There was a forceful silence that perated every corner of this area. This little 'haven' that seed to exist within this realm of death and cold.
Was it fear? One so ingrained on the inhabitants of this desolate realm, those abominations that continue to exist through malice and regret? It seed like the lingering touch of death even refused to co anywhere near this woman, the true ruler of this realm.
She stared at , not making a sound as I approached, my feet breaching the otherwise pristine snow was the only sound that existed in these monts.
Every step I took was evaluated, judged, and weighed. I felt the gaze of Zelretch, my previous self, and I could only attribute it to that sa feeling. As if I was being completely seen through, all my secrets laid bare before her eyes.
It almost made pause, give a second thought to my objective. If Zelretch was 'gentle' then this woman threw away all conventions of civility with nothing but her gaze.
The feeling rising up in my chest, anxiety, repressed feelings I didn't want to acknowledge. I felt as if I would be found wanting.
How many tis in one's life are your worst parts laid bare, shown to sothing to be judged?
Under her intense stare, all of it was bubbling up to the surface.
I wasn't unaware of my own issues, my shortcomings and my faults. Despite what one may think, having another lifeti's worth of mories doesn't an I don't feel emotions, that I don't have problems and fears. Irrational so of them may be, but I was still only eighteens years old.
I am petty sotis, perhaps a bit too whimsical and prone to flights of fancy. My greed gets the better of and I can admit at being a tad lustful. No, my mories don't stop these things, they give perspective.
Soone who is depressed can't just fix themselves by knowing they're depressed. Wisdom is not the sa as maturity, I knew that, along with all my own issues.
This didn't stop ; it didn't halt my steps as each one felt heavier.
Even now, I don't know the true reason I'm here. The obvious answer was that I wanted to beco stronger, but why?
Did it have to do with the Spider? Did I perhaps perceive so kind of debt to my past self and this world? The cynical part of myself could tell this world to fuck off and I could go anywhere.
No, it was much more selfish, childish even.
I wanted to prove sothing, prove my existence to the world. It was foolish, stupid even, but I felt the need to be relevant.
My steps finally halted, only a few feet away from the legendary woman, still in the sa positions, her eyes never leaving .
I dropped to the ground, forehead touching the cold tundra underneath as I prostrated. "Please, teach ."
She didn't answer and I stayed prone. There was only the slightest fluctuation, like vitality returned to this land and I heard the sound of long breath being taken and the world shifting. I tilted my head up to see her taking a breath of cold air.
"So old, yet still so young." Her words sounded.....tired. "Raise your head, child."
I lifted myself up, into a position on my knees. "Will you be my teacher, then?"
"To co so far, the effort itself is a gesture I cannot ignore." She stood up slowly. "You have potential." Her worlds were simple and direct.
I followed suite, standing up. I brushed the snow off my clothes, only pausing as I felt an intense bloodlust lock onto .
Scathach placed a hand on her spear, looking back towards . "Defend yourself." Were the only words of warning I received.
Her cursed spear rocketed towards my heart, no sympathy for my wellbeing. Bloodlust and magical energy surged around like it a torrent.
The Boosted Gear appeared in my hand, blocking the impossibly sharp weapon, but I was still flung back several yards before regaining my footing. I wasted no ti in pulling out Mirage. "Four Birds."
My sword phantoms launched towards the still form of my new 'teacher'. "Curious." Was her response, rely staring at the incoming attack, leveling her spear and thrusting four tis in a single breath.
Magical thorns filled the air, piercing and stabbing in the direction of her thrusts. Similar to my sword phantoms, they tore apart my own attacks and ca through to .
"Shield of Asgard." I quickly actualized a handful of runes, creating a not-so-great application of my shielding spell.
It cracked under the strain, shattering with ease but the attack seed to dissipate with that much defense.
"Foolish." Scathach said with a slight frown. "Your application of Runes is an insult." I didn't have ti to register her words, she was infront of , spear piercing through my lower stomach.
I wanted to say sothing, but my throat was now filled with blood.
Pain was an old friend, but that didn't an I wasn't happy to see it again.
"Your instinct is underdeveloped." There was no rcy in her eyes.
"Boost." I grit out, blood dripping out of my mouth as I grabbed onto her spear and swung my sword towards her neck.
Her response was to crack across the face with her fist, dislodged her spear, and follow up with a kick to my new wound.
It happened quickly, I was taken down in but a mont.
"Too young." She sighed.
She just looked at , allowing ti to stand back up. "Distort." I said quietly, tens of illusions surrounded now.
"A bit interesting." She looked around, and I could tell she saw through them all with but a glance. She slamd the butt of her spear onto the cold ground, a wave of magical energy burst out, dissipating all my clones.
I created several runic circles overhead. "Lightning." I knew it wouldn't be much, but I didn't want to give up so easily.
"Better, but far from enough." Her spear t the incoming magical attacks, a quick twirl left the lightning completely defeated against her might.
My body filled up with enhancent magics, and I pushed it forward again. "Boost". I kicked off the ground, sword in hand as I lashed out towards her. My sword seeking the exposed skin of her neck, but a familiar spear popped up, diverting my blade with minimal effort, it seed to co alive as I couldn't even recover from my swing and the butt of her spear already t the side of my head, dazing .
"Again." She stated.
I steadied my erratic breathing, my body was starting to feel faint, possibly from the blood lust. I don't think the pain had quite caught up with yet.
My blade was held evenly, as I readied myself. "Swallow Returns."
"Oh?" She just made the smallest sound as I moved. It did not fill with confidence, and I think my blade reflected that. Because when I should have made contact, I instead felt the feeling of death approach. There was no ti to think, the familiar darkness of unconsciousness claid .
***
I awoke to strange surroundings, stone walls all around and a scene that wouldn't be misplaced in a different era.
"About ti." A familiar, feminine voice rang out. "I had thought I hit you too hard on the head for a bit."
My thoughts returned to , blinking in realization as to what happened. I don't even know how she defeated . Sasaki Kojiro told there were holes in the technique, no doubt she could see through it so easily as well.
But thats why I'm here, to get better.
"He has a hard head; he can take it." Another voice I recognized sounded, I instinctively looked at my hand for Ddraig...but it wasn't there.
I gathered my wits, looking around, I was laid back in a chair at a large table that could accommodate dozens of people, at the other end was Scathach...with the Boosted gear sitting in front of her. But that wasn't all, Dawnbreaker, Ascalon, Mirage. All of my armants, my stuff was sitting about as she went over it all.
I looked down at my ring completely missing.
"Did you...take my stuff?" I couldn't help but asked.
"Yes." She said with no reservations.
"Can I have it back?"
"No."
"...please?"
"It's mine now." Her lips curled up as Ddriag let out a laugh.
She took the boosted gear out of my soul when I was unconscious, the realization dawned on even after seeing the gauntlet sitting there.
"Dammit Ddraig, what've you been telling her?"
"Everything." He said with amusent.
I couldn't help but scowl, I did not like my stuff being taken. It almost gave an itchy feeling seeing soone else play with my stuff. "You know, if you wanted a ring from that badly there are different ways of going about it."
"He defaults to flirting when he's embarrassed."
"Fuck off Ddraig."
"Hmm, it's alright, I don't have much interest in boys. I prefer n." Scathach's words went straight of the jugular.
"Damn, I would have loved to fight you in my pri." The dragon said happily.
Scathach smiled lightly at the comnt, turning her attention fully towards . "You have so potential." She said plainly. "But your foundation is abysmal. We will have to build it up from the ground, that is why I sealed your magical ability for now."
Wait what? I tried to pull on any amount of magical energy, my circuits refused to respond.
"I have devised a plan; we shall begin tomorrow." Her words authoritative, leaving no room for response. "Relish this peace, there shall be none once we begin."
I am starting to have second thoughts. Maybe I should just make a break for it? Grab my stuff, and hope for the best? I think I like my chances better with that horde of undead....Ddriag can go fuck himself and can stay here with the scary lady.
"Hit him." Ddraig said, across the room. "I recognize that face, he said sothing about one of us in his head."
God dammit Ddraig.
Scathach nodded her head. "I shall redy his attitude through training."
Well, what's the worse that could happen?
***
Well, Christmas plans were ruined because soone got Covid (Not ). Fun fun, anyways here's the final chapter for the weekend, the next one will be on monday. Happy holidays everyone!
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