Grey Nirmala
We took our battle stances. The place where there was once a campfire was now an arena for us. A 30 meters long arena in every direction creating a giant circle. If either of us steps outside the arena, we will lose and, as punishment, that person will have to fight many earthworms. No killing if someone goes outside. But both Astrid and I know that we will not go the easy route. We both want each other dead. I don't know why Astrid hates me so much, but I know why I hate him so much.
Astrid was on the other side of the arena. The Purple Sun was about the set, and everyone was watching us, even the Fear Marshal. She was in midair looking down on us, she didn't want this duel to happen. But she will watch it with open eyes. She will watch her little "innocent" brother`s death.
"Do you still want to fight? We can cancel it, if you want."
I walked around the arena, ignoring Astrid`s words.
"Come on Grey! We believe you!" Ulma shouted from my back.
Bloom, Kai and Ulma, they were people that I called friends". Maybe they were my friends. But what would they think after I execute my plan? Maybe for the first time I cared what other people thought about me.
"Well except for Raya of course." Hachiko said, his voice full of joy.
I knew that he told me this not to be the annoying bastard he is, but because he was hiding something. And I also know that my dear companion can hear these thoughts.
We were going to start off by just using our fists. Then our weapons, normal aetheric abilities and finally after all of those we will fight with our Myths. This wasn't an established rule, but both I and Astrid wanted to take the most fun and blood out of this battle. So we made a deal to use only fists until either one of us was in a bad shape.
"Astrid William Sangius, Ascension Awakening, a user of the Myth Branch of Crimson and the holder of the awakened weapon: Blood Spear. Against Grey Nirmala, Third Awakening, a user of the Myth Branch of Fate and the holder of the awakened weapon: Fate Weaver." Caldrim announced from the middle of the arena.
He looked at us and then shot his arrow into the sky and the arrow exploded a couple of seconds after being shot. He zeroed away, and with that blast our battle began.
Astrid was as fast as ever but now my eyes saw more. He appeared right in front of me. His right fist ready to swing, his left balancing the body. He threw the punch with such a perception that it shocked me. I blocked it using both of my arms but the impact threw me back several meters away. I quickly used my legs to balance myself. Throwing a foot back I lunge forward. Our bodies met in the middle and we both threw a paunch right into our faces. But before I could get thrown away I used my entire body to balance myself. Astrid did the same, he was faster. Right when I got my balance my eyes met Astrid`s. He jumped and threw a kick right into my face. I stumbled a little backwards but before I could do anything Astrid appeared on my back. He threw both his fists and I was shot forward falling on my stomach. I quickly got up but before I could take a stance Astrid grabbed me from the eyes and kicked me down, making me bow to him. He smirked but before he could do anything else I lunged at him with my fists on his lungs. Astrid tried to block them and then tried to swing a fist to me. I grabbed his fist and smashed my head at his. Astrid fumbled backwards and I threw a kick at him. Astrid jumped and then used my leg like a landing pad. In high speed kicks I was thrown away and hit the sand hard. The sand created dust. The dust went away as I saw him.
"Haven't had enough?" Astrid asked as he walked towards me slowly to show dominance.
I spat on the ground and with the help of my arms I got up. Astrid smirked, as once again lunged forward. I countered it by jolting to his left in a surprising angle. Astrid`s eyes widened for a second but before he could muster any more attacks I spun and then threw a kick. To my surprise Astrid catched my right leg with immense force. That damn bastard was doing anything to win. I tried to free my right leg by throwing a punch to his face but before I could Astrid with the help of both of his hands spanned my leg and then slammed me to the ground. I was caught off guard. I expected him to catch my leg but not him doing this. I tried to get up but before I could Astrid kicked me away by throwing a powerful kick at my guts. I was on the ground and at this rate I would lose. I tried to get up again but before I could Astrid grabbed my left foot and spinned me around. I knew what was coming and I couldn't stop it. Astrid threw me away. I hit the ground so bad that I even heard some of my bones breaking.
"Fuck!" I cursed.
But I cursed more the moment I realized where I was. I was right near the border.
"Walk out yourself or beg me to do it, otherwise you will die."
I turned my head to look at the Heir of the Greathouse Sangius. He again was walking towards me, his face a mirror to arrogance. My entire body was burning with pain and I couldn't do anything to stop it.
"Grey!" I heard a faint voice. "Grey!" I heard it again. It was the voice of a girl I knew well. "Come on Grey, stand up!" She shouted, her silk black hair and deep dark eyes reflecting in my own eyes.
Astrid prepared to throw one last paunch.
"Yield and live or die! It's over brat!"
"Not over. Not enough. Not nearly!" I shouted as I used the force of my legs to launch forward, grabbing and holding Astrid down from his waist.
Astrid tried to paunch me away but he failed.
"Get the hell off me!" He hissed and as he did aetheric particles gathered around him.
He zeroed away to escape my big hug. I quickly went into a battle stance. Astrid landed a few meters away from me. Narrowing my eyes I readied myself to use the power of Creation. Astrid broke the deal and for that I will break him.
I summoned Fate Weaver and lunged towards the son of a bitch. Astrid summoned his own weapon Blood Spear and threw the weapon right at me. I used zero to dodge it and land just a little away from him. Astrid forged another Blood Spear and pointed it at me to keep the distance. I knew that I had the disadvantage in almost everything. My mastery over my awakened weapon was shallow, I never have used my Myth before and I knew that Astrid had more abilities in his disposal.
I swung Fate Weaver towards Astrid, he tried to avoid it but still I managed to cut him from the cheek. His spear`s tip leveled at my face.
"What kind of bullshit weapon is that?" He hissed with annoyance.
Astrid clicked his tongue and then deeply exhaled.
"Fine then. You will see what true power is."
Aether begin to gather around him. His eyes sharpened, he knew what he was doing.
"Open!" He roared.
As he shouted the word a bloody crown rose on top of his head, floating and realising a demonic aura.
"The Demon King`s Crown. Cool right?" He suddenly began to float where he stood.
I raised a brow and smirked with annoyance:
"And will you tell me what it does?" I asked, walking around in slow steps.
Astrid shrugged and dashed towards me. I quickly zeroed before him and swung the imuru at him. But without any hardship Astrid grabbed Fate Weaver from the tip and broke it with ease. I quickly zeroed away.
"What the hell? How?" I shouted at him.
Astrid ascended to the air and looked down on me with a grin on his face. My golden eyes were reflecting in his crimson ones. Several spears that looked identical to Blood Spear forged around him. They were pointed at me.
"Now you have failed." Astrid said in a calm, disdainful voice.
A red aura released from him. The aura covered all of the arena. I tried to move but couldn't because the air felt suffocating. Everything felt suffocating. I was in pain. I hated it. This happened before, all the way back in the Magna Tempestas.
I was getting crushed under an imaginary pressure. I gritted my teeth trying to do something, anything. I had to use my own Myth but I never had the chance to use it before. I achieved the damn Myth just yesterday. The only thing that I know about it is that somewhere inside my mind there is a branch, a Branch of Fate.
"Whats wrong, Grey? Are you nervous? Afraid?" He laughed.
I don't want to die. But it hurts. This much pressure hurts. What would have happened to me if I fought against Orinn? I was too confident, I thought that Destruction would be enough, but now I don't even know if it can help me defeat Astrid yet alone kill him. I was on my knees, Fate Weaver far away from me.
I tried to reach for aether but it rejected me. The golden particles all flew towards Astrid.
I lost.
"You never lose. You never fail. By these words you shall rise, on the Silent Mountains of Dreams. May only truth way your path. On the purple hue may only the Flaw rise up. On your feet, Grey. You`re not done yet."
My eyes danced all around the arena, searching for a voice that didn't exist. It was Hachiko`s voice.
My will unbroken I forcefully summoned aether towards me. My vision widened and changed to the colors of golden and lavender. The golden mottes surrounded me, dancing around me as if they were celebrating. Celebrating the ascension of their king, their sovereign. And the word escaped my mouth, not knowing if it would work yet it escaped to fight for another day.
"Open!"
Air was gone.
Pain was gone.
Love was gone.
The Rune of Creation and the Rune of Destruction both shined bright, consuming the red light that emitted from the crimson crown.
"Myth Branch of Fate: Weaver`s Touch."
I dashed forward and then lunged up to the sky. Astrid had a face of doom. Not for me. Not for anyone else. But for himself. I resummoned Fate Weaver and swung it right at Astrid. The boy tried to dodge it but failed. The blade coiled around his left leg like a whip. Normally this was not how an imuru works but mine will make it work. I gripped the handle firmly then used the force to cut off Astrid`s leg. Astrid screamed in pain but I was not done yet. In a swift move my fingers on my free hand moved across the air. Astrid quickly threw all of the lances towards me. My fingers grabbed the air. Moving it. Bending it. Invisible slices went across each spear, destroying them completely. I used the air to attack with more slices. Astrid in pain and trying to understand what was happening was sliced through from the arms. A bloody scream tore through the entire desert. Astrid was falling. But he was not finished. He looked at me with teary but proud eyes. I couldn't understand what made him be proud but with the sound of a frozen branch cracking I fell with him. A spear had penetrated through me right from my lungs. We both fell to the sand. I grabbed the dark sand and held some in hand. I dispelled Fate Weaver and tried to walk towards Astrid. I tried to use zero but the recoil hit me. I fell to the sand again, pouring blood from my joints, mouth, nose, ears and eyes. Astrid was floating towards me, even now only having his right leg as a limb he still made himself look powerful. The crimson crown still on his head he looked down on me with a bloody smirk.
"You... lost..."
I tried to move but only my right arm was able to move. I used this chance. I threw the sand right at his face channeling aether in it. The sand got into Astrid eyes and the Heir fell to the sand withering around like an earthworm.
"Damn you!" He screamed.
I tried to stand up but failed, falling right next to Astrid. My vision darkened and the worried voices of my friends went quiet.
I opened my eyes. Even that was painful. I rose from the bed I was on and saw Maya. A smile spread across my face but then died instantly. It was not the life filled Maya. There, before my very eyes were her corpse. Her eyes were open but they were lifeless. Her limbs dangling without control. Her hair and head all bloody. But yet the dead spoke.
"Wake up!"
I opened my eyes again. I quickly looked around but there was no Maya to be found. It was all just a bad dream.
"You woke up?" A woman`s voice echoed in my ears.
I turned around to see Profoser Marva holding a cup of water. She quickly zeroed towards me and looked all around my body.
"Hey! Hey! Stop it!" I shouted at her with annoyance.
She leaned back, sighing with relief.
"Tarn`s bastard horns! I thought you were dead."
I raised a brow looking at my body. My entire body was covered in bandages.
"What the hell happened?"
Marva placed a small chair next to me. She spoke in a worried tone.
"Well you and Astrid fought and you guys both fucked yourself."
"Oh..."
My eyes danced around the room.
"What happened to Astrid?" I asked with no hint of worry or regret in my voice.
"He is alive, if you call that living. But he`s in a very, and I mean very bad condition."
"How bad?"
"Let's say that he looks like a carrot."
I tried to get up but Marva held me down.
"Ease down, Masterpiece. You`re also in a very bad condition."
I let out a breath then looked at Marva.
"How long have I been here?"
Marva shrugged:
"Like a day."
I nodded my head.
"I need to see Astrid." I said with a firm voice.
Marva let out a breath.
"Fine. But don't start a fight with his friend."
I nodded my head again and then got up.
I got out of the small tent and tried to locate which tent Astrid was in. I walked around the place. The sun was rising which led to the sky split into different colors of violet.
"Grey!" Ulma`s voice called out to me.
I looked at her direction. She was running towards me. I mustered up to say "Hello" but before I could she embraced me into a hug. I was going to say something to her until I heard cries. Ulma was crying.
"Dont do anything like that ever again!" Her voice broke.
My hands moved on itself, hugging Ulma tightly. Ulma slowly let me go. She was pouting but smiling under those pouts.
"We thought that you were going to die." She said with hints of joy in her voice.
"'We'?" I asked, surprised.
"Shut up Pixie!" Kai`s voice rose in my ears. He was scolding the girl.
Behind Ulma was Kai, Bloom and also people that I knew but never spoke with: Pixie had pure long white hair and ice blue eyes. She was in the Beckoning Stage of Awakenery. Gail had a muscle body, short brown hair and brown eyes. She was in the Beckoning Stage of Awakenery. Carnus had a scarred face, sharp azure blue eyes and black hair. He was in the Ascension Stage of Awakenery. And finally Damian had short and spikey black hair, calm green eyes and a masculine small body. He was in the Beckoning Stage of Awakenery.
"So the king is awake?" Damian asked with a funny voice.
Kai slapped him from the head.
"Hey!" Damian scowled.
Both Pixie and Carnus laughed. Bloom stood next to me with a nonchalant face. She was looking at me with a face that hid emotions.
"What?" I asked.
"You seem utterly calm." She said.
I was about to reply but the words died out as they left my mouth. I sighed and looked at people that were there for me. After a couple of seconds I looked back at Bloom. The setting Sun made her look beautiful. All of them looked beautiful and handsome under the Sun.
"Thank you, Bloom." I said with a small smile on my face.
Bloom looked at me with a surprised face:
"Are you sure that you`re okay? Did the beating damage your brain or something?"
"Yeah, very funny." I said my eyes now looking at my palms. To the runes that were carved on them. They were bandaged but I could still see some part of them.
Bloom peaked at me trying to stay silent. My eyes turned towards her. Our eyes connected. We stood like that for several moments until she finally spoke:
"How did you get those runes of concepts?"
I shrugged.
"A bastard son of a bitch gave them." I said, still smiling.
Bloom rolled her eyes.
"Thats your answer? Boring."
I frowned:
"No, It's a very valid answer."
I broke the eye connection between us and looked at the aether around me. Then to the black sand under me.
"Why are the sands black?" I asked.
"Because there is no light to brighten them." Bloom answered.
I grabbed some sand from the ground.
"No light?" I asked again.
"I don't know. This place was a normal desert until the Great Purple Awakening War. But the shadows do still exist. That's something that didn't change."
I felt numb. I slowly spilled the sand to the ground.
"What did you say?" I asked to ensure if I heard her correctly.
"The shadows still exist?. Oh, the shadows are the bodies of the dead here. Their bodies right before they die."
Why the fuck the acadamy doesn't document the useful part but add the useless parts? The Forest of Spirits hold the last memories of the deceased and this place holds the bodies of deceased right before they die. Does every region in the Dream Realm represent a part of death. But there are so many places in this shitrealm. The Storm City, the Forest of Spirits, the Shadow Desert, the Sea of Time, the Mountain of Destiny, the Field of Memories, the Wasteland, the Cursed Islands, and the Crimson Glaciers.
All of those places hold many different stories about themselves. This much knowledge is pain. But I know many new things about my own abilities and this realm. Myths as I saw before I activated by a commending word: "Open". And even though I have almost no insight to my Myth I still managed to use it. Of course Hachiko was the main reason. But for some reason In that split moment I felt like Hachiko was not really Hachiko but completely a different being. He felt cold and angry.
I shook my head, weaving the question away. I brought my attention back to Bloom.
"Where is Astrid?" I asked.
Bloom looked confused but then sighed and pointed at a small tent similar to the one I woke up in.
I thanked her and tried to walk towards the tent. Walking is painful after your lungs get shitted. But still I didn't feel much pain. Maybe Creation healed me while I was unconscious. Or there was someone who healed me. Anyways these thoughts dont really matter right now because now I was before Astrid William Sangius.
Astrid was lying in the bed unconscious and next to him was someone that I hoped to not meet with. Her bright short purple hair was messy. She looked at me in fury with her crimson red eyes. She was tall and muscular. She had scars on her right eyebrow and left cheek. The scars made her look even more scary than she already was. Rika wore dark armor above a red dress. There were small red horns on her head that curled up. It was a part of her armor I guessed.
My eyes darted at Astrid. He looked unrecognizable. Missing both of his arms and his left reg. She His body looked destroyed. His face was damaged beyond repair. He was on the edge of death. I then looked around the small tent. Many First Aid Kits were opened and scrambled. The room was almost absolutely silent but the cries of the marshall made it impossible.
I slowly walked towards the bed Astrid was resting on. This same bed might also be he`s deathbed. Outside I can hear the stormbirds easily. Where they went, the wind followed them. Their squeals made thunderous sounds.
"What do you want?" Rika said with a bitter voice. "You`ve already done enough damage."
I brought my attention back to her. I ripped the bandages off from my hands and placed my right hand on Astrid`s face. I waited for Rika to object but she did nothing. Maybe she accepted Fate or she just couldn't handle it anymore and let it happen. Her shoulders were slumped, that made her look small and innocent.
"He is my little brother..." She said, her voice breaking.
I sighed but couldn't say anything. It was hard to admit it but she reminded me of my own elder sister. Opie was like this to me too. Maybe this realm was just a mirror to my own, to the Green Realm.
"I tried to gather aether into the rune but nothing happened.
"What the heck? Why did it not work?" I asked myself.
"Because your heart doesn't allow it to happen." Hachiko said with a silent tone.
"What the hell do you mean 'my heart doesn't allow it to happen.'?"
"You want to use Creation to rebuild Astrid`s body, but until now you always hated him. What changed?"
I was quiet. I didn't know what to say. Hachiko was right. I hated Astrid and I still do. But seeing Rika like this made me glum. I drew my hand back. Then slowly turned around to walk away knowing what I had done was just useless. I walked to the exit of the tent but before I could step out Rika spoke in a dreadful voice which made me freeze in place.
"Enjoy your victory. It`s the last you`ll ever have."
I narrowed my eyes and looked back at her from the shoulder. My voice cold and distant:
"Do not misunderstand my silence with weakness. Don't pursue this vendetta. Or I promise to you and to all of Dream Realm, you will be next."
I walked out of the tent not looking back. I was not in dolefulness for not being able to help Astrid. Because now I have to keep on with my plan. I used Creation on my own body and knit back every remaining injury I had. The bandages fell apart as they revealed my naked body. But it was no problem. I used Creation and forged myself an armor. The armor was in the color of metallic white, and had purple patterns across its joints. Beneath the armor was a black coat that wasn't seen all that well. My legs were covered by the same black coat. And I also had a black cloak that matched the color of the coat. The cloak had golden runic detail in its tips from the inside and in the neck from the outside. I also crafted a mask but I had no reason to use it for now. A pure white mask that had two long golden horns that curled up from the forehead. The mask had runic golden details and small cracks which made it look ancient and powerful.
"You know the more you use the Rune of Creation to heal yourself the more you become aether right?" Hachiko asked suddenly.
I shook my head with confusion. I did not get what he had just said.
"What`s that supposed to mean?"
"It means that the more you heal your damaged parts the more you become one with the aether. Because when you heal them your body doesn't regenerate like a lizard healing it`s tail. You regenerate it by using aether and more and more of your original body traits vanish. So you actually become aethermade."
"You`re telling me this now? Why?" I asked with a little frustration in my voice.
Hachiko was quiet for a moment then he spoke in an apologetic tone.
"I am sorry." He said as if he did something wrong. Well maybe he did.
I waved my hand in air dismissively:
"Well, it's fine. Just tell me everything next time, okay?"
Hachiko nodded his non-existing head.
I looked around the camp area. Students were walking around talking to each other. I even saw Neiman talking to his friends. I greeted my teeth. It annoyed me how normal they were. When I woke up Ulma and the others came to welcome me back. Even people that I never spoke with came to see me as if they were family.
I walked towards them, my steps harsh and loud.
"Neiman!" I shouted with a playful voice. "You look garbage like you always are."
Neiman and his friends looked at me. There were three of them other than that bastard Neiman. Ariel was a tall girl with lavender eyes and pitch-black hair. She was older than all of us, being at the age of eighteen. Ariel was at the Ascension Stage of Awakenery. Lara, another girl, was short compared to me and to her friends. She had short red curly hair and pink eyes. Her face was small and cute. She had a slim and cute body. Lara was in the Beckoning Stage of Awakenery. And finally Logan. Logan had burn scars in many places of his face. His blue eyes shined bright. His long black hair was maybe as long as mine. His body was masculine and agile. And he was at the Infusion Stage of Awakenery.
"What do you want here?" Neiman asked, preparing himself for a fight. The same went for the others except Logan.
But I spoke before they could do something stupid:
"I am not here to fight." I said my voice firm. "I am here because I wanted to show you guys my disappointment. Astrid is on the verge of death. Why not go and see him?"
Ariel was the one to speak:
"You think you know so much? Maybe you haven't realized yet but do we look like we are laughing? Cracking jokes? No. We just want to get that bloody Astrid`s image off our minds."
I faltered.
"Dummy." Hachiko said giggling.
Neiman walked away ignoring me.
"I have no time for this." He said.
Ariel shot me a look and walked away too. Lara quietly followed them behind. She looked scared. I looked at her and our eyes met. But she then quickly looked away, blushing.
"Nice armor." Logan said with a lazy voice. He placed a hand on my shoulder. "You`re a lucky one."
He then walked away too.
I was silent and embarrassed. I thought that they were disloyal but they were just kids like me. I hated the fact that I couldn't realize this. I hated how I was looked as the "Bad Guy". They were not innocent, none of them were. I hate getting embarrassed.
I zeroed away and appeared next to Ulma. She was sitting on the dark sand, legs curled up, hands on the chin looking at the Sun setting.
"Dont you have friends to talk with?" I asked with a mocking voice.
"Dont you have a limb to lose?" She mocked back.
I smiled:
"Nop, not at all."
I sat next to her and relaxed. Ulma was not looking at me so I tried to ease the r
"You sure look gloomy." I said, no emotion behind my voice.
Ulma let out a breath and leaned back, placing her hands on the sand for balance. She was still not looking at me.
"Hey, come on, speak up."
"I... I... I am scared, Grey."
"Scared of what?"
"Of you. Of your actions. Of your power."
I rolled my eyes. I wished I had closed my mouth. Talks like these were not for me. I miss Raya.
I slowly and hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Have you ever heard of the 'King`s Dance'?"
Ulma finally looked at me. She had tears in her eyes.
"A stupid move out of Fates Masterpiece` s playbook?" She laughed.
Under the sunlight Ulma looked like an angel and her image shattered into three pieces. First was the same Ulma. Then Raya and finally Maya. The sight made me smile.
"No..." I continued. "...King`s Dance is... a dance that helps you control aether better. Precise moves that make you look like you are dancing in the heavens."
I stopped for a moment wanting to ask a really needed question. A question that could determine the use of aether back in the Green Realm. And this did not just include me but also Raya, Klein, Sunny, Alora, Rain and damn Nico. We all played aether or the aether played us it doesn't matter. The thing that mattered was how we played life, death, space and time. We controlled time while we were just in our First Awakenings.
I looked at the Sun and pulled my hand away from Ulma`s shoulder.
"Can you manipulate time?" I asked while sitting in a position that looked unnormal.
Ulma shook her head:
"I'm sure not. Why?"
"Nothing important."
Ulma rolled her eyes then sighed:
"So will you tell me how you know about this dance?"
I inhaled the clear air to my lungs.
"I have a girlfriend, back in the Green Realm. Her name is Raya. And... She was the one who showed me the moves."
"Ohh... You have a girlfriend? Didn't know a guy like you can manage to get a girlfriend. I am feeling bad for the girl."
"Hey! What`s that supposed to mean? There is no one in any world that cares more about her."
Ulma stood up and smirked.
"Just make sure to treat the girl nice. If you don't, I swear I will kill you. I swear on it."
Ulma bended, her mouth a little close to my cheek. I felt her soft lips on my cheek, kissing my cheek softly. She pulled away. She had a little blush on her face.
"Hope this didn't make you uncomfortable or counted as cheating or something. I just wanted to thank you."
I laughed a little. A laugh that brought me joy.
"It`s fine. You`re welcome. And I should be the one to thank. You, Bloom, Kai... You all helped me so I really am glad."
"Oww, Grey you will make me cry again. Just promise me to be more careful, okay?"
She smiled. With her smile I smiled bright.
"I promise."
Ulma weaved her hand and then zeroed away. I looked at the golden mottes that was left behind after she used zero.
"Hachiko." I called out to my companion. My voice getting serious.
"Yes my dear Monarch of Autism."
"I will master the Divinity and you will help me."
"And how are we going to do that, you shiteater?"
A false smile appeared on my face:
"Like I said before, by a gambit with aether. By dancing around the People of Death. I will kill Orinn Legia. I will return back and I will make the Organizer bow. I will kill the reason Maya suffered. And then I will learn the full truth about all of the realms, and the truth about my life."