[Qiu'li]

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Carving

a path to discover

True

Strength

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"Yes, a place to rest, Aurelian. You're almost there. Just a bit further." Qiu'li muttered as his body underwent the full transformation of Fènnù. Perhaps there was something poetic about this, a man assisting another man to carry his wooden burden to the place where he would rest. The raven-haired man was fired up now with Aurelian behind him, and pulled the cart behind him with the force of a raging bull. Unfortunately, there was on obstacle left that stood before them: A small hill that lead up to the dormitories. Simply yanking the entire cart would most likely get it stuck somewhere and possibly going backwards due to lost momentum. Worse case scenario, it would lead to it breaking down and most likely shattering, therefore he had to be careful with how he pulled it. Therefore, Qiu'li shouted to Aurelian with each step. "We will move in rhythm. Count one and two, and I will pull on three. OK?" The raven-haired man said with each step. Despite his strength boost, it was still a hefty cart, and there were things inside of it still. Regardless, he was committed now, and so was Aurelian.
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The dark-haired man was pushing with what little strength he could muster left. The goal was within reach, and Qiu'li would help him reach it by borrowing his own strength. The strength from within, and pulled at the same time that Aurelian counted. It was a strange sight to behold, but Qiu'li wasn't focused on that. He was focused on maintaining the momentum as they cleared the first half of the hill, and were slowly trudging up the second. "Aurelian!!" He called out to him. "Are you OK?" He asked him as he continued his steady pull.

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WC: 291 TWC: 4522
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--
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Fènnù (+Strength +Agility +Projectile Sword Beam) | Rank D
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Hei Tiequán | Rank E
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Featherfall I (Leap) | Rank D
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Weapon Proficiency II (Martial Arts) | Rank E
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Dance of the Wild Winds II (Acrobatics) | Rank E
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Resilience of the Crimson Oaks II (Durability) | Rank E
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Dragon's Roar II (Utility Tool) | Rank E

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[attr="class","fg-cred"]SELKIE

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[Aurelian Belebast]

He heaved, his pierced face glared as he nodded, "Understood." He replied, his legs shook and cradled with motion but his fingers slipped underneath the cart, his arms bent into V shapes as he pushed the cart upwards, following with a Dancer's care in motion, "One two... One... two..." He continued with the rhythm, he watched and listened to the cart, felling it's structure shake and crack, pox marks of black radiated and slipped into longer lines, his terrible stare doing little to alleviate that issue. Instead, he widened his arms, stretched out as if to try and force and hold it together, minimizing the amount of weight that creaked and moaned the cart with each shuddered movement.

Than he felt it. The fracture.

It was wide, deep, poxed the left half of the Cart that had whined a little too much. His strained muscles gripped the side, his Aura flared with tiny vigor as two arms propped out from his left side, helping and assisting to hold it up. He wasn't sure if it was doing anything, but Morale was always half of a war and at this point, the second half of strength had began to wane and falter. He looked his breath matched the rhythm, "One... Two... Wheeze... One... Two... Wheeze..." He continued, looking at the back of the massive shifting form of muscle and what he assumed was going to be partial rage. "Yeah... Yeah Qiu'li we're all good!" He replied, his face stripped of emotion, a dark honesty lathered his face like the so much sweat that dripped and rolled along his every creased and tensed muscle.

As he continued, his legs shifting under the weight, his arms strained and bulged with fervor. All he wanted to do, all he wanted was to ask, How much further? "One... Two... Wheeze..." He continued, his body a tired tirade of trepidation. The sun seemed to beat down with force, his every sweat bulb seeming to sizzle and crackle against his skin, "One... Two... Wheeze..." He caught a glimpse past Qiu'li, he saw the end goal in sight before the beast of burden covered his vision ahead with it's engorged form. His sharp features sharpened, energy restored. He answered his own question, a flare of strength burned inside him, whatever tiny reserves of strength he trudged up as he made the journey move that ever slight bit faster.

[Qiu'li]

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Carving

a path to discover

True

Strength

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One... Two.. PULL. One... Two... PULL.
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With each step, they made progress over the hill. It felt nearly insurmountable, and each step became harder and harder as the duo trudged up the hill. It was a trial in itself, to Qiu'li. However, it was awaited the both of them at the top of the hill that made the trial worthwhile. It was no longer Aurelian's burden, but it was the raven-haired man's as well. Despite their brief interactions with each other, it felt as if they had struggled on this journey together. No, rather, Aurelian had struggled all this time himself, and Qiu'li was the one to help him reach that end goal. A level of excitement filled him as the steam continued to emit from his body, though that excitement quickly turned to fear as he felt a loud creak and a loud snap. No! The raven-haired man grit his teeth and continued to pull, regardless. They were so close, there was no room to falter now!! Qiu'li was starting to pant heavily along with each pull, gritting his teeth as his footsteps dug into the dirt ground while steadily making it over the incline. He heard Aurelian shout behind him to confirm his ability to move forward, and nodded in response as his face was filled with determination to see things through to the end. With another pull, another step, they moved forward.
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Finally, he saw it. First the rooftops, then the walls, and finally the entrance at a distance. They were at the home stretch! Just a few more steps, and they would make it. "This is final push, Aurelian! One more and we will make it over this obstacle." Once they made it past the incline, that would be it. Qiu'li could take over and use the level ground to pull the cart towards the dormitory areas and that would conclude this brief, harsh journey that the two had embarked on. Aurelian must have seen it too, because he felt a surge of energy come from the dark-haired man as he took another step. After all this time... They were finally gonna make it. Lifting it even higher above his head for it gain momentum, the raven-haired man pulled with his full might. Just...
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One...
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More....
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Step...!
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With a loud thud, the cart landed on solid ground and they had overcome the trial. Qiu'li was panting heavily, his head low and his temples pounding as they cleared the incline. As much as he wanted to stop and rest, he couldn't lose the momentum. Lifting his legs up, it was all downhill from here. Qiu'li continued marching towards the dormitories, albeit sluggishly as he called back to Aurelian. "You made it... The end is here." He said finally as they stopped by the dormitories. Qiu'li still retained his Fennu form, though he felt himself slowly becoming more exhausted as he looked at Aurelian.

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WC: 486 TWC: 5008
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--
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Fènnù (+Strength +Agility +Projectile Sword Beam) | Rank D
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Hei Tiequán | Rank E
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Featherfall I (Leap) | Rank D
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Weapon Proficiency II (Martial Arts) | Rank E
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Dance of the Wild Winds II (Acrobatics) | Rank E
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Resilience of the Crimson Oaks II (Durability) | Rank E
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Dragon's Roar II (Utility Tool) | Rank E

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[attr="class","fg-cred"]SELKIE

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[Aurelian Belebast]

He lifted with dragged and deadened fingertips, numb to the pain of splinters starting to dig and bend as the cart wheezed and groaned in agonized pain, nails and rivets started to buckle and boil in pain, his features shivered and shook, harsh eyes glazed and glared harshly at his cart. It was becoming a far harder burden than it was a benefit as he took another hard fought and well earned step as his veins popped and bulged, his clothing shifting as his muscles gave one last push, one last heart wrenching tear as his everything fell onto that final brisk of motion.

"This is final push, Aurelian! One more and we will make it over this obstacle."

It came with a sharp, painful wheeze, a soft spoken scream of desperation, tears formed and shifted at his cheeks, tiny speckles of clearness that muddied his Piercing orange as his vision became fish-eyed, sweat filled the cracks of his brow ridge line his clones followed suit, each expression a uniformity of pain as finally the cart was heaved, lifted, given that finally ascendant heave as it came with a nasty thud, the body wheezed a little more and Aurelian dragged himself onward, he looked at the steep incline and his eyes pushed with a weak fervor, his smile a twisted and macabre thing as his body swayed with lackadaisical motion as his every step from here on, without the struggle of gravity threatening to crush him beneath his cart he flew into a drunken swing, trying to keep himself straight as tire burned into his every crack and muscle like some burrowing bug.

He gazed at the dormitories, Beds, Food and Relaxation. These words mixed and matched in his mind as his dominant thought as he followed along the mountainous monument, before finally coming tot he dormitories. It was a different spectacle to be sure. He pressed a weak-hand against the woodwork, his hand pulled back as he realized the intensity of the splinters fingers curled and clutched only to strike him with more pain to keep him awake, he looked to Qiu'li, still shifted, Aurelian instead slammed backside against the wall, his eyes a weak mess. "Can I... Sleep... He..." His words rolled with disinterest, a single goal in mind as his body finally began it's downwards spiral, lethargy, tiredness, a body left on the brink of destruction finally began to collapse as he gave a long smile.

"Just a... Few... Minutes..."

[Qiu'li]

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Carving

a path to discover

True

Strength

[attr="class","fg-post"]

They had stopped by the dormitories, which the sign above the building swayed softly with a light gust of wind that passed between the two of them. The raven-haired man had a sense of accomplishment well inside of him, but that sensation quickly dissipated as he heard a thud behind him. Aurelian had pushed himself off the cart and slammed his back against the dorm walls. He was mumbling something that Qiu'li couldn't quite pick up, but he rushed over in alarm as he slumped to the ground with the last of his strength seemingly leaving him. Making sure he didn't crack his skull against the ground, the raven-haired man swooped and flung Aurelian over his shoulder. What to do... He didn't know whether to take him to the infirmary, which was back down the way that they came, or leave him here on the ground. As he thought about their conversation earlier, he decided on what a person like him that traveled all the way out here like himself should be awarded with. Upon entering the dormitories, Qiu'li entered his room and tossed the dark-haired man onto his bed.
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Ah. Yes. Comfort. Qiu'li realized that his energy was escaping him as well, and the exhaustion began to settle in for him too. They still needed to head to the market later to pick up the spare wheel to fix his cart. The raven-haired man decided to chance himself for a bit and rest, just enough for him to regain his energy to help Aurelian unpack his belongings and figure out where he was staying- surely since it was by the dormitories, it was out of the way now. Though on second thought, did he leave it in front of the doorway? He couldn't remember. Oh well, not like he was going to take long. Maybe a few minutes tops. However, once he sat on the bed, he was out like a light.
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On top of Aurelian.
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Zzz...


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WC: 328 TWC: 5336
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--
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Fènnù (+Strength +Agility +Projectile Sword Beam) | Rank D
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Hei Tiequán | Rank E
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Featherfall I (Leap) | Rank D
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Weapon Proficiency II (Martial Arts) | Rank E
[break]
Dance of the Wild Winds II (Acrobatics) | Rank E
[break]
Resilience of the Crimson Oaks II (Durability) | Rank E
[break]
Dragon's Roar II (Utility Tool) | Rank E

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[attr="class","fg-cred"]SELKIE

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[Aurelian Belebast]

He woke up unfamiliar, the surroundings of minimalism and straight shapes turned his eye, his head was groggy, pounding at every fiber of his skull with e a methodical thump. He drew a dirtied hand against his brow, dried sweet sticking and clutching at his fingertips. His body was that strange state, the sweat had stuck cloth to flesh like a gross glue, his everything still ached, but he slowly dragged himself up with a stuttered stand. He looked around, seeing Qiu'li laying knocked out and in the deathly embrace of sleep. Aurelian gave a parting smile, piercing eyes looked at him, his figure and form recessed back to what he had first familiarized himself with. But he didn't worry. He checked for a pulse. Still Breathing.

He gave a parting smile to the unconscious raven-haired man and slipped the door open a crack, doing his best to be more like a mouse than a foghorn as he escaped Qiu'li's room, his entire body moving like some ragdoll to the wind, letting momentum carry him. He began to wander the halls like some injured animal. Searching. Waiting. Hunting for the Local Infirmary.

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Exit Thread
Total Word Count: 4247

[Wolfe]

XP Distribution

Aurelian: 42

26 + 42 = 68 XP new total

Qiu'li: 53

560 + 53 = 613 XP new total