Chapter 45

Who Are You?

It's tiring. No, it's more like Number 666 is nearly spent upon practicing sparring with her one and only instructor, Lambda. She's done it before, but Lambda's still too quick for her. She doesn't have to defeat her, but Number 666 can at least land a hit on her just a few times, then knock her down at the right moment.

"Come on!" Lambda shouts. "Is that the best you can do!? Number 666, I thought I trained you better than that!"

"I'm…not done…yet!" Number 666 grunts as she struggles to her feet, having her sword be used as support. "I'm just warming up!"

"Have you not answered my question earlier?" Lambda says. "I keep telling you over and over. What is your purpose for Shadow Garden? Who are you, really!?"

"I'm….I'm…." Number 666 cannot think straight. She is weakened to the point where she is about to pass out.

Nu is standing at the side lines, watching the intense sparring match. She mostly looks at the blonde, who is trying so hard to remain standing. She believes Number 666 has potential. She just needs to shout out her true name. Her true purpose. However, Lambda is making things much harder for Number 666. It seems like there is one small thing deep inside the blonde that she's hanging onto and won't let go.

"Say it!" Lambda lunges forward, shoulder tackling the younger girl and swinging her sword with a back slash, thankfully she misses on purpose. "Say who you are!"

Number 666 rolls to her feet, panting heavily, clutching the hilt of her blade. She HAS to respond before she completely loses it.

"I…am…!" Magic slowly appears on her blade, making it glow blue. "I am Number 666! A member of Shadow Garden! Ready to fight evil and protect the weak! I am no longer Rose Oriana of the Oriana Kingdom! Nothing else…matters!"

She charges at Lambda, her sword glowing brighter. Lambda gasps, backing away a step.

"HAAAAAHHH!!!" With all her might, Number 666 performs a diagonal downwards slash, the blue light trailing and hitting the instructor.

Lambda drops down to one knee and Number 666 skids to halt. She turns her head to see that she has finally hit her opponent. Nu smiles a soft smile, feeling proud of the trainee finally realizing her true potential.

"I…did it…" The blonde exhales softly and then drops her sword while falling forward.

Lambda quickly turns around and catches her trainee in her arms. She gets down on her knees, letting the blonde rest on it for a bit. She has truly passed out.

"Well done," Lambda says. "You've finally said it. You are now truly part of Shadow Garden."

Nu steps toward the Drill Sergeant. "It looks like she's ready to take it to the next level."

"Indeed," Lambda replies with a soft smile, looking down at the passed out blonde. "She will soon go on missions with us to learn how to take on dangerous tasks. But for now, she will need tougher training."

"I'm sure Number 666 will excel at it in no time," Nu says.

Lambda nods and tucks away a few locks of Number 666's hair away. Looking at her makes the tanned elf blush a little bit. Nu chuckles at this.

"Something the matter?" the brunette asks.

"No," Lambda replies. "You may leave now. You have witnessed enough."

"As you wish," Nu bows and turns to leave.

Lambda looks back at the passed out blonde, gently petting her. "You know…at times like this…it seems as though I cannot look at you as a student. Of all the years I have trained recruits…you seem to be the one that intrigued me the most. You bravely stood up to me that day."

Number 666 doesn't respond. Lambda is glad that she doesn't. She has more to say.

"All in all, what I'm about to say is very embarrassing," Lambda continues. "But…what I see in you is more than just my student. I also think of you…as a friend. Yeah…a close friend is a better way to put it. I expect more from you from now on."

She then plants a kiss on Rose's forehead.