Tomo-go-go-go [Train-Nin]

[Tomoko Aburame]

(Don't apologise, I actually agree, just experimenting with this :3)

She needed to perfect this, to make it little more than a blast but instead something that could truly be used effectively in combat. Something that she could rely on and thus she decided it was time to sit down and have a quick read. Laying the great big book of genjutsu on her lap as she decided it was time here and then to study out the idea of the technique. The sun shone down upon her large tome of magic as she gazed down wondering what secrets she would find and rather what understanding of genjutsu could be given by examining this tome. Sure it was given to most Academy students but when it came down to it the tome had been especially useful especially in a more cerebral understanding of how genjutsu functioned.

The concept was simple, by manipulating that aura of chakra - yin - that eminated from the third eye or mental 'pool' of chakra one would extend the chakra down their arm and then focus the energy into the tips of the fingers. This increasing surge of chakra caused the usually invisible energy to become at first simply luminescent and then a blinding light, by then pushing the chakra away from the body much akin to a ninjutsu the light would then expand and be used like something of a projectile. Pretty simple when it came to understanding the way a jutsu would function.

So, dusting her hands she began to stand up in the center of her room. Closing her eyes and focusing on that chakra that emanated freely from her she began to push it down to her finger tips. As she would feel the wave of chakra dancing along her finger tips she would focus in on trying to illuminate the surge of invisible energy, somewhat 'folding' it within the webs of her fingers she began to focus on highlighting that part of her body causing it to grow more and more as the aura surrounded her entire body faded now being concentrated.

As the folding began the brighter it became until finally she released it from her hand allowing it to escape in a flash of bright light.

[👺 Usiel]

+5 learned

[Tomoko Aburame]

Color Spray
Rank: "D"
Skill: GenJutsu
Effect: A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and possibly knocking them unconscious.
Special: "Handseals"
Drawback: ---
Description: A Mind-Affecting Technique. Affects anyone within an area of 15 meters cone burst from the user. The duration of this technique is instantaneous. This technique may be negated. Each creature within the cone is affected according to the opponent's class level compared to the user. If the opponent is 2 class levels lower than the user the affected creatures become unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious). If the opponent is 1 class level lower than the user the affected creatures become blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round. If the opponent is the same class as the user the affected creatures become stunned for 1 round. Sightless creatures are not affected by color spray.
Limit: Must know the Pattern Perception.


With her incentive to aim for more offensive genjutsu the next step from light shows was obviously the use of Colour Spray, a technique in her textbook that hinted that it could be used to actually knock an opponent out, something that was obviously very very appealing to Tomoko. A none lethal way to incapacitate was always a heroes greatest ally in Tomoko's eyes especially if she could do such a thing with such a dazzling effect.

Feeling proud of herself for her current training regime and machine-like turning out of missions Tomoko was starting to gain a little confidence, not much but more than she had before especially now that she had become acustom with talking to the Yukikage himself as well as his ward Sieward. She was content with how things were going but knew being content would be the downfall of many men and thus she decided she needed to push above all others. She needed to work out how these genjutsu worked exactly.

The basic concept seemed to be using an unknown chakra source that came from the mind, then shaping it much the way shinobi did but the chakra was both more manuable and so too more brittle at the same time. Push it too far and it snapped and crackled but allow it to mold and it could take any shape. Thus the idea was simple, extend ones hand like blinding lights and simply 'will' colour in the place of bright light, sounds simple enough.

And thus she prepared to do just that. Closing her eyes and focusing her chakra she began to draw forth the yin chakra she needed, causing it to flow from that tingling spot within her forehead as it seeped out in waves she brought it down to her palms and then extending her arm outward she began to think of the colours, a basis of white with streams of everything one could imagine blasting out of her palm for but a moment, but enough, enough for her to know that she was on the right path.

[👺 Usiel]

7 TP

[Tomoko Aburame]

As she dusted her hands she certainly felt proud about the she had atleast got the basics down, what this means of course was that she understood the basics of what was needed to do projecting that mental energy into the physical realm would always be something that amused Tomoko, she enjoyed the idea that bringing forth a real thing merely from her mind truly did delight her. She was entranced by the possibilities of genjutsu, she had quite a few ideas, quite a few indeed but to get to that point she would need to perfect each of these techniques to a new level.

As she stood in her field in the snowy fields of Yukigakure once more, the snow melting slightly causing the earth to be more of a slush than the icy planes of white it usually was, no chilling airs to be seen and now even her hooded jacket felt far too warm for her liking. She hadn't the faintest idea of what it would be like without snow and almost worried about coming to a desert or the Land of Fire itself. Green snow? Sand snow? It made no sense to her and yet here she really hoped to venture out into the world with a never ceasing wanderlust.

Taking a deep breathe and allowing the cold chilling air to enter her lungs giving her a new life and a new sense of energy she prepared to truly start to manipulate the mental energy she had that swelled around her third eye. She needed a way to truly focus that mental energy to create that flash of colour, to truly bring out that stretching rainbow that she could bring forth, this wasn't a technique that would shake the world but it was a stepping stone, a stepping stone that was part of a great journey. The basic concept quite easy as stated taking the energy and folding it time and time again until the energy became tangible and then once again folding it into a bright light, from here she would need to stretch the centre of the chakra until it became translucent almost putting it through a crucible to purify the chakra into it's most raw energy. Once here she would need to capture the light around her within the chakra to create that rainbow effect and then using the same abilities as the dazzling lights jutsu push it out of her hands giving a shining light of chakra that would blind the opponent and allegedly knock them out with enough power.

Sadly, Tomoko wasn't very good beyond the mental plane, sure illuisions were somewhat easy and the idea of manipulating the mind was her domain but when it came to actually bringing forth these physical attributes of jutsu it would be hard to actually become a master at this, she had even heard of some who could manipulate with their eyes alone. They could merely glance and ensnare somebody...how useful it would be for a girl like Tomoko. The young spy with her head int he clouds and not a clue of what she was doing ensnaring those in a glance, would it be her ultimate goal? Well of course.

Finally she cracked her knuckles, taking out a small marker and deciding to draw an eye on her forehead and then slowly drawing an eye on her hand, this way she could focus on where she needed to move the chakra. She would focus that mental energy and allow it to slowly move and gather around that drawn third eye, slowly flowing around her body as she would focus on the energy that warped and shifted around her body. It was fantastic to feel, a tingling massage on the inside of her skull that buzzed like a small massager. The chakra seeping out of the eye, slowly seeping forth as it slowly moved down her body, slithering and sliding to her hands allowing the chakra to fill the webs of her hands and then imagining a dough she began to knead it and knead it, causing it to spread and spread, moving and slowly manipulating it into a tight package in the center of her palm before allowing it to explode outward in a cone of colour.

[👺 Usiel]

Learned

[Tomoko Aburame]

SPOILER: Click to show

Salient Flames
Rank: "D"
Skill: GenJutsu
Effect: User immolates an area in illusory flames.
Special: "Handseals"
Drawback: ---
Description: A Mind-Affecting. Technique. Affects any 1 or more creatures within the range of the technique. The user is able to perform this technique at a distance of 7 meters plus 6 meters per class level. The duration of this technique lasts for 5 rounds per class level. This technique may be disbelieved once interacted with. User creates illusory flames within a 3 meter radius burst. Creatures in the area that believe this Jutsu react as if they had caught on fire, suffering 6 Armour Points of nonlethal damage each round until they extinguish their illusory flames. A creature that believes they are on fire continues to burn even if they leave this Jutsu’s area. This Jutsu cannot cause damage to objects, but subjects who fail their Save believe that their equipment is on fire.
Limit: Must know Pattern Perception.

Fire. Fire the destroyer. Fire the giver of life. Fire the spirit of man. Fire the first invention. Fire the source of heat, the source of light. It was no doubt that when Tomoko saw the name in her textbook she was instantly drawn to the flames. This would prove useful, far too useful, especially in regards of seperating lines between herself and the enemy. This was the type of staple she would need to use as a genjutsu artist. The issue of course was that she had issue manipulating her chakra aura to allow such a shape transformation.

It was something Tomoko truly had issue with, she wasn't used to manipulating chakra so freely but most techniques certainly needed it especially those of a
Deciding that it was time to learn of such things, she opted to choose an area with less burnable areas, choosing the quarry she figured this would be the best place to test such a technique. She meditated for a time before hand. She needed to mentally prepare to further extend her aura to a point in which she could make physical objects. The odd colouration was fine with dazzling lights and the cloak of fear was more of a feeling than a physical thing but this technique was different.

This technique was turning thought into (somewhat) of reality. Shaping an idea into something visibly seen was totally alien to Tomoko but she was keen for such a thing. After meditating for some time she began to stand slowly making the hand sign of the tiger she enhaled slowly and began to breathe as she drew from that tingling spot on her forehead, the tingling power of her genjutsu that she began to run the aura of chakra down her body at first flattening it around her feet as if she was standing on a round dinner plate.

Then taking the edges of chakra she began to twists the ends of the dish into resembling something of flames. Twisting it to resemble the flames of a flickering furnace she began to examine them, making them flicker and twist. It took some concentration but manuevering the flames at first was like moving clay, hard and stiff at first but with more tensing and releasing became easier and easier to move until there stood a ring of fire around Tomoko.

She attempted to keep the flames alight but sadly with every moment they seemed to flicker into and away from existence like a face in a dream one cannot fully see, something just out of the corner of the eyes, she truly focused, trying to get those flames to stick, to stay waving and dancing about her and yet it was growing harder and harder still to hold it steady.

[Tomoko Aburame]

These flames were something primal, something that was hard to describe. She was trying her best to keep them stable but a simple illusion brought forth only through will was hard enough to do let alone make one move and shift. She was unsure how effective she could use this in battle, but then this was only her first time experiencing it. She may not have been too good now, but she knew the longer she could maintain the illusion the better she would become and so she took on the challenge. She decided it was time, it was time to repeat the action and so for that week. That short week she would focus in.

Day after day she would wander to that field and attempt to sow those flames, letting them waver and wobble before her for hours on end, letting them wrap around and dance upon the winds onlycreated by her third eye. The days were grueling but fruitful, day in and day out she became better apt at wielding those flames, at causing them to remain in reality by sheer will alone a fete often too hard for her. She would need this, she would need to ensure she could do this for the betterment of Yukigakure.

[👺 Usiel]

learned

[Tomoko Aburame]

SPOILER: Click to show

Doomtide
Rank: "B"
Skill: GenJutsu
Effect: User fills an area with illusory black, creeping mist that vaguely resembles thousands of slender grasping tentacles.
Special: "Handseals"
Drawback: ---
Description: Affects anyone within the 8 different areas 3 meters cubed. The user is able to perform this technique at a distance of 30 meters plus 15 meters per class level. The duration of this technique lasts for 5 rounds per class level. This technique may be negated. The user and 1 creature the user touches are immune to the effects of this Jutsu and can see through it without difficulty. When the user performs the Jutsu, they decide if the effect remains stationary or moves away from the user at a rate of 10 meters per round. The mist obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 2 meters. A creature within 2 meters has one-half concealment. Creatures farther away have total concealment. A moderate wind ("C" Rank Jutsu) disperses the Doomtide in 4 rounds; a strong wind ("B" Rank Jutsu) disperses the mist in 1 round. Furthermore, creatures within its area must make a save or be dazed for as long as they remain in the cloud. The Jutsu does not function underwater.
Limit: Must know the Pattern Perception.

Genjutsu was the mental art, an art that could only be pushed as far as the mental capacity of the user itself, Tomoko being a ten year old genin with barely the common sense not to hold a crush for her king but so too befriend enemy shinobi on a regular basis put Tomoko in an awkward situation. She was not wise, as no child ever truly is for wisdom begins with experience. Tomoko understood this in a very simple way, as would a child that as a shinobi she would need to have a few adventures under her belt to receive the mental clarity to truly reach a level of genjutsu that may very well help her in her journey to become the ultimate mental artist. She was assigned to accompany a small group of mercenaries for a week to expand her horizons by Jorik, the lord Yukikage of the village of snow. It seemed like a simple task, of course and Tomoko would enjoy doing such a thing to a degree, she wasn't one for combat but certainly a chance to see how shinobi worked was thrilling for her.

The mercenary company was quite small, only three of them all up. Their leader was a large hulking man, like a jotun of old named Tyr. Tyr was well built, brutal looking with a shaved head and a face that looked mangled and scarred. With an armour that looked forged from scales and fur pelts and a mighty warhammer on his back Tyr was more intimidating than any shinobi who tended to be handsome, fair and thin, this was a machine of a man, strengthened and bolstered by muscle the only hair he held was a mighty scraggly beard grown mostly out of lack of hygiene than out of style or a fashion statement.

The next was a younger lad, not fair or lean like the typical shinobi of the lands but fair faced and youthful. Only in his early twenties, young and brash with a leather hide that looked more stylish than practical, twin daggers sheathed on his hips. Standing taller than Tyr but much leaner with barely any muscle to spare, lean and trim but athletic in his appearance he went by the name of Finn. A rogue by heart and by trade and quite handsome.

Finally. An elderly man dressed in a furred robe with a plate of steel around his chest, not frail but not fit, the man was a master of the mental arts and the very reason that Tomoko was there. He was wise beyond his years and had seen many a battle, with his guiding hand perhaps Tomoko could reach the enlightenment she desired to obtain more than basic illusion. He went by Ymir.

She was excited to meet the band of heroes though admittedly had not been informed just what they would be doing, only that she was to meet them on a bridge known as The Bifrost. A beautiful bridge of stone that joined a mountain chasm. The bridge was somewhat of a landmark in Yukigakure separating a small uncharted land of frost known as the 'Realm of the Jotun' and Yukigakure itself. All in all, Tomoko was often banned from even setting foot but being a shinobi and with the permission of Jorik she would set out early that morning as the sun glistened on the new fallen snow of summer, the snow not as white and frosted any longer but much much clearer almost transparent and water like causing it be much slipperier but certainly not much of a flooding plane. As she made her way to the door of her estate she patted herself over, making sure she had everything she would need, a waterskin, a backpack, her book of genjutsu and of course her sunny disposition, aside from this she needed nothing else or so she assumed.

Standing infront of the door she bowed her head thinking for a moment that she would need to give thanks to a god of some kind, unfortunately she had no desire to follow the laws of Kaguya or that of the shinobi faith, instead relying on Yukigakure's own deities. Closing her eyes
she began to whisper to the God of Travel Meili, one of the Aesir and a pure blood of Wodan's kingdom as was the custom before a voyage and giving a quick sigh she prepared to head out ready to make her way to the Bifrost bridge.

As she left the door she thought of how, just how it would be to be on that road, to search out what it meant to be a warrior and more so what it meant to be a shinobi in this day and age though the warriors of Yukigakure were hardly shinobi, more they were warriors of the old cloth.

[Celaena Kamyuja]

Eh Plus Ten

[Tomoko Aburame]

SPOILER: Click to show

Oh I'm not done till I have all 20 posts are up or until learned ^^ I feel like writing a story! Thanks Sita :3

The wind was harsh and cold, a biting viper made of ice that chewed into the neck of those who dared face it. Such was life of Yukigakure, the land hidden in snow was not just hidden within the snow for it's namesake or base of techniques but rather the village had a wise strategic point that would allow them a heavy defense against attacking enemies. For Tomoko though as her bare feet trod against the cobbled stones that lead out of the gate and down from the hillfort that Jorik had claimed in the name of Yukigakure. It was much smaller than that of the other villages. In terms of grand scale it was really quite small and the lack of shinobi that came with it, well, that was obvious as to why. The population was low, they were impoverished building with rock instead of building with grand marble or senju wood, with huge architecture and defenses that dwarfed all who looked upon them. This was not Yukigakure, for Yukigakure was...different. A warrior nation and so too from those biting snow came hardened grizzled warriors who kept a cut throat black and white philosophy.


And then, there was Tomoko. A scruffy haired Aburame girl who liked healing, bugs and using her mind. Tomoko, an innocent ten year old who solved her missions by offering a helping hand because she couldn't carry let alone brandish a sword. Never too pretty, never too bold, never a courageous warrior nor a sage wizard. Simply, Tomoko was the weakest link in the village and she refused to let it continue. The path was long and the wind did bite but to a frost born like Tomoko. The cold never bothered her, in fact it invigorated her. As she made her way along those white plains with naught but her backpack, hoodie and a waterskin she made her way to a large stone structure, upon this large bridge were four mighty statues at each corner of the bridge. A wolf with it's mouth open. This was Fenrir, the great wolf chained by the God of the forge himself, something Tomoko knew quite well. In exchange for his hand the god of the forge had chained him, and yet to Yukigakure Fenrir was something more than a chained wolf, he was an entity of true strength held down much like the village itself.

Giving a deep breathe she looked around, hoping to spy the warriors three but found nobody. Was she alone? It seemed. Surely the kage did not want her to actually send her out into a land on her own but then on the other hand it was possible that they were just late. Sitting down cross legged down in the snow as she dug into her backpack withdrawing her book and cocking her head to the side with a smile upon her face. Today she would study, or rather she would study until the others came. She traced her fingers along the fine near ribbed pages of the book from their wear and tear over the years looking over genjutsu techniques. There were many to behold, many indeed but what would be useful was another question. She had many at her disposal, illusionary flames and lights, colour sprays and faint images but all in all nothing she could truly use to disable an opponent. She scanned in hopes of finding anything, something and then the words hit her, sticking out like a great thumb as the words were scratched in the book. Doomtide.

A technique that expanded on the theory of the saliant flames, at first one would need to focus their yin chakra from their third eye not allowing it to be folded and thinned like with the light techniques but a total inverse, a total inverse that would require everything she had learned so far. From the dazzling lights technique she had learned how to fold her chakra ten fold that enabled her to create bright blinding lights, from the colour spray how to illuminate such things with colour, for saliant flames how to mold a physical image that could be moved but this was different. A forever expanding black mass that would expand and expand engulfing the opponent in darkness but how could one make an invisible substance like chakra that only became visible when strengthened, how could she put that much energy into a single technique without...well she didn't know, She had never pushed herself beyond the simple limits of a D-rank. This truly did require a sense of study before activating it. What would happen if one expelled more than a D-rank worth of chakra? Would she perish? Pass out? It was hard to know but soon these thoughts were intruded upon with a merry song in the distance between three booming voices.

Hail day,
hail the sons of day,
hail to the night and daughter of night.
With eyes of kindness
look upon us
and give to us who sit here victory.

Hail the Aesir,
hail Asynjur,
hail to the all-giving earth.
Fair speech and wisdom
give to us famous ones
and healing hands as long as we live.

The three voices sounded along the winding hill that hid them from view but then the three shadows appeared, three burly shadows much bigger than Tomoko. The warriors three, the mercenary company she had agreed to meet. It was here that Finn would scurry ahead, the athletic stick-man walking up to Tomoko and smiling to her. He bent down low with his hands on his hips looking to the young girl who began to pack away her book "Hullo there! You must be...Tomogo?" he stated as as he gave a grin "I'm sorry, I'm not very good in your tongue!" he chortled turning to Ymir gesturing him to come across "You speak the knife-throwers tongue better, father!" he remarked as the elder genjutsu master came forward crouching before Tomoko with a smile upon his face, though grizzled by ages of war and battle he was a kind man and one could tell quite easily. He looked at Tomoko with care and nodded carefully to her "Tomoko Aburame, is your name, yes? I am Ymir Ironshield of the Lands of Gelel, these are my sons. The talkative stick figure is Finn. He's still learning your tongue, unfortunately he doesn't study enough. The other is my eldest son, his name is Tyr, I'm afraid but he does not speak your language. We are honoured for a shinobi to accompany us." he spoke plainly and with a thickened accent much to Tomoko's confusion.

She had not encountered foreigners before, in fact she was having trouble even thinking of places outside of Yukigakure. She had only grown up in snow, with cold weather and gray skies, the alternative was utterly alien to her. She gave a cocked head confused look to her elder bowing low "Tomoko...Aburame. I am. I mean, I am Tomoko Aburame." she said holding her head low to Ymir. The old man chortled deeply as he looked to her with caring eyes. "Toe-my-go Ape-Loop-Rummy?" Finn asked with confusion "These shinobi sure have odd names. At least Jorik is one of our blood." he spoke to his father in his own tongue to his father much to Tomoko's confusion.

Tomoko scratched her head, the language sounded like garbling of O's and R's, it was bizarre to hear and very barbaric to her ear but she would have to get used to it. Such was her traveling companions ways. The eldest son looked to the small girl, and then to his father and younger brother giving a small grunt as he began to adjust his shield on his buckler on his elbow and making his way forward. Ymir gave a lag for a moment as he turned to his eldest son "It looks like Tyr has the scent. Shall we go? Tomoko why don't you tell me more about yourself." he stated as the three began to walk, Tomoko decided to stay by the rather tall yet old man so that she could communicate with the others of the group. Finn and Tyr rushed ahead, talking in their barbaric and foreign tongue as they rushed forward, instead Tomoko and Ymir would hang behind.

[Tomoko Aburame]

They had been walking for some time, trudging through the snow for hours on end and even now Tomoko did not know where to go. She didn't even know why she was here, but rather she was here because...well, she was here. Jorik had told her to go and she had gone. Jorik was the supreme authority in her life, he would be what she would die for but what would that mean. Ymir and Tomoko had traded simple talks. The three warriors were from a land of gelel, a snowy land far away from the lands of the ninja world in which the sword and shield was all the man had though Ymir had ventured to the shinobi lands in his youth learning the mental arts but being raised by the sword none the less. He returned home after a small campaign and fathered his sons but had always wanted to take them to these lands so that they may learn the lessons he did - that the lands are different and so too are the hearts of man.

"Tell me young Tomoko, what is your goal?"
"Wh-What...?"
"You as a person. Do you wish to be King like Jorik?"
"N-no! Jorik is king."
"But what if he passed? Then what is it you want to do?"

She didn't know, honestly she had no idea. She wanted to answer clearly in all things but this, this was a tough question what if Jorik died? What if Yukigakure fell? What was her goal. Jorik was her king and she wished to help, she did not want to see her land burned or her king's head on a pike but she was naive to think it would never happen and she didn't have any idea. This brought her back to her problem with genjutsu. She was ten, she was not 'wise' beyond her years or a child prodigy, instead she was a ten year old and a pretty standard ten year old mentally so to master the mental arts.

Tomoko thought for a sense about that technique, Doomtide, an offensive genjutsu far beyond her level but she wanted it, she wished to truly make it her own and hone it into a weapon but why? Did she want to do the same to another village? Would she do that to the great enemy - Konohagakure? No. She wanted to learn it because she could and that's when it hit her. Her answer to Ymir.

"I want to try and save the world."
"Isn't that a bit...big for someone so young?"
"No....N-No that's not what I mean. I want to try and save the world!"
"Why?"
"Because I have to try! That's why! I get it!"

She beamed as she looked to the old man who raised an eyebrow, turning her head and was very confused by the antics of the young shinobi.

"Do you know why we're out here Tomoko?"
"Because Jorik said"
"That's why you're out here..."
"Oh...yeah. N-No I don't."
"We're hear to slay a beast because that beast will destroy Yukigakure if we don't."
"WH-WHAT!?"

She called out holding her head, was Yukigakure about to be destroyed? Was it all going to fall apart? What if Jorik was already dead? It was hard for her to make sense of this in her mind as she held her forehead rubbing her temples.

"Wh-Why!? Why..."
"Because we have to try as well."

Suddenly a loud thud was heard several feet away that cracked like thunder as a loud horn sounded from Finn who stood upon the hill. "Fount spotted!" he called out over the hill to his father pointing down into a deep valley that was littered with trees. "Oh-Oh...What's that?" Tomoko asked as she looked to Ymir who was rubbing his hands "Our first stop."


[3/20]

[Tomoko Aburame]

In the middle of that great tundra left a valley or rather a crater of green, things Tomoko had never seen before it was still a frosted snow like village but the trees tended to shine green below filled with pine an alien thing for Tomoko to experience, the green that shined was enough to thrill her she was almost engulfed but something that dulled the experienced to an extent was the idea of why she would try. To Tomoko, Yukigakure was as pure as snow in it's innocence and Konohagakure a darkened villain but something Ymir stated worried her. Could she truly blame Konohagakure for viewing Yukigakure as villains in the same way she viewed them. Maybe it was like the nature of chakra, for the brightening of the chakra came from folding maybe darkening the chakra was just as easy, or rather not easy but the same method. Maybe it was a mental block, perhaps if she just opened her mind she could be able to darken the chakra in colouration and create something...not only bright because that was it's nature but bright was only created because she assumed that was the only nature of chakra.

The thought pounded in on her, perhaps if she extended further she could get an answer, something...unique. Something different was awakening in her. If the two were one in the same then blackening her chakra was simply a mental block, of course she couldn't test this now but soon. Soon she could. These thoughts made sense, maybe folding and folding would raise the hue of the blue to a darkened black, compressing it instead of thinning it. Becoming the exact opposite of what she could be, would that simply be the same part of her but from a different perspective. Could forming white be as easy to forming black simply because they were one in the same and onlyexisted whilst the other so too did?

Her head hurt. These thoughts were too much so instead she focused on the beauty of the green around her following Ymir closely as he pointed out many berries and food that one could eat in the woods for survival. Tomoko making note, she truly did want to become a person who could change the world and so she had her answer for Ymir. She would learn these techniques not to conquer, not because she needed to, but merely because she could. That was as good as any other reason, surely.

As they continued down the forrest suddenly Tyr dropped to his knee placing his hand on the ground and lowering his head, Ymir swiftly grabbed Tomoko and pulled her to the side with Finn quickly ducking behind a tree as Tyr stood. Then it came, the sounding of running...many feet pattering down on the ground, flat footed and yet wild like an animal. She was afraid, to a degree, unsure of what was coming but then from the corner of her eye she caught it, a large beast that looked like a bear and man in one, enormous though standing far above the others with fur of red and flaming tongue that shined brightly.

Tyr remained still, she was worried, she wanted to call out but she was too afraid and so she began to close her eyes shaking in fear. She was useless, this was her first time in battle and she was shaking from fear, how pathetic could one shinobi be. Imagining her third eye she began to feel the chakra building up due to the fear she felt, due to that pain of knowing she was frozen. It wasn't deliberate but it was happening, slowly but surely that chakra built more and more up around her third eye until it began to pulsate outward causing her much confusion as she felt that raising chakra. Pushing that chakra forward and outward she would begin to imagine the area as blackened, darker and darker looming, imagining night around as the darkness began to grow lapping tendrils would begin to envelope the area but in this darkness Tomoko began to worry, began to grow more fearful and soon the Tendrils began to wrap HER instead. She was engulfed in her own darkness, casting the genjutsu incidentily on herself. She was useless, how would Jorik ever forgive her for her lack of ability? She began to panic curling up in a ball and soon passed out as the world grew more wobbly.

[Tomoko Aburame]

She awoke some time later, bouncing up and down on the back of Ymir. Ymir walking as her hazy vision returned. She wasn't sure what had happened, were they captured or perhaps worse? Was this the afterlife? Ymir gave a quick chortle as he sat Tomoko off his shoulder and let her stand as he stood still looking to Tomoko. "You look better than last you were awake." he stated to the young shinobi who had inadvertently knocked herself out.

"I...I'm sorry..." she muttered "Is Tyr okay?" she questioned coyly worried that she had let him down but Ymir merely laughed "That was genjutsu. Yes?" he asked laying a hand on her shoulder to which she nodded coyly "I...It's all I know. I can't wield a sword..." she state dto which Ymir laughed once more "Hoho, no young tiefling. Listen, you're merely on the start of your journey with genjutsu and within that we come to certain mental blocks. One must always remember, Tomoko, a genjutsu is an extension of your mind. You control it, not anybody else, you do." he explained to her tapping his temple with his two fingers "You are, simply put, undefeatable in your own mind." he stated which comoforted the girl, but why did the genjutsu backfire? Was it because she was not adequate enough even in her own mind?

Was she, simply put, a useless tool that was not able to be honed? She was unsure of it but for some reason there was a mental block there causing her to struggle, causing genjutsu to backfire and turn against herself. She looked to Ymir who smiled "Come. Tyr and Finn have set up camp for the night, perhaps tonight I will teach you a thing or two." Ymir stated to the young girl as he pointed to the fire some ways off. Tomoko gave a swift nod as she followed along with Ymir to the camp.

The camp was small, a fire place with a spit roast and four bedrolls. Simple but effective. Tyr sat on a stone slowly turning what looked to be the redfurred beast on the spitroast, three arrows still in it's face as Finn spoke at, not with but rather at Tyr in his barbaric tongue. Tomoko was truly amazed by this. Had he taken down such a monster just the three of them? Truly whatever they wished to slay in Yukigakure was something on pair with a titan.

Finn gave a smile to Tomoko as she shyly sat down on a stone opposite to Tyr "A direbear is a frightful sight! I don't blame you, the first time Tyr saw one he cried for days!" he said to the young girl, Tyr glanced to his brother when his name was said and Tomoko merely giggled smiling to Tyr who spoke to his brother in his tongue as if angry, Finn waving his hands and dismissing his brother in something of a relaxed tone. Ymir soon took a seat as he sat near Tomoko "Young Tomoko, I'd like to ask you to do some meditation with me tonight. Jorik has requested I assist you in opening your blocks to genjutsu." he stated calmly causing Tomoko to nod with a grin.
The night passed and soon Tomoko found herself sitting on her bed roll by the slowly dying fire looking to Ymir who sat cross legged across from her.

"Why do you think the genjutsu attacked you?"
"I don't know..."
"Yes you do, you just don't want to know because you're young and it's hard. Only you know. Why would you cast it upon yourself?"
"Because...I...froze."
"And so what did you do?"
"Hurt myself...because I felt useless."
"See? Now we're getting somewhere. Instead of 'Why' in situations, I want you to think of 'How'. From now on it is not why should I do something, It is how can I do the task ahead of me."

Ymir then clasped his hands once more turning to Tomoko as he looked into her eyes "Now...How about we try once more."

[Tomoko Aburame]

Tomoko nodded slowly to Ymir who smiled to her with the same warmth she had grown to know, the small family of men had certainly been something that was getting her through all of this had been so kind to her. Though she had not spoken oft to Tyr and even her interaction with Finn had been brief she had found a kinship with them, something a citizen of Yukigakure could rarely say due to their alien nature in regards to the rest of the world. These men were foreign and yet she had more in common with the three of them than with the warriors of Konohagakure or Kirigakure. These were men that fought head on with shield and sword and tooth and nail ready to stop only when the last ounce of blood had dripped from their body. Tomoko admired this vigor, she held it too, only wishing to do her best and die for her country, die for her Jorik because anything else to the young ninja seemed utterly redundant. If she was not working, she was a useless blunted tool and thus she would work and work until her fingers stubbed and bloody until her country was ready to engage her.

This was why genjutsu was so important to the young girl, genjutsu was her only skill beside her bugs but before she would begin to use her insect friends she would so too need to focus on but for now this was the only option for her, a form of combat that allowed her to save herself from physical attacks but instead focus on manipulation of the mind. What more could she be of use of anyway? She would of liked, nay, she needed these abilities as a stable base to becoming the weapon that Yukigakure could utilise to defend it's borders.
So too this is why she had selected Doomtide as a spell to look at, this spell was her polar opposite or rather a side she happily repressed but in the land of snow where the blade was the law and might was right then it was clear that this side she hid so deeply down would need to be let loose if she wished to protect her darling Jorik in battle.

"Y-Yes" she stammered to the elderly sage scratching her bug ridden hair, who needed an earn when your tangled locks of black concealed a majority of bugs to be used she would often think "O-Once more...If it's okay.." she calmly spoke to Ymir who gave a warm smile, the fire growing dimmer causing his features to look tanner and yet paler than Tomoko's own pale flesh. Tomoko began to focus, focusing in on that third eye of hers, the well of chakra that allowed her to focus. It allowed her to focus in on her mental energy - the yin - the power of the mind, the power of creation. With her thoughts she was the master, she was creator of her own world as Ymir had hinted at and she needed to find a way to accept that. She needed to find a confidence in herself to fully get the grasp of this technique down, to finally understand what it meant to use one's mind in battle.

Focusing in on the swelling power she began to allow it to flow freely from her third eye, warping and twisting around her skull as she let herself go to the chakra energy, feeling the mystical energies take her as she let them come into her and seep from her. She was at one with her mind, and from this oneness she could bring forth that energy known as chakra, of yin to truly control that precious energy derived from her own body. The light blue aura began to flicker green for a moment as she felt the chakra leaving her body and rolling gently around her wrists and then to her finger tips, folding the energy as she had done before but this time she demanded. She did not just wish the chakra to become darker than black but insisted, this was an extension of her body and she felt that she had to master that aspect, become something of a master which whip lashing at those energies to ensure that they would do what she wished for them to do. They were under her command and so she began to allow the world to grow darker around them, it was not all at once or a rapidly expanding vortex but instead thick black tendrils would suddenly rise from the ground slowly as they would spread more and more then flopping to the ground where they would splatter their dark oil like bodies along the ground all sound going dead and all light devoured by eternal darkness as she watched them each fall faster and faster still, now moving like a machine dropping one after the other and the other again as she felt more in control, more powerful knowing that this was her domain this was her power to control. Perhaps it could become like this, perhaps it could become an addiction but for now Tomoko was happy. Happy that she had found a domain where she was not afraid...such an alien thing for the young snow shinobi.

As she opened her eyes she found it was morning, the technique dissipating still not perfect but certainly greater understood than previously. She was getting there slowly and the guiding hand of Ymir was enough to assist her in perfecting this technique. The morning brought forth the shining sun down on the small encampment christened with the light powered snow that had come by night. The sky was shining brightly, causing the snow to look more like small diamonds than the frosted chips of chaff it normally resembled. Tomoko's eyes turned to look for Ymir who didn't seem to be there, none of the warriors three did in fact. She was alone at the camp.
She took the time to ready herself for whatever was to come next, though they hadn't encountered much enemies they had certainly trecked further than Tomoko had ever dreamed. All in all it was hard to adjust being so far away from home for the scruffy haired girl. Naturally she had no reason to venture outside of Yukigakure, she liked her homeland and because of that she didn't really choose to be of anything more than a shinobi of the snow. Why leave a perfectly decent land if all she had to earn from leaving was a chance of being killed? To Tomoko the outside world was not only terrifying, it was more dangerous than the harsh weathers and environment of Yukigakure.

After some hours pass she spied the three walking back from the forest, Finn giving a wave to Tomoko “Sorry little one! We were gathering breakfast, assumed you would not have wanted to be among the awakened!” he spoke, his accent thick and grammar confusing in the way he used it. Tomoko waved her hand with a smile “I-It's okay, I haven't been awake f-for too long...y'know...thank you for breakfast. ” she stated as Ymir produced three small rabbits from with his backpack fixing them on to the spit that once housed the direbear that had been devoured last night. As the group ate Ymir clasped his hands together standing up as if to make a speech.

“We know what comes next.” he stated calmly and ominously all at once.
The two brothers nodded in agreement, Tyr grunting as Finn merely nodded. Tomoko still had no idea, were they about to take on whatever threatened Yukigakure? Surely not or atleast Tomoko was worried this would be the case. The idea of taking on something that could threaten the village as only a genin was a nightmare but all in all she was surrounded by men who were deemed worthy to take down this threat and she found comfort in that. She had no idea of their ranking but the idea that the three of them alone could not only take down something that a village would struggle with but so too have an apprentice tag along to watch was something that Tomoko would imagine was kage level in and of itself. She looked to Ymir and raised a hand shakingly “N-No...” she muttered to which Ymir smiled.

“We reach the second part of our domain before we reach our destination. After this it shall be three more checkpoints and we will arrive. At this point we're still early enough to turn back but once we pass this trek we will be too far gone.” he stated calmly while keeping his focus fixed on Tomoko. Finn looked to her with great concern on his face, Ymir was clearly only saying this for her to answer, his sons would surely follow but perhaps he was worried about her. Perhaps the reason the mission was not truly revealed was because Tomoko's life was more on the line than she assumed but what type of beast could it be that was not only a great threat to a village but something where that lightened the situation of the quest.

Tomoko took a deep breathe as she thought for a moment letting the question roll around her mind, letting the question think about what could possibly happen next. Would she turn back, go home, never have to worry about the threat and let these three men simply rid Yukigakure of the threat or could she truly go forward? This was for Jorik after all, the king of snow had given her an order and she planned to follow it through no matter what. She would prove that she was worthy of her title. She needed this, this for herself as well as Jorik. She was ready, ready for what was about to come, it could mean her death, it could mean more but right now she needed Ymir's teaching and so into the darkness she would walk.

“I...will be fine. For Jorik.” she stammered causing Ymir to smile, stroking his chin as the young girl submitted to the adventure. Clasping his hands the young man Finn stood and gave a strikingly heroic pose “Then onward we march!” he announced smiling to the young Tomoko “Onward to the frozen crucible!” he cheered.


---

They had been marching for two days, in that time Tomoko had seen the capabilities of the warriors three. To recall the accounts young Finn was something of the fastest man she had seen, as deadly with his daggers as he was fast able to be near unseable in his movements against the rabbits he would catch – by hand – for the group most of the time. She had found comfort in his attempts to speak to her although his accent was far too thick for her to understand most of the time and his words would mostly simple or confused. He was a good man, and one that Tomoko had liked.

Ymir was obvious, a kind father who had seen too much, the lessons Tomoko had held with him whenever they were to rest at night was something Tomoko had appreciated deeply. Through these moments, although only for a few hours a day, she had learned a lot about the secrets of the mental arts namely that of the power it held. Although she hated to admit it, she felt the idea quite seductive, the idea of being able to control a world merely by thinking obviously was alluring and the very idea that one day she might be able to not only control it all but so too use it to control others was all she needed to hear to make a choice. Although she did wish to study the medical arts and become a splendid help perhaps something darker laid behind Tomoko, something that hinted to her that maybe this path could lead to her leading Yukigakure in a more direct route. During these training sessions she would spend a majority of her time in meditation attempting to create a physical illuision between her palms and allowing it to shift again and again, from clear, to white, to black, trying to get the hang of everything she could do with an illusion but so too pushing the limits of what she had, when this session would pass Ymir would instruct her to do something simple – cast the illusion on herself. The times it happened would allow her to understand the jutsu better, to look into how it ticked, to smooth out the imperfections, to ensure it was a perfect illusion. So too though did this allow her to focus in on what it was like to be the victim of the illusion, to understand what it meant to be subjected to a genjutsu was to understand the pain she would be inflicting upon others.

She needed to experience the pain of others so that she could perfect that pain. To torture was an art, an old practice of the Yukigakure tribes of old, she had researched them before to an extent. The old tribes had some truly horrific manuevers, the blood eagle was one to name the art of slitting a persons back open and then cracking the ribs holding the lungs out in a tight not through the slit in the back and watching as they inflated and deflated from the back looking as if the person was an eagle. To torture was to create an art that defied both life and death, to create a perfec t in between masterpiece. Although flashes of this only came through in her meditation, they were still present. Maybe she did hold some dark sides, maybe she wasn't the pure that she saw Yukigakure as, maybe she was just as bad as her enemies. Maybe she would've found her place in Konohagakure quite easily. She couldn't make sense of it, mostly due to being a child, but the thoughts of inflicting pain giving her delight were troubling to her and yet Ymir encouraged her.

The last of the three she still knew nothing of was Tyr. Strong, silent Tyr who brandished his bastard sword with a ferocity not seen before. Never speaking, only grunting. Never staying long, heck Tomoko had never even seen Tyr sleep for all she knew he regained energy through bloodshed.

As the three made their way from the forest clearing through a mountain pass after some time, some days passing better than others she was astounded when hearing Tyr's horn once more as he gave the signal, they had arrived at the new location higher up the mountain pass. Tyr made a signal to keep down, to stay out of sight as best they could. Laying prone in the snow their white pelts of fur hid them from any on lookers. With her head down in the snow it was hard to see what exactly they were hiding from, it was hard to tell. That's when she saw it. What she assumed at first were specks of rocks began to move, the rocks starting to shift into a v formation as she realised just what they were, they had to be bandits of some kind and yet while the three of them laid prone Tyr stood there looking as though one of the gods themself, the blizzard obscuring him occasionally making him appear just as a sillohoute in that white chaff.

As the black dots grew closer and closer still she began to get a somewhat better look, they were certainly humanoid which she wasn't sure if such a thing was better or worse. Sure a human ould be reasoned with but they were still a human and thus able to attack with a greater mind and greater ferocity based on more than mere instinct. She couldn't take her eyes off of Tyr as he stood there, perfectly calm. Looking as the dark figures continued down stumbling and jerking as they made their way down looking almost as if conducted like puppets on a string, closer and closer they got, closer and closer as they lurched forward getting closer and closer to Tyr and then she saw it, around Tyr glew an aura of yellow. Something she had never heard before and with a single mighty roar the mountains shook and the heavens cracked with thunder as the warrior unleashed a mighty roar the likes of which Tomoko had never seen launching it outward the black figures began to scatter being blown back as in a flash Tyr was gone and each of the black figures was nothing but a mist. After only moments Tyr returned to his original spot, sheathing his bastard sword and making yet another signal leaving Tomoko in awe. As she began to stumble up the slope she made her way higher up the mountain slopes keeping her eye on Tyr. Could she ever amount to more than the stumbling child she was?

As she climbed along the way her eye caught one of the victims of Tyr's barrage, one thrown aside with his roar, these were not men. No, these were more than that, these were something of a Yukigakure legend. These were Draugr, men raised from the dead to be commanded to fight for the will of another. These were something of legend and yet Tyr had blown them away like leaves of autumn. These were not normal men, these were Aesir and Tomoko was blessed with following them into battle. Ymir gave a look to Finn, saying something in their tongue to which Finn agreed gesturing to Tomoko “Little one, how about you stay behind with me, Father and Big Brother need to go...uh, the word...forward. They need to go forward from us.” he stated placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling gentlely to the young girl who nodded to the man of great stature. Draugr. she stated looking to Finn who looked shocked, saying something in his tongue before slapping his head “Yes, I mean, they are. Were. I thought your kind didn't know of them.” he remarked with a curious tone hidden in his words to which Tomoko shrugged “Yukigakure...is very different.” she replied causing Finn to nod and grunt in agreement.

[6/20]

[👺 Usiel]

+50 from all posts. You don't have to post as much per post, if you want you can divide it up by pages.

[Tomoko Aburame]

Draugr. Things concocted to make children shake in their boots and not to wander too far from the path lay there at her feet slain by the might of a foreigner. Slain by the might of a single man of a golden aura that pierced through their burned and rotten flesh as if tissue causing their clear blue eyes that haunted all those who would look into them to grow dead and fade into a hollow husk of black flesh from hundreds of years of frostbite and decay. Truly they were what awaited any powerful shinobi, life without breathe, life without feeling but a life of power. Something that Tomoko truly feared and in part why she was content without ambitions to become a grand Lich or anything for the like, no Tomoko was content with being back up but to truly achieve this she needed to be more than just the girl who threw lights at people and occasionally scared people with flames, she needed techniques to shut people down faster than they could react and thus this book was calling her, calling her to train harder, calling her to train darker, calling her to embrace a side of herself that she refused to admit existed.

With a simple grunt Tyr had made his way further up the mountain still and they followed suit as best they could. Following the viking lord as he trudged onward, Tomoko following suit and not really sure of her place in the group - sure she was there to chronicle the events of the journey but overall these men could take on an army alone what use was a genin by her lonesome? She had no idea. Regardless, she was here with the three warriors and would make the most of what could be done. As the day passed the harsh winds grew harder and harder still, blowing down to the bone for those who attempted to brave them, the small snowflakes working like claws of the beast that was the mountain cutting as they soared in the air.

They had been marching for sometime when Ymir pointed to the sky, looking to his kin who proceeded to nod, rushing ahead to look for shelter. It wasn't long until they had found a small cave and with a small fire it may not have been warm but it certainly was better than the winds outside, or atleast it would be for a time, they needed to ensure they left this mountain as fast as they possibly could as it was cutting deep into Tomoko and though frost born who never felt the cold the effects were starting to internally affecting her.

These newer techniques weren't the block for her, they were unusual certainly but it was the reason why she needed them that kept getting in the way. It was hard to justify learning combative moves if one didn't intend to ever kill. The technique of course was not lethal, but she was a child and her concept of the world was as black and white as it came so too did the intent. When somebody fought, it was to fight to the death or so she assumed and if she wished to never kill then how could she justify what she wished to do?

[Celaena Kamyuja]

Ten Go Go Go!

[Tomoko Aburame]

SPOILER: Click to show

^_^ I was just about to edit that thinking it wouldn't be enough and yet another ten? Jeez Sita you spoil me!

[70/80]

Even the name, Doomtide, sounded so ominous when it left her lips, the idea of a technique that absorbed all light would be something of an antithesis to Tomoko's personality. She was the snowflake of Yukigakure, the little mascot who ran about never harming a fly and trying to solve the world's problems with hugs and butterscotch but this was not the case, her mental block was stopping her from using the technique and yet here she stood trying to learn the dark arts.

Looking into the fire she noticed Tyr was the only of the three still up, still awake. Looking to him wrapped in her furs she gestured a small wave which he merely grunted and nodded at with what she assumed was a smile though it was quite hard to know from the norseman's ever grimacing face. "Th-Thank you." she said, gesturing outside to which Tyr nodded cupping a cup of something steaming. "F-For helping us.." she stammered to which Tyr just nodded once more, she didn't know what she was attempting really. The man didn't speak her tongue, nor did he seem to even acknowledge her much but he was making his best effort. Grasping his mug closer still the warrior rose an eyebrow to the young girl, glancing down at the drink and then to Tomoko once more.

Pondering for a moment he passed the drink to Tomoko who nodded to him in thanks, grasping the warm greenish looking liquid that bubbled with fumes that made her head spin. What WAS this, and more importantly why was Tyr holding it in the first place? Without thinking, she took a sip to which the last thing she saw was Tyr standing up in a frantic manner trying to grab the cup from her but as she sipped she fell backwards the world spinning into a spiral as she did so.

Drums.


She heard them, drums that kept a rhythm of work. Grunts of men and women alike on the offbeat of each large bound. Thumping again and again in her head. As she churned in her sleep, turning from side to side before springing awake she saw the world she resided within. Spinning spires of ash and snow, of frozen tundras with the only dark found of long extinguished fires, ashen pillars that rose to a great green sky filled with dark clouds, a mist of lime hanging in the air as the young girl held her head, the world shaking to a degree as she looked across her to see a large hound eyeing her down. The hound did not growl, nor did it whimper, it simply was there looking to Tomoko.

Tomoko slowly rose her hands shaking as she looked to the hound, worried it'd jump at any time she was glad that the two were seperated by a huge green pyre of flames that crackled standing as a wall between the two. Just as Tomoko would have thought about running a woman's hand gracefully laid on her shoulder causing the young girl to jump in fright and scramble closer to the flames turning to see the most odd image she had seen, a beautiful woman of black hair and white streaks with a single hole where her left eye should have been revaling a jade skeletal feature in place of the flesh, one of her hands alive and the other dead and clad in the wrappings of the dead and silver ornaments. Looking down to the young Yuki-Nin, the floating woman gave a sweet smile before speaking in a voice that was like dried velvet, like a robe that had been worn too long once beautiful and delicate but now withered and tired.

"Frostborn. You've found yourself so far from home."
"Wh-Where...Who?"
"Tomoko. Calm yourself. You stammer too much to be a good vizier."

Tomoko didn't understand the word she used, nor how the woman knew her name but there she floated speaking plainly to the girl as if she were her mother or an old teacher. Tomoko dare not open her mouth out of both fear and awe, unsure of what or rather where she was.

"You can't make sense of this block can you?"

Tomoko was surprised, this woman knew her ins and outs and yet she had no recollection of who she was. Was she a friend of the warriors three perhaps? It was hard to tell. All she knew was that these three men had powers she had naught yet seen in the earthly realms and yet they continued to surprise her, perhaps Tyr had allies not only in that earthly plain.

"I...Y-Yes...I don't want to hurt people..."
"What are you Tomoko?"
"A...A girl."
"No. You're a weapon."
"B-But I am...I ...I'm just a kid!"
"The age of a weapon matters not, it is the usefulness that counts. Are you a useful weapon, Tomoko?"
"N...no..."
"Then. You need to hone yourself."
"I don't want to hurt people! I don't want to make them suffer!"

Tomoko shouted, near crying from the thought of the pain she could cause others, worried that learning a technique like this might cause others to feel something she did not wish them to feel. She couldn't suffer that, she couldn't handle that at all, it worried her but more so it was just...not right in her eyes to do that to another human being.

"Sometimes the only way to sheathe a sword, is with another sword."

The floating woman said to Tomoko allowing the young child to stand in confusion, but soon the floating woman would gently waver down infront of the young frostborn placing her skeletal hand on top of Tomoko's head giving her frightening visions that caused the young girl to wince and shake. Visions of the village in ruins, visions of the snow being wiped out and the leaf's flag flying high and all due to her freezing.

"To track a beast, one must know the beast."

Again, more visions, of hunting, of thinking and moving like the boar when she would hunt with the hunters of Yukigakure, when tracking one did not think like a human but instead like what they wished to take down.

"I think...I think I understand" Tomoko stammered "...I need to know these techniques because others will know them...and...and if I don't then it'll be my fault" she stated almost sobbing from fear to which the skeletal woman nodded gently.

"Good. Now leave this place."
"W-Won't I see...I mean how do I repay you..."
"One day, Tomoko. One day I will need a Vizier, I will need a mouthpiece."
B-but I'm just a kid!"
"One day you will speak for me regardless of what you wish."

Tomoko was worried, but at the same time relieved, she was never a leader herself and to be a mouthpiece was an acceptable repayment for the blessing bestowed upon her. Looking to the skeletal woman once more Tomoko smiled, walking up to her and hugging her close to her small frail body.

"Your name...what is your name?"

Tomoko asked holding the woman, and closing her eyes and suddenly hearing that raspy yet beautiful voice no longer merely infront of her but within her mind herself utter one word.

"Hel."

"Your name...what is your name?"
"T-Tomoko please! Calm yourself little skaldling!"

As she opened her eyes no longer was she in that ashen domain of ice and soot but back in the cave, confused and seemingly hugging Tyr close. The great bruting warrior was stone faced as always as he looked down to the scruffy haired little girl who immediately fell back, holding her head.

"Wh-What?" she muttered causing Ymir to walk up to her and place a hand on her with his familiar beaming face coming through his ice-white beard. "Tomoko you foolish little frostborn. Never drink Tyr's elixar!" he commented as Tomoko shook her head "B-But where is Lady Hel? She...she told me, Wha happened?" It was then that Ymir's face turned from beaming to hysterically laughing and then turning to Tyr and saying something in his tongue to which Tyr, for the first time Tomoko had seen began laughing hysterically bending over in his deepend baritone voice his laugh echoing through out the cave causing Tomoko much confusion at the whole ordeal.