Dasha’xahr, 4041 AOT
Outskirts of Yelkh Village, Laamhi
Outside the boundaries of Yelkh Village stands one modest old house. There lives a lonesome old aunty. It’s like she had decided to stay out of the village to avoid being bothered but stayed close enough to keep an eye around the area.
Azalea just finished her morning training. Her training mainly composed of using object control on several rocks, carrying it throughout a set course while using pulse. It is meant to improve her concentration while continuously using multiple spells at the same time, as well as keep her stamina in check. This has been her routine for more than a year now. She still remembers when she started with a single rock and a shorter course. Every week, the difficulty was increased. Sometimes, Master Lone joins her by setting up traps and attacking her on the route.
On her way back to their modest house, she felt that they have an early visitor. She comes closer and hears familiar voices engaging in a raucous conversation.
“Come on! Take it!” Master Lone says with a tone of annoyance.
“What?! Why me? Give it to Renan instead!” A man responds angrily. “If not then give it to the stupid merchant!”
Azalea listens and recognizes that the voice belongs to one of her master’s friend, Cyan. They hang out together many times in the past and even done hunts as a group.
Cyan is a man of medium body built with a height of more than six feet. He is moderately muscular and well versed in close combat. From what Azalea heard, he is a few years younger than her Master. He has long dark red hair tied in a ponytail. His eyes are sharp and colored cyan, which where he got his name. He is wearing casual cloths, white shirt inside a red jacket, denim shorts, and rubber shoes.
“No way! The damn four eyes’ not a hunter. Are you stupid?!”
“Then Renan-”
“Ah goddamn it! That little shit can’t keep important secrets. The dumbass is too emotional!”
“And you think I can keep secrets well?!”
“Come on, can’t you help a dying friend?”
“FUUUUUCCKKK!!! DON’T SAY THAT!”
“Why are you shouting like a bitch?!”
“Because you’re fucking obnoxious! Can’t you just take your shitty vitamins and stopped getting fucking wasted everyday!”
“You bastard! You’re just the same! You’ll end up fucking up your lungs too!”
“You shitty hag! You just want me to die, don’t you?!”
“If I want you to die, I’ll kill you myself, bitch! I’m just saying, hold on to this letter coz my apprentice will need it in the future. You just have to hold on to it and like check on the kid once in a while until she turns twenty.”
“I already have a kid! Don’t give me another one!”
“Hey! I already taught her everything she needs to know. There’s basically nothing for you to do. She can even beat the shit out of you and your son right now!”
“HUUUUUH?! A little brat’s gonna beat me? Did your illness get into your head and rotted your brain?!”
“You have guts to talk about brains when you don’t even have enough functioning brain cells for one!”
The two continued to banter like grade schoolers, exchanging petty insults at each other, while Azalea is left to ponder outside.
“What?.. Who’s dying?...”
She knew all this time that Master Lone’s condition is getting worse. She knew that her Master was doing her best pretending that everything is okay. However, as someone who is living with her, Azalea cannot help it but notice the signs of her failing health.
“Seriously!” Master Lone takes a deep breath. “If you won’t take it then I’ll just leave this recommendation letter here.”
“In that crappy looking drawer?” Cyan clicks his tongue. “Aren’t you too fucking sloppy? What if Azalea digs in it and finds it?”
“So what? She doesn’t know what this is for.”
“She can read it, you know.”
“I taught her not to opens things that aren’t meant for her. Don’t complicate things, jerk face, and just take it from here when the time comes.”
“No fucking way, I won’t do it.”
She scoffs. “Then just tell yah boy Renan once I’m not here.”
“Bitch… This isn’t fair, you know.” His tone turns more serious. “You should just fucking explain this to her. Your little apprentice is smart, she’ll understand. Unlike my little shit.”
“Yeah, that brat… She’s smart… way too smart.”
“Then what’s the problem, you hag?!!”
“That’s the problem, shit-brain! She too sm-” She stops mid-sentence and changes her tone. “Someone’s outside.”
“Ah- My stealth has worn off and I did not notice it.” Azalea scratches her head.
At this point she has to reveal herself naturally before they figure out that she was eavesdropping on them. She walks towards the door and then Master Lone opens it. She looks at the child and then raises a brow.
“I can hear you shouting from a mile away.” Azalea says nonchalantly.
“How far is a mile? I’m not that good at math.” Master Lone answers. “Let’s go have breakfast.”
“You offer breakfast when you haven’t prepared any?” Cyan says mockingly.
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“Shut your bitch mouth. You’re just here to freeload!”
Master Lone has a well-toned medium built body, though she has become thinner these past months. Her ash gray hair is styled in a faux hawk cut. Her eyes are fiery red, and if you look into it, you will feel like a wild beast is glaring at you. That is why her sharp eyes and the way she conducts herself often got her in various predicaments. When she was younger, whether she means it or not, she often gets into a fight every time she leaves her house. She likes to wear tank tops and pants or shorts when at home. She usually wears a leather jacket on top of her tank top or t-shirt when going outside.
Aside from the morning training, Azalea also learns by reading books that Master Lone bought for her. That little house they had used to be empty mainly filled with alcohol bottles, instant food and a lot of garbage. After she took in an apprentice, she gradually bought educational books, especially about reveils and magic. She bought a couple of bookshelves which eventually got filled with different books, now mix with some random literatures. Then all those knowledge learned through reading are applied practically through hands on practice or on field training in the forest. Once the master thinks her apprentice is ready, she takes her out to hunt high ranking monsters. Then, on rare occasions they tag along in demon hunts arranged by Lone’s close associates. It may be more dangerous but she is well guided. After all, experience is still the best teacher.
Her Master has many eccentrics. One that bothered her the most is that she was never called by her name. In fact, Lone rarely calls anyone by their name. She has this weird way of hurling different names at people. There is probably another story behind it that she cannot open up.
There sure are some instances in her memory that are almost too comedic to recall.
∞×∞
“Lone, you have a kid with you today.”
“Yeah,” she answers with a frown. “Stupid glasses merchant left he brat in my care… Umm… What your name again? Lily?”
“It’s Azalea.”
∞×∞
“What’s this? Who’s the little one? You never told us you had a daughter.”
Master Lone glances at her. “The kid’s name.. err… Rose?”
“My name is Azalea.” She sighs looking at her tipsy master. “At least she knows its something to do with flowers.”
“Yeah, that.” She takes a sip from her drink. “By the way, this pipsqueak’s not mine.”
“Aww~ Did your husband cheat on you?”
“Fuck off.”
∞×∞
“Heeeeyyy~ Lone, long time no- huh?.. Hmmm…”
Lone raises a hand “Yoh!”
“Who’s the brat?”
“Oh… My apprentice… A-aaaahhh… Apple!!!”
“I’m Azalea.” She slightly tilts her head to the side looking at her completely sober master. “I guess apples have flowers too?..”
“Riiiight… Right!” She forces a laugh.
“Holy mother goose! This hag had gone so old, she can’t even remember the name of her apprentice. What a shame!”
“Call me an old hag again and I’ll fucking stuff you into a coffin!”
∞×∞
“What’s with the brat?”
“My apprentice… Ahm… Anthorium?..”
“Azalea.” Her expression cannot hide her disdain. “She’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?”
“I thought you’d never get an apprentice. You just didn’t seem like that kind of person. Are you sick or something?”
∞×∞
In their time together, they argued a lot. Mostly it is because of Lone’s toxic alcoholism, and other times, it is because of her weird habits. Nevertheless, Azalea looked up to her master. So, when she learned that she does not have long to live, she thought of ways to make her remaining days more worthwhile. What better way than to express her appreciation by showing her master that the student she raised has become a licensed demon hunter.
One day, after taking some necessary preparations for the exam, Azalea dug into the few drawers they have in the house. In one of the drawers, she found the recommendation letter far in the back as if it was stuff there sloppily. She took it, and read it once to confirm that it is indeed what she needed. She took her backpack and went outside. But before she leaves she looks at her master who is suffering from hangover right outside the house. Master Lone is slumped beside the house holding her head both her hands while looking so dizzy and confused. On the ground there are still two bottles of beer rolling. It seems she drunk again last night. She went home carrying those two bottles until she came close to the house but she fell asleep after finishing them. She just woke up this morning with a throbbing headache.
“Master, I look up to you and respect you a lot… but sometimes I forget that you are a respectable person because you look like that.”
“Wadya shay, wittle shit?” She looks upward at her apprentice who is carrying a backpack. “What’s with bag? You goin’ to school?”
Azalea shows the recommendation letter. “No, I’m going to take the exam.” She smirks teasingly. “Wait for me. I’ll be back with my license, Master.”
“HEY!!! Son of a-” She stood up but suddenly felt dizzy so she fell back crouching down. “Ugh… The world is spinning… I am the center of the universe.”
“It seems going today is the right decision. You can’t stop me being like that.”
“Urp-… T-that letter not me to be used today.” She cannot stand up as she can almost taste the alcohol she ingested coming back up to her mouth.
“Right, I’m not using it today. The exam is next week, so… I’ll be back in around ten days. See you in around two weeks, Master!” She smiles while waving her hand as she casually walks away.
“Urghhh… Disobedient child…”
∞×∞
Twenty-fourth day of Sat’xahr, 4043 AOT
Wave 5 of Arbhur City, Aesbyl Region, Surus
Azalea opens her eyes. Her surroundings are dim. She tries to recall whatever she can before losing consciousness. She definitely was with Fred and Jad. She feels that she is lying on a soft foam, perhaps a bed. There is a throbbing pain from her right hand which is suspicious because by now all of her wounds should have healed. She spends a couple of minutes to get used to the dark place and realized she is in someone’s room. It is an unfamiliar place which makes her wary of the surroundings. She feels someone approaching the door.
“What the hell?.. I feel so weak.” She thought as she tries to pretend to be asleep.
The lights turn on. She feels a familiar presence so she slightly opens her eyes.
“Shhh. Let her rest, don’t wake her up.”
She hears a familiar voice so she subconsciously searched for the source of it.
“We should check if she needs a change of clo-” Mary continued talking until she notices Azalea staring at her. “Ah-… You’re awake. Do you remember your name?”
“I know I got beat up really bad, but I didn’t get amnesia.” Azalea responds. Her voice is low and soft but clear.
“I’ll go inform the others.” Brenda says before leaving the room.
“Are you still in pain?” Leika asks while putting down what seems to be a change of clothes on the bedside.
“A bit…”
“Do you know where you are right now?”
“I’m still in Aesbyl… I guess…”
“Why are you unsure?” Mary sighs. “Where are you hurting right now?”
“It’s just my right arm… How long was I asleep?”
“Around a day and half.”
“LEEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!”
“She’s awake! She’s awake!”
“Don’t shout!”
The other kids comes running in making a ruckus. Azalea stared at them and noticed someone she knows mixed in. Her trusted ally, Qin, has arrived while she was asleep. Furthermore, she picks up other presence in the house. There used to be only one adult looking after them before she went into deep sleep.
“Something’s off…” A thought momentarily slips in her mind.
“How are you feeling?” Jad asks nervously.
“I’m fine now.”
“Really?” A skeptical boy comes forward while adjusting his glasses. “Just that bit of sleeping won’t make you fine.”
Azalea forces a laugh. “Can we skip the scolding, Qin?”
“No way! You pushed a bunch of work on me and rushed it! Are you kidding me?!”
“I am very thankful for that. Is that why Fred is with someone outside?... Ah! This presence, I know this. It’s him.”
“H-hey…” Qin frowns. “You just woke up. Why are you burdening your recovering body by keeping pulse active like this?”
“Oh?” The thought dawns on her. “It’s not off… something is on that should be off right now. Why did I activate pulse unconsciously?” She tried to get up and sit on the bed but she immediately felt dizzy so she went back lying down. “Why can’t I turn it off?”
“What are you talking about?”
Sure, she kept pulse almost uninterruptedly active these past weeks due to her pursuers. She needed to stay on high alert every day, every night. The information she receives from her surroundings can sometimes be overwhelming, and it does not allow her to fully sleep or rest. It helped make her safe but also made her more tired every passing day. And now, for some reason, it is like the spell have been permanently engraved at the back of her mind.