She was much stronger compared to him. The speed of the attack, the knowledge to retreat and when to attack. She saw through his attacks many times while responding accordingly. The sparring session lasted a mere two minutes before Bultear was completely on his knees. The various shards of crystal stung the deepest parts of his body, his blood in seeping flow covered the ground. His ringing ears picked up Sinthia's calm, composed voice.
"You have improved."
"Thanks, I just have a hard time doing much. You're a bit too strong."
So spoke Bultear with labored breath.
"Are you discouraged?"
"Never, even being in this position that allows me break this mundane, directionless life is a blessed one."
"Good, your mentality is a proper one. I hope that it will remain that way."
"I hope so as well."
"Dou have any inkling of your third ability?"
"A little bit."
"What organ?"
"My teeth."
This fact shocked Bultear while fighting her as he knew that his [Advent Of Despair], a name he chose for the attack that killed Krell, was definitely not activated by his teeth. So how was this possible, when Evolvers can only have three abilities in the first stage. This puzzled him greatly.
"Have you any energy left or should we stop?"
"I think we should stop."
From the side the voice belonging to Pax entered his ears.
" He should get some rest, he did a lot today"
'Is he trying to mend our relationship after what he's done by being overly nice and caring?'
Pax then moved past Sinthia towards Bultear's exhausted body. Stretching his hand he smiled warmly and spoke.
"Are you afraid of talking to me? Fear not, these markings on my face cancel my ability thus allowing my comrades to talk to me without fear or distrust
'That makes sense, no wonder they talk so freely with him.'
The opened palm stretched towards him. Bultear clasped the helping hand.
"Thanks, you're nicer than I thought!" Smiled Bultear brightly
"*hehe* It sometimes happens, as long as we settle it like adults it's fine."
"I definitely agree!"
Pax helped Bultear stand up, his clasped hand tightly held. Even when the moment passed the fully standing Bultear was not letting go. Pax 's hand shook in an attempt to free his hand. Yet the strength Bultear had in his grip was too strong for someone so injured even if Pax wasn't a much of a fighter himself.
"What are you doing?"
Bultear's answer did not come in the form of words but in a fist flying at his face. The support class Pax had no time to dodge as his nose received a hammer blow. Cracks could be heard mixed in with the splashing blood and snot. His head flew back, his view spun erratically with his legs failing to create distance while his hand was still held by Bultear.
"Whatargh y-you doin?!"
The slurred question gargled with a bloodied mouth was again answered by an even faster punch. This time teeth flew, the view this time was going black. His consciousness was hanging by a thread as his limp body fell on Bultear's.
"Done already? Sad, I just got my hands on you... Fine, you seemed apologetic so I'll let you go with a light punishment. In the end you were doing your job so I can't be unreasonable."
He finally let go of his hand and moved from his position. The powerless body that was no longer supported by Bultear fell on the ground with a thud. The fall was hard as Pax's already beaten head hit the ground heavily, causing it to bounce up. This was the last straw for his consciousness as he was got completely knocked out.
"I know he interrogated you and all, but this seemed pretty personal." Said Sinthia
"Well this was compensation since having to entrust your back to a guy you brainwashed and almost tortured is not usually a good idea."
"That was what we thought when we received the message from Safir that you would be joining us so suddenly. We do not really trust you, so that is why, along with training, you will be staying here with us for a while. I personally have no problem with you honestly."
"Is it because I made fun of Milek with you."
"That plus my gut is telling me you are trustworthy."
'I have to ask since this acting like I revealed nothing during the interrogation is killing me! If they knew my situation was caused by some other force there would be no way they would treat me with only curiosity and a tinge of distrust.'
"Still It was personal, having access to my mind is bad you know."
"I agree, so is you being a poor, unimportant janitor or that a stray dog you like is missing supposed to be a secret?"
He closely observed her face to see any fluctuations. He also fully focused on his nose to smell any fluctuating emotions, even though he did not know how much he could pick up from someone of a much higher level than him. The poker face he was maintaining was key in this situation as her words shocked him.
'Does she really not know?'
"Well that is because it could have led to him knowing my personal details..."
"Like how you have some weird fetishes?"
The absurd sentence spoken so casually made him almost choke on his spit, but it did lead him to a conclusion.
'She really doesn't know!'
"*haha* Maybe..."
He gave an awkward smile and confirmed it, since it was better to make her think that he was some pervert trying to hide his weird fetishes than the fact that he was probing for information on serious matters.
"Well, I suppose that makes sense. Come pervert it's time to rest, we will continue tomorrow."
'She's definitely going to use that to take the piss out of me isn't she?'
Thinking of this, he was reminded of the ruthless bullying of Milek that he participated in himself.
'Of course she is.'
Bultear could nothing but sigh at the sacrifice he had to make for this information.