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Vale · **09-01-2015, 11:18 PM**

Impurities of the Heart: Part 3

Vale Myr'it Alistair Wright Training Arc

Training Continues: Day 8

Quote:A shudder runs through Vale's body as the last traces of healing magic begin to fade. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, the tension leaving his body as he realizes the pain is gone. The large avian Vanu stands over him and gives a polite nod. "Netherlings bring good to Vanu, so Vanu do good for Netherlings. Hold chest high like cloud now and be well."Â

"Aye, thank you for your kindness," Vale says. "Where might I find your leader? I must speak with him."

The Vanu's ears twitch and it points at a long staircase next to a huge totem. "Aanu Vanu up there. You go up stairs like other Netherlings."Â

Vale pulls himself onto his feet and dusts himself off. "Thank you again, my friend." He bows to the Vanu and makes for the long stairs upwards. At the top of the stairs lie three more Vanu, one the middle and two on either side. The two on the outside are slightly larger and hold long stave-like weapons, while the middle one is shorter and appears to be unarmed. Vale sets his sword aside and approaches cautiously.

"More Netherlings?" The middle Vanu says. "Once cloud was quiet like night, but now Netherlings bring stormy noise with them. What does Netherling want with Vanu?"

Unsure of the proper amount of deference required amongst the Vanu, Vale drops to one knee and bows his head. "Aanu Vanu I presume? My name is Vale Myr'it. I want nothing from the Vanu other than your permission to train amongst your lands. I have heard you are protective of your territory and do not wish to cause conflict with my presence."

Aanu Vanu tilts his head to the side questioningly, his gaze focused on Vale. "Then Nethlering must prove himself first. Find one Vuk'laii Vundu and defeat it in single combat. Bring feathers back here to me. Then you may train with Vanu."

"And where might I find these... Vuk'laii Vundu? And how will I know I've found one?" Vale asks.

Aanu Vanu turns and points behind him. "Far east, amongst Ok' Vundu Mok. Netherling will see their totems. Vuk'laii Vundu will have staff and powerful magic."

Vale nods, taking note of the direction Aanu Vanu points in, before taking his leave. He grabs his sword on the way out and mounts his chocobo. A quick snap of the reigns and they're soon soaring across the sea of clouds. Vale squints, his hand held over his brow to reduce the glare, and scans each island he passes over for signs of the Vundu. Finally, he spots what appears to be a settlement. He circles his chocobo closer and glimpses the distinct shape of a totem as it casts its shadow across the ground below.Â

The chocobo lets out a soft "Kweh!" as he lands a short distance away from the settlement. Taking cover behind a rock, Vale slowly edges his way around the perimeter, careful to keep out of sight. He settles behind a large boulder and watches the movements of its inhabitants. Their lumbering bodies plod across the tufted grass of the island as they go about their duties. Large serpents follow some of the Vundu around. Vale edges further into the darkness when they pass by. As the sun begins to dip towards the horizon, a lone Vundu wanders over by Vale's boulder and turns its back to him. It rests against the long staff in its hand and mutters something unintelligble to itself. Seeing his chance, Vale quietly unsheathes his sword and walks quietly up behind the Vundu. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunges forward and runs his sword through the creature's chest. It screams silently before slumping to the ground.Â

He looks down at the creature, and back at the settlement. A moment of guilt overwhelms him and he grits his teeth. "I came here for one purpose. I cannot falter now." He reaches down and plucks several of the feathers from the creature's corpse before returning to his chocobo.

A short while later he arrives back at the Vanu settlement and presents the feathers to Aanu Vanu. The Vanu holds the feathers in his hand for a moment before turning and scattering them into the wind. "Netherling has passed test. Though it pains me to see the Vundu like this, it is all we can do for them now. Netherling may use our lands as he wishes. Go now."

"Thank you," Vale says before rising to his feet. "I did not feel pleasure in taking this life. In fact, they seemed to live little different than the Vanu do. I... hope that one day the Vanu are able to come to terms with the Vandu."

Aanu Vanu nods silently, his face still turned from Vale's gaze. Seeing his dismissal, Vale turns and heads to a small island just side outside of the Vanu settlement. Settling into a seated position, he lays his sword in front of him and enters a meditative trance. He calls forth the imaginary flame in his mind once more, but it comes much slower than usual. A tiny ember appears and as he feeds more of his will into it the ember suddenly bursts into a tiny flame. A moment of distress comes over him and the flame wavers, nearly extinguishing itself, but he takes a calming breath and forces the flame to stabalize.Â

The feeling I had when fighting the griffin... I need to find it again. If only I could remember...

He tries to recall the thoughts he had at the time. Images of his past bubble to the surface, the pain and suffering he and his family felt, the death of his first wife, and the pain in Eleni's eyes. The flame in his mind dwindles as a darkness surges within him. His eyes snap open and he wraps his fingers around the hilt of his sword, willing the feeling within him into it. As the flame snuffs out in his mind he stares at the sword expectantly for some time, but nothing happens. Growling in frustration, he conjures the flame in his mind once more and repeats the process, but still the result is the same.

Stars wink to life in the sky around him and the moon soars above his head. He tries again and again, but no matter how many times he tries to replicate the process, not a single shimmer of light shines upon the blade. Some time later he awakens to the first rays of the new day. His legs are sore beneath him and his eyes crusted over. Vale wipes his face and slowly unfolds his legs with a painful groan. He works the kinks out of his body and straps his sword to his back.

"I have to be missing something. If I can't find it here, then perhaps... elsewhere." He turns to his chocobo and pulls himself into the saddle. "Come. There is yet one more method I might try."

Impurities of the Heart [CLOSED]

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes