Library of the Ancients [MISSION]

Gula was as stone-faced as ever, politely taking the page from Rina's hand. He then moved over to the book in question and put the page where it should be. He couldn't mend it totally, but it would ensure that the page was crumpled up. Gula put the book into his inventory and looked over to Roxas. It was here that he allowed himself a small smirk. "You're not too bad yourself, Rucksack. I'd be careful with going all out, though. I've got a hunch we're going to be dealing with stronger monsters as we continue this endeavor. At least, that's how my luck always pans out." Gula then followed the others to the piles and piles of books that awaited them. Gula gave a rather dejected sigh. It just couldn't be that easy, could it? It wasn't even like he could blame the scholars here for not organizing their books. After all, monsters infesting the library were excusable distractions. They really needed to hire a warrior full-time. He watched as the others moved to different tables and decided he'd take one that was a bit away from the group. It was clear he still preferred being alone and didn't quite trust Roxas and Rina yet.

"I believe the one we're searching for next is the book called Forgotten Landscape of Moore." Gula started to sort through the books, setting aside tomes that weren't what they were looking for. Gula's eyes lingered on the cover of Follies of the Wise before deciding to put that at the bottom of a new stack of books. He also was debating how they would face the next creature, assuming there was one. His mind was abuzz with strategy and intellectual curiosity of the books themselves. He was also still wondering how Roxas had two Keyblades but was still unable to broach the question or if he should at all. Regardless, he kept to himself, busily sorting through book after book.

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Boost: With this, Gula can boost the power of his physical attacks by one tier higher for the duration. Only one Boost can be activated at a time. [Duration: 2 posts][Cooldown: 4 posts]

Trickster Raid: Gula throws his Keyblade, much like a Strike Raid. However, whether the opponent dodges or is hit by the initial Strike Raid, Gula blinks to the Keyblade in mid-flight. Now behind his opponent and strikes at the opponent's back. This attack deals Medium damage if one attack hits and Heavy damage if both attacks hit. [Cooldown: 1 post]

Gula sighed. He was now re-sorting through books to make sure he hadn't missed the book. It was frustrating work, to say the least, not helped by the underlying current of "A monster may jump out and commence murdering" going on. So while Gula looked like he didn't want to be sociable, in truth, he was a bit relieved when Roxas came by. It broke up the monotony of all this book finding. Gula looked over at Roxas as he asked his question. He wasn't sure he should divulge too much information, at first. However, if he didn't, Roxas would most likely try to find information on his own which could lead to disaster. Might as well arm the young lad with information. "Well, I'm sure you're aware that there are Keyblade Masters, right? I learned from a Master as well. However, he wasn't A Master, but THE Master. There weren't any other Keyblade Masters before him... Or Keyblades, to be honest."

Gula was sure that Roxas would think he was crazy. Honestly, his story did seem a little far-fetched. But that didn't mean it wasn't true. However, before the Leopard-masked boy could elaborate any further, books fell to the floor below. Gula looked up to see the Page Slugs going hog on the books. Immediately, he summoned his Keyblade to his hand and cast Thundaga on the Plant Slugs. Then he put himself in a defensive stance, putting his Keyblade between himself and the slugs. To most, it would seem odd but Gula was setting up for Counter Zantetsuken. If hit, he would make the slug regret it.  "Looks like our Q&A is going to have to be postponed for a bit." Gula looked over at Rina, who seemed to either be frozen or just not noticing what was happening. Regardless, the Slugs didn't seem that tough. Perhaps Thundaga would eliminate them all.

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Boost: With this, Gula can boost the power of his physical attacks by one tier higher for the duration. Only one Boost can be activated at a time. [Duration: 1 post][Cooldown: 4 posts]

Trickster Raid: Gula throws his Keyblade, much like a Strike Raid. However, whether the opponent dodges or is hit by the initial Strike Raid, Gula blinks to the Keyblade in mid-flight. Now behind his opponent and strikes at the opponent's back. This attack deals Medium damage if one attack hits and Heavy damage if both attacks hit. [CAN BE USED AGAIN]

Thundaga: Gula calls forth a lightning storm of fierce proportions, dealing Heavy Damage to an opponent struck by these powerful bolts of Lightning. [Cooldown: 3 posts]

Counter Zantetsuken: Gula puts himself in a defensive stance. He cannot use any more moves while in this stance. However, if the opponent is foolish enough to strike Gula, he/she hits nothing but air as Gula speeds past his opponent, leaving an afterimage and looking as if he attacked. A second later, the opponent is struck by a delayed slash from Gula's Keyblade, dealing Medium damage that pierces defenses. [Cooldown: 3 posts]

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Knuckles cracked over the sudden placidity left in the wake of the libraries importune terraforming. Roxas flexed the fingers of his healed hand. Rina’s magic had rewoven the deliquesced tendons and revivified his cells from scalded necrosis. No stranger to magic, Black or White, Roxas was still struck by the surreality of his gruesome injury reduced to just some skin discoloration. Even the burning in his lungs from breathing in the slug’s toxic musk (another sentence that would hopefully never been said again beyond this library) had receded somewhat. It made what had been agonizingly immanent just three minutes ago now have an illusive dream-like uncertainty of whether it actually happened or had been that bad. It was an unpleasantly familiar line of questioning, but Roxas had always counted more on the use of his limbs to get him through life then actually knowing what was real, so there you go.

“Hey thanks again Rina,” Roxas said, giving the courier a respectful nod that ruffled the sandy mop of his head. “Gonna owe you both dinner or something after this,” he noted with a self-deprecating smirk to those who’d rescued him from perhaps the most embarrassing ambush he’d yet endured in a life already chock full of them.

The boy folded his arms as he regarded their new surroundings, certainly impressed by the feat of bibliographic landscaping, but not entirely surprised after having painful confirmation that the things born from the books were quite real. Keeping a wary eye out for any more stalking mollusks eager for tender man-flesh, Roxas approached the lectern, glancing between it, the shelves sitting not so innocently at the pond’s center, and the currently peaceful waters. Uncharacteristically wary given recent events, Roxas opted to regard further literature as a dangerous proposition for the time being, perhaps forever.

“Looks like the last one,” the boy noted unnecessarily. “What’s the game-plan?”

Rina Croft @gula

1) Roxas is healed of some of his Poison and Acid damage

2) Roxas decides to not touch the possible slug book. 

As soon as the putrid smell hit Gula's nostrils, he covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. Heck, it stung his eyes and caused him to tear up under his mask. He immediately grabbed the page AND the book it belonged to before getting out of the stink cloud and allowing him to cough and dry heave. He put the page back into "Forgotten Landscapes of Moore" and followed the others to the next book. The next book happened to be on a pedestal right out in the open. Wow, that certainly wasn't a trap. "No, not the last, Roxas. We're still missing H-URK!" Gula turns his head away from the others, holding a finger up to indicate he needed a minute. After a beat, Gula turned back to face the other two. "Just in my mouth, I'm fine. I'm going to be smelling that for weeks. Anyways, we still need to find 'Herbs of History.'" Luckily, the other two seemed to recognize that the book was a trap, as the both of them seemed to hesitate. Then Rina, the brave girl, quickly grabbed the book and brought it back.

Gula nodded and then readied himself to attack. Recent history dictated that this would never be as simple as just taking the book. "Everyone be ready, just in case." Gula still felt sick from the slugs' stench. He'd just have to fight through it. Roxas also seemed to be a little green around the gills. Why did it feel like Rina was going to have to be taking care of the both of them? Gula shook his head and just prepared himself by casting Haste on himself. The Foreteller excelled at outpacing his foes.

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Boost: With this, Gula can boost the power of his physical attacks by one tier higher for the duration. Only one Boost can be activated at a time. [Cooldown: 4 posts]

Thundaga: Gula calls forth a lightning storm of fierce proportions, dealing Heavy Damage to an opponent struck by these powerful bolts of Lightning. [Cooldown: 2 posts]

Counter Zantetsuken: Gula puts himself in a defensive stance. He cannot use any more moves while in this stance. However, if the opponent is foolish enough to strike Gula, he/she hits nothing but air as Gula speeds past his opponent, leaving an afterimage and looking as if he attacked. A second later, the opponent is struck by a delayed slash from Gula's Keyblade, dealing Medium damage that pierces defenses. [Cooldown: 2 posts]

Haste: Gula can cast the spell to augment his already prodigious speed. This boosts his agility to the point of being very hard to hit and increase the amount of moves he can use per post by one. [Duration: 2 posts][Cooldown: 4 posts]