Limits

While we ran through the forest, I forgot that Fox was much slower than me. 'No rush I guess. Besides, I can continue my training' I thought, and took out my sword. I began practicing the Sith Form of the Lethal Sword Technique, when Fox said "That's a big sword. Don't you prefer a smaller sword? It would be easier for you". I shook my head, and said "I do have smaller swords, but I'm learning to use this one for now. Wanna try it out?".

She replied "Let me see then", and I handed her the sword. When she grabbed it, she said "I guessed as much, it's quite heavy". A mischievous thought appeared in my mind. I smiled, and said "It has a Formation on it too. Activate it, and you will see something". She nodded her head, then activated the Formation. "Boom!" the sword crashed to the ground together with Fox. I laughed a bit, and said "Even my sword teacher was dragged down, when he activated that Formation".

She slowly lifted the sword up, and replied "Bastard, you played a trick on me". After she swung it a few times, she said "This is so heavy. How can you even fight properly with this. The strength required to wield it properly, is just...". After she handed me the sword back, I said "In this case, it doesn't make a difference to me. With my strength, I can wield this sword as a one handed weapon. Although, I can't fight extended battles".

I then returned to my practice, while moving constantly forwards. After a while, Fox asked "You even practice something, while travelling? When do you get some rest?". I laughed, and replied "I'm used to it. When you travel alone, there is not much you can do. I take my mind off the long road, by practicing my skills. Time goes by faster that way, and I don't feel bored".

We travelled like this until late afternoon, where Fox told me to stop. I stopped my practice, and asked "Is everything alright?". She replied "Why don't we make a break? We travelled for a whole day, you must be tired swinging that sword all the time". I wasn't that tired yet. Besides, we made a few stops on the way. I had to eat something, and let my hands rest as well. Otherwise I would run out of energy, and collapse. I looked at the sky, and said "We can make camp here if you want to. Let me build a shelter.

She shook her head, and said "Are you really some sort of savage? I have everything with me, you don't have to build any shelters". I wasn't a savage, and I always built shelters to sleep in. I was never concerned about luxury or comfort. 'I guess it's because I'm a male. Women probably have higher needs than I have' I thought.

She set up the fireplace, then a large tent and even a table with two chairs. 'Why bring all that clutter with you? I mean a table?' I thought. It never occurred to me, to hide a table or a bed in my storage items. I could always make one, if I really needed it. I asked Fox "What type of storage device do you have?". She was busy with setting up everything, but replied anyway. "My father made it. It can store a lot of things, and the weight is reduced by around 70 percent. It's one of the best storage items you can get. I wouldn't be able to afford it normally, but my father is a Formation Master".

'70 percent is not bad at all. My Storage Feather can do only 50 percent. I guess the higher the percentage, the harder it is to make' I thought. Fox soon finished setting everything up. She then began cooking over the fire. I asked "You can cook? I just roast some meat over the fire, and that's it. I'm not fussy with my food". She shook her head, but didn't say anything.

I walked over, and sat down near the fire. I must admit, whatever Fox was cooking, it smelled really nice. Fox began humming some kind of song, then actually sang the words. The song was really nice, and her voice was pleasing to the ears. I asked "What's that song?". She stopped, and replied "Father told me, that my mother used to sing it to me. I don't remember my mother. She passed away when I was a child".

I could feel the sadness in her voice. 'I at least knew both my parents, but she doesn't even remember her mother' I thought. This reminded me of my own parents. My mother who would scold my father, when he acted stupid. A mother who took care of me. I said "It's really beautiful. You have a nice voice, you should sing more". She giggled a bit, and thanked me.

The food was ready, and Fox insisted that I sit at the table to eat. She herself didn't eat, probably because of the mask. I said "Eat something, I will go for a walk". She shook her head, and replied "I'm not hungry". I stared at her, and replied "Eat. You have your reasons, for wearing that mask. I will not judge you for that, everyone has their past and some secrets. Eat something, while I take a walk".

I didn't wait for her reply, and simply walked into the forest. 'She must be afraid that I will hate her. I mean Shades and Lizards aren't handsome, or beautiful in particular. It makes no difference to me, if she has scars or not' I thought. I walked around the forest, and recalled something. 'Wait. I meant to find out more about those Floating Orbs. I have some time, so why not give it a try' I thought.

I retrieved my mask, and placed it on my face. When I focused, I saw the Floating Orbs again, but they were different. 'These… These are Black Orbs. The same ones I saw in my dream!". I reached out my hand, and indeed, some Orbs were attracted to me. 'Does that mean, I can attract Black Orbs but not the other ones I saw? Why are they different colour too? Because it's night?' I asked myself.

I tried attracting more and more of them. I could feel my Darkness Perception awaking on its own. 'What is going on?' I thought. I stood there, and tried to absorb the Black Orbs. The problem was, I was attracting very small amount of them. Some Orbs were leaving my body too. 'I can't contain them? Then why would I be able to absorb them?' I was lost at this stage.

I had a feeling that these Orbs played a crucial part in something. 'Maybe Formations are fuelled by these Orbs?' I thought, and took out tattered boots from my bag. These were the boots that I received from a guy in Varent. There was a Formation on them, that worked constantly. I held the boots up, but the orbs were not attracted at all. 'Hmm… Maybe this is not for the Formations. Fox knows a lot of stuff, maybe she will know' I thought, and decided to return.

I returned to the camp, and saw Fox sitting at the table. Her food was gone, which was a good sign. She asked "What took you so long? You've been gone for at least an hour". 'I was?' I thought, and answered "I didn't realise, so much time had passed. I have something to ask you". Fox said "Sure, ask anything you want". I asked "Do you know about those Floating Orbs? They have different colours, and they are everywhere".

She tilted her head, and asked "Floating Orbs?". I nodded, and replied "Yea, they float around everywhere… Don't look at me, as if I'm a crazy person, will you?". Although I couldn't see her eyes, I could feel a look of concern. She replied "There are no Floating Orbs, I have no clue what you are talking about". I took out my mask, and said "Put that on, and let's check if you see them too".

She looked at the mask, and asked "Are you sure, you are not seeing things?". I was annoyed at this stage. I said "Put the mask on, and activate the Formation. It will improve your sight". She sighed, and said "Alright". I handed her the mask, while she went to the tent, to change it. When she returned, I was stunned "What a weird design…" I mumbled to myself. The mask was grey in colour, or rather pale white. There were no eyes present, but empty sockets, just like on my mask. There were two long but thin horns sticking out on her forehead. The mask looked different to be sure.

Fox asked "Did you say something?". I shook my head, and replied "Just activate the Formation, and focus". She did just that, and looked around. "I can see nothing. Are you sure you are alright?". I replied defeated "I'm telling the truth… Maybe your sense of sight is not as well developed as mine". She turned towards me and asked with a bit of anger "Do you mean, I can't see properly?". I waved my hand, and said "You can change back now. It seems you don't know about those Orbs. I will try to figure it out later".

When Fox came out from the tent again, her breathing was erratic and her heartbeat faster. I asked "Are you feeling well? Did something happen?". She handed me the mask, and asked "Why does it look like this? Do you…". I took the mask and said "Oh this! The mask changes shapes for every user. It's something I had in the past but lost it. I paid a Formation Master to make another. It changes for me as well, look". I placed it on my face, and activated it.

She exclaimed "It really does! You look like a skeleton". I laughed, and took the mask off. She calmed down for some reason. Her breath returned to normal, and her heartbeat regulated as well. 'She was probably shocked by the design of the mask. I wonder what the design is based on?' I thought. I wasn't really dead, nor did I look like a skeleton. I figured it was either random, or maybe had something to do with memories, character or appearances.

I said "It's late already, let's rest. We will continue our journey tomorrow". Fox nodded, and went inside the tent. I didn't pay much attention to the tent before, but when I walked in, I noticed that the tent was separated into two sections. She pointed at one of them, and said "You can sleep here, I will sleep in the next section". I nodded, and said goodnight to her. My "room" contained a bed and a table with a chair. This was more than enough for me. I sat down on the bed, and controlled my energy. I would do that, whenever I had some free time.