Fifth Song | Video | August 12, Afternoon

[gonext]

[Karina's at the training ground and the camera is fixed at a training dummy that seems to have been frozen over. Well, it's melting now. But still, it's not everyday you see a snowman frozen dummy in the summer heat.]

It took me a really long time to try to learn it, but... I guess I can finally say that I can resonate with myself now. I thought about it during the attack on the city some days ago. I was doing my best to defend myself then suddenly, one of those things came too close. Next thing I knew, I blasted it away with my soul energy concentrated in one hand.

I know I still have to practice it... the way powers work in this place. But like Akiha said some days back, Meisters don't have to feel useless without a weapon.

[She pauses, thinking if she should end the feed right then and there. But a heaviness in her heart makes her continue.]

... it just feels a little lonely being without a partner.

Comments

[ video; ]

[blue_wayfinder]

[Aqua understands that feeling only too well...]

It can be very lonely being by yourself.

[ video; ]

[gonext]

It's been a while, Aqua. [She's glad to hear a familiar voice.]

[ video; ]

[blue_wayfinder]

It has been, hasn't it?

[She does her best to smile.]

I'm glad to see you weren't hurt too badly during the attack.

[ video; ]

[gonext]

I'm glad you're okay, too! How have you been lately?

[ video; ]

[blue_wayfinder]

I've been well enough. [At least she hasn't suffered the loss of anyone else lately.]

Things are a little busy with the Watch since we're a little understaffed, but otherwise everything's been normal. What about you?

[ video; ] I will spare her Hyoubu's company this time. =3=

[this_is_keron]

Hn. The only good thing about attacks on the city is that they can push people to discover abilities that would have taken forever to discover otherwise.

[Giroro isn't touching that last part with a ten foot pole. Partly because he sucks at talking to women. He tries, in his own stupid way, to cheer her up though.]

The fact that our enemies might think Meisters are usless without a partner could be something that ends up saving you one day.

[ video; ] Sob, thank goodness XDDD

[gonext]

Yeah. I was thinking that, too. It's actually a huge advantage to know how to resonate with yourself.

[ video; ]

[this_is_keron]

[He nods.]

I hadn't even realized such a thing was possible until recently. I wonder if it's something that could help Weapons as well...

[ video; ]

[gonext]

[She kind of perks up at that.]

You're a weapon? Well... I read somewhere that some weapons can transform partially.

video;

[huntressing]

[ Masako might not be a Meister, but it's still interesting enough to see them use their powers by themselves.. she'll have to ask Heisuke about it later for sure. After all, their powers are most likely different, huh? ]

So you have a power related to ice? [ Don't mind Masako just butting in here, whoops. ]

video;

[gonext]

Yeah. Icy Soul, they call it.

[huntressing]

I see. I haven't really been looking into all the various powers Meisters have. [ Mostly since she isn't one herself and Masako sucks at caring about things beyond that.. with a few specific exceptions. ]

I suppose it's a rather useful power. After all, you could use it to fight even by yourself.

[gonext]

Well, I heard somewhere [Akiha, really.] that meisters can perform Soul Menace. It's kind of hard to explain it properly, but it's like using your soul channeled through your body like a stun gun.

Since my soul has an ice element, my Soul Menace has that added effect.

Video

[ritsu_kouyou]

[There's a satisfied head nod from Akiha. It was good to see someone finally following her advice. Granted, that's all the praise Karina was going to get from this Meister.]

I've always found certain emotional states of mind work better for self-resonance than others. Whichever lends itself to the clearest path to who you are, not what you let others see...

[Which, for Akiha, is anger.]

Video

[gonext]

I see... yeah. I kind of figured it out while I was working on this.

[She laughs just a little.]

It's just kind of weird. It's not the same way I act around most people here.

[It's been so long since Karina had last let out her true attitude: that condescending, ice queen-like persona she used to use around her fellow heroes and as Blue Rose.]

Video

[ritsu_kouyou]

We're too conditioned by society to guard our true selves for some reason or another. Breaking through those barriers is always a task.

It's good to see you've made progress. Just remember, your ability will always be stronger when resonating with a partner than with yourself. Understanding those limitations will be invaluable.

Video

[gonext]

[She nods.]

I just... need to find the right partner. I haven't found one after Matt went away.

video;

[computations]

Akiha said something like that?

video;

[gonext]

She did. Right after the city was attacked.

video;

[computations]

I see. Do you consider yourself friends with Akiha?

video;

[gonext]

More like acquaintances... or like a student-teacher kind of thing, honestly. I learned a lot from her.

[As much as she didn't want to admit it, and she did feel weird admitting it, but Akiha had a lot of influence on her development as a Meister.]

video;

[jutsu]

That's really good'attebayo! You look like a pro!
Your weapon's gonna be able to count on you for sure!

video;

[gonext]

[Well, she hadn't seen this face before. And that way of speaking...
She manages a sheepish smile, though.]

That's if I can find a Weapon. I lost my partner some time ago.

video;

[jutsu]

A-ah.

[ that much at least, he can empathize with. ]

Your partner went home, huh?

video;

[gonext]

Yeah... [She definitely can't hold back a sigh now.]