Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Shin Hyakuji High School Tvtropes


The Book that is Hyakuji's Story has come to a close. However, there are still plenty of stories left to be told in the madcap Anime Universe it inhabits. As one book closes, so too does another open. Presented by veteran Hyakuji Staff Members, check out the next generation EVOLUTION of "Anything-Goes" Anime Roleplaying at Senki Academy


Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
Paint, Fire, and Interruptions (Closed)
Topic Started: Feb 8 2010, 06:56 PM (1,060 Views)
Beka
Member Avatar

Yumi watched with curiosity as Ganta absent-mindedly played with their campfire, unconsciously showing off more of his talent. It was quite impressive actually, the way the flames just rolled around his fingers, the heat not affecting him in the least. She wondered briefly how long he had been training to reach such a level, or if he was simply born with that skill. Either way, it was an interesting ability.

At that moment he seemed to be reminded of something, and abruptly he returned the conversation to the moment of their first meeting. Yumi had actually forgotten about that odd moment when he had apparently known she was there before he turned around, but now that he mentioned it her curiosity was piqued. "Yes, just how did you know I was there?" she asked.

Ganta was quick to explain. "Since I am a fire mage, in addition to being able to use fire however like, I'm also able to sense changes in heat. When you came up behind me, you were much warmer than the area around you. Actually, it was like someone had just lit a large fire behind me." Yumi nodded. "That makes sense."

She paused for a moment as something occurred to her. "You know, I might actually be able to do something similar if I refined my powers enough... only mine would be sensing differences in the atomic makeup of the air around me instead of heat." Brow furrowed, the girl pondered the thought for a long moment. It was quite intriguing actually... surely it would be a very useful ability, being able to sense someone sneaking up behind you? She would never have to risk being taken by surprise, be it in battle or otherwise.

The only trouble was... "I really have no idea how I'd go about training for something like that though... how did you learn to master that ability?" Maybe it was more than mere chance which had brought these two together. If Ganta could somehow help her extend her powers, it would certainly prove to have been a fortuitous encounter. He seemed like the type of person who might be willing to help her, as well... his pride in his abilities was obvious and well-earned, and in Yumi's experience people who excelled at something enjoyed passing on their skills. She could only hope that he would be willing, or able, to help her.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tensa Zangetsu
The Black Reaper
"You know, I might actually be able to do something similar if I refined my powers enough... only mine would be sensing differences in the atomic makeup of the air around me instead of heat." Ganta nodded. She had a good point. This was the first he had heard about her having powers as well, though he had assumed she had some sort of powers, as it was difficult to survive in this sort of situation without them.

"I really have no idea how I'd go about training for something like that though... how did you learn to master that ability?" Ganta smiled slightly when she asked that. Part of him had always fancied the thought of being a teacher, and now he had his first pupil. Well, sort of. "Well, I'll glad to help however I can."

He thought about things for a moment, remembering his first lessons after he began his journey to becoming a pyromancer. "Alright, try this and we'll see if there is a chance that I can teach you anything. Close your eyes, and imagine a single flame. Then, think about pouring all your worries, emotions, everything into that flame until there is only you, the flame, and the void that surrounds that flame. This is to help you focus all your attention on your powers." He wasn't sure if she would be able to get it on the first try. It all depended on her own ability to concentrate. If she could get this, then her entire consciousness would be able to focus on her ability.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Beka
Member Avatar

Ganta certainly seemed happy enough to take upon the mantle of teacher, if his smile and positive response were anything to go by at least. He seemed to think for a moment, and Yumi waited eagerly for his first instruction. Before long, he advised her to close her eyes, and "imagine a single flame". He seemed to want her to practice a concentration exercise. Well, that was easy enough. Yumi had to concentrate intently every time she wanted to use her powers, so the concept was not new to her. Nonetheless, it was a useful exercise, and she had never tried something so specific as what Ganta was suggesting. The girl obediently did as she had been instructed.

Before long, she felt the familiar sensation of all her thought being directed at one focal point, with no intruding emotions or stray thoughts to distract her. She had done what Ganta had said, with one small alteration: Ganta was a fire mage, so it made sense that he visualised a flame. For Yumi, however, the exercise went much easier when she pictured a single atom, plucked from the broad tapestry in which it normally sat, surrounded now only by dark void. If she concentrated on this single atom correctly, and for enough time, then before long she could begin to decipher particular information about that atom. Wisps of colour, shape, and size began to make themselves known to her, until in her mind was a kind of ghost vision of the larger object from which the atom had been plucked.

It was a very effective exercise; before long her entire mind was focused on the project, as her curiosity became piqued and she desired to know more about her lone atom. All recollection that Ganta was still nearby and possibly waiting for a response had fled her mind; all that remained was the atom. If her new teacher was to have any hope of progressing her along the path of mastering this new technique, he would first have to break the meditative spell Yumi had fallen under to get her attention. In the meantime, her face displayed a totally vacant expression; it was as though she was staring at some fascinating object in the distance. Well, as distant as a cave wall could ever be.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tensa Zangetsu
The Black Reaper
Ganta watched silently as she closed her eyes and began the exercise. He would have to wait and see how things went by observing her body language. Changes in behavior and actions were a good sign that she was succeeding. If she had trouble, he would just have her keep trying until she got it, since that was just about all she could do at this stage. He sat behind her to one side, watching her closely for any signs of a change. The cove grew darker as the sun had nearly finished setting, but Ganta made sure the fire did not die while they were focused on the lesson.

After a few minutes of scrutiny, he began to see the signs. Her face relaxed, becoming smooth and calm. The tension went out of her shoulders, her arms going slack where they rested. Her breathing was slow and steady, as if she were asleep. Good, she was catching on quick. He continued watching until she had reached the point of total relaxation. Now she would be able to put her whole attention on her powers and start learning how to control them. He waited for her to turn to him and ask him what to do next, but she continued as she was, her eyes open, but vacantly staring off. It seemed she had become to wrapped up in her inner self.

He would have to tell her about not getting too focused on one thing while like this, or else she would just sit there like that. Ganta decided it was time to end her trance. He licked his lips and cleared his throat before placing to fingers to his mouth, and giving a long, high whistle just about a foot from her head. It would be jarring, but it would help her in two ways. One; not to let herself get carried away with her concentration, and two, learning to not lose her hold on her focus. There was a delicate balance to this exercise, and one had to be able maintain it under even extreme circumstances to master it.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Beka
Member Avatar

Yumi was still lost in the depths of her trance. Currently she was picking apart the particular shade of brown that the atom she had focused on exhibited. She had already deduced that its source was the cave wall; what interested her now was how this particular atom differentiated itself from the plethora of others beside it. The variations in colour were minute, but they existed... becoming clear to an observer like herself, if only they concentrated long enough and hard enough. Focusing in even further, Yumi tried a new exercise where she extracted the neighbouring atoms and placed them beside her original subject in her mind's eye. Pinpointing her thoughts (the equivalent of mental squinting), after a few moments the girl thought she could just make out that the brown of 'her' atom was slightly -

!)#*(&#)(%#*&@

The piercing screech of the whistle shattered her concentration and completely derailed her train of thought. She jumped about a mile in the air, and when she blinked next, she had lost the atom she had been focussing on. Her heart nearly broke. Now she would never know if the brown had been lighter or darker than the others! Taking a moment to recover from the deep anguish of this realisation, Yumi soon had another, far more embarrassing realisation. Ganta had been trying to get her attention, possibly for some time now. Feeling her cheeks beginning to burn (perhaps she would be able to blame it on the fire...), the girl turned sheepishly back towards her new tutor.

"Um... so... I guess that worked a little too well then, hey?" Letting out a short, embarrassed giggle, Yumi tried to redeem herself. "Well, at least we know I can concentrate now, right? Obviously I need to work on retaining that concentration while also taking in external factors..." Possibly I should work on my (over)reaction too, she added privately to herself. Keen to steer the attention away from her mishap and back to the topic at hand, Yumi attempted to change the subject. "So Ganta, do you think it's possible for me to learn your technique then?" she enquired with a hopeful smile.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tensa Zangetsu
The Black Reaper
Ganta got a good response out of that, holding back a burst of laughter as his new protege nearly jumped out of her skin. He could not hide the wide grin that now plastered his face, but she would have to forgive him for that. He was only human after all. "Welcome back to reality." He said, his voice chiding, but still working to keep from laughing. Although he couldn't really see her blushing, but the sudden increase in her body temperature around her face told him all he needed to know.

"You did very well for your first try, you managed to focus on your powers, and have already learned the primary technique for learning more about how they work. He held out his hand and a flame appeared in it. "Your powers are only yours, I can't teach you how to use them or how they work, you have to learn that on your own using what I just taught you." He let the flame disappear, and he got a little more serious. "However, you can't try and learn everything at once. It will take time for you to understand the fine points of your abilities. Also, you have to be careful when using the technique I taught you. It may help you a great deal, but if you don't also pay attention to what's around you, it could be deadly."

He looked her in the eye for a moment, wanting to make sure she understood the gravity of what he was saying. "Some have focused so hard on this that they ignored their own bodies, and starved to death without even realizing it. Until you can manage to at least be able to sense when your body's needs must be met, you will need to keep practicing with me." He began smiling again. "I won't be to harsh a teacher, and I'll make sure you leave knowing more about yourself than you could have imagined." He was about to continue when his stomach made a rather loud groan. Chuckling, Ganta stood. "Speaking of food, I think its about time for dinner."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Beka
Member Avatar

"Welcome back to reality," came the sound of Ganta's clearly amused voice. Obviously her mission to the vacuum of space had ended in a less than graceful manner. Blushing, Yumi was glad when her companion continued briskly on with his speech. The girl bowed her head as she took in Ganta's words of praise and reprimand. She focused intently on his recommendations, taking careful note of everything he said. It was sound advice.

"Until you can manage to at least be able to sense when your body's needs must be met, you will need to keep practicing with me." Ganta announced, before informing her that "I won't be too harsh a teacher, and I'll make sure you leave knowing more about yourself than you could have imagined." "Sounds great!" Yumi could only smile. She was going to have a new teacher! How fortunate she had been, to bump into this man so coincidentally. Yet a part of her heart twinged. The only mentor she had ever known was Jameson. She knew deep within herself that before she could embark on any new course of learning with Ganta, she owed it to her first friend to settle things with him first.

At that moment, Ganta's stomach rumbled, and he suggested that they get dinner. Yumi, too, was hungry. A quick glance outside the cave was enough to confirm the oppressive darkness without. There was no sense contemplating any kind of journey that night. She may as well just relax for the evening with her new companion and teacher. Tomorrow was a new day, and soon enough to be wrapping up old loose ends. In the meantime... "Dinner sounds wonderful! What are we having? Can I help at all?"

Before long the comfortable sounds of chewing and clattering cutlery could be heard in the otherwise companionable silence of the cave. Ganta and Yumi had worked together seamlessly in the preparation of the meal - it was as though they had been doing it for years. Sitting back and enjoying her food, Yumi couldn't help but feel an overwhelming internal peace. At least for right now, at that moment in time, her life was exactly right.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tensa Zangetsu
The Black Reaper
He smiled, glad she was so enthusiastic to learn, and also to help with the food. Before long they had both eaten and were once again sitting around the fire, both of them content in this pleasant scenario. He was pleased to find a companion in this world, and she had provided him with a much needed distraction from his vendetta against the Heartless. He let himself relax a bit longer, allowing his food to settle before he sat up straight and looked at Yumi from across the fire.

"Well, now that that's taken care of, would you like to give it another try?" From what he could tell, she was eager to learn this, and he wanted to try and help her. There was also the very real possibility that they would not meet again after this. He needed to make sure she was competent enough with this to not kill herself. "If not, then we can wait until tomorrow morning and go ahead and get some sleep. Whichever you prefer."

If she wanted to continue, he would have to keep an eye on her to make sure that she did not slip into that trance again. He needed to make her associate extended time in the void with an unpleasant consequence.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Season 2 Archive · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2

Seishun Line collaboration by .Danilo / .sionthede / Leda of Zathyus Networks Resources.