The Lightning Spear

"I requested us a leave off school and explained the threats."

"Don't we still have two weeks before that?"

"We still have to come back next week."

Though Sebastian was still injured, Amy brought him and Sana somewhere far from the mansion. They were in the outskirts of the town.

"We've traveled pretty far, are you sure it's okay to bring Sana?"

"There's no other choice. We can't leave her by herself when our enemies have someone on their side that could treat you like a child."

Even Amy wouldn't be able to do so.

Though Sebastian wasn't using his spear or his bow, his physical prowess was, at the very least, stronger than a knight. Assassins tend to focus on indirect confrontations but Sebastian's opponent overwhelmed Sebastian even in unaided physical strength.

"Sana do you feel sick?"

"Nope!"

Sana was a well-behaved child. She almost never complained, ate any meals given to her, and listened to Amy and Sebastian's words very strictly.

Maybe it was because her parents raised her as part of the royal family? Or is it because of her experience in losing her parents so soon into her life?

Sebastian looked out the window and exclaimed, "it just looks like a normal forest."

It wasn't like the forest near Aurum and Argenti. This forest didn't seem like it would have any monsters in it.

"You're right. It's a normal forest. Or at least, it became a normal forest. A few years ago, the Lightning Spear left the public eye after clearing all of the monster habitats near the city."

"And people didn't expect her to have taken refuge inside one of the areas she cleared?"

"Nn. I was surprised when Professor Briggs told me too."

For so many years, the Lightning Spear was just under the Tidas' royal family's nose. Who knew how they'd react if they realize it?

"Hey, I've heard of the rumors about the Lightning Spear but how strong is she in actuality?"

"She's enough to take down the four major houses in a war. And, in the case that that they unite, she could take down two or three of them by her lonesome."

Sebastian's eyes shot open.

"She's that strong?"

Amy shrugged.

"She's a Magus. Not just any Magus, even among their ranks, she reigns supreme. It was even said that she clashed with a Sage and ended it with a tie.

"Looks like we're here."

Amy looked out of the window and spotted a log cabin in the distance. It looked like a normal home inside the forest.

"Are you sure we weren't followed?"

"Yes. That's the one thing I'm not allowed to mistake on."

If their enemies were to find out about the existence of the Lightning Spear near the city, they'd do everything in their power to lure her to their side.

Amy jumped down from the carriage and approached the log cabin. Sebastian took Sana in his arms and followed her.

"Hello?"

Amy knocked on the door but there was no response.

"I think she's out."

Sebastian pointed at the stump.

"She's probably using it to chop firewood and ran out."

"He's right."

Sebastian and Amy quickly turned around. A woman holding an axe in one hand and a net filled with small logs approached them.

"Do you have any business with me?"

Her hair was silver and her eyes sported the same color. When Amy uses darkness, her hair would turn white but it wouldn't be a lustrous silver with a metallic shine.

Silver was a color exclusive to the peak of all elements—lightning.

"We've heard that you don't really like talking for long. Can you please teach Sebastian here about the way of the spear?"

"Denied. How did you know I was here? Scratch that, it's Briggs, isn't it? That bastard dares send students my way? What did I even see in him?"

The feared Lightning Spear began grumbling about her ex.

"You're mistaken, it wasn't him who told us of this place."

"Don't think you can fool me. Of all my contacts, only Briggs knows my location."

"..."

Had they really broken up?

Amy was dubious. She coughed once to stir the conversation backs after inwardly apologizing to Briggs.

"Umm... Lady Lightning Spear, will you please teach Sebastian?"

"Forget it. I'm already retired."

She avoided them and headed for the stump. She put down the log and began chopping.

Amy silently stared at her for a few seconds before sighing.

"We'll return tomorrow."

"Don't."

With that, they went home without their efforts bearing any fruit. At the very least, they managed to confirm that the Lightning Spear was there. Still, it wouldn't do much if she was unwilling to cooperate with them.

...

"My word, how shameless are you?"

"Please don't say that, we really need your help."

"And, why would I help you?"

"If you have any requests, we'd be willing to listen."

Amy smiled.

"If I had any requests, I could just ask the kings and they'd provide it for me. What can you provide that they can't?"

"Freedom."

"..."

If she were to return to the public eye, it was unlikely she could hide again. Amy was proposing granting one of her requests in exchange for training Sebastian without any obligations.

"That's not enough to convince me."

Amy knew it wouldn't be easy. She had left Sebastian and Sana at home today. She handed her seal to Lightning Spear.

"The House of Luna, huh..."

Lightning Spear looked at Amy with a critical gaze.

"You're the next head, I presume?"

"That's right."

"Hmmm... Perhaps, you do have the ability. However, I still refuse."

She handed Amy's seal back to her and walked back into the house.

"I'll come again tomorrow."

"Don't."

Since then, for the entire week, Amy continued to use different methods of convincing the Lightning Spear but they didn't seem to work. On the last day, Sebastian and Sana also came along.

"I request a duel."

"..."

"Sebastian?!"

Amy quickly tried to pull him back but he ignored her and stabbed his spear into the floor. He also began removing his blazer and shoes. He made sure his outfit wouldn't hinder his movements.

"If I have potential, then you'll teach me. All of the promises that Amy had given you will also be fulfilled. If I don't, well, we'll give up and compensate you for your lost time."

"Boy, do you know who you're challenging?"

The polite tone she was using on them disappeared. In its place, a chilling voice laced with anger.

"Isn't that why I'm here?"

"Why are you intentionally provoking her?!"

"You've got guts, I'll give you that. Fine."

Lightning Spear walked into the house and brought out an ordinary spear.

"Since you won't stand a chance, I'll give you a handicap. I am not allowed to use my abilities and if you land a proper blow on me, I lose. You aren't limited in any way and the condition for my victory is your surrender or the loss of your consciousness, do you agree?"

"Yes."

"Sebastian!"

Had he gone mad? Why was he doing this?

"Trust me."

"..."

Sebastian looked at Amy. His gaze was firm and there wasn't any doubt in his eyes.

"Jeez..."

Amy sighed and walked far from them with Sana.

"We'll be over here."

"Nn."

Lightning Spear waited for them to finish. Sebastian faced her and took a stance.

"Miss Luna, give the signal."

Amy nodded and waited for the two to prepare.

"Ready..."

Sebastian's feet clenched the ground and his energy exploded.

"Go!"

Sebastian disappeared and the ground he stood on earlier had foot marks.

"Monochrome Flame Thrust!"

He decided to open with his strongest attack. Sebastian and his spear ignited and shot towards Lightning Spear like a bird of prey aiming for its meal.

As expected, she blocked it without much trouble.

"Cut!"

The spear that had been forced upward stopped and then slashed down like a guillotine.

"You're too slow."

Lightning Spear stepped forward and slammed her spear's body into Sebastian's open abdomen. It made his attack miss.

"Fireball!"

"Hmph!"

Lightning Spear let out a breath and sliced the fireball in half. The two parts headed toward different directions and exploded. Amy quickly stopped the fire from spreading while keeping close attention to the match.

"You might be better with a spear than a foot soldier, but that's nowhere near enough to face me."

Lightning Spear dashed and then thrust out her spear in a flurry of attacks.

"Ugh..."

Sebastian retreated after suffering dozens of small cuts in just an instant.

"Your arm is strong, you can wield a spear built for two hands with one but, you're losing its purpose."

Sebastian had a tendency to switch between one and two hands when using his spear. It was because he could move faster if even one of his arms were free.

"Huff..."

Sebastian stepped forward and took another shot at a frontal attack.

"A thrust is aimed forward, but there isn't just one direction it can go."

Lightning Spear deflected Sebastian's spear and thrust her spear at his right shoulder. It was his dominant side.

Sebastian's eyes flashed and he forced himself to crouch by creating an explosion above his head.

"Not bad. Use your ability to your advantage."

As Amy watched them fight, she realized that her worries were all needless. Didn't want to teach him? It looks like she was dying to teach him but couldn't get the opportunity!

"Flame Axel!"

Sebastian took half a step and then rotated his body. The flames that surrounded him rotated and expanded around him.

"Don't think all of your opponents are scared of fire!"

Lightning Spear walked through the flames and forced Sebastian out.

'Is she really human?!'

Sebastian felt his mouth going dry. The assassin the other night was strong but he wasn't even close to the level of Lightning Spear.

She held back a majority of her power and Sebastian wasn't even sure if she was using five percent of her physical body's prowess.

Sebastian focused on the stigma. He called for more energy and strengthened his physical body. It was the absolute limit that his body could handle. He clenched his spear and prepared to charge forward.

"Crouch if you don't want to lose your life."

Lightning Spear disappeared from her spot. Sebastian's pupils contracted and his entire body yelled at him to move.

He could see her spear approach ever slowly but he couldn't move. No, he was too slow to move.

The entire world slowed into a crawl around her and only Sebastian's eyes could keep up.

'Move, move, move!'

Until the very end, Sebastian's eyes refused to leave the sight of Lightning Spear and her weapon piercing through the air.

There was no time to crouch, he only had one option.

Sebastian swerved to the left and swung his spear. He aimed for mutual destruction.

BOOM

A tree fell down from the impact of Sebastian's body crashing into it.

"..."

Lightning Spear looked at him and shivered lightly.

'We nearly died.'

Sebastian himself might have not realized it, but she did. When he aimed that spear at her, he had the resolve to die.

She managed to avoid it in the last moment and knee Sebastian's face.

"Sebastian!"

"Mister!"

Amy and Sana ran toward Sebastian who was knocked unconscious. His nose looked like it was broken and there was blood over his face but other than that, he seemed fine.

'If it's him, then maybe...'

At that moment, Lightning Spear acknowledged Sebastian as her successor. He would one day take her mantle and surpass her, she would make sure of it.