I am glad that I can finally continue as I have already put so much effort in this story and I cannnot let all of these good characters go to waste.
Chapter 16: Growing just a little.
I was absolutely focused, I needed to be if I planned to survive this, Edward was the most powerful Overlord to have lived. Wasting no time I raced forwards towards Edward. Simply by raising his hand Edward created a massive pillar of blue fire directly in front of me forcing me to roll to the left after which I immediately continued my advance.
Very quickly another fire pillar appeared so close to me that as I weaved around it I felt the intense heat of the flames against my face. Immediately as I got around that pillar the whole field began to be covered by flames. I did my best not to lose any momentum as I weaved around them as quickly as I could.
Instantly as I got out of that I was given almost no time to see or react to the flamethrower spell he swung across the area from the left forcing me to slide under. As soon as it passed I leaped up and towards him swinging my Lightaxe down at him only to find that he had already raised his sword to block my attack. I was forced leap back a couple feet, but I quickly removed any distance and attempted an upwards diagonal strike form the left, but he merely twisted his wrist and arm around to spin the sword to deflect my attack.
It quickly became a duel as both of us attempted to strike the other, but not being successful due to being blocked or deflected. Eventually he made a powerful swing downwards that I was forced to raise my Lightaxe to block and very soon it was a duel of pure strength, one I was losing. I knew that I was going to lose like this and looked quickly for another way. As soon I I saw that way I pulled my Lightaxe to my right catching his sword behind the axe head and pulled his sword to his left.
I quickly shut off my Lightaxe and charged a quick Force Push and just as he was starting to swing I released the blast causing him to stumble backwards a bit. I dashed forwards and swung my Lightaxe at him, but just before it could strike he returned to orb form and flew off.
"Nova, we heard something and came to see what was going on." Kaito said as he, Rin, and Luka arrived, "What happened here?" he asked upon seeing all of the destruction.
Master Edward had requested that we avoid allowing his existence to become common knowledge. "I was just doing a bit of training." I answered him without lying.
Kaito looked around at the damage with a slightly surprised expression, "A bit? Trainning? This looks half as bad as when Akio goes on a temper tantrum." he said to which Luka snickered. Rin didn't look very convinced herself, but she said nothing.
"Yeah, these new powers are amazing, but they are still difficult to control, need to keep honing them, it's a lot of work." I said laughing still trying to convince them, "I could use a break right now anyways." I walked off in a hurry leaving them behind confused.
I kept smiling as I walked around the city. I didn't really have a destination in mind I just wanted to look around a bit, clear my head. As I walked I heard a familiar voice from inside the publishing facility.
"I know you're more used to poems and haiku's and you're more used to paintings and while something like monsters you can put in pocket sized balls may seem weird, but I'm telling you this could be a very big hit!" Yuka tried to explain to the older writer and an artist, both of whom seemed very confused by this whole "manga" concept. I'd be confused too if she hadn't ranted 151 names into my head one time we ended up in trapped together on an asteroid by pirates.
She is a very good person, sure she can be pushy when it comes to the stories she enjoys, really annoying about them if I think about it, but she is one of the kindest and most unique people I know, she leans far more to a pacifistic view of things, though she does still fight, and she'll always try to help people if it is ever possible. She's probably the only thing keeping him from falling completely to the Dark Side.
I didn't get involved and instead just chuckled quietly as I continued my walk. This time I was heading towards the castle. As I walked I noticed Luka and Kaito at a restaurant. Kaito was levitating some silverware to entertain some children there and look was just smiling. Kaito glanced over to Luka and said something with a wink that caused her face to turn red before he turned back to the children and kept doing tricks.
Kaito is my older brother, I didn't actually know him very well at first, just that he was my brother, our very different trainning kept us from spending all that much time together when we were still at the temple together, while I was just a normal padawan, regardless of my high skill, he was a part of a different program, not the path of Padawan, Knight, and such, but something else. He is a jokester whenever it's needed and serious when it isn't. He is highly loyal to whatever he believes in, something I respected him for and even admired about him, even after his betrayal to join Akio.
Luka's name is coincidentally similar to Yuka, but there are different people with no blood relation. I didn't know her as well as I know the rest, she is the pilot of Akio's crew. In most conversations she's quiet, but if it turns to mechanical stuff she'll chat up a storm, she's actually a weird mix of gearhead and very feminine.
One thing I still can't get about them is why they all hang around and stick with Akio.
"Lord Leonar, you asked for me?" I said bowing as I entered the room.
"Please sit." The man said with a tone as jovial as ever. I did as he said and then waited for him to continue. "I understand your trainning with Lord Edward is going well." He stated as he stood up and walked to the window, "But as he stated he thinks your pushing yourself." I clenched my teeth as he turned around, "I know your likely desperate to return to the mainland, after all, it's been months since you left. The invasion is still a long ways away, it wasn't to long ago this nation delt with its own civil war, it is still recovering, and even after everything is done the people aren't going to be eager to help another land with its problems. Pushing yourself isn't going to speed up anything and will only make you sloppy. You are the youngest ever Overlord, you have time." He turned around to me to allow me to speak.
I took a deep breath, "I can't just wait around. Regardless of the fact that I had no idea that any of this was even happening I was helpless against them, I fought in a war for three years, I have even fought some powerful enemies here, but these Dark Elves were so much more powerful, they took the Tower before I even knew what was happening. I have to be ready for the next time I fight them."
"Your spirit is admirable and I recognize your experience, but you're still a child, while you are paramount to defeating Terreck you are not going to be capable of beating him alone or with a few people who can be spared right now regardless of how powerful you get. Your best bet is to wait till my army is prepared for the invasion and I've convinced them that should they not fight that the Dark Elves would take this land too. You'll have plenty of time to train until then, just do it right."
I was frustrated at what he was saying, but he was right, "I understand, Lord Leonar." I sighed. "Good then." he smiled, "You may go." He told me. I did just that, but as I stepped out the door my shoulder was bumped by someone entering. I glanced to my right and scowled as I saw Akio, he was already doing the same, but he just walked into the room and shut the door. I walked away as well.
It was much later in the afternoon now. I was walking back to the temporary residence I was given when Rin ran over to me and grabbed my arm, "I want to show you something." she said. I smiled as she pulled on my arm and we walked off, her still holding my arm.
We walked through and out of the city and off to a green cliff a little ways away from it. She sat down on the ledge and I sat down to her right. The sun was setting over the water in the distance.
"I found this place a few days ago, the sunset here is very beautiful, so much more than you could see from Spree. Still nothing like what could be seen from the Tower though." She said taking hold of my hand.
I'd never noticed the sunset from the Tower until she had pointed it out, the day before what was supposed to be our wedding.
"It is beautiful." I said.
"What's wrong?" she asked picking up on how distracted I seemed. I looked off to the right, "Please, you can tell me."
I sighed, "I'm sorry."
Rin looked very confused, "Sorry? What do you mean?"
"For failing to fight the Dark Elves and for leaving everyone, Archie, your parents, I'm sorry we left them behind because of that. I am sorry I broke my promise. I understand if you hate me for it." I closed my eyes.
I opened them again as I felt Rin's lips against mine, "None of that was your fault. I can't stop loving you for something like that." She told me with a slightly sad smile. Then she turned to her left and opened up a bag she had brought along she took something out, but hid it behind her hand until she turned around and revealed a very small chocolate cake with cream in the center, "Happy birthday Nova." She said with a smile surprising me.
I was really confused, "How did you know?"
"I may have snooped through your little tablet thing." She smirked, "Luka helped me make it. Try it."
A birthday was something I had not even thought about for a very long time, but now, "Okay fine, but only if you have some too."
The sun was at it's highest above what was almost the other end of the world. Not that the people of Everlight could even see it through the black and purple clouds. Terreck sat at a throne in a palace still under construction. "Continue to grow stronger, Warrior of Light. We shall soon meet again."
