daybreakacademy | Breaking Point [Open]

Who: Puella
What: Saving the world is hard, especially when you think it's solely up to you
When: Early June, after Tsunade's post
Where: Campus courtyard, possibly the infirmary at some point
Warnings: Self harm...? Not on purpose. Depression. Angst.

Puella had been fairly quiet today, which might be a little concerning to those that knew her well. She would refuse to say anything was wrong if asked though. And honestly, from what she understood nothing was wrong anyway. Nothing had really changed, she was just hearing about it for the first time.

Shadows were beginning to grow longer on the way back to the dorms. Puella was never really that afraid of the dark before, or night for that matter, but hearing what would happen if the sun never came back up...knowing that she will loose something if it's not stopped...how friends and family were going to disappear if she couldn't do this one thing...

She wasn't even close to being ready for it. And if Nightfall was something happening really soon, like everyone says, what if she never was?

...No, there had to be some way to learn all this Candle stuff even sooner. Everyone seems to be counting on it anyway, and they shouldn't be let down either.

Puella did not return back to the dorms, but rather found somewhere she could practice for a little while. Someplace large enough and out of the way, out of feeling too self conscious about her own power. It was so much weaker compared to everyone else, no one needed to see it.

No matter how much she tried using her Flame, all Puella was capable of was making a little bit of Radiance. All Flames were supposed to have something else unique about them, didn't they? So what could it be that she was doing wrong? Perhaps she just was not trying hard enough.

She forced out a small, radiant glow as hard as she could. With the sun beginning to go down, it did somewhat brighten up a part of the courtyard. It was a start, but it was not nearly enough. So she kept going brighter and brighter. Puella was not even at peak brightness yet when suddenly the light flickered. She felt a sharp cramp and lost concentration. "N-no...not now."

Ignoring the pain she tried again, but this time struggled more to get the Radiance bright, and had to stop even sooner. But she kept trying again, and again. Each time the burning felt worse.

It was going absolutely no where. There was something Puella was missing. Her chest hurt so much now that she didn't want to do this anymore. But she had to keep going. She had to help stop Nightfall. She just...had to.

Puella put everything into one last burst of Radiance, the biggest and brightest one yet; similar to the one she did when attacked. But other than making a light show, nothing else happened.

The burning sensation was too much now. It was the worst feeling imaginable. So much so that she curled up in the grass and wept.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I am certain he will not be angry. Worried, yes. But not so terribly angry.

[Puella's intentions had been good even if her actions were reckless. So while there is a good chance of getting a lecture, Grimm doubts that it is enough to earn Ekkehardt's complete ire.]

[Of course they had been good... but how many other students wind up there for the same reason??]

[...Wait, maybe don't answer that.]

He always seems busy though...isn't he angry about that? [He was supposed to be taking care of her on top of his normal work too... And this is like what, the third time now she really needed his help?]

...

[Puella kept watching the path ahead in silence for a few minutes after that. She really wish there was something that could just turn her mind off for a moment. To keep away all the bad things going on in it.]

...Is it really true that Nightfall is still coming?

I think he would be more angry if you hid your pain away, my friend.

[Grimm has known Ekkehardt for a time now. He doubts the younger man would be so cruel to be angry at someone who was hurt. Sarcastic perhaps, depending on the person. But not cruel.

Puella's next question distracts Grimm from giving these reasons, however. Instead he is silent, as if he is listening to something only he can hear.]

I do not know. Even for someone of my...breed, the future is a sight my scarlet eyes cannot see. And even then Nightfall is something I have never encountered.

[The closet thing he could equate it to was a single memory of the Nightmare King's. But Grimm does not want to think about that at the moment.]

I personally do believe it is coming, but I have faith that it will be driven away. It is not humanity's time. Not yet.

[She could probably heal on her own eventually. In fact, despite her insides still feeling like they were on fire if she moved, she was starting to feel a lot better already - and ironically thanks to more heat. Grimm's flames were just hot enough to keep Puella warm, that her own Flame did not need to work as hard. Less work meant a time for rest, and the rest of her body could relax too.]

...But not everyone is gonna make it through it.

[That had been what that whole 'loss' talk was about, earlier.]

No. No, they will not.

[It may have been better to be a little more optimistic and normally Grimm was, but there was little point in censoring what will come in the future. Many people will die during Nightfall. It would be a dishonor to both the lives lost and Puella herself if he tired to make it sound better then it actually was.]

All we can do is protect what we can. I will safeguard this school and my Troupe until the end, even if it costs me my life. That is all I can do.

[Grimm's death was set in stone - Nightfall will not take that away. But until that day he will keep fighting. As he said, it was not humanity's time just yet.]

But-- I don't want you to die!

[Or anyone, for that matter.]

I know. Very few want to die.

[As for Grimm...his perspectives on life and death have changed twice: first when he became a Vampire and then when he became the Troupe Master and took in the Nightmare Heart. He did not fear age and the memories and nightmares he experienced from the Nightmare King showed him there were worse fates then simply death.

But those were his own worries and a fate he chose.]

I will not tell you to not worry about the fate we all face. But do not allow the fear to rule over you. As my predecessor once said: clear your heart, take a deep breath and walk out on the stage. Everything else will come along with you.

[ "Dance and die...and live forever..."]

But - my magic is supposed to help keep everybody alive. That's what that Seer Lady's story says. That's why I gotta learn it now!

[If it can't be learned by the time Nightfall arrives, it might be more work for everyone else. Or more pointless, avoidable deaths. Or both.]

Puella. Please do not put the world's fate upon your shoulders alone. It will only result in this.

[Her Flame will only burn her out and leave nothing behind. He could be gentler in explaining it but Grimm knows he needs to be firm.]

I will help you learn to the best of my abilities and you must practice on your own, yes. But to drive yourself like this will cause you nothing but harm. And I do not wish to see your spark burn out so young.

[Puella's determination to protect others is admirable. But to lose her because of this is not something he wants to see happen.]

My spark..? [It had hurt a lot when she pushed her Flame too hard. Much like spraining a muscle if there was any sort of magic variation of that. It's not something she wanted to feel again but she had not thought about lasting effects.]

Um, if I get more used to using it maybe it won't hurt as much.

[But if the only thing she can make is still a little glow, well...]

Your life. I would rather not see you do something to hurt yourself and are unable to come back from it.

[Grimm had not started out with an immunity to fire, after all. He had burned and burned until he learned to control it without a single spark being out of place.]

Perhaps we should start with finding out your exact limits before breaching them? Take it from a seasoned performer, Puella. Attempting a trick without practice only ends in tears.

[He laughs a little at the memory. Back then impatience had been Grimm's enemy in learning.]

[Her....wait, pushing her Flame that hard was really that bad??]

I guess we can do that... [It was a start, some sort of start at any rate. Her limit might be small now but if it can be extended, little by little, like a goal post, then one day she might be capable of doing better and brighter things. Preferably before she actually needs to use it.]

[Having a feeling that Grimm wasn't going to let her do that either.]

[Soon after a bit more travel though, Puella finally caved and snuggled even closer to the warmth. Being this close to another Flame meant she could feel it quite well, and it was nice.]

[Grimm turns up the heat just a little bit so it's a little more comfortable. He's well aware he is a walking furnace and doesn't begrudge anyone who wants to be warm. And to be frank he finds the feeling of warmth to be safe.

He starts humming quietly, pausing only to answer her comment.]

Of course.

[They're nearing the infirmary and Grimm's humming changes into a bit of a song. Despite his raspy voice, he's not a bad singer.]

[Safety was right. Puella had always enjoyed warm places before, but something about this particular type of warmth she felt especially drawn to. The only other Flame heat she had felt before had just been her own, so there was something both familiar and foreign about it - but comforting nonetheless. The temperature rising only made it even more irresistible, that before long...]

[Well, perhaps the singing was at fault too. The melody at least, she wasn't too paying much attention to the words - was already too dazed out by the Flame to notice it. Funny that Puella claims that music had no effect on her, but this was the second time now she had been partially done out by it.]

Breaking Point [Open]

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