga Buidhe looked outside "Hmph. Looks like we wasted time with this idle chatter. We'll resume our lessons at a later date."
"Of course and thanks for everything."
Ga Buidhe kept her eyes on him for a bit before nodding and walking away.
Leaving the Stronghold Kruse approached his Skell and thought over everything that Ga Buidhe had said. He knew that she was absolutely right. After everything that he has gone through he should most certainly have it in him to tell Elma, everything. He just needs to let it out.
