- Developed skills, formidable experience...
"I am awaiting your further actions, lad."
Fate snapped back to reality and shook his head. "O-oh... yeah. I'm sorry, sir! It's just-"
"Surprising, right?" Caeruleus interrupted. "Up until now, I still cannot believe your father became something I never knew he would become. I never thought the helpless will become someone who helps," Caeruleus replied.
Fate opened his bag and pulled out the pairs of sickles he brought. "I know, sir," Fate responded as he stands up. "Do you think I will become what my father had?"
"I cannot answer that question, kid. As for the answer, only you could discover it. And the answer you're looking for..."
Caeruleus suddenly vanished and disappeared into the thin air before he could finish what he is about to say. Fate looked around him, but he cannot find Caeruleus. Fate found no signs of his presence whatsoever, but he knows he must not let his guard down.
"...depends on you, kid!"
Caeruleus appeared in front of Fate. Caeruleus is on mid-air, about to slash Fate vertically in half. He looked at Fate's eyes with intent to kill Fate.
"S-sir what are you doing??"
Fate asked Caeruleus, but he got no response. Fate blocked Caeruleus' incoming attack using one of his sickles. The moment Fate blocked the attack, Caeruleus went behind Fate. Caeruleus lowered down his body and rushed towards him, attempting to pierce Fate's chest.
Fate immediately looked behind and evaded Caeruleus' attack. Fate is already panting due to Caeruleus' unexpected attack.
Caeruleus seems to be not satisfied yet. He jumped into the mid-air and looked where Fate is. He slashed his sword sideways and it released a shockwave capable of blasting even the strongest trees.
Fate knew he wouldn't stand a chance when he tried to withstand the shockwave. He had no choice but to evade it. He rolled to his right and took cover from the tree just beside him. Fate could feel the whip of the shockwave and ripped a portion of his shirt.
Caeruleus went on the ground with his guard lowered down. "I am actually impressed, Fate. Not bad. It surprised me when you managed to block and evade my surprise attack," Caeruleus said as he claps his hands and gives Fate applause.
"But..."
Caeruleus started to rush towards the tree where Fate went to take cover, and easily chopped it down with just a single slash. He tried to slash Fate vertically again, but Fate blocked his attack.
"...can you do a thing on point-blank, kid?"
Caeruleus intently looked at Fate's eyes, to kill. Fate doesn't know what to do. He is nervously panting. Caeruleus is overpowering him, and if he never gets out of the situation, he will be doomed.
"Do something, kid! You're not what I saw earlier. DO SOMETHING!!" Caeruleus shouted. "I will show no mercy on this training, lad. Don't do your best or you get yourself killed!"
Caeruleus tried to put additional force into his attack, attempting to overwhelm Fate.
Fate kicked Caeruleus' midriff, attempting to push him away. Fate got out of Caeruleus' attack and tried to slash Caeruleus' back. Fate knows he cannot even do a scratch to Caeruleus' armor, but he persisted. He still attempted to slash Caeruleus' back, but Caeruleus looked behind and deflected Fate's attack.
"Nice attempt, lad. But can you do any better?" Caeruleus asked, but Fate did not give any response. He just continued to slash Caeruleus over and over again.
"Going reckless, lad? That's bad."
Caeruleus deflected Fate's attack once more and pushed him away with his elbow, but Fate prevailed. He continued to slash Caeruleus over and over and over again until Fate grew exhausted and unable to fight.
Fate dropped his sickles off the ground and gasped heavily and rapidly. His sweat drips down from his chin to the ground, but he knows he must not give up now. After all, Caeruleus said that he won't give any mercy.
"Are you okay, lad?" Caeruleus asked. "It seems that you cannot keep up with me any further."
"Don't mind me, sir. I am completely fine," Fate responded. He picked up the pairs of sickles on the ground and grasped them tightly. He stared at Caeruleus' eyes with determination and added, "No mercies, right?"
Caeruleus laughed in satisfaction and smiled at him. "I was never wrong picking you, Fate."
The background suddenly dimmed. The atmosphere was filled with fog so thick, only the ground you're standing on is the only thing you can see. Fate guarded himself as he knows Caeruleus could be anywhere. He knows Caeruleus will focus on his opening. He tightly grasped the pairs of sickles and guarded himself completely.
"Behind you, lad!"
Fate looked behind and immediately covered himself using the pairs of sickles, attempting to block the incoming attack of Caeruleus. He managed to block the attack, but the force of his sword pushed Fate away. Caeruleus vanished in the fog. Fate needs to do something.
"On your left, kid!"
He immediately looked to his left and covered himself once more. He managed to block it but he was again pushed away by the force of Caeruleus' attack. Fate cannot see anything, and he cannot do anything about it, either. If Fate tries to get out of the fog, he will be dead even before he could get the chance to step outside of the fog - let alone how thick the fog is. Fate knows he needs to rely on his instinct. He knows he needs to be aware of his surroundings.
"Okay, Fate. Take a deep breath..." he thought to himself. He inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and calmed himself down. He could hear footsteps, but Fate isn't sure which direction are the footsteps coming.
"Gahhh, don't be an idiot this time! This is already a life-and-death situation!" Fate thinks once more. He could hear footsteps, and it's coming closer to him. He tightly grasped his pairs of sickles and...
"Look on your righ-"
Fate looked to his right. He covered himself using one of his sickles and successfully deflected Caeruleus' incoming attack and interrupted his taunts. He felt relief, knowing that he succeeded in relying on his awareness.
"Impressive, Fate! Impressive! You have been successful in blocking my incoming attacks," Caeruleus exclaims. "I guess I will be having a fun time training you, kid."
Fate looked behind and protected himself. "It is indeed fun, sir Caeruleus!"
The fog vanished. Fate can now see everything clearly. But he noticed that Caeruleus is gone and vanished along with the fog. It only means one thing for him...
He must not let his guard down.
Fate heard footsteps behind him and saw Caeruleus about to slash him. By the time Caeruleus' sword is about to reach Fate, he protected himself - but the moment he tried to protect himself, Caeruleus disappeared. It was the moment Fate realized Caeruleus had teleported to his right, rushing towards him. Caeruleus jumped and attempted to attack Fate, but he evaded it by leaping backward.
"You learn so fast, Fate. I am very impressed. But I am afraid I will have to end this training now," Caeruleus said. He then pushes his sword down the ground and took his armor off.
"B-but why, sir?" Fate asked.
Caeruleus answers, "You appear to be exhausted already, kid. You're already pale, and you are already panting heavily.
"Here, kid. Drink this." Caeruleus reaches into the thin air as if there is a pocket dimension in front of him. He took out a vial containing a solution that has a tint of magenta color. Caeruleus threw it towards Fate - he caught it successfully.
Fate opened the vial and drank every single drop of the solution. "It tastes... mmmmmm. It is very refreshing!" Fate exclaims. He gained energy and felt a surge of comfort after drinking the liquid.
"It is? Hah hah hah! I'm glad you liked it. Every potion I make comes here, Fate. I make sure that I get the ingredients needed for my potion here, and only here. I want my potion to be much more effective and efficient," Caeruleus explains. "Tell me, does it taste better than those you could buy from the market in the Central Town?"
"It really does, sir! I am actually surprised - how are you able to make these kinds of potions without the aid of sages?" Fate asks.
"The bond between Inzary and I would answer your question, Fate. A bond so strong, we became unstoppable once Inzary and I have each other's back. I adapted almost everything he has. Sigh..."
"S-sir, did I ask you the wrong question?"
"No, no, no, Fate. Do not worry about me. This is just my phase."
"Do you mind asking what is that 'phase' of yours, sir?"
Caeruleus reached into the thin air once again and took out a vial containing a liquid that has a tint of maroon color. He opened the vial and drank every single drop of the liquid.
"I am sorry, Fate. I am too afraid to answer that question. The only thing I can say to you is that it is something that I regret, up to these days. Every day I remember it, it takes away my energy. It... it destroys half of myself, and I hope it does not destroy me completely."
"I don't know what that is, but... I do feel sorry for what you feel."
"I appreciate your empathy, Fate."
The conversation between Fate and Caeruleus continued until both of them fell asleep on the fields full of flowers. A gentle flow of breeze, full of fragrance brought by lavenders made them fall asleep.
The Sun is already setting down when Fate woke up from his deep sleep. He yawns as he stretches his arms up in the air. The rays of the setting Sun hit Fate's face, waking him up.
"Wait, how long did I sleep today??" Fate thinks. He doesn't know the answer, either. Fate takes his bag and immediately pulls out the clothes he brought with him.
Fate smells himself. "Eugh! I already stink?" He looks around, looking for a place where he can secure his privacy as he wants to change his clothes.
Fate hurriedly stripped his clothes down and immediately changed his clothes. "This is very awkward," he thinks. "I just hope no one saw me..."
"Nice underwear, kid. Where did you buy it?" a voice behind him asked Fate. He looked around, and he just saw Caeruleus.
"You saw nothing, sir, right??" Fate asked. His face is full of embarrassment as Caeruleus caught him changing his clothes. "You didn't have to do that, Sir!"
Caeruleus hysterically laughed as he saw Fate getting embarrassed. "I know, I know. I am very sorry for invading your privacy."
Fate immediately picked up the clothes he used earlier and put them inside a plastic bag. He then put it inside his bag and closed it.
"Are you done, Fate?" Caeruleus asked. "I have been preparing our dinner for tonight while you were out there watching the sunset. You do look hungry right now, kid."
"Yes sir. I am already done," Fate replied. He smelled something and sniffed the air one more time. "Wait, is that Ramen we're having tonight, sir?!" Fate excitedly asked. His stomach growled the moment he smelled whatever Caeruleus is preparing.
"You guessed it right, kid. We are having Ramen tonight," Caeruleus answers. "Oh boy, your stomach wants to be filled already. Let's eat it while it's still hot."
"Wait, where did that tent come from?" Fate curiously asks.
"It was just a 'ready-to-go' tent I bought last month," Caeruleus replied. "Why did you ask?"
"N-nothing, sir. I was just curious how did you make a tent out of nowhere," Fate answers back. "I-I mean, where and how did you get the materials needed for this tent?"
"Hah hah hah! This is nothing special, kid. I am no carpenter. I cannot do carpentry. My wife does the job, which is very ironic. I am still proud of her, nonetheless."
Caeruleus and Fate went inside the tent. There, they saw a fireplace set up in the middle of the tent. Two stands made out of wood were placed on either side of the fireplace, supporting the hanging pot on top of the fire. Caeruleus opened the pot and all the trapped smoke came out of the pot, revealing the freshly cooked ramen he has cooked.
"Take a seat, kid. Feel at home," Caeruleus said to Fate as he takes two deep bowls along with 2 pairs of chopsticks and a ladle.
"How are you right now, Fate? It seems like you gave your best today, huh?" Caeruleus asks as he puts the noodles into the bowl and fills it with soup. He then gives the bowl of Ramen to Fate
"I am fine, Sir. Thank you for your concern. I-I wanted to show you what I am capable of..." Fate replies as he takes the bowl of Ramen and starts to eat the noodles. "Ahhhhh~ I have never tasted a Ramen this good!"
"I am... actually surprised, Fate. You are training yourself for a long time, yes?" Caeruleus asks as he fills the other bowl with Ramen.
Fate slurps the soup of the Ramen and replies, "I have been doing it for a year now, Sir... but I am ashamed of my progress..."
Caeruleus extinguishes the fire and sits down beside Fate. "You are ashamed of yourself, but why?" Caeruleus asks as he eats the Ramen.
"I never made any noticeable progress despite training myself for a year. I-I mean... my physical strength did NOT improve. My magics never improved. I am starting to doubt myself already..."
"I see, I see. But, why?" Caeruleus looks into Fate's eyes. "Just from what I have seen today, it is very clear you're making progress.
"If you never made any progress, do you think you will have any chance that you will survive any of the attacks I did earlier?
"No, Fate, no," Caeruleus nods his head sideways, disagreeing with Fate. "It is not about your physical strength, nor it is about your magical skills. All of which are bullshits that put people into thinking that they are not better than any aspiring knights or wizards or sages - whatever you call it.
"You are not lesser than a level three. Well, let's say you have repeated your class nine times over. So, what about it, kid?
"Yes, there is a big gap between our strength and skills. I admit that I could overpower you if I had just taken you seriously earlier - but, no. I did not want to. I was holding myself back earlier. But I had to put some excessive force. You want to know why lad?
"That is because I wanted you to use the experience you gained when you were struggling to train yourself. I wanted you to release that hidden experience. I wanted to see what you are capable of, and you never failed to show it.
"You might think your skills are still undeveloped, but I am telling you...
"One's experience will always overwhelm another's skills - no matter how dominant their skills are."
Caeruleus walks out of the tent. "Let's go, Fate. I will try my best to improve you. And it will happen right here and right now."