Of New Tricks and Strange Swords
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(Dante POV)
I really had no other option…
"So...was it a as good for you as it was for me?"
I sighed in response to my TA's remark, "Can you please be serious for now? This is important."
"Aw, come on handsome. I'm just messing with you a little bit."
Elisia turned her head from me and tilted it sideways a bit, glancing at our "work in progress".
"So, I'm guessing it still wasn't to your liking or whatever?"
"It's getting closer, but it's not entirely there. Can you set up another one?" I asked raising up my longsword slightly.
"Sure thing." She said.
A light tap of her foot against the training room floor, and another wide wall of ice rose from the ground amongst the shattered remains of the dozens of others from the last few minutes.
Her ice was durable enough, and able to be examined after the attack to see if I gained the result I wanted. Hence why I asked her for her help in the first place.
I would've asked Ciel since she has a better method of an examination process, but she was busy socializing.
So I made due with what I had.
"Alright… So this is like what, shot number 13? Let's hope this is the one."
I'm hoping that's the case too…
Grasping my longsword tightly and holding it off to my side, I fed my white and black Aura into my blade, causing it to flow from my sword like a violent torrent. The sheer, condensed power was enough to create strong currents of wind within our enclosed, private space, and was enough to darken the room so that only the white glow from my torrent was the only source of light present.
Why was I here currently? The answer is simple.
Devouring Light is one my most powerful and versatile techniques in my arsenal. I can change its effective properties, like explosive power, shape, speed, and so forth.
Right now, I was in the middle of creating a variation specifically focused on speed and shape, all so that the Devil woman can bite down on it and hopefully get shredded.
Putting her annihilation aside, I focused on the shape I wanted, and how I wanted it to function. The first few attempts were not necessarily failures, but they weren't exactly what I needed or wanted. Even so, each one gave me a much clearer shape each time.
Now? I'm pretty sure I had the right idea.
I raised up my sword, violent torrent of Aura still flowing freely in the air, and then swung downwards on the wall of ice, shouting "Devouring Light!" And unleashing forth a large wave of Aura that zoomed across the field almost immediately. Instead of completely destroying the wall of ice, my Aura Wave Shredded through it like paper in the blink of an eye.
Before the Aura Wave made contact with the back wall, I quickly killed it off and jogged forwards after dematerializing my sword, Elisia already checking the results I asked her to look for.
"Yeah… I think you got it this time. See the marks?" She pointed.
I looked over the area my Devouring Light passed through, and saw specifically what I was looking for.
Doing a quick replay of my memory, I saw that my technique had the speed I wanted, and...the right attribute I wanted to give it.
Excellent. I now have my Quinn-killer.
But that name stays secret with me. And Elisia, I guess.
"I see it alright… Now I've got a technique that'll bypass her Semblance."
"You sure she just won't make it disappear like last time?" My rabbit eared companion asked me.
"I'm sure. She only made my blade disappear in the first place because it wasn't nearly strong enough to do actual damage. It was just conjured up quickly and without much power behind it as more of a scare tactic, but since she has her damage nullification, she was able to touch and crush it without effort."
"So..?"
"So, her ability gives her some courage. I'm sure it has its limits, and she's aware of that limit. Tear apart the ability she has confidence in, her chances of success go down."
"Sheesh… Like breaking a kids crayons…"
"In a way…" I replied resting my hand on the split remains of Elisia's ice wall, "I don't think it's a sort of duration based ability. I'm going to have to roll with the assumption she can keep it up as long as she likes so long as she has Aura. So, I'm going to make it very hellish and make it hurt very much for her to keep it up, that way she'll be discouraged from using it due to her Aura being burnt through." I finished explaining as I snapped my fingers.
"And people say I can be mean…"
"Not exactly looking to be nice with this one." I reaffirmed.
"I...just don't really get it..."
"Get what?" I asked.
"You're...going a really lengthy distance for people who aren't your friends. And quite honestly, probably don't even like you all too much. If at all."
…
"So?"
"So why do you do it? Why go that extra mile for people who aren't really going to appreciate what you did for them? Why help them if they're still going to be...I don't know...disdainful towards you?"
"Being liked isn't at the top of my list of important things."
"Alright, but why help them? It's not like their opinion of you is gonna change."
"Their opinion of me isn't important either."
"I get it mr. Good Samaritan, but that's not answering the question entirely." Elisia asked me as she crossed her arms and looked at me with a serious gaze, "Why help them if they're still going to treat you like dirt? Cause let's be honest, tall, dark and emo is definitely not your biggest fan, and ms. Cowgirl gives me the impression she'd much rather kick you while you're down so she can make a quick get away rather than help you up."
…
"I may have known you for a short while, but you don't give me the impression of a naive idiot. It doesn't take much to know they pretty much hate your guts. So why bother with them in the first place?"
…
"I guess it's reflexive from my old job. It's like I said earlier, people's opinion of me doesn't matter to me in the slightest, it's why I'm able to get the job done without fail really. You don't have to like me and I don't have to like you to do what I'm tasked with. It's just that simple."
It's the only explanation I can offer that's reasonable. At least, in my own way it's reasonable.
"Man… You really are a special kind of weird."
"Special K weird?"
She looked at me briefly, as if confused, then broke out laughing, "Did… Did you just make a joke involving cereal?!"
"Um…yes?"
She laughed harder afterwards, much to my embarrassment.
This shouldn't a surprise to anyone, my jokes are absolutely terrible. And not in the sense they're offensive or anything. They're just straight bad.
"You really are weird. But...you're at least a good kind of weird." She said playfully poking me in the nose before walking off, "If you're satisfied with the fruits of your labor, then I need to be on my way. I've got some stuff to do for Professor Dravus."
"Right. Take care then." I said giving her a nod and a wave, where she did the same as she left the door of the private training room.
…
I...wasn't exactly prepared for those questions. Or statements really. Normally if someone was upset with me, or if it were another sort of situation, of course, I might have been prepared. But it was just so out of the blue…
What was the point of asking all those questions?
…
Is she actually getting to try to know me? I can't honestly tell with her what her motives are. It's actually fairly frustrating that I can't tell.
I unfortunately didn't have time to try and figure out her true motives.
There was...something else I had to figure out at the moment.
I raised up my longsword and held it in front of me, centering in the middle as I glanced at it's pristine white body.
Remembering a short while ago, I heard a voice in my head that day when the Wraith attacked Elisia and I. It...wasn't so much a voice, more of a high pitched whine but...I could understand it as if it were words.
It was a feeling I had but...I feel like there's more to this sword than Kareina let on when she gave it to me. Part of me wanted to go back to the manor and ask her more about this sword, but a part of me also knew I wouldn't get much of an answer. Especially if there was something to hide, which currently, I'm not also sure of.
Perhaps this blade fell into her lap by chance. Perhaps it didn't. All I knew is that I wasn't going to get a clear answer from Inuba's mother.
But the blade itself might give me the answer I need.
By the time Elisia had left the room, I set it to lock the door behind her so that it would only be me, and so that no one else would enter.
I didn't need anyone spreading rumors that I'm some crazy that talks to swords.
Truth be told, I wasn't sure this was going to work. From what I knew of swords with souls, they in a way have minds of their own, their own voice, etc. But the most distinctive trait overall was that you could feel "life" in the sword itself, as if it was a live entity contained within.
I didn't get that feeling from this sword. At least, not entirely. I...felt something… A connection of sorts. It was a feeling I couldn't shake, no matter how hard my mind was trying to push it away.
Maybe just as I was trying to connect with the sword, it was trying to connect with me?
I had to give it a try.
Shutting my eyes and letting out an exhale, I tuned out my senses to focus solely on trying to grab hold of that connection, and see if it would grab back.
Staying so quiet and still...it felt like eternity was passing me by. And yet...I was feeling nothing.
Nothing happened.
At least, that's what I thought until I opened my eyes.
I lowered my sword and examined my surroundings, finding myself enshrouded in a black space that seemingly spanned forever. My eyes slowly moved to the floor to notice ripples forming with each slight movement I made, as if I were standing on water.
There was no noise. No sense of hot or cold. No feeling. No life. It was complete and total emptiness save for myself. And the other figure once I turned around and spotted...them.
This figure had the form of my Shadow Skin, only it flowed with wisps of black form various sections of its body. And instead of having slanted eyeholes, the gaps for the eyes were perfectly circular and glowing white, staring directly at me.
Being here reminded me of the time in the workshop. I was in a place like this, and on the water's surface, my reflection showed exactly that form. And it reached out and grabbed me.
I was antsy to say the least. I had no idea what this was in the slightest. The only movement I made was to slowly breath before I took a small step forward, keeping my eyes on the shadowy figure.
There was no movement. It just stood there, perfectly still and unmoving, save for the black wisps that emanated from its body. Convinced I was safe to a degree, I took a few steps forward, each step slow as I approached the figure, sword lowered to my side without ever taking my eyes off of the figure.
And then I stopped right in front of it.
I just...stared back at it. But it was strange… Earlier I thought it was staring right at me, but I think I was wrong. When I moved around it from side to side, eventually entirely circling around the specter once, it's "eyes" never moved a single time. They remained fixed upon where I was previously.
Eventually, I worked up the courage to reach out, keeping my sword hand steady as my left grew closer, eventually touching the specter by placing a hand on its armored chest. It was what I expected really, hard surface metal given it was my Shadow Skin. But...it felt so cold. Almost lifeless. Is this how I am when I use Shadow Skin?
I never really questioned what my Shadow Skin really is outside of it being an all around, parameter boosting transformation. But Shadow Skin has always been something that was mine. No matter the weapon, no matter if I lost my power...it was something that always remained, no matter what. My ace in the hole against any opposing force.
…
Was there something more to it than I ever thought to imagine? Was what I was seeing my power? Or the sword taking a shape of its own?
At last, I tried to move my hand away, but it stopped short, barely leaving the segmented chestplate as the shadowy hand belonging to the specter had quickly reached out and grabbed my hand.
The strength it possessed was tremendous given the fact I couldn't free my hand. At least, not at first. A bit more pulling on my end and my hand was freed, allowing me to stumble backwards and turn my gaze back to the specter, quickly walking over to me with its hand extended.
I quickly readied myself in a stance, took a few steps forward, and swung down.
…
My strike didn't connect…
In fact...looking around, I was "back" in reality, realizing a few moments before my blade struck, I had returned.
Same room, same shards of ice, same markings from my Aura Wave attacks… This was the real life.
Okay… I kind of don't want to do that again.
Maybe.
It's honestly not much of a surprise to me. If I had some sort of slumbering entity within my sword that I've never been connected to, or at least, have lost a connection to, its only natural it would attack me.
But why did it grab me only when I tried to leave?
…
Maybe it wasn't going to attack me, and it was trying to communicate with me.
Hmmmm… I only have classes with Port, Oobleck and professor Goodwitch today, so I'll be done with the day by lunch. After that, I'll see if Inuba's not busy and ask her to help out.
We've got some extra curricular studying to do.
(Inuba POV)
"Okay, so we've confirmed the existence of Dopplers on Remnant, or at least their equivalent, but I doubt the sword is a Doppler..." Master said skimming through a book in his lap.
Glancing briefly at him, I saw that his feet were kicked up on the table and his head resting in his free hand, eyes quickly scanning through the pages quickly.
"I've been searching through various books containing a very detailed list of ancient weaponry wielded by humans and Faunus in the past. Nothing seems to suggest any of these weapons were Spirit Weapons either." I reported closing the book in my hand with a sigh.
"And from the readings I've been doing, there's nothing that suggests entities or beings that are able to take the form of weapons… Great…" Master said with an equally disappointed sigh, "We wasted time while getting a history lesson on everything else except the thing we needed. It's like winning a ticket lottery but getting all of the smaller prizes rather than the grand prize."
"Come now Master," I started as I placed my book back on the large table in our corner of the library, "It wasn't a complete waste. At the very least, we know more than we did previously."
"Not really. We already already know what these things are…"
"Ah, but we had yet confirm their existence here as well, had we not?" I asked with a proud smile, as to clarify my point.
"I guess…"
I couldn't help but giggle at Master's reluctance to admit his blunder.
Despite his excellent marks in academics, he still isn't entirely fond of studying. In his own words, he says "It's too boring and not that entertaining".
I can sympathize to a degree. I don't particularly enjoy studying for examinations, but I do enjoy learning something new. For instance, cooking. When I was younger, I was terrible at cooking, and almost had no skill in it really. But I set myself to the task and eventually became better and better overtime, taking the time to learn a new recipe whenever I could.
Master was obviously my "test subject".
"I forgot to ask, but you alright and everything? No headaches or..?"
Hmmm? Headaches? Why would I..?
…
Oh no..! I just remembered! Last night I..! I was intoxicated! Did I do something embarrassing?! Did I do anything to him?!
"N-No! E-Everything is fine with me! Honest!"
"Ah, good. I would've felt bad for making you come here and help out if you were a bit...you know...headacheish."
"T-Thank you for the consideration, but I'm perfectly fine…"
I healed the headaches I was suffering through immediately when I woke up this morning, wondering why I even had them in the first place.
Now I remember why…
"I...didn't do anything strange...did I..?"
"Uh…"
He's hesitating! Why is he hesitating?!
"No… You were just really giggly…"
I did do something strange to him!
My hands immediately found their way to my face to hide the great shame welling up inside me.
"A-Are you actually okay? You don't have to force yourself to be here if you're not feeling well…"
"No! I'm really fine! Honest!" I said with my muffled voice, still hiding my face behind my hands.
After a few moments of silent whimpering, I peeked through my fingers and saw Master looking down into his lap with a rather...displeased look…
Was he upset? Did he think it his fault for some reason?
I was about to persuade him otherwise, but before I could, I noticed a familiar face enter our section.
"Professor Gladian?"
"Oh? Ms. Kitsukami, mr. Dante… For a Friday afternoon, the two of you seem hard at work. I'm beginning to understand why the both of you are model students." The professor stated as he walked up to our table.
"Eh, not so much studying for classes professor. Moreso reading up for personal benefit." Master replied.
"Oh?" He glanced over books and gave a rather amused hum, "If I didn't know any better, I would say the two of you are up to some mischief if you're 'studying' magic weapons from the ancient beginning years of humanity and the Faunus."
Master and I looked to each other, wondering if we should explain the situation to Professor Gladian. But given the shrug and subtle nod from him, I assumed it would be fine.
"My mother presented my partner with a sword before he came to Beacon. It...wasn't until recently we've come to understand there might be more to this sword than it just being a simple blade."
I saw Master's head tilt to side slightly as he waved his hand, "Uh, ms. Librarian-person-lady?"
Both Professor Gladian and I turned our heads around to see a woman in a white cloak with some black detailing that obscured her body and her entire face in pitch black darkness. From underneath, all we saw was the long sleeve of a white blouse, and the slender, pale hand that held the books as the hem of her hood folded in our direction.
"Can I bring out my weapon for a few moments so the profesor can examine it?"
"I'll allow it. But don't swing it around in here under any circumstance. Understand?"
"Um...yeah…"
"And since this is your first visit to the library mr. Dante, allow me to be clear. This library is like my own plane of existence. I see and hear all the occurs within in it. You'd best remember that in the event you wish to misbehave for any reason."
"Thank you for the reminder..?"
Without saying another word to Master, the woman quickly left us to resume whatever work she had to attend to.
"How does she even know who I am if I've never been here before? Oh wait… I almost forgot… Was everyone on the staff actually notified of myself and...you know…"
"It's only natural mr. Dante. While it has nothing to do with you and mr. Ezdeil's personalities and attitudes, the both of you do however possess great potential to level the school at any moment. Particularly if the both of you enter a situation of conflict, it would be in everyone's best interest that someone on staff intervenes. Though, that is more reserved for mr. Ezdeil rather than yourself given his...volatile nature."
"Agreeable…" I stated.
Mr. Ezdeil more or less is the type to "swing first and ask questions later". At the very least, Master is much calmer than that brute.
Usually.
"Now, you said something about a sword mr. Dante?"
"Oh, right."
Raising up his hand, Master brought forth his longsword, twirling the pointed end towards himself so that the professor could grab the handle. He took the blade in his hands, and looked it over at various angles, his eyes focusing only on the weapon as if he and the blade were the only thing to exist currently.
"Hmmm… I feel an incredible source of Aura inside this blade… Separate from your own mind you, but so very similar. It feels as though a sentience lingers deep within this sword… How did you come by this again?"
"Inuba's mother gave it to me before we came here to Beacon."
"Your mother must be a collector of rare treasures if she came by this ms. Kitsukami…"
Well...in a way, that is true. While mother has collected many rare treasures across Primordial, most of them are just objects rather than weapons. The task of collecting rare or legendary weaponry was something my father pursued before…
…
Before he left…
"While I have vast knowledge of many relics and artifacts across Remnant throughout my travels, this is quite a mystery on its own. Though, if I were to take a guess, I would assume this would have come into existence this recent century."
The professor handed back Master's weapon, "The designs, elegant as they are, vary from designs of other ancient weaponry I've come across, heard of, or studied. Regardless, there rests a great, sentient power within mr. Dante. Do be sure to take great care of this."
"I will." He replied dematerializing his weapon, "Though, would this weapon be a first? Sentient I mean."
"Hmmm… I don't believe so. You would have to forgive me for my lack of help currently. I would need to review some notations from my travels in the recent year to answer accordingly. But if I remember correctly, I do believe there have been sentient weapons such as yours that have existed throughout the millennia. Of course, given the gaps of knowledge between time periods, it is very difficult to find actual evidence. Remind me to continue this conversation another time when I've looked through my notes."
"Right. Thanks anyway professor."
"Thank you mr. Dante, and ms. Kitsukami. Have a good and safe weekend you two."
We waved goodbye to our professor as he grabbed a few books from the shelves behind us and walked off to check them out.
"Seems like he's an archaeologist of sorts…" Master said.
"So it seems…"
I've heard he has a rather impressive track record as a Huntsmen from other professors. Expeditions across almost all of Remnant, the finding of artifacts, relics and ruins, and his skill in combat is apparently frightening.
The ideal teacher in a way. It isn't a surprise the academy would hire a person of his caliber.
"Alright, so to review, by some miracle, I'm still not crazy. Secondly, we've confirmed I'm not crazy and there's actually something in the sword."
Giggling briefly at his joke, I answered "It would seem so. It's excellent that we were able to actually confirm what you felt wasn't fabricated and indeed real. But we're still at a loss as to what it could be."
"But given what Professor Gladian just told us, we can cross a lot more off our list now. And in that regard, I've narrowed it down to a spirit sword."
"I see… So then our goal now is to identity Remnant's equivalent unless they're the same." I offered.
"Bingo." He replied snapping his fingers.
Silence shortly came as I began to gather our books to put them back, but from the corner of my eye, I saw Master staring at me rather intently, forcing me to stop.
"Y-Yes Master..? I-Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no. I was just thinking… We've been here a while now, and not once have I asked if you've settled in nicely. So have you?"
"Oh, well, yes I have. I'm enjoying the classes, I like the faculty and the students, well, some of the the students to a degree. It has been all around enjoyable thus far."
"You sure? Nothing...troubling you or anything like that?"
"No..?"
This is...rather sudden…
"No one giving you a rough time or anything?"
"N-No, certainly not!"
Well...I have suffered a quip or two from Cardin, but he never has laid hands on my like he has done with others.
Even so...I'd rather he not know…
"Alright. Just making sure since...you know...we don't often get time to ourselves like this. One on one between me and you."
"Yes… It does seem that way… But it's only natural, yes? Afterall, we are working hard these days."
"Looks like it…"
Even now I realized I've done the same as well. If anything, I should be asking how he is everyday and seeing if everything is well.
"H-How are things with you, Master? Are there any difficulties at present?"
"Mmmm… Nothing I can think of really. I mean, homework's still annoying to deal with, but that's about it."
"Has that delinquent given you trouble?"
It was a fairly blunt question in regards to mr. Ezdeil, but I don't want him doing anything to Master.
"Eh… He's not all too bad you know? He's probably just down on his luck or something."
"Yes, but that doesn't privilege him with the right to exercise his frustrations on you!"
"Well...yeah, you're right…"
Some of the names I've heard him call Master… It just makes my blood boil thinking about it…
"He's no big deal. Just leave him be and treat him nicely. I guess."
You...guess?
"Still… I get this...feeling around him. A sense of familiarity, you know?"
"That's strange...considering we've never met him before coming here I mean."
"Yeah…"
"Perhaps the familiarity comes from recognizing his strength?"
I hate to admit it, but they are similar in regards to "taking matters seriously" and the like. That, and they both have overwhelming Aura Signatures. Though with mr. Ezdeil, it's quite strange.
When I first examined his Aura Signature, it was far below own. But I was too quick to write him off. When entering combat, I felt his Aura Signature spiking significantly, but not enough to surpass my own.
"Could be… Meh… We've got better things to do than just chat about that guy. Alright, let's call it here. I've got some other things to take care of."
"At this hour..?" I asked looking at one of the clocks in the room.
It was already five in the evening. What else could he be doing?
"Yeah. Secret project and all that. Which reminds me, I should go talk Arex real quick before I start..."
"Oh? What sort of project?"
"The secret kind."
I only shot him a glare for his "clever" response.
"Complex mechanical stuff. It's...difficult to understand, much less explain."
Ah, I see. It's one of those kinds of projects. Our previous friend Darwin had a mechanical body of sorts that Master constantly worked on and improved. Sometimes they worked in the living room with all sorts of tools strewn about.
I nearly tripped over said tools once...
"I understand. Would you like something to eat when you return?"
I always enjoyed cooking. Especially for him.
"Hmmm… Chicken and rice."
A sigh escaped my lips as I said, "Master, whenever I ask you what you would like, you always say rice and chicken. Don't you wish for me to make something else for once?"
"Ah… Sorry. I'm just trying to make less work for you is all."
…
H-His consideration is quite outstanding sometimes…
"I-It's alright." I stuttered out, "I am more than happy to take on a challenge."
"Well, in that case, whatever you feel like then. Anything you make will taste good either way."
…
Must...control...tail urges…
Controlling my fox tail when in a heightened state of emotion...is quite difficult!
"V-Very well! I'll be waiting for your return!"
"Right then… Good luck."
"G-Good luck to you as well, Master!" my voice squeaked out as he rose from the table.
Giving me a simple wave, he was off with the mass of books from our table in hand.
My eyes followed him until he rounded the corner and disappeared. I let out a heavy sigh as my head fell into the pile of books, shifting some of them away. One of the books almost fell off the table had I not moved only my hand to catch it. My head raised itself up and looked at the book briefly before I chucked it upwards, allowing it to land on top of the now smaller pile of books.
I dug my hand into the front fold of my kimono and pulled out the small metal fox charm, a charm that matched the ones I gave Master and his siblings. Though, I did etch different runic kanji into the back of each charm to offer different effects. Though, I added to mine and Master's, more as just...extra.
I'm still embarrassed about it to a degree…
Checking the clock yet again, my fox ears perked up in realization that I should leave for the store soon if I wish to prepare anything decent. I may have my own vast experience in cooking, but I still have much to learn.
Hmmm… I think perhaps after I buy a few ingredients from the store, I'll watch a bit of a show Master downloaded to our BlackBox, which allowed us to bring media from Primordial to Remnant. I think the show had "Shokugeki" in the title… I'll ask Ciel since she would know more.
Quoting a certain Red Saber...
Umu, things are getting interesting aren't they? Dante preparing to take on the Devil Woman Quinn, discovering another mystery in the process... Things are beginning to shape up nicely. Of course, that mean's things will start getting...spicy too.
I'm really tired, and have nothing terribly clever to say. Not that I ever do... Ahem. Anyway, I'm a bit tired and I have quite a lot on my plate this week, so for those of you that read Veil of the Aether, I apologize in advance if I don't get a chapter out next weekend. There's a lot of work to be done for school, not to mention a few other personal things. So with that...
I highly recommend you all go check out the freaking amazing collab Xera Stark and I are currently working on concerning his story XSRA's Flame. His story overall is absolutely fantastic and is a must read, so I suggest you read from the very start. I've said it once and will say it again, you won't want to miss out on this story.
Not only that, but check out his other awesome and highly entertaining story Rogue Huntsmen. It's just pure awesomeness bundled into one story. Trust me, you'll love it. And hey! Go check out HydraFLow's story Lost in Binary! It's equally as awesome and entertaining, definitely worth spending the time reading and enjoying.
Questions? Ask them anytime. I will try to answer without spoiling.
Please remember to review, follow and favorite this story if you really enjoyed it and want to continue seeing more of it. And hey, even tell others about this story! Remember that your support is what helps make this story grow even larger and what helps improve it. With that, I bid you all an excellent week/weekend!
Bye-bye now!