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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 16, 2018 18:43:29 GMT -5
The sun began to set above a small town in the middle of a large island, and people were returning home after a long day's work. That was an usual day at Sakura Island, where people fought daily for their survival.
It would make one wonder why the town was so small, having so much space to use and grow. Yet, for the islanders, it was a different story. If they tried to build more further into the vast woods there were, then monsters would take no time to attack and destroy whatever they would work for. That was a crude reality for those living there.
Therefore, many were the people who volunteered into defeating these monsters, becoming Hunters. From there, their civilization began to thrive, having people taking care of monsters, and therefore increasing their chances of survival. Things were looking bright, and becoming a Hunter was a promising career for anyone good in hand-to-hand combat.
However, there was one girl that thrived for more than just fame and money. What she wanted was strength -strength for that she wanted to protect. That was Tori's main goal in life -to become stronger.
After an exhausting hunting session, Tori's guild members bid her goodbye as they returned back to the town from the island's Eastern Shore, while she remained there, under the solitary cherry tree besides the ocean. Recently, she'd been thinking about many things, mainly memories that at first didn't look like they belonged to her.
"...And we start again" she sighed, looking at the horizon, "Another memory to analyze, huh? ...Mind as well" she said, taking out a notebook and a pen, "So..." she began to scribble, "I'm in an island... A small one... And I'm surrounded by sea... And there's a few people there. I think Chiseko was there... Yeah, she was. But there was someone else... A boy... With... Huh?"
Tori stopped writing to try and remember that person's looks, but somehow, she was unable to. A few tears began to cover her eyes, and she quickly wipped them away.
"Why am I...crying?" she asked herself.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 17, 2018 15:41:29 GMT -5
Conrí blinked and saw that he was in another small town. A cool breeze carried with it the song of the trees and the scent of the sea. It reminded him of his original world. He let out a heavy sigh at the thought. He'd wandered through some kind of dream-like portal and found himself here. Wherever here was.
As Conrí wandered through the streets, he made a few mental remarks to Fenrir about the sights and sounds. People looked at him strangely, as though he might attack at any moment. He noticed a hilly area that seemed to overlook the water, so, he went there and sat down to think. As Conrí looked around, letting the quiet enter his mind, he noticed that he wasn't alone.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realise you were there. I came up here to think, but, I can go if I'm bothering you."
Go where, exactly?
Not now, Fenrir. Please.
Conrí heard a snort in his head and figured that's as close as he'd get to acknowledgement from the wolf spirit right now.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 17, 2018 15:54:03 GMT -5
Tori flinched, and almost let go of her notebook into the water.
"Gyah!" she screamed, shocked, and then groaned a bit, "Hey, not the time, Neku... Huh?"
As she turned to see the person, she noticed it wasn't who she thought it was, and quickly shook her hands in apology.
"Gosh, I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else" she said, and calmed down a bit, "...You're new here, aren't you? It's gonna get dangerous soon, so... You might wanna go to the town before it turns to night" she stated.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 17, 2018 16:22:06 GMT -5
Conrí backed away slightly when the girl reacted. Once she apologised, he stepped closer. "No, I should also apologise for startling you like that." Conrí noticed the sun had nearly set. He wanted to ask what happened at night, but, his warrior instinct told him not to question it too much and just go.
"Are you coming, too, then? If it gets dangerous at night..." He started to walk down the hill and turned to see if she would follow toward the town.
If it actually gets dangerous here...
It would explain the looks. Guess I will need to keep guard. Conrí lingered on the outskirts of the town with his hand on his sword hilt. He would just have to do his part and guard this place from danger. Like any proper future king would.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 17, 2018 16:25:46 GMT -5
Tori looked down as he asked that question.
"...No, not yet" she said, "There's still something I gotta do. And, besides..." she smiled, uneasy, "If I go back now, odds are he's gonna take his chance and hunt me down... Even if it's against the law" she chuckled uneasy, and looked at the man, "If you're going back, you should look for the Counsil. They ought to know you're here, so that they give you somewhere to sleep."
She looked back at her notebook, and tried to recall the new memory she was trying so hard to understand. After a while, she puffed her cheeks, and looked bitter.
"It's gone..." she said, irritated, "Haa... And it looked so important, too..."
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Post by Conrí on Jul 17, 2018 17:31:51 GMT -5
Conrí nodded and stepped away from the girl. The Counsil. That sounded like the sensible thing to do, and, for once, the boy wasn't so sure he was going to do the sensible thing. The sensible thing is what got him into the mess of not being on his home world right now, anyway. He pushed back Fenrir's protests as he walked toward the town. He wanted to see what would happen when night fell and do what he could.
At least go to the Counsil and tell them your intentions.
Fine... Conrí sighed and entered the town. He followed the signs to the Counsil, which was just about to close. Great...I get to be that person.
A man stepped out of the building and huffed. "Newcomer, eh? Gets dangerous at night. Need a place to stay, right? Come with me."
"Actually, there's a girl out there on the hill, and, I intend to protect this place. I won't need a place to sleep tonight."
The old man placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at Conrí with a sad smile. "It's best you just do as she said, then. Please. She will be safe."
"But--"
"Follow me, sir."
Conrí lowered his head and almost started following the old man, but he grit his teeth and started running toward the town gate. "Until I know she's safe, I can't just stay here!" He yelled to the man.
Conrí slid to a stop once he exited the gate. The coming darkness seemed thicker than usual and something certainly seemed to loom over the island. He dipped down into a readied fighting stance and drew his weapon.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 17, 2018 20:38:16 GMT -5
After a while of thinking, Tori gave up. There was no way to recover that memory for the time being, meaning Tori would just have to wait until it came back to her again. She raised her view, sensing something. After looking at it a bit, she sighed, and jumped back to the sand, heading deep within the woods nearby. Anyone would've objected against that, but Tori wouldn't. She knew what was going on.
"They're back again, huh...?" she told herself, "Guess I just need to go check that place Mei, Neku and I stumbled upon..."
She climbed a tree, and began to jump from one to the other, until she distingushed a small cave in the shadows of the night. She lept down to the ground, and headed inside, defeating any creature that dared stand in her path.
"Tori!" a voice called her from within the cave, "You picked it up, too, right?" "Yeah... They're here again, huh?" Tori asked the voice, coming from a two-tailed cat, who was looking at her calmly, "Then I just gotta defend that thing, right?" "It'd be best if you closed it, actually..." the cat replied, "If it's closed, then this place is safe, remember?" "Then tell me how to do it, and I'll do it. Simple, right?" Tori demanded as she head deeper.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 18, 2018 7:20:51 GMT -5
The darkness seemed so familiar to Conrí, along with a couple of definite chilling sensations that rippled through him. The druids would shame him for what he was about to do, but, he needed to find her. The wolf boy rushed into the darkness, taking a few deep breaths to connect him loosely with the spirit realm where Fenrir was. "Fenrir!"
"You're not supposed to move around while you're here. It's dangerous."
"Yeah, I know. It's all blurry, and there are weird shapes that keep jumping at me that I'm barely staggering past."
Fenrir snarled a little. "So, say what you need and return."
"That girl, can you find her?"
"I don't see what that has to do with us."
"Oh, for the love of Lugus, please!"
Fenrir nodded, and Conrí broke his contact with the wolf. The wolf boy was surprised by the amount of the creatures that seemed to take out his world. He brandished his sword in a wide sweeping motion, which at least caused them to jump back and sink down into the earth. "Lugus, please, guide me." Conrí wasn't sure what invoking the ancient light god's name would do for him, since that deity was likely gone as was his world.
A motion in the trees, followed by wisps of darkness caught his eye. He felt Fenrir seemingly notice it, too, so, the boy ran toward that motion. Is that her?
Seems that way. Feels like her, but, I also feel something else. Be careful.
Conrí jumped past some of the enemies, and noticed someone moving toward a cave.
I think that's her. Go. But...careful.
Conrí nodded. Screams of rage seemed to echo from the town, and, he felt a pang enter his chest. "I'm sorry. I failed you, too." He could feel a strange energy coming from the cave, and cautiously entered. "Who dares enter this place?
Conrí guessed he was facing another entry point to the spiritual realm. He took a deep breath and bowed to the ground. "Oh great one, please forgive this humble druid in training. I am searching for a girl. I fear she might be in danger."
"Why do you care so much for a stranger?"
"As a future king, everyone's life is important, and, I'll risk everything I can to--"
"What of my townspeople? Do they mean nothing?"
"Of course they do! Please, they are fighting. I just need to find her."
The voice seemed to vanish, so, Conrí took that as consent and stepped into the mouth of the cave. He took a deep breath and raised his voice, "Are you in here? I'm sorry. There's so much darkness. I tried to fight, but, something called me here. I'm going to find you."
"What gives you the right to tread on sacred ground, lad?"
"I failed my world. I was the core's defender, and, I failed, much on a night like this, so, if you don't mind letting me through so I can help, great one." Conrí noticed the grit and snarl in his voice.
"It's your risk."
Conrí bowed once more and started to run. The darkness seemed to be rushing toward this place. "Claiomh Solais," the boy whispered to his sword, "please, aid me this time. Don't let my fear stop me."
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 18, 2018 11:00:00 GMT -5
Tori groaned as she kept fighting againt the shadows that decided to attack her, and so did the two-tailed cat. Oddly enough, barely any shadows would attack Tori directly, and it would seem as if they were purposely avoiding her. Yet that still didn't distract her from her original purpose.
"Hey, Silver" she told the two-tailed cat, "Why are they avoiding me? I thought they'd attack anything in sight." "Well... Either they're too focused on finding this world's heart, or..." Silver looked back at her before continuing, "Or your power is making them afraid of you. One or the other." "Heh..." Tori snickered, "My power, huh...? As if I've remembered anything about it..."
She slashed forward, defeating the shadows in front of her, and stepping forward. As she did, she heard someone's voice, and clicked her tongue. She recognized that voice from before -that guy who'd recently arrived. She glared back, yet didn't go towards him, and instead headed forward. Silver, on the other hand, looked back, a bit uneasy, seeing that there was someone else with them there.
"Hey, who's that?" he asked, and looked at Tori, "Friend of yours? "Not really" Tori replied, "I just met them today, but... Apparently, they're focused on helping a stranger out." "Wonder why that's exactly their intention..." "...They're a Keyblade Wielder, apparently" Tori mentioned after a while, "At least... That's what I can tell about him." "Wait... A Keyblade Wielder?! Then... Hey, that's a good thing!" Silver seemed to smile, "They can close the door, no biggie!" "Really...? Well, helps considering that you guys have been bugging me about my own Keyblade... Thing I don't even remember about..." Tori said, smirking. "I'll go pick 'em up. Can you take care of the Heartless in the meantime?" "Heh... Piece of cake!"
Silver left to search for Conrí, while Tori stood back fighting against the Heartless, with ease.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 18, 2018 13:19:10 GMT -5
Conrí kept going straight, not sure if going straight was the right answer, but, he figured it would be better to try going straight and keep trying to find the familiar energy from the core. He waved Claiomh Solais at the Shadows, but most of them just avoided his strikes. Probably for the best, because he didn't know how much time he had left.
Fenrir, do you think I can do what needs to be done this time, if that weird flash of light shows up again?
I can't say, but you might as well try if it comes to that.
What if my fear stops me again?
Thinking like that will only make you fail.
Conrí sighed and stopped running for a moment. "Right. I guess." He looked at the sword that had been passed from one king to the next. At times like this, he didn't feel worthy of this symbol of passage. He felt the energy in the cave shift, and, suddenly, a cat with two tails appeared in front of him.
Conrí knelt down to be on the cat's level. "Hey, have you seen a girl around here? She's tall and has honey colored hair. I think--"
"She's further ahead. This way. Follow me. You could be helpful, even if you're kinda annoying."
Conrí coughed out a chuckle and ran after the cat. This seems to be a pattern. Annoying for trying to help.
Just go with it, and call me if you need me.
Fine. Conrí watched the girl fighting the creatures. She's braver than me. The wolf boy brushed the thought aside and jumped into the fray, choosing to attack the creatures behind her. "Sorry. I know you told me to go to the Counsil, which I did, but, I couldn't just...leave you if there was going to be danger. What's our objective?"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 18, 2018 14:08:25 GMT -5
Tori noticed that Silver came back, and, with him, the guy with wolf ears began to fight with the Heartless behind her. She smirked, as Silver lept forward, taking care of a few astray enemies.
"Heh... Thought you were that kinda guy..." she said, teasing, "Helping even a stranger, eh, wolf-king?" she asked. "Tori, now's not the time..." Silver looked uneasy, "We gotta get somewhere, remember?" "I know, I know..." Tori sighed.
She imbued her blade with fire, and threw it in front of her akin to a boomerang -Fire Toss. Every Heartless in front of her was defeated in a single hit from the blade, and Tori caught it as it returned to her hand. She then began to dash forward alongside Silver, and didn't take long for her to rush Conrí with them.
"Here, this way!" she said, "Follow me, quick!"
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Post by Conrí on Jul 18, 2018 14:37:20 GMT -5
Wolf king? How would she know that?
Given our current situation, do you really think now is the time to ask that?
Fair point. Despite Fenrir's sensible talk, Conrí still felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I hope it doesn't bother you too much." His tone was somber and soft. He watched her fiery attack with awe, and quickly followed after her without much question.
Conrí swiped at a few more of the creatures as they dashed along. The energy of the place seemed to be thickening and a dull hum entered his ears. "I don't think it's too much further. Is there going to be a fight with something big, or, is this a race against time, mostly?"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 18, 2018 14:46:47 GMT -5
"No. Tori and I already scared away a potential threat" Silver said, making sure Conrí could hear him, "It's just a matter of closing the door, and done. Although this could've happened sooner if Tori remembered about her Keyblade..." he sighed. "Hey, watch it!" Tori shouted back, "I'm not in a mood right now!" "You know why I said that, right?"
After a little longer, Tori slowed her race, and looked forward. A bright light awaited, in the shape of a keyhole. Silver stepped forward, and, as he neared it, sat and looked at Conrí, smiling.
"You're a Keyblade Wielder, right?" he asked him, "Then, you know what to do. Can you do it, though?" "...He's scared" Tori said, smirking a bit, "After all, there's a reason why he's here, to begin with." "Are you scared?" Silver asked Tori. "No. Why would I?" she asked back, and stretched a bit, "It's just a matter of closing the door, and boom. World safe, right?" "Then why won't you do it? Oh, right... You can't" Silver replied, snickering, "I don't mean to offend you, mind you. Just... See if you're cool with it. "Some offense taken..." Tori puffed her cheeks, and crossed her arms.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 18, 2018 15:04:57 GMT -5
Conrí stopped with the others. The cat spoke to him again. Conrí cocked his head to the side and shifted his gaze to Tori. "Keyblade?" He gazed into the light with the others, and watched the cat sit and smile at him. "Talking cat, I'm not quite sure what makes you think--" When he saw the shape the light was making, Conrí staggered back a little. "That sword...one like it appeared in my hand when..."
He shook his head slightly and heard Tori's comment. It was like she knew him somehow. This fact both intrigued and unsettled him. He looked down at his sword hand and noticed that it trembled. "Of course I'm scared. It was in a situation like this that my own world--but, I told myself to try to push past it this time," he said, not sure if more to Tori, the cat, or to himself.
The cat seemed to be arguing with Tori, and Conrí found himself placing a hand on her shoulder. "If you were a wielder of such a weapon, then, I believe that it will come back to you." He removed his hand and walked closer to the light. "I will be honest. I don't know if I can close the door. I don't know if that's what happened to my world or not, but, I am going to try." Conrí bowed to Tori and held out his hand to the light.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 18, 2018 15:11:57 GMT -5
Both Tori and Silver smiled, and, after stepping behind him, Tori pushed Conrí forward, with a playful smirk.
"Go on, then!" she said, "You never know if you don't try, right?" "This is probably the only time I've ever agreed with you, Tori..." Silver sighed, uneasy. "Hey!" Tori shouted back at the cat, "You're the one who's never agreed to anything, with the excuse of 'it's too dangerous' and stuff. So you keep quiet!"
Silver laughed, and looked at Conrí. Tori gave him a little push forward, placing him closer to the light.
"If you can't do it, then... You hand me the blade!" she said, "And I'll close it."
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Post by Conrí on Jul 18, 2018 15:40:16 GMT -5
Conrí swallowed. His mouth felt dry and his legs were shaking. He felt Tori push him forward and heard her words. The wolf boy nodded and stood up straight. After a second small push forward, Conrí entered the light completely. He kept his hand stretched out to the light and felt the weight of Keyblade in his hand.
Vivid images filled his head of the night that his own world disappeared. The memories seemed to fill the room and surround him, and he felt himself being pushed toward his knees. Despite this, his hand clenched tighter around the blade, and he clenched his teeth. "Look, Keyblade, I don't care if you won't accept me just yet, but, for the sake of this world, lend me your power."
A wind began to push him back from the light, but he still wouldn't give up on the blade. "I know I'm a scared coward, and, I know I failed my world. I'm not saying I'm worthy, but, at least let me help her close the door."
The wind blew Conrí out of the room, but, the Keyblade was still in his hand. He landed on his backside and groaned slightly. He forced himself to his feet, and looked at Tori with a smile. "I don't think this door is mine to close alone, but, I think the blade will allow us to do what needs to be done together." The wolf boy extended the blade's hilt to Tori. "I won't let go, and, I'll give it my all."
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 18, 2018 21:35:24 GMT -5
Tori bit her thumb, and grabbed the Keyblade with determination, taking it away from Conrí. For a split second, her eyes swapped in color, from deep-sea blue to a vivid purple. Silver noticed this change, and shuddered a bit.
"...It's not the door, nor the Keyblade" Tori told Conrí as she headed to the door, "It's you. Your fear is what's stopping you from taking action. And you yourself are to blame for that."
She sighed, and looked at the keyhole. She held it forward, and the blade looked as if it tried to change shape, but remained the same nonetheless. A beam of light shone from the blade's edge towards the keyhole, and a locking sound was soon heard. Tori sighed, and tossed the blade back at Conrí, a bit mad.
"You say that it's the blade? Then train harder. You're saying it was the door? Then get to know its surroundings. But if it's your own fear... Then you're the one who needs to find out how to calm it to a point you can control it" she said, bitterly, "Otherwise, you're not even meant to hold your world in memory." "Tori, stop it" Silver said, stepping up and going towards her, "You've already said enough. And, besides, we're done here. It's best if we at least go back to your guild's headquarters, where it's safer." "...I know. Let's get going."
Tori nudged for Conrí to step up, and left the cave alongside Silver.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 19, 2018 7:55:41 GMT -5
Conrí saw Tori's eyes change, and her words cut him like a knife. He turned his back to her and lowered his head slightly. A burst of light caused him to turn, and he saw the door start to close. A chill rose through him. Had he done that in his last moments in his world? He hoped, but, the weight of the thought nearly drove him to his knees. I know sorry won't fix this one, Fenrir.
When Tori returned, her words were harsher. He barely caught the blade when she tossed it, because he'd been distracted by what she said. He looked at the blade, and felt tears well up in his eyes, but, he blinked them away before Tori could see. The would-be king knew he messed up again. But, this time, he actually tried. He bit his lip and shook his head slightly. The Keyblade vanished in petals of light from his hand. He wasn't sure if his fear had caused it or not.
As Tori and the cat started to leave, Conrí followed, staring at his hand for a while. It had stopped shaking.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 19, 2018 11:13:06 GMT -5
Tori returned to the cave's entrance, and took a look around. Some growls and shrieks from the woods were able to be heard, meaning that beasts and monsters were roaming close.
"You really overdid it back there..." Silver mentioned, as they headed back to the Eastern Shore, "He didn't need to know that, you know?" "Still... It pisses me off" Tori replied, still bitter, "You'd think someone who makes a mistake once would know how to fix it the second time..." "But he's human, and you're not, remember?" "And again, you say that..." Tori sighed, "...Am I really not human, though? Like... I can't remember, after all." "If you can't remember, even now, then... I guess it's best if I keep quiet for now. Just to save you some stress" Silver chuckled a bit.
At the Eastern Shore, Tori stretched out a bit before climbing up a latter built in a tree, leading to a treehouse, where her guild would often reunite and discuss about things. It was fairly warm that day, and Tori decided to stay there for the night, instead of going back to the town. Beasts and monsters would rarely go near the shores, and less climb up trees, meaning that her guild's headquarters was safe for the time being.
"G'night, Silver..." Tori muttered, as she laid in a hammock that they'd left there a few months prior.
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Post by Conrí on Jul 19, 2018 11:46:00 GMT -5
Conrí followed Tori at a distance, but, was close enough to make out the treehouse. She and the cat seemed to be talking, so, he figured he would let them talk. He grabbed at his stomach, which was still tumbling from all that had happened. A few beasts still roamed the area, but, it was nothing like the darkness they had been facing. At least the world's safe. Couldn't she try and be a little less upset at me for that? Her words still taunted him as he walked.
He opened his mouth to say something--anything to her--but, the words got lost in jumbled up thoughts. The wolf boy watched her go up the tree and lie down in a hammock. It reminded him of home. This whole island did, and, had he not just jumped into the fray, perhaps he would have been able to do something about it, like she had said. So, if that blade won't accept me, then train harder. That's what she said to do.
Conrí slid down the trunk of the tree and let his body completely relax. One might mistake him as being asleep, but, they would be mistaken. The wolf boy held out his hand, and pictured the blade from before, and something in the energy around his hand shifted, but, he couldn't quite know what to make of it, and the image of the blade vanished. He kept trying until his head began to hurt.
Give it up for now, lad. Rest, you know you need to rest.
I don't quit that easily.
There will be time for training after you rest.
Conrí sighed out of frustration. He looked over the island. The dark of the night made it beautiful in its own way, but, it didn't soothe him at all. "Screw it." He held out his hand once more, but, instead of trying to invoke the blade, he began to mutter his chant for Fenrir. Conrí just wanted to not feel alone. When the wolf appeared, the boy noticed it looked more like a dog than the massive beast he'd gotten used to. "Great...can't even properly summon you."
Wrong. I decided to stick with a form others might not find so freaky.
"Fair enough, Fenrir," the boy muttered. He stood to his feet, noticing the training posts near the treehouse. "C'mon. You can at least watch. I'll try to stay quiet to not wake her." Even though I feel like screaming right now. Conrí brandished Claiomh Solais out of its sheath and began flailing away at the training posts, which moved in response to his attacks, making things more interesting. He did this until he noticed the dark was turning to a light gray, and turned to see the sun rising. Birds chirped in the distance, and he wondered when he'd stopped to remove his shirt, but, he kept up his training.
Conrí didn't notice that he was getting faster in his attacks and dodges. He didn't seem to care. All he could see was the disappointment on her face when he'd handed her the blade. The would be king wanted to make it so that she never looked like that again because of him. Finally, he dropped to the ground out of sheer exhaustion. He wiped away his sweat with his shirt and staggered back to the trunk of the tree, which he leaned against and closed his eyes for sleep this time.
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