Master Soori standing still in the same place for about more than ten minutes from the departure of others, Soori at the moment looked disheartening and frail for his age. On his hand was the practice sword used by Thuruva in the sparring session just minutes prior.
But the interesting thing was his expression kept changing like a chameleon, one time he was happy and in high spirits the very next minute he seemed depressed and would constantly sigh then shake his head in lamentation another minute he looked listless as if he was about to greet his death.
His head disciple was put in a situation because of this as he was extremely confused by his master's strange behavior he could tell something happened to this old man who look like gone through high level of some kind, he almost didn't want to disturb the old man but unfortunately they have things to do back in their school.
After some careful thoughts, and left with no choice he decided to intervene in the old man's musings, cope with the aftermath " Master, are you alright, they have left for sometime now, shouldn't we be supposed to return to our school?"
He relieved a sigh secretly as soon as he noticed the old man wasn't suffering from anything serious or at least he couldn't see any problem with him and gladly returned to his senses. He could tell the old man was slowly reacting to his words ' Was this what they called going into shock? '
The old man unblinkingly look at his disciple and take a note of his confused expression then his expression darkened immediately he raised his leg for a mercilessly kick send him few feet away and punched him couple of times to vent his frustration before sighed to himself and stopped his violent action then shook his head tiredly.
He felt like his world view was refreshed and couldn't stay angry with his disciple anymore and only hit him a few times and half heartedly at that, even his disciple seemed surprised by this as well.
Although he was by no means a masochist but still couldn't help but ask less subtly " Master are you feeling well, how about this should we visit physician hall before going back, I heard lord physician was Little Miss's mentor as well if he know who you are he will give us discount"
Soori looked at his foolish disciple and his concerned expression he let out another sigh his hand blurred *Ouch! ow, "St- ouchy, master stop it " he quickly got away from his master and rubbed his forehead tentatively. His expression was a little angry.
Not only did his eccentric master care about him but he also returned his concern and care with the beating, just now his forehead was pummeled by the pommel of the wooden sword.
" Idiot, How am I going to leave my school in your hand if I give it to you then I'm the most foolish person out there and would likely regret my decision even in my grave you rascal! " he berated his disciple who took few steps back because of his master's sudden mood swings.
" W-what's the matter? Don't tell me you are still blaming me for covering for a little miss?" he asked the old man, tentatively afraid he would flare up once again.
Soori exasperated as he shook his head one last time before turning away with a snort, he doesn't want to get entangled with his thick headed disciple. "Hmph! "
Bewildered but his disciple still follow him behind and tried to figure out what caused this old man to this riled up and still couldn't pinpoint what he did wrong in this so after few minutes he once again interrupt his master's thought try to reason with him while suppressing his cynical side Wasn't he pushing his luck? is that necessary?
" Why are you kept blaming me for that, don't you see her father also gone easy on her isn't he there is no harm done besides she was a genius she can learn this much without our help isn't she don't worry she can manage " he quickly added when he saw his master face turned pale then angry red with just this few words he try to placate the old man.
" Master don't get angry I was wrong okay calm down... what I am trying to say is we only have to do what we were doing this past year that Big Miss' talent wasn't bad either you said it yourself and sect leader think highly of- "
His excited ranting stopped short the very next moment he broke out in cold sweats, he glanced at the old man with wide eyes shocked speechless there was a wooden sword on his neck abruptly cutting his ranting.
"M-master there is no need for you to go this far right ? " he stuttered. " I swear, I wouldn't be an annoyance to master anymore" he gulped at his master's expressionless eyes.
" P-please, master I'll definitely be more obedient and useful to you in the future, if you want to vent your anger please break my arm or a leg. I-I'm afraid a broken neck will send your precious disciple to the netherworld far ahead of you " his eyes teared up. " Master please give your foolish disciple another chance-"
"Idiot! take this sword " reply comes coldly.
"Er, this... Oh!.... Could it be you accidentally brought this out and wanting me to return it, isn't that correct master?" He grinned as if nothing happened " You scared me I thought you were surely going to break this time, I'll be back in a few minutes hehe! " he came to his cheerful self in the instant but his expression froze as he took the sword and casually turned.
Bewildered he looked at the wooden sword with curiosity, although he didn't notice nothing amiss when the thing in his master hands or at the spar but he would really let himself and his master down as a dedicated swordsmen if he didn't detect anything else even after he took the sword in his hand.
His eyes zoomed in on the countless tiny cracks on the body of the sword the more he looked the somber his expression turned he could instinctively tell should he wanted to break the sword all he had to do was give little pressure in right places.
' What was his master doing with this wooden sword.... could it be this was his secret technique and decided to teach me today? ' his thoughts were a little wild as his heart sped up. It had been a long time since he was taught by his master ' I didn't expect this old man to hide such a secret technique from me? ' He simply thought his master didn't have the type to keep secrets from him as his successor.
" What do you think of this?" he asked without clarifying what he was implying by that but his disciple seemed to understand his question for some reason his face became bright and confidently replied.
" Excellent skill although it looks Unassuming and subtle it seems very lethal I'm not sure about the level of the skill though" he praised first and boldly said things at the end he probed little using his lack of understanding to learn of its grade.
Soori looked at his disciple with new look and nodded with agreement, " Not bad, my efforts aren't for vain it seems, it's indeed excellent technique and quite exquisite if I say so myself" He looked at his disciple who was raising his head from his praise he became little amused.
" Haha, Master taught me well.... Umm Master what is this technique name and when will you be teaching me? "
" What!?" Soori stumbled on his steps and looked at the eager look on his disciple face, a Soori's face adorned by a resigned expression and quickly started to chase him out of the training grounds ' Why does I have to stuck up with this b******, if I don't bring you to some sense I'll start writing my name backwards' he vowed silently.
___ ___ ___
"Let me ask this one more time, did you really create a brand new unranked technique just like that?" an incredulous voice asked for the twentieth time.
It was a spacious and nicely Decorated room in the villa, Megha sat in Vanni's matter looking down folding the white cloth in carefree manner " Uh-huh " she nonchalantly replied in affirmative still did not look up from what she was doing.
" But..... How could this be possible, I can't really bring myself to believe it" Vaani retorted in frustration and disbelief coloring her voice when she saw Megha looked up with raised eyebrows she corrected her sentence " I mean it's kind of unbelievable don't you see, where I am come from " She was making exaggerated gestures as it would make Megha understand what she was talking about.
But seeing Megha's ' What's that supposed mean ' look, Vanni throws her hands up in helplessness " How could you possibly make one at your level? "
Megha had a subtle smirk on her face. She ignored her friend's antics and went back to polishing the fancy looking sword in her look. it seems made by some unknown glowing material or it seems as if it has this strange glittering effect even inside the room.
The sword was a double edged thin sword about the thickness of two fingers with a longsword grip with an dark green gem embedded in it had round pommel made of unknown ore on the hilt's end.
The sword seems well taken care she doesn't have to polish or anything, at the moment the white cloth on her hand didn't get any dirt from the start Megha was doing this to hide her excitement and few other emotions after a few emotional outbursts she was being very careful of her actions.
Not to mention she wasn't alone or she might not want to be alone. That's why she decided to follow Vanni to Vanni's room instead of going to her room. it was her mother's sword 'Glitters' and like this villa her sword was also given to her as a keepsake though it wasn't some normal sword but a low level treasure sword made with unique alloy though this glittering effect was more of an accident but from what she know her mother loved it as soon as she saw it.
The treasure smith was experimenting with the unique alloy combination to create better treasure weapons it was supposed to be a high level or mid level weapons but Instead of a mid level treasure sword they were end up with a low level one with glittering effect, When she visited the forge on a whim happened to see it on the showcase instantly infatuated with it brought the sword.
Her Mother Madhi could be said to be an eccentric person with few peculiar tastes and has a cheerful, lovable personality. She brought this sword with hefty money because it has such a glittering effect on it.
Had she not brought it, who knows the fate of such a sword, unlike her not many people take a liking to such a gaudy looking weapon. They probably only put this on the showcase because it didn't have any damage on them even if the forging didn't go as they planned it could still be used to attract people's attention like festive lights.
Megha was amused by her own thoughts and curled her lips in a smile but she completely forgot there was another soul in the room who was on the verge of exploding from frustration.
Seeing the smile on Megha's face Vanni suddenly asked a question " Would you believe in such outrageous claims if you were in my shoes?"
Megha looked up clueless about what else her friend was blabbering about, "I will believe it, if this were about you " she didn't bat an eye as she lied through her teeth but her reply didn't slow down in the least bit.
"Exactly, now yo- W-what? " Vanni looked at her friend with a blank look. She was stunned Megha could tell Vanni was flattered little by her praise and trust.
Megha casually shrugged her shoulders, she couldn't understand why she was making such a fuss. It wasn't like Megha couldn't completely understand where she was going with this but she better not explain anything this could only make things more suspicious.
Besides it doesn't easy as she posturing to them, she was a peak grandmaster expert had higher attainment then her father who mange to created few dozen unranked techniques and few star grade ones but she herself wasn't any less talented she too created few but all are come out of necessity to defend herself from the pursuit.
She had to admit this one was her best yet simple technique; she even assimilated them into her fights because of its usefulness and was really amazed by its effects.
One had to know no one in their right mind would use such low level techniques in the midst of life and death fights. If this said person is a grandmaster then they are really foolish to use such a technique in such a situation he or she has to bear the consequences.
Star level techniques weren't child's play capable of utilizing one's vital qi and affinity, magnify the damage output they are hard to defend against but the only down side with them lie in the powerful moves in them it have to charge or take certain perspiration or some other requirements to execute them.
So unless it was necessary no one would go that far, Megha was neither powerful nor had star level techniques in her sleeves but was forced to develop some on her own with her inexperience.
Unlike unranked ones star level ones had to met certain criteria before qualify as a one, she had to do with what she has to utilize secret skills she smuggled out with her she use some unranked technique as support and enhance certain aspects of secret skills.
" I'm not saying you can't do it either.... but it's also true I have never known you were interested in this or seen you trying this...."
"So? "
Seeing Vaani getting more and more agitated, Megha decided to change the topic, she came to Vaani's room with a certain purpose and set a trap for the beautiful blonde.
" Big Sister could you come here for a second....Yeah please hold this sword for me " Megha directed bewildered Vaani sitting in her mattress and taking out a flat square shaped ore with a few marks in it.
Vaani didn't suspect anything just thought Megha wanted her help with this, it made sense as Megha never took care of any weapon muchless a treasure sword out of blue but she failed to notice cunning glint in Megha's expressionless face.
" Oh right!....So you were saying before..." Megha paused for a second and looked a little thoughtful as if she was recalling something.
"Huh? " Vanni brought off her own musings the next second color drained her from face.
" Yeah, Tea party, how was it, did you enjoy it?" Megha casually asked as she put the ore on her sword.