Brucenorris007

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce stepped in front of Jenso, taking in the inner sanctum. He knelt down, pressing an open palm to the stone floor. He felt out the presence of the earth around them. Focusing, he reformed the material under their feet and formed columns and pillars that jutted out in various directions, effectively creating a bubble through the inner sanctum where the wind didn't blow through, though it was much stronger near the walls of the room. Any step outside of the mild zone would quite possibly tear limbs off.
"I can control some elements. Wind is not one of them." he said.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce's expression changed to reflect his surprise at Jenso's power, but he quickly schooled it back to neutrality. He kept his hand on his sheath, ready to act at the first sign of trouble. He nodded at Jenso to let him know to enter first.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce was surprised with how quickly they made progress. He'd thought from the fearful glances the others had given them that they would certainly have been attacked before they made it to the entrance. But they only had a few feet left to go. He made the mistake of letting himself get too into his thoughts and put his weight on a handhold before he tested it. The instant it began to slide out, his other hand, still around his sheath, shot up, driving the tip of it into crack left behind and vaulting up the last few feet to the peak. He let out a small breath and returned the sheath to his waist, taking in the entrance of the temple while he waited for Jenso. The howling winds were even stronger up here, and he could hear the echoes it made as it swept into the cavernous maw that stood in front of him. It sounded alive, almost, the reverberations coming back out of the entrance as a mighty, yawning groan that put many actual beasts' to shame. He looked skyward- the moon had begun its ascent, though daylight would last another scant few minutes. He pointed out the moon to Jenso to indicate that they would have need of his powers- talking now would be a waste of energy.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce braced himself for the wind once he stepped out of the tunnel- it seemed a force unto itself, nearly knocking him back into the tunnel. He turned his back to it and, keeping his head down to minimize the effect of the wind, deftly sprinted upwards. The peak, where the Wind Temple could be seen, loomed high above, pillars weathered and cracked still standing obstinately against the natural elements. The sun, already on the descent, dipped just behind the temple's roof, and a halo of golden light shone from behind the ancient-looking structure.
Bruce glanced behind him to make sure Jenso was still with him. The force of the wind would carry off any words they tried to trade, so he used his fingers to indicate that they were close. There was no extra scaffolding here, though among the loose rocks there could be made out stones that once held a smoother shape, presumably once part of a staircase. Time and erosion had worn them down and made the ascent that much steeper and more dangerous. Bruce moved from one foothold to the next in an almost constant crouching position, keeping his center of gravity low. The wind continued to howl, and Bruce thought he could sense the stirrings of other beings, alive and hungry, as they climbed.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce had it in his mind that he'd make a mental note of Jenso's abilities, same as he did with any prospective ally or opponent. He held some hope Jenso wouldn't end up being the latter, but experience had taught him to be ready for any circumstance. He kept silent while they climbed and scrambled up. He paused once he felt the first signs of a draft blowing down in their direction, the scent of crisp and thin mountain air leaking in. They were close to the surface, and the increasing strength of the wind that visited the tunnel's interior spoke to their altitude. They had long ago ascended beyond the ceiling of the dome, and they would be on one of the highest mountains before they reached the Wind Temple.
"When we reach the surface," he said, gripping his empty sheath with one hand. "Tread lightly. The rock out here is loose and can slide out from under you in an instant. Test each foothold before proceeding."
Bruce checked the light streaming into the tunnel near its exit; they had less daylight left than he would have liked, but assuming Jenso spoke true, they could find their way in the temple easily enough. Getting there in the dark was almost as treacherous as the monsters they might encounter in the temple.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce had taken a mental note of the light from the crystal in the ceiling before he'd left for the tunnels; daylight would be dwindling soon, and they'd have to make a sprint for a modest distance once they reached the surface before they arrived at the Wind Temple. He also didn't miss the fear laced in the Divers eyes that looked their way. He ignored them- he had no intention of causing them trouble. He glanced at Jenso. He figured seeing him in action under a state of duress would either confirm or dispel any doubts that might be warranted by the attitude of the renegades.
"We'll lose daylight in a few brief hours," he said, pulling himself up a particularly precarious and unstable remnant of scaffolding. "Navigating in the dark can be troublesome."
That was all he said, clearly trying to convey the message that rock climbing at night presented its own dangers.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce's eyes flickered over to Jenso while he gaged Luke's request. He could tell Jenso had a significant degree of power, so he didn't feel the need to spare much concern over his well-being on a mission. He found himself instead reflecting on the murmurings that had revolving around Jenso that he'd overheard. Luke's excitement was genuine, he knew that much. But the other divers had more than a few misgivings about his presence in paradise. Bruce could understand apprehension around a stranger, but Jenso had given him no reason for suspicion thus far. Granted, their interactions had been limited.
"Shouldn't be a problem." he said, cutting short his wandering thoughts.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce nodded in Jenso's direction as a means of greeting. One side of his lip quirked up in something like a smile for a moment before his expression became passive again. He took notice of the almost sheepish greeting Luke gave him, and as he rose to his feet, he made sure his tone didn't betray that he'd overheard anything.
"What can I do for you?" he asked Luke.
Bruce had a fairly comprehensive understanding of how Luke's mind worked, and it would just be bothersome to relay news to him that he was certain to receive anyway. The divers had their own way of doing things, and as much as Bruce appreciated their work and the spirit Luke possessed, he knew he didn't really have a permanent standing in their ranks. He considered himself fortunate to have the opportunity to help them however he could.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce stepped over the threshold of the crevice where the Eye of Paradise stood, having spoken with the returning group of divers and learning about their news. He had been pleasantly surprised by the tidings they brought back, at least, more than he had anticipated.
"Luke, we have-"
"You abandoned me"
Bruce stopped just outside the building. He heard the sounds of raw emotion in the voices from inside, namely from Jenso. Luke's was also notable, if quieter. Instead of interrupting, he sat and did his best to avoid listening to the conversation that was meant for their ears only. He nonetheless caught mention of Luke's offer to Jenso, and Bruce found himself hoping he'd accept it.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Bruce could feel the newcomer’s dissatisfaction, but he ignored it. Best for him to formulate his own opinions about Luke. He checked the overhead crystal again- it had passed its peak, but still shone bright. He estimated left them at around just after midday.
”Is there usually that much commotion over there?”
Bruce brought himself out of his thoughts and paused to follow the newcomer’s gaze. He narrowed his eyes at the divers. There seemed to be a lot of them coming in at once. It wasn’t yet time for scouting parties to change shifts, being it was only the middle of the day. He’d only ever known a few to come back at a time aside from exchanging the day shift for the night shift. His right hand hovered over his empty sword sheath. He hoped it didn’t mean anything, but his instincts told him there was a good reason for so many to come back now. Regardless, there was no immediate threat, so he kept his face impassive and shrugged at the man in yellow.
”Sometimes they change shifts. A big group like that might mean there’s news from outside, I suppose.”
Bruce turned and walked into the crowd, raising his voice just enough to let the newcomer hear him.
”I’ll let Luke know you’re looking for him if I see him first.”