TF Chapter 46 A New Year, A Spar

When you gaze into the abyss known as death, there is a 100% chance that its also gazing right back at you. 

Two times!

Those were the number of times I had managed to escape from that abyss just by the skin of my teeth. At first, I hadn't thought much of the experience, but in the second time, I didn't get away unscathed, causing an alteration to my previously mild nature.

Sparks and sounds of clashing metal scattered as I parried a blow to the right, using my entire reserves of strength just to make sure the copper colored gauntlet deviated from its trajectory.

After that burst of exertion, I leaped to the left, a few meters away to give myself space to catch a breath.

Strength! How I craved it! 

The year had ended, with the new year starting with nothing noteworthy, except for the fact that us three had all managed to make it without elimination.

Even now, having overcome my trauma, I still couldn't handle the memories of my close encounter with death on my second time, having chosen to have a forger lock them inside of me. I knew they existed, and the fact that I could unlock them with my spirit, but...

I shivered at the thought of reliving the agony of the nightmare.

I didn't hate Celeste, as it had been an accident. But, I hated my weak self with a passion!

With a force rebound from the ground, I launched myself towards her, my sword poised for a thrust, only for her to spin out of the way, except, it had been a feint on my part, and with a flick of a wrist, I slashed horizontally, following the direction that her body had taken.

Sparks lit my vision when the edge collided with her torso, the armor developing a knick where my sword had made contact, yet, I still couldn't cut through as she borrowed the force to jump away from my range.

Applying force to my feet, I did two things in quick succession, stopping my momentum, and once again applying force to the direction she had retreated in so I could pursue her. If I gave her any chance to rest, there was plenty of chance for her to capitalise on it and gain an advantage over me.

I fluttered over to her, launching all manner of attacks, from thrusts to slashes, all the while displaying magnificent technique. I had sparred with her countless times already, having improved from the point of having the sword leading me on instinctively to the level of being the one in absolute control. Of course, the artifact couldn't be disregarded as I had simply copied its moves, improving upon them until now, where my technique had surpassed even hers.

When sparks scattered as another forward thrust was blocked, I pulled back the sword and launched a diagonal slash, which she evaded with a burst of force to her feet.

Then, she spun before I could retract my arm, appearing at my side and punching towards my torso.

'Shit!'

With a burst of force that strained some of my muscle fibers, I forcefully leaped backwards, her strike barely missing me. I didn't rest on my laurels, instead opting to take more steps backward. The good thing was that she didn't pursue me, only standing in place. With that armor of hers covering her entire body, I didn't know what expression she was making beneath it.

"Your mastery of the sword has surpassed my martial arts level, but your power is still lacking...I am not blaming you, just stating the ugly truth. Remember this, in front of absolute power, technique becomes useless." 

I nodded in complete agreement with her. Right now, I was still weak, and many years were still needed for me to reach her level. It was frustrating to admit, but the truth.

"I let you test yourself against me the previous bout, now, try to survive my attacks!"

There wasn't even a lull between the last word and her appearing in front of me in an instant.

I hastily brought up my sword to block her blow, with the punch causing a powerful force to be transmitted from my arms into my body. I uncontrollably slid backwards, but I developed a plan even as I slid backwards. I put some force into my feet and kept some few feet behind before slashing out at Celeste's oncoming ferocious figure.

Her copper colored arms blocked my blade, so I pulled back for a moment and instead made a thrust, taking advantage of her forward momentum. If she didn't stop, then my blade was most definitely going to enter her chest.

Like a leaf, she spun away from the sword thrust, as if the tiny gust brought upon by my move had affected her, impressing me.

Before her spin could allow her to bypass my outstretched arm though, I pulled back and unleashed a horizontal slash, which she blocked with her gauntlets, only leaving a tiny knick where my blade had made contact, coupled with a series of sparks.

I felt a force transmitting from her arms as she pushed away my sword, causing my stance to almost collapse, but I simply leaped back, re-aligning myself once again.

If previously she had been toying with me, now, she was in serious mode! My heartbeat sped up at the increased feeling of danger I was getting from her.

Once again, her form blurred, and instinctively, without any room for thought, moving my sword horizontally in front of me. That reflexive action paid off as her twin punches clashed with the broad of the sword, the force pushing me back, once more threatening to break my stance. This time, she didn't stop there, instead following upon her advantage, unleashing a flurry of blows that were powerful enough to cause a numbness in my hands every time I blocked them with my sword, which was mostly an action I was performing on instinct alone as she was simply too fast for my eyes!

I was only barely managing to capture the trajectory of her moves with my gaze, yet even with improvements, I was still unable to block all the blows, with some making contact with my body.

She was holding back, yet even with that, her strength wasn't something to scoff about as the pain from the blows was increasingly making it hard for me to concentrate on the battle.

BOOM!

With a loud bang and a heavy blow, I was blown away, only having managed to place my sword in the path of the blow in time, preventing it from making contact with my body.

Damn! I wonder when I will reach the level where I can fight on per with her!

Such a thought crept within my mind even as my back made contact with the wall of the stone room, my bones rattling within me as if they were about to shatter into pieces.

When I regained myself, I had an urge to spit out blood but restrained it.

"You see the difference, don't you?" 

The question was jarring to my ears even as I fought to stay conscious. Couldn't she have gone softer? What was the point of sparring if I had to nurse such devastating wounds every time? 

Even though the council had allowed the use of that recovery chamber since the dawn of the combat lessons, it was still a pain if I had to visit it regularly.

"Teacher Celeste, you need to at least be lenien-"

"What the hell are you talking about?! Will your enemy be lenient to you?!" 

Danny's words set her off like a fire cracker. A sigh escaped my lips. She had changed. At first, she had tried to curb the change after heavily injuring me, yet that didn't last long. Danny Danny Danny, he still hasn't learned.

With a sigh, I stood up with difficulty.

"Teacher Celeste, the new year has just started and we managed to graduate the previous one...but why haven't we been given something new to do?"

Thanks Bora! I winked at her for managing to successfully divert Celeste's attention. The two had been spectating my bout with her after having gone through theirs. None of us were happy when Celeste lost her marbles, always having to tread on thin ice. A change in topic like this was a welcome relief.

"...even I haven't been told anything yet."

"Haaaah!"

That sound leaked out from my mouth. How could that be?! It wasn't only I who was surprised as even the other two were.

Her background had already been made clear to us...Celeste was the daughter of a council member! If even she hadn't been notified, what was there something profound?