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Chapter 49: Chapter 48

My only thought on how she achieved this was through the use of Primordial Runes. To also take Ddraig out of my soul without me even feeling or knowing about it, how scary. I don\'t think I could even do that; it just goes to show how absurd her magical abilities are.

"Change." My new teacher threw a mess of clothes at me.

"Pardon?" I caught them awkwardly.

"Did I stutter? Change out of your clothes into these."

I looked them over, coarse and not the best but they would probably hold better than my current garb and they looked a fair bit warmer. "Fine."

"...Well?" She looked at me expectantly.

"Are you not going to give me privacy?"

"You have nothing I haven\'t seen before, boyo."

"Ah, so my teacher is a per-" My words were cut off by a spear smacking me on the head.

"What was that?" She raised her deadly spear at me with an eyebrow raised.

"I said my teacher is a pervert." I rubbed where I had just been smacked, giving her a look.

A small smile curled up on her face. "Well, you have some balls at least." She gave turned around and walked out of the room.

What a hard woman to read, I thought for sure she would kick my ass there....perhaps not the best decision on my part, but I am nothing if not stubborn.

I quickly changed, setting my clothes to the side, because I don\'t have my fucking ring anymore.

Which I still am livid about.

Walking out of the room, Scathach was waiting for me. "Come, daylight wanes and you will require all the help you can get."

Daylight? This place was a perpetual twilight, covered in clouds and snow storms. Actually, I haven\'t experience the \'night\' here....I think I was unconscious for that... or maybe the day/night cycle isn\'t the same as outside.

"There." She heaved her spear up, pointing towards a mountain on the horizon.

"What?" I had no idea what she was talking about it.

"Start climbing." She said simply.

"One more time?"

"You will climb that mountain or die on it, if I see you before you finish, you will meet the end of my spear."

I opened my mouth to retort, but the bloodlust she was emitting through off any sarcastic remark I had....mostly. "Why that mountain?" I mean, there were plenty of mountains, that wasn\'t even the biggest or the smallest, it just seemed odd is all.

"Because I said so, get going." She tossed me a sack full of food.

I caught it, peering inside, looked like enough to last me a few weeks if I rationed it well. Strangely enough, there was no water, was there a reason for that?

"Hmm, the dragon shall accompany you as well." She thought for a moment, retrieving Ddraig from MY RING that she was holding on her finger, as if taunting me. "He expressed his desire to witness your training, no aid shall be given." She pushed Ddraig back into my soul without even considering me current state.

I felt the breath getting knocked out of me as she roughly shoved the dragon back inside, falling to the ground, gasping for air. "Bitch." I couldn\'t help but grit out under my breath. "Do I at least get one of my weapons?" I would really appreciate Dawnbreaker right about now, who knows what kind of things are lurking up there?

"Of course, what do you take me for?" She gave the most innocent smile.

"Dare I ask where it is?"

Her expression turned sharp. "Top of the mountain, get going."

"Of course."

[Probably shouldn\'t have called her a bitch.] Ddraig said, \'helpfully\'.

Yeah, thanks, Ddraig, my traitorous partner.

[Are you still on about that?]

Betrayed, by the one I trusted most in this world.

[Trusted the most?] I could practically hear him rolling his eyes.

Literally gave my soul.....

[Alright, just get it out of your system.]

"Hmm, I think I\'m done" I started walking, the base of the mountain was a fair distance away and I was no longer \'superhuman\' in all my physical abilities. I would actually have to pace myself, how sluggish I felt was horrible.

I looked back a few times, but Scathach just disappeared and it\'s not like I had any ability to detect her right now. "What exactly did you two talk about?"

[Just some random stuff, then we talked about and how best to train you. I filled in some gaps as she devised some things, but most stuff she could gleam by herself. Did you really think I just gave away all your secrets?]

"Nah, I\'m just annoyed at the situation more than anyone in particular." I simply don\'t like other people having my \'stuff\'. I could understand it, but that didn\'t mean I enjoyed it happening.

My whole purpose here was for training, I was throwing myself at her mercy for that. I would bitch and complain, but I would keep trudging on.

I came upon a forest, is what I would usually call such a thing. Except, this was a land of the dead, filled with death and resentment, there would be nothing growing here that was \'safe\'. Even these trees, were they qualified to be called trees? They were dead, they existed in a perpetual death state, I had no idea how they continued to exist, something inherent for this realm, but I didn\'t question it for the moment.

I looked around, finding a few branches that weren\'t drenched in snow, somewhat dryer than the others. They would have to work; I could only assume that I would need some tinder for fires when I got higher up. Maybe even a makeshift torch, if I could find some other stuff to fasten along with it...

Unfortunately, my load had to be light, I was basically human right now.

Luckily there was a part starting at the base, something resembling a stone inlay that ascended the mountain.

My first step onto what could be considered the mountain and I felt a sense of dread wash over me. There was something here, something watching me now, I could feel it even with my current power. No wonder I was supposed to climb this mountain, something was very, very wrong with this particular peak.

Was this fear?

Something here could actually illicit fear in me. An unfathomable existence, the current me was but a tiny insect in its eyes.

"Ddraig." I whispered.

[Yeah, I feel it too.]

That was all the confirmation I needed, and he didn\'t elaborate further. He probably knew more than he was saying but as Scathach said, he wouldn\'t be giving any help.

I barely got up the slope when a skeleton came stumbling down right towards me, missing and arm and one if its feet was facing the wrong way.

The most noticeable feature was the sword still carried in its hand. Rusted and chipped in various places, but it looked to be a weapon not made with mundane materials. I doubt it would break even if I spent days hitting a rock.

The glow in its eyes settled specifically on me, nothing else in the world mattered.

Its feet carried him, stumbles and missteps, but it remained upright. There was no martial prowess in its strike, no intent or probing maneuvers. Simply a creature with minimal intelligence acting on its baser instincts.

Even still, I was purely human right now.

This little skeleton, something I could kill with a flick of my finger previously, it could end my life.

It was a humbling thought.

But I refused to allow something so small dictate my heart. I wasn\'t beret of emotions, fear was something all living things face, but it would not swallow me.

I took a step forward, watching its arm. The lackadaisical swing, easily able to cut through stone, came towards my side.

I took a step to the right, allow it to pass safely by me. The skeleton stumbled forward, breaking its own momentum and tumbling to the ground.

I stomped on its hand and pull apart the arm. The necrotic power holding it together crumbled easily enough, this was perhaps the most basic of the undead species.

The sword felt wrong in my hand, the weight was off, the design was something not suited for my preferences. It was no masterpiece, something haphazardly created by someone with barely an idea of what they were doing, but it would serve my purpose.

Mainly, survival.

I scavenged what else I could, some strips of fabric still clinging to the bones would be useful later on.

Finishing up, I lifted my head, staring up at top, it pierced through the cloud, my eyes were unable to see the peak.

Still a long ways to go.

I continued my ascent.

The air grew noticeably colder as I went up, and not just because of the altitude. This mountain, I could only call it cursed, and that was saying something in this retched land.

There were a few strange phenomena, stones were hovering in the air, no sign of ever falling down. I stared at it for a few moments, finding my own rock to toss up. I only furrowed my brow when it came right back down without any issue.

With another though I grabbed a second stone and threw it towards one of the ones stuck in the air, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, right as the two stones collided, the one that was suspended in the air rocketed straight down like a comet, creating a hole that I could not see the bottom of.

....Yeah, lets not mess with those anymore.

This place is fucking weird, and not in a fun way.

"RETURN" A voice bellowed out, my head swiftly turned to the origin.

There was a half-frozen corpse sitting at the entrance to a small land-bridge that connected two cliff sides. It was the only way forward, and this hulking undead was filled with hatred, eyes locked onto me.

Frankly, I was surprised it could talk.

"Can I pass?" I tried.

"RETURN!" The ice around it shattered as it stood up, grasping at its massive sword impaled in the ground.

It took a step forward, the snow displaced at its weight. The ground shuddered under each step, its metal armor still holding strong over its body regardless of its weathered look. I gripped my sword tightly, staring at the hulking undead. This thing was on an entirely different level compared to the one I took out a bit ago.

"RETURN" It continued to bellow, swinging its massive sword recklessly toward me with each step.

I instinctively took a few steps back as it continued to approach, gripping my sword tightly I tried to move in-between the swings, getting up into its guard, but I realized that most of its body was still completely covered in armor, could I even penetrate this?

The moment I took to contemplate, it swung down its empty hand, the massive fist baring down at me was met with the flat of my blade.

It knocked me to the ground, the force enough to make me cough blood.

I quickly rolled to the side, a massive steel blade penetrating the earth where I was a moment prior. I wobbly got to my feet and retreated dozens of yards back to regain my composure.

I eyed the monstrosity, it looked at me. "RETURN" It shouted one final time before turning around and going back to where it was before.

"Fuck." I slumped down., feeling the spot where I got hit. Definitely going to be bruised later.

How was I supposed to get past that thing?

Really, the only spot I could do any chance of damage was the eye slots in its helmet...but that was such a small opening in the midst of its flailing.

I stood there lost in thought before some realization dawned on me.

"I\'m an idiot, aren\'t I?"

[Yup.]

Usually, I would retort something towards the dragon, but I couldn\'t find it in myself to do so right now.

I looked up towards the sky, letting the snow land on my face.

"When was the last time I simply swung my sword?" I just sighed.

Was I relying too much on my past knowledge? I always thought it my greatest boon, but at this moment, it was more of a crutch. A simple stab through the helmet and I thought of it as some great hurdle.

I knew I was all messed up, unfocused, magic and martial ability just flung about, but why have I never just practiced swinging my sword before? It seemed like the simplest thing in the world.....was it arrogance? Did I feel it was beneath me? The \'master\' of the Kaleidoscope, a \'Magician\'?

I couldn\'t help but laugh at my own stupidity.

My feet planted firmly in the ground; I held my sword with both hands.

Slash.

Slash.

Thrust.

Slash.

Slash.

Thrust.

I was here to train; I need to start from the very basics.

***

And we\'re back, I hope everyone had a good holiday! Que the training montage!

If anyone wants to support me or is interested in reading 5 chapters ahead, visit Pat /Astoryforone