Manifesto #1

[Creator]

Damon stood on the roof of the school, silhouetted against the rising moon. He was making a nonstop series of hand signs, cycling through the full list in no particular order at average speed. The faster he could perform a technique, the better his chances. At what, he wasn't entirely sure just yet. Since he had arrived here, he had been taking on a gradually colder outlook on those around him, eventually becoming convinced the world was in its last downward spiral. He increased the speed of his hand signs.

"I have to get strong enough before then," he told himself. "I have to be able to take charge, and beat anyone who tries to stop me. If I can't, there's no point in trying." His hand signs stopped abruptly and he began to hiss, though it was not the effect of a jutsu. He exploded into a black cloud, and solidified an instant later. Then he tore into smoke again, only to fall back into his body. He shifted back and forth over and over for a good while, before changing to liquid instead of smoke.

Half an hour later, he was shifting between all three states with ease, and started shifting only partially, existing in all three states at one time. This created an awkward display, with a single leg standing in a pile of steaming goo becoming a head, drenching and hissing away. Finally he returned to his normal state, going back to the hand sign practice. "I have to get stronger, harder to beat, smarter than anyone else. That's the goal." He assumed he was alone, but then, he wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings.

[J-Bear!]

A young looking teacher - for she was obviously a teacher, with her professional air - wandered onto the roof with her battered copy of Twilight she took everywhere with her. She sat down to read when she spotted a young man - ninja, by the look of it - practicing. She smiled, and said softly, "Very good, young man. And what would your name be?" She paused. "I hope my student, darling Valdoren practices as well as you seem to." She praised him lightly.

[Creator]

Damon stopped, blinking at the woman. "Uh, Damon," he mumbled, annoyed at being interrupted. "I'm sorry, do I have you for any classes or anything? I don't think I recognize you." He assumed she was a teacher by the way she carried herself, despite the fact that this was more of a student hangout spot.

[J-Bear!]

The woman nodded. "Wonderful name. And mine's Annalie, but if you may, call me Lee." She smiled absentmindedly. "No, of course not, darling. I'm only a petty Master Teacher." She shook her hair, flipping the cropped brown locks to the other side. Lee sensed his annoyance, and said, "I'm sorry, was I interrupting you? I didn't mean to, darling. Habit, I daresay." She laughed, a pleasant, tinkling sound.

[Creator]

"No, you're fine," he said, resuming his hand sign rehearsal. "I just lost a bit of concentration, but a teacher usually has good advice to offer, so it's no big deal." He then clapped his hands together, and particles of purple stone began to drop from the air, actually made of the air itself. This was probably the hardest thing to do as of right now, creating solid matter from natural gas.

[J-Bear!]

[[LOLZ I'm waiting for someone to comment on her habit of calling everyone darling. O.o]]

"Hmmmmm . . . That's a very unique talent you have there, darling." Lee smiled, watching him intently. She pondered for a moment. "Well, I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask, but for your hand signals, would using them to actually do something help?" She suggested, honestly not knowing much in this field.

[Creator]

"It depends on what you're training," he said, the debris piling up like snow. "I was just getting so I could do it faster." In a blur of four movements in one, an illusory clone appeared next to him. "So I can actually do the stuff faster." The clone disappeared, as did the purplish-black snow, evaporating back into the air. "Don't you do something fancy too? Most everybody around here can."

[J-Bear!]

"Oh, see I told you. I'm not good at this stuff. All I can do is insane strength and speed, and very little magic." Lee laughed. She pointed her finger in the air, and a white floppy hat appeared on her head. "See? Like that." She shook her head, and it disappeared.

[Creator]

"That would come in handy," he said. "What if it was sunny and you went out unprepared?" He sat down, resting finally. "Can I see some super strength stuff, then?"

[J-Bear!]

Lee laughed. "A sense of humor, good." She smiled. "But you're right." She paused. "Sure, but I need something to lift or move. Should I conjure something, or could you find something?"

[Creator]

Damon closed his eyes, a lump of the same dark purple rock forming on the ground before him, this time in one big chunk. It soon grew to the size of a boulder. "Knock yourself out," he said, stepping back.

[J-Bear!]

Lee laughed. "Prepare to be amazed." She said sarcastically. She walked over, inspecting the rock and immediately finding the best place to lift it. "Ah!" She said, and bent down. She slid her thin fingers under the rock and lifted it with hardly any effort. She thrust it above her head, tossed it lightly in the air, and caught it, setting it gingerly back down. "Well?" She said.

[Creator]

"Not bad," he said, nodding. He spread his legs, getting a better footing, and brought his hands together. The boulder shrank, condensing to the size of a beach ball, then a basketball. That was about the limit for him right now. "Try it again, but this time, super-dense."

[J-Bear!]

Lee smiled. "Alright, darling." She laughed, and lifted the rock, this time with a little more effort, but still hardly any. She repeated her routine. "Satisfied?" She asked, still smiling. She hadn't even broken a sweat.

[Creator]

"That's all fine and dandy," he said, "but I still think my style is overall superior. Just my opinion," he said, glancing at her. "Brains over brawn, and all that jazz."