Bruce's hand snapped up to catch his mug to keep his drink from spilling over. His wooden creation clattered to the floor, and his knife vanished. His shoulders shook separate from the steadily worsening tremors.

[color=0072bc][i]'Calm, Sakki. Soon.'[/i][/color] Bruce thought to himself, hiding an eager smirk by taking a gulp of his drink. [color=0072bc][i]'Don't let them see how excited you are.'[/i][/color]

[color=0072bc]"He'll be fine, Luke,"[/color] Bruce assured, nodding in Mikey's direction. [color=0072bc]"Our mentors are not to be trifled with."[/color]

Bruce downed the remainder of his significant mug, knowing that, however many hours the fight would take, it would feel like weeks before he had another drink. Once finished, he tossed the mug over his shoulder and shifted the floor beneath Jeff's chair while he stood up.

[color=0072bc]"C'mon, 'Wild Card',"[/color] Bruce said, referring to the comment he'd made to the Wind Sage not so long ago. Jeff's chair began sliding backward as the floor moved toward the exit. [color=0072bc]"Let's gear up for the ultimate confrontation."[/color]