Chereads / The Beneath. / Chapter 32 - CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: Be Still My Heart I

Chapter 32 - CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: Be Still My Heart I

"We're here."

Jeremy says coming to a halt

"Here?"

Xavier asks

"Where's here."

He says

"Here?"

Jeremy echoes him

"Well the middle of nowhere for most."

Jeremy says lighting another cigar

"But for you."

(smokes)

"Your training ground."

Jeremy says smirking

"my…"

Xavier pauses at the thought before coming right next to Jeremy to unveil a giant plain land that houses no plant life or swirling sands!!!

Like a battlefield it remains plain and rough!

"whoa…"

Xavier says in awe

"Hm."

Jeremy smirks

"C'mon."

He says

"ri-right!"

Xavier responds following behind Jeremy to the land.

-A SHORT WHILE AFTER-

"…"

-silence-

"…"

"So.. how do we get this started… what do I need to do first?"

Xavier asks anxiously as he and Jeremy sit cross legged in the middle of nowhere, in nothing but silence.

"…"

-silence-

"…"

"un-uncle Jerry??"

Xavier asks confused, getting a little mad

"…"

-silence-

"…."

"uncle--"

"Nothing Xavier…"

Jeremy responds

"…"

-silence-

"…"

"nothing?"

Xavier asks

"Exactly…"

Jeremy responds his eyes shut in a meditation pose

"…"

-silence-

"…"

"am sorry but what's that supposed to--"

"You'll find out if you sit still for a second."

Jeremy says

-A Short While After-

"…"

-silence-

"…"

"Am sorry uncle Jerry but this just isn't--"

"And we're done."

An increasingly frustrated Xavier begins before he is cut off by Jeremy

"E-excuse me??"

Xavier asks

"I said we're done."

Jeremy responds

"C'mon let's set up camp."

He says standing up and lighting a cigar

"This is good ground."

He says

"aaah…"

"right."

Xavier responds following him.

-That Night-

"…"

"uncle jerry?"

Xavier calls while unfurling his sleeping bag

"Yes Xavi?"

Jeremy responds

"i- I know better than to question you…"

He says anxiously

"But I don't--"

Xavier struggles to say

"I don't see any point to what we did today."

He says

"i--"

"I want to get stronger."

He says

"Not just for me but for those around me…"

Xavier says casting his gazing to Mylo before petting him

"…"

"But I can't do it alone."

He says...

"I understand that better than most."

He says

"but I don't see how--"

"that's why i--"

He stutters in saying before coming to a pause

"well I just don't understand how--"

"Xavi."

Jeremy says cutting him off

"I appreciate your worker bee attitude."

He says

"Tha-thanks…"

Xavier chimes

"Despite everything that was wrong with it..."

Jeremy begins

"It seems something positive came out of your holding in Gomorrah."

He says to no response from Xavier

"…"

"You'll make a fine student."

He says smiling

"All will be revealed tomorrow."

He says

"Get some rest."

Jeremy says getting into his own sleeping bag

"…"

"...right"

Xavier says responds unsure

"Night uncle jerry."

He says

"Goodnight Xavier."

That night Xavier was so beside himself about all that happened in his supposed first training that he could not sleep.

And who could blame him…

He was so convinced that he was about to gain what he truly desired.

What he thought he needed.

The ability to protect himself…

The ability to make it so he wouldn't burden others with his problems ever again…

And a way to survive in a land he knows next to nothing about.

But all he got was dud.

An empty meditation in the unforgiving heat of the outer-lands with no real purpose in sight

He felt like he had been played…

And as the night whistled away Xavier didn't realize that that wasn't the only reason he was uneasy….

-The Next Morning-

"…"

Jeremy returns from washing his face opening the tent flap to see Xavier still asleep.

"Xa--"

He stops himself from saying as he watches the boy keenly

"…"

"Hm."

-Later that day-

"…"

-silence-

"…"

(sighs) "this is pointless."

Xavier thinks to himself unfolding his legs and starts to get up.

"…"

"Where are you going?"

Jeremy asks from his meditation pose

"Back to the tent."

Xavier says frustrated

"…"

-silence-

"…"

"I'm really sorry if this actually has merit to it but i…"

Xavier begins

"I can't sit here all day doing nothing again."

He says

"At least if I knew WHY we were doing this then…"

"Well then maybe this would all be easier."

He says

"…"

-silence-

"…"

Xavier says to no response from Jeremy yet again

Xavier's blood begins to boil

He tenses up clenching his fists but just as he is about to speak…

(deep breath) "That's what I thought."

He says composing himself

"I'll be in the tent if you need me."

He says

"I know what I said last night but if…"

"Well if you won't help I'll find another way to help myself…"

Xavier says starting on his way

"…"

"Xavi."

Jeremy says softly

The tone of which snaps Xavier.

From the unforgiving heat of the outer-lands…

To the be still nonsense…

And silent treatment from Jeremy

Xavier had had just about enough of this empty routine

Sure he'd only done it for two days

But he had been in a cell the days prior

He had been helplessly held against his will for months upon months

And now the one thing he needed most in all that time was being dangled in front of him and he couldn't have it?

He was frustrated… no he was angry!

Angry that power eluded him.

But more than that he was impatient

Because he was out in the outer-lands again

And the only thing he had learned this year is every time he had been away from his home

Away from the Oasis

And free from any constraints or problems

Something bad had happened

He hadn't been safe

And neither was anyone he loved

So he was impatient

Impatient to gain the strength that would finally protect him

That would protect those he loved

So his blood boiled

And boiled.

And boiled!

And as its ferocity hit its peak he turned to lash out at Jeremy!!!

"WHAT!!!!!"

Xavier shouts angrily turning back to Jeremy!

"Behind you."

Just as the words left Jeremy's lips Xavier turned…

("…")

Awaiting him at his back was a cobra flying through the air

("!!!")

Fangs poised and right in his face

And as he made contact with its steely gaze

Eye to serpent eye. (._.)

The familiar marks began to form on Xavier's body…

And burning brightly at that

And in that instance

In that split second of life and death

Of make or break

… ("…") ….

… ("Bzzzt!!") …

He caught it.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sand around Xavier is blown away by the sudden burst of pressure!!

"…"

(heavy breathing) "haaa… haaaa…."

Xavier breathes heavy staring down the serpent as the tattoos that now mark his body begin to dim

"…"

(heavy breathing) "haaaa…haaaaaa…."

"Uncle Jerry i…"

"Well done Xavi."

Xavier begins to say before he is cut off by a smiling Jeremy who remains sat

(breathes heavy) "How did i--"

"Spiritual energy is all around us."

Jeremy begins

"Hence why it's incredibly difficult for one to distinguish their own in places that are teeming with life."

He says

"so is that why you brought me to this barren land."

Xavier asks still shook staring cobra-kun down. (._.)/ (10! 10! 10!)

"Precisely."

Jeremy responds

"While all places have a degree of spiritual energy barren lands like these have so fewer the amounts that distinguishing it becomes possible."

Jeremy says

"So by having you here where there is barely any spiritual energy and constantly exposing you to my own spiritual energy your body would eventually get a feel of what to look for."

He says

"hence the meditation…"

Xavier mumbles

"Yes."

Jeremy says

"Your being still and silent allowed your body the calm it needed to find it spiritual energy."

"The balance if you will."

Jeremy says smirking

"Still though, to be able to find your own energy this quick am quite impressed."

He says with a smile on his face

"huh?"

Xavier exclaims

"I mean it might just be the fact that you've been exposed to so many (souls) users recently but it's still impressive nonetheless."

Jeremy says

"Almost like you've used it before today."

He says curiously

"Uncle Jerry."

Xavier says giddy

"Anyway."

Jeremy says pulling a lighter and cigar out his pocket

"With this we can--"

("THUD!!!!!!!!!")

("...")

"uncle jerry?"

Xavier calls out turning his head

"UNCLE JERRY!?!?!"

Xavier shouts, tossing the serpent to the ground and rushing to Jeremy who collapses to his side!!!

"Uncle Jerry?!?!"

"UNCLE JERRY!!!!!"

"…."

"…."

-To Be Continued-

P.S Cobra-kun was taken down by the Mighty Mylo after Xavier tossed him. !(._.)!