Author: me
Type-Moon (Nasuverse)
Chapter 14. Fighting for approval
"A miracle is always waiting for us somewhere near despair."
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- That's interesting. - The Heroic Spirit answered briefly.
In an attempt to explain the peculiarity of her summoning, Sora told her everything he had come up with this month and even revealed to her the existence of her Inner World, but she bothered to call it merely interesting. Indeed she deserves to wear the title "Queen of the Land of Shadows."
- And so why have you summoned me, young mage?
- My name is Sora Emiya, and I would like to be your apprentice.
- Presumptuous. - The woman sneered. - I have trained many heroes, some were talented warriors, some were mages. But talent, is it so important? What else can you offer me?
Sora suspected that the "Queen of the Land of Shadows" would not take him as an apprentice simply by request, so he prepared a plan. The most important part of which was the Inner World. It is an amazing space, where the application of any Magic is much easier for Sora, and it is also impossible to kill him here, and against such an opponent as She, the tactics of battle aki "Immortal Warrior" will suit best. The main problem with this plan is that he cannot move a creature with the power level of the "Queen of the Land of Shadows" to his Inner World without her consent.
So, relying on her interest and self-confidence, Sora, without saying a word, simply held out his hand to the woman. She, watching the boy, felt a long-forgotten sense of intrigue. He was the first person she had failed to understand in her long millennia of life. The wisdom bestowed upon her by the Abyss could not unravel his secrets and origins, but only superficially clung to the secrets he concealed, revealing the veil of Wonder, which was this boy.
Without realizing it, Sora was teasing the "Queen of the Land of Shadows" with her obscurity. And she didn't mind, taking his hand, willingly jumping down that rabbit hole that would divide her life into before and after.
In the next second, they were in the middle of a green meadow stretching endlessly to the horizon, ending with mountains going into the sky. For the first time she could not contain her emotions and surprise flashed across her face, seeing it, Sora's heart skipped a beat at such beauty. But gathering his thoughts, he moved a dozen yards away from her.
- It took me a long time to choose whom I should summon. There have been many legendary teachers in the history of mankind, but among all of them you stood out, for you too were a hunter. - Materializing his favorite sword with [Projection], Sora continued. - And I want to see it!
His magic [Projection] is too low to use it in combat in the real world, but now, he was even able to materialize "Muramasa", the sword he once used in Terraria.
Immediately after his shout, he rushed toward the Heroic Spirit.
When he heard his thunderous scream, she did not react in any way, as if expecting it. As he approached her, he swung his sword, but she was the first. Staying in place, she twirled her spear and swung the blade away with apparent ease. Sora grinned and threw her fist out in front of her, but at that moment, she twirled her spear once more and struck the boy's stomach with the blunt side. With a stifled wheeze of lack of air, he flew backward.
- Weak stance and too much hasty movement. You are not a hunter, you are a prey. - She taunted the boy.
The blow made Sora's eyes darken, but against all reason it was as if he were on fire to meet such an adversary. The hot blood he had already forgotten ran through his veins. He jumped up and darted forward. Remembering what he had learned in his new life, he struck with his sword, trying to use all his strength, but it playfully repulsed what he called blows.
She fought off another awkward sword blow with her spear, cutting through the flesh on her shoulder and stomach. Sora didn't feel it, however; with Synergy, he shut off his pain receptors. And his World, as if understanding the state of his "Master". He was able to restore Sora's body completely. This happened even before he consciously realized it.
When Sora realized he was falling, the flesh had already been restored. Immediately he saw the still feet in front of him. Sora had no idea why She stood motionless. Right now the reason didn't bother him. Before he had time to think about it, his body had already risen to its feet.
Being so close to his opponent, he simply snapped his fingers and the pre-drawn rune [Ansuz] flashed through the air. The effect of this Rune was much stronger than in the real world, so instead of a normal flaming arrow, it exploded in a sea of flame. At that distance, Sora was hurt too, and probably more seriously than his opponent, but did it matter to the Immortal Warrior?
Rising, fully recovered, he looked at the aftermath of the explosion. The grass within twenty meters was scorched, and a column of smoke was rising into the sky. But in the midst of it all he discerned a thin silhouette that with a simple swing of his spear had scattered all the dust and smoke that hung in the air.
- The runes? Even knowing who I am, you would use them? - She was unharmed, and the pose she held was as open as if she'd gone for a walk in nature. - Though what do I expect from a cornered beast?
Such a clear mockery, and Sora was well aware of it, but even so he could not control the blood raging within him and rushed forward again.
Again and again Sora threw himself into battle. Sometimes he would miss his spear by a hair, but in the next instant the other side of him was flying at him. Constantly changing tactics, he never once repeated himself. Creating whirlwinds in front of him, he picked up rocks, earth, and chunks of dirt, and hurled them at his opponent. But that one cut through the man-sized blocks like a knife through butter. And when he tried to strike at her, he flew away with a furious scream from the impact of her spear.
He had forgotten how many swords he had created with Projection, how many Runes he had used, how many times the World had saved his life. But after each fall, he rose again and again, knowing full well that if he backed off now, this Witch would never look at him again.
Sora flung himself once more, rolling to the side and barely missed the spear flying at him. He twisted his body and drew his sword to strike, but a moment later he was kicked in the stomach, taking him a dozen yards back. And the shattered organs and broken bones were instantly restored.
- If it hadn't been for Synergy, I would have passed out from the pain long ago. - Sora muttered to himself.
- That's enough. Your tenacity is commendable, nothing more. I can see your desire to become stronger, but it is not enough for me. - For the first time since the start of their fight, she shifted. - Show me something more, something beyond single-mindedness. - Her spear glowed with a purple aura. - Show me who you are!
The usual crimson color of her spear seemed to be soaked in blood. The weapon howled like a wild, bloodthirsty beast in anticipation of its prey. The spear had seemed quite large before... but now it felt as if it had grown to gigantic proportions. Looking at the aura enveloping the spear sent shivers down his spine, followed by a cold sweat. A demonic spear, as if it were already covered in the blood of defeated enemies.
One moment it was still in her hands, and the next, the spear was flying at Sora. Blood thirsty, it stalked toward his heart like a hound.
Death! Death! Death!
The fear of man is his greatest strength. A wise man fears and therefore finds a way to resist. A wise man would run away in fear and save his life. And there is nothing wrong with this, for fear is the greatest grace of mankind. It was through fear that primitive man was able to survive, and it was through fear that mankind was able to rise above other species.
The distance between him and the spear was gradually shrinking. Twenty paces, eighteen, fifteen. But the chasm his fear was digging was also getting deeper. He could hear the sound of blood in his temples, the air became thicker than tar, and the spear kept moving forward, like a lightning bolt destined to touch the ground, it was destined to touch his heart.
When Sora saw the spear blazing with blood, he felt a primal fear. Fear of death told him to run, and if you are a wise man, you will listen to it. But was Sora like that?
Showing the incredible foolishness of man, he, like the son of Epimetheus, stepped forward. Showing courage and fearlessness, he met that blow head-on. Everything he had held within himself: the months, the years of hunting and fighting, the gallons of sweat shed, the bruises, the wounds, the broken bones, the training of the body and the ability to deceive the mind, he ignored fatigue, fear, despair, to reach deeper into his soul, and create the impossible. Create the Miracle!
It was only a moment, but it divided his life into before and after. Realizing what he'd been holding back all this time, Sora smiled stupidly. A through hole could be seen at the top of his heart, and the spear had lost its purpose, faded and stuck in the ground. Looking up at the blue sky, hearing the rustling of the grass, feeling the blood running down his hands, he had never felt so free. The next thing he felt was the intense exhaustion that knocked him off his feet.
His eyelids poured lead, but he begged himself to stay conscious just a little longer.
- I am Witch of Dun Scaith, bearing the name Schatah and titled Queen of the Land of Shadows. I acknowledge you as my apprentice.
And just hearing her dreamy voice caused him to fall into the realm of Morpheus.