Try as I might I have long since realized that most of my sisters questions don’t actually have a right answers. Is not like she only asks a question once. Once she ask the same question twice in one day and yet both times she wanted a different answer. What does it mean to mean something and what is dirt are some off her favourite questions to ask. By their is no right answer if we went by past experiences then I would have no problem answering these questions. But therein lies the problem because not only does she want a certain answer but most of the time she was it in a certain way. Of course most of the time I can get her to tell me the answer I want with a little praise but I have since learnt when that will work or not. As much as I joke she the type to hold her cards close to her chest so. What is the origin of all victory? This is a hard question. It very general too.

It’s probably something about knowing yourself or maybe it’s a trick question. She does love trick questions.

Hmmm guess there's nothing to do… let’s see there's a rock with some moss. And ohh what’s that. Oh it a rock with some brown moss that new I’m only surrounded by a few of those. It not like I’m sitting on a literal mountain of brown moss covered rocks. Ok their might be some dirt below me somewhere but I don’t see any. Nor do I see any down the valley it’s all just these smooth almost plate like rocks. Or towering plants. Actually I don’t see any wood either. It almost as if the landscape was painted.

I reach over and pick up a rock. It’s a odd weight. It gives the impression that it’s hollow but if I. Their a unusually satisfying crack as I snap the rock in half. That was honestly a bit too easily to break. I run my finger along the rocks edge and to my surprise it draws blood. The cut itself is so minascul that even paper cuts look serious enough by comparison. Still it drew blood. I chuck the rock aside only to be surprised once more. I throw the two half’s away

Ha would you look at that, it bounced.

Back to the matter at hand. How to deal with my boredom. Now that I think about it this is the first time I have been without Icarus my beloved. Hmmm maybe I could. No lets not be stupid.

I bend down and pick up a new rock but instead of snapping it I hold it in one hand and squeeze. And I wait for the satisfaction of that sound. I take a moment to take in my surroundings. Oh some rocks with brown moss. I return my focus to the task at hand. Hmm it’s gone. Ha didn’t expect that. Did it run away? How do rocks run away?

I need to ask my sister about that. Magic disappearing rocks . Boredom returns. I’m sorry rocks can you do other things. If I had a sword I could train.

Hmmm I wanna try it. I stand on my feet and hold out my hand.

“Come to me my sword. Icarus I have need of you” then in the back of my head I hear a ever so faint masterrrrrrrr and I feel the connection between us shake as if blocked. And for the first time in a while a feel a deep longing and loneliness. But I confirmed that our connection is still there which. I am glad that my sword survived my death. The connection has grown weak but it’s their. Truth be told it feels less like the connection is weak but instead Icarus has turned weak.

Ha nothing happened well I kind of expected it. Hmm is their something I’m missing. I arch my back. Breath deeply and announced in the deepest voice I can muster

“ heard my call my dear sword. I your glorious master Erick River have need of you. Join me once more and we shall again become hole...

Ah well I didn’t really expect that to work”

Unfortunately this would grow to become one of the biggest regrets of my life because

“ pfff hahahahahahHahahahahah look swordy it’s an idiot. Quick think of a way to escape swordy we don’t want to catch his stupidity”

I turn around to face my sister. Despite the harassment in her voice she’s clearly waiting looking to see if something would happen and the only difference between her when she left is now she soaked to the bone. And that theirs three fish begging for their lives. Each pierced through the gills. And from their mouths little “ please my children” or “ I’m to young” “ I don’t want to die “ taking fish huh well thats neet. Wonder what they tasted

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“ let’s eat o glorious on”

“Ok”

“ Or do you want me to sit here and list the ninety nine reasons why your an idiot for thinking you're stupid cursed sword has the power to jump between realms in such a simple way is absolutely fucking retardant. Also why the fuck are you still using that thing. Last time I checked it was a common weapon.”

Actually it a unique. I wont say this out loud let’s just move on and forget this experience.

“Come to think of it you were using pretty well considering the weakest grad weapons was able to destroy two divine grade artefacts.” She paused to look at me. Still the only expression on her face was one of expectations. I come to learn that my sister will forget to change facial expressions when she having a good time or is amused. And What’s more amusing to her then my embarrassment. No I feel no embarrassment. If I let it get to me she wins. After a good three hours of her politely informing me of how stupid I am I came to know a lot. How long I’ve been dead. She also said my swords probably gone. I told her about the voice I heard in the back of my head.

“ o yeah you’re dead and you’ve been for awhile.”

“ that so” well I kind of new.

“ you feel nothing towards that huh well it lucky for you in an amazing teacher hell you might call me a glorious teacher ha ha ha. By the way wanna know how you died”

“ it was the spear anymore information is pointless I am dead. You told me yourself that all receive one chance of life anymore is unfair and will always lead to desecration of life’s value”

“ when the fuck did I say that? Arr I mean of course but no arr um yeah sometimes we must um.” For the first time since coming here she has a look of seriousness to her. If she actually truly trying to think of an answer then it my win if she pretends I never said that it her win. No what am I doing I need to be serious here what if she denies saying that out right then that would also be her win. Hmmm I’m in a bad way it a two to one odd. I can only prays dearest sister please fail here.

The seas parted and my prayers were heard here today for she gave me the answer I sourt.

“ arr um oh fuck yeah I’m a fucking genius ok it’s all good you see it because we only receive one life we need to take all the opportunity given to us for only those cheated by life will rally in the name of fairness” she gave a sagely nod. And a quite literal pat on the back. Under her breath I just faintly heard “ fuck it’s great to be a genius”

“So where were we ahh that right how you got your ass kicked.”

“ yes”

“ still no response or annoyance to this”

“ as much as I complain I was defeated in open combat”

“ well if that’s how you want to see it ok but it a stupid way to look at it but sure.”

“ is that so”

“ so you got done in by soul magic”

“ soul magic?”

“ right you struck the soul with your own it not used much because unlike other forms of magic it doesn’t scale. Your either got a strong soul or a weak so and you throw your soul at the opposing party and if your soul is strong you win and if it’s not you lose”

“ I never heard of it”

“ well that makes sense because a master soul magician will die if his soul is weak. Well maybe not a master I know there are ways to strengthen a soul and a soul strength will improve naturally by two things. The first is age but not by much honestly your soul is now fairly old to the and the second is will. If the two souls are thrown then it often the one who wants to win the most that will win. And therein lies a large problem with soul magic. As I said before the need for survival and fear of death are usually strong motivation. Even ants don’t want to die after all. With a weak soul one gains a weakness to both soul magic, Illusions,black magic, and void energy’s. For me and you these will always be our weakness. Especially illusions ”

“ why?”

“ because we share weakness. And it easier to blame our weakness on the way we use the sword then on our personalities . Because it the nature of the art of death to be grounded in reality so when we leave reality behind we are put in a weaker state. It one of those two I’ll let you decide”

“ is that so”

“ see that is why you got killed so fucking easily. It caused to didn’t even want to win.

It is why you never gained divinity.

It is why you got done in so fucking easily.

It’s why your swordsmanship ran into a wall.

It is why you’ll never be my equal only ever my follower.

It because you lack drive and ambition.

To you it there's no reason to win then simply to win. It wasn’t victory that used to be your goal but survival. It a fine goal for the weak but a poor excuse for the strong. Which is my I’m here today god your so lucky I’m your teacher because I’m a genius.

So of you. I have one request and one demand.