[Stanton POV]
How the hell the kid did it, Stanton couldn't say. It wasn't the first time the wind had taken his mind away. Hell, he'd seen it happen when the Skill was brand new. Something about his wind Skill was… off, or something. Every time it'd happened before, though, someone had been able to pull him out of it. This time, the wind and System together didn't allow it.
Participant Thiago Jorge Harris IV is currently undergoing Divine Enlightenment and a Divine Tribulation. Further attempts to influence or pull him from this state will result in immediate Systemic reprisal both to the interrupter and Participant Thiago Jorge Harris IV.
When Farid'd come running to Stanton's room about TJ doing something crazy again, Stanton had been forced to leave his little Lifebloom grove he'd cultivated. Running here, he'd learned there was nothing he could do. Now that he was stuck right next to a damned tornado while TJ did something inside of it, he wished he could walk away. The little grove was so interesting, and Stanton found that so many of his Skills grew stronger the more time he spent with the magical plants. Fortunately, he'd had the foresight to plant the additional ones he'd found by the general store, so they were still safe. He knew that the plants would survive another relocation, but it was better that they stay in the same soil and locale for a while. After all, the little potions they'd attempted to make with the Lifebloom had bolstered people a bit, but it'd been a waste.
How had TJ so consistently done things that, if not perfect, were at least effective? Stanton couldn't understand it, that he made weapons and equipment and led hunting parties and still kept his head down. Wasn't even prideful when he should have. At first, Stanton had thought it was a good thing, but he realized more and more that all this wasn't because TJ had a good head on his shoulders and was well adjusted. Worse, that the poor kid thought so many of the town's citizens were scared of him didn't help. He didn't listen, but when someone held rage so close to their heart like he did, it was hard to see anything without that tint. TJ didn't really understand the worship that filled their eyes when they watched him walk past.
That little fucker Jeff had ruined so much. That first outburst was so damaging, even though Farid had done everything perfectly. Stanton had nearly made the decision for TJ to just end the coward. He wanted to preach forgiveness or whatever, but turning on your allies in a time like this? Unforgivable, and even though Stanton knew there was other shit getting in the way, he'd nearly gone out and executed the bastard that night a week ago. And most of the nights that followed as well. Would have been better for the people who'd died if Stanton had made that choice.
Stanton ground his teeth and stopped working himself up thinking about the slimy piece of shit. Instead, he looked at Farid, Charlie, and Molly who stood nearby. The little girl patrolled around the tornado, eyes peeled. She took the assignment seriously, perhaps too seriously. She looked up to TJ more than just about anyone else in town except maybe for Farid.
The Indian man stood with his spears in hand, looking like he was there to kill. Maybe he was, Stanton guessed. Then, when he saw Stanton looking at him, he smiled wide, white teeth flashing.
"He is sure to get even stronger with this! With TJ's power, we will slay all the wendigos, especially that strong one!"
"I sure hope so." Stanton grumbled. "We need him out there, killing the monsters. He's already been in there for hours."
"Yes." Farid nodded, seeming to be unconcerned. "But he will be fine. TJ always is."
Stanton merely grunted, but Molly and Charlie walked up at that point. The girl looked at TJ, surrounded by winds so strong they were visible and swallowed hard. Then, she nodded.
"He'll be fine. I know it. He's my sensei."
Stanton couldn't keep himself from groaning at the girl's weird way of talking, but he didn't do any more. Charlie spoke up before the little kid continued.
"I don't know if we should do anything about all this." The other Neophyte spoke. "It says that there'll be issues with it if we interrupt, but I know that the hunts are getting bloodier and bloodier. Maybe it's better to lose out on whatever benefits we'd get from him doing this enlightenment or whatever."
"Not your place."
"Nuh-uh!"
"You cannot make that decision."
All three of the other people there spoke at once, and it became immediately apparent that Charlie was the only one who thought as much, at least here. He raised both arms in an attempt to placate the others.
"I was just wondering if maybe we should. What if he was in here when the final defence happens? If so, then he could get surrounded and killed by the monsters. They might not care or might not be hurt if they did interrupt him anyways. If that's going to happen, it'd be better to get him out earlier and make sure he could recover for a day or so and get out there and get some levels. I don't want to make any decisions for someone else, but if it's between saving my friend's life or leaving him to get torn apart, I'm willing to pay whatever that price is that the System is demanding."
"Oh, you're totally right." Molly was the first to respond. "I think he can do whatever he needs to in there, but, like, if he's stuck there, then that'd be so bad!"
"It's not our place to make the decision." Farid said, but he looked at Stanton without saying anything else. Stanton shrugged and said his own piece.
"He made a choice to be where he is. I'm sure it's something that'll let him get to his kid faster or safer, and if I took that away from him, I'd lose all respect from him. Wouldn't blame him either, since all of us need every leg up we can manage. So we don't touch him. If the last day is coming and we need to do something, we might, but until then, we hold the line and make sure nobody else touches him. Capische?"
The other three nodded in tandem, and another voice echoed from behind them, "Capische!"
Zig, the redheaded wonder, strode out of the forest, her bow held in one hand. Ever since there'd been more deaths in the hunts, she'd never let the weapon leave her hand. Stanton recognized the look in her eyes, the sense of responsibility and fury. She considered herself the leader of all those who hunted, and perhaps correctly so. Because of that, everyone who died was, to her, her own fault.
"Makes sense to me." Zig continued. "He's always got his own ideas, and though he doesn't always think of what he's running into, TJ's been able to make something positive out of everything he's done."
The rest of the people around nodded in agreement, and Stanton settled himself into the crook of a nearby tree, where the roots created a nice natural seat. As he settled himself in, he used Nature's Advocate and Natural Affinity to make the spot fit perfectly to his body. After gaining dozens of levels, his body was effectively that of what it'd been when he was in his 30's. Even so, Stanton found himself getting stiff and uncomfortable more easily than he ever had as a young man. He needed to sit just right or he'd tweak something, to say nothing of sleeping.
His vigil set, Stanton let his mind unfocus somewhat. He was, of course, keeping a close eye on TJ, but his mind wandered. The whirling winds making a sphere around TJ should have been louder than they were, given their apparent ferocity, but as it was, they weren't much louder than the sound of the breeze drifting through the trees overhead. The man sat in the middle of a clearing, though TJ realized he'd drifted from his original position just a little, closer to the general store. The only way this had been possible was that TJ was floating a couple of inches above the ground, his position that of a monk or something with their legs crossed.
The kid's face was screwed up in concentration, and Stanton had initially thought it was funny. After all, he looked so concentrated about what might not be anything at all. On the other hand, Stanton quickly realized that it probably was the case that this wasn't nothing, but instead was something either dangerous, difficult, or a combination of the two. He still didn't quite understand this whole Tutorial shit, and he wished he didn't have to. Even so, TJ deserved to have a friend have his back and not laugh at the stupid faces he was making.
The other people watching TJ to ensure he was safe switched out as the hours passed and evening approached. Stanton stayed where he was, only eating a light dinner when it was brought to him. The few vegetables he'd been able to cultivate and encourage to grow were a welcome addition to their plates, just enough to keep Stanton from feeling like his heart was actively being choked by fatty meats. When Marva was around, he'd never thought he'd think as much, but after her death, he'd found more and more how much he enjoyed a good spread of veggies.
"Aint that something." He grumbled to himself. Nobody nearby was able to see him, so he indulged in a quick conversation with his sweet wife.
"Almost feels like he's ours. Couple of the ways he acts are like you. Got that same little smirk when he's made a joke that goes over someone's head. The way he laughs with people too. Got my meanness, though. Damn. I miss you lots. And I'm worried about all this. Who knows what's going to happen."
Stanton let himself rumble on without any real purpose to his words. Just liked talking with Marva, even if she wasn't there. Though, he needed to talk a whole lot more now that she wasn't here.
"Wish he could show me, I'm sure the kid's–" Stanton cut himself off as TJ twitched, then began seizing. Without any conscious thought, Stanton flowed to his feet and sprinted forward. Whatever was happening to TJ, he needed help immediately. Blood flowed from his nostrils, ears, and eyes, though he remained in the same meditative position as before.
He rushed forward, ready to tear through the winds to get TJ out of this trial or whatever it was.
Participant Thiago Jorge Harris IV is currently undergoing the punishment from failing a Divine Tribulation. Further attempts to influence or pull him from this state will result in immediate fatal Systemic reprisal both to the interrupter and Participant Thiago Jorge Harris IV.
Stanton desperately wanted to be able to do something, anything, but the System was much more upfront with the results of pushing in where it didn't want them.
"Dammit kid." Stanton whispered to himself as he fought to keep from ripping him out anyways. "What have you gotten yourself into?"