Act II: Ameshin Loyalty

Chapter 8 – Light Training

9:56 // Day 22, Sonntag. Luna 97c.

"Gods, Kyomi. I need a minute, can you stop?"

With absolute lethality, Kyomi charged again. Her silver blade aimed for my head. I highly doubt this sturdy helmet would stop that, and she doesn’t show any sign of stopping, so I prepared to dodge again.

huck

I don’t know how she expects me to block with this wooden training sword, never mind attacking with it. But somehow, much like my duel with Kai, I was managing to hold on. That last blow was close, however, and I felt the silver blade nick my left shoulder, right before slamming onto the solid stone ground.

"Do you think... the enemy will stop, if you... ask? Take your stance..."

"Stance? What stance? You haven’t shown me any stance, you’ve just been attacking me. I thought this was some light training, what are you doing!?"

"Stop whining... attack."

sigh

Originally, she had proposed a duel, though stated that what she really wanted was to teach me how to use a sword. Since I wasn't against the idea, and I'd played right into her hands, I agreed, but this is neither a duel nor a training session; it's a one-sided massacre. I hadn't even gotten a proper sword since I thought that we wouldn't be fighting.

I tried to take the ‘stance’ which Kyomi had been telling me to do for the past few minutes, though I was blissfully unaware of what exactly she wanted me to do. Like with my knife, I placed my left foot forward, evenly distributing my weight. Instead of holding the blade horizontally, in front of my face, it felt much more natural to hold the wooden sword in front of my entire body, using both hands to support the blade.

"Right, I’m ready Kyomi. But I still don’t know how you expect me to attack you... with a wooden sword."

She paused a moment before attacking, quickly coming to the realisation I had arrived at the very moment she attacked.

"Hmm... I see."

You see! How could you not!?

"I will... amend the rules. We can, use magic... is that, fair?"

"Kyomi."

"Y-Yes..." disengaging her stance for a moment, she cautiously answered me.

"I thought we were training? That is what you said, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, doesn’t training usually involve... you know, training someone?"

"I... might have gotten a bit, excited perhaps..."

Gods, at least she understands. She might sound shy when speaking, but the second Kyomi holds a sword, she becomes an absolute savage. It was probably good I found this out before challenging her myself...

So, I made my way over to Kyomi – who was a good 12 feet from me – with my wooden sword aimed downwards, but then.

It was only for a moment, but Kyomi brandished her steel blade and, almost instantly, placed it across my neck.

Without a moment to react, my body shut down, too afraid to move, or speak, for fear of a swift death. Even knowing that wouldn’t happen, my body wouldn’t respond.

"We... never stopped, I am teaching you... how to survive." Kyomi’s body language and voice completely contradicted the other. Taking another quick breath – meanwhile, I had dropped my sword on the ground, creating a large clattering noise that resounded throughout the entire hall – she finished her sentence. "But, sorry, I forgot you were using a... wooden bokken. I will use, Impure Rain."

Releasing the blade from my throat, she casually turned around, moving back to her starting position.

"Did you really forget?" I said while clearing my throat, still in shock from her sudden movement, not just in body, but also in mind. "And what’s Impure Rain? It’s not your sword, right?"

"...no, my sword is named Amekabi... Impure Rain is... my magic."

Taking another breath, started again.

"It is easier, to show you... let us hold the match, for now."

After saying that, Kyomi sheathed her blade, Amekabi, into its sheath. And then, holding out her hands, I heard that familiar, though higher-pitched, voice entering my very being.

Impure Rain

As soon as the voice began, a violent stream of water left Kyomi’s right palm and those familiar black lines appeared across her entire forearm.

This was her magic; before my very eyes, a weapon almost identical to my wooden sword was formed. It solidified, but not completely: it was still, very clearly, a liquid. Small movements of water gave the weapon life while also telling anyone who saw it, this is not a real weapon. This is magic.

"This is my magic." being the first sentence she had spoken without pausing, Kyomi held the weapon towards me, showing me the similarity to my own. "I am a Liquid Element. I am... a swordsman, without a sword... I cannot defend. I will... teach you this, soon."

"Wow. I didn’t even think to use my magic like that..."

"What is... your magic?" she questioningly asked.

"I use Ice Form, and I’m a Liquid Element, just like you."

"You use... Ice Form, even though your Elemental State is... Liquid?"

"Should I not?"

She took a moment to think about it before answering.

"Demonstrate." she answered.

"Demonstrate?"

"You used magic today?... When fighting the Hermits..."

"Yeah."

How did she know about the Misdlan Hermits? I’d only told Kai that...

"Use a spell... I’m just, curious?"

You don’t even know yourself, do you...

Taking a few steps away from her, I pictured my fight with the Hermits. The first magic I had used was; Trap Arts, State-Change Stalagmite, which I used to kill one of the charging Hermits.

According to Enryn, people usually cast magic through their fingers, palms, chest, knees and feet. For these positions, it was common for a Stance to be used, similar to the ones used by armed and martial artists.

Kyomi had used a Stance which I had seen Enryn use on occasion. First, she placed her right hand in front of her body; only this time tilted, to allow her to grip her sword. Then, using her left hand, she supported her right arm to help her focus on releasing her magic. Because, while it’s not impossible, or necessarily difficult, to cast while moving, it’s much easier to cast while stood still.

Since I didn’t need to worry about that, I skipped the step and cast my magic how I normally would.

Trap Arts, State-Change Stalagmite

A stalagmite, almost identical to the one which pierced the hermit, formed in between myself and Kyomi. I poked my head around the large piece of ice, trying to see whether Kyomi’s reaction was positive or negative, but it was neither. It was fairly neutral; surprised, but not because of anything beyond her calculations.

"It is... big, and faster than I thought. It is not your magic, no?"

"No, I learned of it through one of the libraries near Enryn’s. He hasn't taught me any magic yet, it's been mostly theory."

"Mmm... that is good. You should, make your own. Magic, that is... it is clear you have an... affinity for the Ice Form..."

sigh

For once, this sigh didn't come from me, but from Kyomi. She was still thinking about my magic, seemingly looking for... well, I wasn’t sure.

"Say, Kyomi. How did you know it wasn't my spell? How is it any different?"

"There are... two reasons."

Walking up to the frozen stalagmite; she raised her sword above her head, bringing the supposedly wooden sword – formed through magic – atop my stalagmite.

"This is, the first."

As she said that, the structure shattered into a hundred pieces, flinging in every direction, though disappearing before getting very far.

I wouldn’t have been shocked had Kyomi done that with her Amekabi, but she had done that with, what was meant to be, a wooden sword...

"Oh."

"That is... the first reason. This magic was, made by someone else... for someone else. It is not, for you... if that makes sense."

"So, it’s weak because I don’t understand the spell well enough?"

"Yes."

A few moments later, my magic began to dissipate: most magic, unless maintained by the caster, will start to 'dissolve' into thin air when its original form is lost.

This magic is then recycled, returning to nature, becoming World Mana; a form of raw mana that can be tapped into by Casters – there are many words for people who use magic; Magicians, Warlocks, Mages etc, but Casters is commonly used since the others suggest that only magic is used (some people only use magic to support a weapon, for example). I'm not entirely sure on the specifics as I'm just recalling what Enryn has told me. I wasn’t even aware that you could tap into World Mana yourself until last week.

"Mmm..." Kyomi mused to herself, now standing just a foot away from me as she examined my face. Or, more likely, the black markings that had appeared upon it.

"And... the second reason?" I asked, trying not to draw attention to my near-blushing face.

"Your... Astral Projection, Trap Arts... State-Change, Stalagmite... It is... a man-made spell."

Astral Projection? She could hear that voice?

I’d been meaning to ask Enryn about it but, as I have previously said, we've only covered some topics and physical conditioning... but, speaking of that voice. I could swear that I heard Kyomi’s Impure Rain being spoken, just not in the voice I was used to.

"He... hasn’t even told you, this?"

"N-No... sorry."

"It is... fine. I think it will be... more worthwhile, telling you this... instead of, fighting... follow." leading on from her dialogue, Kyomi and I left Arena 4 – which was situated in the farthest corner of the fighting hall.

Benches were scattered along the edges of the room; likely for spectators and tired contestants to rest, though they were being used for neither since the fighting hall was empty (apart from Kyomi and me).

"These aren’t exactly prime comfort, are they?"

"No..."

These benches had no backrest, were made from solid, curved, planks of wood, creating many bumps that constantly irritated my rear... it was certainly far from luxurious.

"Do you... I mean, has Enryn not... told you about your Astral... Body?"

"I seem to recall him mentioning something like that, but no. Not in-depth he hasn’t."

"You... remember your fight with Kai, yes? How you... froze him."

Of course, I remembered, how could I not? That was the moment I first used my magic abilities and the entire point of the fight, so I wasn't likely to forget it for a long time.

"Do you... remember the feeling?" she asked, staring down at my still, relaxed, hands.

"The feeling?"

"Yes. When you cast magic... you envision something, describe it... to me."

"Sure, but... how does this explain how you heard that voice?" confused, I wanted to know what Kyomi meant.

The vision, and feeling, I get when casting had been bothering me for a while, though I just considered it a part of my magic – and never thought to ask Enryn about it. That what I saw was the same as everyone else; was it not magic I was seeing, but, similar to how I see blue mana, just my perspective?

"We will... get to it. If it is easier, try casting."

"Alright, I’ll give it a go."

"Tell me... what you see."

"Got it." standing up, I readied myself to cast. It never took long, my body instinctively following, and preparing to cast.

Once again, those familiar black lines formed; they raced towards my eyes, though I held back on casting my objective, another stalagmite, and focused on the feeling.

"What do you... see?"

"I see..."

...a white sky... a never-ending river, constantly crashing as it attempts to contain the pure water...

"...waves, crashing from the riverbanks. Solidifying, changing form... becoming ice."

"And?"

And? Well, if I looked further...

"...a voice." ...a voice

"Who’s... voice?"

"...I think it’s. My own..." My own...

"And, what is it... saying? What are you... saying?"

What am I saying?...

I’m... not sure.

For the past month, this voice has accompanied me whenever I began to cast. I had just ignored it, thinking it was like that time years ago, but it wasn't. Whether this was myself, or something else entirely, I couldn't say, but it was certain that he was trying to tell me something.

Something like...

I am here. Don’t ignore me.

crash

Rivers raged against the flow of their streams as the voice reached out to me, pleased that I was listening.

And then.

A figure took centrepiece in my fictional world, demanding my attention; drawing my ethereal eyes from the river was... A man?

Formed entirely of mana, the blue man looked directly back at me. He was sitting by the river, in the only spot where the water was calm and as he ran his fingers through the pure-white grass, he spoke to me.

"You finally came, though it seems you cannot stay for long... we will meet again, someday soon."

As soon as he came, he left.

I was greeted by the familiar room, though... was it always spinning?

"W-White!"

Kyomi? She, caught me? It felt just like the end of my match with Kai, my body had collapsed, the energy ripped out of it, but my mind was perfectly fine.

"You... are a fool. Why did you... stay there?"

"…"

"I wanted to explain... but, for now, rest..."

Kyomi began mercilessly dragging my unresponsive body back to the bench but, I couldn’t feel a thing, it was as if my mind and body had been temporarily... unlinked? My only responsive senses were my sight and hearing, everything else was gone.

Though, I quickly found myself vertical again, most likely lying on the rough bench: which I was now glad I couldn’t feel.

"Rest for a bit... here. I heard... this helps."

Forcibly closing my eyes, I heard her fidgeting around, though I was completely unaware of what she was doing.

"I am surprised that... Enryn hasn’t taught you... about this."

"…"

"Though you seem to... already understand, just not the... theory."

I understand? Well, I understand that what I saw was real... at least, to me it was. I had always thought that the vision I saw of the river was imagined; the reason I couldn't understand, though. Perhaps it still is?

I don’t understand.

"You lost strength... because, like with... Kai, you stayed... too long."

I stayed... too long? What does that mean? Is the river, another world? No, that doesn’t make sense. Then, what was it?

"I will explain... why you hear the voice, and why... you heard mine."

Taking a moment, Kyomi prepared for her supposedly long speech.

Since she had cut off my sight, I could only hear my breath, her subtle, constant, breathing and the lack of noise throughout the entire hall.

"When the Gods... made us, they gave us something... to separate us from, beasts. They gave us... a second body, made entirely from Mana." Kyomi sighed, clearly not used to talking this much in one go. "It was... a gift, supposedly... it is, just a story, but... that body is real and also... not."

Well, I had heard the theory. It is how humans came into existence in the stories from Whites’ Veil, though I hadn’t thought that they would be true.

"Maybe I... explained this incorrectly. We know that... the Gods exist, but... we don’t know if they, created us." – "But that doesn’t matter, it is only a story... the body, however... is real, and it can... communicate with you, as you can... with it."

shuffle

"Our bodies cannot... handle raw Mana, so it is... contained, within our other body. It is why... monsters cannot use magic." – "Then, your Astral Body... guides the Mana to your Physical Body... through Veins."

"The black markings... are called Astral Carvings. They do not exist... and you can only see them if you have... awoken your Astral Body."

It... makes sense, I’m just surprised that Enryn never told me this.

This seems like vital information; did I just miss it?

"I will... try to simplify the next, part..."

Kyomi stopped mid-sentence. I was a bit worried that she would never actually get out the rest of it as her voice had already started to fade somewhat.

"Think of your Astral Body as... a pilot... it controls your body, but... you cannot control, it... I’m sorry but, it is a difficult concept... I have only just learned... past the basics."

So... my Astral Body controls my Physical one? Though, I cannot control it?

I’m lost already.

"Uhmm... sorry. I need to... move your head... it’s, digging into my... legs."

Oh, right... well, that makes sen-

Wait.

"…"

This isn’t... what I think it is...

Is it?

"I... errm... think that is, better?" with an embarrassed tone, I felt her legs fidget around.

Wait.

Not this gag again.

My senses had started to return, and not moments too soon could I feel that I was, indeed, on a lap pillow.

Hmm... I've found myself in a peculiar spot. Now, this is certainly an opportunity to feign ignorance and continue to enjoy this temporary bliss, or I could get up... No, I should get up, I don't want this to become awkward. I'm not that low of a man.

My senses mostly returned, I opened my to see the two, length and thin, legs. Not even her legging-like hosen could hide the curves...

As quick, and as awkwardly, as I could; I lifted my head from her thighs, but not getting very far.

"Stay... you are not, recovered." she said, pushing my head back down with an iron grip.

"I’m fine."

"No... you are not."

"…"

She kept her hand atop my head, firmly keeping me in place until I relaxed. Though, I was afraid she was right. Even though my senses had returned, I did feel pretty... deathly, now that I was, well, back in my own body?

"Kyomi."

"Yes." she coolly replied.

"I heard what you said, but... was that... me?"

"It was, you... I have seen... myself too, though what I see is... different."

I’m not sure whether she meant to or not, but Kyomi had started to stroke my head: while being babied like this does nice, I feel like the man inside of me thought the situation utterly abhorrent.

"You said before that we all see a different image, so.... what do you see?"

"It is... the opposite of what, you see." continuing to stroke my head, she replied while aiming her voice towards me.

"The opposite?"

"Yes... where you see a... raging river, ever-changing... I see a, still lake... forever still. The only ripples are... the ones I make."

"What you were going to say before, is that related to what we see?"

mmm

Kyomi let out a questioning sound as if she wasn't quite sure herself.

"What you see... only matters to yourself. It is an image that... you made. Though I can tell you what I think... my image means?"

"Perhaps another time... I'm still confused on a couple of things which you said to me. Or, mainly one. For now, at least."

"If you need help understanding... ask."

Taking the chance, I shuffled my body around so that I was laying on my back, facing Kyomi. It was becoming awkward just lying there and talking without being face-to-face.

"You said before that using Ice Form with a Liquid Element was bad, how so?"

"I didn’t say it was... bad." she replied, staring down at my near blushing face.

I was finding it difficult to stay cool. Kyomi didn't seem to mind, not showing anything other than indifference on her face, but I certainly found my position to be more stimulating than a casual chat.

"You know the 3 Elemental States... yes?"

"Uh-huh."

"And you know that we... are each born with the ability to... cast magic in the form of these different, yes?"

"I do."

"Good... then you also know that, this form can change... a magic cast by a... Solid Element user can... become a Gas Element..."

"But it takes extra time to complete the magic, right? Which is why Liquid is considered a good all-around State because it can access the other two the fastest?"

"Yes."

"Ok..." what she had just said I was aware of. Enryn and I had gone over it before.

Typically, a Solid Element user would have a high affinity to Earth, Stone and other Solid Elements; meaning that they can easily cast body strengthening magic, making them great defensive casters while mainly lacking in ranged.

The opposite is true for Gas Element users, who have readily available long-range abilities and lower access to defensive magic.

Liquid Element users are somewhat in the middle, a jack-of-all-trades caster.

At first, I wondered whether this was necessarily fair.

Surely someone born with a Gas State who wanted to use body-strengthening magic would be at a loss. Though, it seems that your State is dependent on you, yourself. Mainly when you are beginning to grow: around ages 10-12 is when you are ‘assigned’ a state, which would support the theory that magic is a God-given ability.

"So... it is clear to me that, you have an... affinity with Ice Form casting." her long hair had started falling on my face, and I was trying hard not to try and blow it away or laugh while she was explaining. "That is why... you can transform your... Liquid State casting into... Solid State more quickly than... others."

"Oh. So that’s how I did it..."

"Yes. Like I said before... your body understands but... you, yourself, do not."

"Huh."

I stared up at the ceiling beyond Kyomi’s casual gaze.

This was the second time that I’d been given a clear view of the ceiling, the first being when Kai knocked me flat on the ground. The building itself was much more modern than any other place in Eclipse, lending itself a unique aesthetic compared to the other buildings...

The wooden beams looked new here, not thick and bold like the ones in the mess hall. They reached across into the reception; which was opposite the wall Kyomi and I are up against.

I suppose now wasn’t the time to be looking around, but I felt as if I needed some time to process.

Was my other body watching me? Was he jealous that I was having a lap pillow with Kyomi, or did he not care? Has he been there all along? Is he like me at all? Does he have a name, I wonder?

"Do you... have any more, questions?" she asked, having given me a minute to lay in quiet.

"N-No... none."

We continued to sit, and lay, in silence.

I felt at ease – even though I have only known Kyomi for less than an hour, she was surprisingly easy to be around. That was, not to say that the other members were particularly challenging to be around, but I felt at ease around Kyomi; much like her description of magic, I felt serene, at peace.

Perhaps the World's Mana influences me more than I initially thought. Could it control emotions? Could it have pushed me to leave Carencia?

There’s a lot of questions, but that’s why I left in the first place.

"You could almost forget what's happening outside now." I mused, not expecting a full response.

"Yes... it is, strange... but, for now, we are best to stay... here. It would be good for you to... learn more."

"Is that why you asked me to du— train? Was there a reason you asked me now, and not before?"

"There was... no chance, and I... tried when you first came but... I fell over and..."

Is she referring to when I first came to the guild? When she came crashing into my behind as I left the mess hall? That was her attempt to talk to me? But that does explain the much more 'careful' approach earlier.

Thinking about it, how was that a ‘chance’; she just stood behind me until someone noticed...

"I wasn’t in the guild then, was I?"

"No... it was before, the fight."

"So, why?" I cautiously asked.

"I was... drawn to you. I don’t know... why, maybe it was... Mana." she responded, beginning to blush ever so slightly; causing me to follow suit. That was the first time I’d seen her look embarrassed. Even when she bumped into me and fell over, she was fairly quick to leave and act as if nothing happened.

"R-Right." tilting my head to the left, still lying on my back – on Kyomi’s lap – we averted eye contact for a short period.

And just like that, it was back to silence.

And, in that same silence, time passed...

10:36, 20~ minutes later

"Kyomi?"

"Mm."

"How long are we going to stay like this? I think I’m alright now..."

"Mmh."

"…"

Is she... asleep?

"Hey, I should ge-" before I could get the sentence out, a slender hand stopped the words from leaving my mouth.

And the words that accompanied them...

"Just... a bit... longer."

It didn’t seem like I’d be leaving anytime soon. Though, I suppose I couldn’t complain; I did need to get back to Sara, I’m sure she’s okay, and Enryn has likely returned, but there were still monsters out there... Is it okay to be here, with everything happening outside?

I’d started fidgeting around, something I probably shouldn’t have done if I wanted to leave earlier.

"Do not... worry. Enryn would not... let that happen. And, all the veteran... adventurers are out... you have done, everything you need."

"Can you read minds?" I questioningly asked, raising an eyebrow towards her, though knowing full well that she was capable of using Insight.

"Yes..." she semi-seriously responded.

"Was that your first joke?"

"No."

"Well, it was alright, for you first one."

"Thanks..."

mhmhh

I let out a small chuckle. Whether she meant to or not, my worry was all gone after that and I was back to my relaxed self.

Pure, beautiful, serene.

"Kyomi, are you... how do I say this? Is it..."

Reaching my hand skyward, in an awfully dramatic way – without realising it myself – I asked her.

"Is it lonely?"

"...sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"I’m not... lonely now."

10:38

Chapter 8, End