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[hr][color=gold]Location:[/color] San Agustin, Torragonese High Desert
[hr][color=gold]Chapter:[/color] Deserted 
[hr][h3][center]Among Mortals and Legends[/center][/h3][hr]

Once Desmond had mounted the large deer construct he noticed it's many different pieces. It was half plant half animal, and all terrifying, yet it seemed oddly beautiful. As the creature began shifting, it started to make a large area for Desmond to solidly stand and even had a cover to make sure he wasn't burnt by the sun, very thoughtful.

As they moved Desmond had slowly been making a bullet, he could not make a new hellfire bullet on the fly, so he knew he needed to instead retrofit one. As Desmond took out one of the rifle bullets and began inspecting it, he took out his tools and saw he needed to unseat the bullet as he began to use his tools and the gift to take out the lead bullet in the casing and began to scan the insides, as it seemed that there was this very fine powder within that seemed to fill up only a partial amount of the casing. Desmond would figure out why later, right now he wished to make sure he understood how to make the bullet. As Desmond grabbed both bullets, he began to shape the lead ball in his hand to change the size using Arcane and Kinetic energy. As once it has lengthened, he began to shift and compare it to the same size of the other bullet, yet he could not be working the lead too much, because if he did and input too much heat he might accidentally create a small explosion in his hand he is not prepared to stop.

As once they made it to the area they would face the Royal Sand Wurm off, Desmond was still working, this control was imperative, almost more so than anything he could ever think of at this moment. This was his first step forward, and if he was going to do something here, he needed to use everything. Once Desmond heard Casii yell for him, Desmond seated his new bullet back into it's casing and stuffed away the other bullet as he was going to save it for other projects.

As once the Wyrm appeared the fighting began, Desmond's work was intense to say the least, anytime he was able to fire a shot at the Wyrm he made sure to catch it on the weak side as he filled every bullet with every ounce of Kinetic energy he could. As bullets collided, many bounced off of the hide of the Large dragon. Desmond winced as he continued to fire bullet after bullet, his body was surely feeling the constant strain, it always had. He had to always put everything into fights, he wasn't gifted enough to fight as other mages, and this was not a fight any similar to what he has done before, this was a fight for monsters. 

Yet Desmond gritted his teeth as he pulled out everything he had in this fight. First came the Blunderbuss that Benedetto held, it had these strange bullets that seemed to be similar to uranium, yet when near he was told he needed to wear protection, sadly Desmond didn't have time so he gritted his teeth as he used Kinetic energy to load the bullet as quickly as possible, as once the Wyrm reared it's head to fight the Golem Deer, as the moment it rises from the sands, Desmond was prepared to fire, yet he felt his back tingle and a whisper in his ear, as his finger held still as he waited. Desmond stood his ground on the golem as the Deer underneath him began to take a defensive stance, yet the moment the Wurm reared up and tried to spew this large stream of acid, Desmond still held as he felt it wasn't time. As the moment the acid was to hit, Trypano used Chemical magic to turn the acid inert wit a base, as Desmond was nearly covered by the liquid, he pulled the trigger as the entire stream was torn apart as these many small pellets ripped it's way through the mouth of the Wurm and made it roar in pain.

As it continued, Desmond used many of the weapons he had gathered, as over and over agina the beast seemed to only get angrier, yet Desmond was still waiting, it was not time yet. He continually had to use his different weapons, as he waited and waited, as the moment the beast had finally gotten to the stage where it would use it's increadible power. As  once it dived under again, Desmond felt his back tingle once more, it was coming. As the Beast came out of the ground, it was covered in fire as underneath the scales this burning red light seemed to cut through and made the Wurm look as if it was a beast made of magma.

Desmond threw off all of his gear except for the Sirrahi rifle and ran to the front where he saw Casii and barked out to her, [color=gold]"CHARGE IT!! This is our chance!"[/color] As the Golem charged forward the Wurm dived down again and past the golem as it began to go for the others, as it breathed out fire, at first it was like spittle and embers of fire, yet as the bast continued it began to burn more and more until it literally was an inferno, as the moment They made it to the Wurm, it reared it's ugly head and almost blotted out the sun with it's intense heat and light, Desmond knew, this was it.

As the Wurm came bearing down onto the golem, Desmond called out and yelled, [color=gold]"JUMP!"[/color]. As a massive fireball incinerates Casii's golem, it opens its mouth wide, eye glowing infernally. It is an evil creature now: consumed by madness and the aberration. The deer's occupants, in a last gasp escape, are flung free into the sky. The nimble yasoi lands in a magic-enhanced roll, crying out as her ankle buckles beneath her on the shifting sand, but otherwise unharmed.

This path is not for Desmond, however. As Desmond leaped off of the Deer, he began turning and taking out his rifle. He felt his reflexes were enhanced, as when he pulled in energy he felt as if it was more filling. Desmond called onto every form of skill he could, as a falling shot was not one he trained for, it was going to be a new experience. As Desmond was going to fire a bullet the moment the Wurm opened it's mouth, yet again, it almost it felt like a hand was on his stopping him from firing. As a whisper was in his ear, it was indescribable, yet Desmond waited. As he stared down the throat of the sun as when the fire was being breathed out, the fire began to surround him as he saw it, his eyes almost locked on to the moment, the shot needed. As he felt the hand slowly move away from his, telling him to fire, Desmond pulled the trigger as he had quite literally poured everything he had into that bullet. He had drawn well past his limits and forced it all in the moment to cause the explosion to become one of the greatest he could. As the moment his hit the ground, he was out.

Desmond was out for some time, his body was maimed, charred, and Desmond was quite literally on death's door, yet for Desmond, in his mind, he was peacful. For the first time, he felt like there was some peace in his sleep, as he slowly was walking up a hill, there being a large tree which had these light pink flowers as Desmond hears a leaf flute being played. It was an 'instrument' taught to him by someone of his past, as he made his way up the hill, he saw for just a moment, just a glimpse, as the sunset was hanging over the horizon it made it difficult, but he could see, as the woman turned around a smile he remebered from those years ago.

Yet before either can exchange words, the world became hot, as Desmond felt ash and blood getting pulled out of his lungs as he felt his mind began to race. He was awake again as he threw himself up trying to figure out what is happening and realized he was back. Desmond was for a moment breathing heavily, yet he regulated it very quickly as he said in a bit of a goofy laugh, [color=gold]"Man, what did I miss?"[/color]

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[hr][color=gold]Location:[/color]Academy of Thaumaturgy, Ersand'Enise
[hr][color=gold]Chapter:[/color] Return to the Academy, School Arc
[hr][color=E7008B][h3][center]A Missing Peace[/center][/h3][/color][hr]

After they returned to the Refuge, Desmond was mostly to himself, he was not much of a celebrating mood. He had relegated himself to resting up on the roof of the Refuge where he was left mostly alone. Desmond was uncharacteristically calm the entire time, even while betting during the large auction he was calm. He smiled, and joined in somethings before they left, but he was calm. It was almost like he was always lost in thought, as if he wasn't here.

As Once they returned to school, their Zeno Fades-in-Moonlight checked with them why they were gone for a whole week, and Desmond gave a simple response of a secret mission. As it seemed to have been enough for his master, as Desmond went upon his way. Desmond had then spent the next week coming back to his norm, spending time with his roommate and his Student group seemed to have helped him bring himself back from this seeming slump.

During this week it was otherwise uneventful, he spent much of his time working with the many new things he had in his hands. His new materials he got from the Wurm fight, the many new weapons he got from the Sirrahi. He has also spent much of his time cleaning his room once Silas had sold the organ and burning many incents and oils to make the room smell okay again. Near the end of the week he decided to finally open up the Encyclopedia that he was given from Sileen, as when he found the note that was in the book, [color=ffc8e4][i]'I hope this will humor you as much as it did the first time we met'[/i][/color]. As Desmond looked toward the book, he saw his picture and what the entry was on and all he could do was laugh.

Desmond laughed so loud that it could be heard from the other rooms around him. It was a picture of him when he was younger as he was squatting over a chamber pot. Desmond's laughing was uncontrollable, as he fell onto his bed as he continued to laugh, yet soon that laughter turned to crying. As he was alone, no one was in the room, and it seemed no one was near, he cried from somewhere deep. As he cried, all he could do was cry, as that night he fell asleep with tears staining his pillow, as no one was the wiser of that night.