First Steps into the Forest

After nearly two hours Kon found himself finally at the edge of the Satori Forest hearing all the sounds coming from the distance of animals that lay with in. Kon knew that with these animals were dangerous and he should keep on guard, but without presenting a threatening manner. So Kon took his first few steps into the forest feeling out of place in such a place he was certainly not use to. Kon keep his eyes open in case anything tried to attack, but he did not wield his weapon not wanting to present that he was wanting a fight. So Kon continued to walk deeper and deeper into the forest as it continued to get thicker, but not too difficult to navigate through. Kon finally began to relax as he got deeper into all he heard were common sounding woodland creatures nothing more. "Well I guess I can relax nothing that seems overly threatening with in the proximity." Kai shakes his head saying to Kon, "Nothing threatening in the proximity really, you need to work on not seeming so calculate; in the area would have been fine." Kon nods replying back, "Well I will work on it more as we progress towards the mountains. We just have to get through this forest."

With that Kon continued through the forest seeming to have no real issues at all just walking through bushes and by the abnormally large trees. Kon knew they had most of been there centuries old and it be best not to damage or disturb them even though it would take a great force to even damage them at all. With all the wanders of the forest around and being by himself he just continued to speak to Kai as if he was walking right there. Kon knew he needed to keep trying with Kai trying to get his speech down better trying to seem more normal than how he normally sounds. So Kon continued on walking through the Forest undisturbed by anything around him continuing his practice with Kai.

Kon finally feeling comfortable traveling through out the forest began to slow his pace and continued to speak to Kai practicing how he needed to talk as a normal person. "So I think I have learned how I need to properly set my vocalization now; so that I no longer sound so mono toned." Kai says back to Kon, "Well yes your tone sounds fine, but normal common people do not sound so precise like with you saying vocalization; people don't talk like that just use simple words." Kon replies readily, "Very well I am sure I can compensate for a lower vocabulary than what I normally use." Kai can't help, but giggle hearing his words still being big, but not as bad as before. Kon says to Kai, "Well now that my speech is a bit better why don't we pick up the pace a bit" Kai says, "You don't have to tell me that I follow you no matter what and that is just how it is."

With that Kon decided to just keep at this pace since he was walking so heavily before besides there was no real hurry. Kon continued to speak to Kai talking about a few things discussing what he needed to get as well as discussed possible training so that he is stronger than what he is now. Kon knew his strength was his weakness at this point and hd to improve it, but he diffidently wanted to increase his speed to even greater feats than what it already was. So Kon stopped for a moment looked around a bit trying to see how he could increase his own strength. After walking for a bit longer he came across a very large rock thinking that he could easily use that to increase his own strength. Without another thought Kon walked over to the rock then grabbed a hold of it realizing he had not ever picked something up that heavy before and straining himself he began to slightly lift it off the ground,but after moments of lifting it merely an inch off the ground he had to put it down. Kon knew he was no where near the strength he was at when he was an Angel and needed to get that strength back without going into his most powerful form.

So Kon stopped and sat up on the rock looking over to his side where Kai reformed into a ghost like form that only he could see. "Well as you can tell I am no where near as strong as I once was." Kai replies back, "That is very true, but you will be it will just take time in this new form of yours. It really just can't be helped only time will tell, but I am sure that you will be even stronger and greater than you once were. You defied the Angels the ones you served loyally for god knows how many years." Kon nods with a bit of a smile showing his first real sign of emotion since he got back from the Akuma Kingdom. With that Kon relaxed on the rock for a little while to recover the strength he used.

Kon resting on the rock was disturbed by a voice asking him who he was, but the voice seeming to come from no where was not the issue. Kon knew immediately that he heard no voice the voice was going directly into his mind. Kon could tell this for one main reason there was no distortion at all when normally exterior sounds would distort the sound, it was as if he was thinking to himself even Kai's voice was not that clear to him.

Kon looked around seeing nothing then turned around seeing what would looked like a young girl, but easily could tell she was not quite human with her animal like ears. Kon continued to look at her, but noticed the young wolf down below at the surface of the rock. While ooking at the girl saying to her, "I am sorry did you speak to me?" Kon looking at her intently, but non threatening trying to find out who spoke right into his mind. Kai says to him, "Make sure to be careful there is all kinds of creatures in this forest and you never know, but remember stay calm and try if you can to make a friend. Oh yeah and try not to speak like you." Kon smirks a bit an nods as he was very curious who and how the one spoke right into his mind, he knew something like that had to have quiet an ability and would take a very intelligent being to do so.

Kon waited on the rock looking at the girl waiting for a reply weather it was with words or with her mind and so he waited to hear the words she had to say.

Kon watched as the young girl looked over to the young wolf down next to the boulder and realizing that it was the wolf that spoke to him. Kon slowly spoke in a calm tone to the wolf saying to it, "Well you most have a remarkable gift being capable to transfer your thoughts so that I can understand them into my mind. Very impressive indeed." Kon nods with a grin on his face seeing the remarkable ability of such a simple creature saying to it lastly, "Well my name is Kon and whether I am a friend or foe to the forest I must say neither since I am not here to help protect the forest nor am I here to harm it. I am merely passing through for the time being." Kai speaks to Kon, "Well done; not aggressive nor were you overly calculated, you merely sounded like a noble." Kon lightly nodded in response to Kai looking at the wolf then taking a moment he looks back up to the young looking girl, "Might I ask whom your friend here is and whom you may be." Kon looks back towards the wolf showing he never fully took his attention from it, but not showing any threatening signs at all. Kon knew he needed to keep this situation calm not knowing what either of these two were capable of or if they were threatened by him. Kon knew though that these question will lead to either something good or a situation he would completely like to avoid. He hopes to himself it will not turn out bad, but he is prepared for anything at this current point of time. Time will only tell what will happen in just a few moments.

Kon looked up to the girl now introducing herself and nodded to her answer while saying, "Yes Syndel did introduce herself and.." While bowing to her, "...it is nice to meet you as well. I would assume from your question that you and your companion here are the protectors of the forest or have just currently deemed yourselves the protectors for the time you are here." Kon looks back up with a cold expression in his eyes as if he were dead inside then saying to them, "Well am I free to travel through the forest or is there something I need to do first to prove my worthiness to travel in such a place." Kon spoke as if he was a royal on trials to prove himself worthy to take the throne. Kai quickly said, "You don't have to be so blunt and rude you are speaking to them to coldly be more careful next time." Kon lightly nodded to Kai's words and looked away for a moment and back showing his eyes once again, but this time with a light friendly feeling as if that cold void he showed before was never there. Kon then smiled a little as he looked towards the animal.

Kon knew it best to go on ahead and get off the boulder so he lightly jumped down from the boulder saying nicely this time to them, "I am sorry for being so blunt I am just wandering if it is okay to pass through and if you would like you can travel with me to make sure I am not doing any thing wrong." Kai says to Kon, "Very good very non noble and more normal and much more polite." Kon looked again at both the wolf and the girl smiling to them to reassure how he felt. Kon knew he needed to be good, but also needed to not push himself and to make sure he didn't ever go berserk ever again. Kon continued to smile waiting for both of their responses and hoped that what he said earlier was not to blunt and caused strain between them.

Kon nods in understanding from what the young girl said to him showing his under standing, but he knew he would not cause any real issues in the forest, but it might be good experience to interact with someone outside of Kai. Kon replies in a calm and happy manner, "Well I know I will not cause any issues, but it might be nice to talk to someone else besides..." Kon stops for a moment as Kai yells at him, "Wait don't mention me just say yourself." Kon nods lightly and finishes, "...myself." Kon begins to bow as he says to her, "Well I would not mind the company of you and your companion if you don't mind coming along with me on my travels." Kon comes back up and continues to say to her, "Only if you have the time of course; I am unfamiliar with the forest so it might be for the best." Kai says to Kon, "You are doing very well still having a bit of a tone of a noble, but better than how you use to speak." Kon lightly nods without replying to show his understanding as he continues to look at the young girl keeping the wolf in his peripheral vision. Kon knew he needed to keep his guard up for the fact he did disturb them from his words before, but hope it does not cause to much tension.

With that Kon took a light look around unsure which way to go now, but knew soon he would need to practice his training once again. So Kon looked back to the young girl saying to her, "Umm to be honest I am unsure where I need to go I a wanting to go to the north side of the Ryu mountain I know there is a town there that I can get some of these tattered clothes replaced as well as getting some new equipment." Kai says to Kon, "You are asking a lot of the girl now and we know the basic direction of were you are going, try to not ask to much." Kon paused for a moment realizing what Kai said was true that he was asking lots of favors from a girl he just met and hoped he was not being overly forward and asking too much from the girl. Kon then said quickly, "I am sorry if I am asking for a lot I just know it would be easier if I had a guide." Kon then waited for a moment noticing the day was going by quite well as the sun was nearly high above it would seem as its light shined through the trees on to them. Kon looked nicely at the girl with a light smile waiting for her reply as well as a reply from her grand companion.

Kon nodded his head in understanding to what the girl said replying back, "Very well sounds like a good deal I could use the help most certainly. I have a question though..." Kon looked at the girl intently and determined before finishing his sentence, "...will you allow me to test my strength against yours. It is a mere simple task just trying to see what level I am currently at. It has been a long time since I have been with another person and see the differences in strengths." Kon paused for a moment hoping he was not being overly forward again, but before they came there he was trying to become stronger and test his own strength. Thanks to this Kon can see a clear chance to test his strength in its current state. Kon then finished his questions, "It will be a simple task by arm wrestling do you know what arm wrestling is?" Kai quickly spoke to Kon, "This is no time to test your strengths you are getting way too antsy, but you have already asked so we must see how this plays out." Kon nodded lightly in understanding looking to the girl to see what she might say still worried he is pushing things with some one he had just met.

The day continued on as noon began to slowly go by getting later in the day. Kon knew that they would need to move on before it go to dark, but that he needed to do this one thing for himself. So as Kon looked on at the girl slightly giving a grin as he did trying to be kind and friendly he waited patiently. Kon was unsure what might be her answer, but he was glad that he at least tried; so all he could do is wait.

Kon looked at her for a moment of surprise on his face, but reasoning would kick in with Kon realizing that she was more than like not from any main area. If she had not been in any where near lots of people she would clearly have no idea of such things; so Kon looked at the girl and merely smiled for a moment. Kon softly replied, "Well let me show you it is very simple please let me show you." Kon walks over to a smaller boulder no more than knee level high and sits down in front of it. The boulder itself is very uniquely shaped almost in a square like shape but still with some light bumps and ruff spots. Kon takes his torn up coat and places it on the boulder as if it was a table cloth; doing so revealed Kons very impressive physique showing that he is not one that slacks at all when it comes to training. His body revealed nearly zero signs it had ever been damaged, but his clothes showed a completely different story. Anyone that had some kind of combat knowledge would either be very impressed or in total shock in awe realizing his combat skills must be of some of the highest caliber. To some seeing such a thing may place fear in ones eyes and wander in their minds to whom this man must be.

Kon merely looked over at the girl and smiled softly saying to her as he patted the top of his coat, "Okay just take a seat and do as I do." Kon sat his elbow upon the boulder resting it softly yet firmly on top of the jacket leaving his hand open.

Kai just watches not saying a word to Kon to not throw off any of his concentration since his speech seems to be doing very well; so he knew that all the practice they had done certainly paid off.

As Kon sat there he looked continued to explain to Safira, "Well just place your arm as I do placing your hand in mine so that we hold hands." Once she had done as he asked he would continue explaining, but he had to wait until she placed her hand in his. So Kon merely waited until she had done what he ask to finish explaining the rest to her.

Kon watched on as Safira did as he did placing her hand in his. He could see her hand moving so elegantly into his hand softly pressing against his feeling how smooth and frail it would seem to be, but even so he could tell there was something else about it. Kon thought to himself for a moment, 'Well how she is holding her hand in mine I am not quite sure how much strength she may actually have; so it might be best i just start at about a fourth my strength encase she isn't very strong quite yet.' Kon looked to Safira saying to her, "Okay now that you are setup like I am grip my hand firmly and push against my hand like this." Kon slowly pushed against her hand pushing it over until it reached the top of her knuckles touched the boulder. "Now your wanting to push my hand over just as I did to yours. What you will be doing is using all your bodies strength to push mine over so you can go all out I want to test my own strength to see where I am at compared to others." Kon looked at her showing a calm and honest face; not showing any signs of distrust at all. Kon then waited for her to grip his hand firmly so that they could begin, but before that Kon said to her, "Okay once you grip my hand I will count like this. One, Two, Three, Go; and on go we will begin to push with all our strengths to try and push each others arms over."

With that Kon waited for her to grip his hand and let him know she was ready to go and knowing this himself Kon would grip her hand back to show that he was ready as well. So Kon gave her one more reassuring look letting her know it was okay and that he was waiting on her.

Kon watched as she went through the steps on her own getting the feel of arm wrestling for herself. It didn't take more than a few seconds and Kon could easily see Safira getting excited about learning something new. Kon was no ready himself to begin so he grip her hand a little more and started counting, "One. Two. Three. Go." The moment Kon said go his strength began to flow through his arm slowly increasing it first only giving off about a forth of his total strength just to show he was ready to go. His arm muscle slightly tightened up and his grip increased as he began to push against hers in less than a fraction of a second showing his actual reaction time to be very good. Kon knew that he would have to compensate for her strength very quickly if she had more strength than one would expect. Kon moved his eyes to hers with a grin on his face showing he was ready for what ever she may have to dish out over all. The only thing Kon hoped not to do was disrespect her for not using all his strength from the start, but he wasn't sure what level of strength she was at compared to his. So Kon continued with this current strength until he felt her push with more strength which he would continue to push to match her strength unless her strength reaches a point that exceeds his own.

Kon realized that just after mere moments of arm wrestling Sarifa that she was matching his current strength, but not pushing any further. Her form was flawless for not ever doing this before so it showed Kon that she must have lots of personal knowledge of the body and how to use it to ones best abilities. Her form may be a bit raw, but flawless none the less; so Kon knew he needed to see how much further he could push. Kon began to push now using half his full abilities knowing that this would be a bit more for her to take, but it would let him know how much stronger she was.

Kon gave a small smirk feeling his once passion for training and strength once again knowing his own personal goals not fearing what to come. Even Kai could feel the weight lift off Kon's very soul feeling the new found strength with in him once again. Kon looked to the Sarifa with a glint in his eye of hope and faith as if saying thank you for bring him out of his own fear and darkness. With that Kon continued to push using his great strength as the sun slowly shined through the tips of the trees shining upon them. As the sun shined down upon them a strange glow of aura came around Kon as if it was a white aura, but with a shadow going inside it. To any paying close attention would have noticed the aura slightly enveloping him, but to those not paying close attention would only see the light shining upon him.

Kon pushed and pushed using that same half strength trying to make her try harder that all he wanted; so he continued to push seeing if this current strength was all she had or if she was capable of even more.

Kon was surprised to see his arm begin to move as she pushed past his current strength, but all this did was make him feel a slight happiness inside. This was just like when he was an angel training new recruits watching them grow stronger. Kon began to push a bit more using his strength a bit more going about three fourths his total strength knowing that it was only a little over what she did, but about the same amount of additional force she applied. Kon continued to push watching as her hand would begin to slowly budge against the current force he was applying. Kon smiled at Safira knowing that this was most certainly getting interesting. Doing just these small forces of strength made him want to d some real combat training, but asking that of her would most defiantly be asking to much. While these thoughts rolled through his mind only a few words came out as he continued, "Well this is most defiantly impressive you must train a lot to be at this level." Kon knew that she may only be a Novice at her current level, but it was more than enough to show she knew how to control her body. Just from her positioning Kon could tell that it was not her actual strength that was at this point, but how she was aligning her body to create the extra strength needed. At this state Kon himself could not even do that it was as if his body had completely changed from what it originally was. Even so Kon had strengths and abilities to spare when it came to raw talent.

With that in mind con pushed her hand a little further not pushing it to much more gripping her hand a bit tighter for the fact their strengths were near on par at this point. Time would only tell who was actually stronger than the other as he continued to push.

Kon could feel her strength matching his own and with that Kon knew he was nearing his own limits so he must see how much further Safira could go. Kon began to push a bit harder than he was knowing that the time before she pushed with more strength than his, while this time she merely matched his own. Kon was unsure if she was toying with him  to prolong the match or if she was actually at her own limits. It would be hard to tell for the fact she is not straining at all for the fact her skills in her bodies movements are at a novice level, but are clearly showing as they continue to hold up to his own pure strength. With a tight grip and a push of pure strength Kon pushed his strength a little further, but not quite at his total limits. Kon knew that either she would match his own or push even stronger than what he was doing now, unless of course she was at her limits now and could no longer hold up to his increased strength. So Kon began to push more feeling her hand slightly move to see if she would stop his movement and push back or if this was her limits.

Kon then said to her lightly looking at Safira with sincerity in his eyes, "Well I must tell you I am basically at my limits and if it goes on any further I don't think I will be able to win this match. I was just wandering if you were at your limits as well or if you could continue on?" With that he noticed her companion from the corner of his eyes with perked ears and waging tail enjoying watching the match seeming very interested. Kon would also notice looking into her eyes she was most diffidently trying very hard and was enjoying it as well. Kon admired this trait in people knowing it was very rare to have such determined qualities the will to continue. So with that Kon continued to push waiting for her to push back and to answer to his question.