Chapter 20 - The Gaeryn

Chapter 20 - The Gaeryn

"Up!"

The air crackled as Reve sent his fist barreling toward Ren.

Ren's eyes narrowed, a reddish glow emanating from within. With her heightened hearing, she anticipated the incoming attack coming her way, swiftly countering with a deflection technique combined with a free-flowing stance.

Reve called out, "Down!"

Immediately, he quickly went for a leg sweep.

"Rebound. Up!"

Ren kicked off into the air, but Reve pursued her relentlessly. He sprung up like a cat and unleashed a high kick.

Ren executed the same deflection technique with her right hand. Her hand deftly pulling Reve in, she snaked past his legs and dropped a merciless punch into his abdomen!

Reve fell back to the ground with a thud, dust swirling around him.

He wiped the dust off his clothes and complained with a grunt, "That was mean!"

Ren smiled as she landed on the floor perfectly. "Hey, you said I should focus and erase all my concerns. I couldn't worry about you. And besides–"

She gazed at him, examining his body. Realizing he wasn't harmed, she added, "It's not like you felt my punch."

Reve replied with a hint of pain. "I'm still hurt, you know. Ravriel wasn't exactly gentle with me. I haven't been able to transform back into Zariel since then. I think the Beast is recuperating…"

He didn't know how to feel about it. The Beast was dormant… it should be a positive development, but they already patched their relationship.

Ultimately, the Beast was him, and he was the Beast. If the Beast went radio silent, then the other part of him was left vulnerable.

Reve shook his head and focused on Ren. "Anyways—"

In one swift motion, he snatched a glass bottle from a nearby table and flung it towards Ren.

"Catch!" He exclaimed, a bit too late.

Ren swiftly assumed the amethyst stance. She straightened her hand vertically as if she was planning on cutting the bottle with her bare hand.

However, when the bottle came her way, Ren felt a force hit her like no other. She lost control of her body and was sent hurtling into the wall behind her.

"What the hell?" Ren screamed as she crashed onto the ground.

Reve smirked. "How does it feel?"

"How does it feel?" She repeated his words, her voice seething with anger. "Fuck you! You almost killed me."

Shaking his head, Reve retorted, "But I didn't. You are okay. You are not bleeding. And let's not forget, I warned you. All you had to do was control the bottle."

The way of the Amethyst Series wasn't structured. It was unorthodox.

Normally, the disciples would begin with [Singularity Force], but Ren was a bit too rigid. At this rate, it would take her years to master the technique.

He wanted to break her down by forcing her to master the initial stages of [The Flow]. It would allow her to "feel" her surroundings and every attack thrown her way before they could even reach her.

Most of all, she would be able to merge her unique hearing ability with [The Flow].

He had a strong guess as to why she had this ability, but he needed confirmation.

Reve approached Ren, lending her a hand to grab. "You are not listening to your body. I can see progress, but there is so much untapped potential. You hear faster than everyone else, including me. You heard the bottle before I spoke, yet you failed to pay attention to that sensation."

Just as she rose to her feet, Reve shouted, "Down!"

He retracted his hand and lithely flipped in the air, landing with a drop kick, but Ren positioned her arms together and blocked it while taking a knee.

"Did you feel it?"

Ren frowned, puzzled. "Feel what?"

Reve sighed and shifted the topic. "Look at the bottle."

Ren glanced sideways. Her eyes froze in astonishment as she noticed something odd. "That's impossible!"

The bottle lay beside her without a scratch on it, as if it was never touched or stressed.

"It's simple mathematics. The kinetic force behind the bottle was greater than your physical force. You couldn't leave a blemish on it even if you tried. And you weren't even trying."

"Left!"

Reve spun around to deliver a sidekick, but Ren deflected it, causing Reve to dash through the air, momentarily losing control of his body.

Reve spun again to regain control. He said, "Good. Do you feel it?"

"Feel what?" Ren asked again.

Reve delivered a hand chop to Ren's neck. She deflected the attack. Yet, Reve strongly proceeded with a devastating sidekick!

Ren turned around, slamming Reve to the ground with a mere push.

"Do you feel it?"

Catching her breath, Ren looked at her hands and muttered, "I knew what to do."

A smile curved on Reve's lip as he rose to his feet.

He began to explain, "[The Flow] is a dance–a rhythmic interplay with your surrounding. Everything around you moves. You are left to out-dance your environment. There is a tempo to this dance. You use that to predict the next steps of your challenger."

"There is a crescendo–an accumulation of climax force. You use the tiniest of movements to break down the momentum."

"And there is your only ally in this dance–the mother force."

Reve grabbed Ren's hand and placed it on the ground.

He continued his words. "You may be just a human. But you possess the blessing of the earth. Gravity beckons at the cusp of your hand. You possess the force multiplier."

"Alone, you would merely float in space like just every other inanimate object. Your physical force is inconsequential. But together with gravity, you can accomplish anything!"

"That is the first step to [The Flow]. You must become aware of the dance and comprehend your tempo, as well as the surrounding tempo."

He gazed at her. "That is why you were able to block my attack. It is coded into your basic instinct. The art of channelling. You absorb the force of my strikes and redirect it back to the earth. You neutralize the threat in my kicks and punches, without ever knowing the technicality of your basic technique."

"Now, you know!"

He kicked off the ground, beginning a round of attacks. His aim was not to gain victory, but to expose Ren to the intricacies of [The Flow].

She was outstanding, gradually deepening her experience. It seemed his words had granted her a newfound understanding, unlocking her previous rigidity.

Reve halted his movements and retreated, heaving. 'There is still work to be done, but she is special, isn't she?'

Calen's voice sifted into his ear as soon as he entered the room. "I told you she is a gaeryn."

It was late afternoon. Reve couldn't help but notice Calen had returned from his regular trips a little too early.

Reve glanced at Ren and replied, "Yeah, she is. I'm convinced."

Ren hissed in frustration, "What does that mean? Why do you keep saying that?"

Reve took a sigh and finally explained, "A gaeryn is an advanced human. One that has escaped the template of the ordinary. They are similar to mutants, except their traits are all positive, not flawed like mutants. Gaeryns are rare, and in a world predominantly populated by regular humans, I didn't think you would be one."

"How are you so sure I'm a… gaeryn?" Ren questioned.

"Your eyes. They are so peculiar. They respond to your emotions, glowing when you feel triggered. And your special hearing. It's an ability. Most likely, hereditary. Do you understand the implication of this information?"

A realization washed over Ren, her eyes reddening as she pieced it together.

She murmured, "My father…"

"Yes, your family's demise was undoubtedly far from normal!" Reve nodded solemnly.