Keroko woke up to total darkness. It was not like waking in the middle of the night, or being
trapped in a lightless room. Rather, it was like waking to a suffocating, oppressive darkness that
seemed to choke her no matter what she did. It was silent. Terrifying.
“Hello?” she croaked out, her throat painfully dry and her voice weak. She would hear no
response. “Hey?”
Alone. She was alone here, in this darkness. The sheets, soft and warm, seemed to constrict her
limbs and weigh her down. Her pillow felt like a vice, and the air, though cool, was heavy and
thick.
She was drowning.
“Anyone?” Her voice seemed so small, lost in the shadows. Already, her heart was beating
rapidly, her breath quick. There were dull thumps, off in the distance. Be they someone else or
her own heart, she did not know. Her hands tightened around a clump of sheets as her chest
tightened, the urge to cry out choking her painfully.
Suddenly, a pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders firmly, a contact that surprised her at first.
“Lady Keroko, calm yourself,” the voice spoke. “You are safe. Everything is all right.”
It took a moment for the voice to register. “Noland?”
“Yes. I am right here.”
“Yeah… yeah,” Keroko murmured, willing her heart to slow down. Then her thoughts finally
caught up, the memories resurfacing.
It was a day since her discharge from the hospital, her body completely fine save for the damage
to her eyes. She was guided to her apartment by her friends, but as feared, they could not
devote the time to give her the attention she needed. Instead, Noland had taken up that
responsibility, while the others visited when they could. Still unused to this, the redhead had
occasional “attacks,” thanks to the traumatic and abrupt isolation of her senses.
She sat up, turning and letting her feet drop to the floor. “Sorry. I freaked out again.”
“You need not apologize. I should have been here when you awakened.”
“No way. That’s not fair to you. How would you know I woke up anyways?” she shook her
head invisibly. “I hate this. I feel so vulnerable and exposed. How do you deal with it?"
"Practice," Noland answered simply. "I am unsure how to describe it completely. Rather, it was
experience and time that allowed me to adjust. Alone, it took substantial time to do so.
However, you are not alone; I am here, and together we will overcome this difficulty."
Silence. Then a snort. "You ham."
Noland chuckled in response, "I am glad to see you are returning to your old spirits, lady
Keroko. I am preparing breakfast, so I will leave you to wash up and change.”
“Pff. As if anyone can see anything," she scoffed, already peeling off the over-sized button-up
she used as pajamas.
Noland, on the other hand, was already turned around, "It is still inappropriate for me to be in a
room with a lady that is changing."
"A conservative one, aren't you?"
"Old habits of an old man," he was already heading out the door. "Please call me if you need
any assistance."
But wouldn't I be still be naked if I needed help?
She threw the pajamas aside, stepping carefully towards the general direction of her bathroom.
Despite having done this several times already, Keroko still felt unsure at times as she attempted
to navigate her room. She bit back a curse as her right pinkie toe collided rather painfully with a
corner, pausing in her step to collect herself.
Starting the shower took a bit of fumbling, but the water was hot and refreshing. With the
bandages off, it felt nice to have something run over the once-covered skin, though it was
definitely weird to know that her eyes were open, yet perceive nothing. The itchy, mild irritation
Keroko felt from the water flooding her eyes only served to remind her of her condition as she
washed her hair and body.
Everything was pre-set for her, like her towel, and after drying off she placed it back as exact as
she could. Any anomalies and, well, it would be very embarrassing.
By her bed was a stack of clothing prepared ahead of time, a task Nanoha and Fate had done
after Keroko was returned home. The redhead took a set from the top and went about putting it
on. First the underwear, then a simple sweater and skirt. Some part of her worried about her
appearance, but she dismissed it. With one hand on the wall to guide her she made her way to
the kitchen.
"I'm all set. What's for breakfast?" Keroko announced her arrival.
The meal was a simple affair, light but filling. After cleaning,the two set up a little collection of
objects, small and of varying textures. Practice, for visualizing objects by touch. Each day held
different objects, and Keroko was very quickly picking up the talent.
“Ah ha. Potato! Kinda old though. It’s a little squishy, and the skin feels weird.”
“Correct. Well done. You will soon be able to do this on your own."
“Oh no, I’m far from being any good at this. I barely identified that fruit the other day…”
“Practice makes perfect. My instruction will be unnecessary.”
“But it’s been fun like this! I have an idea of how you see the world now; it’s both amazing and
sad at the same time. The world is dark, yet it is there...” Keroko trailed off, holding the potato
in her hands. “Has it always been this… difficult?"
There was a moment before Noland responded, “In the beginning, it was. It was so sudden that
I thought it only temporary. Perhaps I had witnessed a bright flash, or I struck my head too hard.
A nightmare, perhaps, soon dispelled by the morning light. It was not to be."
"Then you just picked up on how to navigate the world?"
"Hmm, well, I will admit: my perception is not wholly intrinsic. I cheat slightly."
"You? Cheat? How do you do that?" she asked, curious. There was only so much a blind man
could do to "cheat" at perception.
"With the same power granted upon you and I. This may work differently for Mid-Childa styles,
but you understand how the Belkan magic style uses magic to reinforce the body?"
Keroko almost nodded, "Yes."
"The idea is similar, but utilized in different ways. For example, I can focus magic into my feet
and detect the tremors in the earth. With every step I take, I gain feedback due to the magic,
and I get a small idea of my immediate surroundings."
"Oh, like sonar?"
"Somewhat. I feel for tremors in the ground, like how an earthworm feels around itself. The
technique is not at all effective, however. The environment is a major factor, so a steel bulkhead
is likely to give a clear image, while a muddy road can obscure even large machines."
"Hmm... that does seem really useful, though..." Keroko sounded thoughtful
"It does have advantages," Noland nodded. "However, it is not the only method. Like you
mentioned earlier, sonar is another way. Though our ability to perceive sound waves are not
developed, we can improve the perception, like how some can enhance their senses. You could
even emulate sight to a limited degree."
"You can? But your eyes..." she didn't want to continue.
"The eye is the organ in which visual data is accumulated. However, it is the brain that takes that
data and translates it into an image. Since this theory is not so much visual data as it is magical..."
"Then I'm not really using my eyes," Keroko finished, a spark of understanding jumpstarting her
brain.
"Sensation. Awareness. How you distinguish the world is not limited to one method," Noland
was smiling, almost thankful that his friend was catching on. "When you combine these multiple
stimuli, you can create your own perception of the world."
"And touch is for detail, for painting a picture in your mind. Though the palette has no color, you
still 'see' what it is," the redhead rubbed a thumb over the rough skin of the potato, a faint image
forming in her mind. Then, a thought occurred to her, "Hey, is that how you figure out faces?"
If he could, Noland would have blinked. "Yes, in a way. The theory and method is the same,
though it can be a little difficult. There are many details concerning a person's face and features."
"Do you... do you think I can try that?"
A quiet moment, and then, "Of course."
There were a few scraping sounds, several footsteps; Keroko could feel the presence of
someone sitting in front of her.
"Now then, if I may..." Noland murmured, reaching out with ungloved hands. Keroko almost
jumped when she felt his fingers brush over her cheeks. It was a gentle touch, gliding over over
her skin with unusual tenderness. Along the jawline, around the ears, tracing the nose and the
ridge of her lips, and over her brow; she had to resist laughing from the ticklish sensations. His
hands were rough, the signs of hard work. Even as the hands ran over her cheeks and the
bandages that covered her eyes, she seemed to be at peace. It was calming, in a way, as
Noland's fingers ran through her loose hair. It was only moments, yet she wanted it for longer...
"You are beautiful, lady Keroko."
It was a good thing his hands weren't near her face, lest he feel her cheeks suddenly heat up,
"Oh, stop that. There's nothing special about me."
"Why such modesty? Certainly, I am not alone in this opinion?"
Because when you say it, it makes me feel weird...
"A-Anyways, are you done? Can I try now?" Keroko asked, hoping to move away from the
topic.
"Very well then. Begin when you are ready."
"Alright..."
The girl began as his hands, rubbing her fingers over the callouses. Bony, but warm; were they
this big before? Her hand felt absolutely tiny compared to his. From his hands she traced up his
arms, feeling the fabric and muscle underneath. She remembered his coat making him seem thin,
yet what she felt was hardly that. Up his arms, over the shoulders and to his neck. Noland
always seemed to wear these stuffy, formal clothes. Several locks of his hair tickled the back of
her hand as she moved up, her fingers finally touching the flesh of Noland's face. It was rough,
almost leather-like, sandpaper-like stubble already growing in. Idly, she wondered how Noland
would look with a beard of sorts, or even a mustache. A giggle almost escaped her lips, though
she reined it in quickly.
Huh. She never really got close to males like this, did she?
Noland felt... older than he actually was; something about him relayed a sense of age. She
couldn't explain it if she tried, keeping silent as her fingers brushed the wraps well known to him.
For a moment, she lingered there. Hidden under those deceptively thin strips of cloth was an
artifact that cursed her friend; a weapon from a lost time, bringing terror and destruction in an
unstoppable fury. He shouldered this burden alone, his soul haunted by the scars.
Her case was no different. The power of the black aspect mage was intense, though its cost
was heavy. As long as her heart beat, she would hold this dark power back. Yet, at the same
time, the threat of its release was hanging over her like the Sword of Damocles. What strange
coincidences, what strange times, that such kindred souls be here like this.
Focusing on the textures and shapes, Keroko tried to form the image of Noland's face in her
mind. Every curve, every feature, she drew on her mental canvas. The picture she got... was...
A complete blank. Her hands dropped into her lap.
"I guess I need more practice. I couldn't get a good sense of it at all," she sighed, disappointed.
She didn't get a sense of how Noland looked like at all. The only things she picked up on were
those details she did not notice or realize before. "Do you think I can really do this?"
"I am shocked, lady Keroko, that you would doubt yourself," he really did sound shocked. "Is
something the matter?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm just being weird again," she shook her head to clear the doubt away.
Really, this was unlike her. "Anyways, how long did it take you to get this?"
"Two years, perhaps more. Time is difficult to tell sometimes."
"Ack."
"Now now, I am neither a benchmark or a time restraint. Work at your own pace, lady Keroko,
and you will succeed."
"Yeah, you're right. Are there any other methods that use magic? Maybe I can multitask and get
two birds with one stone."
"There... is," Noland spoke carefully, weighing his words. "But it is something I have not
mastered, even with all this time. I understand the theory, and I believe I know what to expect,
but I myself have been unable to utilize it."
Oho. What could this be? Her interest was definitely piqued.
The knight continued, "The technique involves concentrating your power into your eyes. Well,
the eyes are unnecessary, but they act as the focus for which to perceive magic. In essence, you
can detect and 'see' the
"That... that sounds amazing! How the hell do you do it?"
"Well... there is the difficulty," Noland replied, scratching his head. "The instructions are abstract,
and how it manifests, if at all, differs in each person. More so, this is a more advanced technique
than what we practiced earlier. As such, I am uncertain if we should continue."
"I... I want to try it. Physical touch, yeah, it could take a while, but I've always been better with
magic. Maybe I can pick this one up quicker."
"My worries are in regards to feedback. We will start slow, as gentle as possible. I do not want
to risk further damage."
Keroko could feel the hesitation in Noland, and she smirked in response.
"No problem! I got this. We'll do this slow and steady. Okay?"
The knight let out a long breath before answering, "Very well. Focus on my breathing and only
that. Let not the world distract you, nor allow your other senses cloud your mind. To awaken
this new 'sense,' you must block out what your hear, what you feel, what you taste, and what
you smell. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Keroko murmured, doing her best to follow the instructions. Her breaths were long and
deep, her concentration focused solely on the presence sitting in front of her.
"Perceive nothing but my voice and my breath. Now, with your mind, look beyond my breathing;
look for the life behind the breaths. Seek the power of life and the magic that flows around it.
Imagine the essence, the texture and feel of the mana coursing through. Remember how it feels
to use that power, to manipulate and guide it. Now, search for that feeling in me."
At first, Keroko saw nothing; just the same expanse of limitless shadow that clouded her sight.
What was it she was looking for? Was it even possible, this technique? Noland could not master
it… wait. There.
In the sea of darkness, she felt something—no, she
saw something. There was a warmth in
her eyes, as a swirl of color seemed to flit into sight. Blue? No, red? It whorled like smoke,
fleeting and ephemeral. And like smoke, it existed for a brief moment before disappearing into
the shadow once more. It was incredibly brief, but she
saw something.
So close. She was so close! The warmth in her eyes seemed to intensify as she focused more on
that swirl of color. The essence of magic, the power that she and her friends possessed, it was
there. She saw it. She was so close she could almost grasp it.
And suddenly, the darkness around her exploded into searing white. Oh God. Her eyes were
burning. They felt like they were on fire. A silent scream tore away her throat as her hands
instinctively snapped up, clawing at the bandages around her eyes. It hurt! It hurt so much! It
was driving her mad, this scorching agony! Strong hands grasped her wrists, but she didn't care.
Someone stop this terrible terrible burning oh god why won't it stop it's burning she's burning—
...
...
Was she dead? Or was she waking? Her eyes felt tender, sore, as if she had been staring at a
computer screen for too long. She was laying on her back, in bed once more. Keroko sat up.
"Lady Keroko?" it was Noland, summoned by the rustle of movement.
"Hey," she whispered, a bitter smile invisible to them both.
"Thank the Kaiser, you are awake!" Keroko could feel him come across the room, settling into
the seat next to the bed. His warm hands grasped hers.
"Yeah. That was pretty dumb of me, wasn't it?"
"Please, do not frighten me like that again. "That was incredibly dangerous, lady Keroko.
Forcing your body to do something like that... you could have burned out your central nervous
system."
"I'm sorry, Noland. I won't do something that reckless again, I promise," she squeezed his hand
in assurance, feeling him grip back. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Just... please, be more careful. I understand your haste in recovering, but you cannot force it.
If you were injured because of something I taught you..."
"Hey, it's alright! I'm alright, yeah? I'm not made of glass, you know?" Some part of her felt
indignant that he was treating her like a doll, but she could understand why. Still, she had to
remind him.
"I... yes. Of course..." he trailed off, still sounding unsure.
The redhead pushed herself into a sitting position, directly across from the knight.
"So, what time is it? How long was I out?"
"It is currently the afternoon," Noland answered, suddenly remembering something, "I recieved a
call from lady Nanoha an hour ago. They have invited us over for dinner, in two hours. Are you
fit to go?"
"Of course! Well, I'm pretty sure I am," she pushed off the bed, standing. A sudden spike of
nausea caused her to stumble slightly, though the dizziness was already fading away. "Whoa.
Maybe I should take it a little more easy."
Noland's hand found itself in Keroko's once again, steadying her, "If you believe yourself
capable, then we can travel to the Takamachi residence."
"Yeah, I'm good. I just need to recover a bit, that's all," she sounded confident enough, "Though,
don't mention this to the others, okay? I don't want them worrying even more about me..."
"Leaving that to me, are you?" Keroko could swear Noland was grinning at her.
"Heh. That's your responsibility, ne?"
"You are a cruel one, lady Keroko," Noland sighed, though in truth he was glad Keroko was
recovering quickly. She was a strong one, indeed.
"Hmm, if we're going to the dinner, I should change into something good," she sounded
thoughtful, making her way to the stack of prepared clothing, "Even if I'm blind, I still have to
look my best, right?"
"Indeed."
The Takamachi rifled through the carefully folded piles, running her fingers over the fabric and
designs. Though her earlier attempts at reading-viewing were not very successful, she did have a
good memory of her wardrobe. This knowledge, combined with what she could pick up, made
for a quick search, "Oh! I know this one! It's a dress from Earth I got on a shopping trip! I've
been meaning to wear this when it got a little cooler..."
"Then, would now be an appropriate time?"
"Heh. Yeah, it is. I'm told I need to dress a little more femininely..."
"I am sure you will look fantastic. Will you need help?"
"Nah, I think I can handle it. I guess I could leave my hair down, too. It'll be a bitch to get it the
way I want if I can't see it."
"Then I shall leave you to change..."
The knight stepped out of the room and headed for his own collection of prepared clothing. It
was a small bit, gathered in preparation for several days' stay, but it had variety. Perhaps it
would be good to have a different look too? The amount of time it took for him to change
coincided with Keroko's, the two finishing up roughly at the same time.
"Are you ready?" Noland asked, waiting for her by the door.
In response, Keroko took the knight's arm into her own.
"Yeah. Let's go."
2010-08-04, 16:21
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