Welcome home, young master!
Will took a deep breath before acknowledging the guards guiding the portal room. He then made his way out of the room.
"Will!" He heard a familiar voice that set his heart racing.
"Mum," he gasped as he walked in quick strides, covering the distance before them. They embraced each other like long lost love, tears streaming down Laura eyes. "Ohh! Will, I've missed you so much, "she said, ruffling his hair."
"Mum, what happened?" He asked, staring into her Amber eyes. Her once nicely shaped body, now fray and haggard.
"It's nothing. I'm fine," she said as she led him through the hollow hall. "Prepare yourself. Food will be ready within ten minutes." She opened the door, leading him towards a small but neat room.
Will couldn't help but frown. This wasn't his usual room. This appeared little and empty. Will wondered what had changed since he left. He quickly prepared himself and headed down for breakfast.
He meant Laura on his way. "Grandad invited us for dinner," she said with uneasy eyes. Will couldn't help but grit his teeth as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Rest assured. Everything will be fine."
They walked through the complex building in silence, each lost in their thoughts. They finally reached their destination, which was brimming with activity. Several maids were bustling in and out with plates and other stuff on their hand.
"The rest of the family will be here," Laura said, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Pay no heed to your cousins critics ." She said before they entered the room.
All eyes were on them as they took their position. The hall was quite large, able to fit hundreds of people at once. The tapestries and designs were high class with the table filled with different types of foods and drinks. Seated around the table were his family relations.
At the edge of the table was the head of the family. Ash Sonoma, his domineering presence instilling a sense of quietness within the table.
Will sat next to his dad, Elrad Sonoma. He gave Will a pitiful glance before looking away. His eyes held a tinge of sadness.
The hall was quiet as they ate. Will felt no appetite and was just swirling the food with his spoon.
"You're not eating?" Ash asked in a low voice. His gaze resting on Will's young frame.
A slight mutter was heard from the edge of the table, and a chuckle followed after.
Tapping his spoon on the table, Ash stared right at his grandsons. The laughter seized as they felt a chill down their back. He turned his gaze back to Will, his eyes covered in a strange glint.
"Follow me!" He stood up and walked out of the room. Will gripping his spoon tightly finally followed after. He quickly met up with Ash, walking a few steps behind him.
"I heard about your mission and your bravery. Tell me, did you use the crystal to heal yourself? He asked as he walked in unhurried steps, his hands placed behind his back.
"I didn't, master." Will said with his head down. Right from time, that was what he called him. "I barely remembered what happened."
"As expected," he muttered. They walked in silence till they got to the door of a room. Will clenched his fist as Ash opened the door. The room was quite large and placed across the end of the room were various sets of weapons. The rest walls were covered in unique designs and characters.
Memories started playing in his head as he stood at the centre of the room.
A young boy stood valiantly, his body bruised badly. Standing before him was an advanced man with a wooden stick on his hand.
"It's that all you got. After everything I taught you so far, you can't land a hit yet?! You're truly useless. Here I thought you were a special one, someone that would finally take the family name through greater heights."
"Arghhh!" The young boy screamed in anger as he rushed towards the old man. He swung his stick, which was easily blocked by the man. The man retaliated with a kick on his ribs. Will was sent sprawling back, but he stood back on his feet. His eyes blazed with hatred and determination.
Ash, the old man, stood calmly with a frown on his face. The training section had gone haywire as Will stood back despite every hit he took. He charged madly with foam coming off from his mouth.
"If I land a strike, you'll let me be, right?! He screamed as he leapt from his spot and threw his wooden sword right at Ash. Ash quickly blocked the incoming sword but was surprised at what he did next. Will lurched like a wild beast, clinging on his frame, he bite down on his forearms with all his strength but was unable to leave a mark.
With a swift movement, Ash flung him across the room with force. He was once again faced with Will's beastly attack as he charged once again. Ash started hitting him a little harder until he eventually passed out on the floor.
That was the last day, he went back to the room. Now, standing at the centre of the room, he couldn't help but reminisce on the event.
"C'mon, we haven't got all day," Ash said as he chose a long katana. The blade gleaming in the dim lit room. Will slowly walked towards the weapon section and also collected a katana. He had trained with the katana right from small. After that fateful day, he had changed his weapon to a long sword.
Ding!
[ Prove yourself to your master by landing a strike ]
[ Quest reward: ??? ]
Holding the katana and giving a few swings, he felt a serene feeling in his heart. Right from small, he had always preferred the katana to other swords. He slowly breathed in and out while taking a stance.
They both stood in silence, waiting for each other to attack. "Alright, I'll go first. Ash dashed towards his direction, swinging his sword in a wide arc.
Will swiftly blocked the attack and jumped backwards.
"Not bad. C'mon, show me what you've learnt since the past years."
Will steadied his breathing, his body alert and ready. He went for the attack this time around, and he swung his sword, performing a feint, before slashing upwards. Drax dodged it easily, with a smile. They both exchange swings for a few minutes before breaking off.
[ -5hp ]
Will had been slashed during the exchange, but it was just a slight mark.
"Impressive!" Drax said in excitement." Don't kill the flow," he said while he dashed forward. The tempo of the fight upped as Will was getting overwhelmed this time around. 'Fast, so fast.' He thought as he struggled to block the attacks.
Distribute one stat point to agility, he said.
[ Agility 17 (18) ]
The fight continued with Will on the defence, his mind in complete concentration.
'This is my chance.' He ducked a high swing and held his sword with both hands to the right side of his body. He then turned the blade sideways and performed a powerful outward swing in a horizontal slashing movement.
Ash bent his sword, perfectly blocking the attack. He then kicked him across his chest, sending him hurtling back.
[ -10 hp ]
'Sh*t! Just a kick... and all that hp?!' He thought, holding his aching chest. 'Just how strong is he?' Right from time he had trained with his father, he had never used an ability just his physical prowess. Yet he was strong as one with a high level ability.
Torrents of wind wrapped around his feet as he dashed forward, his speed higher than before. He swung his sword horizontally and then, with a spin, jumped up and swung down on his head. Ash blocked the attacks and swung his sword at Will. Will blocked with his sword, but the force sent him tumbling backwards.
Hahaha! That's it, son! He tore his shirt off, revealing his well-toned and bulging muscles. He dashed forward and struck down, Will rolled away, getting back on his feet quickly. The excitement in his eyes evident. He thrust his blade forward, which was blocked. He wasn't through as he initiated various moves, which Ash blocked and parried away.
[ 500/650ep ]
Once again, they broke off, slowly moving around the room.
"C'mon, old man. I can do this all day." Will
Leapt forward, creating air platforms.He shot forward, spinning his body.
Ash brought his leg forward, his sword held by his side. He swung the sword, although still far away from Will. An arc of energy shot off from the sword and clashed onto Will's blade. His body was stopped by the brunt attack. His feet skidded across the floor as he struggled to cut through the energy.
Inputting his wind energy, the sword finally cut through, dispersing the energy.
"What was that?!" Will said out loud, panting slowly. Looking forward, Ash had disappeared from his sight. He felt a slight disturbance behind him, and with a quick turn, he struck the incoming blade, propelling himself backwards. Ash followed up with a series of attacks, landing hits on his body.
[ -10hp ]
'Is he getting faster or what,'Will thought, straining his senses. Once again, Ash had disappeared, merging into the shadows.
"Activate Ehnanced Sense," he screamed in his head. He stood prepared, his mind formulating a plan for the next clash.