Here goes chapter 7. It's pretty long...probably the longest I've written so far. Some answers and some more questions :P I hope you like it and I hope you will continue to read my fiction :) Thank you all for you support, your reviews and for following me :D
This chapter is like the end of the first part, if there were parts...
(Also, all the previous chapters have been corrected :) yayz)
Chapter 7 Prophecies and fate
'...where am I?' Kenneth thought as he opened his eyes.
His body couldn't move. He was paralyzed on the ground. The air smelled like warm sand and the sun was blinding him. There were people with him...
Other monks...and champions. Why were they looking at him like that?
There was someone else...
He turned his head slightly to the right. There was a woman knelt beside him...she was so beautiful...she was against the light but...somehow he knew that she was beautiful...
The clouds covered the sun for a moment. He saw her long purple hair and her delicate features...Verica, with her deep gaze...those dark eyes, overflowing with tears...why was she crying?
A gust of wind went through her hair and brought a freesia smell to his nose...along with a smell of blood. He felt tears fell on his face. He took a better look at her. There was blood around her mouth...was she hurt? Was it why she was crying?
She put her left hand on his cheek and her right on his chest. Kenneth looked down. There was a big whole in his chest...but it didn't hurt. His heart was missing...
"It can't be true..." Verica said.
Kenneth looked back at her. She was crying so much...
"I can't be losing you..."
What was she talking about...he wasn't going anywhere...
"...it's not fair..."
She got up and looked down at him. He wanted to talk. To tell her that he wasn't going anywhere..that she wasn't losing him...he wanted to make her stop crying...but nothing came out of his mouth...
"your death will mean something...even if I have to slay god himself...I will carry on for you."
She turned around and walked away. The other monks followed her and left him behind...
He tried to get up in vain. He screamed as loud as he could...but he heard nothing. He continued to scream again and again, in panic, not knowing what else to do...
"Kenneth! are you ok!"
He jerked up suddenly, eyes wide, lips parted and panting.
"Kenneth?"
He looked beside him and saw Verica looking at him in panic. He looked around him...he was in the sanctuary.
...that dream...again...
"you were doing strange faces...are you ok?"
"...yes.." he answered. He looked around him again, to be sure he was really back into reality. He ran his hand through his hair as he sighed. His forehead and his hands were sweaty.
Then he remembered what happened...
"Where is Moohae?" He asked.
"That girl...Carly. She took him away. Mathias said to take him to his quarters. He said there was a demon inside him..."
A demon...inside a monk..how could this be...
"And where is Mathias?"
"I don't know...another monk said the head master wanted to talk to him."
"I see... and I've been unconscious for how long?"
"Only a few hours...but are you really ok? you took a nasty hit..."
"...I'd never been hit by Asura Strike before, I shouldn't be alive...but I am...and I..don't feel so bad actually."
"I healed you the best I could"
"...I barely feel sick...you did an amazing job! I can see now that your priest education was complete... I sure can't heal like you do! I Never completed my training...you make me regretting it..." He said with a small laugh.
"In any case, I'm glad you're alive..." She said with a smile as she blushed from the compliment.
"...thank you" he said as he patted her on the head with a smile.
He got up from the bed. He staggered a little but Verica helped him to stay straight.
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes, yes, I'm ok, don't worry about me" he said as he walked toward the exit. Verica followed him outside.
"Are you sure you're...?" she asked.
"You already asked me that girl." He said with a laugh "yes, I am, thanks to you really"
"Sol...if you really feel as good as you say...let me remind you that we were interrupted during my first training session..." she said shyly.
"Hm? your...ah...right..."
"And..I hoped that...maybe...we could...resume?"
"I'm sorry but...I have to speak with Mathias about what happened and..." He looked down at her. She was looking at him with bubbly eyes...full of hope...shining like stars...damn that brat...
"Yes...of course..." he sighed.
She smiled widely at him "Thank you!"
"We'll start slowly. I'll show you the basics, just simple things..."
"Yes, of course, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"kss, stop looking at me with those bubbly eyes! I swear you'll be the death of me!" He said as they made their way to the training ground. Speaking with Mathias would have to wait...
Mathias walked through the corridors of the Abbey. Everyone looked at him as he passed...news travel fast...
He knocked at the head master's office and entered.
"Yolene-sama"
"...Mathias..."
Tomoon, Touha and Vran were there as well.
"I've been told about what happened...how is Kenneth?"
"I brought him to the sanctuary. Verica is watching over him. He will be alright."
"What's this about the demon wanting to kill Kenneth?" Touha asked.
"I know as much as you..."
There was a long silence. Everyone looked at each other, except the head master whose eyes were closed. She was frowning intensely...
"a monk...a member of our holy order...possessed by a demon...these are dark times...dark times indeed..." She said.
"We should reinforce security around the sealed shrine..." Mathias said.
"We already did" Tomoon replied "Baphomet is one of the great demon, but even he can't influence our world from where he is."
"what if the seal is weakening" asked Touha.
"...we can...only hope it's not the case..."
There was another silence. Everyone waited for the head master to say something...
"...Master" Vran said
"what?"
"...what...what do we do?"
Yolene looked at them for a moment then sighed as she massaged her temples.
"...reinforce the security of the shrine..."
"We already did"
"Do it again! Put every monk of this abbey on the task if you need to!"
"...yes master" Tommon said.
"This is our responsibility! Baphomet must be kept within his seal no matter what! Mathias!"
"Yes"
"Don't tell Kenneth about what Moohae said"
"what? you can't be serious?"
"You know him. He will take too much on his shoulders...we'll tell him when the time is appropriate. For the moment, let him concentrate on his student..."
"...as you wish..."
"We must keep the peace in our abbey...make sure no one panic!"
"What should we do with Moohae?" Vran asked.
"...I'll send him to Gonryun."
"..Gonryun? why?"
"It's the cradle of all monk. They may not worship the same god as we, but this place is really a sanctuary of peace. There is no better place in Midgard for a monk to rest and find peace again."
"May I accompany him" Mathias asked.
"...if you want."
"Thank you"
"Tomoon, you're in charge of the sealed shrine. I want report of the situation every hour! Am I clear?"
"yes Master" He said as he left.
"Maybe it would be wise to inspect everyone." Touha suggested.
"...to see if there are other corrupted monks?" Yolene asked.
"yes..."
"...you're right. Do that. Everyone must be inspected! And do it regularly! every week!"
"yes master." Touha left the room.
"Vran...send word to the pope"
"the pope master?"
"I like him as much as I like sunburn but he needs to know what happened..."
"...if you say so..."
"I say so. And when it's done, try to find something in the demonic lore about why they would want to kill Kenneth..."
"yes, of course" Vran left as well.
Yolene sighed as she leaned against her chair. "I didn't need this..."
"See, that's why you're the head master Sunshine. Hmm...all that authority! You make me hot in..."
"Mathias, stop it!"
"haha, I like to tease you." he said as he winked at her.
"This is no time to joke"
"It's always the time to joke" Mathias corrected "I'll arrange things for Moohae and leave as soon as possible".
"Why do you want to go with him?" she asked as she put her elbows on her desk.
"I think you know why"
"...are you sure it's wise"
"We need answers...I need answers"
"But God..."
"God will not answer our questions. Maybe he can..."
"Vran will search for answers"
"Yes, right. He will interpret old texts dating from the creation of the worlds, written in a language we can barely understand"
"Still...you're blaspheming by seeking help from such an...impious deity"
"I'll gladly go to hell for my sacrilege if it can save my boy's life"
"...Very well, do as you wish. It's not like I could stop you anyway" She said as she sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"So, will you teach me Asura Strike?" Verica asked Kenneth as they arrived on the training ground.
"haha, NO"
"yeah, I thought so..."
Kenneth walked toward a training dummy.
"The first thing you have to know is that we fight with our fist. Therefore, you must train them. It's the most important characteristic of a monk."
"that's not hard...you just punch as hard as you can, no?"
"in theory, yes, it's as simple as that. Come here and punch that dummy"
"..ok"
She approached the dummy and punched it.
"again"
She punched it again...
"again"
...She punched it again...
"again"
Verica looked up at Kenneth with a raised brow. "I think I got it..."
"no you don't, again"
"..."
She punched the dummy...again.
"Do it again, until I tell you to stop"
"..why?"
"I'm your sensei, I don't need to answer to whys" He said with a big smile.
'kss...why you...urg, I feel I'm going to regret having you as sensei..' she thought as she punched the dummy again and again.
After several hours of punching, Verica's knuckles started to bleed, so Kenneth told her to stop.
"So? it's simple isn't?"
"...I suppose...but it hurts..."
"yes, it hurts. When you fight with a weapon, you don't have to worry about hurting yourself like this. But we do. That's why we must train our fist. Eventually it won't hurt anymore and your fist will become a weapon, just like a mace or a sword."
"...I see..."
"whenever you got some time, come here and train your fist. It's the most basic skill for a monk. Your fists must be as hard as steel...well...not literally but...you understand."
"yes, I understand"
"Good" he said with a smile " now think I should explain to you what spiritual energy is..."
Verica suddenly turned around. 'What's that feeling...'
Two monks passed by the training ground...it was the same sensation she felt after she woke up after the ceremony.
"hm..what is it?"
"it's nothing...I have...strange sensations..."
Kenneth looked at the two monk who had just passed by. Then he raised his fingers to his chin and looked up at the sky, like he always does when he thinks.
"hm...right, I should probably explain that to you first"
"explain what?"
"This sensation you have is normal. It allows you to feel people. Sense their presence." He said as he looked back at her.
"...I think you'll have to explain more than that...s.e.n.s.e.i." she said, lingering on her last word.
"hmph...and here I thought you were a natural" he said as he moved his hands to his hips.
"and here I thought you were all mighty and awesome! Can't even explain me simple things!" she replied as she mimicked his position.
"alright alright" he said as he laughed "You probably noticed that you can feel your own soul now. Feel your heart beating."
"yes"
"You can feel your own, so it's only natural that you can feel others."
"so...I'm feeling other people's soul?"
"...to keep it simple, yes."
"and...every monk can do that?"
"yes"
"So that's why...Back at the church's garden in Prontera, I saw you behind a tree and you knew I was there even before opening your eyes!"
"exactly"
"wow...that's kind of awesome."
Kenneth smiled. She was clever. Still a bit childish, but she proved that she was able to be mature when it was necessary...and she was still a child after all.
"...but...yesterday...when Moohae attacked you...didn't you felt him?"
"It's easy for a monk to hide it's presence from other monks"
"really?"
"yes. But that's a training for later. First you must get used to feel other people's presence. Once you're comfortable, we'll train you to hide yours."
"hm, you're not so bad of a teacher after all"
"aah, thank you. I'm happy to hear that" He said with a grin. She returned the smile. She'd never smiled so much in her life...
"and...is it possible to recognize people? Just by the way you feel them?"
"..why do you ask?"
"it's just that I don't feel the same way about everyone..."
"well, yes. I can recognize Mathias, for example. I recognize you also."
"you recognize me?"
"...yes. You haven't learnt to hide your presence yet, so I feel it all the time, ever since you arrived here."
"You feel my presence even when I'm not close to you?"
"when you become a champion, you can sense people from a greater distance. And...well..I don't know why but your presence feels...peculiar..."
"Peculiar?"
"well...what I mean is that I easily distinguish it from others..."
"So what does it feel like?" She asked, curious.
"...you can't ask me that" he laughed awkwardly.
"why?"
"...it's just...I can't describe it...it's a feeling..."
"I'm sure you can! Just try it! Say what comes to your mind!"
Kenneth looked at her for a moment. He sighed as he gave her a defeated look.
"it's...I don't know...it's like...when you're dying of the heat...and suddenly there's a cold breeze blowing in your face..."
"..."
"what?...I told you it was hard to explain..." He said, embarrassed.
"No! I find it kind of sweet actually. So...I feel like a breeze?"
"...no, you don't feel like a breeze...you feel what it feels like to feel a breeze. I mean...it's not the sensation of the breeze, it's the feeling you get from feeling that breeze..."
"...what?"
"Whatever, I suck with words...it's a feeling, let's keep it as a feeling. We didn't come here to talk about feelings did we?" His cheeks were reddening with embarrassment.
"..right.." she said with a smile.
"Good...so...let's resume your training if you don't mind..." He said, obviously trying to change the subject. "is your brain able to take some more?"
"Sure" Verica said, abandoning the subject. Kenneth was so cute when he was embarrassed. Emotions and feelings were definitely not his thing...
"Alright. So...have you ever experienced a moment when you couldn't use any spell?"
"hm..yes"
"That happens when you run out of spiritual energy."
"I see. So that's like...arrows for an archer?"
"...well...that's a strange comparison but...yes, I suppose that's the same. When you run out, all you have left is your fist to defend yourself"
"So everyone use spiritual energy without really knowing what it is? When I heal, when a swordsman uses Bash?"
"Exactly. Except for mages...that's a complex concept that I will not explain, if you don't mind."
"...ok"
"The next thing I'm going to teach you is also very important. It will allow you to feel you spiritual energy and eventually restore it faster when you run out. Here, sit with me" Kenneth said as he sat on the ground, cross-legged. She sat the same way in front of him
"Have you ever meditated?"He asked her.
"That's when you close your eyes and try to empty your mind isn't it? Yes, I did that once..."
"That's a way to meditate. But it's not what I want to teach you. The kind of meditation we're going to do is not about emptiness. It's the opposite actually.
"...oookk..."
"Close your eyes. I want you to visualize your energy. Try to see it flowing inside you, like a river adjacent to your bloodstream.
"..I'm...not sure to understand what you mean..."
"Use your imagination. Imagine your energy, circulating inside you. Or, if you prefer, a pool of energy, in your stomach..."
"..."
"...just close your eyes and try."
She did. She concentrated on her soul and on her heartbeat. After several minutes, she managed to feel her spiritual energy for a few second, but it slipped away...
"It's hard. I can't keep the feeling.."
"I know it's hard, but you have to be able to feel it. Here, give me your hands, I'll try to help you."
They joined hands and Verica tried to concentrate once again. She felt tingles in her hands and goosebumps rose on her arms. She had trouble keeping her focus with Kenneth's hand touching hers...the sensation distracted her. His hands were warm, but so rough against her soft little ones. She understood what he meant by "fist as hard as steel".
Eventually she got used to it and she started to feel something. She felt it in her hands...then it rose up to his arms and her whole body. It was like water was moving inside her, just like a river, like Kenneth had said. Finally, after several hours, she was feeling her spiritual energy.
"I...I think I got it" she said.
Kenneth removed his hands and almost immediately Verica lost the feeling.
"ah! I lost it!"
"It's ok. I was helping you by stimulating your energy. You'll have to train more to be able to do it alone eventually, but for the moment I'll help you." Kenneth said.
"alright..."she said, a bit disappointed.
"I will now teach you how to materialize your spiritual energy by summoning what we call spirit spheres"
"are those...the blue sphere I saw when you fought Moohae"
"yes. You're clever, very clever indeed."
"thank you" she said as she blushed and giggle a little. She was not used to compliment...
"watch"
5 blue spheres appeared around Kenneth.
"...I...I don't understand how you did that..."
"I know. I just want you to know what it feels like to have a spirit sphere." He took one of the sphere in his hand and pushed it in her direction. It started to rotate around Verica.
"you feel it"
"..yes"
"good...what you have to do is concentrate. Visualize a sphere, and try to mold your spiritual energy into that sphere that you see in your head."
"...that looks hard to do"
"it is. Put your hands in your laps, join your thumbs and put your left fingers above your right ones. You see that your hands now form a circle?"
"...y..yes"
"Use it to help you. Try to make the sphere inside your hand at first."
"But you did it without..."
"I'm used to it. You have to start somewhere. Just close your eyes and try it" he said with a warm smile as he put his hands on her wrists and closed his eyes.
She tried the best she could...but even after many hours, there were still no blue sphere in her hands.
"that's...really hard"
"You should let her train more on her meditation before trying to make her summon a spirit sphere boy."
Kenneth and Verica opened their eyes and they saw Mathias walking in their direction. Kenneth stood up and joined him as his spirit spheres disappeared.
"you're just the person I wanted to see sensei"
"yeah...I expected as much. How do you feel?"
"well, I feel better than I thought I would. "
"Good. I was expecting something like "I feel like I've been kicked by a horse" or "I feel like I have the worst hangover ever" or...something like that"
"well, thanks to Verica's healing, it's not the case. Do you have a moment? I'd like some answers about what happened..."
"...you can try"
"...what do you mean?"
"...nothing...nevermind...come, let's go talk"
Kenneth turned toward Verica.
"That's enough for today I believe. You should continue to punch the dummy, train your fist."
"but...my knuckles are bleeding.."
"so what? Will you say to your enemies "please stop attacking me, my hands hurt" in the middle of a fight? I don't think so. Punch the dummy and stop defying my authority please!" he said as he patted her on the head again with a warm smile. She pouted and went back to the dummy.
Kenneth walked away a little with Mathias.
"so, what will happen to Moohae?"
"Yolene is sending him to Gonryun. I'm accompanying him."
"...why?"
"The monks there will help him find peace again and get rid of the demon's influence. She thinks it will be easier for him there. It's true that Gonryun really is a sanctuary of peace, you remember when we went together it.."
"What? Wait, don't change the subject...you mean that there will be no consequences? He tried to kill me and the head master will do nothing about it?"
"Calm down boy. Moohae is a victims as much as you. Don't judge people so fast without knowing everything..."
"You're on his side?"
"It's not a matter of side. It is true that he and I don't always see eye to eye...we never did. But I consider him like a brother, and brothers are often more rivals than friends..."
"What kind of fool treat his brother the way he did?"
"..I thought the same thing at first too. But he was not himself, and it shames me that I was not able to see it sooner..." Mathias said as he looked at the ground.
Kenneth looked at his sensei for a moment. He really looked ashamed. Maybe he should leave Moohae alone...maybe it really was not his fault.
"Fine. Then enlighten me on what happened. Do you know why he was possessed? I never heard of a monk being possessed..."
"..."
"sensei?"
"I...I don't know"
"...you don't know?"
"no"
"...Don't take me for a fool Mathias. You're hiding something"
"It's not that I don't want to tell you boy..." Mathias said as he sighed.
"...what is it then?"
"The head master told me not to tell you. She thinks that you need to concentrate on your new student. And...I'm defying is authority enough as it is..."
"what? You gotta be kidding me! You think I'll settle with that? Who cares what the master says! If it concerns me, I have to know!" He said, raising his voice. Verica turned around in surprise. He was clearly upset, but she couldn't make out his words...
"...But...if you learn about it by someone else..." Mathias whispered.
"..."
"If...you see what I mean..."
"...When does Moohae leaves?"
"We'll teleport in an hour..."
"...thank you sensei"
"We never spoke"
"of course..."
Carly watched over her sensei in his bed. He looked sick and weak...
Moohae had explained to her what happened...it explained a lot. She had noticed that his behavior had changed. She never would have thought that it was the work of a demon...
She heard someone knock on the door. "Yes"
Kenneth entered the room. Carly stood up and walked up to him.
"Kenneth! Are you alright! Moohae told me what happened! I'm so sorry! I apologize for my sensei's behavior."
"I'm ok Carly. Don't apologize. I understand..."
"...thank you" She said as she sat back beside Moohae.
"Is he awake. I need to talk to him"
"yes...I am..." Moohae said as he opened his eyes.
Kenneth walked to the other side of the bed and crouched to be at eye level with him.
"Moohae...I need answers..."
"I know...I'm glad you came. Listen carefully"
Kenneth nodded.
"This demon took control of me over a long period of time. His goal was to kill you, from the start."
"...why would a demon want to kill me in particular!"
"...When Mathias purged it from my soul, the demon tried to merge completely with my mind. He didn't succeed, but I saw inside him for a moment. I felt fear. Great fear."
"...He feared me?"
"Yes...he feared you. He feared what you would do in the future. You have an important fate Kenneth. They...believe in a prophecy...they think you are part of that prophecy"
"You're speaking nonsense sensei..."
"Carly, let him talk. What else can you tell me..what should I do? What is that prophecy you speak of?"
"...I don't know. They will probably try again to attack you...I don't know what else to tell you Kenneth..."
"...Maybe you should leave your student to someone else" Carly said.
"...no..." Kenneth replied.
"..but you're in danger...she'll also be in danger if she stays with you.."
"...I...I can't let her go..."
"..why?"
"...Our fate are connected...I'm sure she's important...she's part of the puzzle..."
"...neither of you are making any sense to me..." Carly said as she sighed.
"Do what you think is best Kenneth. Don't let them change your fate!"
"...thank you Moohae"
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you Kenneth"
Kenneth looked at him intensely. This was not the man he'd known over the last few year...Mathias was right. He was not himself before.
"I understand. I hold no grudge against you."
"...thank you" Moohae said as he closed his eyes to rest.
Kenneth stood and left the room. Carly followed him outside.
"Kenneth"
"what is it Carly?"
"I know you have bigger things on your mind presently but...I just wanted to tell you that I'm leaving tomorrow."
"For Juno?"
"Yes. Moohae gave me the authorization."
"...are you sure about this?"
"yes...I need it, and I'm ready for it. I just wanted to...let you know"
"..you're not leaving because of me I hope?"
"...it would be a lie to say that you're not part of the reason..."
"Carly..." He sighed" Please be reasonable. You can't go if you're not ready"
"no, I'm ready, I assure you. It's just that...I need to be away from you for a while. Don't take it the wrong way though. What happened between us...it just helped me gathering the courage to actually leave. I would have left eventually anyway"
"...I don't know what to tell you..."
"I know. "You suck with words", right?" she said with a smile.
Kenneth laughed "yes, exactly."
They stayed in front of each other for a moment, until finally Kenneth broke the silence.
"well...if it's what you want, I wish you good luck...but..."
"yes?"
Kenneth thought about his conversation with Verica...and words came out of his mouth without he even realized it...
"...Before you leave...I just wanted to tell you that I finally understood...I think"
"..."
"I realize now that I gave you signs...false signs, that maybe there could be something between us. It was not intentional...and I apologize for not realizing it sooner and making you suffer. It was not my intention. But I know it's too late now and that all I can do to help you is..well...to let you go. But when you come back, if you still want a friend, I'll be there."
Carly looked at him stunned, eyes wide open. Then she smiled softly and approached him.
"..thank you" she whispered.
She hugged him, like a sister hugs her brother, and then walked back to Moohae's room. Kenneth left the Abbey, proud of himself...but still a bit confused and sad. There was so much things to think about. His dream, the demon wanting to kill him...now Carly was leaving...It was all too much for his poor human brain.
"Are you sure you are ok to stand by yourself Moohae" Mathias asked the old man he was helping to walk.
"Yes Mathias...I'll be fine."
"..alright" Mathias said as he let go of him.
They stood in front of the warp portal that would bring them to Gonryun. It was late and the sun had just disappeared from the horizon. Mathias was exhausted...and direly in need of his rum. But it would have to wait...
"..I'm not sure it's a good idea to bring me there" Moohae said, looking worried.
"why not?"
"People there don't believe in God...their culture is...unknown to me. I'm not sure they will welcome me..."
"It will be alright Moohae. Leave your precious God alone for a moment and try to find peace again. They can help you do that. Purge yourself from that demonic influence. You'll see, Gonryun is a very peaceful city."
"...I suppose you're right..."
"Come on now. Let's go"
They stepped into the portal. In a second they found themselves at the Gonryun gate. Two guard welcomed them with a monk. Well, Mathias deducted it was a monk...he was dressed quite differently. It looked like he was simply dressed in pieces of fabrics...
"Welcome to our skyland city, brother. We were expecting you"
"..you were...expecting us?" Mathias asked.
"yes...the great Taoist Hermit knew you would come."
Moohae looked at Mathias, obviously worried "Maybe it's not such a good idea..."
"The Taoist Hermit is like their god. It is a powerful deity. Don't worry, it's not an enemy."
"Whatever...this place is full of sacrilege and blasphemy..."
"And you are full of blasphemy for them too Moohae, calm down"
"Come. We arranged everything for you. We will help you find peace again." The monk said to Moohae, ignoring his comments.
The two guard escorted Moohae under the amused look of Mathias. Moohae didn't seem to find it funny though...
The monk left too, but Mathias followed him.
"Excuse me. May I request an audience with the great Taoist Hermit."
"...he knew you would asked. Yes, but you will not see him."
"...He knew that I?...hm, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's ok, I do not need to see him, I need to speak with him"
"Come with me"
They walked through the city to the little island north. There was some kind of shrine.
"Here, sit. He will speak to you." The monk said as he left.
"thank you"
Mathias sat on the ground. He waited for a few minutes until finally he heard a deep low voice echo in his head.
"I'm surprised to see you here, human. Where you come from, people don't often find the need to seek my wisdom. I'm surprise you even know that I exist"
"I'm like that, I'm unorthodox. I thank you for receiving me"
"You seek answers. I can give you reflexions, not answers."
"Then I will take the reflexions..." It was strange...it was like he was speaking to himself...
"Ask me your questions then."
"My friend was possessed by a demon and tried to killed my ex-student...we do not know why but..."
"And you think I know? Why don't you ask your god"
"...my god is not particularly known for his conversation skills with human...I thought maybe you would be more cooperative."
"hm...I can tell you that the demons have a prophecy. In this era, a man of justice will strike a great blow at evil. It is said that this man will kill one of the 3 great demon"
"Kill? you mean...kill forever? Not just seal?"
"I'm just telling you the prophecy. That's for you to interpret it."
"And they think this man is my student."
"Obviously"
"...My student had a dream..about a woman. He met her a few days after having his dream. She his now his student. Do you think it's related?"
"Do you think it is?"
"...well...I don't usually believe in this kind of things but..considering the situation, yes, I think it is"
"Yes, you should listen to your intuition."
"That's an indirect way to tell me that she's part of the puzzle?"
"Maybe"
"Alright then...what should we do..."
"I have no answers for you human. It is said that this man will be impossible to defeat. Impossible to stop . Only time will answers your questions."
"...time? Do we really have time? "
"Time will flow faster than you think...you will see. The pieces will fall in place and you will understand...you will have to understand, or else, the consequences will be disastrous."
"If the consequences are so disastrous, why don't you help me more than that?"
"It will be disastrous for your kind, human. I am not affected by your wars and tragedies. It is not my place to help you."
"...I see...well, it has the merit to be clear...cold, but clear..."
"Return to your homeland, human. I cannot help you more"
Then everything went calm. Mathias stayed there for a moment, confused. He'd hoped that The Taoist Hermit would have given him answers...but he just raised more questions. However, he was sure now that the Prontera girl had her part to play...but which part? As the Hermit said, only time would answer his questions...
Kenneth went to the training ground, where Verica was still punching the dummy. She was very concentrated. He stayed there for a moment and just watched her. She was beautiful to watch. Well...by beautiful he meant...that her determination and perseverance was nice to see.
Then she stopped for a moment and without turning around she spoke.
"Hello again, Kenneth"
"...you felt my presence? and you even recognized me? good job" He said as he walked toward her.
She turned around and smiled.
"Thank you. You know...I thought about what you told me about my presence. You said it was peculiar because you easily recognized it."
"...yeah"
"I think I know what you mean...I also quickly associated your presence with a feeling and I'm pretty sure I could recognized you amongst other people."
"Really? And what do I feel like?"
"You feel like electricity"
"..electricity? Care to elaborate?" he said as he laughed.
"when I feel your presence...it feels like millions of little electric shocks under my skin...or like static...you were right, it's hard to explain."
They looked at each other for a moment. The silence was awkward, but Kenneth didn't know what to say...he didn't feel like saying anything actually...
"But maybe it's just me. Maybe other people don't feel your presence like that..." She said as she looked at the ground.
"You know, nobody ever talked about this before."
"what do you mean"
"These feeling. To try to associate a feeling with a presence...no one ever talked about this with me...I never realized it either before you pointed it out to me..."
"really?"
"yeah...now it's going to obsess me and I'll try to put a feeling on every presence I feel!" He said with a warm smile.
She laughed a little as she looked at her hands.
"I think I've trained my fists enough for today, don't you think Kenneth...I mean...sensei"
"yeah..I think that's enough. It's pretty late, you should go sleep"
"..I don't feel like sleeping..."
"...neither do I..."
She walked up to him until she was only a few feet away. She looked up to him with a bright smile.
"Could you help me meditate then?"
"...yes, I'd like that..."
"..I'm glad you're my sensei. I feel...comfortable with you"
"...Thank you" he said with a smile. He put a hand on her shoulder "I'm glad you feel that way."
"can I ask you something weird? It's ok if you say no..." she said as she looked to the side.
"hm? what is it?"
"...I...my mother died giving birth to me. And I don't remember my father...I mean...I was five when the church took me...and..."
"...You can ask me whatever you want Verica." He said smiling as he bowed a little to be at eye level with her.
"...could I hug you?"
"eh.." He straighten, taken aback. Did she just asked...
"I..I shouldn't have asked...I'm sorry. I feel so stupid now. It's just that...the church was so cold..I never felt like they were my family...they were teachers, instructors...superiors. Kebbaku was a good teacher and she cared about me...but there was always that professional distance between us..."
Kenneth's expression softened as she spoke. He could understand her all too well. He never knew his father and his mother was a total waste of a human being. He had suffered a lot from his lack of family. If he could help her avoiding that...he would do so without hesitation...
"You are...the closest thing from a family that I ever had" Verica continued "...and...I just..wondered what it felt like...to..."
Kenneth closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, forcing her head to lean on his chest. She stopped to talk and wrapped her arms around him as she pressed her cheek on his sternum. She could hear his heart beating.
"You're not alone anymore" He told her "You'll see, I'll take care of you...in any way you need. You just have to ask..."
"...thank you...sensei" she smiled to herself as she enjoyed his warmth for a moment before releasing him. "Do you still want to help me meditate?" She asked, trying to hold back her tears of emotions.
Kenneth sat cross-legged on the ground and smiled at her. She sat in front of him and closed her eyes as she felt him taking her hands. Never in her life she'd been happier, and she was sure that she would be for many years to come. As long as Kenneth stayed with her, nothing could be wrong.
That's it :) I know I'm repeating myself but I really hope you liked what I wrote :) My story is very long so I need to...take a temporal shortcut, if I could say it like this. I will skip a few years in my next chapter so my characters will be a bit older. But don't worry it will be clear :)
Thanks again :D
