Day 13

~~~ Day 13 ~~~

~~~ Journal Entry 1100 ~~~

The schools are quite strenuous when you try to take them seriously. I had some money to spend so I went over to learn some more skills. I picked up this sturdy great axe, and was amazed at how much stronger I was. Though it was still quite heavy, I probably would not be able to swing this at all a few days ago.

A master approached me when I picked it up.

~~~ Recording 0830 ~~~

Master>> Come to hone your skills, laddie?

Xzander nodded.

Master>> Have you every carried one of those before?
Xzander>> No.
Master>> I see you stand quite naturally there with it, and your eyes show endless potential. Would you like to train with the axe?

Xzander nodded again.

Master>> … Something about you, laddie, that really makes me feel strange. I would like to try something a bit different. Are you ready to try a good challenge, laddie?
Xzander>> I don’t try. Let’s do it.

Xzander struck a sturdy battle pose. The master scoffed and flicked his hand. The room around him flashed with blinding light and he found himself alone in a dark cavern. The Master’s voice echoed through the walls.

Master>> Come to me, laddie. Don’t disappoint me.

Xzander grinned roguishly and took off running into the cavern. Monsters started to swarm though the holes in the tunnel walls, huge insects that came up to his knees in height began to attack him but he held the axe steady and with powerful swings he pulverized many of them. Chopping and crushing his way through them for what seemed to be ages, he finally cleared the tunnel and came into an opening in which the master stood in the center. Bathed in light, he signaled X to approach him; however as X drew closer, the master’s image slowly faded away.

The light now bathed Xzander, who found himself surrounded by dozens of the critters charging at him. He drew his strength together and swung away. Left and right, the critters piled up. He raised the axe and smashed it down behind him then swung a half circle to his right with one arm and continued to chop away all of them. Turning to the left and dropping to one knee, he had them scratching and clawing away at him. He burst up and kept swinging even with 3 of the bugs on him.

In the end, he crushed them all. Exhausted and bleeding, he called out for the master.

And found himself back on the school rugs.

~~~ Journal Entry 1200 ~~~

I’m almost done patching myself up. It wasn’t really that bad, and the master was very proud of me. He complimented me with the axe and urged me to return after I mended.

… I could really go for a few potions right now.

~~~Recording 1400 ~~~

Xzander strolls into the school grounds, axe in his left hand propped up over his shoulder and a potion bottle in the other which he was occasionally taking a swig or two.

Master>> Back so soon, laddie?
Xzander>> Yep! Feel so much better now.
Master>> I must say, that was rather quick.

He was right, though. Most of the injuries were already healed. Only the major ones were still bandaged.

Master>> How many potions have you had?
Xzander>> This is my second one.
Master>> Hmm… one and a half potions? That should have just sealed the minor wounds to someone like you. You should be resting right now. Yet here you are laddie, healed up and ready for more.

Xzander took another swig, and the master smiled.

Master>> Come closer laddie, I have much that I want to teach you.
Xzander>> Alright. How much will it cost me.
Master>> Haha, right to business then. I like you laddie, and you show very good potential. How ‘bout 12,000 gil and I teach you everything I can fit into a whole days worth of training.
Xzander>> But it’s past noon.
Master>> I know that laddie, we will continue all day tomorrow. Or at least until you can’t go any further.
Xzander>> Alright, sounds good!

~~~ Journal Entry 2200 ~~~

Back in the comfort of my own bed, I feel sore all over! That Galka is RUTHLESS!!! He is really trying to break me, but strangely, I find energy to keep going. I wonder where all of this is coming from. Could it be… … Nah!