March 19, 1410

After three days of constant training Ray finally managed to summon his mark above where Vincent usually cut his hand off. Ray cleaned himself up and went upstairs to show Vincent. As Ray walked up the stairs he could hear voices, he slowly walked up behind the hidden door and he could barely hear the people talking.

“He… week.” Vincent's voice could barely make out.

“Are…he… ready.” A woman's voice could be heard, it was Viola.

Ray opened the door, and walked to where he could hear the voices. He saw Vincent, and Viola facing each other, they both turned to him, Vincent spoke first.

“What is the matter, shouldn’t you still be training right now?”

“I uh… I managed to finally get my mark where it was, you know when I still had my hand.” Ray said, as he showed the both of them his tied up stump, that used to be his hand.

“Is that so, well it’s a good thing you came then Viola, you can start the next part of his training, by the time he has left, I am sure he can make it, and be fully prepared when he eventually fights Sierra.”

“Are you sure he is ready-”

“Viola!” Vincent interrupted her.

“You're right, I’m sorry, we will finish our conversation later. Ray, do you think you still have enough energy for a fight against me?”

“Yes!” Ray answered quickly.

“Good, now get back down there, your hand still hasn’t healed from the bleeding.” Vincent said.

Ray quickly went back to the training room, with Viola following closely behind him, as they went down the stairs, Ray asked her a question. “If you don’t mind me asking, what were the two of you talking about, before I showed up?”

“Oh that, we were actually talking about you, since your deadline is coming, you have about three weeks left before you finally have to confront Sierra.”

“Oh.”

“Have you thought about how you are going to do this?” Viola asked.

“No, not really, I just focused on training, not really about the knights, or the mission.”

“Well I am sure you will be fine, we will talk about it, when we have dinner later, right now I will train you.”

“So what will we do?” Ray asked.

“I will fight you, you will have to keep your energy up, even when you have your hand cut off”

“But I already can do it.”

“Focusing on your hand, and focusing on fighting are two different things, we will see if you can keep up.” Viola said.

“Ok.”

As Ray, and Viola walked into the training room, Ray walked to the middle of the room, and Viola stood in front of him.”

“So how should we start?”

“Is your wound already healing?”

“Uh, yes, I am not bleeding as much.”

“Well at least we don’t have to worry about dying of loss of blood, alright I am going to have to hurt the top part of your arm, so the pain will be fresh in your mind.”

{Is that really necessary?} Ray exasperaly thought to himself.

“Now then lift up your stump.” Viola said.

Ray sighed, and held up his arm towards Viola. Viola stepped forward and put both of her hands on his stump.

“I’m sorry, this is going to hurt, I’ll be quick about it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Ray reassured her, with a smile on his face.

“Please, don’t say…” Viola quietly whispered.

“Huh?”

Viola ignited her palm, burning Ray stump. Ray wanted to jump back but stop himself, with his other hand he was squeezing his hand, trying to stop the pain.

{Deep breaths, deep breaths. Calm down, slowly.}

Ray stood up straight, and covered his body with his energy, Viola did the same, her energy, easily covered her body.

“You're still leaking too much energy, be sure to only use what you can afford, don’t exert yourself. You will only get yourself killed.” Viola told Ray.

“Ok.” Ray said, as he tried to ignore the pain coming from his hand, forcing himself to stop shaking from the pain.

“Alright this will start us off.” Viola said. She held up her hand, her palm facing towards Ray.

Viola shot a bolt of energy towards Ray, Ray jumped sideways, the energy hit the wall with a loud explosion, Ray looked at the damage it did towards the wall, then Viola appeared on his side.

“Don’t take your eye off your opponent!” Viola said, as she hit Ray in the chest sending him flying. Viola jumps upwards, and she looks down to where Ray was, who was on his back, five black mini orbs appear around her body.

“Fight me! Do you expect to kill Sierra if all you are doing is dodging!?” Viola screamed at Ray, she extended her left hand, pushing the black orbs towards Ray.

Ray got up, using his right hand, he shot at the black orbs, but he only manage to hit three of them, he cross his arms, before the other two orbs hit him, as they hit his body, Ray felt the pressure of one of them hitting him on his thigh, and other one hit his forearm. He was sent rolling across the floor.

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Ray caught himself, and put himself on his knees, when Viola was in front of him, she lifted her leg, and aimed it towards Ray's chest. But Ray manages to catch it, and throws it the other way, making Viola lose her balance, Ray aims his right hand towards her torso, and fires his energy at it.

Viola uses the back of her hand to push Ray's arm towards another direction, his energy bolt flies towards the wall instead, Viola raises her hand towards Ray face, gathering her energy, and aims it towards Ray. Ray used the stump of his hand to connect with hers, as soon as both of them made contact, their energy collided in an explosion. Viola managed to jump away before, any damage could be done to her, while Ray took the full blown head on.

As the dust settles, Ray charges towards Viola, his fist trying to hit her, he uses his stump to charge another blast, Ray hurls his hand, Viola pushes it away. Knowing she would do this, Ray grabs her hand, and pushes her towards him, he quickly charges up his left leg, and aims it towards Viola.

Viola managed to block the attack with her forearm, which now had a black line going around it.

{Her mark!}

Viola gently pushed Ray away, Ray caught himself before he fell, he took another stance waiting for Viola to continue.

“Maybe I should hold back a little more.” Viola said.

“No! No, if you think I can manage this kind of training, then please let me try again, I can still keep going.” Ray said.

“No, that should be enough for today.” Viola said.

“Huh?” Ray said.

“Come on, let's go back upstairs and clean up.” Viola said, as she turned around, and started walking towards the entrance of the room.

“Wait! Wait hold up, can I see the rest of it?” Ray asked.

“The rest of what?”

“Your mark, did you get turned in the palm of your hand like me?” Ray asked, as he caught Viola.

“Yes, I can’t show how far I can extend it, but it could easily go to my collar bone with ease.” Viola said, as she showed off her right arm, showing her mark it began, at the palm of her hand, and it swirled around her arm, until it disappeared under her shirt sleeve.

“Wow, can Vincent mark go even further?” Ray asked.

“You know I can’t tell you that.”

“Right, well I need to get stronger, why did we stop?” Ray asked.

“Because you were about to run out of energy, and I didn’t want to get too dirty, I didn’t bring my extra clothes, and didn’t want unnecessary attention.”

“I see.” Ray said, as he tore his shirt, and covered his stump, which was still bleeding, his other wounds were already slowly healing.

“So we are going to do this again tomorrow?” Ray asked.

“Yes, hopefully you can do it, before you start your mission.”

“Right, my deadline is coming up.” Ray said.

“Alright go get clean up, I’ll go find Vincent.”

Ray nodded his head, and left upstairs. While Viola went to the study room, where she saw Vincent reading a book.

“Must have been quite the training, I could almost feel the vibrations from the room. Good thing I was sitting down.” Vincent said.

“Well, he’s off to a great start, I’m sure he will make it before he eventually faces Sierra.”

“Don’t forget about the knights.” Vincent pointed out.

“Right, the knights.” Viola said to herself.

“Alright, I’ll go get dinner ready, do you want to help?” Vincent asked.

“Yeah, I need to be here when Ray tells you his plan.” Viola said.

Vincent nodded his head, putting down his book, and stood up, heading towards the kitchen, with Viola behind him. Ray in the meantime, dressed his wound, Vincent told Ray, that treating his arm would help him heal faster. As soon as he was done, showering, and fixing his wound, he headed downstairs, Viola was setting the table, while Vincent was still in the kitchen. Ray went to Vincent.

“Hey, fresh-blood, how was the training?” Vincent asked.

“Hard, even though I tried my best, Viola still considered holding back even more.” Ray bitterly said.

"Well the fact that you sound angry about it, is good, use that to motivate you, push Viola to use more of her strength next time you fight her." Vincent said.

"Right, well do you need any help?" Ray asked.

"I'm fine, just help Viola, set the table."

Ray went towards Viola and helped her set up the table. Soon Vincent came with the food, and they ate. As soon as they were finished Vincent got up, went to study, and came back with a scroll of paper.

"Follow me, we will clean afterwards." Vincent said.

Vincent led them to the living room, where he sat on his chair, Ray, and Viola sat side by side on the couch. Vincent unrolled the paper, on the table, it was a map of the village.

"Ok, so you have three weeks left to complete your mission, you only get one chance at this, ok?" Vincent said.

Ray nodded.

"Viola, and I, are forbidden from helping you kill Sierra, this will be all on your own."

"Where will you guys be?" Ray asked.

"I will be in the village during the attack, to be able to help the villagers right away, Viola will be the one to watch you during your mission."

Ray looks at Viola, she focuses on the map on the table, ignoring Ray gazed.

"While your target is indeed Sierra, don't think the knights around her will make it easy for you, you will have to kill them, to get to her." Vincent said.

"I... I understand." Ray said.

"I hope so, your master allows me to add anything to the mission, but because of your progress, I will let it be just killing Sierra, alright."

"Ok, do you know how many knights are in the village?" Ray asked.

"About thirty knights, well the only ones you have to be careful of is Brandon, his right hand-man Roger, and the ones Brandon, and Sierra have been training."

"Is there a way I can lure out Brandon, and knoc- uh I mean, so he doesn't interfere with the fight." Ray asked.

"Why don't you want him in the fight?" Viola asked.

"Well, if it's him, and Sierra, won't I have trouble fighting them?"

"No, since he isn't blessed, he won't be a match for you, don't you remember those knights you beheaded?" Vincent asked.

"Yes, I do." Ray answered.

"Did any of them give you any trouble?" Vincent asked.

"...No, they did not. I killed them quickly." Ray answered.

"Well the fact you manage to kill all twenty of them, should tell you how weak a basic knight is. So even if Brandon, or any of the other knights get in your way, you will be able to handle them." Vincent said.

"Ok, do you have anything that you can tell me about Sierra, that can help me?" Ray asked.

"No, when a knight is blessed, they have to find their own fighting style, some are heavy hitters, others are quick, I don't know what kind of fighting Sierra does, so you'll have to figure it out when you fight her."

"I see, so I have until next three weeks to decide when I want to invade the village." Ray said quietly.

"Well, if you want to impress your master, I would suggest doing it as early as you can. Vincent can report that you didn't wait until the final day to do the mission" Viola said.

Ray looked at Vincent, for confirmation, Vincent nodded his head, agreeing with Viola.

"I'm surprised you would mention that, I thought you would want him to be as prepared as he can." Vincent said.

"Well I mean, impressing his master is important right, no harm in that. Viola said.

"Well I can say, doing the mission, would put you in a better spot in your master's eyes, but at the end of the day, it is your decision fresh-blood."

{What should I do, should I play it safe, and wait until the last day, or risk it, and try to complete it early, if I can get on master's good side, she might let me write a letter to Eda.}

"Ok, I will attack early. I will attack the village in a week, and a half." Ray declared.