Northbound
Logan just spent some time catching his breath after that experience. He wasn’t mentally tired, as well, he never was anymore, but between his attempts at experimentation and the training he had undergone during the day, Logan had to convince himself to keep practicing.
Forcing himself to stay out, Logan moved onto the next item on his docket. He knew what both of his ‘unknown’ Blessings were, but hadn’t gotten a chance to use the second since he had obtained it. The Depth Wyrms Blessing sat at the collection point of his tentacles, pulsating in rhythm with his breath.
Logan found himself nervous when he considered using the Blessing, even though he felt foolish for doing so. He intrinsically knew that now that the Blessing was his, he wouldn’t be harmed by its intense power, but still his mind flashed back to Langst Harbor, and the horror they had faced there.
Steeling himself, Logan took the plunge, and spiritually grasped the Blessing. It felt like contracting an imaginary muscle, or tensing to the point that his veins started to pop out. Forcing the issue, Logan ripped through, and let loose a scream from his open jaw.
Waves of barely visible energy rippled out in a torrent, thankfully in a cone the way he was facing, because as it had contact with the plant-life and flora he had just connected to with his Ability, the greenery was absolutely shredded.
And it was loud. Like, really, really, really heckin’ loud. Logan cringed back after he finished, both from the destruction he had caused to the innocent landscape, and from the noise he was sure would wake at least a few people.
Looking around at the 20 feet of pure chaos he had caused, Logan tried to slip as quietly into the barracks as he could manage. As he was slipping into his cot, he heard some movement from one of his Squadmates, but Logan wasn’t focused on that.
I… have to be careful with that one.
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The next couple of days of training went in a blur, as Gregor continued to hammer adaptability into his subordinates. Their one on one training was intense, with very few breaks for resting and recuperating.
Logan found himself dueling off against Aerie on the third day, having already gone through the entire Squadrons rotation, and ending up with his original partner. During the first day, Logan had struggled with beating Aerie, as she held her water stores for close range while she peppered him from distance with her crossbow.
Logan had tried to teleport closer, but at this point all of his Squadmates were intimately familiar with his most used Blessing. She had instantly countered whipping him with a stream of water powerful enough to leave welts through his leathers. As he looked across the training yard at her, he grabbed the spot where he ached.
She smirked at him. “Ready for more?” Aerie asked across the field.
“Bring it on, you jellyfish.”
That wiped the smug look off her face, Aerie instead growing serious. As Gregor signaled for the duos to begin, she instantly launched a blunted bolt at Logan’s sternum. Dodging to the side, Logan tried to advance on the Water Attuned on foot.
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As Aerie loosed another bolt, Logan managed to stumble once more out of its trajectory, before he felt a presence at his back. Grabbing desperately at his core, Logan barely managed to teleport out of the way of Gregor’s downstroke.
Instantly, fighting each other was forgotten over their new common adversary, as Aerie and Logan swapped targets. Crossbow bolts covered Logan’s rengage as he teleported once again, this time headed towards Gregor instead of away.
As Logan brought his training sword towards his Captains head, Gregor leaned out of the way with almost casual indifference, before making to strike back. Just in time, a whip of water extended from Aeries hands to Gregor’s forestalling his retaliation, and allowing Logan another swing.
One which Logan ended, about two inches from Gregor’s neck.
“Captain.” Logan said.
Gregor just smiled.
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At the end of the third day of training, Gregor made an announcement.
“Tomorrow, at dawn, all the Legionnaires stationed at Marineford are to leave, and march North. That includes our Squadron. Congratulations former Recruits, you have officially joined the Legion, as of this moment.”
The Greatwood Squadron was stunned. For Logan and Amar, they had only been in training for a month, and most of their Squadmates had been here much longer. After all, their Squad was grouped together because they all had pasts or powers that singled them out as potential threats or spies. To just suddenly… be done with training seemed unusual. Gregor continued on.
“Our Squadron will be headed to Fort Errstile, to reinforce the border after the fall of Grecia at Harth’s hands. Get your effects and possessions in order today, we will not wait for you. Dismissed.”
With that, the Squadron split off for the respective barracks for a while. Logan went to let Remy know that they would be leaving tomorrow. The little guy wasn’t happy as he had gotten comfortable in Marineford, but there was nothing for it. They had signed up for the Legion, and Logan couldn’t back out now that a war might actually break out.
The mood in the guys barracks was unusually quiet, no doubt as a result of the news they had just received. Even Larry was contemplative. It was quickly putting a damper on Logan’s mood, so he decided something had to change.
“Alright guys, pick those heads up. Thinking about it won’t do us any good, yeah? Let’s just keep training and acting like we always do, that’s when we are at our best!” Logan exclaimed.
For a couple of seconds, all he got in return were blank stares but his words eventually kindled a fire in their eyes. Logan saw the moment it happened, when their thoughts stopped spinning into the future, and suddenly they were once again living in the present. Logan felt his cheeks turn up.
“Trust me, we are going to go up North, kiss some ass, then get showered in medals and awards and stuff. But for now, let's just focus on the day to day.”
Nods met these words instead of the previous glossy eyes. Even Lucius, who so rarely showed any emotion, was looking determined.
“The kids right, we have nothing to fear out there. We all made it through the Depth Wyrm at Langst, what are some men going to do to us, eh?” Jerry added.
“Haha, yeah! I like that expression, kicking ass! Let's go!” Jerry shouted, clearly over his hangups and back to being his normal self.
“Looks like we are all in agreement then. Let's do this, guys.”
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The next morning, as Gregor had said, the Squadron got up and was ready by dawn. As the rays of sunlight streamed down over the Greatwood Squadron, everyone was alert and wired. Even if Logan’s words had calmed down half of them, Logan didn’t think anyone managed to sleep much last night.
Logan himself had stuck with his nightly routine of training, although he did go back to his earlier, stamina based workouts. Still, Logan felt good after resting for about an hour before the rest of the Legion had awoken, with only some slight muscle soreness that would alleviate once he got back to moving.
That wouldn’t have been the case before he joined the Legion. Even though Logan had been working out, and helping Jeremiah everyday, his body had hit new, unseen heights here. Logan flexed slightly as he was standing at attention, and just enjoyed the power that now rested at his fingertips. Although he had always been on the more athletic side, he had never pursued a serious attempt at building up his body. Logan regretted that now.
Shifting his thoughts, Logan was just in time to pay attention to the last announcement Gregor was making before they would join the rest of the Company.
“...and so, we head North. Do not let your steps falter, or your minds wander. Instead, stay grounded, focused in every moment, and we will see this campaign through.”
Huh, sounds an awful lot like the spiel I gave last night.
“Alright, Greatwood Squadron. Fall in with the Company’s march as we join them at the parade grounds. Fall in, we head out!”
With that, the Squadron went to join the rest of the Legion, and inevitably, journey North.