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A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 146 ~

_{Order Of Chaos 101: Shaidra}

Geode waited patiently as everyone took their seats within his chamber. "About time," He moaned irritably, "Today we'll be talking about Shaidra, the little wraith, and effective escape artist of the order.." Nexus paused, and shook a thought for his head before continuing. "Before I review what I know, Jenso, I have to ask you... Is Alvios faring any better? He hasn't had a chance to share with me his information regarding Shaidra in more detail since his accident."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

The titanic man dispelled his blade and smirked at Bruce's gesture. It wasn't exactly shaking the earth, but it was a start. "Now then," He started, "Let me tell you a thing or two about the earth."

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~ End Of Chapter 145 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Ross nodded and muttered 'yeah' under his breath, walking back towards the guild hall. "That aside, y'aint in a bad place to build towards an even more formidable strength. Jenso will be a good influence on you, kid. I suggest you spend some more time around him when you're able, even during these trying times. Focus on the practical aspects of Ki control on your own. It'll get easier as you.. Well, even yourself out," Ross said quietly. The large man turned back towards where he left his sword and pointed towards it. "See that?" He asked, his hand extended casually. "That's my weapon, still stable despite the fact that I haven't touched it in at least 12 seconds. And it'll stay like that for a good hour, unless somebody tries to break it, or I dispel it."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Ross sighed and looked down at where his blade met the earth. "Ki is the blood of all life, and it's controlled by the flow of our emotions. A fickle person can't control the mood swings they go through, and that makes 'em a bad candidate for Ki control. But the complete opposite, although focused, can't even hope to scratch the surface of their own potential," He said sombrely, letting go of his blade's handle. "I was the last to escape Gaia's holy Terra when the reckoning of our people happened. I had to watch as my family and friends killed each other through a warped will, put into place by that mischievous, conniving little cunt Adarine. You think I just bottled that up and forgot it ever happened, or pretend like I'm just ok now? I still get upset over that kind of shit to this day, I'm upset about it right now! It's already broken me apart, and I didn't fuckin' resist it, because it's exactly how I should feel. Nothing can ever change the fact that my sister's dead, and nobody can bring Lark back from beyond this world. I've accepted that, and I've accepted that it wasn't my fault." Ross paused lowered the palm of his hand to sit level, just above his diaphragm, and over his heart.

"Everything can be used as a weapon, but life isn't just about swords, guns, and rocks, and you're not gonna benefit from cuttin' yourself up, right here. Bad stuff's inside of- Well, it's a part of ya. Burying it doesn't just seal off your potential, it fucks with your thoughts and turns you into a chaotic time bomb." Ross rose his hand up to his head and tapped on his temple.

"I get it, I think. You're just keepin' your body in order. But that kind of order breeds all sorts of chaos. Order through chaos is.." Ross stopped himself, and let the phrase speak for itself. The enemy they'd been fighting had found roots within their ranks already, without lifting a finger.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"There you go again," Ross snapped, stepping away as Bruce felt the sting of his own element strike him across the cheek, "I'm not testin' none of that horse radish, I'm making an observation of yer temperament. Goin' on, making rash decisions, pushin' down a creepin' darkness that you've done little about, what kind of way of livin' is that?" Ross summoned his earth-render beneath the palm of his hand in a flash of light that coursed down into the ground, leaving the massive great sword half-embedded in the earth below them. "When's the last time ya had yourself a good cry, Bruce?"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Ross walked ahead, quietly listening as Bruce went on about whatever event had taken place regarding his loved ones. Bizarre, that everyone had a stake in this war, except for Bruce. Yet, he'd gone through the same kind of suffering. Maybe it wasn't so bizarre? Where they came from, and who bestowed such profound suffering upon them, didn't matter. They'd all lost something. Ross began to chuckle.

"You 'aint too in touch with yerself, are ya?" Ross quipped, mocking Bruce's emotional response to his own story. "Like a wee'babe, gettin' all fucked up over just the thought of some girl and her kid brother. It's a tad pathetic, y'know?" Brash, and with no Tact, Ross shifted gears until his approach was littered with sheer offence. He turned around and face Bruce, stopping their stroll a bit short of the path's end. Had he lost it?

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Ross shook his head and smiled to himself. So that's how it was? Of course he'd have trouble dealing with it, and with himself. Ross' head bounced lightly, and he looked back to Bruce, before leading him deeper into the courtyard. "Better to keep walkin' otherwise words start to get stale," He mumbled, just loudly enough for Bruce to hear, "How'd she die?" Ross assumed, keeping his head facing frontwards as they paced along the well-kept stone path. Ross was never one for beating around the bush, or any level of tact, really. But that didn't make him a giant idiot, or an unfeeling bundle of sticks and stones, either.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Ross frowned. "My sister used to play the harp," He quipped, pulling his massive arms forwards and plucking at the air in front of him playfully, "It was her weapon, bestowed by Gaia, like the legends say. But I knew better than that bullshit taught us. She just liked music a whole lot. Used it to buff people, used to make my strong enough to lift boulders bigger than the guild hall. She was a smart girl," Ross went on, drifting into a realm of personable discussion. He seemed to totally disregard was Bruce was saying, to a certain extent. Was this training? Or...

"You got any siblings? Alive or... Dead?"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"Heya, Bruce-boy. Glad to be of service, or whatever," Ross spat, half-assed in his attempt to adhere to formality, but of course, he dismissed the idea audibly not a moment later. "But, I'd rather you cut it out with the formal-talk while you're around me, kid. There ain't nothin' formal about magic, Ki, war, or anythin' goin' on lately." Ross nodded with a hefty shift of his shoulders and placed both his hands behind his head. "Speakin' o' which, how's that Ki control been these past couple days?"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 145 ~

_{Bruce's Private Lesson, The Way Of Gaia}

Mikey's schedule called for one hour of leisure during the 18-hour work schedule. 6 hours of sleep, 1 hour of rest, and three 20-minute eating periods. Aside from that, it was work, work, work. Aside from the final day, which would allow 8-10 hours of sleep, it was relentless. But today, Bruce was called aside by Ross to review several subjects, despite being scheduled with him an hour later. Perhaps he needed more time? Or was just, extra eager? Who knew. Ross awaited him in the Hero-guild courtyard, which had been empty due to all the preparations being held inside. Nobody was resting or practising in the outdoor court, making it the perfect area for the two men to practice.