Maybe I was too quick to accept, the offer for me to be free was just too exciting it was not something that I could refuse.
"Fern Lun, the purpose of this mock battle is to raise your awareness with your innate energy. The outcome has already been predetermined but depending on how you perform I would explain to you what exactly you... we are"
How someone could be this beautiful, cocky, and ruthlessly nonchalant at the same time is a mystery to me.
"Lady Alexa don't be too quick to downplay me."
She stood still as if inviting me to strike first and I did.
I charged like a raging bull toward the lady of the house attempting to swing the sword with much effort
*Clang*
Quickly able to intercept the sword strike and set up a counterattack of her own with speed and power
*Clang*
Another powerful strike, but this time I was on the receiving end of the long hilt of the sword I blocked Alexa's strike.
Temporarily disorienting her I went in for a shield bash. I felt it connect but a second later she had vanished from the side.
[Danger]
*Swing*
I was able to duck as a shiny object swung past the previous location my head had been, if it had been a second later, I would be more damaged than the assault from Deag.
Can Alexa even heal a decapitated head?
"Impressive Fern Lun how do you know this Sword art? It resembles my mother's style of fighting but inferior in many ways"
Alexa's eyes were able to enhance her already outstanding field of vision, in order for me to keep up with her I need a speed boost and strength enhancer this sword was just too heavy.
Am I missing something?
This so-called power that exists within me; so far, I have only been able to release sparks, and it had brought me to the brink of exhaustion. What if I just wasn't using it right
"Tired Fern Lun?", Alexa asked mockingly
"No, I'm just getting started"
The union of Fear and Anger as I had called it earlier maybe it was something more, the first time I had used it, it was subconscious and other times were utter failures.
The very definition of insanity is repeating the same actions multiple times and expecting different results. If I tried to use the full extent of the aura like I tried to previously I would only hit a roadblock and definitely get hit.
It's a matter of my pride, I just have to let go
[Danger]
*Swing*
I instinctively used the sword to absorb any damage.
It was not without consequence. The lady in front of me could really swing a sword
[Maybe she could swing me like that...]
[Danger]
*Swing*
Damn it I got lost in thought again
"Fern Lun, it seems you never learn" going in for another strike, "your thoughts are dirty, I would not ask you to mask them again, the next time would be your head" she became more violent and the previous smile on her face vanished
*Swing*
*Clang*
"Wait are you trying to kill me?"
*Clang*
"You talk too much"
[Danger]
*Clang*
I had quickly absorbed more impact with my shield.
I think I know how to increase my speed; I need to let go of excess weight.
I threw the shield to the ground and took multiple hops back trying to give myself time to breathe and regain strength while paying attention to Alexa.
As soon as I took the fifth step back Alexa's image vanished.
"Nice try Lady"
It turned behind me and swung my sword at thin air
Thin air?
I thought she'd be there?
[Danger!!!!]
*Slash*
Pain seeped into my back from nowhere
Golden liquid splattered on the ground leaving me dumbfounded
"How predictable you are Fern Lun..."
I took extra leaps back creating a space of over thirty feet
She had cut me off guard effortlessly like she hadn't been trying. That was the honest case, she truly had not been trying, there didn't seem to be a limit to magic like for example the tendril of darkness that the instructor had used on me.
But why was she holding back and not using those techniques?
Even the trajectory of her sword strikes, it didn't take a genius to know that she was definitely holding back.
She also had an aura like mine, I felt it when we walked through George Timbard's door
"Alexa...", coughing golden blood "...don't underestimate me..."
This was it.
The moment when it occurred to me I could do it.
"Underestimate you? Never... I just never quantified you as a threat. Here's the deal, I will forcefully pull out your full power now, I am in need of a good sweat"
She could do that all this time?
If she had helped me maybe Deag would have been subdued... There must be some kind of side effect, and it must be severely dire.
*Foom*
Before I could blink, she was right in front of me travelling the distance that I had created in just a fraction of a second.
She reached in and tapped my forehead....
....
"AAAAAAHHHHH" pain shot out only for a moment
After that everything felt invigorating; The power, the energy, the strength, I could feel the slash wound on my back self-repairing. I could feel it all.
It all felt slowed down, the particles in the air like i could move so fast that air even the breath of the wind felt slow.
I could even sense energies around me it was like I was a part of it
If this level of power is even a fraction of what Alexa had that really meant she was really holding back with me previously
"Ready for round two, Alexa?"
She was quiet.
The idealistic soldier, the ironic connection of 'speaking through fists' or in this case the sword. Lust for battle could not get any worse than this.
In that case I better be fully prepared for this
*Zoom*
I quickly zoomed in to pick up my shield on the floor and charged back at Alexa in a fraction of a second full force head on.
*Clang*
The strike hit hard but this time I was able to hold my own against her, easily.
The look on her face was that of inexpressible joy of combat, and each clash of the sword was a venture into the new world.
This aura of mine seems to be an extension of my will and intentions, it moved how i willed it to which could potentially shift the tide of this battle to my side.
[If I could just get her in one powerful strike, I could end this quick]
As fluid as light itself was my movement, as gracious as the wind was my hold on my sword, and as deceiving as sound itself was my ability to keep the tide of this battle not completely on the side of lady Alexa.
If only i could go all out.
"Can i go all out?", the look on Alexa's face turned to momentary shock and back to the expressionless beauty that I knew her for.
"Things are going to be broken"
"Fern Lun don't hold back on me, like I said earlier I lose to none in the art of the swor...."
*Slash*
I hit her mid speech right across the groin
[Thanks to Deag's unmerciful nature, I learnt to be ruthless and catch off-guard]
She stood there in shock as a tiny wound manifested.
"Fern Lun, you really are the honorless one"
I looked down in shame then back up instantly as to not be surprised attacked
The same gold blood gush forth from the opening I had just created on Alexa.
She looked down at her own blood like it was alien to her with a confused expression as if to ask, 'How did this happen', which meant i was in absolute terrible danger.
Something felt off and I was about to find out the hard way, and I was not going to like it.
Not at all
...