The Mark of Mastery

Eleven years after the ending of Birth by Sleep, Master Eraqus woke in the middle of the bustling Hollow Bastion, newly renamed Radiant Garden. He had no memories of his death nor of the past decade. While he struggled to understand the changes the worlds had undergone in his absence, he embarked on a search for his missing apprentices. This is an independent, selective roleplay blog based around the character of Master Eraqus from Birth by Sleep. He roleplays with characters from many different fandoms. It's primarily multi-para and novella styled roleplays. Please direct all questions and roleplay plots to the mun via ask.

[themarkofmastery]

This blog is officially on hiatus.

If you need to reach the mun, please send a message.

This is an official announcement for what everyone already knows: This blog is inactive and on hiatus. I really should have made this announcement nine months ago.  I wouldn't expect the blog to become fully active any time soon. While I might return over the summer in some capacity, a full return is unlikely because I don't know when I might be able to reliably write on a regular basis in the future.  Even though my thesis is finally finished, my sister's health is still tenuous.  I hope everyone understands that I would rather leave the blog on official hiatus instead of returning every so often, starting a few threads, and then disappearing unannounced for long stretches of time.  Thank you for understanding, and continue being awesome, everyone.  ♥

[themarkofmastery]

ooc; Quick Update!

Greetings!  Posts are coming a bit slow as I'm currently sick, but rest assured that I have everyone's threads with me.  Still, I'm quite sick, so I estimate tomorrow will be the soonest that I can get to updating these threads.  Thank you for your patience!

[themarkofmastery]

thekingmickey replied to your post: //ooc;  Reposting this one more time because of...

((I never meant for this to go crazy. I just want everyone to block this girl so she can stop harassing us. I read through her blog and for the most part it just seems like they’re just telling her to back off. I hope it doesn’t turn to hate either))

ooc;  I know that you're a really awesome person who would never intend for things to get out of hand.  I only began to become worried when I started looking through the tags of some of the later reblogs and they started to become pretty worrisome.  I think that as long as people are reminded how to report people properly, though, things won't turn crazy.  ♥

[themarkofmastery]

I've kinda stalked your blog from afar, and only recently gotten the courage to follow. While, due to lack of PSP, I haven't personally played BBS, I can already tell how well your write Eraqus's character, and love reading what you post. Plus, I bet mun is also a wonderful person, and would love to someday have the courage to say hello

[themarkofmastery]

((We haven't talked much, but I can tell from your threads and interactions with others that you are a wonderful, amazing person as well as a fabulous writer. :D I sincerely hope I get to talk to you more, because you roleplay a fantastic Eraqus and you are a genuinely wonderful person.))

[themarkofmastery]

ooc;; /PLACES INTO YOUR SUBMIT BOX 'CASE CHARACTER LIMIT. Ah, GOD. Where do I even start? Not only are you a great Eraqus, 'cause you genuinely think about the character and about his further depths, but, to me, you bring him to life! Every time I imagine Eraqus, I always think of you. xD! You and Eraqus go hand in hand for me now, and y'know what else? Your writing is nothing short of flawless and amazing. Every time I find that I need a bit of help with consistency, or syntax, or something like that I just go find you and all your old posts. I also love how you're such a nice person too! I was so intimidated by you at first, but after I attained the gall to just speak to you, I was ecstatic to know you're just a big sweetheart I wanna give all my hugs to. ; A; You're contemplative, supportive, and there's just this air of -- greatness around you. I can't really explain it, but -- I just sit next to you and I can feel your greatness like radiation. xDDD! You're just amazing. Writing, character, and all -- amazing.

[themarkofmastery]

hehehe, i dont need to click anon, but from what i have seen you really are such a kindhearted person and do your best to show people how great they are and that alone is just fantastic. i hope that we'll be able to speak more in the future and even roleplay C:

[themarkofmastery]

We've never spoken but I have to say that your Eraqus is just dfkgdjfh all sorts of awesome and you seem like a huge sweetie and when I first saw your blog it was so awesome that I didn't follow but when I did and then I saw you follow back I spazzed. :DDD

[themarkofmastery]

Anon is not needed here. You are a wonderful, beautiful woman. Really, I don't think you realize how much I appreciate you. For about a year now we've known each other, and when I find myself feeling less confident and bearing too hard on my own skills, you have never failed to show me how and why I AM a good writer. Aside from your RP threads being absolutely marvelous and instilling in us all a little bit of that warm parental love we know Eraqus has, you as a person are precious to me.

[themarkofmastery]

I know we've never talked before, but I really love how you portray Eraqus and the way you write is just eriuheriuherfmn2erjbdfmnedj can't even. \(///Σ///)\

[themarkofmastery]

.

[themarkofmastery]

Reunion {Master Eraqus and Aqua}

[buxom-badass-deactivated2016080]

He turned away, and for a long moment she was terrified that it was because he was disappointed in her. Looking away because he couldn’t stomach the thought of sitting next to a woman who had been so touched by the dark. She had known for a long time how must Eraqus hated the Darkness. She’d been raised by it, really. That caution. So… maybe he really was disappointed in her. For giving up her keyblade, for taking his instead, for letting herself be tainted down there.

A shiver ran down her spine, and she was about to apologize, beg forgiveness for having done it, but she stopped. No, that was stupid. How had she managed to get so caught up in her own head that she’d think like this? When Eraqus looked back to her, it was obvious that he had only been trying to hold himself together—the very same thing she’d had to do on multiple occasions. A sense of relief washed over her, and his words of reassurance helped.

But, with the hard news done, the good could now come. He asked about the present, about where the boys were now. And she could finally smile, albeit sadly, and nod. “They’re… They’re both ok. Ven’s awake, he’s fine again. Whole again,” she started. Bringing that boy back out of the castle had been a trying experience, but seeing his eyes open again put it all back into rights. The same happy, bubbly child who’d come to the castle at eleven was in the young man who’d woken up. It was strange to think that Ven was supposed to be 26 now.

“And Terra, he’s back too,” she was sure to include. Terra’s road had been long and painful. His body had been split apart, his heart left in scattered segments between worlds, and it had taken years for all the pieces of him to come back together. But they had, and he was back. Though… Aqua mentally noted that now probably wasn’t a very good time to mention the bit about them being in love with each other. There were some more pertinent things to discuss.

“Terra’s gotten his body and heart back again. It took him a while, but… he did it. By himself. I guess you taught him well, Master. He COULD conquer the Darkness.”

[themarkofmastery]

As Eraqus listened to Aqua explain the fates of his other apprentices, the man felt relief spread throughout his chest as he realized how handily his apprentices had managed to stave off the darkness's plans to ensnare them in its wretched plots. Aqua's smile seemed tainted with sadness, something about the curve of her mouth betraying her continued misery, but Eraqus supposed that little could be done to relieve the young woman's sadness. She had survived a veritable nightmare over the past decade. No one could live through what she had suffered without some scars that refused to heal. It was a miracle of the light that Aqua had managed to lose her family and become trapped in the darkness without changing irrevocably because of the tribulations she had undergone. His hand twitched momentarily as he thought of his own scars, and once more he felt immense relief that his apprentices had prevented the worlds from falling into war during his long absence.

When Aqua finished her explanations, Eraqus shook his head slightly as he pondered what she told him. While it was difficult to fully comprehend the depths of his apprentices' sufferings, it was even more difficult to accept that his training of Terra had somehow managed to help the man escape the darkness. He had spent so many years believing that he was helpless to stop the darkness from claiming the people that he cared about that his former apprentice's words rung with falsehood to his ears. Yet he knew that Aqua would not lie to him to assuage his guilt, and so he allowed himself a moment to indulge in optimism. Perhaps the newest generation of keyblade masters would learn to face the darkness and survive, just as his apprentices had miraculously managed to do. Maybe they would succeed where their elders had failed.

Eraqus inclined his head toward Aqua and allowed a small smile to curl his mouth. "I am… pleased to hear that all of you have survived your unfortunate plights. It is rare that anyone has the strength of heart to defeat the darkness so effectively, and I am unbelievably proud that all of you have done so."

Eraqus paused for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. He had many questions that he wished to ask Aqua, but he knew better than to overwhelm her with questions so soon after she had confided in him. "Has Terra managed to retrieve his keyblade yet, or does he still wield yours? I assume that Terra and Ventus have yet to achieve the position of master because of all that you have told me, but I am surprised that other keyblade bearers rose to prominence with only two remaining keyblade masters alive to teach them." Eraqus knew better than to speak his thoughts — that Xehanort would never again be considered a keyblade master after all the evil that he had done to the worlds. Aqua had not told him why so many worlds had fallen into the darkness over the past decade, but Eraqus suspected the man's hand in those tragedies as well. "Has Master Yen Sid taken these others you mentioned, Sora and Master Riku, under his tutelage then?"

[benevolentxlight-blog]

[ooc: Aah, just popping on before bed to say that I’d love that! ;A; We could start that on the weekend, actually! uvu And thank you, it’s lovely to see you around again! 

/Just spreads the Eraqus love around okay; <3]

[themarkofmastery]

//ooc;  That sounds wonderful!  While the world might not be prepared for young!Eraqus and old!Eraqus meeting each other and collapsing the entire timeline, I can hardly wait for the shenanigans.  c:

[thewindywielder]

"…" 

He took a few steps back and held his hand out to summon his Keyblade. He didn’t want to take any chances this time. Eraqus was far more powerful that Ventus, and for all he knew, he was still trying to destroy him. If given the chance, he would run. He didn’t want to fight his old Master, but he wouldn’t allow himself to be destroyed so easily.

[themarkofmastery]

As Eraqus noticed the presence of his youngest apprentice, the man felt his breath still inside his chest. He closed his eyes even as his face twitched with a momentary wince. A cowardly part of the man wished that he had not encountered his apprentice so soon, but he knew better than to try and run from his former mistakes. He exhaled sharply, before he looked back at Ventus.

When the teenager summoned his keyblade, the boy's eyes filled with suspicion, Eraqus swiftly raised his hands in front of his chest. He kept his fingers spread to show that he held no intentions of summoning a keyblade or magic. Before he spoke, Eraqus swallowed hard and steeled his face into a solemn expression — although he doubted that he could retain his composure for long, he still wished to have safeguards against the guilt he felt rising in his thoughts. "Ventus, I know that our last encounter might have convinced you otherwise... but I promise that I will not make another attempt on your life."

[darkenedxearth-deactivated20131]

themarkofmastery 

Like in so many nights, haunted by nightmares, Terra couldn’t get himself to fall asleep, decided to take a walk in an attempt to free his mind from previous events which were still gnawing on him. Only a few steps away from his current residence, he stopped apruptly. Eyes widened, blinking a few times before he realized that he was not dreaming when he recognized…him. The young man inhaled deeply, mixed feelings crossing his veins and innards almost painfully. “M-master…Eraqus…?", he stuttered as he dared to slowly walk over to the other man. He thought he was dead. He thought it all the damned years. Could this be real?

[themarkofmastery]

An uncomfortable silence reigned throughout the abandoned streets. After the local residents had retired to their homes several hours after dusk, the world had grown too quiet. Aside from the quiet chittering of an unknown native fauna or the clipping of his boot heels against the road, the former keyblade master heard nothing aside from his own thoughts. The silence reminded Eraqus of his old strolls through the Land of Departure, which was an unwanted reminder of the time before his supposed death.

It was only when Eraqus heard the sound of his name, complete with his old title, that his steps faltered. The man turned toward the voice, and he felt his strides halt so sharply that he nearly stumbled. While he had heard rumors that Terra had survived the past decade, he had never expected to have such a tenuous reunion so soon. "Terra," he said, his voice filled with remnants of relief and guilt. He cleared his throat, and when he spoke again, his words only carried an undercurrent of awkward politeness. "It has been many years… but I am pleased to see that you are all right."

[cheekykeybearer-blog]

themarkofmastery started following you

Seeing this man made something twinge in his heart, but why?  Sora had never seen him before, nor did he have any memory of this individual.  Yet… there was something inside him that ached.  "Uh… are you lost sir?"  He offered a smile.  The man had started to follow him for a reason, right?  

As of late Sora had been spending more time in Radiant Garden.  It was presently the closest place that felt like home on his travels.  The brunet moved closer to the stranger, squinting his eyes in an attempt to identify him.  Maybe this guy was a friend of Cloud’s?  He looked old enough to be Yuffie’s dad, maybe…

In all honesty the boy probably looked pretty weird just staring at the stranger, but it was a familiarity that he simply had to identify.

[themarkofmastery]

As the teenager called out to him and smiled brightly, his friendly countenance bothered Eraqus. It seemed slightly familiar, that manner of treating a stranger as if they had met before. Eraqus felt a frown start to turn the corners of his mouth, though he smoothed the troublesome expression from his face and replaced it with a polite, dignified, yet forced smile. It felt so strange to be approached by a resident of Radiant Garden and identified as a foreigner, as Eraqus had spent so many years in the town during his youth, but he supposed that his absentminded wanderings throughout the city streets did imply that he lacked awareness of his surroundings.

"I am not lost," he said, before he found himself hesitating. There was something difficult to place about the teenager that made Eraqus feel as if the child might know the answers to his searches throughout Radiant Garden. It had been a long while since Eraqus had trusted such an unfounded assumption about a stranger, but he found himself asking the child regardless. "As a matter of fact, I am looking to meet someone. You wouldn't happen to know of a Master Riku, would you? I was told that his friends frequented this area, and I have been looking to speak with him."

[freeshooterxig-deactivated-deac]

themarkofmastery liked your post