Spar

The next week passed quickly, and Sunny quickly became accustomed to life as a sleeper. His daily routine was mostly uneventful outside of his routine experiments with his ability and his short conversation with the blind girl, who he learned was named Cassie.

On the morning after his arrival, the sleeper rankings were released and Sunny was surprised to find that he was ranked third overall despite withholding almost all information pertaining to his ability.

He doubted they knew his true ability as they still placed him in third. But, if he had to guess, he'd say that the Awakened who had interviewed him– or another one close by, had some sort of aspect that allowed them to make a rough estimate of someone's combat ability.

'It'd be more useful if only it was a little more accurate.'

But aside from Sunny's own ranking, the others seemed to be pretty accurate. The only consistent upset that occurred was between the second-rank, Caster, and the first-rank Nephis. 

And that was only because Caster's aspect practically tripled his physical ability, while Nephis was unwilling to use hers.

'It's probably because of her flaw.'

Sunny finished eating and stood up from his seat, taking a glance at the empty spot across from him where Cassie normally sat.

'She must have overslept.'

Not sparing the girl another thought, he cleared his empty plate and left the Cafeteria.

'I have around three hours until I have the old man's class, just enough to get a good workout in.'

***

Arriving at the indoor training field, Sunny was met with a fairly large group of sleepers. Some were training invivually, some were sparing, and some were even flirting while watching others train.

'Tsk, damn degenerates.'

Ignoring the other sleepers, Sunny made his way over to a weapons rack as picked out a one handed short sword, planninng on learning one of the styles he had read about online.

But unfortunately, before he could find an isolated corner to train in, someone called out to him.

"Um, excuse me."

Sighing. Sunny turned his gaze toward his assailant and glanced at them with reproach.

'Fucking shi-'

It was Nephis.

***

For some unknown reason that Sunny just could not grasp, it seems he had caught the attention of the Princess of the Immortal Flame Clan.

It wasn't the type of attention that felt like romanic interest, but rather the type of attention you give to someone who your not on good terms with.

She barely talked to him unless necessary but would always appear when he went to train.

Like she was keeping tabs on him.

'Does she think I'm an assassin or something?'

Looking at the byond beautiful girl before him, Sunny finally realized that being polite wasn't going to help him get rid of this girl. But still didn't feel comfortable telling the royal princess of all awakened to fuck off.

So instead, he decided to take a different approach.

Straightforward honesty.

And so, he began;

"Look. If you haven't noticed already, I don't really like dealing with people. Esspecially people who draw attention like you."

He paused and looked around and the dozens of people staring in his direction. Then continued.

"So tell me. What do I have to do for you to leave me alone."

Nephis's face remained inpassive, seemingly not surprised at his straightforward approach as she considered her response.

"A spar."

Sunny paused

"What?"

She locked eyes with him, making him even more uncomfortable.

"Fight me."

Sunny considered her words and asked.

"Then you'll leave me alone?"

She nodded.

Sunny narrowed his eyes and then glance at his surroundings.

"Fine, but we have to do it in a private training room."

She nodded again.

"That's fine."

And thus, they proceeded to make their way to a nearby training room. Ignoring all the curious awakened who seemed to want to follow them.

***

| Nephis POV |

Glancing at the sleeper standing across from her, Nephis felt conflicted.

He was one of the only one's amongst the higher ranking sleepers who she knew nothing about. 

And considering the wide variety of potential Aspects, she didn't feel comfortable knowing that she had no information on someone who might be one of the assassins sent after her. 

And so. She had gone out of her way to monitor him, hoping of gleaming something about his Aspect, or overall combat ability. 

But nothing.

She found nothing.

Everyday he would just swing his sword in a manor that showed his lack of familiarity with the weapon. It looked as if he suddenly abandon his own sword style and switch to one he had only just heard about. 

Strangely, as he trained she noticed that he would make decent progress, mastering the basics of the style. But then, the next day he would be back at the start. Using a different style than the day before.

'Is that his flaw?'

Raising her sword she focused on the blade of her opponent as they each prepare for the spar.

"You ready?"

He asked her, his overall demenur lacking any semblance of professionalism.

"Yes."

He smiled and his eyes blackened with an unknown emotion that sent chills down her spine.

"Then begin."

***

Suddenly, he lunged forward.

'Fast!'

But not fast enough to not give Nephis enough time to react. Raising the her sword, she dashed forward to block his furious assault… and shuddered, the force of the impact sending a shock through her entire body.

It felt as though her sword had collided with a mountain.

Their blades got entangled for a moment, and then separated. Almost immediately, the silver short-sword lashed out again, appearing from an unexpected direction…. and then again, and again, and again.

Nephis feverishly defended, chaining blocks and deflections into one uninterrupted sequence of swift moves. Despite her best efforts, she reeled slightly after each strike. It was as though she was being hit by a hurricane of adamantine sledgehammers, each hit making her bones tremble and groan.

'I'm going to lose.'

There was simply no alternative.

She wasn't able to focus while enduring her Aspect, and thus the reinforcement it provided proved useless.

'Impossible, impossible…'

Deflecting another blow, Nephis gritted her teeth and dashed to the side, hoping to exploit the momentary opening in her enemy's defense. However, she was met by the ruthless flash of the silver blade instead. The opening was just a ruse, one which almost cost her, her hand.

They exchanged several more blows and disengaged for a fraction of a second, then closed in again. Sunny's sword shot forward, moving towards her neck with blinding speed.

'I can't block it.'

Then, Nephis realized.

She was going to die.

Considering the uttor lack of emotion in his eyes throughout the fight and the fact that he lured her into a room alone, she had already considered him to be one of the assassins sent to kill her.

And now, there was nothing she could do.

Nephis closed her eyes, and her body lost it's strength as she waited for her death. 

But then, a second passed.

And another.

And another.

But the searing pain she was expecting never came.

Cracking her eyes open she saw the silver blade halted just a few millimeters from her throat.

She survived.

She wasn't dead.

With that thought, she lost consciousness.

— — — — — — —

End of Chapter.

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