2 The Crossed Dagger Tattoo
—[ Ur the servers strongest Ice Emperor ] A character named "PrinceArthur" whose class is a Magic Knight.
—[ I guess ur ryt, Lol!! ] A character named "KagAmi" which was Kyousuke's avatar that is an Advanced Mage, with the title [ Great Player ] hanging over Kyousuke's avatar.
—[ Soon enough, u will surpass me but… I WON'T GO DOWN W/O A FYT!! ] A notification popped up that his friend had logged off. The character that Kyousuke was chatting with was currently the second strongest. Kyousuke laughed and also logged off.
Luckily for Kyousuke, today was a weekend and rest and think about what all has happened. He looked at both of his hands, looking at the dagger tattoo. "What should I do now?" Kyousuke asked himself; unsure of what he needed to do. He brushed his white silver hair and sat at a chair in front of his computer. He studied for his last test as a first year student at his school, it took him hours to review all of what they have learned. He closed his notes and went downstairs, he reached for a cup and drank water. When Kyousuke was about to head up his room, he saw Kawasu talking to someone.
"Should I train him?" Kawasu said to the phone.
"That is necessary, train his body but don't overdo it so that he'll look like a wrestler, haha!" the person said, which sounded like Soichiro. "Stop joking, I'm serious here!" Kawasu said angrily to Soichiro.
"As I said, train his body with the right amount of exercise" Soichiro said once again, "Okay, I'll start tomorrow" Soichiro agreed with Kawasu and hung up.
As for Kyousuke, he heard every word and sentence that they have said which was oddly new to him. He heard everything from Kawasu's room, which was eight meters away from where he is standing right now, even without getting closer from his room.
It gave Kyousuke a shock, he thought he was dreaming again. Having enhanced hearing sense made his mind get blown up, "I-incredible!— this is so awesome!" Kyousuke screamed quietly, not to disturb Kawasu and their neighbors. He looked at his window and stared at the opposite direction, "Now… what is Ruri doing right now, from what the time is right now, she should be studying in her room,"
Ruri is an intelligent, athletic and beautiful person. She comes from a rich and powerful noble family which owns the first best company in the country. Her family was already known for generations, even from before, her family was already powerful some rumors even said that they are part of the royal lineage which is the highest title a human can attain.
Kyousuke looked at Ruri's mansion, which was sixty meters away from his house, and caught a glimpse of Ruri in her room. Ruri was on her bed, "She must be done studying and going to—!!" Kyousuke was in shock by the sudden actions occurring. Ruri was being scolded and being hit by her mother with his father right behind her. "W-what is s-she doing?" Kyousuke said with the feeling of being helpless. Ruri was sitting properly while crying and then her mother threw a dress to her face. "I can't bear to wa—" when Kyousuke was about to look away, he paused and heard: "You hopeless daughter!" Ruri's mother said.
"I-I-I'm s-s-s-sorry" Ruri stuttered because she was crying and with the voice of being apologetic. "That attitude of yours, are you ruining the reputation of this family!" Her mother yelled at her with Ruri defending herself from her mother's hit. "Being immature and childish at the party and not to mention being too loud!" Her mother in anger and scolded her intensely, "Get out! I don't want to see you!" her mother groped her arm and led her outside the gate of her house.
"R-Ruri…" Kyousuke said sadly and with regrets of not helping her, he lied down at his bed and heard the quietness of the neighborhood sleeping and a few minutes passed. Ding-dong. The bell of the house rang and Kyousuke had already assumed it was Ruri and opened the door. "H-hey Kyousuke… mind if I sleep here for the night…?" Ruri asked and Kyousuke agreed and looked at her bruises. "O-oh this? Some… robbers robbed and they punched and kicked me… haha" Ruri gestured punching and kicking actions and faked her laugh. Kyousuke clenched his fists and gritted his teeth but calmed down instantly.
"Ah, sorry, come in," Kyousuke said, guiding her into his bedroom. Kyousuke prepared a futon(Bed in Japan) "You sleep on my bed" Kyousuke said boldly without hesitation, "What the— are you sure?" she asked nicely. "Yeah… why?" Kyousuke said and thought back on what was wrong, "N-nothing" she stuttered. They both lied down and slept.
"Hey…" Ruri whispered to Kyousuke, "What?" he asked Ruri. "That is a cool tattoo" she whispered while staring at his hands with the tattoo. "Ah, you noticed" Kyousuke hid his hand behind his blanket, "It's just a tattoo" Kyousuke said finally and continued to sleep and so did Ruri without asking any questions.
"So… Kyousuke got himself a girlfriend?" Kawasu said, looking at Kyousuke and Ruri inside Kyousuke's bedroom. "Better make breakfast" Kawasu went down and started preparing the food. Beep Beep Beep— the sounds of the digital alarm clock made that continued until someone turned it off. Kyousuke woke up with his hair all messed up and saliva drooling from his mouth. ". . . ." Kyousuke rubbed his eyes and wiped off his drooling saliva, ". . . ." Kyousuke with his stoic face looking at Ruri… which was beside him. Kyousuke sneakily and stealthily stood up and carefully carried Ruri and for some reason she was light as a feather and he successfully brought Ruri back to his bed. ". . . ." Kyousuke with his stoic face came down to eat while thinking back on what had happened last night.
"Kyousuke, you're finally awake, I have something to discuss with you," Kawasu said while happily preparing three breakfast meals and sat down. "Let me guess, we're going to the mountain side?" Kyousuke sat down and noticed why there was another meal. "Sharp as ever" Kawasu laughed, "Uhh— why is there another plate?" Kyousuke asked Kawasu and suspiciously too. "Ah, that's for your girlfriend" Kawasu said while eating and pointing at the stairs. "G-Girlfriend?! N-no—!!" Kyousuke was interrupted by Ruri, "N-no, it's not like that, s-sir" Ruri said and both her and Kyousuke made eye contact and blushed and looked away. Ruri continued to go down and sat beside Kyousuke and both blushed but Kyousuke did not show any expression.
"How did you know she was here?" Kyousuke asked, wanting an answer. "I saw you two in your room and the two of you were sleeping beside each other so I assumed that you were lovers," Kawasu said while eating his food. "T-that can't, when I woke up I was at Kyousuke's bed, right?" Ruri looked at Kyousuke, expecting an answer.
". . . ." Kyousuke didn't say anything and refused to make eye contact with her. After that, she sat down and blushed intensely and ate the food. Kyousuke looked at her and realized something, her wounds… are gone?
"Hey Ruri, me and Kawasu are going to the mountains, you can stay here if you want" Kyousuke informed Ruri and she said: "The mountain? You mean the place where we always play?" Kyousuke nodded. "Can I come?" She asked and Kawasu overheard their conversation and Kyousuke was about to find Kawasu to ask but Kawasu was there and gave him a big thumbs up. "Kawasu said yes, you can borrow one of my jackets and we'll be off" Kawasu ended the conversation and went outside. Ruri went to Kyousuke's room and borrowed and wore one of his thick jacket, "It's so warm"
"Lets Go!" Ruri excitedly said and rode inside Kawasu's car. "Lots of memories happened at the mountains," Ruri giggled, reminiscing about the past. "Yeah… the things we played, the times we played…" though before any of this had happened, he was alone setting aside Kawasu, his father. Kawasu believed that Kyousuke was too young and dangerous because of the hidden potential within him that can cause a massive accident anytime.
"Kyousuke, I believe you know why we are going there, right?" Kawasu asked Kyousuke, "Yeah…" suddenly, the situation got dark and Ruri was confused and was suffocating in the pressure and atmosphere in the car. Minutes later, they arrived, seeing the small wooden cabin and lots of logs was piled beside the cabin. "There was something odd that happened that 'day'" Ruri said after getting out of the car, "'That day'?" Kyousuke spaced-out by what she said. "You know, the day we were surrounded by wild boars?" by this, Kawasu and Kyousuke stopped. Kyousuke was silently panicking while enduring to continue to wear his stoic face, while Kawasu was explaining lies as to what happened that day.
"So you mean we passed out and meanwhile you came at the right time and brushed them off?" Ruri had trouble believing the fake explanation Kawasu made, she's clever. "Yeah…" Kawasu told another lie, "I think there is more to that… I remember there was ice—" Kyousuke was about to stop her but before Ruri had a chance to finish what she said, Kawasu forcefully pushed her inside the cabin gently. "Have a drink" Kawasu's action baffled Ruri and instantly forgot what she was going to say.
"Kawasu, a word, please?" Kyousuke gestured with his fingers as if to "come at me!" But Kawasu humbly accepted his request. They walked ten meter away from the cabin. "I know" Kyousuke finally said it, "Then that makes it easier for me" Kawasu said with a deep voice and explained everything. "This again? I've heard this story before" he made it clear, he heard the story war about two immortal deities, magic and the human weapon and the reason why he is one of the 'chosen'. "Looks like someone has beaten me to it, but it still doesn't change the fact why we are here" Kawasu said. "Yeah, I know and you must know about this tattoo too" Kyousuke showed both of his hands with the symbol of crossed daggers. "Of course, though this is the first time I've seen one, son, could you please show it to me?" Kawasu said but Kyousuke walked further in the forest while Ruri was in the cabin, waiting.
"This is far enough," Kyousuke murmured and raised his arms aligned to his shoulders. Kawasu was waiting patiently in front of Kyousuke, "Carnwennan!" Kyousuke shouted the daggers' name and a glow activated on the tattoo. The pressure on the area was increasing because of the power it holds, dust flying everywhere, leaves rotating around Kyousuke as if it was a tornado and some trees were being pushed down. "A-amazing, t-this pressure!" Kawasu shielded his eyes because of the glow, Kawasu was amazed. The daggers showed up at each hand and Kyousuke held it. Though, when Kyousuke held the daggers, the flashing light became dark. "AAAAHHHHH" Kyousuke shouted in pain, the pressure became much more heavier, the rotating leaves around Kyousuke were now forming a mix of green and brown tornado, except for dust being flown away, sticks and some trees instead. "AHHHHH" Kyousuke screamed in agony and his eyes somewhat looked like a purple flame. "Kyousuke! While you're still sane, speak the name of the daggers again" Kawasu said loudly as he could but maybe it didn't reach him? It was all up to Kyousuke. Kyousuke's hair was now becoming black and his clothes were turning to a black suit.
"Carn...wen...nan…!" Kyousuke said with little conscious while being in the state of being taken over. The daggers vanished from Kyousuke's hand, all effects were slowly being reversed and the almost tornado leaves stopped and came falling down and the purple black light vanished too. Before all the effects were fully reversed, Whoosh— a wind blade was formed and some trees were cut down. Kawasu caught the unconscious Kyousuke. "Damn kid, made me worry" Kawasu said and walked towards the cabin.
"Why'd you have to ruin everything?" a fully black energy in the form of Kyousuke talking to the real Kyousuke in a black endless space. "Who are you?" Kyousuke with his stoic face said bravely with no ounce of fear. "You could say I'm you, ya could say I'm not either" Black Kyousuke smirked and Kyousuke was looking with no expression nor emotion at all but did make a puzzled face. "Kyo...— Kyosu...— Kyousuke!!" Ruri was yelling and Kyousuke woke up. Ruri was agitated and suddenly hugged Kyousuke and tears followed her.
Ruri left the room after she hugged him and so did Kawasu. Kyousuke looked at his hands and looked away. Kyousuke just rested and played a bit with his favorite game. Everybody left after Kyousuke had rested and went home, "Bye, get well soon" Ruri smiled and left. "Kyousuke… only use it in times of need" Kawasu warned Kyousuke and reached for his hands, "This power, you can control it someday but not today. The weapon grows stronger as you get too" Kawasu let go of Kyousuke's hands and Kyousuke replied: "I will"
This week is the last week for Kyousuke as a second year high school student. Exams were coming up and students everywhere were whispering: "Did you see the news? A tornado was at the mountain!," the incident that Kyousuke caused made everyone tremble. Kyousuke saw Ruri running towards him. "Are your injuries okay?" Ruri asked while being worried. "I'm fine, let's go" Kyousuke and Ruri continued to walk to their classroom.
After the school ended, he trained his body. He did push ups, he did curl ups, he jogged, and he trained with two sticks as big as his dagger though he felt that something was missing. He asked Kawasu some questions. "Kawasu, how do I train magic?" Kyousuke asked for his ice magic. "I see, you're training… Okay this are the things you will need to do. First: train your body because the body is essential for doing magic. Second: feel the mana inside you—" While Kawasu was explaining, he was cut off by Kyousuke. "Mana? You mean, like in games?" Kyousuke asked again. "Yes. Exactly. Those are like blue water that flows within a body of one mage, it is the utmost important in the magic world" Kawasu explained and continued with what he was saying. "In order to replenish your mana, you need to meditate skillfully without getting distracted. And the last: after building up enough mana, concentrate on mana making shape with the help of spells" Kawasu ended his explanation and smiled and was preparing for dinner.
"Meditate. Concentrate." Kyousuke repeated the important thing that he will do. He started meditation with him blocking all noise and disturbances from the environment. ". . . . ." no noise was made. Every second, my body gets lighter, so this is mana. "This should do it" Kyousuke stopped meditating and held his hand towards a pot.
"Concentrate" he closed his eyes and blocked everything in his surroundings again except for the pot. He recalled the spells that were in his game, "Ice… Shards…" Kyousuke concentrated the mana into twelve small shards. Kyousuke opened his eyes, "Hmm…" Kyousuke showed no expression to the results. He successfully broke the pot, Kawasu saw his work and smiled proudly at Kyousuke's back.
—[ Oh wow, you surpassed me… and by a lot 2 ] the avatar made the gesture of crying.
—[ I've been training ] Kyousuke's avatar made a shrugging gesture and laughed.
—[ Guild Wars are coming up ] PrinceArthur informed Kyousuke about the upcoming event. Kyousuke looked at the event board and saw it.
—[ Gudluck, U need it ] Kyousuke's avatar laughed and now with the title of [ Amazing Player! ] Which was the title of the former second strongest player.
—[ Didn't I tell you? I ain't going down w/o a fyt! K, cya then ] he logged off but Kyousuke arranged his in-game items and logged off too.
The following day, which is the last day of the week. Kyousuke was training, playing and reviewing the whole week until the day of the last examination. Kyousuke still wore his thick jacket but he wasn't feeling the same air when he still didn't know his power and control it.
"Ah, Ruri, please wait for me" Kyousuke saw Ruri and called for her, "Kyousuke, good luck on the tests" she said but not with her usual actively loud voice but rather, a depressing voice. ". . . ." Kyousuke kept quiet and dared not to ask questions to himself. He stayed beside her and still stayed quiet.
"Start" the teacher said to all of his students; all students flipped their test papers and started to answer. The classroom was quiet and could even hear the pencils scribbling and answering. Ruri was already finished and so did Kyousuke in just half an hour, Kyousuke caught a glimpse at Ruri and saw her looked depressed. Maybe I should talk to her after school.
After school, everyone was noisy and impatient—— everyone was laughing and crying and thinking this might be their last moment as classmates. They congratulated each other and mostly the graduating students. The ranking was posted all over the school and the students were making a riot. Kyousuke looked at the ranking but was surprised at the results. Both Kyousuke and Ruri were in the top 3 but…
Ranking:
1st: Kyousuke Kanji
2nd: Ruri Garou
Everyone was looking at Kyousuke and clapping at him. Though for Kyousuke, it was unusual for him to get the first ranking because Ruri was far more intelligent than Kyousuke. Kyousuke ran and searched for Ruri, he ran as fast as he could and finally saw her, she was about to leave the gate.
"Ruri!" Kyousuke yelled at her that made her stop. Ruri looked back and saw Kyousuke. Kyousuke caught up with Ruri. "Ruri, are you alright?" Kyousuke asked because of her recent actions. "I-i'm fine" she said but didn't look at Kyousuke, "Is there a problem?" Kyousuke questioned Ruri. "It's none of your business" Ruri got irritated by what Kyousuke asked. "If there is, let me help" Kyousuke offered his hand and waited for a response, "I said— it's none of your business" Ruri's irritation was increasing. "I'm your friend, I—" though, before Kyousuke finished, Ruri disturbed him. "I said it's none of YOUR business!!" Ruri shouted at Kyousuke but something pushed Kyousuke away from Ruri. Kyousuke looked at Ruri with concern for her.
Kyousuke saw massive mana flowing through her.
Ruri looked at Kyousuke and said:
"You're Chosen too, right?"
