Renose & Flamelord Collab (Part Final)

Thomas took a second to get his breath back, looking around the arena with some disbelief as Serin totally blocked them off from the outside. "Really," he commented, gesturing about with some disbelief. Okay, this people would probably notice, unless they were blind or something. Strange stone structures didn't just pop up out of nowhere. He doubted it would influence their being able to assist in any way, but still, it wasn't exactly subtle. 

He licked his parched lips, able to feel the blackness trickling down the inside of his armor as he reluctantly settled into a fighting stance once again. There was some internal objection to stripping away all those things that Serin said, since he considered being a mage or keyblader more than just a title. But he'd play along. Eyes widened at the sword that seemed to be pure lightning now, as he stripped it away. The titles, the pretensions, the delusions, to see what was underneath. and what he found wasn't motivating, a jumbled mess, a nobody from pretty much nowhere who was trying to be someone, who wanted to live up to the tales of the great heroes that he had read about, and who was afraid of failure, of letting down those he cared in and those who believed in him. And he was broken, in pain, blighted by darkness in a way that anyone who really looked could see.

He sighed, lowering the sword and glancing down at the ground, feeling more vulnerable than he had in years. "It's all just an act," he said, "A big show put on for the world. Heck, I think I even fooled myself." He chuckled ruefully at that. "Kill me, wipe my memory if you want, cause I'm just not sure what I am anymore. I'm not even sure why I'm telling you, since it's not like it has to be any concern of yours. Not when you have your own things to worry about, like Reno." He closed his eyes, bracing for something, a blow of magic, the impact of a sword, whatever, while thinking that this was not how he had expected his day to turn out.

Thomas would feel something. It wasn't a painful something. Light pouring in from the ceiling as the stone pillars receded and a wave of healing magic washing over him, mending his bones, healing the bruises and wounds, and even washing the pain and most of the fatigue away. The next thing would be a hand on his shoulder and something cold pressed against his forehead. If Thomas opened his eyes he would see Serin, who no longer had that dark expression from before handing him a water bottle. If anything there was a small smile upon his face as he took a step back, stretching some as he healed himself with magic. 

"That, Thomas, is the final lesson". He sheathed his sword, the magic vanishing from it as he did. "You have now taken the final step to begin unlocking your true potential. It will take time, but you can surely make something great of yourself". He then popped up some stone stumps from the ground with magic for the two of them to sit down on. "If you want to know how I know this, its because I was like you once. Just some kid who wanted to become someone I'm not. One of the greatest warriors in my home world who, now that I think about it, wasn't really all that great. After my home world was destroyed I found myself in Twilight Town, the only survivor of it. It was at that point that my young life, as I was about your age at the time, had no purpose. My hero was gone and I didn't know who I was anymore as the man I tried to become was gone". 

He paused, taking a drink of water from a water bottle he had pulled out himself. "After that I met Merlin, who I managed to convince to let me be his apprentice. At first I was only learning magic to become like the hero I had heard so much about, but over time Merlin taught me differently. He helped me learn that I was myself and when I learned that I was able to learn that I could take my own 'self' and make it whatever I wanted it to be with my own power". He took another drink, finally catching his breath fully as he looked at Thomas. 

"It takes alot of strength to admit what you did Thomas. There are some really powerful people out there that would never admit their faults the way you have. You have already proven yourself stronger of heart and will than them. And now... you have found out who you are and can now begin to make that "you" into something greater. And you may not think I have to worry about you, but..." He paused, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a blue crystal. It was similar to the one Reno had held up a few times before, the Red Wizard holding it out towards Thomas for him to take. 

"I consider you my student now. This isn't the same with Reno as he's my son and its a father's job to teach their kids things, although maybe not the things I taught him..." Serin chuckled a little bit at this now before resuming his speech. "You, on the other hand, are my first true student. I'm sorry for getting so serious on you, but despite that you managed to pull through where many others would have failed and are more than deserving of taking this and the skills I have imparted upon you. Its called a Return Crystal. It will teleport you to my place no matter where you are, as long as something doesn't block the teleportation. Feel free to come over anytime you'd like, as if you're willing to learn more then I am willing to teach". 

Thomas's eyes blinked open to see the sky back, the roof gone, and himself feeling pretty good now as healing magic washed overhim, a snide part of him wondering why he'd learned Cure since no one ever let him heal himself with it. But that part was pretty well muted compared to the rest of the thoughts rattling around in his brain. He took the water bottle and sat down, still somewhat ashamed to meet Serins gaze as he took quick sips from the water bottle, refreshing after that difficult fight.

He listened to the story quietly, though he couldn't stop himself from thinking of the differences in their situations and what it meant for his own prospects, yet something else he locked away inside himself from sight of the world. Now that he had said it, now that he realized the lie, it was like everything was different. He was that much more vulnerable, and the world that much more intimidating, threatening. He wasn't sure if he would still have the confidence to do what he'd done before, to be as good as he had been, as if that lie to himself was propping him up with false hopes that he now knew were untrue. He didn't know who he was, just who he wasn't. 

Hesitantly, he reached over and took the crystal, giving it a look over before pocketing it, surprised in the message that he was Serin's first actual student, though that would explain things. "Thanks," he replied, more subdued and cautious in his tone than he had been when they started. "I guess we'll have to see." Whether or not he would actually have the time to do any training with Serin, if he felt like going through this sort of thing again, was something that he would have to see in the future. 

His attention was drawn away then, back to his arm, to the armor damaged by that powerful strike and the blackness on it. "Great," he muttered to himself as he examined it, unsure how he was going to handle this since blacksmithing wasn't exactly his area of expertise. Eventually he decided to use a Fire spell and see if he couldn't heat the metal enough to fold it back together and weld the cracks, which is what he proceeded to do, while refusing to comment on what the black liquid was and leaving his conversation with Serin to hang while he worked on it. 

Serin could tell that Thomas wasn't in high spirits now, which didn't surprise him. Serin had also felt the same way when he learned that his own life and resolve to become someone else was just a lie, a delusion. Serin wanted to ask about the black goop, but just stayed silent, waiting for Thomas to fix his armor. When it was finally fixed Serin stood up, flattening his own seat back into the ground as he did so. "Thomas, I can tell that you probably think you have lost all of your strength and confidence without your delusions to support you. I know, I felt the same way when I was in your position. I thought I would never be the same again, but the thing is, I wasn't. I forged my own identity and became who I wanted to be. It is because of that I was able to get to where I am today. Now that you have broken what was holding you back you don't need it to support you anymore. You are free to shape your own destiny and your own self using your Will". 

Thomas sighed and he pulled himself back to his feet once he had his armor fixed, though there were some black spots on it that didn't seem to go away no matter hiw much he rubbed them, something he would probably have to address later. "I can work it out myself. You've done enough," he commented with a hand meant to placate somewhat and otherwise meant to just end the stories and such of a different man in a different situation.He needed to figure out who he was by himself, and that wasn't going to just happen at the drop of a hat. He just needed time to think.

"Of course. This is something you need to figure out yourself after all. Only you can figure it out, and I'm sure you will". Serin then picked up the steel sword, it being cracked and looking like it needed repair. He took out another sword, placing it on the stump next to Thomas. This one, if Thomas unsheathed it, was much more like Serin's in design. "A gift. Use it to practice whenever you get the chance. For now farewell, Thomas". After that Serin walked out of the alleyway, knowing that Thomas needed some time alone to think right now, some time to figure out just who he was. 

"Thanks," Thomas replied somewhat distractedly as Serin placed the new sword nearby and then departed. Thomas glanced at it and heaved himself up, walked over to it and unsheathed it. He admired the design for a bit,m before putting it back, wondering what to do next. His attention was drawn to Vivi as the Black Mage wandered in and slapped up a poster for a tournament. Thomas walked over and read it with emotionless eyes. Had this been earlier, he probably would have joined in even without magic, just to see how well he could do. Now.....He just couldn't find the motivation to be bothered. Returning to the sword, he put it away in one of his bags, with the wand he had retrieved from when the White Witch fled in that fight, and left the alley to return to where they were staying. He was drained of energy, andhe could use the rest and isolation to get his thoughts in order. 

In truth, Serin felt bad. He wondered if he had went too far in that instance, but knew also that what was holding Thomas back was going to be something he would have to face eventually. Serin was just helping him face it before it was too late. The truth hurts, but when one is able to face it then they are capable of turning it into strength. Serin felt the potential in the boy and knew now that only time could tell if, now that his delusions were shattered, he could use his own identity and support himself with his own strength instead of trying to become someone else. Either way, the Red Wizard knew that this was now going to be one of the hardest times in Thomas' life, but Serin had faith in his pupil. After all, Serin wouldn't have acted that way to Thomas nor would he have gone all out on him like that if he didn't have faith in him. 

Well, there was no point in living in the past. What's done is done and Serin knew now that the rest was up to Thomas. Now he was simply walking around, taking slow sips from his bottled water as he headed to the hospital where he thought Reno would be.