Disclaimer: Mahou Sensei Negima is the property of Ken Akamatsu & Del Rey. Magic the Gathering is the property of Wizards of the Coast & I don't own either property. Got it? You damn well better…

The Einzburg-Planeswalker Cycle

Chapter 9

The great beast looked on to the two men before it & his mouth twisted into the dragon version of a smile. "It is good to see you both alive & well. I had come upon feeling the power of the fourth, but it seems as though you were able to move him on his way. Good job both of you" the beast said, its voice a deep rough growl that shook the very foundations of the school. The two got up from their kneeling positions & talked to the dragon warmly. "Indeed, mighty one, we were able to remove his foul influence from this plane. Luckily the guild had intervened once they felt him destroy a neighboring plane" Helmer explained. "Yes, I felt a plane collapse. He had something to do with that?" the dragon king asked. "Mighty Bolas, he used plane-infusion" Helmer said, & Setsuna, who had been paralyzed with fear of the dragon thus far, saw the beasts eyes widen then contract in surprise. "That monster has learned how to use that old forbidden technique?" the dragon asked. "Apparently so. We both were fighting against him, & we were only able to hold him off" Owin said. "& yet you two were able to put up a much better fight before. This is troubling news indeed. It may take all three of us to defeat him should the time come" Bolas said as he pondered the news.

"Wise dragon god, if I may have permission to speak?" Helmer asked bowing.

"Please, dispense of all these formalities & speak plainly. It is becoming rather annoying" the dragon said tersely.

"Well then, friend Bolas, can you please take on human shape? Dragons are rather rare in this part of the world" Helmer said as he sweat-dropped. Students & people of the city were milling all around the school & screaming in terror of the behemoth that towered over their city. "Ah, so that is what all this noise was about" Bolas said, & after muttering a few words, he became surrounded in a blinding white light, & his form shrunk enormously until it was on the school roof, & at once the light dissipated, & a man stood before them. He was a blond-haired man with a slightly delicate looking build, & he seemed to be no more than five feet high. His features were kind & beautiful, most prominently his high-pointed ears, & his bright gold colored eyes, the same hue as his scales. Setsuna found it hard to believe that such a colossal dragon could transform into such a handsome man.

"Um, Lord Bolas, elves are even rarer in this country than dragons" Helmer humbly said.

"I will not disgrace myself by taking the form of a human. Elf-form will have to do" Bolas said simply as he walked toward the edge of the roof. He then began chanting a couple of words while the mass of people down in the courtyard pointed & talked about him. "You two, cast a shield spell on whoever you do not want wiped. This spell is rather large" he told them as mana began to amass on his hands. Owin & Helmer then began to mutter words as well & balls of mana began to fly off to into the school, one stopping before Setsuna & entering into her mind. After a few more minutes, Owin & Helmer said that they were done with their casting. Bolas then raised his hands into the air & brought them bashing together. A huge ripple erupted from his hands & spread throughout the city, & almost everyone was knocked down from the shockwave. Setsuna ran over to the edge of the roof & leaned over to see, & she saw everyone getting up & muttering things like "Where am I?" or "What happened?".

"It is a memory-wiping spell. This way no one will remember seeing me" Bolas explained to Setsuna. She gulped in nervousness & nodded, giving him a small bow. "I suppose this child is the one you two are training?" Bolas asked pointing at Setsuna. "Indeed. She is Sakurazaki Setsuna, the very first Keldon warrior not from our plane" Owin explained. "Can such a tiny child learn the method? She's not even a woman yet" Bolas said as he walked around Setsuna, examining her & making her feel embarrassed. "In this plane, she is actually rather good with a sword" Helmer said. "Of course, after our training, she will be the best in the plane" Owin said with a smirk. "With you two teaching her, I have no doubt. But can she herself take it? Your people our rather unique after all" Bolas said as he took Setsuna's hand & saw the calluses she had developed from her kendo training. "Of that we don't know what to say. As of yet she has had only one class. We were about to hold the second when you graced us with your visit" Helmer said. "Hmm. Would you mind if I accompany you? I'd like to see for myself the mettle of her soul" Bolas said as he held Setsuna's face gently & looked into her eyes. She looked & saw that his eyes were a magnificent shade of gold, & that while they were patronizing & arrogant, they were also just a little kind. "Of course, you may, Bolas. We are going to leave now then" Helmer said as he walked over & took Setsuna's hand. "Are you ready, Setsuna-chan?" he asked. "Yes" Setsuna said, her stomach tying into knots as she braced herself for the sudden transition. Almost instantly her view changed from the familiar skies of Mahora Gakuen to a barren wasteland. The cool breeze of the school rooftop transitioned into an uncomfortable heat, & the view of buildings & people transformed into rocks & dead trees. Due to the sudden change, an instant wave of nausea swept over Setsuna, much worse than before, & she crouched & vomited. "I knew it would be harder for her this time" Helmer said as he bent down & held Setsuna's hair back as she continued vomiting. "She'll get used to it after a while" Owin said nonchalantly as he & Bolas began to survey the surrounding landscape. Setsuna could only distantly hear what they were saying as she continued to vomit & dry-heave, her own body cold & shaking despite the heat. I'm going to get used to this?! Setsuna thought as she finally stopped emptying her stomach enough to only dry-heave. "Can't you simply use a healing spell to stop her?" Bolas asked.

"This is better for her training. She needs to learn to recover from almost anything as quickly as possible" Owin said.

"You really are a tough teacher".

"She deserves nothing less".

After a few more minutes of dry-heaving, Setsuna finally found enough strength to stand on her shaking legs. "Wait, Owin-san…I just remembered…I don't have my sword anymore" Setsuna said as she breathed heavily.

"I know about that. I will give you one of my swords" Owin said as he materialized a long sword which embedded itself in the ground. "That is an old sword from back in my younger days. It served me well, & I am sure it will do the same for you" he said as he plucked the sword from the ground & handed it to Setsuna. It felt heavier than Yuunagi had, but she was confident that she would get used to it eventually. It was also slightly longer than her old sword, though only by a few centimeters. It also had a handle guard, which was shaped like a half-square, the ends protruding out in the same direction of the blade. She recognized that the sword was foreign & not in the same style as her katana, since the sword was double-edged.

"Does a double-edge bother you?" Owin asked, shocking her in the middle of her thinking. "How did-" Setsuna began when Owin cut her off saying "you know what I was thinking?".

"Yes" Setsuna said.

"I can read minds. Does a double-edge bother you?" he asked her again.

"It's just that, I can no longer do my battojutsu moves" she said as she continued to examine the blade.

"Battojutsu?".

"It is quick-draw moves" Helmer explained to his brother.

"That won't matter right now. After a few hours of training, you'll move fast enough that you're lack of moves won't matter" Owin said.

"What do you mean?".

"This world has a much higher speed barrier than your world did. When you return to your world, you'll move almost as fast as brother & I do. You're normal strikes will be as fast as a quick-draw."

"From only a few hours of training?" Setsuna asked amazed.

"Yes. Of course it will probably be much harder than you seem to think it will be" Owin said as he walked away, putting some distance between he & Setsuna.

"But Owin-san, for how long will we be here? I have school in the morning" Setsuna said as she gripped the sword in her hand, anticipating an attack from her teacher.

"Do you really think that this world would use the same time that you're world does? An hour in your world basically equates to about a week here. We have all time in the world to train you. Now that we are no longer so limited by your world's barrier, we can begin with much higher training" Owin said as he materialized his black long sword & held it behind him with the tip touching the floor. He held out his hand & muttered a few incantations, & once again Setsuna felt the same warm glow & the same energizing invigoration fill within her.

"This will be a sparring match. Go all out & don't hesitate. Understand?" Owin asked her as he tightened his grip on his sword. Setsuna nodded her head in response. "Remember what I told you, don't think, feel" Owin said as Helmer stepped in between them. "Ready…Go!!" he yelled, & before a second passed, Owin teleported straight toward Setsuna with a slash to her side. Anticipating the attack, Setsuna blocked with her sword, used instant movement to get behind him, & slashed at his back. Owin teleported & sensing danger, Setsuna immediately pivoted, bringing her sword up just in time to block a overhead slash from Owin. Seeing him teleport again, Setsuna tried to turn around, but ended up tripping on her feet. As she fell, Owin appeared, & he kicked her straight in the face, sending her flying a few feet. Tasting blood in her mouth, Setsuna slowly got back up to see Owin watching her. "Have you forgotten my lessons already? Or did they leave from one ear & out the other?" he asked.

"I was able to sense your attacks! I am learning!" she said angrily as she spat blood out of her mouth.

"Yes, you certainly did much better than last time, of that you can be sure. However, what about the other thing I taught you? About movement?" he asked.

After thinking for a half second, she realized what he was talking about. She had completely forgotten about coating her feet with ki like he had taught her. She cursed herself for not realizing it faster, than thought back about the match. He continually teleported behind me, forcing me to turn in an uncomfortable manner. If I hadn't been so focused on the fight, I would have noticed that I was going to get tripped, she thought.

"Are you going to take all day or what?" Owin asked, waiting. Setsuna then closed her eyes, concentrating her ki into her feet & allowed it to cover them, now being able to slide on the floor. Suddenly sensing danger, she opened her eyes quickly & brought up her sword just in time to block a thrust from Owin. "I never said we were taking a break" Owin said to her as he teleported behind her to slash her head. Now easily able to move, Setsuna ducked & slashed at Owin's side. Blocking the strike with his bare hand, Owin kicked directly into Setsuna's side, causing her to grimace from the pain. Still holding onto her sword, Owin brought his other arm around & attempted a thrust at Setsuna's head. Setsuna was forced to let go of her sword, & ducked to avoid the deadly tip. She then used instant movement to go to Owin's side, grabbed his arm, & unfurled her wings, using them to fly high into the air as she carried Owin up with her. "Fool!" Owin yelled as he attempted to stab Setsuna through her stomach. Setsuna let go of the man for the instant the sword passed, then flew back down to grab his arm & throw him pummeling toward the ground. Owin met the ground with a sickening thud & a large dust cloud irrupted where he landed. Flying down to grab her sword, which had fallen in the middle of the exchange, Setsuna brought it up quickly to her side as Owin teleported in front of her & slashed at her head. She then tried to front-kicked him in the stomach, sending him back as she brought her sword to her side & tried to stab at his stomach. Owin deftly allowed the sword to go in between his side & arm then brought his hand up & around her sword as he used the leverage to smack the sword away from her hands. Now sword-less, Setsuna fell into her fighting stance, her feet spread apart with her left food leading, her left hand extended with her right hand balled into a fist underneath her shoulder. Owin watched her for a second before teleporting behind her with a slash to her head. Setsuna anticipated the strike & ducked underneath. She then grabbed Owin's hand with her right hand & grabbed his elbow with her left. She then forced his hand over his shoulder in an attempt to knock him down. Suddenly, at the exact moment that his hand touched his shoulder, Owin shoulder-tackled Setsuna, sending her flying back a few feet. She was just getting up when Owin came at her quickly with a jumping overhead slash. Setsuna quickly moved to her right & heard the loud thud Owin's sword had made upon impacting with the ground. Owin's wasted little time in attacking again as he dragged the sword across the ground to slash at her head, which Setsuna dodged by getting into a sitting position. Immediately after dodging the fatal slash she was kicked in the face by Owin, sending her back & sending another wave of blood through her mouth. Luckily, Setsuna was able to catch her footing & flipped into a standing position. Upon getting up she managed to see Owin coming at her with a another swipe to her head. Setsuna bent down in order to dodge & was met with Owin's knee as it drove itself into her forehead, causing a large cut, making her flip in the air & making her grunt in pain. In that split second Owin brought his fists together in the air & brought them down directly on her back where her lungs would be. Then wind was knocked out of Setsuna, & she was thrown to the floor, where she coughed, her lungs now desperate for air. Owin then went to her side & kicked Setsuna right where her kidney would be, making her scream as she headed for the floor. Owin then teleported where Setsuna was headed & kicked out with a roundhouse kick. Setsuna managed to anticipate this & grabbed his leg, both hands touching on his pressure points. Setsuna thought she had the match won when he brought his sword up, point down & drove the tip directly into her shoulder. Setsuna screamed in pain as the sword was driven down through her arm, stabbing its way out & once again leaving her arm in tatters. Owin ripped the sword from her flesh & front-kicked her in the face with his other foot. Setsuna flipped in the air & landed kneeling, grasping her arm as blood flowed from it profusely. She looked to her side & saw that her sword was still quite a few feet away, while Owin was silently watching her, awaiting her next move. Setsuna thought quickly. I'm still completely out-classed, but I want to get a least a hit on him. The problem is I need to get my sword back. She looked again at her sword & thought If I can just dodge his next strike, I might be able to get my sword back before he pressures me again. But, she thought as she looked at her wound, blood completely having covered her shirt. This is still very serious. The pain isn't too bad now, but I'm not going to be able to use this arm for the rest of the battle. Owin was still watching her, driving his sword into the ground in front of him & letting both hands rest on the sword's pommel. He's waiting to see what I'm going to try next. Is he going to willingly give me the initiative? This doesn't sound like him at all. What the hell is he plotting?, Setsuna thought as she gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the pain like she had before. Owin closed his eyes & appeared to be meditating. To test him, Setsuna moved her foot slightly. Instantly Owin opened his eyes & went back to watching to her. Damn. Even with his eyes closed he's still completely aware of every move I make. He'll know exactly what I am going to do by the time I try to move.

"It seems like she can't move" Bolas said as he & Helmer observed the battle. "Yes. Even though he's not moving, brother will be aware of every move that she makes. The only thing she would be able to do is move faster than him" Helmer said as he scratched his chin.

"Yet that is impossible".

"Yes. That won't work on him. The match, in truth, was over before it even began. This is just to test what she would do".

"How well she thinks in battle".

"Exactly. She needs to find someway to counter him or else the match is over".

Setsuna was still holding on to her arm, which by now how had completely numb. All she had was a one-armed body with no sword & her wits. Her mind was buzzing trying to find some way to fight, something to do before Owin grew impatient & decided to end the match. Owin had gone back to closing his eyes while she continued to think. Rushing him is out of the question. He'll know what I'll do before I do it. Grabbing the sword is out of the question. I have a feeling he already knows I'm aiming to get the sword back. Wait for him to attack? No, he'll counter me in turn. What can I do…?, she desperately thought. What would be the least expected route? Maybe I can catch him off guard with something reckless? Rushing him…but he'll be ready for that as well… What would he do in a situation like this?, she found herself thinking as she looked at him, his eyes still closed in apparent meditation. Wait, would he fall for that? she thought as sudden inspiration hit her mind. Thinking her plan might work, Setsuna went back into her fighting stance, Owin's eyes instantly opening at the sense of her movement. Using instant movement, she rushed the warrior.

What is she doing?, Owin thought simply as pulled the sword out & blocked her high kick from his right with his sword handle. Right after the kick connected she used instant movement again to get behind him. Owin swung his sword around to slash at her midsection. Setsuna dodged the slash & once his sword came above her head, she grabbed his hand with her only functioning one & twisted it around, causing Owin to drop it momentarily. As though her life depended on it, Setsuna made a desperate grab for the sword. Owin smacked her away with his other hand, & grabbed the sword back himself. Then as she flipped in the air & landed, he charged straight toward her & thrusted, the sword completely impaling her through her stomach. As the hilt was driven into her stomach, he looked at her face, & saw that even though she was in pain, he saw a hint of a smile on her. So that's it, Owin thought as he pulled the sword out from her. She grabbed his wrist & kneed him in the stomach, causing Owin to let go of his sword. She then crouched as quickly as possible & did a somersault kick, sending Owin flying into the air while she grabbed the sword in midair. Owin flipped in the air & landed a few feet away while Setsuna landed in a crouch, using her arm to both hold onto the sword & keep her organs from leaving her through the rather large hole in her stomach.

"Was the point of that to take my sword?" he asked.

"That's right" she replied.

"At the cost of your stomach? Were it not for my spell, you would have been dead long ago".

Setsuna grimaced as yet another pang of pain rang through her body, her arm growing hot from all the blood & organs it was touching. "Like you said, this pain can't kill me, right?" she said with a grin.

Owin looked at her for a second & chuckled. "That's enough. You did much better than you did during our first test. If you keep going at this rate, maybe Warsong won't be impossible" he said a grin. "Take a rest & have brother look after your wounds. Once your better, we will continue" Owin said as Helmer walked over to Setsuna with the usual white aura surrounding his hands.

"You let her win. That's not really your style you know" Bolas said as Owin walked over to him.

"She won't be able to learn anything if she's dead. I had too, don't you think?" Owin said, sitting down in seiza position.

"How good do you think she is?".

"She's good. She's a very good swordsman for her age. Then she has a good head for battle. Though the best thing is that…".

"She knows exactly what you want from her, right?" Bolas finished the sentence.

"Yes. I think she is slowly discovering every little bit of my fighting style. I deliberately had to hold back. If she were ever to learn warsong, she may actually have a chance of beating me" Owin said as he looked at his brother & Setsuna, him healing her while she collapsed from pain.

"Don't you think that makes her a threat? You usually try to kill those who threaten you" Bolas said.

"She's going to need it for the initiation ritual in any case. When that comes, that is when her very soul will be tested. I have to make her strong enough by then".

"…You've changed" Bolas said as he closed his eyes, his arms folded in front of his chest.

"What do you mean?".

"You're becoming…more human I guess".

"Human?".

"You were always like a beast, especially with your past. They don't call you the " Death Incarnate" for nothing. Now though…you're changing at the same rate that she is. You're…becoming more human. I can't think of another way to put it". Bolas said, chuckling & shaking his head.

"It's the same for you as well, isn't it? The old tales of you from before the Mending speak of a Bolas I've never met" Owin said, looking at Bolas.

"Pray you don't meet that Bolas. He is still very much alive" Bolas said with a hint of malice in his voice.

"I'm sure. Though…if she is able to learn warsong, she may be the edge we need against Wilhelm, don't you think?" Owin asked.

"Hmph. You always have two or three different agendas in everything you do. I guess she will though. If she lives that long".

"Yes…she may need a death to spur her onwards. The adversity of death usually brings about the desire for power in people".

"You know anybody good enough for that?".

"A couple. Setsuna places a lot of love on those around her. I have one in mind especially if we need to make her snap. Though…" Owin broke off, pausing.

"Though?"

"I feel…as though I'd rather spare her that" Owin said, his face confused.

"That's what I am talking about" Bolas said.

"What?".

"You're becoming human. Death doesn't bother you, right?".

"No. Or at least, I think it doesn't" Owin said, his face showing his confusion more & more.

"So then what does it matter?".

"I…I don't know".

"She's making you change. Do you regret killing now?"

"I regret nothing I do!" Owin said suddenly, his face becoming completely serious.

"I think you do. Have you ever heard of Himura Kenshin?".

"No, I haven't".

"He was a man in a plane I visited. He was like you, a mass murderer. Though he thought it to be for justice, he killed whoever he was asked to kill, & like you, felt no real remorse. Until he met a woman. Slowly, as he was with that woman, the madness within him began to subside, & he tried to live his life in peace. The woman acted as a sheath, in order to hold back the vile sword that was his madness, & he became a warrior of justice, saving the weak. I think Setsuna may very well become your sheath, if you were to let her" Bolas said.

"A sheath? Something to hold back my madness…" Owin repeated, allowing the thought to run through his head.

"Yes. I think that in training this girl, you may change yourself" Bolas said.

Owin stood silent, watching as Helmer began to finish healing the wounds Setsuna had gained. Would this girl truly change him that way? Owin thought to himself, Now that I think about it, she has been trying to make me be nicer to everyone. Maybe I should give it a try. This thought had surprised him. He had never really thought about changing himself.

"I'm not saying it's wrong for you to change like this anyway. Just remember: No matter how much you change, you will never be able to change your past. It was the same for that man, & so it shall be the same for you. Your soul is too stained for forgiveness".

Owin stood silent. He didn't know how to reply.

"Owin-san! We can continue with the training" Setsuna said as she called Owin over from where she was. Owin got up & walked over, his mind still distracted by what Bolas had just told him. Was he truly going soft in his sense of killing? Was it really so wrong to kill? All his life he had been raised to believe that killing meant nothing. Everyone dies eventually. Was it so wrong to end a person's life quicker than what was predestined? How could that be wrong? He was raised that way. Even if it was wrong, would he be truly at fault?

Owin was disturbed from his thinking as Setsuna tapped his shoulder. "Owin-san, are you okay? You seem distracted" Setsuna said. "There's nothing wrong. Go get your sword" Owin said as he shooed the girl on her way. There's no point in worrying about it now. It doesn't matter anyway, he thought as he materialized his sword from thin air so that it nestled snugly in his hand, it's long familiar weight comforting. Setsuna ran back to a spot about fifteen feet from where Owin stood, her sword already raised in her battle stance.

"Now then, Setsuna, you will learn how to put up a barrier. For someone learning the Warsong, this is one of the most important basics" Owin said.

"A barrier?".

"That's what I said. Not all Warsongs are quick to work, & require that you wait for sometime before you are able to fight. In those wait times, we are left very open, & thus it becomes imperative that you are able to put up a quick but strong barrier to protect yourself. For that, you will need your ki. Are you ready?".

"Yes".

"Now then, I want you to focus a large amount of ki into your hand, as much as you can spare" Owin said as he watched. Setsuna raised her hand & closed her eyes in order to concentrate.

"Don't close your eyes, Setsuna. You must be able to do this even with hundreds of soldiers breathing down your neck. Closing your eyes during a battle leads to death" Owin said.

"Yes sir" Setsuna said automatically. While it did help, closing her eyes to concentrate was not necessary. Her Shinmeiryuu, while being very different from the strange fighting style she was now learning, still helped in certain places. Before long, Setsuna's hand was glowing with her ki.

"Now, I want you to spread your ki outward in front of you, just like a shield. Make it as hard as you can, hard enough to turn away any sword that may come at you" Owin instructed. Setsuna concentrated more & the blue flame that was her ki became flat & rested against her palm. Doing as Owin had said, she then manipulated the ki so that it extended outward around her, a perfect shield. Setsuna looked over at Owin's direction when she saw him disappear. Already sensing attack, Setsuna twisted so meet Owin's blade as he appeared directly behind her, her shield just barely blocking the blow.

"Your attention is still good I see" Owin said with a look of satisfaction. "However," be began as he suddenly teleported behind her again. Setsuna twisted to block the blow, but once again Owin's speed had caused her to turn in a bad position. Owin then pushed her & Setsuna fell to ground.

"You lack the concentration to use the foot technique. In order to fight effectively you need to constantly have you feet coated & you must be able to bring up your shield within a moment's notice. Not doing that will equate to death, Setsuna" Owin said as Setsuna laid on the ground, slightly embarrassed that she was still being beaten like a child.

"Yes sir" Setsuna said as she got back on her feet. As she was getting up she saw Owin disappear suddenly & reflexively brought up her arm to shield against him with her ki. Right where she thought he would strike he did, his sword clashing harshly against her shield. Instantly Owin disappeared, & thinking quickly, Setsuna brought as much ki as she could spare into her feet. Her feet coated, Setsuna slid herself to block his midsection swipe to her ribs with her sword. Instantly Owin teleported for a third time & Setsuna brought her sword upwards to block the overhead strike that would have spilt her head open. Concentrating her ki into her hand, she brought it close to Owin's chest & let go, causing a huge explosion. Not feeling Owin's chest when the blast should've connected, Setsuna used instant transmission to move to her right, in case of a follow-up attack from Owin. He appeared right where she had been a few seconds earlier & pulled a pistol out from inside his jacket, pointed it at her & began to fire. Setsuna used the slide technique to it's fullest, dodging the bullets like a figure skater. As she dodged the very last one, she could feel Owin teleporting behind her, & focused her ki into her back as a makeshift shield. The blow from his sword shook her back hard, but not enough to hurt her. Setsuna brought her sword up & around, then did a backward thrust to stab at Owin from behind her. The thrust bounced weakly off of Owin's arm as he then brought his gun against her neck & pulled the trigger. Instantly Setsuna could feel the burning hot bullet blow past & through her neck, exiting out the other side along with a huge amount of her blood. Her body seized up as her arms reached to her neck by instinct, attempting to stop the unchecked blood flow, her sword dropping to the floor. Owin, giving the girl little reprieve, teleported to her front & thrust his sword to her chest. Setsuna, most of her attention focused on the should-have been fatal wound, concentrated her ki into her one arms & smacked Owin's sword away weakly. As the sword was knocked away, Owin let go of it with one arm, using it to grab the collar of her shirt. Owin then twisted in the opposite direction & threw the girl over him & to the floor. As she laid on the floor, Owin brought his sword over high & brought it down to stab her head. Setsuna just barely moved her head to dodge the fatal sword point, brought her arms up to her head to stand upside down. Hooking her feet around Owin's head, she picked herself up using her toned ab muscles in attempt to give Owin a Franken Steiner. Predicting the move, Owin then grabbed her calves & lifted the girl slightly higher, then slammed her down with brutalizing force in a power bomb. The move caused more blood to spit out from Setsuna's neck, & she screamed in pain. Sensing victory, Owin brought his fist up to finish it. Setsuna then got up on her arms again, but this time she pushed off the ground to slam kick Owin in the stomach, sending him back a few feet away. Setsuna then flipped backward into a crouching position, breathing hard. Due to her windpipe being ruptured, the girl could barely breathe, & she was beginning to lose consciousness.

"You are progressing rather nicely, Setsuna. Much quicker than expected" Owin said as he watched the girl struggle in stopping the blood flow. Setsuna was so distracted that she barely heard him. "Would you like to stop here & get healed?" he asked.

"Please…I-I…can't talk…" Setsuna said in a rasping voice, her voice barely audible, every vowel causing her immense pain.

"Yeah fine, go get healed. We continue as soon as your done" Owin said as he stabbed his sword into the ground, put both hands onto the pommel, & closed his eyes in meditation. She was certainly getting better. He had to say, her potential was amazing. Her skills increased with every battle, & she understands a style almost as soon as she sees it. If all they could do was even the playing field slightly, she might even have a chance of beating him. All she needed to do now was master the warsong. I wonder…could she be ready for the initiation ritual now? It usually takes many years of training for someone to be ready for that, & she doesn't even have any Keldon blood within her…No…I'm rushing too much. If she has the potential, it will manifest itself when it is time. There's no need to rush these things…Besides, even though she is doing very well, it is only because I'm holding back. She still has much more to go. Then, Owin began to laugh inside. I'm getting pretty excited. I can't wait to see how much she grows. It's almost like watching my own daughter grow up, Owin remarked as he opened his eyes to look on as Helmer healed the large hole in her neck. Though he didn't show it in his face, Owin smiled inside.