It was pathetic, really. He was beginning to remember everything that had happened to him so far. The trails, the zombies, and of course, the reason why he had signed up in the first place. And yet, even knowing all of this, he was running at the slightest sign of danger.
Hadn't he wanted to stop this? stop being so god-dam petrified of everything and learn how to fight?
Annoyed at his own behavior, he forced himself to calm down and to think things through. It was how he had learned to cope when things became hectic; come up with a logical plan, and focus only on that, nothing else.
And his plan for now? Follow Clarice's orders, go to the cove, start some sort of initiation, and "find the being that holds your bond". As to what the bond thing was about he had no clue, but he was hoping it wouldn't be too difficult.
It took some time to discover where the cove was, since he hadn't followed any of the senior hunters to it's location. Descending the stairs, the trainee found himself in a small dark room. It was hard to see, thanks to the only source of light being a torch near the stairs. He was reluctant to move away from it, afraid that something would decide to jump him.
Jason was thankful no one was around to hear him shriek.
"Oh god....oh god..." Holding onto the edge of the wall like it was a lifeline, he gazed around wildly for the source of the voice. Dammit, he thought he was alone!
"W....W....Where...." He tried to say, the stutter in his voice obvious.
"Where....a-are...."
By now Jason had realized that the voice wasn't coming from any direction, but from inside his own head. It, no wait, he, was speaking directly into his mind.
And now he could read his thoughts. Brilliant. Just what he needed; a disembodied voice that knew exactly what he was thinking.
"W-Where are you?!" He nearly shouted. "S-show yourself!"
"...." Cautiously, he edged away from the stairs and further into the room. He could see that there was more to the glowing runes on the walls then he previously thought. They were in fact small tablets, covering the entirely of the room. Leaning in closer, he could make out small pictures under each of the runes. Axes, guns, bows...there were all types of weapons depicted. Curiously, he reached out to touch one of them...
Not me, not me, not me...
"Gah!" He pulled his arm back, his arm tingling as the tablet literally whispered to him. Holy hell, why was the tablet talking? Tablets didn't talk. Was it possessed? It was possessed wasn't it, it was going to posses him, and he was going to die. Dammit, he had to get out before he was-
A sudden bust of laugher interrupted his thoughts, the loud noise ringing inside his head and making him even more jumpy. It wasn't a cruel laugher, but it still made the hair on his neck stand up.
...."What?" That wasn't what he was expecting. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
< How? You're so petrified of a whispering piece of stone, you're about to faint! It's not only hilarious, but truly invigorating! Ohh, How I wish I had my body. It was really horrifying, don't you know?>
"...It....was?" He asked, a feeling of dread rising up inside.
The voice paused, realizing that his 'guest', had all but collapsed on the floor, his breathing coming in shaky gasps.
<...You really are a bit of a wuss, aren't you?> The voice asked.
'a bit of a wuss' was a understatement. And yet, Jason couldn't help himself. If what he heard was correct, then somewhere in this room there really was a monster, and not just a shadow!
With a shaky sigh, he stood back up again, trying to find some inner most courage so he could complete this initiation.
"Y-yes...I'm scared, I'm petrified. But...I-it doesn't matter. I've come this far...I'm not going to quit, I will become a hunter! "
A chuckle followed.
There, there it was. As soon as the disembodied voice stopped speaking, he became aware of a noise in the air. A humming. Where was it coming from? He looked around the room again, then closed in on another tablet nearby. This one depicted a sword underneath...
Jason gulped. Was this one going to whisper as well?
"I-if you're sure.." The trainee placed his hands on the tablet, relaxing when no tingling sensation or whispers happen. But as he pulled it out, the tablet suddenly glowed brightly and blinded him for a moment. When he opened his eyes next....
"...Amazing...." Jason gasped as he held up the sword that was now in his hands. The hilt was decorated with a group of feathers, and the steel shone brightly in the gloom, as if it was just polished.
"Yes...the details on you...." he answered, then stopped in his tracks. "Wait a sec...You... you're-"
"...Jason Kenneth" He answered. "Zanthvos...that stuff you said before..."
Was this for real? Was this guy...was he really going to help him? This...this was-
And then Jason was running out of the room, Zanthvos in his hands, screaming his a** off.
