Post by Cole Knight on Mar 12, 2017 6:58:00 GMT
COLE KNIGHT
MEISTER CLASS TWO 6’0” 175 LBS. FIFTEEN |
PERSONALITY
POSITIVE TRAITS • Hard-working • Determined • Genius-level intellect • Observant • Outgoing | NEGATIVE TRAITS • Stubborn • Judgmental • Lacks Empathy • Egotistical • Manipulative | STRENGTHS • Formidable Strategist • Anti-Demon Wavelength • Exploits Weaknesses • Superb Defense • Malleable Wavelength | WEAKNESSES • Overconfidence • Passive Style • Doesn't Trust Teammates • Psychological Trauma • Physical Impairment |
Born a child of fortune and privilege, through and through, Cole demonstrates many positive and negative traits that one associates with the upper-class, as well as some that seem to be at odds with his rich background. Above all else, Cole is a hard-working and determined individual. Although he has never had to worry about finding a means to support or better himself, Cole has taken it upon himself from a young age to be the best individual he can be, in terms of skill, ability, and knowledge. Even as young as he was in kindergarten, the boy was researching phenomena that interested him, and trying to accrue new knowledge like a sponge. Nothing his instructors and elders set in front of him seemed to be enough for the child. If he wasn't learning or improving, he was bored. And if there is one thing a young Cole couldn't stand, it was being bored.
Soon noting how different his personality, tendencies, and priorities were from others around him, Cole soon turned his fascination to the thoughts, feelings, and habits of other people. Speaking to and learning about others became a sort of game with him. He wanted to see what he could do to manipulate the feelings of those around him. Could he make Johnny laugh until he cried? Could he make Susie cry? Could he convince Timmy to perform the action he desired? Not understanding exactly how manipulative and unethical some of these questions could be, he treated the children around him like guinea pigs, which made him very popular with some of his peers, and extremely hated by others. Although his social sphere grew, and he found himself to be quite the social butterfly as a result, Cole never interacted with others for any reason other than his own self-satisfaction.
As one can imagine, such abnormal traits also present difficulties to both Cole and those around him. The young man has always been very stubborn and willful - although he is eloquent and appears to put others ahead of himself in everything he does, if he is prevented from pursuing an interest or taking a course of action that he wholeheartedly believes is the most beneficial, he becomes extremely frustrated. Thankfully, it is very rare that the young man is not given his way, or if not able to achieve his goals through one means or another. His skills in both planning and improvising have been particularly of note to those that take an interest in the boy - there is a clear reason why he was able to enter into Shibusen and rise through the classes as quickly as he did.
Although he understands that most people are not like him, and in fact that he himself is the strange one, Cole has a hard time not judging others for their seeming lack of capability or talent. Although he would never outright say this, as he not only understands that this is a social taboo but also understands that this is theoretically amoral, this may inform his actions and cause reactions that may not always be optimal. He has difficulty putting trust in others, because he considers everyone around him to be inferior and fallible. He does not value his teammates, and although he understands that he needs to respect their ability and accept their individual wavelengths to facilitate resonance, he is perfectly willing to allow those around him to come into harm's way if they themselves weren't capable enough to avoid harm. Particularly on missions, Cole prioritizes the objective over the well-being of those around him, with the safety of himself and his Weapon partner coming in a distant second.
Although he is able to successfully be aggressive when the situation calls for it, Cole has always had a large focus on passive, defensive movements and the benefits they provide. Cole is of the opinion that a proclivity for aggression has a tendency to lead one to be overly aggressive, and allow their emotions to get the best of them. A focus on defense, by contrast, allows a person to calmly continue to analyze the situation, and wait for the opponent to leave themselves open, whether due to frustration, fatigue, or simply by chance. This philosophy applies to both combat and social interaction, and Cole tends to give the illusion of being a personable, socially aggressive person, while in actuality simply putting others into situations to observe how, exactly, they respond to his prompting.
His extreme understanding of the human psyche, and desire to know more about how those around him work, has lead to him being able to meld his wavelength to suit those around him. While this affords him the ability to easily partner with multiple Demon Weapons, he very rarely makes use of this ability for such purposes. His constant observation of the human condition has lead to a sort of exhaustion, and while he tries to be sociable and friendly, he'd more often than not prefer to be alone with his thoughts than trying to get to know someone he can't even bring himself to properly respect.
Ironically enough, considering his disdain for his peers and his overall manipulative and uncaring nature, Cole's wavelength has been identified as being of a rather unique, often times protective variety. His Anti-Demon Wavelength shields the souls of those he is resonating with from madness, and can be used offensively against creatures with dark powers, such as Rogue Witches and those with a Madness Wavelength. While he doesn't think he requires such an ability to be effective, he has recognized that this ability is very useful against the forces of madness, and has fostered and developed it as best as he could, in the hopes of increasing his chances against whatever forces he may encounter. This clearly fits with his passive style, as it allows him to defend himself and teammates from madness, if he elects to do so.
Having recently experienced traumatic injury that has led to physical impairment, Cole has been forced to accept his own limitations more now than ever. Whereas previously he was spry, sure-footed, and supremely capable in combat, he finds that now he cannot act in the ways that he wants, and that his body will not perform the actions he knows are necessary for success. While previously, his sheer brilliance and thirst for progress were sufficient to clear whatever roadblocks were in his way, and ensure that he got where he needed to be, he now finds that his body is an enemy, and that he is limited in a more profound way than those he scorned earlier in his life for their mediocrity. This has been a tough pill to swallow, and while he has convinced himself that he can bounce back from this recent development, one could argue that he is only in the first of several long stages toward the road to accepting his new lot in life.
APPEARANCE
HAIR COLOR: Dark Brown | EYE COLOR: Brown | BODY BUILD: Average | ETHNICITY: Caucasian |
HISTORY
One fateful night in late December - a date that in the past he would have surely told you would go down in history - the first son of the wealthy Knight family was born to father Rufus and mother Tiffany. While the very earliest memories, soon lost to the amnesic fate of all infant experience, hold sway over one's life in only the faintest of ways, it is important to mention the implications that such a lifestyle have on a child's future. Regardless of actions, so long as the individual in question keeps themselves safe and healthy, they are guaranteed to have a life of blissful fortune and a consciousness utterly lacking of worry. This, however, was not the fate of the eldest Knight child. From an early age, the boy was determined to set himself apart. And so he did - not always in the most wholesome of ways.
The child wanted for nothing, from the very start. Whether it be material goods, a mother's love, or a father's attention, the child had it all. Growing up, the young boy acquired skills at a somewhat surprising rate. Before his family knew it, he was walking, speaking, and having full conversations with those around him. This sponge-like acquisition of knowledge didn't stop with the mundane, however. Upon turning as young as Pre-Kindergarten age, the boy was examining the world around him, asking constant questions, and always on a quest for knowledge that would totally confuse others his age. Upon being enrolled in school at the age of 5, the boy was far ahead of his peers in terms of his foundation of knowledge, and it was recommended that he be considered for early promotion to a higher level.
One of the most interesting aspects to this quirk was that he wasn't just observing the natural world, or acquiring information about the tasks set in front of him. He was examining others, and trying to see how he could alter his relationship with them. Cole was always testing limits, trying to see who he could push and in what direction to achieve the most interesting result. He discerned the actions he could take to make those around him love him, hate him, or take whatever action he sought to bring about. He wasn't without flaw - no child is. On numerous occasions, things turned out differently than he'd expected. But he wasn't above admitting failure, and he was always ready to try something different, to see what else he could do to influence his peers. Utterly without qualm, he treated the children around him, and even the elders he was meant to respect, like fodder for his own interests.
As one can imagine, Cole was identified as being far different by his family early on. Although these traits initially caused his family some concern, believing that perhaps his extreme focus on topics of interest could be a sign of some sort of disability or, as they might call it, impairment, the young heir to the Knight fortune was identified as simply being far ahead of his contemporaries, cognitively. He saw the people around him as objects because he couldn't relate to them. Over time, and having been provided with peers and topics more suitable to a mind such as his, the boy put an end to his endless interest in the human state. Eventually allowing social and interpersonal interaction to become more of a hobby to him than a focus, the young Cole turned his observations inward. Always feeling as though he were somehow different, once the boy became more aware of himself as an individual rather than as a part of some greater social whole, his apparent abilities as a Meister began to manifest at an incredibly rapid rate.
The Knight family has never been a particularly well-known or influential family in the world of Shibusen. Although they have had their fair share of family members pursue a career related to the DWMA, they weren't known for producing excellent Meisters, Weapons, or anything aside from proper, noble ladies and gentlemen. This came to an end with Cole. The young man was able to fully identify and manipulate his soul wavelength as young as seven years old. In fact, it was this advanced capability that convinced his family to enroll the boy in the DWMA. Always willing to increase their social standing and their list of prestigious achievements, the Knight family saw this as yet another way to get their name out there, and increase their notoriety in circles of note. Although he was fairly young compared to other applicants, the boy was quickly accepted to Shibusen, and his talents were not only fostered, but amplified by being around others with the same capabilities.
It was at the DWMA that a majority of the abilities in his skill-set were discovered and enhanced. Unable to recognize the unique characteristics of his soul wavelength - it being the only wavelength he was capable of examining at the time - his wavelength was found to have protective properties by those around him, and those with whom he attempted to resonate. Lord Death himself was able to confirm the boy's gift, and made it a point to remark that the boy should consider himself very lucky to have the ability to shield himself and those he cares about from madness so naturally. While Cole didn't necessarily like the idea of his wavelength being given all of the credit, he recognized that if this Anti-Demon Wavelength granted the advantages that others were suggesting, he would be a fool not to capitalize on it. By the age of nine, the boy was working his way up in Class Two, these newly discovered special traits being bolstered by the unique characteristics that have followed him since birth.
Cole also took to furthering his level of physical fitness during this time. He had always fed his mind, and while he believed intelligence and instinct were the two most important traits a Meister could possess, he couldn't deny that being as fit as possible had its advantages. All Meisters must be fit to one degree or another, but during this time Cole turned care of his body into an obsession - seeing it as just one more obstacle to tackle. Eventually, the young man's body was as sharp as his mind, and the two were able to work in complete harmony.
It was around his tenth birthday that his father and mother introduced him to Alexis King. The stern, ivory-haired girl was two years his senior. He'd caught glimpses of her at the DWMA, but had never cared enough to give the girl any attention. Cole had it explained to him that Alexis, too, came from an illustrious family line. The King family had made its mark on the world by consistently producing talented and renowned Demon Weapons, many of whom had been skilled enough to achieve the form of Death Scythe. The selection of a Meister skilled enough to wield them was of the utmost concern, and Alexander King had done his research on each and every DWMA student of suitable age to determine who would most suit Alexis. Cole had been selected from this list - his natural capability and unique wavelength had been too enticing to pass up - and with their offer came the proposal that they join their houses by betrothing their eldest children.
For as long as anyone could remember, it has been customary in the King family to wed Weapons to their Meisters, regardless of social standing. The bond between family members was a strong one, and often times it was found that, for instance, siblings could achieve consistent levels of resonance that others simply were not capable of. The bonds of romance were far stronger, and in selecting a suitor for their Weapon, they were able to effectively orchestrate a scenario in which romance, or at the very least a certain level of trust and intimacy, would be sure to blossom. While the Knight family had no horse in the Death Scythe race, the idea of being joined to an even more powerful and noble family, coupled with the fact that any children produced would still bear the Knight name, caused Rufus Knight to agree that it would be a splendid idea.
Cole wasn't exactly convinced that he wanted to be betrothed to anyone. Hell, he wasn't sure from day to day whether he wanted to speak to anyone other than himself, based on how much the average person had to offer in conversation. He had already begun to become disillusioned with others, and to see them as disposable and inferior beings who simply couldn't operate at the same level as him. His mother's doting and his father's insistence that he was one of the social "betters" certainly didn't help dissuade this notion. However, he had been brought up to have a passing respect for his elder family members, and as such he conceded that it was their decision, in the end. Alexander King and Rufus Knight were able to pull certain strings to ensure Cole and Alexis were considered an official Meister-Weapon pair, from that point forward.
To his surprise, Cole found that he didn't hold Alexis in contempt nearly as often as he did his other classmates. Although she couldn't necessarily think on his level, she had a natural drive and desire to succeed that reminded him of his own thirst for knowledge and advancement. She was willing to talk without resorting to the banality of small talk, and she wasn't afraid of him, which was a big plus. Cole had begun to develop something of a reputation. Although he always made sure he was cordial and kind to those around him, at least on the surface, the fact that he had advanced to Class One at the age of eleven was very startling to many people. Rumors spread about him, as rumors have a habit of doing at even the most prestigious of schools. Some claimed that he was an absolute monster - that he was anything ranging from an artificial creation of Lord Death himself to an immortal creature cursed by Rogue Witches. Other, more positive propaganda bothered him even more. There were some suggesting that his quick advancement was evidence of what an incredible school the DWMA was - as if the school had been responsible for his success, not himself!
Over the next couple years, Cole's life became one of maintenance. He had already entered into the most gifted class in the DWMA, and while he wanted to continue exploring new possibilities and uncovering new secrets, he knew that he would need to ensure he was well-practiced in those he already knew. Alexis' weapon form, the urumi blade, wasn't any easy form to master even by his standards. The two spent hours and hours together, honing and developing their skills, and although the two were never particularly romantic, the bonds of friendship and camaraderie developed between them very easily. For the first time in his life, Cole began to understand what it was like to have a confidant - someone who understood things about him that weren't just surface-deep. He was thankful for this, and while he didn't feel as if he required friendship to subside in this world, he would welcome it all the same.
By the time Cole hit the age of thirteen, he and Alexis were considered Class One's star pupils. Although he would regularly half-jokingly mention to Alexis that she should stop riding his coattails, Cole understood that the two of them made a good team, and that they fed off of one another's drive and desire to succeed. The pair had taken on a mission, direct from Lord Death himself, to find and exterminate a Rogue Witch who was posing as a medical professional, flaying and devouring the souls of those innocents taken in by her. Cole had assumed it would be a simple mission - although he understood the power Witches held, he was confident they couldn't throw anything at him that he couldn't handle. So confident, in fact, that when the time came for the two to investigate the area, Cole began making humorous verbal jabs at Alexis for being on-edge and wary.
This was where things began to go wrong.
Upon entering a building he'd tracked their target to, Cole sprang a trap that he should have anticipated, rendering him paralyzed and unable to act. Knowing that Alexis could not fight to her full potential without a Meister, and realizing that the Witch's dark magic was preventing him from controlling his wavelength with any sort of proficiency, Cole demanded that Alexis leave him and tell Lord Death, knowing all too well that by the time help arrived from Death City, the Witch would surely be done with whatever she'd planned. He was almost disappointed to see her frantically turn and leave him behind, though he knew it was the logical decision.
Even today, he can't recall exactly how long he was in the Witch's grasp. His Anti-Demon Wavelength seemed to be of particular interest to her, as she spent what seemed like days fiddling with his soul - dissecting it, burning it, torturing it. She also did things with his mind. Cole couldn't tell what her intentions were, or even what her methods were, but he can distinctly recall the disturbing lack of nerves in his brain, coupled with the even more disturbing sight of grey matter. Regardless of his altered cognitive state, Cole understood that he was dead when Alexis ran to get help. However, in this case, his expectations weren't entirely met.
Lord Death, suspecting that the mission may be more dangerous than they'd anticipated, had dispatched reinforcements to the area that Alexis was able to rendezvous with not long after the two were separated. Together with several other classmates, Alexis was able to get the better of the Witch, forcing her to flee, leaving Cole where he sat, changed and broken. Cole was immediately given emergency medical attention, whereupon it was found that several areas of his brain, most notably his cerebellum, had been severely damaged. This, coupled with the fact that no amount of surgery could replace or repair that which had been lost, led to the prognosis that Cole may never have full motor control again. The extent of the loss, his family was told, would be apparent when he returned to consciousness.
Cole lost more than just bits of his brain that day. Although not as bad as it could have been, the damage to his cerebellum impaired his motor coordination, causing weakening of some muscles, staggering of his gait, impairment of depth perception, and loss of balance. These sort of physical challenges, combined with the trauma he'd experienced from the incident and the less profound effect the damage had had on his ability to recall information and react quickly, led to the sudden and horrific realization that he would not be able to continue working as a Meister in the same capacity as he had previously.
All at once, that which had become familiar was pulled out from underneath him. At the prompting of her family, Alexis elected to continue on in Class One, searching for a new prospective Meister, still hoping to one day become a Death Scythe. Their betrothal was called off, with some of the elder King family remarking that they were happy the incident happened before their engagement was finalized. And Cole himself, after returning to his feet and confronting his trauma only to find that certain issues remained a constant hindrance to him, even at the age of fifteen, put in a request with Lord Death that he be moved down to Class Two, at least temporarily, until he was able to develop a method that would allow him to serve his function as effectively as he once had.
Now, Cole sits in Class Two as something of an abnormality. Once a prized student and role model, looking down on others for being unable to compete with his formidable skills, he now finds himself sitting on the other side of that table, with others casting pitying or judgmental glances at him. Some consider his inability to shake off his misfortune to be a sign of weakness, and Cole isn't yet sure whether or not he agrees with them.
The child wanted for nothing, from the very start. Whether it be material goods, a mother's love, or a father's attention, the child had it all. Growing up, the young boy acquired skills at a somewhat surprising rate. Before his family knew it, he was walking, speaking, and having full conversations with those around him. This sponge-like acquisition of knowledge didn't stop with the mundane, however. Upon turning as young as Pre-Kindergarten age, the boy was examining the world around him, asking constant questions, and always on a quest for knowledge that would totally confuse others his age. Upon being enrolled in school at the age of 5, the boy was far ahead of his peers in terms of his foundation of knowledge, and it was recommended that he be considered for early promotion to a higher level.
One of the most interesting aspects to this quirk was that he wasn't just observing the natural world, or acquiring information about the tasks set in front of him. He was examining others, and trying to see how he could alter his relationship with them. Cole was always testing limits, trying to see who he could push and in what direction to achieve the most interesting result. He discerned the actions he could take to make those around him love him, hate him, or take whatever action he sought to bring about. He wasn't without flaw - no child is. On numerous occasions, things turned out differently than he'd expected. But he wasn't above admitting failure, and he was always ready to try something different, to see what else he could do to influence his peers. Utterly without qualm, he treated the children around him, and even the elders he was meant to respect, like fodder for his own interests.
As one can imagine, Cole was identified as being far different by his family early on. Although these traits initially caused his family some concern, believing that perhaps his extreme focus on topics of interest could be a sign of some sort of disability or, as they might call it, impairment, the young heir to the Knight fortune was identified as simply being far ahead of his contemporaries, cognitively. He saw the people around him as objects because he couldn't relate to them. Over time, and having been provided with peers and topics more suitable to a mind such as his, the boy put an end to his endless interest in the human state. Eventually allowing social and interpersonal interaction to become more of a hobby to him than a focus, the young Cole turned his observations inward. Always feeling as though he were somehow different, once the boy became more aware of himself as an individual rather than as a part of some greater social whole, his apparent abilities as a Meister began to manifest at an incredibly rapid rate.
The Knight family has never been a particularly well-known or influential family in the world of Shibusen. Although they have had their fair share of family members pursue a career related to the DWMA, they weren't known for producing excellent Meisters, Weapons, or anything aside from proper, noble ladies and gentlemen. This came to an end with Cole. The young man was able to fully identify and manipulate his soul wavelength as young as seven years old. In fact, it was this advanced capability that convinced his family to enroll the boy in the DWMA. Always willing to increase their social standing and their list of prestigious achievements, the Knight family saw this as yet another way to get their name out there, and increase their notoriety in circles of note. Although he was fairly young compared to other applicants, the boy was quickly accepted to Shibusen, and his talents were not only fostered, but amplified by being around others with the same capabilities.
It was at the DWMA that a majority of the abilities in his skill-set were discovered and enhanced. Unable to recognize the unique characteristics of his soul wavelength - it being the only wavelength he was capable of examining at the time - his wavelength was found to have protective properties by those around him, and those with whom he attempted to resonate. Lord Death himself was able to confirm the boy's gift, and made it a point to remark that the boy should consider himself very lucky to have the ability to shield himself and those he cares about from madness so naturally. While Cole didn't necessarily like the idea of his wavelength being given all of the credit, he recognized that if this Anti-Demon Wavelength granted the advantages that others were suggesting, he would be a fool not to capitalize on it. By the age of nine, the boy was working his way up in Class Two, these newly discovered special traits being bolstered by the unique characteristics that have followed him since birth.
Cole also took to furthering his level of physical fitness during this time. He had always fed his mind, and while he believed intelligence and instinct were the two most important traits a Meister could possess, he couldn't deny that being as fit as possible had its advantages. All Meisters must be fit to one degree or another, but during this time Cole turned care of his body into an obsession - seeing it as just one more obstacle to tackle. Eventually, the young man's body was as sharp as his mind, and the two were able to work in complete harmony.
It was around his tenth birthday that his father and mother introduced him to Alexis King. The stern, ivory-haired girl was two years his senior. He'd caught glimpses of her at the DWMA, but had never cared enough to give the girl any attention. Cole had it explained to him that Alexis, too, came from an illustrious family line. The King family had made its mark on the world by consistently producing talented and renowned Demon Weapons, many of whom had been skilled enough to achieve the form of Death Scythe. The selection of a Meister skilled enough to wield them was of the utmost concern, and Alexander King had done his research on each and every DWMA student of suitable age to determine who would most suit Alexis. Cole had been selected from this list - his natural capability and unique wavelength had been too enticing to pass up - and with their offer came the proposal that they join their houses by betrothing their eldest children.
For as long as anyone could remember, it has been customary in the King family to wed Weapons to their Meisters, regardless of social standing. The bond between family members was a strong one, and often times it was found that, for instance, siblings could achieve consistent levels of resonance that others simply were not capable of. The bonds of romance were far stronger, and in selecting a suitor for their Weapon, they were able to effectively orchestrate a scenario in which romance, or at the very least a certain level of trust and intimacy, would be sure to blossom. While the Knight family had no horse in the Death Scythe race, the idea of being joined to an even more powerful and noble family, coupled with the fact that any children produced would still bear the Knight name, caused Rufus Knight to agree that it would be a splendid idea.
Cole wasn't exactly convinced that he wanted to be betrothed to anyone. Hell, he wasn't sure from day to day whether he wanted to speak to anyone other than himself, based on how much the average person had to offer in conversation. He had already begun to become disillusioned with others, and to see them as disposable and inferior beings who simply couldn't operate at the same level as him. His mother's doting and his father's insistence that he was one of the social "betters" certainly didn't help dissuade this notion. However, he had been brought up to have a passing respect for his elder family members, and as such he conceded that it was their decision, in the end. Alexander King and Rufus Knight were able to pull certain strings to ensure Cole and Alexis were considered an official Meister-Weapon pair, from that point forward.
To his surprise, Cole found that he didn't hold Alexis in contempt nearly as often as he did his other classmates. Although she couldn't necessarily think on his level, she had a natural drive and desire to succeed that reminded him of his own thirst for knowledge and advancement. She was willing to talk without resorting to the banality of small talk, and she wasn't afraid of him, which was a big plus. Cole had begun to develop something of a reputation. Although he always made sure he was cordial and kind to those around him, at least on the surface, the fact that he had advanced to Class One at the age of eleven was very startling to many people. Rumors spread about him, as rumors have a habit of doing at even the most prestigious of schools. Some claimed that he was an absolute monster - that he was anything ranging from an artificial creation of Lord Death himself to an immortal creature cursed by Rogue Witches. Other, more positive propaganda bothered him even more. There were some suggesting that his quick advancement was evidence of what an incredible school the DWMA was - as if the school had been responsible for his success, not himself!
Over the next couple years, Cole's life became one of maintenance. He had already entered into the most gifted class in the DWMA, and while he wanted to continue exploring new possibilities and uncovering new secrets, he knew that he would need to ensure he was well-practiced in those he already knew. Alexis' weapon form, the urumi blade, wasn't any easy form to master even by his standards. The two spent hours and hours together, honing and developing their skills, and although the two were never particularly romantic, the bonds of friendship and camaraderie developed between them very easily. For the first time in his life, Cole began to understand what it was like to have a confidant - someone who understood things about him that weren't just surface-deep. He was thankful for this, and while he didn't feel as if he required friendship to subside in this world, he would welcome it all the same.
By the time Cole hit the age of thirteen, he and Alexis were considered Class One's star pupils. Although he would regularly half-jokingly mention to Alexis that she should stop riding his coattails, Cole understood that the two of them made a good team, and that they fed off of one another's drive and desire to succeed. The pair had taken on a mission, direct from Lord Death himself, to find and exterminate a Rogue Witch who was posing as a medical professional, flaying and devouring the souls of those innocents taken in by her. Cole had assumed it would be a simple mission - although he understood the power Witches held, he was confident they couldn't throw anything at him that he couldn't handle. So confident, in fact, that when the time came for the two to investigate the area, Cole began making humorous verbal jabs at Alexis for being on-edge and wary.
This was where things began to go wrong.
Upon entering a building he'd tracked their target to, Cole sprang a trap that he should have anticipated, rendering him paralyzed and unable to act. Knowing that Alexis could not fight to her full potential without a Meister, and realizing that the Witch's dark magic was preventing him from controlling his wavelength with any sort of proficiency, Cole demanded that Alexis leave him and tell Lord Death, knowing all too well that by the time help arrived from Death City, the Witch would surely be done with whatever she'd planned. He was almost disappointed to see her frantically turn and leave him behind, though he knew it was the logical decision.
Even today, he can't recall exactly how long he was in the Witch's grasp. His Anti-Demon Wavelength seemed to be of particular interest to her, as she spent what seemed like days fiddling with his soul - dissecting it, burning it, torturing it. She also did things with his mind. Cole couldn't tell what her intentions were, or even what her methods were, but he can distinctly recall the disturbing lack of nerves in his brain, coupled with the even more disturbing sight of grey matter. Regardless of his altered cognitive state, Cole understood that he was dead when Alexis ran to get help. However, in this case, his expectations weren't entirely met.
Lord Death, suspecting that the mission may be more dangerous than they'd anticipated, had dispatched reinforcements to the area that Alexis was able to rendezvous with not long after the two were separated. Together with several other classmates, Alexis was able to get the better of the Witch, forcing her to flee, leaving Cole where he sat, changed and broken. Cole was immediately given emergency medical attention, whereupon it was found that several areas of his brain, most notably his cerebellum, had been severely damaged. This, coupled with the fact that no amount of surgery could replace or repair that which had been lost, led to the prognosis that Cole may never have full motor control again. The extent of the loss, his family was told, would be apparent when he returned to consciousness.
Cole lost more than just bits of his brain that day. Although not as bad as it could have been, the damage to his cerebellum impaired his motor coordination, causing weakening of some muscles, staggering of his gait, impairment of depth perception, and loss of balance. These sort of physical challenges, combined with the trauma he'd experienced from the incident and the less profound effect the damage had had on his ability to recall information and react quickly, led to the sudden and horrific realization that he would not be able to continue working as a Meister in the same capacity as he had previously.
All at once, that which had become familiar was pulled out from underneath him. At the prompting of her family, Alexis elected to continue on in Class One, searching for a new prospective Meister, still hoping to one day become a Death Scythe. Their betrothal was called off, with some of the elder King family remarking that they were happy the incident happened before their engagement was finalized. And Cole himself, after returning to his feet and confronting his trauma only to find that certain issues remained a constant hindrance to him, even at the age of fifteen, put in a request with Lord Death that he be moved down to Class Two, at least temporarily, until he was able to develop a method that would allow him to serve his function as effectively as he once had.
Now, Cole sits in Class Two as something of an abnormality. Once a prized student and role model, looking down on others for being unable to compete with his formidable skills, he now finds himself sitting on the other side of that table, with others casting pitying or judgmental glances at him. Some consider his inability to shake off his misfortune to be a sign of weakness, and Cole isn't yet sure whether or not he agrees with them.
ABILITIES
Anti-Demon Wavelength (Master): Cole is in possession of an Anti-Demon Wavelength, and has known about it and been in command of said wavelength from a very young age, due to his prodigious acceptance and rise through the DWMA. He is able to use this wavelength as a shield to protect himself and those whom he resonates with from the effects of Madness, and is also able to utilize this wavelength offensively to better harm those enemies who draw power from Madness.
Soul Perception (Master): Fascinated with his own soul wavelength and the condition of others from a young age, his Soul Perception emerged early on in his career at the DWMA as a natural extension of this curiosity. Cole is able to effortlessly examine the souls of others, as well as determine certain personality traits and characteristics from these souls, though his disillusionment with others means he prefers not to do so in social situations, as he cannot be bothered.
Self-Resonance (Master): Cole is in complete control of his own soul wavelength, and has had a good understanding of it from the time he was seven years old. Although the incident has left his soul scarred and irreparably damaged, he maintains this understanding, and can use his wavelength effectively regardless of this.
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Intermediate, Former Master): Cole is a formidable fighter, both with and without a Weapon partner. He trained for years to hone his skills and ensure that he could act without need of a Weapon when necessary. However, due to the traumatic brain injury he sustained, he experiences a plethora of physical impairments that often times prevent him from performing the actions he seeks to.
Utility Meister (Intermediate, Former Master): In full control of his soul wavelength, Cole is able to alter his wavelength to suit the Weapon he is attempting to pair with, and is very adept at doing this. This ability has become more difficult following the incident, as his soul was damaged and is not nearly as malleable as it once was.
Soul Perception (Master): Fascinated with his own soul wavelength and the condition of others from a young age, his Soul Perception emerged early on in his career at the DWMA as a natural extension of this curiosity. Cole is able to effortlessly examine the souls of others, as well as determine certain personality traits and characteristics from these souls, though his disillusionment with others means he prefers not to do so in social situations, as he cannot be bothered.
Self-Resonance (Master): Cole is in complete control of his own soul wavelength, and has had a good understanding of it from the time he was seven years old. Although the incident has left his soul scarred and irreparably damaged, he maintains this understanding, and can use his wavelength effectively regardless of this.
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Intermediate, Former Master): Cole is a formidable fighter, both with and without a Weapon partner. He trained for years to hone his skills and ensure that he could act without need of a Weapon when necessary. However, due to the traumatic brain injury he sustained, he experiences a plethora of physical impairments that often times prevent him from performing the actions he seeks to.
Utility Meister (Intermediate, Former Master): In full control of his soul wavelength, Cole is able to alter his wavelength to suit the Weapon he is attempting to pair with, and is very adept at doing this. This ability has become more difficult following the incident, as his soul was damaged and is not nearly as malleable as it once was.
