Summary:

What if Ryuk, like his master before him, took an unlikely apprentice in adulthood. Bear witness to the story of the protoge to a man who sought to change the world. This story is non-canon.


TEAS: The Lost Archives –

Chapter 9: The Apprentice

Every trepidacious footstep of straw sandals echoed in the bleak hollow cave. The only light trapped inside was that which was reflected into it by the setting sun against the small puddles of water gathered sporadically.

There, isolated a midst the cold untouched stone laid a single artifact. An aged katana, it's scabbard wrapped in talismans inscribed with writing from numerous lands stretching across every sea.

Stepping closer little by little, the young woman dressed in a holy raiment approached as though in a trance. By the force of what surely must have been her own lucid imagination, she watched as the sword began to shake in its sheathe. It rattled inside subtly, then more forcefully. Off and on, in and out like the tide, or something more heinous.

Gulping, her throat remained dry. Despite the summer humidity, her breath was more visible than the coldest winter day. Reaching outward, the rattling sword rumbled more and more. An inch away, the blade jumped out, exposing the old metal no more than a fraction of an inch.

Pricking her finger, a single drop of blood dripped upon the ground. Trailing down the rocky crevice, it found its way into a nearby puddle. At their chance meeting, the single drop polluted the entire small body, changing the entire surface to a harrowing crimson.

Trapped in the reflection of the recently dyed pool, a shadowy force appeared above the shrine maiden. It hovered around her in a smoke invisible to the only other party present.

As the young woman grew the courage to seize the castaway blade yet again, the silent specter's form grew more defined. As she reached out, its decrepit boney hands glided over her shoulders. Grasping the sword with both hands, the living nightmare did the same, ensnaring its demonic grasp around her frail unscratched neck.

. . . . . . . . .

Several Months Later...

Police sirens wailed out in the distance, echoing off the city blocks. The chasing sounds drifting closer by the second, three men with ski masks sprinted down the back streets.

Each one of them carried two things, a duffel bag and a dream. It was a dream that was so desperately sought after, that they were willing to break the law to achieve it.

"We're almost home free!" The leading robber called back to his companions.

"It was too easy." The man directly behind brushed off, more than a little cocksure of himself.

"Guys. Trouble." The last of the trio alerted, pointing out a woman watching them from further down the alleyway.

Stepping out into the middle of the alley, a young woman in straw sandals placed herself as to directly oppose the three fleeing criminals. Sauntering out without a hint of fear, the grin on her face aimed to expose her as courageous or a fool. Not that the two were ever mutually exclusive.

"Aw, boys, don't stop celebratin' on my account." The woman goaded. "Now, I reckon the boys in blue wouldn't mind me helpin' 'em out a smidge."

Reaching for her left, the interloper grabbed hold of the old sheathed katana on her waist.

"You don't want any of this." The robber in front advised. "Get lost." He threatened further.

Smirking a fair bit wider, the woman released her weapon.

"Me? Sure thing." She immediately accepted.

Placating the men further, the woman even went as far a raising both arms over her head. As she did, a second set of footsteps emerged from behind.

A somewhat older woman marched forward, taking her place beside the first. Unlike the other, the newest arrival wore maturity rather than brashness. Without a word, she raised a gloved open hand toward the three criminals, this simple act alone making each of them fidget in place.

"Get behind me." The older of the two instructed.

"Yes, ma'am." The other chimed happily, stepping back.

The older woman's long hair started to rise up toward the sky. At the same time, the glow to her eyes became so powerful that they overtook the image of her pupils entirely. Volatile electricity coursed around her, feeding into the very ground.

"Jupiter Trip." The woman invoked strong but calmly.

Taking a knee, the woman pressed her open palm onto the ground. In an instant, the full stretch of the side street before her glowed a brilliant light. The loose debris and refuse started to shake and hover. A trashcan close to the robbers started to float, reaching toward the clouds. Soon after, a filled to the brim dumpster began to do the same.

The three men stared in shock and awe. So caught off guard, the leading member of the trio lost his balance. Rather than fall on his face, he started orbiting in place as he too was sent lifting into the air. Not long after, the other two men were as well put at the mercy of the mage's spell. They each flailed without a hint of control, completely helpless.

Rising back up, the mage's hair fell back in place. With a slow breath, her natural gaze returned as well.

"Thanks for the assist. I'll take it from here." The first woman thanked, rolling her shoulder.

Taking her place beside the other, the swordswoman looked up at the three high-flying criminals. Sticking out her hand, she started tracing a path between them with her index finger. Taking a step back, she got a running start before vaulting up into the air.

The moment the sword fighter passed the threshold she too had lost her agreement with gravity. Coasting through the air, she reeled back her still sheathed weapon. Reaching the first, she thrust the hard tip clean against his forehead, sending him spinning painfully.

Kicking off the injured man, she altered her course for the next. Swinging her sheathed weapon like a bat, her next victim was sent spiraling into the floating dumpster with a swift strike to the ribs.

Landing on the side of the wall of the nearest building, the acrobatic woman caught herself on a storm drain. Upon doing so, she smirked up at the last and knowing target.

"Wait! We'll cut you in! Just stop!" The last of the troupe cried out in desperation.

"Sorry boys, but you reap what you sow!" The woman replied without remorse.

Kicking off the wall, she sent herself hurdling toward the last of the bunch. Bracing himself the best he could, the woman grabbed hold of her sheathed weapon with both hands. Raising it overhead, she swung it down, incapacitating the man with a single clean strike to the top of the skull.

. . . . . . . . .

The door to the police car slammed shut as the driver and his partner both meandered their way down the alleyway. Staring up at the top half of the nearest building, the two officers were rooted in place. One scratched his head while the other rubbed his neck.

High above the pair, the three criminals they were in pursuit of had been stuck to the side of the second story building. A visible force of static electricity bound the semi-conscious bunch in place like a gift-wrapped present.

A small crowd of onlookers already beginning to form and gawk at the display, one of the officers was already hard at work establishing a perimeter with police tape.

Across the street, the two woman responsible watched on from the sidewalk.

"Man, it's hot." The younger of the pair blurted out, wiping her forehead down with her sleeve. "I'm workin' up a sweat and I barely did anything."

"Kass," The older began, donning a slightly teasing and wry expression. "...you don't have to wear the leather biker jacket all the time."

"But, it's cool." Kass brought up in counterpoint.

"Of course. Silly me." The older remarked with a pleasant smile.

Raising her hand, the mage snapped her fingers. Upon doing so, the spell that glued the criminals to the wall was undone and the three fell to the ground.

With a satisfied sigh, Kass stuck her chest out.

"Sera, you're a moonbeam as always." The younger commended.

Sera smiled softly to herself, giggling lightly at the other's words.

"Why, thank you." She humbly accepted.

"Quite impressive." A man voiced from behind Kass. "Couldn't have done it better myself." He added on, only furthering his compliment.

Spinning around in surprise, the younger girl's eyes shot wide open. Her jaw dropping, her expression was immediately replaced by a beam of joy.

"M-Master Ryuk!" Kass could not help but exclaim.

"Huh?" Sera gawked in confusion.

Resting on the side of the wall as though he had been there all along, a man of his mid-thirties greeted the duo with a single wave. Pushing off the wall with his shoulder, he stood more properly. The slight tells of his body movement expressed a certain air about him; an odd clash of blasé and utter confidence. It was as if he and the world itself existed in two distinct tempos, where only one could affect the other.

Lowering his sunglasses with one hand, Ryuk looked upon the young woman before him with his undiluted topaz gaze.

"Well now, look at you. You're really starting to come up into your own." The man regarded with relaxed pride.

"What are you doing here?" Kass asked, looking as though she were fighting the urge to begin jumping up and down, completely different from how she was minutes before. "How did you find me?" She questioned further, not even giving the other a chance to respond to the first.

"I was just drifting in when I happened to catch a glimpse of a light show from port." Ryuk casually informed. "Surprise surprise to find my little fire-starter at the scene of the crime. Literally, as it would be." He joked, glancing toward the police tape.

"Um... Kass..." Sera spoke up, reminding her companion of her existence.

Whipping her head over her shoulder in confusion, it dawned on the girl what had happened.

"Huh? Oh! Sorry." Kass quickly blurted out before turning forward once again. "Master, this is Sera. We've been traveling together for a little over a month. She's an out of this world mage. You've never seen anybody who fights like she does." The girl explained with a similar zealousness she showed the other.

Any anxiety the mage was hoarding had melted away. The sensation was replaced by a warm smile that the woman was doing a poor job of hiding.

"Kass, I just needed an introduction. I didn't need you to sing my praises." Sera tried to brush off.

"Too bad. You're incredible." The younger effortlessly shot back.

Brushing her hair behind her ear, Sera physically turned herself away to compose herself after the unexpected straightforward compliment.

"Have you been practicing what I showed you?" Ryuk brought up in interjection.

"Sure have!" Kass eagerly replied.

"That's good." The eldest replied casually to the more spirited youth. "Kass, I'd like to catch up. I can show you some more techniques as well." Ryuk brought up. "Tell me, do you have some free time? If possible, I'd love it if you could accompany to Streighton for a bit of an errand."

"Yeah! Of course we can!" The youngest shouted in a knee-jerk reaction. "Oh, I mean... If that's okay with you Sera." She asked, turning back over her shoulder.

"How could I refuse." Sera responded, hiding some temporary unease.

"Then its settled." Ryuk decided. Walking between the pair, he invited himself to place one hand on each of their shoulders. "We'll leave at once."

. . . . . . . . .

Now a ways out of town, the trio hiked along the unbeaten path of a gentle incline of a woodland slope. The tree tops curled over them, casting the travelers in a natural shade.

"Master, why isn't lady Alice joining us?" Kass brought up, looking over her shoulder to the recipient of her question.

The youngest of the group currently led the expedition, despite only being given a general cardinal direction of their destination.

Ryuk followed several paces behind. The ropes of a sailor-style traveling bag hoist over his shoulder without issue.

"Things just didn't line up I'm afraid." The older man informed. "Me and the people I work with are spread a little thin right now. It seems like every other week we're each running a different errand on a different continent." He complained, sounding closer to a boast.

"That's so cool." Kass mentioned, completely enchanted with the idea.

Sighing to herself, Sera rounded up the rear.

Approaching a sharp but brief ridge, Kass leaped up it with a single bound. Kicking off with his back foot, Ryuk did similarly without any interruption to his prior pace.

Making it to the natural barricade, Sera was about to scale it. Just before she could, a hand entered her peripheral view. Looking up, she saw Ryuk had doubled back. Waiting at the top, he extended his free hand. Hesitating at first, she accepted the man's hand. Easily, he helped pull her up to the rest of them. As he did, she took notice of the numerous small scars and burn marks exposed by his fingerless gloves.

Catching up with the last of their group, the two walked side by side rather than single file like they had before. As they did, Sera caught notice of the other's blatant but harmless stare in her direction.

"Is something wrong." Sera brought up with a light tinge of annoyance.

"Not at all." Ryuk remarked with his unchanged smile. "I've just never met one before." He tacked on at the end, as though the words had no weight to them.

The mage stopped in place. The hands at Sera's sides slowly tensed into clenched fists. Remaining wound tight for a few moments, they were shortly thereafter returned to their former state. With a silent huff, she resumed her trek.

"Be careful ladies." Ryuk started, raising his voice so both parties could hear him both above and below. "I heard rumors that a dangerous group of bandits have taken up residency in these woods." The man informed nonchalantly.

"Really?" Kass questioned, waiting for the others to reach her. "I hope they jump us."

"Kass," Sera began with a blighted tone. "...don't go wishing for something like that." She reprimanded.

"Supposedly, It's a few days hike to make it to Streighton." Ryuk mentioned, changing the topic. "Let's cover some ground before we set up camp. After that, we can start your training formally, Kass." He proposed.

"Yes!" The youngest exclaimed. "I can't wait!"

Sighing again, Sera held her arms as she followed behind.

. . . . . . . . .

The sun pointed straight down from the center of the sky. Having settled in a sparse clearing by a riverbed, the trio worked together to set up sleeping mats and a small fire pit for a later campfire.

"Alright! Camp's set up and ready." Kass reported with a grin and crossed arms. "What's the first lesson?" She asked immediately, showcasing her exceptional patience.

Still putting the finishing touches on the fire pit, Ryuk glanced up at his eager protege momentarily.

"Not so fast." Ryuk advised. "First off, tell me how your progress is coming along."

"Not the best." Kass confessed flat out, her spirit from earlier drained away. "If I draw the sword for more than half a second, then that weird cold green fire still shoots up my arm."

Looking down at her right hand, Kass stared at the fresh bandages that encased her palm up to her elbow. Rather than being saddled with disappointment, she clenched her hand as determination retook her gaze.

"Alright." Ryuk quickly accepted, perhaps already coming to the conclusion himself.

Reaching into his bag, the veteran combatant pushed some rope aside and pulled out a pair of hand rags. Standing up, he started heading for the river.

"Follow me." Ryuk instructed.

Crossing her arms, Sera watched the pair from the campgrounds.

Reaching the riverbed, Ryuk bent down and began taking off his boots and socks. After, he started rolling up his pant legs. Watching this, Kass did the same.

Stepping into the waters revealed the stream to be more on the shallow end, riding up to just below the knees. Making it near the center, the knight motioned for his pupil to follow.

Stomping through the slimy and smooth muck, Kass met her mentor down the middle.

"Oh. I get it!" Kass spoke up. "We're gonna practice moving around in this slippery ground so I build up my leg muscles or something."

"Not quite." Ryuk immediately shot down with the same smile as always.

"Oh." The younger breathed out dejectedly.

"Watch what I do and mirror my motions." He instructed clearly.

Gripping the rag with his right hand, he crossed it over his body so that it draped below the left side of his waist. Lowering it, the bottom end was soon swept away by the current, racing behind him. After letting it soak up some water, Ryuk swung his arm outward. The washrag traced his movement perfectly. At the completion of his swing, a spray of water shot out from the rag, creating ripples directly in front of him in a perfect semi-circle. A second later, he reversed the motions, swinging it back to his side. Like before, the spray shot out behind in a perfectly straight line, not a single drop of water splashing his pant leg.

"There. Try it just like that." Ryuk instructed, watching the other in full.

A bit confused by the exercise, Kass followed through the motions nonetheless. She crossed her body with the wash cloth. Swinging it in front of her, she spawned disproportionate ripples in the water mostly ahead of her and to her right. After, she swung it back, splashing the whole side of her leg in the process.

"Wrong and wrong, sadly." The knight confirmed, still smiling.

"Huh? Really?" Kass' face scrunched up as she pantomimed the motions again.

"Lower your waist more, keep your wrist straight, and step-in to strengthen your footing." Ryuk advised. "All of a swordsman's power comes from their stance, Kass."

Attempting the exercise again, she slashed the rag with more focus. As a result, the ripples shot out in a much smaller cone in front of her. It was improvement, but a far cry from her master's showing.

"Better. Keep at it." Ryuk remarked, beginning to head back to shore.

"Okay. Uh... How long do I have to do this exactly?" Kass asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Two hours should be ample enough." Ryuk replied, not even bothering to turn around.

"T-Two hours?" She repeated in disbelief. "Like, two whole hours?" She questioned again.

"That's right." Ryuk confirmed in a chipper tone. "After that, we'll move onto a second exercise. Then, before night fall, you'll do this again. If this is too difficult for you, Kass, I suppose we could revert to more basic teachings." He subtly goaded.

"No, no. I got this." The budding swordswoman reassured, beginning the process anew. "Wait! That one didn't count. Yeah. Like this."

"Make sure you do it properly now." The knight emphasized, drying off his feet with the top of of his rag. "If you try to cheat it in any way, this'll all be for nothing."

"Right!" Kass called back, already hard at work.

Taking a seat on the ground, Ryuk laid down in the grass. Soaking in the sun, he looked comfortable enough to be taking a nap.

Watching this all from the sidelines, Sera's already judgmental stare found company in a disapproving frown.

. . . . . . . . .

Both master and student were presently jogging through the forest on a self-made circuit. Ryuk led the way with the younger trailing only a few steps behind.

"Keep it up Kass." The knight shouted behind him, his eyes trained forward as he did. "Look for uneven terrain. Battlefields are rarely leveled."

Kass laughed at the simple instruction.

"Not a prob–"

"Dash!" Ryuk suddenly decreed, kicking off into a sprint.

Caught off guard, Kass nearly tripped over her feet. Catching herself right away, she struggled to keep up the impromptu pace.

As the older man rounded an upcoming tree, he grabbed a chest-level branch and bent it in front of him. Stretching it as far as he could without snapping it, he let it loose.

Coming up to the same corner tree, Kass' eyes instantly latched onto the whipping piece of wooden elastic gunning straight for her head. Ducking, she avoided it in the nick of time. So preoccupied on the immediate threat, she failed to notice the sprawling tree roots beneath her. One such out-jutting root snagging her back foot, she flopped straight down onto the dirt with a heavy thud.

"C'mon Kass, you need to be able to do better than that." Ryuk scolded with the usual pleasant look about him. "If this much is a problem, it'll lead to worse issues down the road."

Placing her hands beneath her, Kass' elbows shook as she slowly pushed herself upright. Taking a knee, she wiped some dirt off her face as she forced herself back up into a stand.

"I-I can keep going." Kass reassured with rekindled determination.

"That's good." The man commended, already jogging on ahead.

Wobbling for a second, she soon corrected herself as she ran to meet the other's pace.

"We've almost looped back to camp." Ryuk once again called back from up ahead. "After we arrive, you'll run the rounds again yourself. Like we just did a moment ago, you'll mix in random dashes for three to five seconds. You will do this for two hours."

"Two more..." The younger breathed out between dry gasps of air. "Is two your favorite number or something?" She tacked on with an understandable grievance.

"It is." Ryuk mentioned offhandedly. "However did you guess?" He teased.

"Okay. Fine." Kass haggardly accepted. "Bring it on." She bellowed out, pumping herself up for the rigorous task ahead of her.

"That's the spirit." Her mentor complimented.

Winding down his pace, Ryuk came to a slow halt. Placing a hand on his hip, he watched his protege take off passed him. Smiling to himself, he headed off back toward camp.

. . . . . . . . .

The sun had begun to set below the treeline. The crackling of the campfire was matched only by the sounds of insects and happenings of small wildlife.

Staggering in from the river from her second rag session, Kass collapsed face first onto her rest mat beside her traveling companion.

"My everything hurts." Kass meekly huffed out. Her words, somewhat muffled from her face still being dug into the ground.

Shutting the book she had been reading, Sera faced her exhausted friend.

"Remind me. When did you meet Ryuk again?" Sera asked, bringing up a seemingly harmless question.

Rolling over to her side, Kass stared up at the older woman.

"It was right after my village exiled me." She brought up easily, cleanly accepting her circumstances. "Good thing too. I wasn't really sure what I was doing. It all hadn't sunk in yet, y'know? He treated me to a meal, let me vent, he even took me clothes shopping. He really helped me figure things out." As she started talking, the ware to her features were slowly replaced with a softer look from a happy memory. "Then, he asked if I wanted to be his apprentice."

"And you said yes?" Sera voiced, connecting the dots.

"Yeah." The younger girl nodded, going on. "After that, he told me he traveled all around the world and asked if I wanted to go with him."

"That's your dream, isn't it? To see the world?" The mage aimed to verify.

Taking a deep breath, Kass rolled over onto her back. Resting on her hands like a pillow, she stared up at the sky that would soon be painted with stars.

"It is, but I want to see it myself." Kass clarified. "If I went with him, I'd just be lettin' someone else show it to me." She reasoned.

"Do you regret it?" Sera asked, a part of her wishing she had not asked the question at all. "Not going with him, I mean?" She restated, looking elsewhere as she held her knees.

"Nope." The once farmgirl confidently assured. "'Cause if I did, I'd never'a met you." She let on further, not embarrassed by what she said in the slightest.

Sera easily smiled with flush cheeks at her friend's genuine words. As the seconds dripped and a midst crackling of tinder, her ember-filled expression dissipated. Pushing up onto her feet, Sera turned toward the river.

"Something up?" Kass asked, sitting upright.

"I think I saw Ryuk head upstream to gather some food." Sera made mention. "I think I'll help him out." She informed, starting to walk off.

"Want me to come too?" Kass asked, trying to be considerate.

"No. That's okay." The older quickly shot down. "You just stay here and rest up." She encouraged.

"Sounds good to me." Kass immediately accepted. Laying back down, she shot the other a weak thumbs up.

Heading up river, Sera's expression grew more hardened. Spotting the man of the hour, it devolved into a full on scowl.

The knight stood in the center of the stream. His gaze cast downward, he watched the fish swim around his ankles.

"We need to talk." Sera spoke up, announcing her presence.

"I'm listening." Ryuk acknowledged, focusing on his task at hand.

In a single precise motion, the knight seized a trout with one hand. Tossing it over his shoulder, it landed on the shoreline beside the mage. Looking down, Sera watched the creature flail in place beside another already expired companion.

"Neither of you are allergic by fish by chance are you?" He asked with the bare minimum of concern.

"No. It's fine." Sera replied curtly, crossing her arms.

"Good. That could've been awkward." Ryuk remarked, more so to himself.

"Once this little field trip is over, I want you to stay away from Kass." Sera demanded, straightforward and direct to the point.

"That would be difficult considering I'm her mentor." He casually rebuked.

"Please." The mage scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You haven't taught her anything." She protested.

"That's a little mean, don't you think?" The knight aloofly replied, sounding anything but hurt.

"All you've done is teach her a little cardio." Sera criticized. "That dumb river exercise isn't going to build up any muscle. All you've been doing this entire time is give her false hope." Her anger steadying the further she went on.

"If she puts the effort in, she'll be able to–"

"She isn't like us!" The mage finally shouted. "She's human. There are things she can't do. I wish there were ways she could do them, but..." Grabbing her chest, she clutched the fabric of her shirt as she took a moment to collect herself. "From the start, this whole thing has been nothing but naive optimism. What you're showing her isn't kindness, it's cruelty." Disdain as well as sadness lined every word.

Bending back down, Ryuk caught another trout. This time however, rather than tossing it behind, he kept it in his hand. Standing up right, he stood quiet as the creature struggled and flailed. Its desperate movements worsened before slowing down and eventually stopping all together as it went fully limp.

"I'm happy she's been able to find someone who cares about her to this extent." Ryuk brought up, breaking the silence. "I was more than a bit worried when I had to leave her for the first time." He admitted, his back still to the other.

"So you understand now?" Sera asked, her eyes more than a little dejected.

"Yes." The older placidly nodded.

"Then... you'll back off?" Sera attempted to confirm, glancing away.

"No." The knight cheaply replied.

Flaring up with rekindled frustration, the mage turned back to the older man.

"You just said–"

"I understand where you're coming from." Ryuk acknowledged, at last turning around. "I never said a thing about agreeing with it."

Without a clear pair of eyes to lock onto, Sera found herself focusing on his infuriating careless smile instead. Her hands tensed just at the sight of it.

Trudging through the water, the knight met the other at the shoreline. Bending down, he scooped up their dinner into a small wooden pail.

"If you hurt her..." Sera began with a glare.

Before the tail end of her threat could leave her lips, the knight placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling all the same as he walked passed her.

"That girl is a lot stronger than you give her credit for." He regarded, marching along back to camp.

In a few minutes, Sera would join him. As for now, she would prefer her friend not see her like this.

. . . . . . . . .

The moon and stars had robbed the sun of its throne. The fiery celestial body would regroup its troops and attack again by morning, but for now, the night sky enjoyed its peace in victory.

"I think I'm starting to feel my thighs again." Kass mentioned aloud. "Oh no. They hurt too." She voiced in a painful realization.

Standing up, Ryuk started heading toward the forest.

"Lets stretch your legs a bit before bed." The knight instructed. "Kass, join me for a quick stroll."

"S-Sure." The youngest weakly agreed. "Just give me a minute. Sera, did you wanna–"

"No." Sera cut the other off with her answer. "I'm going to bed." She informed, rolling away from her companion. "Be safe." She added, dryly.

"Uh... sure." The late teen choked out, wondering what landmine she had stepped on to warrant such behavior.

Catching up to her mentor, the two of them headed out into the dark woods.

In a matter of minutes, Ryuk led his apprentice toward a mighty old oak tree. With the passing of the seasons on the approach, most of its leaves had already departed, with more dropping by the moment.

Walking over to its base, Ryuk stared up at the withering tree. Doing similarly, his pupil joined him at his side.

"Are you confident?" The knight all of a sudden brought up.

"What do ya mean?" The younger asked with furrowed brows.

"Do you think you have what it takes to be a real sword fighter?" Ryuk clarified, still gazing upward.

"I wanna. I really do." Kass admitted in earnest. Sighing to herself at the end, her eyes drifted down to her hand wrapping. "But, I mean... can I really do it if I can't even draw my sword for more than half a second?" She asked, revealing her own fair share of anxieties.

"Sure." Her mentor easily remarked.

"No foolin'?" Kass questioned, whipping her head back up. "How do ya figure?"

The wind blew a bit stronger than it had been prior. The limbs of the great oak shook and swayed as a rainfall of leaves swirled around the pair. A single leaf interrupted Kass' line of sight for the briefest of moments. By the time it had left, she felt the gentle nipping of steel against the side of her neck.

Her eyes going wide as her lips parted, Kass stared utterly awestruck at the fully drawn sword that now laid against her neckline.

"Kass," Ryuk began, taking off his sunglasses to reveal a stalwart gaze. "...if you're using a sword properly, you shouldn't need to draw it for longer than half a second." He explained, easing her worries with a display rather than kind words and good intentions. "There's no problem with being aggressive in a fight, so long as you're picky enough to go for the right moment."

"Picky?" The younger repeated, the other's choice of words sticking out to her.

"That's right." Ryuk confirmed. "And when you find that magic moment, that perfect instance, that's when you..."

The wind swirled up again, the forest itself appearing to know that the words that came next were for master and student alone.

. . . . . . . . .

At the crack of dawn, the trio were already up and packing away their supplies. The crest of the morning sun was just barely showering them over the residing treeline.

"Ugh." Kass groaned, dragging her feet. "I'm wearing sandals, why does it feel like I'm dragging cinder blocks?" She complained, rubbing her sore legs.

About to comment, Sera's head turned to the nearby thick woods. Staring off for a few moments, her behavior drew the attention of her traveling companion.

"Everything right by you Sera?" Kass asked, glancing out into the trees as well.

"Yeah, I just... thought I saw something was all." The older brushed off as she returned to packing her things.

A shadow leaped out from the woods. Not a second later, a chipped dagger was pressed up against Kass' throat from behind. Grabbing hold of her arm from behind, the interloper kept his hostage under this thumb.

At the same time, two more men came rushing out of the woodwork, the two of them each brandishing a handgun. Reaching the campgrounds, they took aim at the pair.

"Don't move and nobody gets hurt." The man who held Kass' life in his warned, his hand and voice alarmingly steady.

Gritting her teeth, the young hostage swore under her breath at her own carelessness. Despite the danger, she still struggled to break free.

Staring with nothing short of murderous intent, her traveling companion glared with the intensity that looked as though it were ready to melt the target of her ire down to the bone. Small, hardly noticeable sparks collecting by her feet, she was more than ready to test said theory.

Click

"How embarrassing. That's what I was going to say." Ryuk joked, despite the circumstances.

Pressing the barrel of his revolver right along the back of the hostage taker's skull, he made certain the other was painfully aware of what he had gotten himself into.

"Dammit." The man growled. "How did you– When did you?" He stammered in frustration at his miscalculation.

"José!" One of the gunmen shouted in alarm, shifting his sights onto Ryuk.

"Stop!" José shouted. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Kass, step away please." Ryuk gingerly advised.

Doing as she was told, she pushed the man's dagger away and slipped out of his hold. Moving away, Sera pulled the girl close to her.

"Now," As Ryuk started talking again, he grabbed José by the arm as to make sure he wouldn't try anything unfavorable. The same action the hostage taker mere moments ago. "...I think your associates want to hand over their weapons. In fact, place on the ground beside me."

"Boss?" The one that had remained silent until now called out, asking for his opinion.

At the question, José slowly nodded.

Slowly and cautiously, the two gunmen daintily and reluctantly unarmed themselves. The moment the two backed away, Ryuk rose his boot. Kicking them with his heel, he knocked the two firearms straight into the river.

"Now then, as I am the only one with a gun..." Twirling the weapon in his hand, he did something no one was expecting. He holstered it. "I no longer need one."

Walking around the man still armed with a dagger, Ryuk looked the mugger over. His nerves were cold, even after everything that had happened. Impressive for someone who seemed to be in his twenties. His stare was relaxed, but not lazy. The man had something the knight had seen a lot of over the years, squandered potential.

"You wouldn't happen to be those highwaymen in the area I've heard about, are you?" Ryuk brought up, now standing directly in front of the man.

Lowering his weapon to his side, José's grip loosened as he took a more natural stance. He had realized he was not getting out of this one, and he had accepted it.

"Just my luck." José complained. "My mark would be some hotshot bounty hunter. Guess it was only a matter of time."

"I take it you're not excited for jail and the imprisonment to follow shortly after." The veteran knight surmised, casually slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Gee, what gave it away?" José lazily egged on with a deadened expression and humble shrug.

Ryuk's smile widened in the way it always would right before he was about to propose something audacious.

"Then how about a wager?" The knight sprung up. "A duel. If you win, you walk away. You lose, not so lucky."

The criminal stared slack-jawed, convinced the man before him was deserving of being committed.

"Excuse me?" Sera voiced in absolute disapproval. "You must be joking." She further discredited.

"I'll pass." José plainly rejected, throwing away the once in a lifetime opportunity. "I can tell just by looking at you that there's a world a difference between us. I don't feel like dancing for your amusement." He conceded, looking about ready to go as far as to throw his own weapon away.

"Hm. You're not wrong." Ryuk considered, rubbing his chin. "It wouldn't be very sporting, would it?" After a quick pause, he snapped his fingers. "I've got it." The man suddenly exclaimed. "Instead of me, why don't you duel my pupil instead?" He casually suggested, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder.

"What?!" Both woman shouted incredulously at the same time.

"I-I mean, yeah, sure." Kass corrected herself, sticking her chest out and pushing her shoulder back. "I'll clobber this clown. No biggie." She boasted with a nervous sweat.

Looking over passed his handler, José sized up his potential opponent. Raising a brow, he tilted his head back somewhat in contemplation.

"That one? The kid in the straw sandals?" The bandit asked to verify.

He was considering it.

Walking around her friend, Sera grabbed her companion by both shoulders, forcing her to face her directly.

"Kass, look at me. You don't have to do this." Sera made certain to clarify.

"No." Kass said, shaking her head. "If Master thinks I can do it, then I can do it." She assured.

Her friend's blind faith in the other was more than just frustrating, it was painful to hear.

"Kass, please..." Sera pleaded.

"Let me see your dagger for a moment." Ryuk instructed, ignoring the debate going on right behind him.

"You say it like I have a choice." José remarked dryly.

Tossing the chipped metal in the air, he caught it easily by the tip with his thumb, middle, and pointer fingers. Extending his arm and weapon outward, he offered the handle.

Grabbing the weapon, the knight combed it over. Testing the ware and tension, he handled it by the well-used grip.

"Hm. Little more than worn, wouldn't you say?" The veteran considered, scanning every chip and flaw.

"It gets the job done, sir." The criminal assured in a mock respect.

"I'd hate if it were to snap in the middle of the fight." Ryuk mentioned. Dropping the blade to the ground, he reached over his shoulder and pulled off his sheathed long sword. "Here, use mine." He offered, generously holding it out in front of him.

Watching the scene before her, Sera was certain this man intended to give her an ulcer.

Cautiously gripping the offered weapon, José wearily removed it from its scabbard. In doing so, his jaded expression dropped.

The sword was immaculate. It was a pure white metal with visually no imperfections.

"This sword..." José had to pause as he gathered all his thoughts. "What is this even made out of? It's so light, but I can feel how sturdy it is just by the weight distribution."

"I'm not sure if the ore has an official name yet." Ryuk noted, slipping his hands back into his pockets. "It's an otherworldly metal not indigenous to our realm. I once used it to cut a path through flowing lava and it didn't so much as leave a scratch. Hopefully it should be up to your standards." He casually informed.

"Who the hell are you?" The thief questioned.

"So," Ryuk began, ignoring the other's inquiry. "...are you up for it?" He simply asked.

Lowering his head, the man's shoulders began to tremble. Proceeding low chuckles, he soon threw his head back in laughter. Running his free hand through his hair, he accepted the absurdity before him.

"Sure. Why the hell not?" José at last conceded.

Turning around, Ryuk fearlessly gave the armed man his exposed back. Soon thereafter, he walked over toward the two woman. Reaching his pupil. He patted her on the arm.

"Careful out there. He seems experienced." The knight noted, taking his place behind her.

"Got it." Kass acknowledged with an anxious nod.

Untying the sheathe from her waist, Kass held it at her side under a tight grip. Stepping out from the small group, she approached the man that only minutes ago held a blade to her throat.

Content remaining where he was, José would let the other come to him. Modifying his hold slightly, he held the sword in one hand, handling it the same as his dagger from before with a loose but flexible grip. This action, a testament to how lightweight the weapon truly was.

The two locking eyes, Kass swallowed her nerves. Her heartbeat encouraging her onward like the beat of a war drum, she let it overtake her as she ran in.

Slamming her sheathed weapon up at the man's face, he swatted it away with his borrowed sword immediately. The novice's attack was redirected and she was pushed aside. Charging right back in with a battle cry, she went for another follow-up. Pulling back his weapon, the bandit traced her attack, guiding its path clear and away from his core. Stepping in, he pulled back his free hand. Balling a fist, he slugged Kass clean in her jaw, bashing her away as she recoiled from the pain.

She had been left open momentarily, but José did not pursue it. He wanted time to acclimate to his weapon, as well as learn exactly what his opponent was capable of. He was adamant to stay put where he was until he had achieved both of these goals. Lowering his defensive stance, he invited her to come at him again.

Both of her companions left alone on the sidelines, Sera didn't care enough anymore to hide her balling fists.

"Of all the stupid, egotistical..." The blonde mage began, literally shaking in anger. "If she gets hurt because of you, then I'll–"

"She'll be fine." Ryuk assured.

"You don't know that! You don't know her!" Sera openly accused. "You met her for an afternoon. I've been with her for weeks. She's not ready for this!" She vehemently refused.

"Just keep watching." The knight remarked, unswayed.

Not learning her lesson from the times before, Kass ran in blindly. This time however, José upheld a low stance. The moment she was in range, he slashed up toward her much too early. The tip of the blade scratching along the ground, he threw up a small dust cloud using a patch of dirt near his feet. Running straight into the underhanded ploy, his inexperienced opponent was blinded right away.

Covering her eyes a moment too late, Kass staggered backward. This time however, José did take the initiative. He had learned all he needed to. Raising his sword overhead, he swung it downward ruthlessly. The moment his swing finished however, his target was no where to be found.

Hearing the crunch of dirt in front of him, José ripped his sight upward to find his opponent a clean three paces further back. Rubbing her eyes with her sleeve, she bared her teeth, ready for more. The jaded man's eyes narrowed at the unexpected discovery.

"Kass, doesn't normally move like that." Sera mouthed out, shocked by her friend's remarkable reaction time.

"You were right yesterday." Ryuk began, catching the woman's attention. "The exercises I was teaching Kass aren't enough to build any real muscle on their own. She had no need for it. She's a farmhand. Those long arduous work days of field labor did all the heavy-lifting for us. Instead, I had a simpler goal. I was never trying to develop muscle. I was trying to develop muscle memory. Long distance running is great for building stamina, for sure, but the instantaneous sprints I made her mix in sporadically taught her legs the importance of utilizing bursts of movement." He explained thoroughly, the fruits of her labor on clear display.

"Then, what about the river exercises?" Sera inquired further, still puzzled.

"Keep watching," The knight suggested. "...and maybe you'll see."

Never one for standing still, Kass remained on the offensive. This time however, rather than redirecting her, José let her approach and caught her in a clash. She tried forcing him back, but using his height and stance as leverage, he was able to hold her off with only one hand.

"You're pretty new to this, aren't you?" José correctly assumed. "Normally, you draw the sword before you start fighting with it." He chastised dryly.

"Can it." Kass grunted out. "Shouldn't you focus on winning?"

"What's the point?" José questioned with a reserved expression. "Even when I do win, I know for a fact that man won't let me walk away from this. He's putting on an act, but I can tell he's more level-headed than he's leading on. Don't get me wrong, that fact doesn't demoralize me. If anything..."

Stepping in, José slammed his boot down on the younger foot, hurting as well as trapping her in place.

"It just ticks me off!" José cried out, his face suddenly far more intense.

Pulling back his free hand, the knuckles of his fist started to glow. Starting another punch, chunks of rock became ripped from the ground beneath them, encasing it like a thick glove. It sparked with a hum of energy, completing itself a moment before contact.

"Lightening Quake!" José invoked passionately.

Breaking away from the other's blade, Kass shifted her guard for the more dangerous threat. Despite blocking, the spell infused blow proved to be far too much. She was sent hurdling back, tumbling and rolling helplessly across the ground.

Acting fast, José rose his stone gauntlet in front of him.

"Mountain Wall!" The bandit called out quickly.

Pillars of rock were erected directly in Kass' immediate path. Hitting the wall, her abused body broke right through it. Landing on her back, she slid down to the edge of the riverbed. Her head dipping back, the top of her skull was caressed by the water's surface. A dye of red now added to the freshwater stream.

"Kass!" Sera cried out before whipping her head toward the knight beside her. "Now do you understand? That wasn't some lucky hit. That was a fully executed combination of spells. He's no ordinary bandit. He's been properly trained as a mage." She furiously pointed out.

"Well now, isn't this quite the development?" Ryuk mentioned passively, appearing completely unfazed.

Her world still spinning, Kass tried to stand, but her body refused her. Weak from pain and overwork, she laid there in thought as she stared up at the morning sky.

That's right. Mages come in all shapes and sizes. They're people who can stomp to cause earthquakes. People who can shout to make tidal waves. People who can shoot lightening from their fingertips. People who can spark wildfires with an exhale. As usual, mages have all the luck.

Struggling to sit up, Kass shakily pulled herself upright. Shifting onto her hands and knees, blood painted the soil at a steady pace. Despite this, she clutched her weapon more tightly than ever.

"You really must've hit your head if you're stupid enough to keep fighting." José insulted, remaining where he was.

Shaking as she stood back up, Kass lifted her head to reveal a trail of blood pouring down her face. Her eyes still alive, rather than pain, she wore a terrifying grin that stretched ear to ear.

"Like I'm gonna bow out when things are just startin' to get fun." Kass boasted.

"You got stones kid," Her opponent conceded, showing her at least some extent of respect. "...but you're all bark no bite!"

"Boulder Rush!" The mage roared, outstretching his hand again.

The ground cracked and tore open before him. From the earthly maw of his own creation, heaves of rock were spit up and catapulted toward the injured fighter.

Dashing to the side with a vault, Kass avoided the dangerous volley. The spot she stood was bombarded with rubble, shaking the ground on impact like an isolated landslide.

The moment Kass landed, her back knee locked up. Trembling, the overworked joint struggled to uphold her weight. Gritting her teeth, the novice spread her legs to compensate.

The longer this went on, the slower she would get. She was useless long range. There was only ever one option available to her. Bolting ahead, she aimed to close the distance immediately.

Focusing his gaze on the fatigued woman, José took a single step back to angle himself properly for his next move. Right as she got within range, he swiped his gauntlet across from him. The ground ripped apart once more as a fresh volley shot out diagonally from him at a near point-blank range.

Skidding to a halt, Kass reinforced her stance. Stopping at the perfect distance, José's dangerous attack sailed right in front of her face. Her bangs were displaced from the slipstream they created, but her eyes didn't so much as flinch away from her target.

The rubble continued out, obliterating the main trunk of a tree a short ways from them. Crumbling under its own girth, it slammed to the ground and the world once again rocked.

At the unwanted development, the bandit scowled. When he saw his opponent at last reach for her blade handle, he raised his own to guard against it. Reinforcing it with his gauntlet, he formed a cross-armed block.

At that instant, Sera saw a different sight to everyone else present. Kass had been transported. She was once again knee deep in the river. Rather than a sword, she held a damp rag in her grip. Blinking, the scene returned to normal. While the location had changed, Kass' stance was identical to the memory.

Tilting the sheathe, Kass slashed the moment of her draw. An unnatural glow took hold of the weapon. The tip of the blade seemed to be distorting the world around it, leaving an unsettling green trail in its wake. Her target backed by the rising sun, her slash overtook him like the streak of a comet tail passing over a solar eclipse, an underworld shooting star. On contact with José's gauntlet, the rock that reinforced it was blown away in a hellish explosion that seemed to rip it apart from the inside. Following through with the same slash, the gauntlet wasn't so much as a hindrance.

Left only with the sword, a one-handed guard would not prove to be enough. Taking the other's slash in full, the borrowed blade was pushed back toward the man's face. The blunt back colliding with his temple, José's legs give out. Dropped to the ground, he was rendered unconscious in an instant.

Before Kass had any time to celebrate, a corrupting green fire sprung to life. Consuming her hand, it clawed up her arm, shooting straight for her head with a life of its own. In spite of this, she seemed relatively calm.

"Kass!" Sera shouted in concern, about to run over.

Retracing the movements of her slash in reverse, Kass re-sheathed the cursed blade in a perfect instant. Slamming the hit down, a small gust of wind echoed off her, diffusing the fire before it even had a chance to singe the bandages running up her arm.

Taking a long deep breath, Kass balled her hands into fists as she pumped them both toward her chest.

"Hell yeah!" The late teen cried out victoriously.

"Wh-What did she just do?" Sera asked aloud, unable to take her eyes off her friend.

"That cursed blade of hers has magical properties to it that even I don't fully understand." Ryuk began, crossing his arms with a look of pride. "So focused on that one slash, she ended up subconsciously channeling it up into the tip. Not used to the feedback of a real sword slash, all that energy came to a messy explosion on contact. It appeared clean and refined right up until the last second. Now who would go and teach my pupil such a dishonest move like that?" A low set of chuckles reverberated out of him as he too admired her fine work.

Inching backward, the two remaining thieves made a dash for the forest in hopes of escape.

Catching wind of this, Sera turned to stop them herself. She hesitated however when she noticed Ryuk somehow getting in front of them despite the both of them departing first. His revolver had once again been drawn. Held out away from him, the knight was in a post-swing posture. The two men already in mid-collapse, it wasn't until they hit the ground did the mage hear the sound of the two distinct blunt impacts that brought them to such a state. Resting his weapon on his shoulder, the knight could not help but wear a smug expression.

"Sorry gentlemen," Ryuk apologized to no one listening. "...but it's not very sporting-like to duck out when things don't go your way."

. . . . . . . . .

Down on one knee, Ryuk had just finished tying the mens hands up with a connected piece of rope. The three of them, each nursing a different variation of head wound, they were mostly docile.

Similarly, seated on a nearby log, Sera was just finishing up treating Kass' own injury with disinfectant and a clean set of gauze that wrapped up her forehead and the back of her skull.

"Well, that should hold them." Ryuk announced, standing up and dusting his hands off. "I think I'd be best if you two went on ahead without me." He suggested, turning toward the two women. "I'll escort these fine folks back to town where they can have their measurements taken for some very fashionable orange jumpsuits." He teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"This was the outcome you were hoping for from the beginning, wasn't it?" Sera accused with the beginnings of a wry smile.

"I wonder. Who can say?" Feigning ignorance, the knight gave an exaggerated shrug.

"So... you're leaving again?" Kass asked, disheartened.

"Kassandra, allow me to be blunt for a moment." Ryuk began, taking off his sunglasses again. "The style of swordmanship I'm leading you toward isn't one that reflects your personality well. If it were up to me, I'd have you learn with a broadsword or a claymore; something sturdy and heavy that would let you force your way in and wedge your opponents into difficult spots. Given your more unique circumstances, the luxury of choice isn't one available to us right now." He explained more candidly than he had been during their entire outing. "That being said, if you're stubborn enough to keep at it, you'll be able to go toe-to-toe with any mage. Not to sound too naively optimistic." He added, reclaiming his smirk.

"Definitely not!" Kass cheered.

"Glad to hear it." The knight encouraged, slipping his shades back on. "I don't have time to teach you anything else at the moment, but that one technique is an excellent groundwork. It should be enough to carry you until the next time we meet."

"Okay!" Kass replied spiritedly. "I'll keep practicing and I'll travel by riverbed every chance I get."

Ryuk's smile changed subtly, reflecting a fair bit of pride.

"Hey." Sera spoke up, catching the man's attention. "I'm sorry for what I said the other night. I see now I may have misjudged you." She apologized, lowering her head with the smallest bit of shame.

"I'm not bothered by it." Ryuk brushed off with a backhanded wave. "But are you sure I'm the one you should be apologizing to?"

The remark caught the mage off guard.

Turning around to collect the bandit group, he gave the girls a parting wave.

"Take care you two." He called back, leading the troupe out.

"What was that about?" Kass asked, her face scrunching up as she turned to her friend. "Were you two fighting or something?"

"It's nothing." Sera remarked, skirting the question. Standing up, she cupped her hands around her mouth. "Have a safe trip!" She called out.

Jumping up as well, Kass took it a step further by hopping up on the log. Taking in a deep breath, she too cupped her hands up to her face.

"Hey, Master!" Kass shouted with all her heart. "Make sure you teach me something cool next time too! Something super flashy!" She demanded with a cheeky and greedy grin.

Chuckling to himself as he left, the knight's composure was quickly shaken by his pupil's eagerness. Waving them off again, he continued on his way.

Eventually making it out of sight as he trekked down the gentle slope of the mountainside, he took a moment to check his weapon. Unsheathing it off his back, he stared down at the piece of metal. Smirking to himself, he stared at the clear scratch an inch above the blade guard.

THE END


I'd played around with the idea of what Ryuk and cast would be like after a time-skip in the past. While I had my ideas here and there, I finally decided on the interpretation shown here from the perspective of a new party.

Ryuk would become the type of person to teach others how to swim by casting them into the deep end. Ryuk as a child desired freedom, this has extended and influenced his teaching methods in adulthood, often disappearing for long stretches of time without a word. He believes Kass would prefer this to an overly strict instructor mitigating her day to day activities. Little does he known, Kass' chaotic string of events and exile has led her to desiring just that, a more rigid and consistent guardian.

This particular instance was absolutely Kass' story. As such, Ryuk doesn't really get a chance to shine. If I were to expand on this what-if, I would absolutely give the vagabond knight a chance to show off in the future.

This is the last and final chapter for the Lost collection. I hope that any old readers I had back in the day are doing well. Take care.