(Republished chapter from Book 1, split in two to adhere to the website's character limit)
Noah fell on his butt on the ground, Warrior's Heart dissipating into silver dust around his hand. He let out a huge, disappointed groan, kicking his feet like a child throwing a tantrum.
-Aaaaagh! I was so close!- he yelled before accusingly pointing to Lucy- No fair! You've been holding back the whole fight! Don't tell me you could have ended it like that from the start!
Lucy giggled, cutely winking and sticking her tongue out.
-Oh, meeee~? I'd never! I held back to give you a fighting chance and the tiny possibility of winning! It's not my fault you fell into an obvious trap. Ya think I'd just stand there and let you run up to me like that? Is you head screwed on straight, hehehe?- she crouched down and patted the top of his head, jostling it around- Give yourself 10 years of training and you might actually gimme a good fight~
-Daww, don't tease me!- Noah shoved her arm around- I'll make you take me seriously next time!
-Suuuure~- she laughed.
The spectator group ran up to the pair. Noah was quickly picked up by Rye.
-How are you feeling, boy?- he asked, holding him up high by the arm.
-Feeling just spiffy, Master Rye!- Noah huffed proudly- No headaches, no nothing!
-Good. Then no hard feelings.- the Master then put him down and pushed him towards Eldus, who smacked him on the top of the head with his staff.
-Owww!- Noah yelled- Why did you do that?!
-I told you to never use Soul Crash until your Backlash was dealt with! You're lucky you didn't Overload! Is your head screwed on straight?!- the Sage yelled back.
-But it turned out OK...-Noah pouted, rubbing the sore spot on his head- Besides, how can I overcome the Backlash if I don't take steps to get used to my soul power?
-You train responsibly, not throw yourself into serious duels!- Eldus said, before turning to Lucy and smacking her too- You're not off the hook either! Go back to your desk job and no more training with Noah!
-Owww!- she yelled- Ugh, fine fine, old geezer. Noah can rest until the raid...
The blonde's eyes shone.
-Oh! You mean I can go with you to the Order tower?- he asked.
Lucy nodded with a smile.
-Yeah, yeah. You proved yourself with this fight. I won super easily, but you might give an Elite some trouble. So, get yourself some rest. We'll depart in three days!
Noah didn't react for the first few seconds, but then he was lifted up by the Academy trio, Masters and Mercedes, who all yelled cheers for him. And then Noah eventually joined the yelling and dancing.
Merceny approached Lucy in private.
-You're a terrible liar. You were about to lose.- he glared at her.
Lucy shrugged.
-That's what I get for holding back. It was quite the fright he gave me, but my experience allowed me to quickly notice his presence approaching me. So, I quickly adapted and won it all. Aren't I just a stellar BladeMaster, always with a plan~?- she giggled, flipping her hair.
-Yeah yeah...-Merceny sighed, looking over at Noah before looking to the crumbling stone hand erected from the destroyed Gaia's Blade.
"Crafty bastard...don't think I didn't notice that that Gaia's Blade was hollow. You usually wrap it around your Warrior's Heart, but you managed to create a hollow version of that legendary Blade, to then use it to build that stone hand. Then, you attacked Lucy with the Blade she thought was on the ground, in tatters inside the stone coating. When you threw Warrior's Heart to the ground before, it wasn't to coat it in the Ultima Soul, but to preemptively shatter it, so it could be re-summoned later. Heh...maybe that duel with Lucy will have to wait until I after I soundly defeat you..." he thought with a smirk.
-You're a model to all of us, Lucy.- Sobek sighed, still eating from his bucket of popcorn- But I'd be careful, if I were you. That Noah might be quicker at adapting than you!
Lucy shoved her hand inside the bucket, taking a handful of popcorn ("Oh yeah, sure, you can have some..." Sobek muttered).
-Like I said, I'd want nothing more than that. He needs to be strong for the raid. The upper echelon of Elites won't be as nice.- she then sighed- Yup...strong indeed.
-But raw power won't cut it Lucy.- Terri interjected, accompanied by Allie- I'd say his great adaptability is going to be his greatest weapon. Well, he won't be alone, anyways. We'll have his back if he starts overworking himself.
-Please, at our level, we'll get the job done before he can do anything.- Allie shook her head, also reaching out for popcorn ("A little 'please' would suffice!" Sobek protested).
-I hope so.- Terri said as she looked at the boy, soon stomping towards him- Hey yo, Noah! Where are your goggles?!
Noah blinked, reaching for his face.
-Wha...where are they..? Did they go flying off?- he asked himself, looking around and soon spotting them on the ground, lenses covered in dust, blocking the sun. He ran up to them and cleaned them up.
-Geez, be more careful!- Teri said, pointing to her own identical pair- Attila gave me these goggles when I was a little girl, to get me jazzed up for battle! It's a badge of honor for having defeated me in a fair fight, so don't go losing them! Wear them with pride!
Noah nodded eagerly, putting them on.
-Of course! These goggles represent my first victory ever since I arrived in Soula! I'd never lose such an important symbol of victory over the great Titan !- he said with pride- Whenever I look at them and remember that I'm not so helpless after all, I feel like I can draw strength from whoever I was in the past and overcome any challenge in the present and future!
Terri roughly patted his head, leaving his hair all jumbled up.
-Yeah, yeah, don't get so cocky! We'll have that rematch soon enough!- she grinned.
-Yeah!- Noah nodded.
Suddenly, though, some yelling could be heard approaching the training fields. A mob of angry citizens approached Lucy.
-You crazy woman, go fight outside the city walls!- they yelled- Your shockwaves are breaking everything!
-My house's windows!
-My antique vases!
-My expensive plates!
-My precious plated vases!
-We demand compensation!
Lucy stomped back towards them, before Mercedes grabbed her by the shoulder.
-You suggested the duel, you pay the consequences. You'll have some busy three days, Lucy.- she smiled softly- I'll help you, though.
Lucy groaned.
-Fine fine, angry mob! Just let me see if I broke something of my own, first! I also have property I'd rather not lose! Everyone else, go home and rest!- she yelled at the Academy trio, Masters and Elites, who quickly ran away, afraid of being roped into community labor.
As she entered the half-destroyed Angel's Crow HQ, assessing the damage, Lucy, who found herself alone, sighed to herself. A few hours later, her personal journal would contain the following words:
"Noah, thanks to this angry mob, I can't really tell you this now. And probably won't ever be able to, now that the moment's passed and I don't feel like I can bring myself to admit this to you, face-to-face. So, if you'll allow me to talk to myself...
I'm sorry. I lied to you.
I didn't challenge you to a duel to allow you to prove yourself worthy for the raid.
It was for you to lose. I wanted to beat you soundly and still be holding back. I wanted to leave you peeing your pants at the terror of what my strength is.
But first, I couldn't hold back as much as I thought I'd be able to. Your new strength completely surprised me. And I'm so, SO proud of you.
And secondly, when you started adapting and didn't give up, it made the fight so fun but also so...so good..! We didn't hate each other, we were just competing! And it was SO fun! I haven't felt that way in ages! A fight that's innocent and hot-hearted, for someone as blood-soaked and cold-souled as me? Honestly, it's a luxury I thought I'd never get to experience.
You made me feel happy I had become a BladeMaster. And I...rarely feel that way, even when I'm helping people throughout the continent. To see my little student grow so much got me over the moon!
As for why I wanted to beat you up...honestly, I was scared. I am still scared.
Scared at how fast you're growing. As much as I am proud of you.
Yesterday, when you said those things...that we might have to fight if you turn out of be an enemy...I got scared. Scared of losing you to this other, evil Noah. I didn't want that. I didn't want you to become that strong guy again. So I wanted to keep the status quo for a while longer. I thought...that if I beat you up enough, you'd stop thinking those things. That you'd recognize both my greater strength and how green you still are.
I thought that, by doing that, you'd give up those thoughts. That you'd stop running so fast towards who you once were and keep being our little goober.
Yes, it's selfish of me to want to impede your growth. But I also can't bring myself to fight you..! The stronger you get...the wider you smiled at me during the duel, the more I saw Tal in you. A smiling battle fiend...I didn't want that for you.
Because that's what I once was.
The stronger you get...the more distance I feel that's building between us. You're drifting away more and more from us, reaching instead towards this fleeting past identity. I don't want you to become so strong that you start seeing everyone as enemies against you regaining your memories or someone that would be an enemy of your previous identity! We aren't! You're still our Noah to us!
I hope...I sincerely hope that strength gives you sobriety. That your words when you said you'd fight for us are true. That we're not just a way to help you get back your memories. Please...you must help us because we're your friends, not this other Noah's!"
As she walked, she got to the shelf where the rickety scrap TV was placed on. With a sigh, she saw that it was still whole, as well as the various frames placed around as well in the shelf. Various photos, taken throughout the years were there. Of her with Eldus, the mercenaries, the Masters and the people she had helped for the 8 years she served Soula.
She then picked up a recent one, this one in full color thanks to Mercedes' efforts with the Lightus Enchant Stone. In the photo she was choke-holding a protesting Noah while giving a peace sign and a wink. The twins, the academy trio, Eldus and the Masters all surrounded the pair, smiling or protesting as well.
She smiled widely as she held the picture.
"We...I don't want another Noah.
This one already has a big chunk of my heart with him."