Blown into a daze, my eyes stared off into the distance. Failing to focus on anything in particular.
Remembering I had a fight to finish, I gained back my senses. My pupils dilated in concentration. Shaking my head to recover from Lavinia's punch, I looked up to see her standing five meters away again. Even through the effects of her Chromatic Aberration, the outline of her body was surrounded by a thin layer of white light. Like it was only something I could see because of her Aura's effect.
"My punch wasn't just held back; it was partially neutralized. Essence isn't just used to empower a person; it can be used to suppress. Along with the equal neutralization, it doesn't have to be unleashed with your Attribute. That is something you should know very well, Rin. Having spent so much time with a Low Will. Have you never allowed your essence to spread throughout your body? Feeling it flow… empowering you. It should be a natural skill for any Holder. Improving your strength, durability, and endurance. Why don't you give it a try?" She moved into a defensive stance, the same one Leo does.
Having been misled by the term 'spar', I took it as she said. Instruction.
Instead of directing my essence to my hand or anywhere else, and unleashing it. I let it flow throughout my body. Nothing felt different initially, but I trusted Lavinia's words.
Lunging at her, covering the five meters in four steps, I swung at her. She easily countered, grabbing my arm and swinging me around her. Using my momentum against me, she tossed me over her shoulder.
Recovering in a roll, I landed back on my feet.
"You're doing it wrong! Don't just let it flow through you. Feel it. All of it. The trickle into every part of your body. Your muscles, bones, the vibrations it makes traveling through you. Direct it like a circuit. Focus on one part of your body at a time, not everything. If you're trying to run, feel it in your legs. If you want to punch, feel it in your arms. Isolate a single muscle in your body at a time for maximum efficiency." Lavinia yelled at me.
"What in the Monarchs is a circuit?" I said under my breath, rising to my feet.
Seeing Lavinia in a readied stance, I tried again. Directing the essence inside my body with a purpose other than unleashing it. Isolating a single muscle, as she said. Focusing on my legs, I directed as much essence as possible into its upper part. The flow of essence wasn't perfectly isolated; some trickled to my stomach, chest, and feet, but the difference was undeniable.
The rush of power in my upper legs was strong, my muscles contracted violently, but not painfully, ready to burst in strength.
Dashing back at Lavinia, the speed and strength from my legs was an explosion of force, traveling the five meters in three steps. Just as I was about to make contact with my fist, I moved the essence through my body. Up my leg, moving through my stomach, then chest, down my arm, and into my hand. The process was sloppy, and I lost control of most of my essence while it traveled through my body.
My fist was a mere inch from her face, but before it connected, it was as if space moved around me again. Her face went from directly in front of me to off to my right… I completely missed my target.
Without doing anything, Lavinia let me rush right by her. Losing control of my speed, it felt like my legs crashed. My legs cramped, bringing pain when trying to bear my weight.
Stumbling for a few steps, the floor accepted me into its embrace. Momentum brought me sliding across the floor for a few meters. Rub burns covered my face and arms, and a few holes appeared on my shirt.
"You failed… again. Using too much essence in one part of your body, with your lack of control, will lead to a crash. Your muscles will fail, your bones will ache from the stress of being compressed, and your skin and blood vessels will rupture. You lack the knowledge and strength to perform at that level."
"You couldn't have led with that first?!" I breathed out.
"We learn from pain, Rin. Not a pat on the back and a 'good job'!" She flared.
Slowly rising from the ground, the spasms in my legs threatened to bring me back down. When I regained stable footing, Lavinia gave me a slightly impressed look.
"I'm surprised you're standing. Your Will's a real gift. I'll give you one last chance to come at me."
"Or… you can come at me!" I said with confidence.
For the first time since we've met, she grinned. A creepy, genuine grin. And in that moment, she looked so much like her brother… a demon in disguise.
She pranced the seven meters between us in four quick steps, side-stepping to my left when she reached me, raising her left arm in the air. The ball of light aimed directly at me. Her right arm swung out, launching a ball of light to my right. Distracted by the two balls, I lost focus on her center of mass. A simple parlor trick, but it got me nonetheless.
Using Disperse, I attempted to create a smokescreen of mist to block her line of sight. It spread fast and cold, but it was too late. Following through with her side-step, her left leg raised through the mist at high speeds. Her clothes and parts of her skin were torn from the shards of ice within the mist.
Coming towards my stomach, her shin, enhanced by her essence, hit with enough force to knock me off my feet, and blow the air out of me. My body folded around her leg. I hung in place, paralyzed.
Buckling over, I landed on my stomach, crunched in pain, clutching onto myself. My body was cold, like usual, but it was like a piercing pain that came with the initial stage of hypothermia. Coughing out cold blood, my vision finally cleared, no longer oppressed by Lavinia's Aura.
She came on me quickly, forcing me down on the cold floor with a knee over my lower back. Pulling out my right arm, palm facing up.
"You're useless." She said coldly.
Tugging my wrist with her enhanced strength, while pushing down on my tricep, my forearm bends in the opposite direction up towards the ceiling. With a loud crack, she breaks my elbow. A sharp pain spreads up my forearm and down to my shoulder.
The initial pain quickly resided, replaced by an almost unbearably painful tensing in my arm. The shock caused a cold wave to spread to my entire body.
A guttural scream rips through my throat. Left on the ground, grunting in pain, I slowly try to sit up to support my arm, which is now bent backward.
Only a few seconds pass before Sir Chiron is standing over me, observing my reaction to pain.
"I know it hurts, Disciple Rin, but do best remember this pain. In this line of work, pain is a guarantee, not a possibility. And I won't be there to ease your suffering. I am telling you to deal with the shock for a minute. After which… I will step in." His voice was warm, but his words were cold. Feeling like a sharp dagger added to my broken arm, bruised stomach, burned face, and possibly broken ribs.
The minute passed by slowly. Forever known as the longest minute of my life. Sir Chiron tried to guide me through it with breathing exercises and coping mechanisms, but I wasn't paying too much attention.
However, whether due to my Will or resilience to pain, the longer time went on, the less I could feel my arm. As if my body were attempting to heal itself, the lingering chill in my body intensified around my injuries. To the point I could barely feel them at all.
The pain was excruciating, but it didn't last forever. My body may not be able to heal itself, but it can certainly help manage the pain. My face relaxed, and I was left no longer squirming.
After a minute, Sir Chiron spoke again, "It seems he still has the resilience of a Holder… At the very least."
Bending down, Sir Chiron grabbed a stable hold on my arm, gave me a cloth to bite down on, and told me to breathe. With a quick, sharp twist of his arms, he snapped my arm back in place and immediately began healing it.
Once he was done with my arm, he tended to my stomach before moving on to the less serious injuries. Due to all the damage to my body, he needed the help of an elixir to fully heal me.
When Sir Chiron was finished, I was left with sore legs, a sore stomach, and face, and there was a slight tingle in my arm. It seems that Recovery Will's can help with the recovery process, but there are a few minor lingering stimulations.
Leo helped me up off the floor. Reaching out his hand, I grabbed it with zero hesitation, already struggling to raise my arm.
When he got me to my feet, he leaned in close and whispered into my ear, "She really kicked your ass." He said with a chuckle.
Done for the day, I was directed back to my room to clean myself up for an early dinner.
…
Back in my room, I spent my time stretching out my body. Minimizing the kinks and sore muscles left from my spar with Lavinia.
I felt for any sensitive areas in my elbow when there was a knock at my door.
Excited to eat more food, I hurried to open the door. Only, I was surprised to see Leo on the other end instead of a servant. "Is dinner ready?" I asked hurriedly before he could even say anything.
Caught off guard, "What? No. I just… I just came to… why are your lights off?"
Looking back into my room, "Oh, uhh, I have no idea how to turn them on."
Leo invited himself inside, turning to the part of the wall right next to the door. "It's a panel system. Just place your hand over this panel here and imbue some of your essence into it." Just as he said that, the whole room lit up, bathing it in colour for the first time. Looking back towards me, "Anyway. I just came to check in."
Continuing to stretch. "Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. I mean… my body is still sore, but nothing hurts anymore." I groaned while stretching out my arm.
"Good, good. Listen… I know this whole ordeal is a little overwhelming…"
"A little…?"
"Okay, a lot overwhelming. I just want you to know that… if you ever need anything, to talk, or… spar, I'm here. A friendly face."
"Spar, huh?"
"Ok, maybe not to spar, since I can see you're intimidated by all this"–He said, gesturing to himself—" but train you… or whatever."
"Thanks…"
"Of course…" Leo slowly walks back to the door. Leaning on the frame when he exits my room.
Just as I'm about to close the door, he slams his hand on it. "One more thing. I know you're confined to the estate and the Upper District for the time being, but once your family moves into the Middle District, it'll be easier to see them. We could easily do it in one day without anyone noticing."
"You saying you'd sneak me out?"
"Of course. What are friends for?" He said, sticking out his hand.
I pause for a moment, stricken by his upfrontness to this whole thing. After a few seconds, I reach for his hand, squeezing in a firm handshake. "Friends… sure."
He must have taken the firmness as a challenge, because next thing I knew, my hand was being crushed.
Leo Gimwald
Making my way down the hall, I couldn't get Rin out of my head. He's an interesting person, coming from the Lower District, stumbling on a Lord Will Beast, killing set Will Beast –even if it was just a child— yet… being such a terrible fighter. He'll have to tell me the story someday.
I walked silently through the dimly lit hall, keeping my thoughts to myself, unlike my sister. How does one get into the habit of monologuing out loud?
Quickly making my way through the estate, I passed the Upper North Main Hall, ignoring my room for now, and instead went across the stairs. Heading down the Upper South Main Hall and into the Rear Wing Hall. There at the end was a tall man shrouded in shadows.
Walking as quietly as possible, more out of habit than worry, I made my way up to the man. Once close enough to make out details, I greeted my father. "Hello, Father."
"Please, Leo, let's skip the small talk." I nodded in agreement. "So, what do you think of him?"
"Rin… I like him. An honest man? Can't say for sure, yet. I don't know if letting him into our house was a great idea, but he seems committed." Looking down with a slight frown on my face, which was just a smaller grin, "I wish he were a better sparring partner, though. I'm getting tired of beating Lavinia."
My Father breathes a heavy sigh of annoyance. "And? Do you believe he is trustworthy?"
"Treat him right… There'll be nothing to worry about."
My father's face turns stern. "Stay close to him." He demands.
My not frown grows wider. Becoming a genuine smile, "I was planning to. He's an interesting guy."