[Book II Chapter 7] ROSE: Xarst’s Accelerated Training Ground

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“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Wise offered.

Rose glared at him. You already know I do!

She stomped off towards the coliseum. To avoid going rusty, she insisted on some real combat every day. Since Wise was the only partner available, that mean dueling him. No matter how frustrating. If Hope endured this, so can I can.

Rose wasn’t entirely confident on that last point. Nero had brought them to Xarst’s Accelerated Training Ground, a subterranean complex similar to their home at Earth’s End. The place was meant to train ‘special talents’ prior to the oath, and there were all manner of amenities, including a projector room linked to the Black Cidatel’s extensive information banks. It has everything I could wish for except for current events. There was also an impressive ‘fifteen times’ temporal modifier. Despite only a week passing outside, it’d been a whole three months for the three of them.

Nero Ebonwood taking the time to personally instruct us in this ideal environment. Sounds amazing, right? Wrong! Especially if your fellow student is Wise. That silent conversation in the room of skulls had been interesting once but was a hell of a lot less amusing on daily basis. If I wasn’t here, I swear they wouldn’t utter a word.

Confronted with this constant silent treatment, Rose had resolved to join them. She was already experienced seeing a couple seconds ahead. How hard could it be to get answers with foresight?

Consulting Nero, she’d set up her own forbidding ritual and given up activities like lying. This allowed her to peer a few minutes further, but she soon realized this was only the starting point.

Clarity was the issue. The foresight she’d developed through years of combat was inherently momentary, like looking ahead at a series of snapshots. I’d mastered fast forward and pause. What I needed was fast forward and play. When trying to make her vision linear, she’d run into fragmentation, with different futures blending together in an incoherent mess.

Not dissuaded, she’d resorted to extreme measures. Settling on a simple question, she’d sat in her room slowly forbidding herself every possible action except going to straight to Nero. Further narrowing down the time and place, she was finally, after multiple attempts, able to understand his answer. … That’s totally useless!

Following several weeks of fruitless effort, Nero and Wise had taken pity and confessed the truth. All-Knowing Grasp! Wise has a sublime vagary!

Although this revelation ended her single-minded pursuit, it engendered some negative feelings. I’m so, so jealous. This was aggravated by her other source of frustration.

The current Wise was no longer the Wise she knew. Ever since the Blood Arena, he’d changed, becoming disgustingly strong. Was my death the catalyst for this? The familiar bronze circlet cast away, he’d somehow reclaimed the incredible power he’d displayed as a child, except without loosing his mind. That time he borrowed combat experience from his future selves, it’s this version he was drawing from.

The situation only grew more unacceptable from there. In Xarst’s shadow, under Nero watchful presence, Wise was swelling in power at an astounding rate. He was stronger than me when we arrived, now he rivals Dawn.

It wasn’t as though Rose wasn’t making progress. Nero had proved an excellent teacher, so much so that it’d struck her as strange for someone not versed in fire. When she’d inquired about it, he’d answered sadly, “I had a colleague, a genius pyrotechnician. She was at the forefront of the fight against Sola, just another who’s future was cut short. I’m imparting wisdom gleamed from her.”

With his help, she’d tweaked her martial arts to her death affinity with great effect. He’d also explained how necromancy could enhance her fires, which were fiercer and faster now.

Sadly these substantive improvements were completely eclipsed by Wise’s meteoric rise, souring the accomplishment. I almost wish I’d chosen to go somewhere with more mediocre people.

From her time with Lily, Rose had come to understand there were no shortcuts to matching her original. Lily’s power came from her deep understanding of magecraft, knowledge acquired over years of study. So I joined Wise on a different path. I can always return to her later.

Plus, that wasn’t the only reason. The secrets of Xarst called to her. She wanted to understand the truths behind this conflict. Why did Sola, Simon, and Radin side with Torak? What kind of being is the god of death? There was no better place to learn the answers then here.

As Wise reluctantly followed her into the arena, Rose saw Nero walk in accompanied by a woman with chestnut hair. Great, an audience. Nero had been luring guests to meet them, experts in various fields of necromancy. Most of the benefits go Wise. Their presence was enough for him to pump them for information.

Rose attempted to use these opportunities to educate herself, but conversations would inevitably veer off-topic to their experiences on the Isle. Since she was doing the talking, it inevitably fell to her to answer. While Wise just sits there absorbing knowledge. Sure, she was collecting a few nuggets, but nothing in comparison. It’s relative darn it!

Rose stared hard at Wise. As he was now, this was unnecessary for him. He could simulate entire matches with his foresight. He was here entirely for her sake, yet she wasn’t grateful at all. No wonder he looks like he doesn’t want to be here.

Gritting her teeth, Rose summoned a fairy to go start the duel. If I don’t do this, I’ll fall farther behind.

Since strategizing was useless, Rose went right into an all-out assault, releasing explosive meteors. Her fire power was on an entirely different scale than it was on the Isle of Dreams. If I don’t get some good practice out of this, I won’t forgive myself for putting us both through it.

Wise flashed around at superhuman speed, dodging with a resigned expression. He knows he’ll win. She did too. Against someone with godly foresight, superior abilities were the minimum to have a chance. I’ll have to apologize to Hope. I never really understood what she went through.

Rose channeled her full power, forming a blazing sun in her arms, and released an fiery avalanche. Her brother slammed his staff into the ground, and everything in front of him disappeared, cutting a path through the fire. That nullification shockwave is so annoying.

Rose leapt into the air to continue her assault. By reducing her weight, she could effortlessly propel herself on jets of flames. Running is faster, but I need flying experience. Soaring after her brother, she lobbed destructive blasts, turning the ring into a inferno. Wise avoided harm without even looking back.

Fine, how about something that makes you exert yourself? Rose constructed a large summing circle and poured every bit of power into it. Dozens of phoenixes shot out the other side, screeching and diving. While not as tough as Lily’s, they were plenty vicious all the same.

Panting, Rose landed and watched Wise winnow the horde chasing him. It’s nearly time. The two of them had developed a pattern. Wise stayed on the defensive until she gave the go ahead. It was a depressing necessity.

“Okay, you can fight.” Rose readied herself, fire in hands.

Instantly, Wise formed his own magic circle and black birds surged out. Blade ravens, his current favorite. Their beaks, claws, and feathers were as sharp as razors.

Rose spread her arms, shooting blasts in quick succession. As she was struggling to down the avian threat, Wise suddenly appeared in front of her, hand extended. He flicked his finger against her forehead, and the world when dark.

Rose woke up a second later on the arena floor. I *HATE* that move. The ‘flick’ as she called it was something brand new. Wise had inserted a temporal abnormality directly into her skull, breaking her consciousness. Her brother had taken to the ability as a ‘kind’ and ‘painless’ way to win, although he’d used it less after realizing how much she loathed it. It’s degrading!

Rose lay contemplating. He used the birds as a distraction and slowed my time to get close. While she’d learned to defend against time manipulation, the smallest of opening was all he needed. He’s trouncing me worse than he ever trounced Hope.

“Ahem.” Nero said from a few feet away.

“What do you want?” Rose had long ago decided it was absolutely pointless to hide anything from the man. As such, she saw no reason to cover up her dejection. He probably wants me to entertain his guest.

“This is Roxanne Sibil, your new instructor.” Nero said awkwardly.

Rose bolted upright, examining the new arrival. In her thirties, Roxanne wore Xarst’s robes and an amused smile on her face.

“She’s the genius pyrotechnician I told you about.” Nero continued.

Rose frowned, “The way you spoke of her… it sounded like she’d died during the dark age.”

“That’s not far from the truth.” Roxanne admitted. “I had a bad experience back then, and I’ve been resting ever since. That is, until Nero convinced me there was a student who desperately needed my aid.”

She’s one of the sleepers, Rose understood. She sensed a deep fatigue in the woman’s amber eyes.

“I will still be around if you need me.” Nero reassured. “I just thought you might enjoy——”

“——Someone who communicates normally?” Rose finished.

They all chuckled. After a few minutes of small talk, Nero and Wise excused themselves, leaving the two alone.

Still wearing her amused smirk, Roxanne spoke first, “So, I watched your fight. How goes the training here?”

“Way too quiet.” Rose answered honestly. “And I’m tired of losing.”

Roxanne nodded then raised her hand. From it, the reddest fire Rose had ever seen sprouted, flickering wickedly.

“The Crimson Flame.” Roxanne revealed. “By infusing grudges from the Abyss, it possesses an unmatched intensity and duration. Not to mention a malefic intelligence, spreading strategically and hunting down its prey. Interested?”

“Absolutely!” Rose answered, fascinated.

“I can also teach you the tricks for fighting opponents with advanced foresight.” Roxanne continued. “There’s no reason to let yourself be dominated like that just now.”

“Do you really think I can win against him?” Rose asked, skeptical.

Roxanne hesitated, “That might be tough… But I can at least make your losses less embarrassing.”

Guess that’ll have to do. Rose showed her new mentor around the compound in the best mood she’d been in for weeks.