Chapter 20

"Did you realize it already? The forge worked better than I expected, and I started with a basic enchantment. The level of power is tough to gauge without a good test run, but I wouldn't try it indoors." Rolen cautioned as Zack stopped twirling it.

"I need to speak with the elder before continuing here. He would know the best magic to imbue, and I need his permission to use more of our methods. We aren't permitted to give our secrets lightly after all. Given our debt, it shouldn't be a problem though. Our elder was looking for you as well. It's no rush, but he's in the library." Rolen said before taking his leave of the forge.

"Yu let's head outside, and this is for you by the way," Zack said while handing her the staff.

"You got that for me?" Yu smiled while examining her shiny new weapon.

"I wanted you to have a sturdy weapon to protect yourself with," Zack replied as they walked to the training ground.

They walked into the arena as Kaya rested in the stands. When she saw the two entering she observed quietly.

"Can you do me a favor?" Zack asked.

"What should I do?" She replied.

"Attack me," Zack told Yu with a serious look.

"Why?" She asked.

"I wanna test your gift, and see how strong you are. Think of it as playing. If I can pin you on the ground then I win, and if I can't get you in five minutes you win. Then I'll do anything you ask." Zack said while covering himself in mana.

Yu nodded as she began twirling her weapon around getting used to the new feeling. Zack dashed in to wrap his arms around her. She lifted her leg extending her arm, and staff forward swiftly. It was done in a single fluid motion covering a great range, and she could maintain her grip with only the end clutched between her fingers.

Zack just barely ducked under the strike and slide forward to seize her hips. Yu adjusted her grip slamming it down into his shoulder, and even with his sturdy defense, it hurt tremendously. He didn't falter in his attack as he tried to yank the staff from her hands. When Yu saw this she dropkicked him in the chest.

As Zack was knocked back Yu hit the staff to the ground propelling herself forward. What ensued upon her landing was a barrage of attacks causing Zack to rapidly lose ground. A heavy blow was about to land over Zack's head as he called his spear blocking it narrowly. He exerted force testing the durability of the weapon. When the two weapons clashed she was pushed back four feet as she landed gracefully.

"This is fun," Yu smirked before leaping forward.

After each of their exchanges, it would cause the staff to glow brighter. Yu went forward twirling the staff as the golden end began glowing brightly. Yu was startled by this but still slammed her staff anyway. The ground beneath them shattered creating a crater as a large gust of wind swirled inside the stadium. Yu was jumping out from the crater as it slowly regenerated.

"What was that?" Yu asked staring at the ends.

"It's an artifact. You know how I can use magic right?" Zack asked while sparking a fire in his hands.

Yu nodded while listening carefully.

"That staff has magic forged into it, and not in a traditional way either. With each strike, I could feel the power growing inside. It seems to store the kinetic energy with each blow. Then when you twirl it and strike it's unleashed all at once. Did it hurt in your hand?" Zack asked.

"No, it just felt kinda warm," Yu asked while twirling it once more.

When twirling the weapon at increased speeds it would begin to glow. As the glowing increased wind began to swirl in the direction she was swinging. She continued to twirl it around releasing a barrage through the arena.

Zack smirked at the challenge and began dodging the blades of wind. When Yu realized he wasn't gonna get hurt easy it turned into a game for her. Any battles Yu was involved in would end swiftly, and sparring she would have to hold back. This was the first time Yu could truly let loose with someone.

Zack had to take the game seriously due to the quality of the weapon. When that was matched with her explosive speed, and erratic attack pattern she was formidable. Any time he would get the weapon free from Yu's hands she would use martial arts to counter. Even Yu's tail could strike hard and easily trip him up using his blind spots.

Throughout their sparring, the staff never strayed far from Yu's zone of control. They continued the training till she could control the abilities well. When they were about to stop she jumped on Zack pinning him to the ground.

"I win!" Yu declared with a large smile.

"Yes, you did. Do you like your new staff?" He asked as they stood up from the dirt.

"It's pretty and doesn't break when I use it." Yu began tracing her hands up the engravings.

"If you really wanna make it yours you have to do this," Zack told Yu while cutting his hand dripping blood onto his spear.

Yu bit her thumb gently pressing it against the staff. It began to glow, and hum loudly in response. The weapon disappeared as she searched around confused. Zack calmed her down and fixed her thumb.

"Did your momma teach you how to ignite your essence? It's similar to that sensation, but focus on your weapon while doing it." Zack explained.

Yu stood up taking a stance as a powerful aura filled the stadium. Her hair began to flair up from the power swirling around her. The muscles on her body began to flex, her tail went stiff as her canines began extending. When the staff returned to her hand she calmed herself. Zack saw her using her weapon and got lost in thought.

'This weapon is at least a grade six artifact. The durability and soul binding proves it's at least a grade three, but the magnitude of the attacks resembles a grade five. The multiple magical effects into one weapon prove it's at least grade six. Yu isn't trained to use magic so the limits are hard to test.'

"You won't have to release that serious of an aura. It was just to help you find the right sensation. Now if someone steals your weapon you can call it back. When you wanna put it away calm yourself and release the aura from your weapon. I need to go speak to someone. Do you wanna come with me, or meet up in the garden later?" Zack asked while approaching her.

Yu put away her staff and embraced him tightly.

"I won so tonight I stay with you."

Yu took off without another word. Zack knew Valan was waiting for him so he left behind her. Kaya waited for them to leave to resume training. Watching the spar between the two ignited a fire in her. Zack was flying towards his house when he saw Yu with the kids.

'She probably still wanted to play. Don't think it's possible for her to be tired. Not gonna get much sleep tonight that's for sure.'

Zack walked into his estate and took a shortcut since the library took up an entire wing on the opposite side of the house. The fastest way there was the courtyard, and it had been some time since his last walkthrough. Zack glanced around and stopped to admire the memories. He spent many nights out here with Lauren. After a brief stop at her grave, he continued his trip to the library.

Inside the library, Zack could hear Rolen and Valan speaking. In front of them, he saw the doll who raised him. For the longest time, he thought it was his mother. It taught him many things in their time together and was the only one capable of speaking. When Zack turned ten it powered down, and then he was alone till he met Lauren.