In Memoriam - An Unus Annus Fanfiction

01.01 - 01/01 - We took the Polar Plunge

»You need to train.«
    »But we've trained all week!«
»Unus, we both know that there's no such thing as actual weeks in here.« Marvin was walking up and down in front of them like a drill sergeant.
   »You've gotten decent at fighting yaegers, I'll give you that. But you wouldn't stand a chance against Dark or Blank.«
Harsh words, but Annus knew that he was right.
    »You need to train your mind in the same way you train your body. I assume neither of you has meditated since you arrived in here?«

Both shook their head in unison.
   »As I thought. I'm that case, we'll have to do this the hard way. Follow me.«
He led them outside into Marks backyard. A stiff breeze puffed up Annus's jacket. The sky was filled with grey clouds. Leafs covered the grassy patch next to the pool.

»The water is currently at 46 degree Fahrenheit,« Marvin explained. He led them to the edge of the pool. »Cold water has many benefits for your circulatory as well as your immune system.«
Annus peered down into the clear water. The image of the pools bottom blurred through the surface. He sure as hell wasn't planning on jumping into the freezing cold water. Unus seemed to think the same. His friend took half a step back. He realized too late that they stood quite close to the edge.

A push, and he lost his footing. Half stumbling, half jumping, they fell into the water. The temperature shock cursed through his body. He kicked and waved, pushing himself upwards. It felt like his whole chest contracted. He gasped, trying to inhale as much air as possible with each breath.
His heart was racing, and his vision blacked out momentarily.
Marvin reached down, and he blindly grabbed for his hand. The mage pulled him out, and they were on safe ground again. In the first moments the wet clothes felt somewhat warm on his body.

»What was that for?« Annus yelled. »As I said, cold water has multiple positive effects on the immune as well as-"«
»We can't even get sick in here!« Unus interrupted him.
    »But these benefits are not the point,« Marvin said calmly. »I want you to stop freezing. Now.«

»Which is very easy with wet clothes glued to your body,« Annus snapped.
Marvins voice took on a, serious tone. »Freezing is a bodily reaction. Something that you need to learn how to control.«
Unus straightened his back, closed his eyes and began to breath in a long, calm rhythm. His shaking cut in on the pattern, but with every exhalation, it lessened.
Annus followed his example. The wet clothes felt even colder than the water, the cold wind making it feel like they were made of ice.

He began to follow Unus's breathing pattern. His mind calmed down. The water dripped down his body, a puddle forming at his feet. His teeth chattered. He clenched his jaw, but soon realized that it was no help. He began to let his body take the lead.
After what must have been a good minute of controlled breathing, something changed. The clothes still felt cold, but somehow it didn't effect him as much as before.

It felt as if his skin registered the cold, but the rest of the body just decided to ignore it.
   »That's enough for now,« Marvin said, snapping him out of that almost serene state. His teeth instantly began to chatter again.

»Let's go inside and warm up.« He didn't have to say that twice. The two wet men followed the green haired and completely dry mage back into the house.