Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2024
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
Since the wonderful members of TDOM enjoy the site enough to play around on it, this thread is to assist with the site's tidying! Functionality is important and we want to make the site functional even if its activity will be minimal at best!
Anxiousness had transcended over Malakai when he received a message about being entrusting with apprentice training; a responsibility that required social prowess in his opinion. Nerves were panicking over the concept of forced social interaction between himself and a younger pupil who would require his assistance through long-winded lectures and hands on training. Prior to arriving at the TRS headquarters had been an anxious potion packing session alongside a stumbling through possible lecturing, but the bashful man remained nervous. The inner perfection was persistent, insisting against the possibility of the lesson progressing smoothly. Especially considering the shakiness that entered his hands during some instances of packing his potions away in the specialized case designed for carrying the vast arrangements. From healing to pain relievers alongside a few others that remained less frequent in usage, but maintained value among the collection.
Each step contained an essence of nervousness, the bashful man's steps containing hesitation. Body language continued to be a timidly closed off, with Malakai crossing his arms despite the case in his right hand. The entire walk displayed a lacking in activity, the day passing by slowly as the ravenette wandered through the hall, fretting over the training session. There was a churning in his stomach from the anxieties he felt alongside the constant self-consciousness that orbited his brain, reminding him of past errors. How was he expected to accomplish this significant task? He spoke in quiet stutters a majority of the time, his confidence remaining limited to field-based work. Then his jumbled mind could barely focus on a proper beginning of the lecture, Malakai growing concerned that he would generate more questions than solve them. There were also intense concerns over receiving a troublesome student who caused mischief, challenging his authority and silencing him with irritable responses.
An extensive breath was taken and a momentary pause in movement, the full-fledged medic attempting to calm his nervous thoughts. The responsibility was highly important, but he required an air of tranquility to accomplish the task at hand. The bespectacled man continued down the hall, his TRS uniform hugging his shoulders, displaying his alignment for those who happened to notice his passing. Slowly, Malakai continued down the halls of the medical ward, requesting for the apprentice to meet him here instead of the training center; the ravenette found the medical ward more relaxing. The familiar smells of disinfectant and quietness during the slower days at the headquarters oftentimes allowed for an excellent environment that he prayed an apprentice could appreciate; there was also consideration taken towards possibly forgotten supplies. There was always a friendly hum of sound as patients were tended to, the ward medics borrowing time for conversation to create a comfort.
It was incredibly contrast compared to the constant loudness of on-field work. The pain-filled screams of the wounded and sounds of combat always enveloped the battlefield, forcing for fixation on work instead of possible death or injury. There was fright clinging to the air, making the heart palpitate immensely in horror as warring continued. Land was damaged, various individuals receiving the brunt of the blow with some remaining still, never to move again. The chaos was something Malakai signed up for, his determination to assist those around him allowing the sensitive man to maintain a calm vestige through the horror show. With a quick shake of the head, the bespectacled man banished those thoughts while he turned a corner, entering a small room. There was a silence inside the room considering the lack of people that inhabited it.
Within the center was a small, circular table with a few chairs while the walls were lined with books, bottles and ingredients. The room itself was used for potion mixing, but once the storage were filled, it became mostly empty. Usually, the staff inside the medical ward remained passive towards the concepts of mentors bringing their apprentices inside for training. There was convenience in using the room considering its close proximity to the patients; sometimes mentors gave apprentices a tour to provide a vague idea of the occupation. The case was set onto the table, Malakai flipping the latches and opening it to gaze upon the numerous potions inside; a medic's best friend in all regards. Thankfully, the bespectacled man had managed to arrive early, granting him more time for setting up the potions and preparing for a opening for the lesson. While his thoughts whirled around his head, Malakai began taking the assortment of potions from the case and setting them onto the table.
The bottles were grouped, more specific potions being categorized by their effects while mixture were placed in a long row. Their labels explained their purpose, some having numbers etched beside the title to distinguish batches and recipes; sometimes other recipes had better effects. Deeper into the case was gauze, medical tape, scissors, clothes and various other smaller items; he attempted to limit it towards the basics for today if possible. Another extensive breath was taken, the full-fledged medic taking a few steps backwards to glance over the arrangement. Once satisfied, he nodded to himself and began to fixate on creating a suitable lecture to train his new apprentice.
The summer sun was a tyrant. If it were not for the temperature regulating uniform Jamie was wearing, the possibility of fainting from the heat would probably have been much higher for the young Arctic Native. Latitude wise, he simply assumed that the city should not typically be undergoing such weather. Jamie now wonders if he is still in the same country, never before having experienced temperatures hovering over the 20°C threshold. Regardless, summer vacation for young TRS apprentices such as himself naturally meant more time for training, Jamie could only hope that the lesson be conducted within the air conditioned halls of the headquarters for now, especially considering the state he is in. Covering the lower half of his face is a surgical mask, having just recently recuperated from a common cold although bouts of coughing are still very much present. His timid demeanor is evident in his lethargic posture whilst he ambivalently followed the dorm supervisor towards the intended destination where his official TRS mentor awaits.
Thoroughly, Jamie followed the lead of the middle aged, female supervisor upon her urging. Normally he would have been made to travel the short distance on his own if it were not for his current condition. Although Jamie does find it a bit excessive that he required an escort for a trivial walk through the halls, his superiors, for some reason, insisted. The sea blue that painted the center of the boy's dead fish eyes conspicuously darted around each and every soul within range in an attempt to break his mind off the supervisor's somewhat apprehensive aura. As cordial and collected the supervisor appeared to be, Jamie's empathy could precisely detect the unease she was feeling throughout the duration of their walk. The boy held his palms together in an attempt to suppress any form of shaking, taking great measures in avoiding the passing stares and dull colored auras of the hustling souls crowding the headquarters’ halls.
Despite her futile attempts at hiding it, the resounding fluctuation of her progressively tense aura was all too vivid for the young empath. He had initially speculated the reasoning behind the strained semblance to be his languid disposition although upon further assessment, it appeared as though it was another case entirely. Even as a young child, he was already well acquainted with the hazards of empathic healing. The Fae of the north notified him of the dangers, that the human physique lacked the capacity of sustaining damages from what they referred to as "Elven" magic. Now, he intermittently inquired himself as to whether or not his declination of the Fae's invitation was an error on his part. He cursed his powers that so brazenly infringed upon the furthest recesses of other’s souls. He abhorred the bitter fate bestowed upon him, that so many of his people perished whereas he did not. Surely he thought, that the spirits of his ancestors condemned him for the misfortunes and tribulations he has wrought onto not only his parents, but those around him as well. Last fall was when his uncle, in his readiness to be estrange himself from Jamie, ultimately signed the papers giving the TRS full custody of him, but only after months of tracking him down, a sensible decision relatively speaking.
How lamentable, that another soul has to undergo Jamie's burden along with him. The dorm supervisor recounted that his new mentor was best suited to supervise someone like him beneath a faintly sarcastic smile, a gesture which the intuitive Jamie instantly detected. Warily, his head lowered slightly due to the implication. It only took a moment for Jamie to discern that they were en route to the medical ward instead of the training center as previously anticipated. A hurricane of redundant notions invaded the boy's pensive mind. The new mentor may be quite the fussy and scrupulous one if they skimmed over the training center and headed straight for the ward. Jamie's anxiety soon manifested, inducing him to perspire. His throat suddenly tickled, compelling him to lightly cough as a divergent vision tore Jamie's conception of reality asunder. Around him was a myriad of greyish dots in a picturesque view of a rocky plain as he, a mere rabbit was escorted by the caribou with broken horns towards the turbulent waves devouring everything in its path... Amidst the tumultuous vision came the blinding light as a man's expectant aura fully yanked his cognition back to the realm of reality.
Before too long, they were traversing the spacious halls of the medical division. No sooner than he became cognizant of the presence beyond the door in the corner that Jamie despondently peered at the supervisor with paper holder in hand as she gingerly knocked at the door prior to entering. Jamie now questioned the better judgment of the higher ups, are they really so callous as to entrust him to the conspicuously anxious man within that room? The dreaded moment arrived as the supervisor beckoned for him to enter. With much trepidation, he complied with fastidiously steady steps. The young adolescent, still beneath 5 ft. in stature subconsciously positioned himself by the rearmost portion of the room. Jamie's jet-black hair partially obscured his placid and fish-like eyes. Taking notice of this, he hastily arranged his bangs in an almost neurotic manner. The surgical mask thankfully concealed his pale cheeks that soon flushed rosy pink in chagrin. The fact that the mask dramatically veiled the lower half of his face only served to further disguise the sheepish youth's physiognomy. As of current, his age, ethnicity and even gender remained ambiguous to the untrained eye.
The female supervisor soon handed the paper holder containing the necessary details one needs to know about Jamie to the bespectacled young man shortly before gently patting Jamie on his right shoulder and leaving the two introverts on their own. Before Jamie realized, his hands began to fidget prompting him to bring his fingers together in a curious attempt at stopping it. Although the exact contents of the paper eluded him, he had an inkling of what it was about. To prevent Jamie from using his empathic healing powers any further; reading the paper's contents was unnecessary for he already knew the gist of it all.
Anxieties lingered in Malakai's head while he continued to sort the bottles of varying bright colours. The healing based concoctions oftentimes revealing a red or pink spectrum, pain relievers being vivid blues and dark purples and the others having alterations depending on the ingredients. The shades captured inside the bottles swirled together, making their potency in magic obvious from a mere glance. Meanwhile, the disinfectants were stored in small, circular containers. The substance itself was unmixed and was given a thicker viscosity since the field medic oftentimes left them in the form of salves. Placing it onto an infected wound promoted the healing process by banishing the pathogens; without it, the injury could possibly fester from disease. Similarly, he had salves designed to soothe and heal burns, some specifically made for holy water based inflictions.
With a meticulous intent, the bespectacled man continued sorting through the potions that accompanied him. Extensive breathing continued while Malakai hovered over the table, glancing at the bottle of varying shapes. Each was glass, specially enhanced for improved durability to avoid hefty damage or clean up depending on the situation. Corks acted as caps for the transparent containers, the tiny sponge-like tops keeping the liquid in. The constant licking of the liquids beneath resulted in the corks maintaining a hint of that colour near their smaller bottoms. It was the slightest hint of colour from the result of sloshing of the potions from his journey to the building and numerous medical excursions. Once he completed setting the potions into their groups, Malakai checked over the various concoctions, nodding once he confirmed all required potions were gathered. There were still concerns about possibly missing an important item for the teaching session.
Shortly, he turned towards the small assembly of papers that provided some information about his student. There was a nervousness while Malakai sifted through the notes, his mind attempting to piece together a perfect lecture. The concept was where his anxieties increased tenfold. The full-fledged medic oftentimes failed in the realm of social interaction, making him question whether or not the superior had made a good choice. There was no possible way he could accomplish this with the necessary amount of skill for mentoring an apprentice. While he spiralled into the pit of nervousness, Malakai's breathing quickened, his hands automatically fidgeting with the fringes of his uniform. After a few moments, the bespectacled man narrowed gathered himself with thoughts and became startled by the subtle noise of the door opening. Immediately, the medic's eyes flickered towards the door while he momentarily tensed in surprise from the sudden movement. A slow breath of relief escaped his lips, although, notes of nervousness remained.
Another deep breath was taken while his student entered, Malakai nervously adjusting his collar from an impulsive fidgetiness. Slowly, he closed the folder and watched as a young, short adolescent entered with a surgical mask strapped to their face, concealing numerous facts about the individual. There was a flicker of confusion as Malakai witnessed the adolescent enter the room for only a moment. While the provided information in the folder gave insight about his apprentice, the full-fledged medic had not quite expected this. From what Malakai was aware of, his student was of the male gender and possessed the name Jamie Ungalaq; or at least the notes stated this. The female who escorted his apprentice shortly left before closing the door behind them, leaving them within the room. There was a pause while Malakai attempted to piece together a greeting, desperately searching for the correct words; why couldn't they pick somebody better at this?! He was obviously a horrible excuse for a mentor, his socially awkward tendencies thoroughly proving the concept as true.
There was a self-consciousness that grasped Malakai as he attempted to piece together a response. The pause itself was drawn-out and awkward as the full-fledged medic found difficulty in merely greeting his student. They had spent a few moments together and already Malakai's inept social capabilities were being displayed. While he prepared to speak, his eyes flitted around the room, refusing to remain stationed on his apprentice.
"Um... H-hello," he began pathetically.
A nervous shake entered his voice, transforming it into a slight squeak. Red flared into the bashful man's cheeks which was fortunately obscured by the thick-rimmed, black glasses that circled his eyes. The man sucked in a breath, holding it for a few moments before slowly releasing it. A small mental pep-talk was provided as the bespectacled man attempted to convince his self-conscious nature that he could accomplish this task.
"I'm Malakai M-Moors," he responded with a sheepish smile. "A-and you're J-jamie, right? F-feel free to take a s-seat."
Awkwardly, the full-fledged medic gestured towards the few seats within the small room. Quickly, his hazel eyes flitted towards the bottles settled carefully on the table in their groups. After the sheepishly provided greeting, Malakai's eyes remained fixated on the potions he meticulously created. Out of anxious instinct, the bashful man began chewing on his lower lip while he attempted to battle the feelings that warred within him. There were a few brief thoughts taken to where exactly he desired to begin the lesson, but an introduction to the teachings was needed.
"An-anyways," he began slowly, flinching from the stutter, "so... um... if you have any q-questions, feel free to ask... okay?"
Gradually, the bashful man began gathering the words for a proper introduction into the medical field while he waited to hear more from his apprentice. There were silent prayers that the student would not be mischievous or difficult to work with considering the man's fears of confrontation; it always proved troublesome. There were rare moments where Malakai could speak against somebody's decision, a majority belonging to when he worked on the field. The terrain and intensity of the atmosphere could transform him in a way, providing him with a vague sense of confidence and courage to continue working despite the frightening surroundings. Unfortunately, this was a quiet classroom where his anxieties crawled into his thoughts, gnawing at potential bravery like vicious wolves. Nervousness was accompanied by the brutal force of self-conscious thinking that battled against the inner perfectionist. It was a consistent war of emotions that oftentimes left Malakai apprehensive in the current situation.
The pulsations are rising as the seemingly overwhelming discord within Jamie's supernatural cognition threatened to swallow him whole. He could feel the reverberations of his heartbeat as his listless eyes darted around the room, as if gingerly bypassing the gaze of his mentor's vibrant hazel eyes on the other side of the pair of plastic lenses. Whilst twiddling his restless fingers in apprehension, the unsaturated hues of his cool, bluish eyes fixated themselves upon the array of multicolored concoctions so fastidiously arranged atop a small, circular table. They were encased within glass containers of varying shapes and proportions. It became apparent to Jamie the first lesson he was to undertake under the man's wing, causing him to panic internally. The very spectacle of some of the unmixed compounds with their dynamic colors orbiting against each other in the most outlandish way was an intimidating sight.
His lack of awareness with regards to modern medicine would surely hinder his training. Never did Jamie expect the Southerner's medicine to be so alien to the eyes. The prior knowledge of the folk remedies his mother had taught him in the past already pales in comparison. He now began formulating a response should he be questioned of his medical experience in the past. Stating that he and his people utilized fungi, moss, animal parts and even snow for traditional medicine due to scarcity of resources would just be outright humiliating, he thought.
The two introverts commenced with their sport of thoroughly dodging each other's gazes, Jamie gaining the upper hand due to his partially concealed face and the fact that he is more than a foot shorter. He could feel the tall man's anxiety as if it was his own, having detected the stinging sensation of bewilderment within the man the very moment he entered earlier. Jamie was certain that his new mentor had finished evaluating his notes due to the intense outburst of self-doubt that he could so precisely discern which likewise, elicited a similar perception of helplessness within the boy as a result.
Gradually, Jamie's trembling worsened as it became evident that his very presence was disturbing the bespectacled man. Should he not have donned the surgical mask? he asked himself, he already did recuperate from his illness after all. Nonetheless, he still exhibited symptoms of coughing in addition to the fact that he was currently in a medical facility housing numerous patients. As the adolescent began contemplating whether or not he mask should be removed, half a minute of idleness and trepidation had passed. Suddenly, as his new mentor's sense of worth began to stabilize, Jamie looked up to him in anticipation the upcoming remark.
The man's stuttering combined with the dissonant tones of his voice, followed by an abrupt voice break at the end immediately compelled Jamie to look down. It was almost ludicrous as to how the timid boy could so empathize with what this tall, full-grown man was enduring. It then prompted and internal discourse as to whether to or not he sounded the same each time he spoke. Jamie now felt the absolute necessity of responding back, especially after this stalwart soul before him so valiantly triumphed over the looming sensation of self-loathing. Letters and words soon materialized and turbulently circuited around his head in an endeavor to select the best choice of words for his introduction.
5 seconds afterwards, the boy finally mustered the courage to look up and open that taciturn mouth of his underneath the mask. The moment he inhaled in preparation for articulating his prepared greeting, it was regrettably cut off by the man's subsequent remarks. Instinctively, his mouth retracted into its prior tight-lipped state, his mortified state fortuitously veiled by thin layers of non-woven fabric. Before realizing it, his fingertips now touched the opposite ends of his elbows correspondingly. At least now he was aware of the instructor's name, the indication that Malakai had apparently been informed of his name beforehand evoked a sense of relief for Jamie.
Completely humbled by Malakai's resolve, Jamie plainly nodded in response and meekly acquiesced having deprived himself the opportunity to introduce himself accordingly. With sluggish steps, the boy unhurriedly made his way towards the nearest chair as instructed. Vicariously, Jamie could apprehend Malakai's determination to educate him gradually overtaking the earlier display of Neuroticism. On the other hand, poor Jamie is still struggling to release his voice from the depths of his throat despite his prior preparations. Jamie's hands fumbled with the chair's base, positioning it appropriately, allowing him to perch himself onto the cushioned pads.
Already, Malakai was about to commence with the lecture and not a single word escaped Jamie's mouth. His silence may have been interpreted as Jamie acting cold which in turn, instigated feelings of doubt directed towards him. As much as the lad became acquainted with such misgivings against him, it was distressing to see someone he could so closely empathize with developing the wrong perception of him. The boy's head lowered in self-reproach with his teeth frantically grinding against one another as his now clearly trembling hands inched slowly upwards, against his ear. The room they were in was isolated in a corner away from the bulk of patients as Jamie detected no other souls beyond the chamber's walls.
Having taken into account their proximity from the patient's ward, his concerns over the possibility of infecting patients with weakened immune systems proved to be unfounded in this current scenario. Clearing off wavy stands of black hair away with his fingers, he gawkily dislodged the straps from his ear before pulling the mask away. As usual, Jamie, internally chastised himself for his disinclination to remove the mask earlier, having to endure Malakai's presence as his slow, clumsy hands revealed the rest of his visage. He raised his head upwards, eyes staring upturned at the 6 ft man from his lowered position whilst exhibiting a listless yet slightly agitated countenance.
In the end, the mask's removal did little to reassure the earlier uncertainty with regards to Jamie's race, age and gender. All it did was expose the youth's rosy cheeks and trepid demeanor. With his lips only slightly apart, he was ultimately unable to let out a single audible sound as planned. Instead, he compelled himself to turn his expression upside down with a slight smile, albeit with much difficulty. A smile in itself was already considered a proper greeting back home. Jamie could only pray that the gesture was universal. Maintaining the expression for 3 seconds, the red tint of Jamie's face saturated in embarrassment before hastily twisting his face away from Malakai.
Breath escaping through his mouth was all Malakai could hear as the room drifted into an uncomfortable silence. Eye contact was entirely avoided, anxieties making the "necessity" to social protocol impossible to achieve. The situation appeared ill-favourable for both individuals, each hindered by social ineptness. Conversation was one-sided, the full-fledged medic receiving the responsibility of speaking because of his title of mentor. Unfortunately, Malakai found himself uncertain in successfully fulfilling the transitioning of the conversation, despite the connection to where his talents were located. While his apprentice displayed the possibility of being a quieter, well-behaved adolescent, the ravenette remained nervous. Two socially awkward people being forced to interact sounded like a recipe for disaster, although, the field medic was unclear about the young boy's behaviour. There was already temptation to request somebody else to take over the training lesson, but Malakai narrowly kept himself planted in place.
The bashful man's gaze fixated on the potions, wandering over the varying colours as though they could magically provide him confidence; unfortunately, confidence potions were nearly impossible to find a recipe for. His father refused to assist him, even going lengths to scold him for attempting to magically alter himself. The spirit had always been an advocate of learning to love yourself and improve without the temporary method of magic. Thus, Malakai was trapped in his anxieties, teaching a student he believed he gained no privilege to train. The bespectacled man took a few extensive breaths, avoiding the young boy's gaze as he attempted to keep his nervous thoughts under control. There were the sounds of movement while Malakai listened to his apprentice take the seat at the circular table. The breaths continuing, the field medic soothing himself and allowing for him to straighten his posture.
There was hesitation, the bespectacled man's gaze struggling to lift away from the potions. Lecturing apprentices were definitely not Malakai's strength, but remaining completely silent was assisting nobody. A determination was increased, Malakai glancing towards his apprentice to witness the boy's hands drifting upwards. The straps of the surgical mask were pulled, stretching them around, slowly revealing his apprentice's face. The gesture was surprising, the field medic's eyes lingering for a moment before flitting away. There were occasional glances back, the bashful man managing to notice the smile. A small, sheepish grin touched the bespectacled man's lips, immediately disappearing when Jamie glanced away. The field medic's hazel eyes softened as he realized the undertones of anxiety's presence. While Malakai kept skepticism, he could sympathize with the shyness displayed currently; even if it was merely stranger wariness grasping the youth's mind. Quietly, the field medic cleared his throat in preparation to speak.
"Um... So... uh..." There was a pause as Malakai flinched; he wished he could improve his speaking skills miraculously. "So, being a m-medic can be tough s-s-sometimes... since... um... well, certain p-patients will test you... I b-believe you are tr-training to be f-field medic right?"
There was a pause, partially to allow his apprentice to provide an answer and to recompose himself. The pathetic stuttering had resulted in red painting across Malakai's face while his gaze flitted downwards. It would be a miracle if his apprentice could understand him through the numerous stutters that entered his anxiety-filled voice. The momentary break from speaking allowed Malakai to reorganize himself as he calmed his nerves. The higher-ups would not entrust him with a delicate task like training unless they were that he could accomplish it with excellence, correct? The self-doubt lingered, but the question allowed for Malakai to cling to some sense of hope that he could succeed in training Jamie. Currently, the adolescent seemed benevolent, although, the opportunities to speak had been limited. Either way, it remained the bespectacled man's duty to prepare the adolescent for the struggles ahead; for the hardships of being a TRS medic.
"Anyways... as you have noticed, the w-ward is a quiet place," Malakai began, taking his time on the words to desperately avoid stuttering. "There are e-emergencies, but usually the ward is for re-recovery care. Patients from the f-field get moved here. They are treated, then once they have recovered, they head back to work."
The explanation about the medical ward was simple, easily mentioning the soothing atmosphere of the location currently. A patient's health and long-term care were the primary concerns with some surgical emergencies being filtered through the ward whenever the field was ill-suited to treat the wound; although, this problem was shared with the hospital since it depended on which facility was closer. Occasionally, Malakai had volunteered to assist inside the vast medical ward whenever there was a shortage, his experiences gradually assisting to ease his anxiety with participating in conversations with patients. Unfortunately, he remained inept despite those moments.
"The field..." Hesitation touched Malakai's voice when he began, a slight grimness meeting his tone. "It's never a pretty place... It's almost l-like a storm waiting to happen. There is a lot more action there, although, depending on the m-mission, you may get a lot of work and some minor in-injuries. There are enemies and a lot of violence... but you have to remember to focus on your work. Noise will be around you, definitely not... pl-pleasant ones either... It is about limiting the damage by mending it, even if it has to be temporary. That includes st-stopping or limiting the bl-bleeding for transportation."
Explaining the frightening world of being on the field was always difficult for Malakai considering he attempted to ignore it and fixate on the patient. However, he became acquainted with the brutal damage that terrors and Assembly members could inflict on the unfortunate. There was always noise, perpetual until the brawl was completed, from screams of agony to the sickening noising of people getting injured. The place was haunted, bringing fear to the mere spectators who attempted to escape the grasp of the Assembly or the scouts who reported about the mission's progression. The scents were stomach churning whenever the situation became increasing bad, some newer medics requiring a moment from to step away. Then the lingering threats of terrors or Assembly members attacking individuals of the medical team always existed, creating a paranoia among the medics who may be required to defend themselves.
"Oh... From the n-notes, you have a h-healing ability, correct?" The bespectacled man suddenly asked, distracting himself.
Thoughts about the field were always a mixture of dark and light, an eerie grey of uncertainty. There were pleasant memories of success, but they were always accompanied by those frightening days that could haunt anybody. Whenever Malakai pondered the concept, he could understand why people avoided becoming a field medic. The demons of handling those situations consumed people, a majority rarely leaving unscathed.
The circumstances appeared to be going awry for a brief moment. Jamie could have sworn that he detected a grin from Malakai right before he turned away, his abrupt gesture must have clearly killed the mood. However this was quickly followed by Malakai's consequent utterance, obliging the young apprentice to once again redirect his attention towards his mentor, albeit with a lowered head in his futile attempt at concealing his flushed face. It was not long before the empath could detect the increasingly warm disposition of the man's aura despite its ever so precarious undertones of social anxiety. Notwithstanding the boy's conspicuously disquieted condition, he remained deferential, giving heed to Malakai's every word. Jamie was certain that Malakai was speaking English, although a bit uneven which might have led the aboriginal Jamie to surmise a form of dialect in question if it were not for the fact that he may well have spoken the same lexicon of stutters.
A query was eventually presented to him at the end of the remark. His gaze was characteristically fixated on the concrete tiles underneath Malakai's feet and his hands stiffly clasping the fabric of his trousers. The momentary pause necessitated a response, just a simple "Yes" would suffice. An appropriate response would be the least he could offer the hapless individual, so arbitrarily thrusted onto a task he was apparently unprepared for. And then his voice was heard... an inaudible sound barely resembling human speech that is. A sound did emanate, a pathetic attempt nonetheless as he might as well have whispered into thin air. The ensuing quiescence remained, therefore signalling his failure as assessing the volume of his own voice. In the end, he was compelled to frantically nodding his head in reply. Even in that, Jamie stumbled by overdoing the gesture, nodding three times more than necessary. By then, the sweat accumulating from the corners of his face becmae visible as his smile remained in an endeavor to maintain the improving atmosphere.
Jamie struggled to retain his posture, the reticules of his eyes still erratic as his gaze diverted constantly. His head was finally raised in his effort to at least give the impression that he was eager to listen. Malakai commenced with introductory lecture regarding the medical ward. Thankfully, Jamie discerned the decrease in the amount of stuttering in his speech in correspondence to the gradual harmonization of his aura's flow. He could read Malakai like a book the longer he spoke. The articulation of his voice with regards to the matter at hand insinuated an alleged dissatisfaction, particularly after saying the word "Patients". Before Jamie realized, his curiosity was piqued, even more so following Malakai's consequent commentary about the hazards of fieldwork. It became palpable, the man's dedication to his work, his desire to help as much as he can despite his internal demons. And as if Jamie thought he could not possibly empathize with Malakai any further, the resultant aura emanating from the bespectacled man induced Jamie's cognition to diverge.
Little does Jamie know of his gaze now directly fixated upon the hazel hues of Malakai's eyes. The boy's aquamarine irises, upon closer inspection, appear to be orbiting ever so gradually around his pupils. The troubled young adolescent could understand Malakai's point to an uncanny degree it engaged his semi-astral perception. From the brief pause ensuing after the his mentor's lecture, his vision doubled. Surrounding Malakai was a handful of Ijiraq, shapeshifters taking on monstrous forms as the boy's ears perceived abhorrent sounds resembling screams of agony, reminiscent of the ghastly spectacle his young eyes feasted upon back in the coasts of Hudson Bay as dark, shadow-like terrors annihilated a whole community of his people. How many times was Malakai subjected to such horrors? Jamie asked himself. By now, the boy became accustomed to such ghastly imagery yet that does not at all imply that it did not make him feel uncomfortable. No one deserved to be plagued by such thoughts... no one.
Listlessly, his left fingers dug through the sleeves of his right as he fidgeted around the ivory bracelet underneath. Silently, he recited a prayer of guidance, that the spirit of Malakai's ancestor's dispel the burden he carries with him as of current. Meanwhile, he took deep, regulated breaths in preparation for his next undertaking. With his psyche having been able to resonate so deeply with Malakai, the emotional healing should not have any psychological repercussions. With this, he was able to calmly absorb the affliction that was potent enough to invade Malakai's train of thought. As Jamie anticipated, his aura consumed the darkness that blighted Malakai without much difficulty. Photons of dark violet fleeted through the ethereal barrier surrounding Jamie, turning light-green in the process as Malakai's emotional burdens had been so smoothly transacted by the young empath. By now, Malakai's mind should have been mostly purged of all tension. However, Jamie's partly trance-like state was disrupted by his new mentor's next inquiry.
Yanked out of his own world, only now did he take note of the fact that his eyes had maintained their gaze at Malakai for some time. As such, the boy's head gradually reverted back to its drooping position with his eyes once again targeting the floor Malakai stood upon. The question was not only unforeseen, but rather nonplussing. He did possess a remarkable healing ability, yet the price his body paid for its utilization was equally detrimental to this frail body. Prior to this, Jamie was certain that a warning was issued as a side note to his empathic healing ability, notifying the readers of the hazards the boy undergoes should he use this power any further. The notes plausibly encompassed his other abilities as well. Empathic healing would have merely been a sub-branch of his Empathy, a unique gift that enabled him to uncover other people's mental states and intent. Along with it was Astral Vision, the ability to bifurcate partly or fully his conscious state to that of an extra-natural realm in addition to a recently acquired ability to manipulate water. Jamie paused for a bit, after all he scarcely had anything to say with regards to the restrictions placed upon his arguably most potent gift. It was soon followed an unanticipated move on his part.
"Yes..." he uttered softly, his childlike voice exhibiting a raspy tone as a result of the phlegm still entrenched within his throat. Jamie, caught of guard by his sudden verbalization was thrown into a coughing fit in surprise.
There was a surprisingly smooth progression to the lessons, Malakai even feeling a faint sense of pride. Currently, his pessimistic view of training appeared incorrect as he found a faint capability in speaking. These moments rarely existed for the bashful man considering the horrible plights of history; events that still required a steady recovering despite the passing years. The number of stutters had steadily lowered, the bespectacled man carefully annunciating each word to avoid the ugly torment of anxieties, although, it remained a subtle defence. The ravenette's social inept remained on intense display, only discovering mild comfort in the apparent mutual social anxiety between himself and Jamie. Unfortunately, a slight concern continued orbiting through the bespectacled man's mind; self-conscious thinking was still existent despite nevertheless and the mutual shyness made it difficult for the field medic to read the young boy; what if he possibly thought negatively of him as a mentor?!
A pause proceeded the inquiry towards healing abilities, Malakai flinching slightly in response to the sudden silence. The immense amount of stuttering in the inquiry could have perhaps resulted in a miscommunication, which already concerned the man attempting to be a positive mentor. Minor fears were generated from the silence, the bespectacled man glancing away bashfully with the firm belief of his intense stuttering worsening the situation. Those menacing thoughts crept into Malakai's mind, heralding the return of those self-depreciating thoughts towards his capabilities as a mentoring figure. Their slow progression through the lesson accompanied by this presumed miscommunication was evidence against his capabilities in the field of mentoring; he was obviously failing spectacularly at it! Several flits between his student and the concrete tiles occurred, the bashful man already uncertain on how exactly to correct his pathetic excuse for vocalization.
The relief felt out of reach until Malakai noticed the distraught head nodding enacting as a response to confirm the inquiry. A nervous grin touched the field medic's as his hands moved together, fingers already reaching to fidget with the sleeves of his uniform jacket. He rubbed his fingers against the soft fabric, discovering notes of comfort within the action while he worked the courage to continue. Extensive breathing was initiated in those moments, Malakai gaining a determination to provide a response without the infuriating stuttering of his voice.
"Then I will t-t-teach you... um... a-about that specifically," the bespectacled man murmured; he was uncertain about the purpose of his own sentence.
After a few moments, the lecture proceeded with serenity arriving over his hazel eyes noticing the impressions hinting towards his student listening. Slowing down his words to allow for proper speaking proved to be a positive solution to the problem, although, there were always mild concerns passing through his thoughts. Attention appeared to increase throughout the lecture, a positive characteristic that brought slightest hints of confidence and determination; even allowing for Malakai to release his fidgetting grip on the cuffs of his jacket. Unceremoniously, the field medic's arms fell from their crossed position and returned to his sides; a surprising display of openness created by the subtle comfort in his mediocre speaking. Despite the comfort, the bespectacled man still discovered difficulty in maintaining eye contact with his now attentive pupil. The slightest hues of red would touch the field medic's soft face whenever he managed to notice the sudden eye contact between him and Jamie.
Eye contact always brought an abrupt pang of anxiety, almost as though somebody staring within to the depths of his hazel eyes could reveal all secrets and private thoughts about him. It brought a brief discomfort to his stomach, a burst of fear transcending over him before hastily retrieving once eye contact was broken. The field medic's extreme anxieties making eye contact a nerve-wracking experience for him. The bespectacled man managed to continue his lecture, a subtle lulling suddenly entering his mind. The supernatural occurrences around him were notions that Malakai remained unaware of; he could only sense the gradual calming. Thoughts soothed, his fixation leaving the negatives as tension gradually faded from his mind; a pleasant pause to life. There was no awareness of where exactly this bliss arrived from, but it was remarkably calming to the medic who witnessed numerous tragedies; a secret gift from a kindly student.
While the empathic healing disposed of the tensity, Malakai continued to avoid eye contact, the habits from the former anxiety. The confidence increased to a mild tone, the bespectacled man benefitting from the spontaneous mental healing session that silently proceeded in secret. Attention returned to his student, the field medic lifting a brow at the staring; under normal circumstances, this would herald an intense nervousness, but fortune remained in Malakai's favour. The soothing progression of the healing maintained a calmness, allowing him to inquire about the possible existence of a healing ability. There was a requirement to brief his student on the protocol when it arrived in healing capabilities. The field medic watched as Jamie's gaze shifted, returning to the floor which appeared to be a preferred location for his student to fixate his gaze. Softly, the confirmation was murmured, Malakai narrowly managing to detect the raspy response.
The sudden coughing fit only remained a momentary surprise since the presence of cold suddenly explained the presence of the surgical mask. There was a pause in the lesson, Malakai allowing for the pupil to complete the series of coughs. Once quiet returned to the classroom, the soothed field medic thoughts orbited around a mild concern for his apprentice.
"Do you need some water?" He inquired gently, managing to keep his voice clear of stutters.
Interrupting the lecturing session was considered necessary given the possibility of the coughing becoming a constant during the training. There was also an opportunity to gain a little more time to organize his thoughts and prepare for the transition into potions alongside the protocol when it arrived in healing capabilities; he could perhaps even double check his notes relating to Jamie's abilities. Thankfully, the spontaneous relaxation was doing wonders to Malakai's anxieties, warding them away to allow focus on teaching his apprentice.
A barrage of dry coughs erupted out of the boy's otherwise restrained mouth, clearing his throat in his attempt at alleviating the tickling sensation from within. Jamie gulped and immediately suppressed himself from coughing any further, which was consequently followed by brief silence. Aptly covering his mouth throughout, the hand nevertheless remained even after the reflexive outburst. Malakai subsequent inquiry only induced more uneasiness, having discerned his mentor's inclination to halt the lecture due to his inability to control himself. Self-reproach soon followed in hindsight of his earlier decision to remove the mask. He steeled himself and hastily removed the hand covering his mouth prior to redirecting his attention away from the floor tiles onto Malakai... well, his collar at least. From the current angle, it becomes more obvious his rapidly shifting eyes as he struggled to maintain a fixed gaze. Having already embarrassed himself, the boy subconsciously began rubbing the soles of his right shoe against the floor and folded his arms together in an effort to conceal his shakiness.
Although Jamie did detect moderate sentiments of concern directed at him, Malakai's disposition towards an interim appeared to have partly culminated from Malakai's intention of composing himself. It is apparent that answering "yes" would be optimal at the moment, much to the boy's displeasure. He tightened his clutch on both elbows whilst in the process of finalizing his pre-composed response. No matter what, he had to at least redeem himself. His head inattentively lowered once more shortly before his lips parted with much trepidation. Faint sounds of soft regulated breathing escaped his mouth as he braced himself fully. "I...I'm...I"m..." The trembling of his jaws intensified after finally perceiving what sounded like his child-like voice. The brief respite after the unsuccessful attempt compelled Jamie to revert back to basic inhales and exhales shortly before he shut his eyes, in anticipation of the inevitable "I'm...t-t-terrib...terribly sorry... I'm... q-quite alright… I... I".
How unfortunate, although he did manage to vocalize his inner thoughts at last, the sentence fell flat towards the end which shamefully degraded to hardly inaudible mutters. Mere moments later did he realize his failure to answer Malakai's initial query and with his vision still confined within the darkness of his eyelids, the otherwise tongue-tied child uttered "Sorry!... so....sorry... ummm". Upon the realization of his incapability at regulating his own volume as evidenced by the sudden exclamation, he could not help but lower his head even more to the point where his chin grazed the collar of his uniform. "A d-drink... yes, th-th... thank you". In the immediate aftermath of his rather dismal endeavor at properly articulating his reply, his eyes burst open as he scouted the nearby vicinity for a water dispenser as if his life depended on it. The lack of any water dispensers within the room made it evident the next logical course of action, notwithstanding that his prior performance shattered what little dignity he had left.
His now jaded and listless eyes shifted towards the door and back to Malakai... this time having downgraded to gazing at his mentor's feet. All apprehensions aside, it is only appropriate that he asked permission beforehand. Running his curiously supple fingers upwards against his wavy locks thereby tidying the bangs that shrouded his vision, he inadvertently revealed his increasingly pallor face that retained its flushed undertones. "Shall.. I t-t-take... m-my leave... M-mister Moors?" Jamie inquired whilst sluggishly forcing the words out as he now struggled to maintain his smile. Perhaps he too was in dire need of an early intermission to collect his thoughts. Never did the boy envision empathizing so thoroughly with another individual that it induces dismay within him. Jamie simply anticipated Malakai's reply, foreseeing its prospective approval. Upon the expected validation from Malakai, Jamie nodded and torpidly emerged from his seat with his limbs still slightly trembling from the aftermath of his earlier blunders. Before long, Jamie made sure to approach the door leading to the exit with passive and steady steps so as to conceal his heavy inclination to excuse himself at once.
Jamie then gently closed the door as he temporarily withdrew himself from Malakai after which he promptly pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket. Just as soon as the last trickle of sweat from his face had been devoured by the handkerchief did he finally detect the nearby dispenser. That, in addition to the distant sight of patients strapped onto stretcher whilst being hastily pushed by the ward's orderlies from beyond the corridor. Distancing himself a few meters away from the entrance to the small room, the boy then took the liberty of positioning the piece of cloth against his nose and lips before relaxing the tension from within his throat as he discharged a quick succession of coughs he had throughout the session, stifled from within his esophagus. Nevertheless, he made sure to firmly press the handkerchief on his mouth so as to muffle out the noises until done.
He pocketed the said handkerchief afterwards. Hopefully, Malakai's ears were oblivious to Jamie's coughing, having him cancel the lesson due to concerns regarding his apparently improving health was the last thing he wanted. Jamie then leisurely procured a paper cup from a compartment by the side of the dispenser prior to positioning said cup underneath the nozzle and pressing the red button signaling the machine to discharge hot water. Dissatisfied with the water's insufficient warmth upon feeling the cup's surface, he plainly brought it closer to his lips shortly before putting his water manipulation abilities to work by increasing the liquid's temperature until Jamie thought it adequate. Whilst he gradually sipped the cup's contents, Jamie helped himself by furtively peering through the door from his safe distance so as to observe what Malakai could have possibly intended for him.
The torrent coughs that erupted from Jamie's mouth resulted in immense concern. While their session began shakily from his own social ineptitude, he still harboured care after their brief interaction. This young individual was one of the many people who were willing to devote a portion of his life to healing in the dangerous conditions of the field. The choice brought immense respect and appreciation for the youths willing to throw themselves into the fray at this impressionable age; he felt cowardly in comparison to them. During a majority of his adolescent years, he concerned himself with the perfection of his school grades to avoid the frightening criticism of his sharp-tongued mother. Those days featured intense inspections, the woman never being pleased with the effort he placed into projects and assignments; all that mattered was the percentage marked in red ink; perhaps joining the TRS could have won her pride?
The bespectacled man's hazel eyes remained locked on Jamie, worry clouding their colour. The dry, hacking cough that ravaged his apprentice appeared unpleasant, resulting in Malakai questioning the continuation of the lessons. While there was limited fright towards constracting sickness, the field medic remained concerned about the strain it could place on the youthful boy. Attending school or various other activities while under the effects of sickness could cloud thought processes or result in the illness gaining strength from the body exerting itself. There was a reason for the meticulous and perhaps overbearing methods employed by medical professionals; including a near-constant moderation of patients. A brief inspection was performed, Malakai's eyes hastily scanning the boy, narrowly noticing the acute shaking; at least from Malakai's perspective, the crossed arms managing to slightly conceal it. The momentary scrutiny resulted in the ravenette failing to notice his apprentice's flitting eyes.
There was a strange sense of sympathy from the bashful man as he witnessed the spectacle, nostalgia reminding him of those days where he would gather nervousness over the possible opinions of his teachers; back when he first entered school. In this isolated situation between himself and Jamie, it became obvious why an anxiety could disrupt his unfortunate apprentice. After a calming breath, Malakai attempted to maintain a sheepish smile across his own face in the desperate hope of comforting the adolescent. There was shyness still displayed in the bespectacled man's body language, his hands meeting, his right thumb rubbing against the top of his left hand in a calming, circular motion; an attempt to remain soothed while trying to maintain a supportive countenance during his apprentice's struggle. The words that escaped Jamie's words possessed a child-like tone to them, the stuttering immediately evident.
There appeared to be an endless amount of stutters while his apprentice spoke, Malakai managing to comprehend the stated words; years of listening to numerous nervous ramblings featuring word stumbles made him fluent in stutter. The sympathizing increased, the bespectacled man's posture straightening, hands releasing so his arms remained stations by his sides in surprise. Was this perhaps the higher-ups reasoning behind placing Jamie as his apprentice? They appeared to both suffer from the ravaging claws of anxiety, although, Malakai remained uncertain. The slight tones of sympathy between himself and Jamie could not have possibly been predicted by the watchful eyes of the TRS supervisors. The inaudible mumbles began, the faint cusp of noise reaching Malakai's ears inside the silent room, but nothing decipherable. Concern broke through the sheepish smile feature on the full-fledged medic's expression. Currently, the apparent anxiety spiralling around his apprentice appeared far more severe than his own nervousness in social situations.
The concern hastily reached the bespectacled man's stomach, causing a slight ache to settle as he pitied the young adolescent for his social plight. There was an outburst of noise that erupted from his apprentice, immediately startling Malakai from the unexpected sound; over the entirety of their lesson, Jamie's voice never reached high volume. The provided option of proceeding into a break so his apprentice could fetch a cup of water was taken, according to the thanks. There was a pause as the bespectacled man continued gazing at Jame with a concerned softness to his eyes, the gaze flitting upon realization of his staring.
"Um... You... you don't need to apologize," he began slowly. "I-it happens."
The brief response was followed by another sheepish grin in a desperate attempt to calm his unfortunate apprentice. The smile possessed tones of awkwardness, Malakai always struggling with reassuring smiles from his acute pessimism. A peculiar lip-tight half-smile claimed his countenance, tones of his inner shyness surfacing across his pale face. The permission to exit the room was greeted with a small nod, the full-fledged field medic witnessing as Jamie abandoned his chair to leave. There was the gentle clicking of the latch bolt settling into place. An extensive breath escaped Malakai's mouth, uncertainty breaching through his expression once left alone. Training his apprentice would be difficult, especially considering the social ineptitude displayed on each side, although, the bashful man was fully aware of his personal struggles that would surface within the unknown world of teaching. While he stood within the room, the full-fledged field medic spared a brief moment in the silence before gingerly opening the folder.
Pages of words etched across the paper in black ink captured his attention while he reviewed the notes about his apprentice, thoughts organizing a possible route of training. There was a complete fixation on the summary of Jamie, the field-medic becoming distracted enough that he failed to notice the observing of his quiet apprentice.
Needless to say Jamie, began to perceive himself as a burden to Malakai. After all, does the man not have more urgent concerns to handle considering this particular occupation? The boy initially surmised that supervision from the higher-ups may have played a key factor in compelling this unfortunate field medic onto his case. Perhaps the TRS superiors may have taken into account how the ambience of Jamie's immediate surroundings affected his cognitive capabilities. True enough, Jamie's performance tends to falter in schoolwork when presented with a somewhat austere and exacting instructor. They may have also taken note of the boy's relatively subpar performance in the arithmetic and physical science fields in comparison to his outstanding rate of learning with regards to the social sciences, the arts and biology. Jamie was no stranger to the organization's interests in his abilities which is of course a given due to his empathy. In addition to that, there were also the numerous tests done to him, often requiring blood samples and the intake of an assortment of medication.
For every inquiry conferred to him by a rather genteel individual clad in white coat, the perpetual warnings of his late mother began reverberating; that it is of utmost importance that his abilities be kept secret. Jamie was fortunately intuitive enough to decipher those words within context of keeping himself safe, although there are moments where he pondered as to how her spirit might have acknowledged his compliance to these TRS test. Little does the young Jamie know the extent of just how much information the TRS officials have uncovered about his abilities, health, psychology, down to the very chromosomes of his genetic makeup. The outcome of the aforementioned analyses had in fact, been printed on handful sheets of papers so as to acquaint the selected instructor with the handling of this new student. Understandably, it may have been somewhat overwhelming for someone like Malakai to be mandated such a hefty obligation on short notice.
Meticulous details that would otherwise have been written off as trivial are engraved onto hard copy, right beneath the otherwise sufficient background information. Prior to the segment discussing his psychiatric assessment were the results of numerous health screening tests performed after occasions were Jamie performed emergency empathic healing on physically injured patienst. The side-effects varied depending on the severity of the patient's injury, all of which included damage to various sectors of the nervous system in correlation to where the said damage is located. All cases also include a temporary weakening of the immune system, the duration of which is again, determined by the extent of the patient's condition. The repercussions on the boy's health had peaked particularly during the onslaught of the terror hordes last spring in which he was interred in the intensive medical care until the middle of June after healing a civilian in critical condition on his own volition. By the end of the health screening, a warning had been so inaptly squeezed onto the last sentence;
"…do not, under any circumstances, allow Jamie Ungalaq to perform empathic healing on any injured and/or ailing individuals until August 31…"
The subsequent portions described Jamie's psychological and school evaluations. Along these lines were indications of the boy's predisposition to anxiety. It reveals the Jamie is currently suffering from a severe form of Social Anxiety Disorder, in addition to Panic Disorder and possibly Depressive Personality Disorder. The studies show the mutual relation between the fragility of Jamie's mental pattern and his inherent quirk of being able to feel what other's feel. Much research, perhaps excessively so, had been put into place regarding how the boy's empathic functions. It does however, acknowledge in the notes the extremely subjective nature of the ability rendering it impossible to provide an accurate description along with the fact that his temporal trances are technically impossible to evaluate accordingly. It is also stated that interestingly, a small portion of his DNA had mutated to become similar to that of a Faekin, indicating an attempt at induction. The more Malakai reads through the notes, Jamie himself becomes similarly aware of his situation as he now blankly stared at the door.
The varying velocity exhibited by Malakai's aura in addition to pangs of bewilderment that Jamie discerned from the man indicated that Malakai was not entirely aware of what he was dealing with initially. The half-full paper cups encircled within the gentle grasps of Jamie's delicate fingers began to shake as Jamie's heartbeat began to intensify once more. Temptations arose, filling his mind with notions of forgoing lessons today in order to let Malakai prepare himself beforehand. The feeling of restlessness began to overwhelm Jamie as panic soon sets in. In the midst of his tense episode, he recalls the psychologist's instruction in case of such attacks. The typical regulated breaths resumed as his left hand foraged his coat pocket for the pill bottle shortly before taking it out. In his effort to open the bottle, the fact the his other hand was currently engaged in holding a paper cup containing warm liquid escaped his train of thought which ultimately culminated with the water cascading off the lid.
Thankfully, Jamie managed to manipulate the water's motion such that it remained afloat in mid-air, allowing Jamie to hastily toss the cup onto the nearby bin, or at least attempted to do only to witness it rebound off the edge. He then promptly removed the bottle's cap and popped a single pill into his mouth. The trickle of suspended warm water then streamed its way into mouth as well, rendering it easier to ingest the pill. Immediately afterwards, the boy scrambled for the paper cup on the nearby floor and frantically placed into the bin with more fuss than necessary.
[attr="class","hearmenand2"]There was a fixation on the written notes while Malakai's mind got engulfed in the extensive folder of information about his apprentice. The provided information almost appeared endless as he slowly milled over the extensive documents detailing various facts about Jamie. It was enough to make the bashful wonder if his former mentor was subjected to the immense reading list, although, Malakai doubted that. Under the request of himself and his father, a majority of background incidents were omitted, being stated vaguely as the man having been subjected to some violence prior to joining, the concept merely becoming an unspoken factor between himself and his mentor; although, Malakai was never certain about whether or not they obeyed the special request or informed his instructor about the sensitive topic.
There were several topics within the folder, some information about his studies, an understandable addition considering most trainees received education through the TRS alongside numerous evaluations. These topics were noted, but pales in comparison to the ability based information; even his the explanation of his own spell book and potion capabilities were shorter! The field Medic stared wide-eyed at the extensive information, his pale hand reaching to adjust his thick glasses. There appeared to be substantial information about the abilities Jamie possessed, an apparent requirement given the erratic nature of gifted and their weaknesses. The variety was always extensive, even weaknesses to specific abilities had no formula to them. There was an incredible archive of information about his apprentice at his very fingertips, the field medic surprised by the intense efforts taken into gathering statistics about TRS agents.
There was provided information that completely went over Malakai's head, the warlock wondering if some of these were even necessary submissions to the novel-sized platter of data. This type of reading material was unexpectant, but labelled as crucial, resulting in a mild wonder towards the necessity of properly training Jamie in the medical field; what if these sessions did not yield to the expectations of the higher-ups? Nervous lip biting commenced shortly, the gravity of the situation weighing onto Malakai's shoulders as he stared down at the provided information.
An extensive breath was taken, Malakai shortly fixating on the knowledge provided. The information began with the regular grades and remarks from other instructors in the building, a final conclusion resulting in Malakai raising an eyebrow as it provided some information about the suitability of certain instructors. There was some relief in knowing the higher-ups at least accomplished their research; perhaps he became the best option for a reason. Background information was provided but appeared to be sufficient, granting Malakai a brief glimpse into his apprentice's past.
Silently, he noted his apprentice's capabilities in certain subjects, even managing to understand why he would pursue the medical field considering his grades in social sciences and biology. The abilities based information cause a majority of the ravenette's attention, his eyes fixating on the section and reading through it with a meticulous intent. The health screenings mentioning the crucial date about the nature of Jamie's abilities, which provided a reason for concern.
Similar to all abilities, there were repercussions, but the mentioned side-effects gathered in the extensive data brought many concerns. Based on what was provided, it emphasized that the amount of damage weighed heavily on the intensity of the damage received on the nervous system; it appeared the empathic healing possessed similar weaknesses to regular healing. Unfortunate, there was more than meagre energy draining which was a frequent setback for a majority of healers. The weakening of the immune system brought realization onto Malakai's face as he continued, reading through about a recent case in the middle of June; it explained the surgical mask alongside the coughing fit.
The final sentence, however, brought a slight eerieness to the situation as the bashful read the statement that specified that Jamie's healing capabilities could not be used until the end of August. It brought forth the notion of his apprentice still recovering from the June incident that was described, resulting in Malakai questioning how prepared the adolescent was to handle training sessions; it confirmed that self-defence lessons would not occur until later on.
Gradually, the field medic continued to read through the information, his brain attempting to absorb a majority within the first session of reading. The further he ventured into the knowledge about his apprentice, the more certain Malakai became about being required to read over the massive pages of information. The psychiatric evaluations were surprising, but the evidence behind them was displayed in his first moments of interaction with Jamie. The capability to sympathize with the evaluations came to no surprise, although, the field medic admittedly avoided being evaluated; mostly to avoid discussions related to his violent mother.
While his father preached the significance, the bashful medic could never bring himself to discuss his problems outside of the listening ear of his dad. The fears of breaking down in front of another individual resulted in Malakai avoiding it entirely, only providing brief glimpses when necessary. There was the mentioning of three mental illness, two being labelled severe while the final was defined as a possibility with no confirmation.
There was a frown that promptly breached Malakai's expression, the field medic pitying the unfortunate boy who became the victim to numerous mental illnesses; nobody deserved the cruel symptoms that occasionally arrived with them. The notes smoothly transitioned to the mentioning of the possible functionality of his empathy, the statements being subjective and based on evalutions. A mild curiosity perked towards the mentioning of Faekin DNA, which was a curious mention to Malakai; the concept of Fae traditions were unfamiliar to him, but nonetheless an interesting notion. Concerns began generating inside of the field medic, the sheer volume of the situations resulting in pangs of nervousness; nobody informed him about to prepare for a situation of this intensity.
He would definitely be investing time into research in hopes of handling the situation better. An anxious exhale escaped his lips, Malakai shakily closing the folder before sprawling his hands onto the cold surface of the table to stare down towards it, thoughts altering as he attempted to create a better lesson plan formatted to the newest information he obtained about his apprentice.
By the the side of the narrow passageway are a few rows of chairs for those waiting to unwind and relax themselves, that which Jamie soon plopped his lithe physique onto. Hopefully, his earlier fumbling was not raucous enough to alert Malakai from the room by the end of the corridor. He sat stiffly with both arms outstretched, clasping the synthetic fabric of his dark TRS trousers like he habitually does when attempting to alleviate anxiety. He thought it necessary considering that a lone individual was headed his direction. The young empath instinctively read their aura, discerning the said individual to be that of the Nephilim race as evidenced by the color and glow of their soul despite being several meters away and not yet having turned towards the corridor he was currently at. Jamie merely anticipated the direction and the shifting of the aura, a technique that the boy had already familiarized himself with. The TRS headquarters was a literal hodgepodge of diverse races, most of which Jamie would never have predicted to come into contact with until a couple of years prior. This enabled the empath to gather an array of data regarding the auras of certain races by merely lingering within their nearby radius.
A female nurse clad in white apparel pertaining to her sector emerged from the mouth of the passageway, prompting the lone adolescent to scan the area to his left. Jamie had already assuaged himself in order to elude any more superfluous concerns from tenderhearted individuals. After all, the souls of those possessing relatively benevolent hearts were somehow innately enchanted by that of his. As such, he was not oblivious to the lengths in which compassionate souls will undergo just to accommodate him. Naturally evading any and all eye contact, the ostensibly timorous Jamie attempted to accurately present himself as someone awaiting an appointment. The regulation and intervals of his every breath stabilized at a consistent rate once again. Soon enough, Jamie took note of the nurse's jovial expression after meekly glancing at her. He could have sworn that her affable grin was directed at him for a moment there. Shortly afterwards, she was rendered preoccupied with unlocking a door on the opposite side nearby which she then entered upon opening.
The sound of the door latching closed and the subsequent yet faint mechanical reverberations, indicating the locking of said door somehow eased the tension a bit. The potent aftereffects of the drug earlier had already registered into the boy's body, calming him down immensely for now. Consequently, he then redirected his attention to Malakai's aura from beyond the shut doors. His diffident mentor was palpably straining himself just comprehending the extent of Jamie's burden, inciting the boy to ponder just how short a notice they had given poor Malakai. Perhaps he would not have been so acquiescent to the institution's protocols, perceiving his situation with a critical eye if he instead had the gift of telepathy in place of the rather onerous and unwordly empathy. Although cognizant of the TRS' investment towards his empathic gift, not once did the credulous boy doubt the intentions of the otherwise noble organization which he could only believe to have virtuous objectives in mind. Thankfully, the note's author was tactful enough to omit the boy's rather forlorn past which he was still struggling to come to terms with.
As things stood, it became evident that Malakai needed more downtime, Jamie of all people comprehended the internal dilemma the bespectacled man is currently enduring. Heedlessly entering the lesson room would surely render the man frantic once more, the boy speculated. Then again if that were the case, his emphatic manipulation would undoubtedly mend the aforementioned predicament. Perhaps partaking in the Southerner's custom of "knocking on the door" posthaste would be the optimal option, although he still fails to appreciate the rationale behind the act, having been raised and accustomed to a tight-knit community where doors were always open to neighbors and strangers alike. Apparently Southerners were entitled to announce their presence before the host and were customarily made to wait outside at the host's mercy before being permitted entry, a concept the Arctic-born boy was still attempting to become acquainted with. Of course, another alternative would be to opt out of today's lesson entirely for Malakai's sake, although Jamie's reputation as an apprentice medic might automatically be tarnished as a result.
Whilst his brain internally pursued its internal discourse, it was abruptly hampered by the aura of a rather faint soul emitting a soft glow, directly and rapidly travelling en route towards Jamie's general direction. Most certainly an undead spirit as evidenced by their aberrant movement which is divergent from that of the countless souls lingering within the halls and cells of the ward, indicating that they were phasing through walls and obstacles. As the presence drew closer, the adolescent's fishlike eyes widened upon perceiving its recognizable aura. Before too long, a floating entity of a male human swiftly emerging from the gleaming concrete wall directly overhead Jamie. The fur-clad elder man with long and ragged greying hair revealed himself before the now beaming young boy. The spirit's whole form appeared damp from locks of his stringy hair down to the soles of his sealskin boots. Almost immediately after facing the young Jamie, the elder man flashed a wide grin which was then reciprocated by the previously tense boy. "Ah, Qaniit my boy, it has been half a year!" the incorporeal spirit exclaimed in their native Inuktitut tongue.
Shortly afterwards, the specter lowered his supernatural feet onto the worldly ground, prompting the strangely jovial Jamie to spring up to his feet as they approached each other. Jamie then outstretched his head upwards as the elder spirit shifted his face closer to the boy's such that both their noses pressed against one another in greeting. Briefly shifting glances left and right so as to ascertain their clandestine act, Jamie took this opportunity to whisper softly "Elder Manirak... I am glad to see you... what brings you here, if I may ask?" The spirit of his great-great uncle to revealing himself in his current situation, an unforeseen circumstance indeed. For too long had Jamie's ears been deprived of his birth name, Qaniit, since being thrust onto this modern, eccentric world. Manirak then mockingly murmured imitating Jamie's modulation "What is the matter my boy, weasel got your tongue?" Then again, Manirak's voice is almost universally imperceptible to a living person's auditory receptors with spiritual mediums and empaths like Jamie being the rare anomaly.
With Jamie's pale face once again reverting back to its usual flushed pink tones, he scampered back to rows of chairs, patting the seat adjacent to him, signaling Manirak to follow. Once the two of them settled down, Jamie explained the situation more coherently whilst ensuring the relatively restrained volume of his voice considering the Nephilim nurse occupying the nearby room. Little does Jamie know of the futility of his furtive act, being oblivious to the numerous CCTVs recording his otherworldly exchanges, with the organization already taking note of the boy's predilection to spirits and the likes. Eventually, Jamie ended up pointing to where his new mentor's was currently located on Manirak's insistence. "Oh Qaniit, not even your Mother was as meek... so... want me to to scout out the prey and report my findings?" Upon hearing of the elder's suggestion, Jamie instinctively frowned, which in itself should have asserted his denial. Nevertheless, the cheeky old spirit grinned before impudently dashing through the door in seconds. "Elder Manirak, NO!" the boy inadvertently yelled, much to Jamie's own surprise, prompting him to scurry back to the seat as the Nephilim nurse's attention was suddenly piqued by his sudden exclamation.
Before too long, the Nephilim nurse peeked her head out the door, briefly glancing at the superficially listless Jamie donning his stiff sitting position, which elicited a raised eyebrows and wry smile before returning to her duties. Hastily afterwards, Jamie could not help but press his palm against his lips in incredulity. Furthermore, the concept of his dead relative clandestinely invading his mentor's privacy as if he were wild game added more thumps to his already racing heart. In spite of that, the boy could not deny his curiosity of what Malakai had in store.
[attr="class","hearmenand2"]A soft exhale escaped through Malakai's slightly parted lips as he paced, a pensive expression conquering his face. Thoughts swirled within his mind, organizing rambling explanations for concepts that required a more straightforward approach. The debate in his mind proceeded, an uncertainty towards his apprentice's capabilities to continue the lesson or announce for Jamie to return to the dorms for rest. Alas, the full-fledged medic reasoned that performing the introductory lessons could be summed up to later be approached with a reasonable vividness, especially in light of current circumstances. The severity of Jamie's illness was an unknown factor, even common sense allowing for people to be wary of subjecting somebody to a stressful encounter could worsen the situation. Considering the reaction his apprentice had earlier, Malakai found himself fretting over the adolescent's current state of health, the provided reports failing to hush those concerns.
Gradually, his gaze returned to the closed folder alongside the potions spread across the table, and there Malakai's eyes lingered for a few moments in deep thought. Ceasing the lesson's progression could suggest to the higher-ups that his nervousness conquered him, but could he allow Jamie to fall deeper into the frightening embrace of illness? Although, lessons merely involved quietly sitting while the instructor explained the necessary topics of the day and provided information for the student to absorb. Slow steps were taken closer to the table, Malakai's hand reaching out to splay his hands on the cool surface, his hazel eyes scrutinizing the assortment of potions. Another sigh escaped his lips as he mentally thought of the functionality, the realizing of continuing the lesson becoming a requirement. Delaying Jamie's studies on account of his own nervousness could become an unhealthy habit, thus the full-fledged medic knew that continuing these lessons were significant to his apprentice.
A glance was taken towards the door, the lack of commotion resulting in Malakai believing his apprentice took the opportunity to use the facilities before returning; certainly, he would have returned from merely procuring water after all. The warlock's focus returned to the dozens of bottles settled onto the table, their labels dull as they clung to their containers. Ink etched carefully onto the paper-like substance to provide proper labelling of each potion. Mentally, Malakai began going through each gathering of potions, providing their name and uses on the battlefield (even adding administration techniques). As time proceeded, full-flegded field medic smiled slightly as he gradually began organizing an impromptu lecture about potions. There was a confidence encouraging Malakai's thoughts, his capabilities in creating healing-based potions being expansive since his decision to join the TRS as a field medic. Healing potions were designed to mend wounds, excellent for particularly deep wounds, delicate areas of injury, difficult areas to surgically mend and sicknesses. Disinfectants, an obvious considering their name were potent salves, Malakai solemly mixing them with another potion type.
Confidence was boosted as Malakai gazed over the bottles, remembering his excellence in the field of potion creation. A few moments were taken to breath, the bashful man making certain he was prepared for the progression of the lessons. Calmness transcended over the ravenette, his decision being finalized as he stared over the table. Teaching Jamie was a task handed to him, which meant there was a necessity to claim responsibility and complete the introductionary lessons; after all, meagre coughing could merely mean the final edge of vanquishing a cold. There was composure inside the room, Malakai backing away from the table, a thin grin drawn onto his lips. A glance was taken towards his watch, the warlock lifting an eyebrow as realized the extensive amount of time his apprentice had been absence. Concern ambushed him as Malakai fretted over possibility pushing Jamie away with his actions. Concepts were thrown into his mind, the full-fledged medic wondering if perhaps his aprpentice decided to request for a different mentor because of his failings. Hastily, Malakai's eyes flitted towards the door as the anxious man realized that finding his apprentice was officially of the utmost necessity.
The bespectacled man's hand reached for the metallic doorknob as he mentally mapped out the medical ward and TRS headquarters in preperation for the unexpected search. Before he could open the door, there was yelling from beyond in the familiar voice of his apprentice. The sudden noise startled Malakai, the nervous man backpedalling away in a jolt of surprise. There was a pause as the ravenette stared at the door, slowly gathering his thoughts; at least Jamie had not abandoned the lesson. After a few moments, he grabbed the doorknob, opening it to revealing his apprentice.
"Is everything alright out here?" Malakai inquired quietly. "I heard you yell... did something happen while you were getting water?"
There was a tone of worry to Malakai's voice as he gradually opened the door wider, wondering why his apprentice decided to remain seated outside... Did Jamie think he was in trouble because of earlier? The bashful man hoped he had not provided the impression of trouble for Jamie on account of the boy's fumbling of words earlier; if anything, Malakai felt he would deserve the punishment considering he was expected to lecture his apprentice smoothly.
"Anyways... would you like to... uh... continue the lesson?" Malakai asked, a sheepish smile touching his face.
The ravenette retreated to the left side of the door, his right arm extending to invite Jamie back into the room. Malakai was genuinely attempting to appear welcoming in hopes of calming his apprentice and smoothly proceeding with the lesson, although, he remained unaware of the intruding spirit to their training session.
Elder Manirak... of all occasions the venerable patriarch had to visit, fate somehow found it appropriate to send him during his first lessons as a TRS apprentice. With his spirit having departed the realm of the living since Jamie could barely walk, it is only instinctive that the young empath be delighted by his late great granduncle's company. Nevertheless, Jamie could not deny his genuine apprehension with regards to how the quirky spirit's proximity to his newly appointed, albeit arguably reluctant TRS mentor would affect his first day of lessons, considering that Malakai is still inclined to proceed with the lectures that is. Whilst Jamie was on the verge of internally overheating as a result of his uncharacteristic blunder a while ago, he could already detect the fluid movements of Malakai's aura, clearly showcasing his intent to investigate his otherwise inappropriate reaction to Manirak's attempt at lending a hand.
In those brief moments before Malakai's hand inevitably turned the knob, Jamie could not help but vent his frustrations... out on himself by means of internally berating his apparent foolishness as usual. It was these sordid, self-deprecating thoughts where he could somehow fathom as to why some kids and even adults continue to harass him, perhaps it was all well-deserved, at least that was what he led himself to believe. It was palpable from that Nephilim nurse's face, she most definitely perceived Jamie's earlier faux pas as amusing. Although the boy discerned her emotions to be entirely innocent, his inherent pessimism overcame him as he escalated the otherwise trivial lapse in judgement to the point where he genuinely believed that fleeing the premises was the best course of action for the briefest moment. Before long, Malakai gently opened the door, revealing his presence as well as that of Manirak's who is for some reason, lackadaisically floating above his mentor's head.
As Jamie anticipated, the kindhearted Malakai soon expressed his concerns. If only Jamie had predicted that events would pan out in such a way, perhaps he would have immediately retreated back to the confines of the lesson room in hindsight of Malakai's prior uncertainty regarding the apparent delay in his water break. Jamie merely prevented himself from entering prematurely, for the sake of Malakai to prepare himself accordingly. Now, the red-faced Jamie found himself before a perturbed mentor and an eccentric dead relative. Upon both their presences, Jamie instinctively stood up and faced them, much to his chagrin. Whether he liked it or not, he was now within the presence of an elder spirit, showcasing his usual downcast self before an ancestral spirit would bring bad luck. He had no choice but to squeeze his sweaty palms together and exhibit a rather uncharacteristic, ostensibly welcoming smile to Malakai whilst internally wishing for a quick death. Nevertheless, his sullen, listless eyes remained, his now pinkish face displaying a rather tired smile in the end.
Jamie soon steeled himself and squeezed out a a soft reply with much effort, barely audible considering the distance between Malakai and Jamie, "Do not..w....ry...am...ine..." It did not take long for Jamie to realize the insufficient volume behind his words, barely reaching both Malakai and Manirak's ears. "Boy, it seems as though the weasel really DID get your tongue..." Manirak casually stated shortly before floating over to Jamie's side. In the meanwhile, the elder's remarks evidently caused the boy's smile to fade quickly, this in addition to the perception of Malakai's feelings of accountability due to a misunderstanding on his part. Sensing the sudden shift in the boy's mood, the old spirit took took it upon himself to spontaneously appear mere centimeters away from Jamie's slightly despondent face while donning a comical and silly expression. Manirak's performance prompted the boy to suddenly shift his face away whilst covering it in an attempt at concealing his newly acquired and genuine smile. "There we go... much better!" The spirit beamed much to Jamie's embarrassment considering what Malakai would have thought.
Regardless, Malakai soon invited Jamie back to the room in order to proceed with the lessons. Upon hearing his mentor's voice, the boy frantically redirected his attention back to the realm of the living, removing the hand from his now grinning lips and hastily fixing the wavy jet-black bangs obscuring his vision. "Well Qaniit my boy, I think the big man over there is calling you... sorry if this dead fox is unable to be of much help, the colorful remedies in the room caught my eyes see? Those Qallunaat (Southerner) medicines sure are something!" the spirit exclaimed whilst scratching his head. Manirak's comprehension of the English language may be decent at best yet he discerned the boy's situation almost immediately. As such, Jamie now felt obligated to not let the elder spirit's assistance go to waste. With much consternation, Jamie sauntered over to Malakai's side. However, with each passing step, the sheer warmth and compassion that Malakai's aura emitted at that moment began to gradually overwhelm the trepidation from within Jamie's psyche.
Jamie's head slowly raised in fascination, such pure-hearted auras are pretty rare, and from a human nonetheless. "So young one, if you do not mind… I shall accompany you with this Qallunaat ritual." Manirak stated yet Jamie appeared too fixated on approaching the nearby vicinity of Malakai's aura to even acknowledge. Jamie then understood, that perhaps this was the reason the higher ups had him assigned to Malakai... Meanwhile, Manirak's ethereal form began orbiting around Jamie whilst he closed in on Malakai, feeling a slight irritation on Jamie's arguably nonchalant attitude. Malakai's arms appear to be outstretched, although Jamie surmised the gesture to be mere body language. Nevertheless, Manirak abruptly took this chance and without warning, phased through Jamie body post haste whilst the boy was still in his captivated state. The spirit's act inevitably caused Jamie to let out a soft startled shriek... if... that was even loud enough to be called a shriek that is. Before the boy lost his balance, he instinctively clasped onto the end of Malakai's sleeve.
By the time Jamie realized it, seconds had passed yet his pale, sweaty finger maintain their vice grip onto Malakai's sleeve. His arm remains raised whilst his face found itself fixated onto the ground below. It was indeed strange as normally, Jamie would have at least exhibited tangible symptoms of anxiety considering his situation yet, his body remained still. "I... am sorry for m-making you wait." The boy uttered whilst still facing the floor. "I... w-would love... to get started with the l-l... lesson Mr. Moors." Jamie's words were as usual, softly uttered yet clearly audible given the distance between the two. Soon afterwards, Jamie released his subconscious grip on Malakai's sleeves and suddenly shot the man aconfused, upturned stare shortly before twisting his head out of sight in an attempt at hiding the saturation on his face and with quick steps, positioned himself in front of the chair.
[attr="class","hearmenand2"]Silence encompassed the hallway once Malakai opened the door. Immediately, his eyes surveyed the area, noticing the only other individual in the room as one of the medical ward nurses. There appeared to be nothing awry, at least according to his mundane human senses. Everything appeared rather calm, his apprentice sitting idly on the bench while the nephilim nurse peaked out from where she worked to provide an amused smile. An eyebrow was raised, the bespectacled man continuing to inspect the hallway for what could have resulted in Jamie's sudden outburst. Considering the quiet, socially awkward nature his apprentice possessed prior, the full-fledged had difficulty understanding why he would suddenly shout, especially since the hallway appeared empty. Shortly, his eyes returned to his apprentice, bewilderment being evident in his expression as he contemplated what could have occurred. Had somebody rushed by too quick for him to catch a glimpse? Either way, the situation was rather peculiar and the field medic had a difficult time commenting on what happened.
There were still notes of concern on his face as he gazed towards his apprentice. It was difficult to believe this young boy could have been shouting; inside the room, he was incredibly quiet and reserved. Carefully, Malakai pushed his glasses back up onto the bridge of his, confusion, surprise and concern all mingled together on his face as he regarded Jamie. Unfortunately, the bespectacled man lacked the gifted sight his apprentice possessed, making him ignorant to the elder spirit that lingered. From what Malakai knew, it was merely his apprentice and himself in the hallway while the female nephilim worked quietly in the room she was assigned to. There were those same soothing blue walls with handrails lining them and white tiled floors; there was nothing amiss in the dull colouring of the medical ward. Despite the peculiar interruption, Malakai attempted to continue smoothly and invited his apprentice to return to the classroom. Carefully, the full-fledged medic observed his red-faced apprentice, still curious to what could have sparked such noise from the quiet boy.
The uncharacteristic smile increased Malakai's concern as he raised an eyebrow towards his apprentice because of the peculiar action. Never during the course of the lesson had Jamie smiled, thus witnessing the action now was beyond strange. The tired smile was shortly accompanied words not audible to his ears. Comprehend the softly spoken words was difficult, the bespectacled man failing to piece together a recognizable sentence from the provided words. Despite his years within the TRS, he never met another individual who appeared shyer than himself.
"Ex-excuse me?" Malakai inquired.
Hastily, the smile from Jamie's lips faded, the field medic's thoughts returning to confusion. Had he perhaps done something to wrong the young adolescent or even frighten him? It explained the peculiar behaviour but still failed to provide an answer to the outburst. Before Malakai gained the chance to inquire about the sudden shout, Jamie's mood appeared to shift again. The bespectacled man was launched further into confusing as he witnessed his apprentice begin hiding a new smile on his lips. While mood swings were natural for adolescent boys, this appeared supernatural considering the hasty changes in his apprentice's expression. These fast-changing array of emotions were atypical, resulting in the further plunge into confusion for Malakai. Instead of questioning it like he originally planned, the bespectacled man instead invited his apprentice back into the room he commandeered for learning purposes. There was a chance he merely missed some details during his delve into the provided reading material about Jamie. Silently, Malakai watched as his apprentice entered the room, his mind attempting to organize after the strange events from earlier.
When Jamie raised his head, the bespectacled man believed that perhaps the sudden changing of emotions was finally finished, or at least he hoped. Initially, everything seemed to be progressing smoothly again once he welcomed his apprentice back into the room, although, Malakai was promptly proven wrong. A quiet shriek escaped his apprentice's mouth, startling the bashful man from the abrupt nature of the noise. There was a tugging on his sleeve, his apprentice having lost balance and deciding to cling to his sleeve to avoid meeting the ground. The startling action kept a surprised expression on Malakai's face as he slowly glanced towards his apprentice who continued staring towards the floor. Nervousness began kicking in, the bespectacled man concerned about what could have possible startled his poor apprentice; had he perhaps done it? The earlier conclusion about scaring Jamie could have been correct, Malakai fixating on the notion and believing the possibility to be true. Considering in the situation, the full-fledged medic was placed into a position of authority, the notion was not impossible; Malakai could even recall instances where his own teachers frightened him, although, usually not to these degrees.
When his apprentice spoke, Malakai was capable of listening to the words Jamie uttered because of their close proximity. Eventually, his sleeve was released as a confused glance was provided before his apprentice retreated in the direction of his chair. A moment was spared for Malakai to scratch the back of his head as a mild guilt entered his stomach. He believed he was somehow intimidating his apprentice, which could have caused the strange behaviour, yet, still confused considering it failed to explain all the occurrences.
"No w-worries... I was just c-concerned that something may have... h-happened," Malakai responded quietly.
Afterwards, Malakai closed the door before walking back towards the table where the variety of colourful concoctions quietly waited for some attention. The full-fledged medic glanced over the variety of positions, reviewing his mentally generated notes before beginning.
"Since all members are only supposed to use healing magic in dire situations, we usually use potions... These are some of the ones I have made to show you," Malakai began, more confident in the conversation from his familiarity and knowledge. "I recommend not analyzing the colour to recognize them... since different makers have different recipes. Either way, it is a mix of ingredients then a touch of magic. These are... most of the remedies you will be using to help patients on and off the field. Is there a certain one you would like me to begin with?"
The lecture was simply stated, Malakai even placing some effort into trying to get Jamie involved. It appeared the best way to instigate a positive relationship and perhaps mend any past issues that may have resulted in any fear.
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The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
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