Memories and Swords

Saturday, April 1st, 2030. It was training time exactly in the afternoon.

We glared at each other without saying anything for about three minutes. She was standing still, probably identifying my weak spots by just staring at me.

I too knew her weak spot. She wasn't strong enough at the moment since she was still recovering. If I played my cards right, I might have a chance of winning this.

The environment was calm, so my senses were stable and I was ready for anything she can throw at me…..

-She disappeared in a blink of an eye-

I didn't see her coming.

I swung my sword on instinct and surprisingly, I was able to block her first strike. Beginners' luck I guess.

She smiled as she pushed my blade while I was still focused on holding my position. She then scooched down and slid her leg through the grass and tackled me and I ended up falling on my back.

"Ouch," I whined because my back was still aching from the slamming onto a wall incident. I know, right now I should be used to being slammed into stuff, but no I was still vulnerable.

She offered her hand and pulled me up. "It seems you don't know anything about swordsmanship," she said, settling her katana in a scabbard that had appeared out of nowhere.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because you hold your sword like a kid holding a lightsaber," she snorted.

She was right. I did hold my sword like a child, with both my hands holding the hilt but from up. It's so wrong now that I look at it.

She moved a bit closer and placed both her hands on mine. She pushed them a bit lower and closer to the surface of the hilt. "Your sword is light, use that opportunity to allow yourself to swing it swiftly without using much physical energy," she said, then stepped away and drew her sword once again.

She pointed the sword at me. "Now come at me," she ordered,

I charged forward; swung my sword. She dodged by moving to the right. I noticed and didn't waste any time, I simply changed the sword's direction, returning the swing but this time heading right.

Celeste seemed surprised by my sudden shift of direction. She then rushed to put up her katana and our blades collided. I could see the fire sparks the moment our blades met with great force.

I leaped backward, away from the point of action.

Celeste smiled. "I thought you are a slow learner," she chuckled.

She was now sounding her normal self. The shyness had worn off after tackling me.

"Well, I am full of surprises," I said confidently, setting myself in position,

I felt a surge of confidence through my mind. My reflexes were all on high alert.

She teleported. Then appeared from up. First, she had her sword forward but then she changed to her fist.

I jumped out of the way.

And when she landed, her fist destroyed most of the ground. It was crazy, was she trying to kill me.

She stood up, with a wolfish grin on her face. Her fangs were now showing and her eyes had gone bright red. "I see nice reflexes. But I need you to learn swordsmanship faster. So, I am gonna stop holding back," she growled.

"She was holding back!"

I thought.

She charged using her vampire speed.

'Activate pyrokinesis,' I ordered, using my mind. It felt more like a reflex than an order because I was panicking.

There was a bright flash of light in my eyes. I closed my eyes. And an explosion happened, it was like a bomb had gone off and I was in the center of it.

I opened my eyes. And I couldn't believe it. I had generated a golden magic circle that was protecting me. I had never seen anything like this.

Celeste looked rather stunned by the showcase of power. She jerked herself backward. Then cast a magic circle but it was immediately canceled.

"Wow," I didn't know what to say after doing that. turns out I can manipulate magical energy

Celeste smirked like she knew what was going on in my head, then charged at me, she swung her sword. I blocked.

She then leaped straight, turned, and launched multiple lighting speed kicks that sent me flying and crashing to the ground.

Quickly, I rolled to one side and came up kneeling. Celeste had gone rogue. She was becoming stronger by each minute.

"I don't know what is going on, but my parents will kill me if she continues doing this," I pointed at the damaged garden. But did care.

Celeste advanced. Both our swords collided. I was depending on mere instincts seems my body was now moving on its own. This time we were evenly matched.

My sword suddenly hissed before flames sprouted out.

"Perfect, I see you are awakening your progenitor abilities at full potential." she pressed her teeth from excitement as we stared at each other.

The flames from my sword spread even more viciously that her katana turned hot red from the excess heat my sword was giving off.

"…"

She chuckled softly. "I surrender," she said,

I was stunned to hear that come from her mouth. She jumped away and landed a distance from me. All the energy she had been emitting was immediately brought down the moment she made her katana vanish.

"I always knew the fey were cheaters," she yawned, then cast a spell that fixed the entire compound at the snap of her fingers.

"Cheaters?"

"The memories in your head. Sandra told me about them. How does it feel having a guide in your head?" she inched closer, staring at me to see if there were any changes on my face, I think.

"Huh…memories. Nice…"

She looked at me like I had just said something offensive. "Nice? It's awesome. That's why I knew you would become a swordsman fast. Because actual training would take you about fifty years."

My mouth dropped. "Fifty?" I cried, "I don't have fifty years."

"Exactly," she added.

Atreigon shifted into a cat. "Master, that was incredible,"

He was so full of energy. I wasn't surprised, that new power felt incredible. It felt like an upgrade from the usual magic I do. Is this what Sandra meant by she will stay inside my soul?

"Now, let's cut to the chase," Celeste continued, "as you know that the demon lord wants to kill all the progenitors for a reason I don't know yet. He almost succeeded if it wasn't for you saving my life."

"Do you still have the sphere?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I believe that they want that too, and if am right. They will attack during the Mage tournaments since the demon lord loves to make an entrance," she said

"So is that why you joined the tournaments?

"That, no. I have just had that idea right now," she grinned. "The dark blood will be at the tournaments one way or another. And when we get one all I need is their blood to know where the demon lord is hiding," she said.

If you are wondering why she said that. Well, vampires can search through one's memories by just drinking their blood. Classic vampire stuff you know.

-shrug-

She was confident with what she was saying. I could sense no doubt in her eyes or even voice. This was a full-proof plan that she was going to execute and succeed no matter what.

.

.

.

.

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We head back to the house. Then to the kitchen where I grabbed some bread for my daily Ralph sandwich special, which was a normal sandwich. I just called it that because I made it.

"So, what's next?" I asked while munching down my sandwich.

She grabbed a glass of water and sipped down the whole thing without stopping. "Tasteless…" she grumbled, then turned to me.

"Next, we win the mage tournaments," she placed the glass on the counter and said, "We can't afford to lose. That's why I had you activate those fancy skills of yours. But we can't use it during the tournament. We can't risk being exposed,"

I was relieved because I don't know how to activate the progenitor's abilities yet. I have only managed to use them twice only when am panicking or in a life or death situation.

"The group names will be announced on Monday," I said.

"I thought that a school sends one team to represent,"

"It does but since many students want those extra points two groups are chosen for qualifier matches. They are one on one matches that determine which group is more fit to join the tournaments," I explained everything to her.

It only made her more excited. "Really? Then I guess I'm going to show you, humans, how powerful I can be even at 3% of my power."

I found that offensive.

"I just kicked your ass. Just outside," I mumbled,

"I surrendered. You didn't even land one hit, you were always on the defense. Your casting is too slow despite how powerful you are. I am not sure if you will make it to the first round of the tournaments."

I sighed softly. Thinking of what to say next.

"Fine. You're right," I chose to agree to avoid any further insults.

I needed to learn how to manifest the memories of the previous progenitors. It may be my only key to defeating the demon lord and saving the people I care about.