Chapter 24: The Frozen Blade

Zack

The wound expunged a gushing flow of blood as Zack pulled his sword from the wild beast. The blood sprayed everywhere with the same black specs that resided in the blood of animals exposed to too much mana. Zack turned and found Maya doing the same to the mana-mutated wolves that had ambushed them a moment ago. A wolf was the closest thing Zack could relate it to. The mutation of mana had made its features more ravenous, ruining its pelt and making the creature develop too many fangs for its own good. Making them harder to maintain but far more deadly. Maya returned her slender shortsword to wrap held on her waist with a small but sharp sound. Zack approached her as sheathed his sword to the scabbard held on his back.

“You're quite good with the sword,” said Zack. Maya brushed off the beast's fluid from her black dress.

“Well, I did tell you I trained to use a blade. I can’t rely on my magic for battles such as these.”

“Still, you're very skilled for a magic user.”

“I often had to defend myself in the Ashian army when my magic became too painful to bear,” She said as the two begun to travel down the path once again.

“I see,” Zack replied. The man felt his mind clearer now that he had opened up to Maya about his trauma. However, the way he acted around others still needed work. Even giving Maya that compliment earlier felt unnatural and hard to do. He knew if he was going to be travelling with her he would need to learn to not be closed off and rely upon others. Easier said than done Thought Zack. The mental barriers he had built up in his head were strong and difficult to remove. Still, it was just another part of achieving that happiness he sought so fiercely. Perhaps enough time spent with Maya would help him work through his way of dealing with situations better. In the short time they had known each other, Zack already felt comfortable enough to confide in Maya. Not to mention she had a similar upbringing. I need to help her too Thought Zack. This wasn't just about me, She had suffered too The pair reached the edge of a tall cliff that they were taken to by the path they were told to take by Thomas. It overlooked a lush land of grass and lakes with wildlife sprawling throughout, unaffected by mana. Just on the horizon, Maya spotted their destination. A small village named Toren that resided within Atlus, not too far from Atlus City. The duo veered from the walking path for a moment and stood on the edge of the cliff to take in the crisp air. Maya turned to Zack.

“Do you see it Zack? Toren is only just a short trip ahead now.” Zack took a closer look and spotted the village too. It was small but looked to be raised upon a plateau that kept it safe from mana-mutated animals, though the area looked relatively safe from Zack’s view.

“It’s felt like it's been so long since I've been anywhere near the capital, but the smell, it's the same as it was when I left,” he said devoid of emotion.

“I don't suppose it’s a nostalgic feeling,” Asked Maya

“I wish I could say it was but, I was more or less trapped within the city. Being an assassin meant I was tethered to the empire.” Zack turned to Maya slightly. “The only way to escape was when you were sent for a mission.” Zack sighed to himself as he turned back to the vast view of Atlus. “Still, you were assigned a partner no matter the mission. We always had to keep one eye open with each other. Assassins were executed just for knowing a deserter.” Maya looked down as she began to feel a bit uncomfortable as Zack opened up about the way of living he endured for the last eight years.

“I suppose that’s why you couldn't leave then?” Asked Maya. Zack nodded but then turned completely to face her.

“Partly, but really I was just afraid.” he said with regret in his tone “Afraid that if I deserted I would just end up getting killed, and wasting the years I spent pursuing The Dark Slayer for Matthew” Zack then took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he did so and exhaled to remove those feelings of inadequacy out of his head. “But… it's done.” He said as the life returned to his face and voice slightly. “I broke the line that tethered me to Atlus…Thanks to you Maya.” Maya returned a soft smile to him, though he did not return one himself.

“And so has my line been broken too.” Maya stepped off and looked across the wide view of Atlus City’s province. She clasped her hand behind her back before she spoke. “Zack, you faced The Dark Slayer already…did you not?” Zack turned to her as she looked on at the view. The memories of fighting the man came back to him. He was utterly devastated, yet his opponent was barely trying.

“I hardly faced him. He tore me apart” Zack said with anger in his voice.

“I know he wields a Devil Relic…did you see it?” Maya asked as she turned. Her white-furred ears twitched as she did.

“Yeah, I did. It was a black blade, almost like black glass.” Zack said recalling his memories. “He used it to create slashes from a distance, he even opened some kind of portal with it,” Zack said suddenly realizing the threat he was pursuing.

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“That sounds similar to what I've heard. It’s a blade described to have the power to cleave reality itself.”

“Cleave reality?” Zack said confused as to what she meant by that.

“Essentially, it can cut through anything. It seems to have some sort of astral properties.” Zack wasn't sure what the words Maya used meant but she conveyed enough information to let him realize he might not have what it takes to defeat him if he were to encounter the man again. Maya turned and saw the uncertainty in his face.

“Don’t fear him, Zack. You can be-”

“I can't!” Zack said as he interrupted Maya, clenching his fists as he did so. “I’m skilled with lighting magic but physically that won't be enough,” he said now with worry in his voice.

“You will still have my support Zack.” She said showing her care for his goal. Zack sighed deeply but could not meet her gaze.

“I know…but I can’t risk you dying for my sake. I don't want you to get resort to your magic and hurt yourself.” Zack gritted his teeth as he finished his sentence. Maya looked contemplative for a moment before she finally spoke.

“I don't want to see you hurt either Zack…so what I’m going to ask will sound strange but…are you willing to bear any pain so long as you don't die?” She said with a serious look on her face. What kind of question is that? Zack thought to himself. However, his own mind did present him with an answer rather quickly.

“I am, and I will,” Answered Zack with a nod. Maya returned with a nod as well.

“Then, let me offer you a gift. A gift that will give you the strength you need to defeat him.” Blue specs of light began to rise from her gently “Just…brace yourself, Zack,” The intensity and density of the blue specs began to increase before they shortly became lighter in color. Maya closed her eyes and her face looked to be in pain as she winced. Suddenly, a spring of light blue specs of man gushed from her chest. She began to whimper as the pain quickly enveloped her. Zack felt the amount of mana she was exuding, it was more mana than he had ever felt before. He was worried for what Maya was doing, but trusted in her own decision. An ice-blue rod began to emerge from her chest. The pain in Maya’s face became more visible as she soon began to gasp and yelp from the pain. “Zack…please…remove it…from my chest,” She pleaded in between bouts of pain. Zack was enamoured by the amount of mana he could sense from the rod, still unsure of what she was doing he was confused, but did as she said. Zack took a grip of the rod with one gauntlet and supported her back with his other arm. He then quickly uninbeeded the rod from her chest and held it high in the air. Zack felt a cold chill run from his gauntlet and into his hand. In his grip, he held what looked like a rod of ice that vaguely resembled the characteristics of a sword, such as the hilt and sharpened tip. It resembled the length of a regular broadsword but didn't feel nearly as heavy. The blade glistened with ice and mist fell gently from the blade. He could feel the gauntlet he held it in begin to cold but not unbearably. He looked back down to Maya who still winced in pain but looked to be recovering now she was no longer exuding vast amounts of mana. Zack released her gently with his other hand, surprisingly, she was able to stand well and did not need support.

“What is this?” Asked Zack as he held the rod of ice above his head, enamored by the feeling of it.

“The Frozen Blade,” She said quietly. Zack turned to Maya as she said it, as frost fell from the blade down onto his armor “Or at least… that's what you can refer to it as.” Her gaze then shifted to the blade. “It is a physical manifestation of my mana. Formed into the vague shape of a sword. While I cannot wield my own magic due to my body not being strong enough to withstand it. That doesn't mean my magic is unweildable. Someone with a strong enough form could theoretically wield it.” Zack lowered the blade and held it by his side. “Zack, You can wield my magic by using that sword as a catalyst. Right now it's in a low mana state, a state that still lets you hold it without the sword freezing your arm. If you were to use it as a weapon now. Well…it would be the same as smacking someone with an icicle.” Maya continued as she gestured with her slender hands. “However, through your own will, you can draw in more of my mana to the blade. If you were to wield the sword when it is emitting a high amount of mana, it would be the most formidable weapon on the battlefield of Elden, you could command ice as powerful as I can using the sword as a catalyst…however” She trailed off

“The more mana that’s in the blade. The colder the sword will get…right?” Asked Zack as his gauntlet began to acrew frost on the metal.

“Yes,” Maya grimaced “The colder the sword gets. The harder it will be for you to wield or… perhaps even hold, If you become too reckless with the sword, you could end up freezing your arm and… perhaps losing a limp to frostbite.” She says hesitantly. Zack grips the sword tighter and holds it up to his waist. He looks down at the blade and contemplates what she has said. “If you don’t feel comfortable in wielding it Zack, then it's okay. I can return it. I just thought I would offer this opportunity to you, I know how much this means to you,” bits of ice broke off around Zack’s gauntlet as he gripped the blade tighter. His red capelet blew gently in the wind.

“No, I will bear this power you've given me. I’ve always put my life at risk. Every endeavor I took to hunt him down was a potential injury for me…this is no different. I will wield this blade not only to avenge Matthew…but to avenge your past.” Though slightly regretful she offered this power to him, She trusts that he will be responsible when it comes to drawing out her mana for the blade. She nods and smiles gently at him. As she does, the blade disappears from his hand, rising into the air as a burst of light blue specs of mana. Zack then quickly feels a cold sensation run down the back of his breastplate. He turns to find the blade has repositioned to his back. Though he can feel the cold through his breastplate, he can tell the blade isn't physically touching him. The blade was now hovering adjacent to the steel blade he wore on his back.

“I've positioned the blade to the right of your main sword Zack. I can control the blade to an extent without hurting myself, so…I thought maybe you would like to keep it close, just in case.” said Maya “But please, just be careful and don’t become reliant on it.” Zack could see the worry in her face and nodded in agreement, though, he wasn’t sure he could keep that promise. If he truly did wield a sword equal in power to the princess’s magic, he may be on par with a devil relic user. It could be the final tool he needs to finish the task he set out eight years ago to finish. However, the warning of turning his limbs to ice and risking them shattering ran through him and sat in his heart. He decided he would take her advice, she knew her own magic better than anyone else. With two blades resting on his back, Zack quickly turned back to the path leading towards Toren.

“We should get going,” He said “Best not to be out at night” Maya nodded and quickly skipped over to his side on the winding path.