Chapter 139 - Close Enough For Me (1/2)

While Laz was waiting for Leo's invitation to work, he decided that he couldn't just do nothing, even if he wanted to. Mostly though, it was Vivi who decided he couldn't do nothing.

”Why do we have to do this now?” Laz asked for the tenth time.

*Because you wanted to learn and I wanted to go shopping.* Vivi replied as she made herself more comfortable on the grass.

”I told you, until we make some money, we can't really be buying things that aren't essentials.”

*You have no idea what exactly is essential for me, do you? You think it's easy getting this fur cleaned everyday? I have split ends, SPLIT ENDS! And only the organic bars are good for my skin and fur thank you very much. Now get back to it.*

”Fine.”

If one were to look at Laz, they would see him writing on the ground in the dirt. In truth, they didn't go off to the mountains today as Laz was expecting a phone call for Leo. As such, he didn't want to be running off into an area with no signal. Therefore, the only thing they could do was for Laz to practice rune drawing in the dirt. They weren't alone as Leona had decided to hang out with them today. She said it was because she had the day off from school and wanted to train more. She was currently running back and forth through the field with a rather large tractor tire attached to her, swearing up and down a storm. The whole point of taking the day off was because she wanted to spend time with Laz and possibly get to know more about him, hence why she had used the excuse that she needed to train. Hearing that though got her tied to a tire and told to run while Laz looked like he was drawing in the dirt with his finger.

'This was not what I had in mind,” she said to herself and she completed another pass and turned around.

”There.”

*Wrong.*

”What's wrong? Your not even looking.”

*I don't need to. What you're trying to draw is Berkana and although it looks like a B, it isn't. Therefore, do it again,* Vivi ordered, ever the rough taskmaster.

”Fine.” And Laz tried drawing it again, this time looking at the image in his hand.

*Remember, your practicing it until you get it right, but it's not just the shape that's important. Each mark of the rune needs to be perfect for it to work. Remember, like all old languages, there was power in each stroke. It stroke had to be straight and unyielding to support the power behind it. Hence why, no matter what rune you look at, none of them had curves. They were always straight lines that connected.*

”Like this?” Laz finished.

*Like that. Also remember that you need to have the right state of mind while doing it. Your mind must be as firm as stone and iron, just like the lines of the rune.* Vivi gave him the approval to start using his flame to draw the rune. It wasn't that she was trying to be harsh, but if he couldn't focus and ended up half assing it, the rune could just as well blow up in his face.

Laz knew he was preoccupied with waiting for Leo's call and that's why his mind wasn't focused. Thinking about Vivi's words helped him to calm himself.

'See it. See the rune. Each line is a symbol and expression of power. Draw forth that power with each mark you make,' Laz told himself in his head. Leona, who had been passing by, stopped while watching Laz stand there with his eyes closed. Although she had seen Reggie use runes before, she knew thanks to Laz's description that he was basically made for using them. For Laz, it was going to be a challenge.

'I wonder why it seems like he is talking to Vivi while he is doing this?' The question found a place in her head and stayed there. She thought that she was going to see him practice on his own, but it seemed like he was having a one sided conversation with Vivi at the same time. It seemed strange, but the implications seemed far stranger.

Laz raised his finger into the air and using just a bit of his source essence, made precise slashes lines in the air, almost as it cutting it with a knife. Seeing him use his black fire like this made her gap in awe at the amount of control he had. He wasn't just waving his hand around, but instead was using the fire like an ink while his finger was like a pen. The rune formed in the air quickly as he finished moving his finger and hovered there for a moment before disappearing.

”Well, it didn't explode...”

”It could explode?” Leona asked as she looked on.

*It didn't but your use of energy was far too weak and it couldn't stabilize either. Try again,* Vivi ordered. Neither of them responded to Leona's question.

This time, Laz put forth twice the amount of source essence fed energy and the rune quickly took shape. In stead of dissipating when finished, there was a slight twang sound as though the fire had suddenly become solid.

*Use it before it becomes unstable.... Hurry.* Vivi ordered.

Laz looked around before settling on Leona.

”Sorry about this...”

”What? Hey wait a sec...” The rune shot off like a gun shot and hit Leona, quickly disappearing as though it had been absorbed into her. Suddenly, her eyes became red while her breathing got heavy. Before Laz could ask if it worked, Leona shot after him, looking as though she wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.

*You better start running and hope she comes to soon,* Vivi said, somewhat encouragingly.

”Yeah, yeah...” Laz ran off towards the field at a half hearted pace. Since Leona was still tied to the tire, no matter how fast she was normally, she was no challenge at all for him now. After about 5 minutes, she slowed down and came too while panting heavily.