CHAPTER 33 - ONE STEP AT A TIME

The wooden weapons struck against one another before a word left my lips.

Relying solely on my instinct, as my thoughts were trailing far behind, the practice-sword I held in my hands twisted horizontally to parry the onslaught of the swiftly weaving fans. My heels dug into the ground as I repelled the attack.

⌈What the hell!?⌋

I yelled, distraught.

⌈..⌋

The reply, unfortunately, was a cold, emotionless glare.

⌈Cat got your tongue? Or did you go insane!?⌋

⌈Shut it..⌋

She leaped towards me.

Yep, it's the latter.

I took a step back to dodge. The edges of the wooden fan grazed my clothing.

⌈Why do I have to fight you!? What the hell is going on!?⌋

I barely found the time to express my confusion when faced with Lumi's barrage of carefully placed strikes.

⌈I need to find something out..⌋

⌈Then why did fucking attack me out of the blue!? Just ask, goddammit!⌋

I tried to return the offense.

My movements with the wooden sword, however, were far too sluggish to ever even reach Lumi. Her combat style reminded me more of a dance performance than a display of martial prowess.

She rotated around, dodging my vertical slash by a hair's breadth, and redirected the flow right back at me.

I flinched. The dulled edge of the fan struck my upper arm.

I disregarded the fans as actual weapons because of the inconvenience of their design. That proved itself to be a mistake. I remember the time I wondered whether or not fans were actually usable weapons. They are. They most definitely are, and they're terrifying, at that.

A sword would cleave you into bits and a spear would impale through... But getting maimed by fans? That's gonna be a long and painful death. Thank the incompetent Gods above that she was currently wielding weapons made out of wood.

I took a stance and readied myself for a proper fight. I haven't fought once after my rank-up, but Lumi isn't exactly leaving me any room for holding back... It's not my fault if things go south, alright?

Though it should be noted that taking your time to assume a heroic position isn't exactly the brightest of ideas in actual combat...

A mere moment of carelessness was enough for Lumi to find an opening in my defense. A horizontal attack from her was easy enough block, but the spinning top of death I was up against had two edges to strike with. The short clash ended with tremors radiating throughout my cranium. Her crude, yet an ever-elegant instrument of pain met with my lower jaw, nearly dislocating it in the process.

⌈I refuse to believe that was all it took.. Get up.⌋

She coldly stated, despite me kneeling down on the grass, holding mouth in agony.

⌈Wai–⌋

I repeated my mistakes once again.

Words didn't get through. I should've realized that as soon as she came at me. I could feel a gust of wind tickle the tip of my nose as I barely managed to dodge a kick directed right at my chin.

This is nothing like fighting monsters. I didn't have the time to think, nor were my movements far beyond the perceptive capabilities of my adversaries.

Lumi struck me once more, spinning around like a damn ballerina, chaining her attacks in a manner which gave me no room to retaliate. Though I somewhat kept track of her steady rhythm, the constantly alternating rotation kept me on my toes.

It did not take more than a single misstep from me, for her to break through my defenses entirely. She struck my hands, forcing me to drop my blade.

⌈There.. Give up. I win..⌋

She glared down on me with disappointment in her eyes.

First, she tells me to fight, and then she tells me to give up. Pick one, goddammit.

⌈Not a way in hell.⌋

I gritted my teeth and picked up my blade. I wish I could pinpoint what was so damn annoying about this all...

⌈Good..⌋

She... smiled?

...

Her breathing was getting heavier, and my movements were slowing down. I'm surprised I managed to draw the fight this far. My arms were bruised black. I think my lower lip was bleeding at one point too, although that has subsided already.

The sun was halfway down into the horizon, but neither of us showed any signs of giving up.

⌈Are we still going?⌋

⌈Yes..⌋

She responded under her breath, kicked the ground, and dashed backward.

Giving her no time to distance herself, I rushed right after.

Slowly, but surely, I had gotten the hang of the battle, though I now felt the price I had to pay as fatigue and pain. Even if the difference in skill between us was evident, I was confident in my abilities to hold my ground... Or rather, so I thought, before Lumi extended her hand towards me, pointing it right between my eyes.

Her calm and emotionless voice brought me back in time to events I'd have much rather forgotten, bearing a familiar echoing resonance to the words I uttered when I tried to cast a spell of my own.

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⌈【Void Bolt】⌋

Her whisper reverberated across the field, and as though on her command, a shimmering flash of purple light blinded me.

Before I even found the time to feel pain the spell inflicted, I could feel myself falling down. With a loud thump, my incompetent ass finally met with the ground.

Hah... I didn't stand a chance the moment I began... And here I thought myself to be skilled, having my head up my ass after getting a rank up on the first day.

⌈She's more nimble, agile, and precise... And now magic? Fuck me...⌋

I muttered to myself, with my senses still dulled after being struck by her spell. She must've held back. When the pain set in, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would...

⌈F-Flattery won't get you anywhere..⌋

⌈Oh right... You're still there. That's embarrassing...⌋

I sighed. I didn't find it in myself to care anymore.

⌈Once more. The real you wouldn't give up so easily..⌋

She tried to insist.

⌈Look... Lumi. I'm sorry, but I already told you. I'm not the same now as I was then. Whatever that means.⌋

I laid down on the grass, staring at the amber sky. I hate to disappoint... I truly do. But I'd rather get it done with than lead her on.

⌈I refuse to believe you.. You can't possibly think I'd fall for that again.. I-I'll...⌋

She began to stutter.

⌈I'll make a wager with you..!⌋

⌈Uh-huh... And if I win you'll do anything I say? Isn't that how it always goes?⌋

I sarcastically replied.

⌈If that is indeed what you wish for..⌋

⌈That was a joke. Dumbass...⌋

Even laughing at my own stupid jokes hurt like hell.

⌈That does not matter.⌋

⌈Right... And if you win?⌋

⌈You have to tell me all about yourself and your adventures.⌋

⌈That's the second time someone's ever asked for that...⌋

I involuntarily smiled.

⌈Is that a yes..?⌋

⌈There's really no point, though. It's not like I even have a chance.⌋

⌈How so..?⌋

She sat down next to me.

⌈I can't even use magic. It probably has something to do with the fact that my class has an abysmal Mana stat... Not that I even really know what that means.⌋

⌈Even after the rank up? Are you sure?⌋

⌈I haven't tried after the rank up, but, well... My attempts so far haven't really sown a seed of confidence in me... To put it lightly.⌋

⌈You? Having troubles with magic? Of all people..?⌋

Her pointy ears twitched in surprise.

⌈Yeah, me... I don't know what kind of impression you had of me, but I most likely won't live up to the expectations.⌋

⌈How can't you, a celestial, use magic..? I don't understand..⌋

⌈Neither do I, to be honest. Oh, well. It is what it is.⌋

⌈Perhaps you've lost your abilities in these past twenty decades..?⌋

⌈If I had any in the first place, that is.⌋

I noted.

⌈Do you at the very least still remember the basic practice of magic manipulation..?⌋

⌈The basic-what?⌋

I tried to scour my mind for memories of magic practice, but I couldn't remember anything of the sort. I guess I just kind of assumed that a magic swordsman knows magic from the get-go. That's how it should go, right?

⌈Have you even tried to feel the flow of Mana within you..?⌋

⌈Huh?⌋

⌈..⌋

She sat still, without uttering a word.

⌈I honestly don't know anything you're talking about. Magic this, Mana that... I completely whited out the last time I even tried to use a spell.⌋

Her ears twitched once again. She leaned over me, blocking the little sunlight that still lit up the fields.

⌈I'll teach you..!⌋

Contrary to her usual nonchalant nature, her eyes sparkled as she spoke with enthusiasm I wouldn't have expected in my wildest dreams. And my dreams in this world have been pretty wild, mind you.

⌈Hah... Good one. You?⌋

⌈Is there something wrong with me..?⌋

⌈I have no problems with you but aren't yo–⌋

⌈Good.. Sit up.⌋

She interrupted me.

Ah, what the hell. Might as well go with the flow.

⌈Now what?⌋

I sat up. A moments rest really hit the spot.

⌈Close your eyes and focus on the circulation of magical energies within.. Your race should have no problems sensing the ebb and flow of Mana.⌋

Yeah, yeah. My race hasn't helped me much so far and probably won't help me much in the future either.

Doubtful, yet interested, I crossed my legs, shut my eyes and began to focus. I even held my palms together in front of me for extra effect... Who knows whether that helps or not.

Unfortunately, I had no idea what to focus on. The concept of magic was about as foreign to me as technology is to this world.

⌈Try to visualize the arcane currents that run through you.. That should help you grasp the fundamental nature of magic.⌋

Right...

Energy, or rather Mana, in this case, is always blue, right? So maybe some sort of blue essence... And if it were to circulate throughout me, then maybe it does so in the same way as blood? Am I a magical being now? And if I am, how does the physiology between normal and magical beings differ? What about the draining sensation when I cast Origin Flare? It must've been Mana that I subconsciously moved.

⌈And once you become aware of the source of the magic, do your best to assume control over it..⌋

Putting my deduction and imagination into good use, I attempted to recreate the feeling I had back then. Deep breaths in, slowly exhaling out. Visualizing the Mana coursing through me, I kept my focus stern.

To my surprise, rather than flowing around my body, the essence within laid stagnant and still, as though dammed by forces unknown.

Even if only barely, I broke loose of the ties that bound my Mana in place. Little did I expect the equivalent of a prick of a needle on the side of the Great Wall of China releasing so much energy within an instant. Unknown power surged throughout me. Immersing me within its warm embrace.

I opened my eyes, startled, only to see myself cloaked in white light. Shivers ran across my spine as my lips twisted into a maddening grin.

⌈So.. It truly is you.⌋

Lumi's awe-struck, mismatched eyes reflected the bright white light like stars on the sky. She must've recognized the phenomenon too.

Oh, how much I love you, you dumb, rude elf. This is Overdrive, isn't it?

I stood up and extended my hand towards the skies. My scarf fluttered in the draft created by the sheer amount of energy radiating from me.

⌈Here goes nothing, once again.【Origin Flare】⌋

I roared my lungs out. If I'm going out again, might as well do it with a bang.

The light that covered me began to disperse, as a sphere of concentrated energy formed within my grasp. The flare shot up and lit the warm orange skies white with its radiant flames.

Though I tried damn hard, I could not contain the happiness I felt. My grin evolved into an uncontrollable full-blown laugh, celebrating my success.

⌈I'm glad..⌋

⌈T-This is amazing!⌋

I couldn't believe myself.

⌈And now..⌋

⌈Now what?⌋

⌈We continue where we left off..⌋

She lashed out at me.

Bring it!

...

Dozens, if not hundreds of strikes and spells later, dusk had settled in. The symphony of dark purple bolts against white beams of light came to a close as a pale leather boot came crashing down from above. My resistance amounted to naught but admiration of her elegant form fluttering in the light of the rising moon.

In the end, it really just came down to the vast gap in skill. It was frustrating, but it was something I had to accept...

I laid down on my back once again, though this time, I wasn't dozing off alone.

⌈Perhaps I was of the wrong opinion about you..⌋

Uncertainty oozed from her soft-spoken words.

I didn't know how to answer... I guess I'm just glad we can get along.

⌈You know, Light.. Today was pretty fun..⌋

⌈It really was... Even if I did get my ass handed to me on a silver platter time and time again.⌋

⌈Will you have a bout with me again, someday..?⌋

⌈You do know that an invitation to get beaten up isn't exactly the most alluring proposal?⌋

I laughed.

⌈What if I take it easy..?⌋

⌈Now that's just insulting. I'm not that weak, am I?⌋

⌈Sorry..⌋

⌈Oh my... Sorry, you say, Lumi?⌋

The shadow of a woman with large, fuzzy ears cast over us.

⌈⌈V-Violet?⌋⌋

⌈That's me~... This is my yard you're currently laying down on. Surely you didn't forget that.⌋

This ain't good...

⌈Would you like to take a look at your surroundings?⌋

Even if she did try to display a warm smile, I could feel the sheer coldness radiating from her words.

The arcane warfare of Lumi and I had turned the lush green field of flowers and finely cut grass into a battleground comparable to a freshly harvested potato field...

⌈Oh my... I hope you two rascals will have lots of fun bonding with each other as you clean it up~.⌋