Cecil was sitting at a bench, a set of gaudy rings along with a necklace with a strange tooth Kyrion had managed to acquire. The tooth was tied to a silver chain with various other ornaments from gems of rare quality and feathers belonging to multiple birds. Then there was the cape made from fur belonging to something with silver fur.
Cecil was creating a set of enchanted gear to drain Kyrion’s mana rapidly and constantly with no upper limit. The catch was that while wearing these items, his endurance and ability to control his mana would shoot up while his mana went down. Such items could kill an ordinary Spirit-Master within a day, but he doubted it would be enough given what he’d seen the green-eyed monster throw about casually. There was also a safety measure set in to shut off should the occupant be in a critical mana-drained state.
“Why am I making you new toys when you break the old ones so frequently?”
“Because I promised to act as a battery for your other projects. Including armor and weapons of mass destruction.” Kyrion was cross-legged in the training room turned lab. In front of him was a greatsword he had been using to train. It had a heft that he liked, a density that didn’t make sense, and a killer look in the young man’s honest opinion. The guard of the blade was rounded and went into the handle like a dueling sword allowing him to use some unorthodox techniques. He didn’t like using weapons and tended to keep to staves or chakram due to his desire to heal over killing. Sadly he would be fighting for his life sooner rather than later.
Rion, however, was no healer. He was a warrior of fire and overwhelming power. On top of that, Kyrie’s memories and Psycho’s training had taught him how to use a weapon, as anything can be used to cut if you put enough power behind it. Kyrie had been trained in many weapons as a child, but due to his short stature, he favored polearms and spears for reach…Kyrion did not continue that train of thought.
“Right. But if you’re drained of mana constantly, how do you plan on filling up my stuff?”
“Oh? I thought you were smart. Just take it from the gear when I’m not using it and use the extraction rune in reverse to funnel the mana into whatever you want.”
“So you plan on fighting while low on mana?”
“I can’t use my full power during this tournament due to the nature of that power. It’s in the expert tier already. I am by no means an expert however. And if I force myself into that stage it could cause harm to more than just myself.” Kyrion looked to Cecil.
“So if you can’t fight at full power you’d rather fight like an underdog steadily getting stronger as you adapt to your new fighting style.”
“Which is true. This should also train my mana capacity as well… Which isn’t something I should be doing. But I am going to do it anyway.”
“Why do you of all people need power?”
“I am no hero Cecil. I know my limitations and I know a rage that far surpasses my sense of reason. There are a few people I need to kill. Most have wanted me dead since birth while others want my body to use me as a vessel. Those people have been ruining my life and will continue until I am dead. I love everyone, but that doesn’t mean I’ll sit Idle and let my enemies scoop me up.” Kyrion stood up and held out his greatsword.
“I am a healer but...” Kyrion pulled the blade off the hilt showing the lade could extend to quite a degree as enchanted chains pulled the blade back into the hilt.
Lin walked into the training room with a scowl on her face. “You have all this time and yet you’re late to today’s meeting!”
“Was that today?” Cecil asked.
“Yes it was today! You have ten minutes!”
Kyrion started threading his fingers through his hair to alter its color as his eyes shifted to vermillion. “Great. Rion will make another grand entrance.” Rion placed his greatsword into a sheath behind his lower back.
“Rion no!” Lin tried to block the doorway upon realization
“Hehehe.” Rion flicked a bolt of fire through the doorway and teleported to the position the flame had occupied before dashing down the hall and into the open air.
“No! Don’t you…” Lin stopped moving, having accomplished her goal.
Like a toddler on the loose, Kyrion did not turn around as he ran. Instead, taking a leap off the edge of a bridge, he summoned large wings of flame incapable of burning due to the mix of healing mana used in its creation.
In minutes he glided to the meeting area they had been using. Kyrion moved to open the door only to realize it was locked.
A large hand clamped down on Kyrion’s shoulder.
“I’ve been tricked, haven’t I Siggy.” Kyrion scowled.
“I suspect that to be the case.
“Fine, guess we should start my sword lessons.” Kyrion approached the masked figure, seemingly within arms reach.
“Yes. But first meditation, followed by hunting, fishing and swordplay.”
“Fishing? Why fishing?”
“You need to relax, clear your mind. Reset your emotions by doing things you enjoy. You’ve been training nonstop to improve your physical health but one can only do so much before breaking their mind. Especially after enhancing your brain. It tends to leave one susceptible to emotions. Combined with your age and lack of being able to fully act on them. You’re going to be a bit lost.”
Kyrion made a weird face. “Thanks. But I have a dad already.”
“And where is he at the moment? I’m not here to be your dad. Think of me as a mentor and a friend.” Siegfried stated.
“I don’t know about that. And fine. This better not be a waste of time though.”
“Nothing is a waste of time. Now let’s go.”
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“,,,Did I just smell hypocrisy?”
“No. Start by meditating then we do have a lot on our plate after all.”
“Right now?”
“Yes.” Siegfried said bluntly.
“Fine.”
Kyrion sat in a crisscross position and entered his core.
Jala and Issac had grown slightly, and the tree that had started as a seed had grown thicker and taller. Karl left behind a copy made of rock to signify his presses and the affinities to be used. But it was clear they had been in his domain. Kyrie seemed shorter here as the young man began to circle the meditating Kyrion as though he were the center. A new figure had also appeared here, covered in scales, skin as black as obsidian and yellow eyes that reminded him of Gamodren in a way.
“Fateless child so we finally meet. It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken. But you aren’t ready to meet with me yet. I am the fire that burns within you, I am the rage you managed to subdue over the years. There are memories you locked away rather forcibly, and until you find them we have nothing more to discuss.” The figure spoke before fading into nothing.
“What in the abyss is that?” Kyrie asked.
“A friend I hope I get rid of one tenant and get another.” Kyrion sighed.
“That one isn’t new. They just don’t make their presence known often.” Jala yawned.
“I see…” Kyrion felt someone flick him on the forehead.
“Mediaite. Clear your mind.”
Kyrion exited his core and sighed. “Fine.” He muttered to no one in particular. Clearing his mind was harder than usual, as when he did, his control over his emotions wavered, thoughts entered his head, and the meditation ended. Most of the said thought originated from Kyrie, as it turned out the doppelganger was a handful to keep in check.
After about an hour of attempted meditation with thirty minutes of success, Kyrion had found peace and serenity. But, unfortunately, he also found it wanting as Kyrie woke up from his nap and began pestering Kyrion about sword training.
Kyrion left his meditation and stood straight up. “I am as calm as a forest fire. Now let’s get to sword training.”
“Did you find peace?”
“No. I did find madness though. He has black scales and a penchant for insults.”
“Let’s move on then. Seems you have some energy to burn up.”
“That I have in spades.”
“Fine then, did you bring a sword?” Sigfred drew a greatsword from its sheath. It was quite large and heavy looking, with ornate runes carved from the point to the hit. Many of which seemed quite familiar to Kyrion, yet he couldn’t place them.
“Of course I brought a sword.” Kyrion pulled his special greatsword, about twice as thick as Sigfried’s and a foot longer. Kyrion gave the absurd blade a few practice swings.
“That… That is quite absurd. Are you going to fight with that?”
“Yes. And I’m going to win with it as well.”
“You really must be mad. Do you even know how to use a sword?” Siegfried asked.
“I know the basics.” Kyrion lied. He had learned quite a bit more than the basics from Kyrie’s memories and some training. But outside of that, he hadn’t had direct combat practice with a skilled opponent.
“The basics. Fine then let’s see what you got.”
“First off, is magic allowed.”
“Only the affinities you plan on using in the tournament.”
“Which means you’ll be using magic.”
“Only if I have to.”
“You’re going to need magic if you aren’t outright stronger than me.”
“You’re a cocky practitioner.”
“Just pragmatic.” Kyrion took a defensive stance, his left hand acting as a shield.
“Your going to lose an arm fighting like that.”
“If you can cut it off, I deserve to lose it.” Kyrion said flippantly as he moved forward, the grass under him following his movements as he swiftly closed the distance and cut diagonally using a tenth of his strength and finding quite a bit of resistance as his blade was blocked.
Sigfred pushed the blade back and aimed for a strike at Kyrion’s left arm, which had been brought up to act as a shield.
The blade connected and bounced off as it hadn’t had enough force to break through Kyrion’s natural endurance.
Kyrion used the momentum from the strike to his arm to spin. Moving into Sigfried’s personal space and bringing the broadside of his sword up like a hammer.
Siegfried evaded the attack but was pushed back by the wave of hot wind that trailed the swing.
Siegfried began to circle Kyrion, which caused the latter to start moving around, as the training he hadn’t had, pushed him into motion.
“More than basic or you’re lucky.”
“We’ll see.” Kyrion said bluntly as he analyzed his sparring partner.
Siegfried ran forward, closing the distance, and slashed much faster than his previous attack.
Kyrion deflected the attack with his sword using fifty percent of his full strength and was surprised when that had barely managed to work, as a shockwave of force caused the ground under them to break.
Siegfried retreated and leveled his blade toward Kyrion’s chest.
Kyrion scowled and jumped to the side as spears of earth shot up from under him. Then, pushing his feet off the ground, he flew forwards at high speed right toward the swordsman, purposefully leaving his body open.
Siegfried swung at the opening, aiming to end the spar there. Only to watch as his opponent danced through the air, using flames to alter his direction and slam their sword into his own.
Siegfried was pushed back ten feet but hadn’t fallen over. So they stabbed their blade into the ground, sending earthen copies of the sword upward and outward, trailing the now evasive moving Kyrion.
Kyrion continued to dance through the blades in the air as he flew about and flew toward his opponent.
Siegfried rapidly conjured a dome of granite around himself to block the incoming attack.
Kyrion threw a hand forward and filled the dome with bright fire as it was closed.
Siegfried was surprised that fire could float in an area with little oxygen and not give off any heat while lighting the area. Still, they had a spar to end, so Sigfried ignored the mote and began to sense Kyrion’s presence through heat, sending blades of earth at the young warrior when he tried to burn the dome from a distance.
Kyrion, tired of being fired at, flew toward the dome, propelling himself with fire and attempting to break the dome.
Like a porcupine, the dome shot spikes out in all directions when he entered its reach, and a lucky spear pierced his right shoulder but stopped when it hit bone.
Jumping back, Kyrion used fire to heal the wound and scowled as that wasn’t the only healing fire he had in motion. He felt another one. Still in the dome, he sensed he could shift to it through his space affinity at any moment like he had done with his short-lived bolt. He had a mischievous smile on his face as he dashed about erratically while firing bolts of fire at his opponent’s dome and keeping their attention.
When Kyrion felt his opponent had found a comfortable rhythm, he set out a few delayed bolts of fire as he shifted to the mote within the dome and attempted to bring his fist to Sigfreids face, his curiosity surpassing his drive to win.
Surprised by the sneak attack, Siegfried used their full power thinking that they would deflect a sword only for the blade to find some resistance but not enough as it cleanly severed the hand from the wrist.
The fist, however, managed to crack Sigfried’s mask but didn’t break it.
“Darn. I was this close to getting it this time. I surrender.” Kyrion willed his blood to stay in his body as he altered its flow.
The dome retracted, and Siegfried took a step back in horror as the vermillion-eyed boy held out his stump for a handshake. “Well played”
“Your hand!”
“Oh right. Cut it off quite cleanly. Good job.” Kyrion retrieved his hand, cleaned it with water mana, and casually reconnected it.
“That was mad. What if your regeneration didn’t work?”
“My regeneration is stronger than my healing ability. So I wasn’t worried.” Kyrion sighed as he retrained his limb.
“I see. So you’d rather lose a hand than a blade?”
“No, I’d rather not burn down a forest while lighting a lamp. That’s something my real dad taught me.” Kyrion said as he tried to gauge his teacher’s reaction.
“Are you sure that’s what he said?”
“Who knows? You sure don’t. Also your cologne stinks” Kyrion crossed his arms.
“What cologne.”
“Hook line and sinker.” Kyrion muttered.
“What?”
“We should get the fishing stuff together. I’m actually feeling a little peckish.”
“Fishing, then hunting. I’ll cook up what we find and then we can move to that room for your sword lessons. Don’t think I hadn’t figured you out. Today I showed that I can beat you. Which means I have a few tings to teach you.”
Thus began the final stretch of Kyrion’s training. And the eve of the tournament.