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"Uhh, no, haha. I kinda forgot about it." Bernon took a deep breath. "I guess I'll work with water, since there's a giant lake right here." Kicking off his shoes, he waded into the shallows.
Mike watched him go. "He could stand to learn some better hand-to-hand skills too, but whatever." He glanced at Tanrial. "My training's kind of weird, by the way, so don't mind me. If you need a sparring partner in a minute, let me know."
“How so?” Tanrial asked turning to Mike, raising an eyebrow in question.
"Well…my fighting style has only two modes: maim and kill. I can't really practice it effectively without hurting someone, so usually I do more like mind exercises and basic stuff to build strength, speed, and stamina. So in short, if you see me just sitting and staring at the water, I'm not slacking off or anything."
“Practise on me, I don’t care.”
"Mmm….nah, think I'll pass for now. I get pretty cold and angry when I'm fighting, and I don't want to act like that around a friend. Give me a while to clear my head first, then I'll get back to you on that." So saying, he sat down cross-legged on the sand and went completely still.
Tanrial rolled her eyes and looked out towards the water were Bernon was. Gently slipping off her shoes, she walked out and stood next to him, “Having any luck?” She asked.
"Hm?" He glanced over. "Oh. yeah, see?" He lifted his cupped hands and showed her a perfectly smooth orb of water floating above them. "It was much easier to get it smooth and calm this time." He took a couple of steps back. "Play catch?"
She nodded and did the same, lifting her arms ready for the ball of water to be thrown at her, “Just don’t get be soaked.”
He grinned. "I'll try." He wound up and tossed the ball to her, doing his best to will it to stay solid as it flew. "So how are you doing? Anything on your mind lately? Besides, you know, all this craziness?"
(gotta go to bed now, seeya)
(Sorry, had to go to a show, seeya)
Tanrial shrugged as she chucked the ball back, “No, I haven’t had time to think about anything else, what about yourself?”
(that's okay ^^)
"Well, nothing much, I guess…..I mean, I have been thinking a lot about the data drive, actually. If all goes well and Ryker is defeated–or at least brought to his senses–we have to figure out what to do with the machine. I don't think its secrets should go unlocked entirely, if there's any chance of improving life for the people. But….I sure don't know anyone who could keep it safe and use it to its full extent. I don't think there's many people like that left."
Tanrial hummed in agreement, “That’s true. What about the family you said you were taking it too?”
"I mean…Mike's right. There's no way they'd have any idea how to use it. I guess there might be someone over on the east coast where they live that might know….but that's a pretty big gamble to make. Those seaside slums are really dangerous, and I wouldn't like to go there for no reason."
“Yeah, I guess so… then there’s really no one else then, is there? That would know how to use it properly and not want to wipe out the human race as well.”
He smiled and tossed the ball back. "Let's not give up too easy. We can keep it safe for a long time, if we have to. And Ryker can't be the only one that manged to salvage some of the old technology. I've heard there's some labs out west that still operate, maybe we can take it that way once this is over."
Tanrial nodded and caught the ball, “Yeah, maybe. It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do so I could take it if you guys didn’t want too.”
"I don't know about Mike, but I'll go with you. I want to see this through to the end." He glanced out over the lake and waved. "Hey, here comes Polla."
Polla was in Ozrig's sailboat, heading towards them. While she was still far out, she called to them. "Tanrial, Bernon. Is Mike there with you?"
“Yeah, he is. Doing some weird meditation or something, I’m not entirely sure.” She called, glancing at where Mike sat behind them.
Polla threw down the anchor and waded to shore. "I need to speak with him."
Mike heard her and opened his eyes. "What's up?"
"You should have told us who you really where when you came here," Polla said, wringing out her skirt.
Mike narrowed his eyes. "It's nor a big deal. I don't want to make it one."
"You don't understand. We need your help." Polla pointed at the lake. "There's a monster out there that's been attacking our houses and boats. A water beast."
Mike paused. "And…you want me to get rid of it?"
"Yes," Polla said. "We will repay you, I promise. We have nowhere else to go if we cannot live on this lake."
Mike was silent for a minute, then stood up. "Let's talk in the tavern. I need more information."
Polla nodded and the two of them walked off toward the dock.
Bernon watched them go. "Jeez, I wish I'd known that before we waded in here."
“I saw something in the lake the other night, right before the bandits attack.”
"Eep. Let's keep a good eye on Snatch while we're here. Shes just about bite-sized."
(gotta go for the night, seeya tomorrow!_
“That’s true. She said she didn’t like the the water anyway so I don’t think she’ll be swimming anytime soon.”
(Alrighty, seeya)
"Yeah." Bernon turned and headed back to the shore. "I guess I should switch up and practice with my lightning next anyway. That'll be my best offense move besides the bear, once I get the hang of it a bit."
(I'll be a little late today)
(Alright)
“It will be, just don’t burn the forest or he huts down. Then we really won’t be able to come back.” Tanrial crossed her arms and stayed in the water.
"Haha, yeah." Bernon took a deep breath and centered himself, making sure he was absolutely calm before he reached into his well. It took him a minute, but soon he had a tiny thread of electricity in his hands that flared and dimmed with every breath he took. Carefully, he opened his eyes and allowed the energy to grow into a small crackling orb. "It's different than the water. With that, it was hard work to make it bigger or faster. With this lightning, it's harder to keep it small."
“Lightning is… powerful, more so then water. It takes more time to accumulate water where it takes more time to calm the lightning. You’ll get used to it.”
"I suppose so. I wonder if I can make sculptures with this too." Bernon frowned in concentration and started shaping the strands of electricity into delicate legs, then into a wispy mane and tail. After a few minutes he showed Tanrial his creation. "It's supposed to be a horse….does it look like a horse?"
Tanrial smiled, “Kinda.” She waded out of the water and went and stood beside Bernon, “It’s good.”