"I assume this is the basement," she muttered to herself. "In weeks, I've never seen this entrance before…"
Dark, cold, and eerie as it was, she hesitantly walked down the wooden staircase. It was dimly lit by light from the outside, so she carefully took her steps. The stairs went several feet below, and once she reached the stone floor, she bumped into a dead end. Feeling around the pitch black darkness, her fingers touched something that felt like a doorknob.
"Here goes…"
She shut her eyes and pushed the door. But when she took a step forward and opened her eyes, she was mesmerised and almost blinded by the view. Before her was a large and brightly lit room. There were a few training dummies in one corner, and several weapons of all kinds, ranging from the very ancient to the latest and modern, hung about in all four stone walls. There were no guns, however. And the place was, just like the rest of the mansion, well-kept and maintained, the complete opposite of how Viola had pictured a basement-like area to look.
"Welcome, Viola," Aurelia greeted, standing in the middle of it all. This was the first time she appeared outside of her room. "For reaching so far this soon, your growth is quite commendable."
"T-Thank you," Viola said, "I suppose you are my trainer this time?"
"Correct!" An excited smile appeared on her face. "Having a look around, you must've figured out what will be taught here."
"I finally get to pick a weapon of my choice?" Viola's face lit up. "Is that what this is?!"
She winked. "Go ahead, make your choice~"
Viola began walking around, gazing at all the weapons hung on the walls, as if browsing through items in a shop. There were several variations of battle axes, swords, polearms, bows, and so on. Her eyes darted around with eagerness and bewilderment.
"Aside from collecting books," Aurelia said, "I've also preserved every type of weapon created over the centuries. And with the help of magical enchantment, they are still in shape."
"But I was told only magic can hurt creepers...nothing else. Why use these weapons?"
"Magical enchantment." She smiled. "It keeps away the rust, and also the Void. So, worry not and make your pick~"
"Your magic type must be powerful if that's the case," said Viola, picking up a heavy axe. It was cold, and grabbing the handle almost made her flinch. But it was much lighter than she had anticipated, though cumbersome.
"Perhaps." She chuckled softly. "Especially if I am, in your words, a 'god'."
Gripping the hilt with both hands, she swung the axe on a wooden dummy, but failed to hit it, and the blade almost came back around to hit her. Aurelia stopped it on time with a gentle hold on the blade using only two fingers.
"Maybe the axe isn't for you." She smiled nervously. "And how about we train using wooden weapons?"
She gestured at the corner where wooden weapons of every type were kept. Viola nodded and walked towards them, picking up a bow and a few arrows. She then tried aiming at a dummy's head from a decent distance. But let alone hit her aim, the arrows didn't even land on the dummy. After firing ten, she sighed deeply and gave up.
"I failed to mention, but," Aurelia added, "this stage of the training is optional. You are allowed not to use a weapon if you wish—"
"No, I want to use one!"
She then picked up a polearm, and golden eyes lit up. But when Viola tried swinging it around, she would either hit herself or the weapon would fly from her hands. And at one point, she almost hit Aurelia. "I could teach you," Aurelia said, with a small hint of excitement, as she handed back the spear.
"You also…use weapons?"
"I do. All of them, for that matter." She laughed. "Why are you surprised?"
"I-I apologise, I didn't mean to doubt!" Viola forced an awkward chuckle, and Aurelia's figure towered over her. "You looked more like a mage to me. Like...someone who holds a staff while speaking several different magical chants at once. Or maybe no chanting at all!"
"I've never attempted that before, but I may do so someday." The golden-haired woman gently brushed her hair, and Viola was almost reminded of her mother. "I must be chanting, though. Otherwise, my techniques wouldn't be as refined."
"Let me guess, the Void doesn't have that limitation either?" Viola frowned.
"They do. No matter how different a chant, a technique stays unfinished without it." She winked. "So, would you like to learn the ways of a polearm?"
"No, it's too awkward…and uncomfortable." Golden eyes dulled down as Viola walked to the corner to put down the weapon. "I always wanted a sword." Violet eyes lit up as she grabbed the hilt of the wooden sword and pulled it out. "So, I left it for last!"
"Even Emily doesn't use any weapons," the golden-haired commented, a worried frown plastered on her face as Viola walked towards a dummy. "You don't have to force yourself—"
One swing and destiny was set. And the longer it went on, the more Aurelia was taken aback at how precise and clean Viola was with her swings. Despite being her first attempt, she was quite efficient at swordplay. "She's a natural at it," the golden one muttered to herself. "Her movements with the sword, her stances, the way she holds the hilt…she looks professional in everything she does." A thought ran through her head.
And a little too…awfully familiar.
"Hmm…still needs something more." Viola scanned the weapons' stash for something to go along with her sword. "Found it!" she shouted, picking up a pair of knives. Turning around, she aimed and threw one at the wooden dummy. "Not perfect." She sighed as the knife hit the dummy's gut. "But, at least, I didn't miss completely this time!"
"Well, if you've picked your choice…" With one swift motion of her hand, Aurelia's eyes glowed while a spirit-like humanoid figure, covered in golden hues from top to bottom, appeared before Viola. This one was taller than the one she met previously, and looked like Aurelia's shadow, but golden. A polearm of the same colour manifested in its hand, pointing the sharp end at her.
"How about practising with a proper 'dummy'?"
"Not this again!" Viola's expression widened, remembering Luna's training.
"Don't worry!" Aurelia laughed, seeing the distress in Viola's face. "This won't be as brutal as Luna's. Unless…that's what you wanted?"
"No! This is perfectly fine!"
Viola continued practising with the sword and knives, incorporating both into her fighting style, against the practice dummy. This clone was an expert in handling the long weapon, but it wasn't immune to mere physical strikes. The violet girl was confident, even when she took a few hits in return. All the while, Aurelia observed everything, and a certain worry filled her heart as she thought to herself.
Am I doing the right thing? Is this truly the only way?
Even so, she watched quietly, as her eyes grew duller.
Forgive me...when the time comes.
…
"Looks like you're well acquainted now with your new weapons," said Aurelia, proud at how quickly Viola adapted a new fighting style in just two weeks.
"This one was surprisingly not as tedious," Viola said, "and you didn't even have to teach me anything! I somehow knew how to learn things myself…don't you find that a little strange?"
"W-What? No!" Aurelia gasped softly. "Nothing strange about it. It could be just your hidden talent. Perhaps, you were born to wield swords, which you never would've found out before this."
"You're right." She chuckled lightly, but was mindful of Aurelia's hesitant response. "Um…I-I have a request." She fidgeted with her fingers. "Can I…get my own…custom-made sword?"
"Oh? Sure, why not?" The golden-haired smiled widely. "I'll have it ready by the time you complete your training." She winked. "So, could you describe it to me? As many details as you can~"
"I…" And Viola explained the design of her weapon, from its colours down to every intricate detail. Since she would carry it almost everywhere once she became a Hunter, she needed it to be special. To always remind her of the one she held most dear, to be her reason to push forward, and to guide her path every time she loses her way. "I-I hope it's not too much—"
"Worry not." Aurelia brushed her hair. "No one has given me such a personal request before. Which is all the more reason for me to give it my best~"
"Thank you!" Viola exclaimed with joy.
"Also, about your knives," the golden-haired continued, "since they're magically enchanted, you won't have to always carry them with you everywhere you go."
"Okay…so how am I supposed to use them if I don't carry any?"
"They will be stored in a separate plane of existence, from where you can summon them into reality at the time of need. And when the conflict ends, they will return to where they were. As long as they aren't destroyed, of course."
"That's so cool!" Her face lit up. "And convenient too! I was worried I'd be constantly bogged down by their weight."
"However, you can only store a limited amount. And if they're destroyed, you'll have to return to me to replenish them. You must also still carry your own sword. That one, unfortunately, cannot be hidden via magic."
"Got it!" Viola nodded. "Then…do I head over to the next stage?"
"Of course. Unless you need to rest, which I assume you don't, seeing as you're still full of energy." Aurelia paused, shutting her eyes for about five seconds before continuing, "Go back to the front yard. Your next trainers are already waiting there. I've informed them of your arrival."
"B-But you were here the entire time…?"
"Telepathy." She winked playfully, tapping the side of her own head with her finger.
"Ah! Forgot you could do that." Viola let out an embarrassed chuckle. "I'm heading off, then!" She waved, then turned around to walk away.
"Good luck!"
Aurelia waved back. But as soon as the girl left the room, her smile faded. Viola's footsteps grew distant till she heard them no more, as her hand rose to clutch the fabric of clothing between her chest, while her head hung low and tears left those dull eyes.
If only I had discovered another way…if only I had ended it back then…
The Golden One knew of a secret the Violet didn't. The Leader had a plan that the Hunters would never agree to.
But I cannot turn back now.
The Celestial had a dream that only time may fulfil.
…
"Oh, so it's you guys."
"About damn time! Welcome to our stage of training, Viola!" She was greeted by Zane with a wide grin as soon as she stepped out of the mansion's front door. "We'll finally get to train you and see what you're capable of. We're so excited! Right, Ray?" His brother stood beside him, mouthing a silent 'yes' that only Viola heard, while looking away to avoid eye contact.
Was that the first time I heard him talk?
"Let's begin then, shall we?"
"So, what am I training for this time?" Viola asked.
"Dodging and reflexes! Give her a demonstration, brother."
Ray turned back to her, glaring with glowing blue eyes. Viola gasped softly, taken aback by the sudden change in expression.
"W-What's he do—"
Pain struck the side of her head. She yelped and felt the area with her hand. To her shock, it was wet. But she sighed in relief when she realised it wasn't blood.
Water? Emily? Or…
A small projectile flew inches away from her face. It was a split-second image, but she figured out what it was and what the training was about. Several more icicles flew at her. She swiftly avoided and blocked most of them, but took a few hits. They all had a blunt end and yet stung for a while.
"Not bad!" Zane remarked excitedly. "Let's add more to it!"
Viola was caught off guard when Zane himself jumped forward to attack her. She blocked his punch, but took hits from several icicles in the process. The two continued to spar while hundreds of icicles were thrown at them, randomly, from all directions.
Such great coordination! I assume Ray is the one with Ice Magic. And he's precise and accurate. It's not that Zane is also avoiding them along with me…they just wouldn't hit him!
Viola took more hits from the ice and a punch to the gut. She fell to the floor, and the two paused their onslaught, letting her catch a break.
These two are a team meant to be!
"This is so much fun!" Zane exclaimed energetically. "Don't you agree, Ray?" And his brother, who seemed like he was going to open his mouth, only nodded.
"Alright," Viola said, wiping off the dust from her face as she got back up. "I suppose I'll have to beat both of you to pass this." Zane nodded with a bright grin, and she frowned in return.
"Fine, let's do this."
They closed in immediately. Zane reinforced himself with magic to keep up with Viola's terrifying strength, while Ray stayed back, shooting icicles that flew past his brother's shoulder with scary accuracy. Zane never once took a hit from Ray's projectiles, and Ray knew exactly what move his brother would make. Viola barely had time to breathe as she dodged one, parried the other, and tried to keep both in her vision at once.
How is Ray manipulating ice with no fridges nearby? Or even water? Is there something I'm not seeing?
But she wasn't just defending. With every exchange, she read their rhythm a little better. Zane always led with his left. Ray always fired from her blind spots. One time, she slipped past Zane's punch and sent him flying with a well-timed kick. He laughed it off and complimented her. Ray said nothing, but only sped up his icicles.
Huh, weird…why is it always so cold when we train?
Over the following days, the training only intensified. Sometimes, Ray would freeze the ground for Viola to slip up and leave an opening for Zane. And other times, Zane forced her into the flying projectiles. Bruises piled up. Her reflexes sharpened. She learned when to be patient, when to rush, and how to turn their own synergy against them. Like tricking Zane into stepping on the frozen floor, or using him as a shield against the projectiles. They'd work…sometimes.
Is he somehow…controlling the temperature? Is that how he…creates ice?
But by the end of the week, she successfully defeated Zane in combat without taking too many hits from Ray's projectiles. There was no avoiding all of them.
I didn't know temperature magic was a thing!
"I wish I were the one teaching you hand-to-hand combat," Zane spoke in a sad undertone, but still retaining his smile, albeit slightly. "But, I suppose, it's only understandable that the best one amongst us gets that role."
So everyone agrees that Emily is the best in close combat…except Emily herself.
"Speaking of said best one, where is she?" Viola asked. "I haven't seen her at all since I trained with her."
"She's been very busy with missions recently," Zane answered. "She missed a lot when training and recruiting you, and wants to make up for it by working overtime, despite our Master saying that it was okay. As soon as she recovered after training you, she went out and would barely ever return to the mansion."
"Quite the hard worker, huh?" Viola said. "Which is, yet again, a little difficult to imagine."
"But don't worry," he added, "she will be here to witness your final duel with Yukari! And so will we. So, give it your best!" He gave her a thumbs-up.
Viola nodded hesitantly, and they all headed back inside the mansion to rest, as it was already late at night. The next day, Viola would begin the next stage. And that night, she could barely sleep due to excessive excitement and fear battling each other for the dominating spot.
Considering every stage has had a different trainer with none repeating so far, and Yukari being the final one, that only leaves two—Cervena and Silver.
She paced across her room with her arms folded.
I hope it is Silver. I doubt his training would be any easier, but at least I could use this opportunity to get to know him more. And perhaps he will finally open up and reveal his name to me!
Pausing mid-step, a smile appeared on her face, only to switch into a worried frown the next second.
It better not be Cervena, however! Not only is she scary, and I want to stay as far away from her as possible, but she will most likely use the training as an excuse to try to kill me!
"Oh dear, which one will it be?"
Viola had her hopes. Her fate, however, always had other plans.