Uncle had brought me to a small and dimly lit room after descending a long flight of stairs, leaving me ultimately with only one piece of advice.
"Please, don't hold back no matter what because she isn't the type to be merciful."
Then he left. His reason for bringing me here this time was simple. Follow her instructions.
He hadn't told me who 'they' were exactly nor what instructions I had to follow.
But he did say that this would help me fix the mistake I had made. "Perhaps it will even lead to the salvation we all need."
He had commented as he left.
The room had two doors. One which I had just entered through and another at the other far end of the room. Probably leading into a room beyond this one.
One thing was for certain, the room beyond held a mystery that called out to me. Not by mere curiosity.
What permeated was instead, power.
Raw, undiluted power.
Terrifying.
And I could feel it.
I'd have to be dead to not feel the phenomenon beyond the door which raged like an all consuming flame.
But…
According to the old man. I just needed to follow her instructions.
"Who?"
But…
Did I need to face this person in order to proceed?
As soon as I find out who exactly "she." Is i can move on. This room was completely empty however. So I did what came naturally to me. I approached the doors at the far end of the room. My curiosity brimming, my mind pondering, what exactly could radiate such power.
I placed my hand on the doors caressing it's carved tapestries. Feeling for something that I could not see.
And feel I did.
A hole. But as far as this one went it was special among holes.
This one held something, a purposefully crafted shape.
"To pass through that door you'll need this." The torches to either side of the room erupted spraying brilliant blue light and sparks everywhere.
I spun on my heels to face the person who had made my heart take up lodging in my throat.
"Mel!?" I asked in surprise.
Mel was one of the aids that helped out around the house.
And now she held between her fingers the very item I sought.
A weirdly shaped 'key'!
"Please leave, you're not supposed to be here." I warned trying to keep my voice low. "you can very easily get hurt if you stay!"
This warning was not made lightly. They were normal humans afterall and by no means cultivated any sort of divine power.
She laughed as if it were the funniest thing. "Aren't you curious?" She probed. I could only shake my head, how could I have been so dumb?
Even so I still have no intention to fight her. Especially since the instructions were only to follow her instructions.
"Follow her instructions?" I asked.
"Bingo!" She replied cheerfully while adding a comfortable pose. This was what she called swag and she was proficient in the art. Even though she did try to teach me. It's still something far out of my comfort zone. I'm still not used to it. Or comfortable with doing it.
Getting back to the topic at hand i probed again. "What will I have to do in order to get the key?"
"Simple~" she cooed. "You'll just have to take it won't you?"
How is this going to help me?
"So am I supposed to just play tag with you?" I was getting annoyed.
She shrugged nonchalantly.
In the two days I've been preparing for this. Uncle had taught me a few things.
A breathing technique which slowly accumulates ki and stores the explosive power safely into the dantian and techniques which release said ki.
"I should warn you though, this room holds a special trait which bends a very specific law. All our prowess will be transferred." She stated not reigning in her confidence.
I wasn't sure what she meant by this but judjing by her smile and confidence, I can say with certainty that this isn't gonna be good for me.
"What do you mean?" I tried.
She simply smiled and continued her explanation without iterating or shedding any light on my query.
"This will be a test, and it will last for 10 minutes. If you're able to take the key from me within that time I'll grant you something special. So do your best~."
I sighed.
"Fine."
My acknowledgment of her test doesn't mean that I'd take this seriously. I simply want the key to the next room.
I measured my gait as I moved closer, given that she wasn't as strong as me, I surmise that I could easily take the key from her. As she held it out between two fingers for me to take.
But the way she smiled as I closed the distance could only mean that she looked down on my ability.
Ok, "tag it is then!" I inhaled and steadied my resolve and bolstering my strength. If I could properly use the technique uncle had taught me I could quickly close the gap and with her being surprised I'd easily snatch it from her fingers.
Her smile was beginning to tick me off and thinking of her surprised face made my urge to tackle her seem like a wonderful plan. She wasn't a dainty woman by any means.
So knocking her on her butt…
-shall I make it my goal?-
I dashed forward.
Only to be surprised by my lack of energy.
No ki, nor strength, just a heavy limit.
-Eh?-
She easily palmed my forehead and pushed me to the floor face down, Before creating more distance.
I could feel the bruise on my cheek throb from being slammed into the floor.
-ugh!-
-was she always this strong?-
I struggled to get to my feet before trying again.
This time she countered with a backhanded slap to my cheek which once again sent my mind reeling as I fell to the floor.
-the heck is this?-
-my body feels so, heavy!-
"Finally catching on?" Mel teases as I struggle to stand.
"What did you do to me!?" I roared as I charged at her again failing this time to a heavy kick to the stomach that winded me and sent me to the ground again. This was becoming a tiring routine.
"I didn't do anything, this room did."
"What does that even mean?!"
I clutched my stomach, it hurt.
She sighs.
"Your ten minutes are now six." And then "shouldn't you be trying a bit harder? If you continue like this you'll never pass the test." She approached me seeming to have given up on her hit and away strategy. "She crouched before me,
I don't think master mentioned this is to you but if you fail. There are no retry's. And having lost your usefulness what do you think master will do?" She paused watching me as it sinks in. This was definitely a threat.
"You have four minutes left. And it's not like I want you to fail so I'll give you a little advice. Stop looking down on regular humans. This room might've taken your physique and techniques from you but you still have the potential that master spoke about and that is what you need to use."
She sighed. " next, fighting isn't always about defeating your opponent, so use your brain a little."
She was right.
"Three minutes." she before standing and backing away again. She was right. From the very beginning I was too focused on what I had gained and less focused on my own experience. More importantly, the experience my body possesses. Beyond what I can even remember. I bring myself to stand and close my eyes momentarily regulating my breathing.
Calmed my mind. I needed to reach deep down winthin myself. To trust myself.
To know that it's not about power.
Yes….
It's not always about power.
I opened my eyes and looked at her.
I slowly take a step forward. Then another. I could feel my muscles coiling with strength that only I possess. This was my very base and the core of what I am. Slowly my memories start to flow in and I'm reminded of everything that happened before… With every step I could feel what I'd lost. It radiated through me, all my memories. I was no longer the powerful half dragon. My foundation as a dragon was destroyed completly. But I could still feel the effects of that black energy.
It was faint and almost nonexistent but it I couldn't help smiling and crying simultaneously.
Master numinus was alive.
After his sacrifice.
Thank God he survived!
Stepping forward and twisting on my heels, I quickly sidestep. This was no ordinary move but one I had learned after many years practicing with my half dragon lineage. And my mastery of fist arts and the archaic laws.
As such It was easy for me to step into her blind spot after forcing her to look to where she thought I'd be moving to.
And now as she finally realized. It was already too late.
The key was already in my hands.
And I nonchalantly stood beside her. Completly disregarding her.
Leaving her startled.
This was probably beyond her expectations and truthfully if my memories hadn't returned when they did. I probably would have failed.
I even thought that my memories would have caused me to be confused about my identity.
Who I am.
Who I had become.
But it was all a pointless worry.
Because I am me.
Slowly a warm fuzziness envelopes my body and as my strength returns I could feel that it was more than twofold what it was before.
Although it was far below what I had in my previous half dragon state it was a step forward to regaining my power.
"I took your physique and techniques because the thing that hinders a person's growth is always the achievements they pride themselves in. They forget the sky above the sky. "
She exhaled.
"Now seeing you like this, I can see that your power and abilities are truly magnificent. Master is truly fortunate to have been able to teach someone like you."
With this she starts glowing faint a luminous blue in the room lit only sparsely by blue torches.
She moves closer and places a hand on my cheek, caressing my bruise. "Sorry I hurt you like this, I won't try to justify but what I can say, is it was truly an honor having a beautiful little sister like you."
"Mel…. What's…happening to you?"
She shakes her head. Somberly gazing into my eyes once again, a faint smile in tow. "Don't worry about us, this, is a sacrifice we all chose so that you can find a way to save humanity from this place."
"What do you mean?! What did uncle do?!"
"We've only opened the door for you, don't waste this opportunity worrying about us. Just do us proud k?"
Her body slowly fades into the ether.
I can feel my body willing me towards the stairs. I needed to check to see if uncle was ok! But my feet remained planted. The side of me that wasn't emotionally tangled with the two sisters and uncle, wanted me to respect their wishes.
But the side of me that knew them.
That spent time with them.
That talked and laughed with them.
That slept together when I was unable to fall asleep because of the nightmares I kept having.
The side of me that knew their kindness and warmth.
Wanted me to go and make sure that they were ok.
To see just how severe their sacrifice was.
But the original me simply brought four words to the forefront of my mind.
They're dead. Don't bother.
I had no reason to doubt either because the original's ability which allowed me to sense life showed me the moment their light faded away.
Turning on my heels and heading towards the door with key in hand. I readied myself for what was to come.
By trying to forget what was left behind.