Streaks of light pierced through my eyelids. very bright yellow shade covered my view. Fluttering my eyes whilst rubbing my face with such weariness and practically dead inside. My head felt as though it was wounded and the rest was practically destroyed. For some reason, my body aches much more than before. I say up, scratching from head to waist, looking around at the cramped room. The room, to be honest, was nothing I have seen before. stacks of paper piled onto each other like a construction site. Twisting and turning it appeared, however. Talons dipped with black ink were everywhere leaving large blotches of black onto the surface and some looked quite fresh while others were more ancient. The windows were slightly crack exposing glints of light that blinded me. The bed of which I laid was unimaginably rough with its poor craftsmanship and crumbly texture of the linen. Alice was beside me, sleeping soundlessly and her beauty ever so charmed me further. The bedsheets did not seem to cover my entire body as my foot laid out flat over the bed frame.
A sudden realisation struck me. How did I get here? a creak joined the room upsetting the silence. I got a sudden chill that seemed to spread. I feared for the worst as the door opened more and more. The darkness brightens slightly made it seem less frightening but, still not enough to calm me. I picked up Kami and readied for any danger to follow. A woman walked in slowly whilst holding a tray that had bread and a cooked picko egg that seemed rather burnt but, still made my stomach growl restlessly. I lowered my blade but, only slightly as she still seems suspicious.
* Picko egg is a type of common egg found in a picko - typical common bird - nest, sold at basically anywhere and the cheapest eggs you can get at a market*
« Ah, it seems you have now awoken but, your partner there seems to be still asleep,» the lady said in a calming voice. The lady appeared young, a rather country-side look but, is somewhat a beauty. She has quite tanned skin with blonde hair attached to her head. She has a slender figure with a bold look and just by how she dressed I could already tell that she was living in poverty. Her clothing stuck out rather unpleasantly and is very common but, was unique as there were much more than nothing covering its design as ink and stains from a variety of sources. Its very sight: disgusted me.
« Oh by the way, hi, I'm Elise and I own a stationery market but, the business has been rather slow » she introduced with a slight aura of sadness.
« My name is Jackal Gannon and here is Alice Demitriou she is from the angel race » I calmly responded, noticing the guilt comment but, I turned away ever so slightly to not disrespect her kindness. After moments of silence, low yawns broke the heaviness in the atmosphere - seems Alice is awake now.
« Good morning master, I feel rather tired. Ooh, breakfast! I have been starving for the entire time I was in that wretched cave » Alice remarked with the slightest clue that someone else was in the room.
« What cave? » Elise asked without any idea of what Alice has spoken about.
« Nothing! Nothing at all, Alice is used to saying some rather peculiar things. Do you see? » I quickly responded to not lay suspicions onto me and Alice's origins.
Elise gave us the trays and Alice immediately dived into the dish. I'll have to teach her some manners once I make it back to the academy. I started to eat and while it did quench my hunger but, did not soothe my appetite. I jumped up and stood in front of Elise to thank her for her kindness until she said
« Maybe you should get dress » as she covered her eyes and I turned around to see Alice, she too covered her eyes. I looked downwards to see that my school uniform was tattered and destroyed as I stood there almost naked, seems that the bedsheets covered me. I said with embarrassment
« Mind bad, would you happen to have any clothing I could borrow »
« I'm afraid not » Elise replied still having her hands over her eyes.
« Fear not to master as I, Alice, can sew it back together, could you bring me any sewing kit, much appreciated » Alice suddenly declared whilst peeking through gaps between her hands over her eyes.
I remove my clothing just as Elise left to find her sewing kit. Then took the bedsheets and covered my body with it as I walk out of the room. It was clear her housing was small as I looked around there wasn't much of anything just stationary equipment lying everywhere on the ground like litter on the street. Seems as though she does not mind her home looking like a dumpster. Although it was messy, it gave off a heartfelt atmosphere that soothed my worries. I looked around for a bathroom as a few minutes later of a detailed search, I found it.
The door was rusted with scratches and splinters covering the door and the brown-white was vanishing leaving brown blotches of colour on the door. Now, noticing every little detail of her hall, it seems worn out and damaged with some floorboards sticking out and scratches and broken pieces of wood laid around the house. Seems like there was a lot of trouble here and some of these damages look fresh and some are old, something must have been occurring for a long time and is still happening. Although I was still sceptical to the situation I still went to the bathroom.
Upon entering, I could step in no further as it was very small with a toilet, sink and a long mirror that covered the area. I closed the door for privacy and removed the bed sheet, I had just enough space to turn around as the toilet took most of the space and a little rusted sink was on the sidewall and the other side had a rather long mirror that stretched from the ceiling, which was relatively normal, to all the floor. I looked at myself with such surprise. Although I had a few scars running along my arms that were quite deep wounds, also one large scar that was embedded to my side chest that all appeared as a tigress tooth. My muscles were so defined that it popped when I tensed. My hair was quite messy but, my face seemed to beautified and a sharp jaw supported the beauty, my head shaped into quite a muscular outline. My abs and pecks stood out as it was very toned as I touched them to see if they were real. It's real. My legs thickened and were as hard as steel. My arms covered with large veins that covered my body: my arms, my legs. Also, just notice I grew a lot taller, practically everything changed on my body, I took a liking to my new body, I feel so much more superior now. Seems that after that entire incident my body adapted to suit my new profound power.
I got myself ready, finishing up my daily bathroom routine when
« Master, I am finished, praise me » Alice spoke at the perfect timing. I walked out covered myself with the bedsheet and made my way back to the bedroom. Astonished, my uniform looked like it was before the circumstance and looks brand new.
« I'm impressed Alice, well done,» I said with much pride, Alice replied with
« What do you expect to master, I have a proficiency in sewing »
« Okay everyone turns around or even better could you leave the room,» I said as both Alice and Elise started to go out and once the door closed, I quickly dressed in case Alice unexpectedly walks in. I finished dressing without interruption and opened the door. No one was outside the door, I was confused, surely Alice should have watched the door in case of something. Oh well, I walked around to find them only to see the two of them chatting whilst eating in the dining room which was relatively cramped. I enter waiting for comments.
« Ooh, master, you look so handsome,» Alice said with a little drool but, I didn't pay much attention to it but, blushed ever so slightly to not be noticeable.
« Yes, indeed you look spectacular » Elise also responded that kind of made me kind of embarrassed.
I took a seat on the dining area and asked
« Elise, where are we and what day is it today? »
« Well, we are in the countryside called Katex County and today is the fifth of July year V989 »
I gasped in shock of how much time went by in a flash and how far we have travelled, we are approximately 200 miles from the school and it would take a few days by horse to get back but, if we use Alice's flight we can make it back in less than 3 hours.
« What is with the dead expression master,» Alice asked me without a clue to what is happening.
« Alice... it has been over... a year since we were... stuck in that cave !» I said slowly in such despair, oh no my parents are probably mourning my death as they were quite doting parents (best I could have ever hope so). This is really bad I kept thinking with that constant image of parents mourning.
« Alice we need to go back to my school, Alice gets ready to leave,» I said in a rush as I rush back to pick up Kami of which I had totally forgotten about until now. I came back to find the two of them gone. I looked around the house and nothing showed up until
« Oh seems you are quite in a hurry, if you're looking for the girl, I can help with my arcania search,» Kami said suddenly without saying anything for the past hour.
« Okay do it now we need to return now,» I said with an urgent tone as Kami unleashed arcania and said
« I found the angel but, she seems to be in a tight spot, she's with seven other people and two of which has beyond average arcania » Kami said with a cruel calm voice as I quickly asked for directions.
I ran outside the house and dashed along the paths following Kami's exact directions. As I looked around the area it was quite poor with crumbling exteriors and badly maintained homes and businesses even the paths were made with cleared land instead of stone pavements. I kept dashing until Kami said
« We're here » just as he spoke the words I saw Alice chaînes to the wall with six men surrounding her and Elise is with them too. Their laughter fuelled my Anger and as I caved in, I noticed Alice in tears with half her clothing ripped off but, not much skin showing as the men started to rip more until
« Hey you guys... what do think... you are doing to... my partner... back off... or you will regret it » I provoked them whilst I drew my katana.
« Look here, boy, the adults are doing business scram or die,» one of the larger men said as he held up his scimitar.
*scimitar a very curved blade used mostly in the Gilivert Continent - a continent full of deserts and pirates - and is known for fast attacks*
My anger grew as the large man pointed his scimitar across Alice's neck. I felt like bursting out of control as I steadied my blade unleashing my arcania. My arcania felt different as though my anger was reinforcing the blade itself. I looked at my blade only to see it turn pitch black with some sort of scarlet aura around the putter edges. The very sight of it made the men and Elise frighten and was acting as though they were frozen in place.
« Seems like you are getting a hang of me, heh,» Kami said with pride.
My body seems as though it is moving by itself again. I positioned so that my body bends down and black arcania gathered around the katana. I held the sword to my side with both hands, I gripped tightly as I charged further. The intensity that grew was overwhelming even for me and the red aura grew slightly. The red aura shaped from waves to sharp, as I charged straight in, and. A horizontal attack followed with my blade going in first. A flash burst as Kami yelled
« Hachiman Style: KIRINGUSURAISU »
Landing behind the enemies and next to Alice. The half the six men's body started to slip off with scarlet bubbling out of control and spilt on to the road. Their upper body felled onto the floor whilst their lower body dropped slowly. Elise was left standing stained with blood and screaming and is almost traumatised.
I cut the chain on Alice and carried her down. She fainted and slept on my chest.
« Now Elise never makes trouble for others or one day you will die,» I remarked as I slid past the pool of blood. I made it out of the alley and walked back to Main Street to look for a navigation shop or information.
It took a while as I did not recall where it was exactly. The shops were rather run down and small. I located a shop where they sell miscellaneous items. The shop keeper was quite old but, a muscular man. Confusingly I asked him
« Do you happen to sell a compass and a map? »
The old man did not say anything at first but, then responded with
« Yes and yes, they are right over next to the utensils,» he said without an effort.
I walked over to where he pointed out. And there is was the compass and map, they were quite small in size and looked to be of low quality but, at least it works. I took two of each item in case the first breaks. I went up to the shopkeeper and paid 1 silver for them which lucky enough I had from the change when I bought the five Tolca sandwiches.
I left, giving the owner my thanks as I asked
« Kami, I have been meaning to ask you what are you? »
« Well, you see it's complicated really as I am a blade that has arcanic properties, I have 7 transformations based on the seven deadly sins of which Hachiman slew and implanted within me. You already unlocked two of them: large blade for pride and black blade with red aura for wraith » Kami explained thoroughly as I began my long travel back to where I started: the academy and Kami continued with
« You also used two of my special moves: sen no sutoraiki and kiringusuraisu which means thousand strike and killing slice. Each symbolises the thirteen zodiacs and these two are the Aries and Taurus zodiac attack » Kami further commented giving exact details about the two moves and the transformations.
Hours past as I continue my travel with Alice still asleep and Kami babbling on about how special he is and the privileges and benefits of using me. Most of what I have saw during the long walk was mostly open field grasslands with a few villagers working and animals just wondering around the land. Seems like I am not at all close but, I don't seem to have lost any energy or ache anywhere. Half a hour has passed of which Alice finally awakened and Kami settled down and slept.
« Master... I'm sorry to have you carry me all this way... and I am deeply grateful... for saving me back there... I was completely terrified » Alice struggled to say with tears running down her cheeks.
« Alice, i need you right now, so stay strong. Can you get us to fly in that direction? » I asked.
« Yes master I will use all my strength to assist you » Alice calmly responded as she chanted some words and tap my chest and Kami's scabbard then herself and another word later we started flying.
« Wow this is exhilarating, can u go faster? » I wondered as Alice chanted even more words but, this time is the angels' tongue. We stopped flying when wind arcania gathered around us as she said one phrase and great force pushed me through the air with Alice to the right of me. Even though i am flying so fast that even the people below constantly vanish within a second, the air pressure did not harm me or even feel the pressure seems that the enchantment has some sort of protection.
one hour past when I saw a large city in the far distance, it must be the academy as the map states that the the only thing in the southeast that is near where I began is the school. That cave I was in must have been very large to have me walk such a distance. I yelled with the top of my voice
« Alice my school is there could you land right at the entrance? » as Alice somehow heard me and shouted back
« Alrighty master » as she began to descend rapidly and the large gates were in sight. As we descended I began to feel as though Alice has started to open up more to me, as though she is more carefree. Her formal talk is now gone leaving just her normal self. I know whatever happens in the future she will always be with me.
Land approached us at high speed. When it was about a metre away the spell wore off and I fell down but, landed safely on two feet and Alice jumped into my arms as we both stare with amazement towards the giant gates that weirdly enough had arcania stored within itself. I announced as soon as we settled to the floor
« Well, Alice, it is time for a comeback »