FF: Journey
Ch 2
It was the first day of lessons and a lot of students were up and getting ready for said lessons. Alan was still sleeping after exciting afternoon. His roommate just got back from some early morning errand. Seeing as Alan was still asleep she decided to take a shower. As it turned out Alan's roommate was named Bridgette. She has problems when it comes to embarassing moments. Kind of like blasting main characters through doors. She took off her hat, switched off the whole black head thing (yes the black head thing is optional), and slid her robe off. Just as the robe hit the floor a loud persistant ringing came about. This bell, fortunately for Alan, was used to make sure all the students got up in time to get ready for class. Unforunately for Bridgette, who was not petrified with a mixture of fear and embarassment, this bell served it's purpose and woke Alan up. He stretched and yawned without a single ache or pain which surprised him considering what happened to him yesterday. Leaning over he rubbed his eyelids to clean them off. Finally he looked over to see Bridgette in her underwear. His eyes opened wide, his face blushed all over to match hers, and he couldn't think of what to say. She screamed and hit him with, not a fire spell, but this time a lightning spell.
She threw her robe back on, lept over to Alan, and proceeded to say, "Not again!" Bridgette ran over to Katelyn's room knocking on the door. Katelyn openned the door already dressed and ready for the day. "Quick I accidentally hit Alan with a lightning spell."
"Oh no!" The girls ran back over and Katelyn raised her hands over Alan which began to eminate with a white glow. All of Alan's burn marks began to disappear and his muscles loosened.
Katelyn's hands returned to normal. Alan got up and followed up with, "Sorry for the glance but I gotta get ready." He rushed to the bathroom with his clothes for the day.
"Why'd you zap him this time?"
"He saw me in my underwear." She blushed again.
Katelyn stared at her. "I feel a recurring pattern coming one here."
Alan jetted out the door. "See you later." Katelyn walked out the room. Bridgette realized she had to hurry up and get ready to so she went into the bathroom.
Alan ran into the dojo seeing several other people wearing different style Gi's like he was. Everyone was lining up so Alan just joined them. Issui-sensei walked down examining each student. He returned to the head seat of the room. "You may be seated." Everyone got in a tradition Japanese sitting position. "Everyone of you holds the potential to be the most powerful of this academy's students. In order to compensate for your lack of weapons you'll need to train harder than anyone else. For all those who are in here by choice, no offense but, you will most likely need to train twice as hard as the others in order to stay in the same league."
"What do you mean 'by choice?' Are you saying that there are students who have to be monks," One student said, clearly taking Issui's last statement as an insult.
"Well if you didn't already know then I guess I should explain." Issui stood up and used his cane to tap two sections of the wall behind him. Two scrolls rolled down each with a human drawn on them. One had a white fire in its stomach, while the other had just a green orb. "In this world people are either born with magic, this white flame, or chakra, this green orb. Those who are born with magic can perform spells which are necessary for all classes except monks. People with chakra can only be monks because it doesn't require magic. Most of the great monks are those who learned to control their chakra and make it an extension of their body. The other ones had to take decades to do the same thing with their magic because it is so hard to control. The reason the other classes don't have any problems with magic is because they aren't controlling it but, just invoking its power."
The student looked around and easily noticed who said people could only use chakra because they were the only ones who weren't looking around in confusion. "My apologies Issui-sensei."
"No problem," He said making sure none of the others had questions. "Since today is the first day two groups from the different classes are chosen to have one of their students fight one another. This event is used to kick off the year and pump the students up for the rest of it. Today's lucky groups are the warriors and us."
The students grew eager for each one except for Alan and a few others wanted to be selected. One of the eager students asked, "How will you decide who represents us."
"I'm glad you asked. Look outside and I'll show you." He pointed at a bunch of white and green training dummies sticking out of the ground and continued, "I want each student with chakra to punch a green dummy and each student with magic to punch a white dummy. All students are to punch their dummies and I'll draw my results from that."
All the students stood up and walked next to the appropriate dummies. They all stretched and got ready. Everyone punched their dummies at the same time without being told. All the white dummies remained intact. All but one of the green dummies broke. The one that didn't break was Alan's. He looked around and let out an, "Ah crap."
Issui-sensei said, "So we have a lucky winner on the first try."
"He didn't even break his dummy." The students began to talk between each other.
"The point wasn't to see who could punch their way through wood but, to see who had the most control. The white dummies would break as soon as they are touched by magic and judging by the results none of you could actually control yours. The green ones break when they are touched by chakra. Since chakra is easy to control, we made it so that they would forcefully draw it out. Alan was the only one with enough control to keep his chakra in check. Some of you might not understand but this class is all about control and not physical training. So far Alan has shown the most. So Alan what is your martial arts?"
"Art of the Flowing Fist," Alan replied.
"Oh a wind style, how exhilarating." A hawk with a cylindrical container suddenly flew into the dojo and landed on Issui's shoulder. This didn't surprise him in the least. He reached into the container to pull out a paper and examined the contents. He jotted something down, returned it to it's container, and sent the messenger hawk off.
"Is that the form that tells them I'm the contestant."
"Yes it is. It already had your opponents name too."
"Who is it."
"Scott Valens." This shocked Alan seeing that he had met him yesterday. He knew this could only mean one thing.
"Later today I'll stop by your room and guide you to the arena's contestant entrance. You're all dismissed."
Everyone headed for the exit talking about what they were expecting for the battle. Alan went straight to his room to get some rest. His class may not have been exhausting but his wake up call was. He climbed to stairs of the tower, got to his room, went in, and just looked around. He heard the shower going off and saw Bridgette's robe on her bed so in order to avoid another accident he took the robe and hung it next to the bathroom door. Alan just laid in his bed and started to think. The shower turned off and after a couple minutes the door opened. "Your robe is next to the door," Alan said before it opened all the way.
"Thank you." She reached out, grabbed her robe, and emerged fully dressed except for her hat which was still on the bed. Bridgette put the hat on and as soon as she did the black face came on. They both sat there in silence, Alan still in his thought and Bridgette not knowing what to say. "What are you thinking about?"
"Just how my first two days here have been going. First I get to a school with a bunch of people I don't know, then I get blasted through a door by you, after that I get zapped by you, during class I was chosen to be in the first school brawl, and I was told it was someone whom I met."
Bridgette reflected on those things trying to put herself in his shoes. He didn't give a definitive tone as to what he thought of those things. Seeing as he talked about what she did to him she came to the only conclusion she could. "The first two days here have been a lot for everyone. Let's hope that it gets better as the year goes by." She tried to cheer him up thinking it was the least she could do after what she had done to him.
He got up, "Yeah you're right. So far this school has been great."
"What?" This last statement had caught her off guard.
"This place has been more surprising and exciting then I thought it would be. If it keeps up then I'm sure everyone will have a good time just like me."
There was a knock at the door. Bridgette got it and let the visitors in. It was Chrissie, and Katelyn who was being very closely followed by Kit. Chrissie began, "I heard about your lucky break. Too bad I didn't get picked for any of the fun."
"Well I would drop out but you're not in the monk class and I am excited about fighting Scott."
Kit joined in the conversation, "Scott is excited too. He said he could tell you were a good fighter from the fire in your eyes but, I don't remember your eyes being on fire when we met."
Alan got up seeming even more enthusiastic. "Even he knows this is going to be a good match."
"By the way Alan who is this cute white mage."
Neither Kit nor anyone else would have known the white hot rage that he summoned. His face was soon introduced to Katelyn's hammer after he said that. She just turned around and changed from her angry, rage filled face to a smile. "We just stopped by to wish you luck and pick up Bridgette so we could all get seats together. Also I wanted to make sure she didn't blow you through a wall. It does get annoying when I have to heal you constantly." They all began to leave except Bridgette.
She walked over to her dresser and pulled out a potion from the top drawer. "Here drink this."
"What is it?"
"Just drink it."
Alan chugged it and all it's otherworldly flavor. He stuck out his tongue to let it air out. "What is this stuff?"
"It's a paralyze heal. I figured you could use one after this morning. How do you feel?"
"I feel as good as new. Thank you." The stiffness in his muscles was gone.
"I gotta catch up with them. See ya." Alan just waved back.
"So it looks like I don't have to do anything about your little problem." Alan recognized the voice to be Issui's and he was right to assume it as he saw his sensei walk in the room.
"You knew about my stiffness?"
"I noticed it when you walked in class."
"Why didn't you cure me in class?"
"It would have just went away after a night's rest, but since you were picked to be in the Start of the Year Fight, I figured I'd have to fix it myself. Luckily that black mage girl was your roommate."
"Well it was her fault in the first place."
"Get used to it after all room assignment lasts the entire time your in school. Make sure you take care of her."
"What does that mean?" Alan grew a puzzling look on his face.
"You'll know in due time. Now you have match so let's get going."
"Alright." Alan thought to himself as they were leaving the room. 'This is going to be a great year.'
Arriving at the arena door Alan saw how huge it was towering 50 ft tall. What amazed more than the size was the weight. He couldn't open the door with all his strength. "Here let me do it before you're too tired to fight." Issui went up to the door and with one click of his wrist pushed it open about half way.
"What is the deal with that door?"
"It is meant to keep the monsters from escaping when we catch them."
"There's something that requires a door that heavy?"
"Only the senior level monsters." They walked down the enlarged hallway and stopped at a wood door on the side. "Are there any weapons you would prefer?"
"I don't use any." The door opened and out came Scott holding two swords.
He walked down the hallway informing Alan. "Too bad they only have basic equipment. Everything in there is only made of copper."
Alan waited for Scott to take the corner. "Let's continue." Issui took the lead and they made the other turn in order to emerge from the opposing side.
As Alan approached the east gate the announcer could be heard making introductions. Issui had already parted ways with him after the path became pretty apparent. He heard his name and walked out to be welcomed by the cheering of the crowd. The stands were full all except for three seats and Scott was already in the arena. Alan got close to Scott and decided to liven the tension. "So who do you think is the last empty seat?"
"You already know my answer. Kit better not mess with anything."
"Come on it's not like he has a history of doing this."
"Unfortunately he does and the sadder part is I know about it."
They both backed up a little and got into stance. Following their actions was the announcer shouting "BEGIN!"
They dashed at each-other. Scott was holding the sword in his left hand in the air and the one in his right at his left side facing the other direction with his right arm bent across his chest. Alan did a regular run with his fists unclenched. As they drew close Alan jumped kicking Scott's right elbow preventing his horizontal slash and as Scott brought down the other sword in one motion Alan grabbed Scott's wrist with his left hand which made him let go of the sword followed by Alan grabbing it and throwing it behind himself with enough force to drive it into the ground.
Scott jumped back. "Not bad. That was all one solid movement."
"If I'm going to fight unarmed then disarming is very important." Alan charged again.
"Since you dropped me down to one sword your chances have just been cut in half." Scott adopted a new stance. Alan could sense a significant increase in Scott's power. As Alan drew closer the anticipation of the crowd continued to build. Both of them began to make some motions when the ground shook and broke their focus.
The northern gate which was the same size as the participant doors rose up unexpectedly catching everyone including the teachers off guard. Two transparent lights, one green and the other yellow, formed a dome shaped barrier over the arena blocking off the contestant area from the spectators. Issui and the middle-aged teacher both tried to break it by throwing a few punches at it and Ms. Ginger attempted a spell but nothing worked. "It appears we have our first surprise of the year unless you had something to do with this MacCoel," Issui said to the middle-aged man as the teachers contemplated the situation.
"If it was me you would of heard of it by now. At least it's only a monster. They'll be... By the great Moradin!" The other teachers saw the shock of horror on MacCoel's face as they joined him in looking to see a behemoth emerge from the gate. "We have to hurry or they'll die."
Alan looked at Scott and back at the behemoth. "I guess this is a part of the fight too."
"I'm pretty sure that considering the teachers tried to brake the over head barrier that this is not apart of the fight."
"Then you and me can get some brownie points by doing some extra work." Alan began to walk toward it. Scott found himself convinced and shortly followed him.
"Run, lads! Run!" MacCoel shouted but found the words useless due to the barrier.
Issui got into a stance and started making some movements."Give me a minute and I'll surely deal with this barrier."
The behemoth looked around the arena taking in the vast difference in space compared to its cell. Its focus finally shifted toward Alan and Scott. A growl emerged to accept their challenge.
Alan charged the beast with his left fist readied not knowing what to expect. As Alan approached the behemoth it raised its left and brought it down onto Alan's location. Being too fast for him to dodge Alan met its paw with his fist. At the collision Alan felt a mass of pain from his arm as both his hand and fore arm broke under the great pressure. The paw continued til it slammed Alan to the ground.
When it removed it's paw Alan was still conscious. He could now see the strength of the behemoth. This made him feel like a raft against a tsunami. He knew he could not survive it with his current strength let alone defeat it. The behemoth swiped with it's left paw to deal a finishing blow to Alan.
Scott used everything he had to block the paw with a horizontal slash and he had the luxury of a sword to absorb most of the initial force. "Can you get up?" Scott asked.
"Barely..." Alan rose to his feet with his arm limp due to the shock of the pain. "We have to run or this thing will devour us like a tidal wave."
"Kind of like that one?" Scott hinted toward a random wave of water coming from the behemoth's right side. They both jumped out of the way of the swipe and proceeded to run as the wave swept up the creature and slammed it against the wall.
"I honestly don't know what to say."
A familiar voice came from the monster gate. "How about 'Thank you.'" Kit walked out of the gate with a rapier in his right hand. "I would have shown up sooner but this thing sure is a hard hitter."
Seeing the tear in Kit's clothing, "Well now that you're here our chances increased by a fraction."
"We'll comment on this later now let's focus," Scott said with a blaze of confidence.
The behemoth started to charge them. The three boys prepared themselves. Alan started by running toward it. The beast readied a swing but Alan jumped kneeing it in the chin "Sudden Updraft!"
Kit ran under it cutting it's limbs. As he emerged from the other side he just stopped, whipped his rapier toward the ground and recited, "Blizzard!" All the water from the tidal wave swirled around the behemoth and froze along it's limbs.
Scott lowered his sword into a sheathed position at the waist tilting it so that the tip was in his shadow. "Phantom Strike!" He slashed the sword diagonally and an invisible force shot from the sword at the beast. Alan saw a strange shadow on the ground heading their way and ducked. The behemoth was struck by the force leaving a cut across it's chest.
Immediately after receiving the strike the behemoth started to rampage breaking free of the ice. The first thing it did was raise and stomp it's paw on Alan. When Kit started to rush to him he was batted away by the tail and sent crashing into the wall knocking him out. Starting up another charge, too fast for Scott to react in time it pierced his right shoulder with it's horn. With the pain from the newly acquired hole Scott passed out.