Chapter 4: intēnsus praeparatus
After a while of solitary training, Blade felt he was beginning to understand what Alpshus meant about using his heart. He knew that he wanted to be here, not because it was logical or something to do, but because his heart told him it was the right thing. He could now sense Alphus's prescence above him, faint but nevertheless there. He felt pride in his actions. Pride…now theres a thought. Could it be that the ancient language the paladins spoke of was the same language his father used to use?
Blade remembered a time long ago when he was but a child, sitting on his father's knee to hear stories from a great book called 'The bible'. His father told him that, while it could be mostly ficticious, the lessons are still viable. His father had found a verion of the book written entirely in a strange language; sold to him by a preist of some sort. Blade din't quite recall the details, but his father had also had a translation book. One of the most important stories he remembered was his father telling him about the seven deadly sins of man; Gula (gluttony), Luxuria (lust), Avaritia (greed), Acedia (sloth), Ira (wrath), Invidia (envy), and Superbia- which meant pride.
"correct Blade. Superbia is the god of pride. But as history teahes us; pride always comes before a fall" Alphus said, walking into the small training room Blade was in.
"For centuries pride has existed in lizard creatures like wyrms and dragons- which are commonly mistaken as myth. Superbia's form is that of the former; a giant worm like lizard that can breate poison and has skin of supertough substance. But Superbia's weakness comes from his only strength. Pride gives him confidence-but too much so. You must exploit every chance he gives you, and fuel his confidence so he lets his guard down." Alphus explained. Blade continued to train against increasing amounts of shadows.
" tell me Domino-am I ready?" Blade asked. Alphus laughed heartily.
"definitely not. But you have the resolve down to a tee now. And that is all that is required."
Blade smiled at the disguised praise, slamming a final shadow into the wall.
" it is time for you to wake up. Wake up." Alphus repeated, his voice growing distorted as the world faded away.
Blade awoke to find himself rapidly shaken by Spero.
"cmon wake up!" she yelled at him. Blade shook his head clear and stood up with Spero's aid. He was back in the Atrium.
"what happened to Suoerbia?" he asked.
"hmm… this is the second time then…" a voice replied. Blade turned and found that it belonged to master Alphus. Blade chuckled and smiled at him
"you know what you must now do. I will not leave your message this time. Prepare with the heart and you will prosper. Remember-to give in is death." Alphus warned before fading away.
The rumbling and sandfall began as it had the previous time, and Blade once again took the armour and weapons and readied himself, leaving the heavy boots in the chest, as his heart told him they would be more burden than use. Blade then took Speros hand and once again climbed the many steps to the surface. Upon the horizon came the large and shining form of Superbia, and Blade wasted no time in confronting him. All the while Spero kept yelling in his ear to turn back, but she was deaf to him. He was listening only to his heart as he had in training, and using his mind only as an extension of his resolve.
He would make his father proud not matter what, he decided. That was his resolve, and that was the one thing that had always driven him. His footfalls brought him ever closer to his foe, but this time he felt no fear. He instinctively held his sword high and leapt, latching onto the Wyrm by its purple flesh.
"fool, why do you fight me?!" Superbia challenged. Blade smirked, having expected this since the beginning.
"I fight for survival. I fight so that others do not have to. I fight so that the darkness will fall and we can be saved. In short- I fight because I am human."
Superbia scoffed and clawed at Blade with his shrapnel tendrils; Blade successfully swinging free of each.
"A pitiful reason. Pitiful like your plucky species." Superbia taunted, ruthlessly clawing at Blade as he began to climb up the giant mass.
"Humas are not pitufl.. though in comparison to you I can see why you would think that." Blade said smoothly. Superbia halted his assault in surprise, allowing Blade to clamber rapidly up his rough purple hide.
"a compliment? Well I suppose it is to be expected." The God boasted. "It's a shame dead people aren't able to give them." Superbia wriggled his bulk in an attemped to shake Blade loose, but thanks to his resolve Blade somehow managed to hold on.
"oh im sure you could hear the dead; you are that powerful, are you not?" Blade jeered, again taking the Wyrm of guard and climbing higher. He looked down and saw just how far he had come. Ahead of him was a large lump.
"so.. is it true you can breath actual poison, great superbia?" Blade asked. Superbia lifted his giant head, the lump glowing blue as he exhaled a stream of toxic gas. Blade took the moment as he had been taught in his first lesson; throwing his sword to connect right into the glowing orb.
The orb exploded into magical essence as Blade's sword returned to him, an odd whooshing sound heard as Superbia roared his last-cursing Blade with colourful insults and pride-filled rage. HBlade instantly knew what the whosshing sound was, however. The wind rushing past his ears. The truth then occurred to him…He was falling.