*Haru*
Days after Seer was granted the same rank as Briony, I had Seer look for Tsuki's position again.
"Be prepared. You might feel Arata's aura again. But don't worry, he can't hurt you." I reassured.
Seer sat in front of the map again. This time, we were in my personal office. It was devoid of any decoration, just a desk with a chair, and a few chairs for guests.
"I'll begin now."
Seer prepared to use her ability. Her Mana depleted rapidly again, and a purple dot showed up on the map. The dot's location was about 2 or 3 weeks away from Banna forest, Asia's biggest forest. 'Will they enter the forest?'
Seer was not yet finished, she still had to get a glimpse of Tsuki, and possibly, her surroundings. Maybe she could make out Arata's features.
When I began to see her struggle, I pressed my open palm against her back. After my Salan ability seemingly evolved, I was capable of so much more. With this evolution came a new ability, "Mana influence", I called it. I could redirect Mana to certain places without having to purify the natural Mana in my surroundings. Dominion of Mana was a move I created after me ability's evolution.
I influenced the Mana in our vicinity, my hand attracted it and went into Seer's Mana circulation, and then in her Core.
Her body temperature rose, as did her breathing and heartbeat. She started to sweat and resist the urge to jump out of her state.
She was back from her concentrated state a minute later.
"What did you see?"
But before I could get an answer, Mana was siphoned towards Seer without my influence. Then, a violent and unexpected outburst of Mana flung me backwards, breaking most of my office's furniture in the process.
There it was, the familiar feeling I radiated off too. A familiarity, a knowledge about one's own power. Seer seemed to have dived deeper into her ability's essence, and awakened a new power after feeling her individuality resonate with her ability. It was like stepping into a greater stage of power.
'Haha! I shouldn't distract her. I'll get my information soon enough.'
Seer set cross-legged and focused on her new Mana-Core. 'This new, and still impure Mana can be quite challenging to get under control. She needs to turn the atmosphere's Mana into her own. She should be ready, right... about... now.'
The Mana around us turned to its normal state. Seer opened her eyes for the first time. Her once black eyes, turned purple and carried an unrivaled focus.
Our eyes met. Then, Seer spoke.
"Why are your eyes twitching so much?" She asked.
'The first thing she asks is this?'
"I don't know what you are talking about."
A small and undetectable layer of Mana enveloped my face. Seer's purple eyes shone brightly after that.
"I see... myself." She said.
"You can see yourself through my eyes?!"
"I also feel where you are looking and know where you will look next." She revealed.
I was amazed by her new ability. 'Mana is the greatest.'
"Hah! You may have the ability to rival other Bearers now." I informed. "But it's quite easy to fight one Core Bearers, especially ordinary Mana-Wielders."
"You are right. I know I can do all these things. But do I really have 2 Mana-Cores now?" Seer asked.
"You do. What organ became your new Core?"
"My first Mana-Core was my heart. The second one is my spine."
Seer looked at her hands, she was overwhelmed. Her brain tried to process the vision from 2 perspectives.
"My eyes' colors changed. I like it."
I influenced Seer's Mana to disappear from my face.
"Thanks. I don't know if I could've stopped, I feel ecstatic."
"I'm sure you do. Don't get lost in that feeling. Have your mind focus on something else. Like Tsuki, for example. What did you see?"
"Yeah, right. I almost forgot. You know the feeling I first had when I looked at Tsuki? It happened again, but this time, I am able to perfectly describe it. It felt just like when I entered earth's gravitational pull again. I was drawn to it. It was scary, just like back then. But I managed to get a glimpse at Arata."
"Describe him for me then."
"Well, uh... he was dressed in black. Long, straight hair that went under his shoulders. Light brown eyes and a- hmmm," she stopped to cough, "a handsome face. He rode a grey horse and carried a Japanese sword, I think."
Immediately, my mind brought up the image of my brother. I felt veins in my face and arms pop out from under the skin. Seer could see and was irritated.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Shut up!" I yelled.
'Haru, what happened in your office. I got word that a Mana-..' I interrupted Silva's mental communication.
"SHUT UP, SILVA!" I yelled as loud as I could.
Seer reflexively closed her ears with her hands.
"Are YOU sure that's what you saw, Seer?! Do NOT lie to me. I WILL cut you into pieces if you lie! Describe HIM more accurately!
"Umm.. aaa..." She hesitated.
"I said, describe HIM to me again."
"Yes. Light brown eyes. Black attire. Japanese sword. Long, black hair. And... and uuhh- you know, am emotionless face."
Niam's image popped into my head again.
"HE can't still be alive, can HE?! I heard him under the rubble. This piece of trash couldn't have survived that, even if HE awakened! Damn you, NIAM! Even after I was given a new life, YOU had to be a part of it too."
My body shook from anger. My fingernails dug deep into my fist, then into my head. Somehow, the scar on my lip started to ache too. Tana Zaman's image also popped into my head, which made me even angrier. My neck tensed up so much that blood supply to my brain decreased and inadvertently made me dizzy.
"Haru, what happened?!" I heard Briony enter my office.
Normally, Briony would've interrogated Seer about my condition, believing she had caused it, but Briony realized that Seer looked terrified. Briony then saw me, shaking in the utmost anger. She tensed up too.
Before I could do anything else, a mist had crept into my office. First, Briony fell, then Seer, and then me. 'Damn you, Azlin!
I lost consciousness.
***
Azlin, was one of the Union's most powerful combatants. Her Salan ability allowed her to create a mist that put people to sleep. She combined that ability with her her wide-ranged combat style. She mainly used throwing knifes, but she was also good with the bow.
I woke up, tied to a bed. Azlin, Johan and Silva stood next to me.
"I have orders for you." I informed, after I remembered what happened before I fell unconscious.
"I don't think you are in a position to order us around." Johan said.
"Hmm." I paused. "If you guys value my leadership, you will listen to me. If you are loyal, you will do as I say. If you are my comrades, you will fight beside me."
I could hear them scuff and groan. They considered following me. I knew that. And they couldn't defy me, because they trusted me as much I trusted them. They were my comrades, I knew that they meant well by tying me to a mere bed with mere ropes.
"What are your orders?" Johan asked.
"Simple, really. We go to Central Superio - to where I lived before the impact - and we find out if my brother is really dead."
"Brother?!" Azlin asked.
"Guys, I think my brother might be Arata. I have to make sure he is really dead. He was buried under my house's rubble when I went back to see if my family was okay." I paused.
'Damn you, NIAM! You make me lie to my comrades!'
"He said that several of his limbs were crushed and he would die soon from blood loss. I couldn't do anything." I said in a sad tone.
'You even made me act! I'll will kill you, if you are really alive.' I swore to myself.
"Must've been hard for you, Haru. You must've loved him. But why did you get angry?" Azlin interrogated.
Their trust wavered after what happened.
"I didn't want him to be a ruthless killer. Hell, he escaped the Land I was in, I told him that I was going to the Union. But look at what happened. He felt threatened and felt the need to kill and escape this place."
'I lied! Again!'
"Truly unfortunate. Yet, I can't come with you. My ability can deal collateral damage, you know that." Azlin said.
"I know." I answered.
"Johan? Silva?" I asked.
"I still have a lot to learn from you, Master. I'll be coming with." Johan guaranteed.
As fate wanted. I met Johan. He, a new recruit, excelled literally in every category. I taught him the way of the sword. And I guess his blood must've awakened, as he came up with a "new" sword art. We both wielded the exact same sword. "A pair of brothers." Said the blacksmith. I knocked him out for saying that.
"I can feel myself reach your level, Haru. I might awaken my second Core soon too." Silva responded. "I will follow you."
"Will I need to ask Briony too?" I asked.
"Probably not." Silva answered.
"I hope not." Johan answered.
"I should apologize to Seer."
"No need to. I explained her, why all that happened. She says, it's alright." Silva informed.
"I really like her." Johan exclaimed.
'They're both the same age. It is to be expected.'
"Well then, let's go. Azlin, I trust, you will inform Declan."
"Do I have to...? You know I will get yelled at by Mister Declan and Mister Grimm."
"Do me this favor, please."
I gave her a sincere and apologetic smile.
"You better get me something from Central Superio."
"Something like a diamond necklace?"
"Yeah."
***
"I apologize Seer."
"No need to, really. I understand. It must be hard. On one side, I wish he wasn't Arata, but that would make me think, I hope you brother was not alive. And on the other hand, I hope he is Arata."
I stayed silent.
We made our way to Central Superio.
"About 30 days." Johan informed.
"My father had villages be built for travelling soldiers. We will reach every village at the end of a day. Well now it's almost dark. We'll need to ride until we get to the first one. Then, we will be on time." Briony informed.
It was the second time going to Central Superio, after I brought back the communication scrolls. 'I should visit Mul-Soo. He can give me a gift for Azlin. I'm sure it's nice to have 1 percent of the whole world's gems in your possession. It won't hurt to give me a necklace, right?'
"So, Seer. Congratulations on awakening a second Core. Those purple eyes are really beautiful." Johan congratulated.
„Thanks, Johan. You have been doing well for yourself too, I heard. Taking down Nordic troops at the future battlefield and all." Seer responded.
'Come on, Johan. She doesn't know about your identity yet, only people at my rank get to know about your secret. So if you want to get her, do it before she eventually learns about your blood.'
„They weren't Nordic soldiers, mostly criminals or farmers or something. I didn't care enough to ask, I had orders to follow."
„Right…"
It was way past midnight. No one talked until Seer had something to ask.
„What's the weirdest Salan ability you saw until now."
„Probably yours." I answered.
„Yes." The others agreed.
Seer was embarrassed. Her face turned red.
„Fuck you. Except me, then."
Johan was the first to answer.
„I fought a blind guy…" We interrupted him.
„Yo did what?!"
„Let me finish! He was like a bat though. Perfect hearing and all. He basically saw where I would swing my sword by hearing. I also had a ringing in my ear for a few days after that fight. He was literally screeching the whole time"
„I can't compete with that." Silva confessed.
„Me too." The others agreed.
***
The weeks of traveling continued the same way. My comrades tried to continue their silly small talk, but when I go sick of it, I shut it down.
"I appreciate your attempts to get my mind off of my brother, but I have to say, it has become quite boring. Don't get me wrong, but I hate it when people speak of the time before the impact, especially the internet. I know you all suffered losses, but I like how the world turned out to be. Isn't it nice to know your names will forever be remembered?"
They did not reply. Our travel still continued.
"The second last village before we reach Central Superio. Rest as much as you can." Briony suggested.
As usual, when we reached a village that was built for the sole purpose to accommodate soldiers, we split into 2 groups. Seer and Briony slept at the same place, while the rest of the boys stayed at a different place.
When it was around midnight, I was still up, as usual. I climbed on the tallest building and watched the new night sky. But this time, I had company.
"You are up, as usual." Seer said.
"I am. I felt like you knew, turns out, the feeling was right."
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel..."
'Anger!'
"... strange."
"Would it make you feel better if I were to look for Arata again?"
"Not really. But you can still do it. I am curious to see where Tsuki is going. I feel like they're heading to old China, then to old Japan."
"Wait a second. I will see so much more than last time. I also instinctively know that I can use my ability to see through Tsuki's eyes."
A whole minute passed.
"The hell?!" Seer exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"You see, Tsuki is aiming at a guy in front of Arata with her bow. He vision is blurry, I think due to tears. Wait... Arata seems to yell something. And now, her arrow is flying right at them... Ah! I lost he sight from her eyes."
"Can you try again?" I asked.
"I'm going to try."
Now that Seer had 2 Cores. Drawbacks such as fast Mana depletion or fear that was caused by Arata, disappeared. She was even able to survey the enemy by seeing what they saw. A weapon that could be used.
"I can't see anything anymore. I can't even find her. All I know, they're in a forest. Probably the one you mentioned." She revealed.
"The Asian Land's biggest forest."
"Yes."
"What the hell went on over there?"
"I can't tell."
***
"There is the hospital." Silva pointed out.
I had seen the hospital before, but this time, half of its original structure was missing, but was replaced and reinforced by high, wooden pillars. 'One of Michael Grimm's.'
"Mister Grimm probably ordered the reinforcement of the building that Arata destroyed. I forgot that one wooden guy's name." I informed.
"I don't remember his name either."
"How can someone cause such destruction?"
"I don't know. Even I would have a hard time destroying a building."
"General Haru!" A voice yelled out.
It was that masked guy that was at the hospital, the last time I was here.
"Your name was?"
"Gustav, General."
"I heard your reason for coming. High-General Grimm informed me. If you-" I cut his sentence short.
"What is the person's name that did this?" I pointed at the wooden structure.
"Low-General Ivo. He helped rebuild the the hospital, we are thankful."
"Go back to your position. We'll be crossing the bridge now."
"General, I need to inform you about recent incidents. All the troops we sent into Central Superio, came back, all cut up and without any information about their assailants."
"Doesn't matter. I know Mul-Soo personally, I'll try to negotiate with Mul-Soo about the relationship between Piranha School and the European Union."
"Sir, yes, Sir!" Gustav saluted.
"Let's go." I ordered.
The horses ran full-speed. 'At this pace, we will reach the other side of the bridge in an hour or two.'
Everyone was ready, especially myself. My anger was hardly under control, and now that I neared the placed I was raised in, my blood felt like it boiled. If I could, I would've made the horses run faster. But drowning in anger confused my sense of time. We had reached Central Superio seemingly in a second.
"Piranha school is on the way. We will go to my house after coming into contact with them." I informed.
Everyone was ready for combat. Those with weapons, drew them. And those without, concentrated. I also drew my sword.
"Silva, do you remember when we tried to shoot a shining ring?" I asked.
"I do."
"Let's do it again."
Silva created a spinning, silver ring. I then sent my Mana into the ring and made it glow bright orange. Silva threw the ring high into the air, higher than any - still standing - building. The ring's size grew, but my light still shone. Eventually, Silva's ring broke apart.
"That must've attracted some attention..."
Arrows flew at us from a distance, nothing I, alone, couldn't handle. I blocked the arrows with a shield of Mana.
"Silva."
"Yes, immediately."
Silva used his ability to speak to our attackers and name the reason for our presence. Just like I had told him to, Silva said that I, Haru, the Union's Light, would like to speak to Mul-Soo.
It seemed ineffective, as more arrows flew at us. We did not advance, we waited. We tried not to look hostile, though Johan was biting his lip in excitement, something was wrong with him...
["At last, we meet again."] A voice, belonging to a woman of my nightmares, said.
My already boiling blood got even worse. Even my horse felt instinctive fear before me. I jumped off the horse and saw a figure appear from the shadow of a skyscraper.
"Is that?!" Briony and Silva shouted.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
She ignored my question.
"I knew I left a scar. I hope I didn't ruin your chances with women"
Tana Zaman, the First-Princess of the Arabic Empire, appeared, dressed in black with golden accessories. This time, she did not wear a robe, she was fully recognizable. With that, I also got to see her weapons for the first time too. 'Golden claws...' My scar ached.
"I guess I didn't ruin anything." Tana looked at Seer and Briony.
A tinge of worry appeared after inspecting us thoroughly. She realized the difference of power between the two-Cored and herself.
Then, Tana's eyes met with Johan's. Both royals felt something. They looked ambitious and challenged at the same time. No one under the rank of General knew about Johan's blood.
„Will you reveal it?"
Johan ignored me.
„My name is Johan Kaiser. I challenge you, in the name of my family."
Johan was the descendant of the old King. Johan Kaiser was very much like Tana Zaman. Both had royal blood, and both were illegitimate. After the 3rd World War began, the old countries unified under a democratic system. That's how the European Union came to be. The once royal families were either killed or swore to end their bloodline with them. But Johan's father did not care, so Johan was born.
„I accept, in the name of the oldest ruling family of all time." Tana accepted.
Their clash started, and no one interfered. This was a battle of royalty, the others had realized too.
Tana's fighting style did not change. It was still the same mistake punishing fighting style as before. Johan's skill was practically on par with my younger self, but the sword-art he "created" gave him a slight advantage. It was like his fighting style was poured into his body, filling every inch with pure efficiency and familiarity. His fighting style was more opportunistic, he would try to sweep and throw Tana, but just like back then, she was too agile. Johan tried to counter counters, which led nowhere, he was only depleting his Mana reserves.
Until that point, both of them seemingly did not use their Salan ability. 'Tana has to have an ability.' I convinced myself.
I lasted only about 5 minutes against Tana, but Johan survived 10 minutes, until Tana gradually started to overwhelm him. She got faster and stronger. Instead of parrying Johan's sword with her claws by redirecting it, she started to grab the blade and pull Johan closer. Johan realized, he had to use his ability.
"I am a Conqueror. An Emperor. I am Kaiser!" He chanted.
Gusts of wind engulfed his figure. His hair and clothes where thrown around by the gales. He attacked.
His speed seemingly doubled, and he made no sound. The air he controlled, clung to his body and trapped all sound coming from him. This layer of air around Johan was a space he reigned supreme. Johan practically became a silent tornado. Once anything entered his space, it would be cut by the high air pressure and pressed away.
'He will awaken a second Core if this goes on!' I realized.
Tana parried one of Johan's attacks again, but this time, her hand was pushed aside and cut open on several places. Her parry was not accurate, so she took a major hit to the shoulder.
I expected to see a big cut, but there was nothing but condensed Mana at that place. She somehow managed to block his slash unscathed.
"Rebellion takes time to grow. But rebellion will also suffer. And as long as there is a will, rebellion will thrive even if a heavy blow was dealt to it." Tana chanted, this time.
Mana was siphoned towards them. They clashed for it, and whoever won the clash, would awaken their second Core.
'This is truly exciting!' I forgot about the history between Tana and I for a second.
There was still a gap between them. Johan Kaiser's Salan ability was a mixture of offense and defense. After he managed to deal another blow to her, his second Core formed.
His dirt-blonde hair turned white, his brown eyes to sky-blue. Even his ears closed their distance to his head by mere millimeters. But I could see every change happening to him.
"Rebellion needs to be far greater than what it fights. I need to fight even greater fights." Tana chanted again.
I wondered. Was it Johan's inexperience in the field of Mana or was it purely Tana's skill. Tana managed to strike Johan so bad, he flew dozens of meters away, being knocked unconscious in the process.
It was truly a spectacle. A fight like that was almost never bound to happen in the same way again. It should not be allowed to happen again. Whatever Tana's ability was, it was something grand that could even become a problem for me.
"Tana, you demon." I called.
"It's not Tana anymore. I'm Pantera now. I think you knew." She responded.
Tiny drops of sweat built up on Tana's body. The fight between Tana and Johan was not enough to push her to her limits.
"We need to defeat and kill her. Whatever ability she has, it is dangerous." I warned the others.
Briony, Silva, Seer and I surrounded Tana. Our assault started when the first of Briony's roots shot out from the ground. Tana was surprised to see a sword-carrying Bearer with an ability that could be used on range.
Tana's level did not drop. It was at Silva's level, bordering the awakening for a second Core. Still, neither Briony nor Silva were able to react to Tana's speed. Me and Seer managed to follow Tana's speed, but only I could defend Briony and Silva against Tana.
"Shoulder! Neck! Tendons!..." Seer yelled.
She used her ability to see where Tana would strike next, it was certainly helpful. 'Briony and Silva, as they are now, are useless.'
"Stay behind!" I ordered them
Only me and Tana were the ones destined to fight.
The others supported me from a distance. Silva's rings and Briony's roots targeted Tana mercilessly. Yet, it did not matter. Tana got used to the barrage of attacks in mere minutes. I wasn't even able to hit her, just like back then.
"How is the gap between us still this big?! I have 2 Mana-Cores, damn it!" I yelled.
"2 Mana-Cores?! I see... Haru, you are still blinded by your pride. Unlike Niam, you are fucking stupid."
Tana overwhelmed us all. Just like Johan, she awakened her second Core too. 'If I want to win, I have to do it without my comrades.' I realized.
After my realization, a new instinct awakened inside of me. My ability to influence Mana was so much greater than I initially knew. I was drawn to my comrades' Cores.
"Pure Mana..."