Chapter 4: "Aftermath"

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'Fuu'

Taking a deep breath and focusing on myself, slowly getting into a battle stance increasing my perception to limits, relaxing my body, grim form on my weapon.

'Fuu, Let's do my best and I need to actively channel EXIRA else I would be fuked without knowing'

'huu'

'Knowing Mom she will stretch the absolute limits of power of what I can handle, the task is to learn'

'Focus, Alex…Focus'

As My emotions and will aligned, the hidden power came surging, I channelled it towards my whole body enhancing base capabilities.

' One big attack, all in '

Kicking off with a strong push I arrived closer to Mom's position. As my gaze hardened on her I mustered all the power of EXIRA to slam down on her, hoping it would give me at least a few seconds of window, as I swung the blade at her side.

My gaze was on her and she matched mine. Mom just tanked the EXIRA effect without batting an eye and deflected the attack with the flat side of the sword with strength.

That threw me off balance a little quick as I quickly tried retreating a few steps to be out of her range but what followed was a counterattack. She closed in and used the pommel to hit my chest, which I was barely able to intercept.

'Huff'

Although that hurt, I managed to put some distance between us.

'Argghh'

The attack with pommel has knocked the air out of my lungs, Channelling EXIRA I suppress the feeling.

As I calmed my breathing and switched my stance for a two-handed grip for balance, I angled the sword to match her attack.

'Clang'

The blades clashed as sparks flew, bouncing my sword back. As I used more strength to continue with the attack.

'Clang'

'Clang'

That was just a few exchanges and I could already feel the strength leaving as my laboured breathing became evident.

'da..mn it huff!'

Any attempts to put some distance were instantly denied by mom's attack, forcing me to match her tempo.

'Her strength is insane…huff… it's sapping mine just to deflect her blow and regaining control quick enough'

'Clang'

'huff'

'Clang'

I could feel my arms starting to shake more and more, as they felt loose and difficult to move.

'Clang..fuk!'

It happened so fast I didn't even realize it at first. One moment, I was gripping my sword, the clash of steel ringing in my ears, and then an overwhelming pressure locked me down, denying me any action.

'Thum, thum'

My head was ringing like crazy, I will my EXIRA but it only managed to alleviate the headache before snuffing out of existence.

'I suppose the match ends…damn … wait…wha..'

I thought the match ended, but I saw Mom's cold gaze as she moved in with a swing.

'slice'

In a blink of an eye a flash of pain so sharp it barely registered.

'Thud'

'Splash'

My body barely staggered back on instinct locked under Mom's EXIRA , but it wasn't until I glanced down that my heart froze.

My hands… they were gone.

I stared in disbelief, blood pouring from the stumps of my wrists, the reality of it not sinking in at first.

I couldn't even process it—there was just this surreal numbness like it was happening to someone else, not me. But then… the pain hit, a burning agony that shot up my arms like fire.

'Argg'

My body wanted to collapse but it stayed frozen, the grunts tearing from my throat before I could stop it, barely audible.

'Arghhh'

I wanted to scream, but all I could manage were ragged gasps, barely able to breathe through the haze of pain and her EXIRA still bearing down on me.

My mind was racing, grasping for some way to make sense of it, but all I could think was, How can this be happening?

I tried to move, to do something, but all I could do was cradle the bleeding stumps, feeling the warmth of my own blood as it gushed down.

Tears blurred my vision, my chest heaving as fear set in, I frantically was screaming in my head for Mom to stop, for Aunt Nora to come quickly.

'Shuaa'

All my thoughts stopped as the presence of overwhelming EXIRA increased, denying me to think.

"You have improved since the last spar, however your mentality of ending everything in one strike is nothing but a child's fantasy"

The cold voice came bearing down unperturbed by her son's condition.

" YOU ARE NOT AN ASSASSIN, ALEXIS "

"Your fascination with mixing every single thing would be good against novice but any experienced would lop your head off not just your hands"

The voice grew colder and appeared closer as the presence of EXIRA became overbearing, I could feel my bones creak under the pressure.

But what it brought was unnatural clarity to my mind and overwhelming pain… ridiculous amount of pain...

"Going all out against an opponent you know far outclass you would have been a right move but"

"But you threw everything at me from the very start, where you showed no aces, held no cards in reserves, no good strategy, but tell me you honestly expected you could overwhelm me"

'Splurt..splurt'

Blood kept on gushing out of my wounds, reminding me of all that happened.

I could almost see my face pale as life was almost drained, yet screaming internally I forced my head against the pressure to match Mom's gaze knowing full well she would not let me go.

"Alexis"

'Shuaa'

The EXIRA even more intense now, if before it was pure physical pressure now it's downright terrifying filled with the killing intent of my mother….

No of the Ruler and Matriarch of House Drakeseir.

"There will be unknown variables in a real battle, variables beyond your control but manipulating them would make you come out victorious. There will be pain, I guarantee much much more intense than what you are going through now, if this much makes you lose your reason, your will to stand then…"

'Splurt..'

'Grr'

'damn …. she.. want answer?,..fuk ahh'

Gritting my teeth I roused what remains I could of EXIRA and matched her gaze.

".Y….YES!...MoTHEr!"

Two eyes met each other, one radiant blue, calm and carrying absolute authority looking down and other pale blue eyes holding back chaos and absolute resolve.

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"Artoria!" A mature voice sounded as Aunt Nora rushed in.

"Noralyne"

Lady Drakesier matched her gaze as her EXIRA erupted and forced Nora to stop.

'Huuuf'

"You have taught Alexis well enough but," she said her voice cold and commanding, " None of us will be there to fight his battles for him, will we?"

"But..Artoria.. He is.."

"I will not repeat myself, Nora, he knows what to do let him"

Locking my gaze with mom's I realized what she wanted me to do.

'Fuu'

'Sniff'

'Fuu'

I took a deep breath and mustered EXIRA to channel throughout me, letting it seep deep in me. Gazing down I used exira to manifest a wave to clean and stop bleeding.

'Huu'

'it's so.... hard to focus...'

I felt my consciousness waver under the pain and nausea.

'Fuuuu'

'Okay….arfg…one..step.'

'At…a ti..me'

I moved towards the severed hands slowly, fighting back the bile rising and nausea and then kneeling near to pick them up.

'wai….Pick..them…up?'

Looking at my stumps and then at the fallen hands and then back at my stumps.

'fukk… '

Seeing the hands and the stumps triggered another wave of nausea and pain.

'Huffg'

I will EXIRA to grab and hold of my hands to bring near me.

My vision blurred and I realized I could only keep the effects of EXIRA to maintain consciousness or to bring my hands to me.

'fuck'

Raising up EXIRA as my will hardened, the world slowly lost its colour dying with a greyish hue. All unnecessary thoughts disappeared.

Only pain remained, immense pain but it kept my consciousness tethered.

'Fuu'

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"Artoria! We should—" Aunt Nora began, stepping forward, but Mom silenced her with a raised hand.

"Let him," Artoria said, her voice cold and steady, betraying no hint of emotion.

But Nora's sharp eyes caught what others wouldn't—the white knuckles of Artoria's hand, her grip so tight around the hilt of her sword that the handle cracked under the pressure, yet it spoke volumes of her internal turmoil.

Nora's gaze shifted, hardening as it settled on Alexis.

She knew, even if the world didn't, that her dear friend, the ruler of a nation, was struggling as much as her son.

'sigh... This family..'

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' Fukk this,...'

Clenching my teeth, I knelt and grabbed onto my right hand using my mouth.

'Muff'

I tasted Dirt and Iron on my tongue, almost gagging but the EXIRA surged stopping any other thoughts and all things dyed grey even my thoughts, thankful for finding a new aspect.

'Muffgh'

I managed to bring my mouth near the right stump.

'Gush….slpurt..'

Blood flowed everywhere, even in the grey world I could taste iron heavily.

EXIRA, as if autonomous and sensing my singular desires, followed and overlapped, stitched into the flesh to join them back, connecting the arteries and nerves crudely as flesh melded together.

I slowly let go of the Hand from my mouth as it stayed connected, unresponsive but I could feel slowly warmth seeping in.

My bloodshot eyes darted towards the other hand and crawled towards it to connect it in the same arduous way as his consciousness faded away.

And darkness reigned.

All I felt was the soft but warm embrace as I cradled in it.

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