Night 65: Entry Room

[awokentospring]

[from here]

"Be on your guard, now," Lee whispered as he led them through the doorway. He scanned the room quickly with his flashlight, trying to gain his bearings in case they were caught off-guard by some hidden enemy.

It seemed like a typical entry room. There were desks set in relative symmetry, and otherwise the room seemed harmless. Mostly, anyway.

Slowly, Lee crept across the carpet, silent in ways he typically was not. There were three other doorways out of this room, but only the large double-doors across from them seemed like a promising exit.

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[awokentospring]

"We will be careful, Flora-san," Lee assured her. He held his hands up in a sign, attempting to gather his chakra into a tight knot along his right shoulder. It was definitely taking more concentration than usual. Stubbornly, Lee just forced more chakra into the swell of power there, though it was invisible to anyone without trained shinobi instincts to see.

"... Your father must be a good man." His voice was a little strained but otherwise he gave no indication of his intense focus.

When Lloyd started the count, Lee tensed at one, relaxed on two, then rammed at three! His shoulder hit the door with plenty of force, along with... whatever Lloyd had managed to do. The door gave a little but not enough to bust the lock. Lee had heard the loud groan that came from the hinges starting to bend. Maybe just one more hit...

If Lee hadn't been so star-struck from seeing a giant beast head erupt against the door next to him, he would probably have been a bit more rattled from the impact.

"Th-that was...!" But Lloyd's sudden teetering had Lee trying to shake off the ache in his arm and reach out for the boy. "S-steady now, Lloyd-san! That was amazing!"

[showmeyourwreath]

Flora's eyes widened at the combined assault. She hoped that attack didn't hurt. And, wow! !hat a fierce spell! It looked like something Roxy might be able to do, someday, but could appreciate at the very least. Flora didn't have much time to admire it, though, before she moved to Lloyd's side. "Whoa! Easy, we've got you! Are you two alright?" She looked between Lee and Lloyd both, her voice gentle and concerned. That shoulder ram was impressive, and maybe he was fine, but it couldn't hurt to ask, just in case. Things were weird, here.

"Yeah, that technique was pretty incredible," she nodded in agreement, "but maybe it won't be such a good idea for you to do it again. Is this normal for you, Lloyd?" She couldn't help worrying. Maybe it was, but she wasn't so sure. They didn't know how much ground they had to cover--it was best to assume a lot--so using such an exhausting-looking technique so quickly just wasn't practical. Was it the institute's sinister enchantments at work?

There was something else about this place that was off and was bothering her for a while now, too. Something she more felt instinctively than thought, but it was there all the same. She wasn't outside just yet, but there was something wrong with the trees, what she could hear of them here. She'd investigate it soon enough when they got outside, though. First off, she had to make sure her partners were okay.

"You both did a great number on that door, though. It shouldn't need much more after that." She smiled. "Hopefully, I can finish it." She wasn't sure about Lee, and she didn't want to see Lloyd push himself further if he didn't have to, especially since she had yet to use her own power. That wouldn't be right.

[redcladidealist]

It felt like he'd run a mile just now, his breath coming as heavily as if he really had, and it was stupid but he needed to lean on Lee and Flora for support. He shook his head, bewildered.

"That wasn't..." He already had to take another breath. That wasn't a good sign. "It's not supposed to... tire me out. Not like that."

Taking another, deeper breath, he tried to pull away from their support, to stand upright by himself. It was hard. He felt exhausted and his shoulder hurt from ramming it into the door. Still, he wanted to examine the result of their efforts himself. He put a hand against the door and pushed. Something creaked in protest.

"I don't... I don't know what went wrong, but... I think you're right." He closed his eyes for a moment, resisting the urge to lean against the door. Maybe if he just took a moment to rest... No. There's no time. He opened his eyes again. "Maybe I'm... still sick. From whatever happened to me, before I got here. But I don't think I can use... anymore mana right now. We'll have to finish this the... normal way." He took a few more shaky breaths. He was so tired. Then he looked to Flora and Lee.

"Maybe... all three of us together?" He was already leaning, already ready. Maybe one more good shove would be enough to break the door from its hinges.

[awokentospring]

Flora asked the question that was necessary. Lee let the boy pull away, unconsciously reaching up to rub at his sore arm. It would surely be even more sore tomorrow, but he could handle this kind of physical pain. No bones were broken, thanks to his chakra cushioning. Just a little more would be needed...

But Lee wouldn't hear of Lloyd trying again. As much as it went against his code to make girls to heavy lifting when they weren't trained shinobi, he would take Flora's help for the last leg of this venture. Lee placed a scarred hand on Lloyd's shoulder, then carefully steered him away with firm force, practically ushering him back a few paces to sit down.

"Not all three. Flora-san and I can handle the rest." The concern that shone in Lee's eyes was apparent, but not as strongly as his clear insistence. "You are in need of a moment of rest for now. When we have taken down the door, you will need to make sure you have some strength in case we encounter any other obstacles."

He was trying to be reasonable. Hopefully the young man would take his advice.

Turning to Flora, Lee started queuing up his chakra again. He really, really hated asking a girl as small as Flora to perform an act of brute strength, but as it was... "If you would, please count us off."

[showmeyourwreath]

Flora felt the stirrings of a new worry inside her. Sick? What was that about Lloyd being sick? Sick with what? This was not good, but she'd just have to set it aside for now, at least until they got out of here. She caught sight of the scar on Lee's hand as he led Lloyd away, but she didn't stare (how impolite!), even if she couldn't help wondering what had happened. "It'll be alright, Lloyd. Just sit tight for a moment." She tried to smile reassuringly.

She eyed the door. She felt different, that was for sure, and worse still , maybe she didn't understand the entirety of it. That sudden exhaustion came as such a surprise to poor Lloyd...but she had no choice. Time to see how much her own powers were affected. She could only hope that she'd be alright soon after, she hated the idea of being a burden.

The breath left her in a slow exhale, eyes set. "Alright then, Lee. One...two...three!"

"Autumn Wind!"

She raised her hand and a large burst of green light formed around and left her hand, exploding into iridescent leaves as it hit the door. Flora planted her feet more firmly against the floor, bracing herself for whatever was going to hit her--but nothing happened.

She looked at her hands as if they held the answer to this conundrum. She felt fine, mostly. Well, um, okay then!

[redcladidealist]

Lloyd wanted to protest being pulled away from the door, but the truth was that he had very little energy to resist when Lee gently but firmly directed him to sit down. In fact, once he was sitting, it was an effort of will even to keep upright. He just wanted to lay down, he was so tired. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to sit this one out and recover a little of his strength. He could always get back up if they needed his help.

They didn't. When Lee shoved again and Flora used a wind magic technique he'd never seen before, the door groaned and the hinges snapped, bits of wood splintering where they'd been attached. Suddenly it didn't matter that the doors were still locked, because one whole half wrenched away from the other and toppled outward under the sheer force of the combined impacts.

Exhausted or not, Lloyd's spirits soared, and hope gave him the energy he needed to climb back to his feet. "All right!" he cheered. "Let's get out of here! I don't know about you guys... but I don't want to stick around to see... who heard us." He still felt a little winded, and it showed in his voice, but determination kept his stride almost steady as he stepped through the doors and outside.

[To here.]