28 Mind Games
Month 6 of the forest training year, Scarlet informs Xander that one of her duties as a "soul companion" as she called herself after evolving, is to manage my mind/s and soul and ensure I don't go crazy from overcrowding of either memories or beings taking residence there.
She does need there to be a mindscape first though, so this is what Xander is working on now, Mind Magic.
"I can't really feel it Scarlet. Am I doing something wrong?" Xander complained
[Not that I know of] Scarlet then went quite for a moment [Xander, are you thinking about nothing?]
"Yes, isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" he grouched
[You need to concentrate your thoughts, not empty them] she explained
"What, but the manual clearly says clear your mind" Xander argued
[Clear them of impurities not from your thoughts; you need those to build your mindscape]
"Dammit" Xander groaned as he started his mind meditation again
---
One month later, inside a cave, Xander can be seen sitting on a couch playing the game he was currently in on a PlayStation knockoff he drew. All scarlet had to do was access the consoles memory and program the game in.
During this time, Xander got used to his solo life. He had the Ghosts patrol the forest outside, just in case someone does come for him.
"So what happened to the Sarcophagus?" Xander asked as he finished his third play through
[According to the conversations picked up by the Ghosts, it is with the young prince. Safe and unopened]
"Does anyone need saving?" Xander sighed
[Not any more than they did before you. Besides, what you are already doing here is good too]
During the past several months Xander had been keeping an eye on illegal hunters. The bastards that use poison arrows and leg traps in particular. You wanna hunt, hunt, but do it like a man.
[Because women are too smart to think of killing things as a recreational activity]
"Unless it's in video games"
[Damn straight]
The sound of Xander's laughter that night was heard by a group of hunters that night and so, the legend of the laughing guardian of the forest emerged.
---
Back to Beckett
"So the fledgling thought dead all this time, is actually alive and well" Beckett spoke more to himself than anyone else "and how may I ask, did you get so strong in so little time?"
"You can ask all you want" Xander shrugged "but mums the word" he finished with a grin
"You do understand that I now know your secret and can tell the Camarilla about your location" Beckett threatened
"Correction, you know something I let you know and have no idea about any of my secrets" Xander pointed out as he went to the fridge he had made in his effort to master Magical Runes
The first one exploded in his face, the second flash freezed his hand and the third turned the cave into the North Pole. But ninth time's the charm.
While contemplating the words of the fledgling, Beckett noticed the 'fridge' "… you created an artefact… to keep things cold?"
Xander shrugged "I like my blood cold"
"I see" Beckett stopped trying to understand the fledgling… "What is your name?"
Xander grinned "Joe"
Becket sighed, it was probably one of the fledgling's Jokes, but he would play along if only to get more information.
---
Beckett stayed with Xander for a whole week, where Xander offered to host the much older vampire. Though Beckett would never admit it, he enjoyed the company. After being a lone wolf for so many years, it was fun to find someone that can actually engage one's curiosity.
But alas, he had to leave "I enjoyed this… stay?" he quarried
"Take it easy B. My door is always open" Xander then turned to look at the cave entrance "not that I can do anything about it" he smiled
Beckett chuckled at his new friend's antics "Till we meet again then"
Xander nodded "Just remember to spread the word about the forest"
"Right" Beckett "is the territory of a powerful wizard Vampire" he repeated as he walked away
"Yup, don't forget to add Handsome too" Xander shouted after him
"AND MODEST" came his reply, causing Xander and Scarlet to chuckle
[Not bad for a blood drinker, don't you think]
"Fine, you were right, not the same vamps… Happy" Xander's shoulders sagged with a huff
[Oh c'mon, if you admit it that quick you take the whole fun out of it]
"C'mon, I still need to build my mindscape and I have been neglecting that"
[Spoilsport]
"That I am" Xander chuckled at the huff he got as a response, she was too cute not to tease.
---
He did it.
Though he didn't like the fact that he couldn't choose what his mindscape looks like. Apparently, that was decided by your subconscious thoughts.
At the moment, his mind scape is the forest, but instead of green, it's red.
"How do I defend this…?" Xander asked in disbelief
[Ghosts?] suggested Scarlet
"Yeah, and make sure all important memories are in sealed caves" Xander nodded in agreement as he went on to create a home for scarlet "hey Scarlet, do you have a body in here?"
[Not yet. I'll make one once the mindscape is done]
"Looking forward to it" Xander smiled goofily
[Sure you are Boss] Xander can feel her figurative eyes roll
It was fun
---
[None-humans detected in the forest, 12 Kliks south] announced Scarlet
"Who are they?"
[Unknown, but they appear to be wild]
"Sabbat" Xander hissed "why are they here?"
[For the powerful mage maybe?]
"Damn… guess I gotta prove I am what I say I am" Xander sighed as he got up to kill all but one of them
---
Ten vampires were sent to "investigate" the rumoured guardian of the forest. A vampire warlock of sorts as Beckett confirmed.
'Why do we even bother with someone living in a forest though, I just want to feed. To kill'
This sums up the thoughts of the ten vampires coming to "Investigate" Xander, or what he could gleam from their minds anyways. It was work in progress.
'Now how to deal with them' Xander thought as he watched them from atop a tree branch
[Not Blood skills]
'Ok, that leaves Mana, fire and lightning… I never used fire or lightning in a long range fight… fuck' Xander cursed himself
[Then go in Melee. You are a legendary master Boss]
'Correction, I WAS a legendary master, now my Body stat is at 150 making it barely a master' Xander argued
[But the techniques are all there, and don't forget, you are fighting creatures that are maybe 10 times the average human strength compared to your fifteen]
'True, but what about their magic?'
[They don't have any. Combat mages are rare in this world. These guys in particular have guns on 3 of them and a sword on one]
'Looks like I'm going in' Xander felt like he was losing arguments of logic a lot.
WHAT? He wasn't the one being logical.
BLASPHEMY
[If you are done having fun, they are nearing your cave]
'How did they find it so quick?'
"I can smell the blood from here" one of the vamps called to the rest
'Never mind' without warning, Xander and his two blades were at the centre of four of them. Two swings and four died.
Taking advantage of the stunned group, Xander was able to close in on two more and again, burn them to ashes.
The four left snapped out of their shock as one of them pulled his gun, while the others stood in front of him protectively. It was a big mistake however as Xander had Ghosts up in the air waiting.
Mana pellets rained at the huddled group, enough so that the three unarmed were now dead, leaving only the armed individual… who was disarmed… literally.
"Do you even know who you're messing with" the Sabbat vamp hissed as he held the stump that was his arm
"Sabbat are not welcome here" Xnder spoke with a grim deep voice "Inform your people that you are the only one to have or ever will survive coming here. It is also the only reason you still live" Xander then turned and started walking away as Blood Golems appeared and started dragging the vamp out of the forest
"Assholes" Xander scoffed in annoyance
---
This life was the longest he had ever lived. He lost count of the years at around 500 and that was centuries ago.
He enjoyed his life as a vampire, though he would never admit it and was content to die when the Nukes hit. World war 4 took the life of one of the oldest vampires and powerful mages, Xander just Xander.
---
"Welcome back" Rex greeted as Death took her leave
"You are lucky I enjoyed that" Xander huffed
"I sure am" Rex smirked knowingly at Xander
"Sigh, can we move on?" Xander huffed
"Aw, but you just got here" Rex complained
"Ok… so what do you want to do?" Xander asked with an eyebrow raised in confusion
"Well, now that you have above 10,000 p. how about we discuss your territory, while touring mine?" at this Rex gestured towards what seem to be a heavily modified Hanging Gardens of Babylon from the fate series
"Wow" Xander couldn't help but exclaim "I get one of those?"
"Yes, though different" Rex explained as he teleported them to the throne room "this one in particular would set you back about 35,000 p to replicate"
"I ah… I don't think I'm up for that" Xander spoke warily as he fidgeted a bit. If he lived a normal length life, he can expect around 2,000 p out of it but even when he lived for a millennia or so, he got about 8,000 p. how long would he have to save up for
"I don't expect you to, what I mean is for you to create your own, and then improve upon it using the shop" Rex calmly explained
"So I still have to Draw it, summon it, inventory it and then come back here to actually make it worth summoning" Xander reiterated
"Or you can draw it in the world and summon it here" Rex shrugged "Either way, it works"
"Right… can I take a look at the shop?" Xander requested and Rex supplied
"I'll take the start with additional unassigned points"
"The first 10 will be for 100 points; the following 10 will be 200 and then 300, so how many?" Rex explained
"So if I want to start with 50 unassigned points it'll cost me…"
"1500 p" supplied Rex
"Right" nodded Xander "I'll take it. It's good to have something to fall back on"
"Smart" Rex nodded
Xander frowned for a moment as he saw another thing "Rex, what does this mean?" he pointed at one of the available purchases
Rex shrugged "Exactly what it says. You would never get bored again"
"So it just removes the feeling of boredom or does it just remove my ability to feel it…" Xander was trying to comprehend
"You just don't get bored. Ever" Rex explained
"So for 100 p I would never feel bored ever again?" Xander asked with undeniable hope lacing his voice
Rex chuckled in amusement "Yup"
"DEAL!"
