“And you kill them?” Jessica’s voice sounded a bit strange. As if unsure of what she meant.
Cassie couldn’t help but shrug her shoulders, “It isn’t written that we have to kill them. But, you tell me. Fighting someone stronger than yourself. Would you go in, thinking you will be able to capture them alive?”
Jessica could understand that.
“They have already broken the rules. Making their stay illegal. While it might not be written down. The only person they have to blame is themselves. Since when did the world care about real right and wrong. Right is decided by the winner.”
Jessica could only look at Cassie with a bit of a weird expression, “Is that something you should be saying? I am by no means a scholar. I can only make due with what I can get my hands on. That being said, Mercury City is one of the strongest powers on the continent.”
“On the contrary. The weak can only scurry in a corner. They don’t get to see much. Only when standing at the top do you really get to see the streets, surrounded by buildings. Creating the maze like city around them. They can only see a street or two. Combine that with an alley. How much can the weak see?”
Without stopping, “That is to say, concerning this. The weak would have no right to say anything on the topic. Winds change direction, and tides turn, from high to low. You can hear or experience this. In the end, you know nothing. Only by standing at the top, do you see why these changes take place. Know exactly what happened.”
Jessica wanted to say something, she wasn’t even sure what. Though she could tell Cassie hadn’t finished, so she stayed quiet.
“Only by seeing and experiencing it. Will you truly understand what it is you have to lose. Only they can see what happens to the losers. I agree with the sentiment, those at the top are often ignorant. I am sure I am exactly who you think is like that. At least before.”
Finally seeing her take a breath, Jessica wanted to hear her opinion, “Does that mean that someone at the top has more than someone that crawled the way up from the bottom?”
“Nah, that is different. Those at the bottom have to do what ever it takes just to survive. Those at the top, the ones that aren’t ignorant. They are a different breed of bottom feeders. At the bottom, you have nothing to lose. While those at the top, can not only have much to lose, they also have things to gain.”
After pausing for a minute to get her thoughts together, “The biggest difference, is that those at the bottom often think there is nothing below where they are. Only those at the top, truly understand that it is possible to keep digging endlessly. They each have their own ways.”
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Letting out a sigh, Cassie tilted the curtain up, allowing the first light of day sign through the curtain. Opening her mouth as if talking to herself, “We have moved off-topic.” With a burst of mana, Cassie opened the carriage door. As she stepped out, the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Coming out after her, Jessica could see they were in a forest. It was clear that they had taken a different route. Unsure if this was part of Cassie’s plan or not. They were currently in an enclosed space of canopies, allowing for some privacy.
A scroll appeared in her hand, gesturing for her to stop. She continued to walk, as she was muttering to herself in a cryptic language. Soon a fire was started as the scroll started to burn from the center, eating itself in flames. By the time Cassie had released the scroll as the last bits of it were eaten by the flames. Her mana was being suppressed, coming to a stop she turned to face Jessica.
“I had mother prepare this. It isn’t enough to seal my mana. However, if we made it to this point, it would allow me to showcase where you stand. Use everything you have.”
A smile that made the observer uncomfortable, appeared on her face, “If you think just because I am not using mana, you can take it easy on me. I will take it as you're trying to humiliate me. I will come at you, not with the intent to showcase my abilities. Instead, will allow you to see the difference between us, and it might be the last thing you see.”
Jessica wanted to say something, but the air around Cassie had changed. If you ignored the lingering mana that was in sight, only out of reach. It was the same Cassie, however, looking closely it was possible to see that she was holding something in her hands.
It was a completely different style of dagger than she used. Because of her inventory ring, it was impossible to know when and where something would appear. All she could see was a small ring on her thumbs, a barely visible edge could be seen from the other side.
Her stance was the same. Only, Jessica could feel the hair at the back of her neck starting to stand up. Chills were trying to warn Jessica that the person in front of her was dangerous. Even though she didn’t know what the scroll was, Cassie was clearly not accessing her mana. Likely unable to without breaking the suppression.
So why did she feel so scary.
“If you won’t come, I will.” Cassie spoke lightheartedly. She took gentle steps forward, though in Jessica’s eyes it was the stomping of a creature the size of a minotaur.
Moving gracefully, as if out on a stroll. The edges of her daggers hidden as she walked. If not deliberately keeping them in her hands, she wouldn’t be able to see the ring showing they were truly there.
Gritting her teeth, Jessica was not fond of this feeling. Taking out her daggers, because she was taking her time, she had time to ready herself. As she reached striking range, Cassie didn’t stop.
Sliding her right foot forward, bringing her empty palm hand up as if to brush it against her cheek. Jessica’s eyes dilated as Cassie tapped her pinky backwards, causing the curled blade to slide around her thumb. Laying against her palm, that was just empty was about to brush against her cheek, now with a blade stabbing at her eye.
Ducking back, Jessica wanted to see her attack. Unlike a normal grip. The strange blades in her hands had the blade in a reverse grip. So if Cassie’s hand had reached her ear, her eye would have been sliced into. Making it obvious to sight, but strangely different way of attack than she had seen before.