» The footage starts with a clip a former instructor of Jongin had recorded, a summer prior. It shows the young demigod wielding a large wooden bow and arrow, its size not very much unlike the one he summons for himself. In the background, hushes voices speak about Jongin’s aim. His talent. The camera shifts in positon and shows a row of targets, each arrow neatly planted in the bulls eye.
That’s when the screen grows black and it next images show the half-god in a more homely setting, the confines of his dorm room.
"I’ve been trained for the kill," he tells the camera, but there is no pride in his voice. Only a tinge of sadness. "… So I think it’s safe to assume my physical condition is fine, great even. I am not much of a close combat fighter, though. I suppose you could say I’m too tactical. I need space, I need that one extra second that gives me time to decide my next move—"
He exhales, because this is harder than he thought, “so that is the one thing I really would like to work on. I rely on what father has given me a lot, and though I take pride in my powers, if they for some reason would be rendered immobile, I still want to be able to fight.”
The silence that then follows is a lot longer, thick eyebrows bustle together as Jongin contemplates his fears. He has none, except one, and admitting this to a teacher is nothing short of embarrassing. His cheeks color pink in the dim lightning of his room, as he murmurs in a quiet voice, “there is one person I cannot lose. That’s what I’m scared of, and to prevent such a thing from happening I… I’d probably give my life. I don’t think I have fears aside from that. I dislike hard sound, though. They make me jumpy and uncomfortable.”
Papers rustle as Jongin reads the next question, full lips mouthing the words before he looks back into the camera. “I battle for protection. To ensure that what is important to me, or important to the people who wanted me to fight for them, is safe. To attack or fight mindlessly defies the purpose. We have been taught—Mortals and Gods alike, that we battle for a purpose. Pride, protection, or our lives. And that’s exactly what is is.”
While written Jongin strings the beauty of words together with the ease of a Siren singing her song, spoken Jongin is stiff. Stoic. He tries to be elaborate, but the evidence on his cheeks show a struggle. He coughs and addresses the last question.
"What I fully wish to get out of this class is the ability to fight without relying on my powers. Not to brag, but I am confident with the skills I have been taught as a child and a little bit beyond that, but I want to become a better—well rounded fighter. I think this battle class would be the right way to go."
"… My only concern is that I can’t live up to my own expectations."