Clashing Ideals

  Two months. That is the total amount of time Blade had to train. Three weeks went to learning to make mora. One week went to mastering creating mora. Then after meeting Aisha and talking with her, he figured out how to best utilize his mora. Now, it was just about finishing it.

  ?His hair had grown to cover his neck, and his right sleeve had been torn off, yet he didn't mind it. He had done all he could in the time span he was given. And now it has paid off.

  ?Using his overwhelming memory, he could keep up with what his mind could process. He could fight on relative footing with Severance now.

  ?It has not been easy. Between continuous failures, beatings, and just some spite Severance would throw his way. Sometimes he wondered if she still felt anger towards him, though after getting tossed, Severance would assure him otherwise.

  ?When he was not getting beat up by Severance, he usually went and stayed with Aisha. When he did, they would catch up together and hang out, with Aisha getting better at using her voice each day. Aisha would tell him about herself and the Origin Realm, something Blade appreciated.

  ?From Aisha, he also got kids’ stories that were told here. They were interesting and something Aisha seemed to enjoy talking about. She said it reminded her of her mother, and sometimes Blade wished he could do more than only listen. Yet the joy she had when with him was soothing at least.

  ?One of his training days, he was asked by Aisha.

  ?“Brother… Why do you keep training?”

  ?The question had caught Blade off guard, realizing he had never actually told her why he was continuing to train. When he thought about it.

  ?“Why? Honestly, I might not be able to give you a proper answer. So I'll leave it at me wanting to get stronger.”

  ?“Why can’t you… tell me?”

  ?“It’s not because I don't trust you, it’s rather because I don't want to involve you. Not in this mess.”

  ?“But I can help… I—”

  ?Blade stopped her by patting her head.

  ?“A big brother protects his little sister. I'm getting stronger to protect both you and others, but also to get answers. Answers to questions that have been plaguing me.”

  ?Aisha looked like she wanted to say more but also understood his resolve, leaning into the touch as a sign of acceptance. After a while, she asked.

  ?“Today is the last day of your training, right?”

  ?“Yes, it is.”

  ?It was a surreal kind of feeling. Two months all spent training. Before this, he would never imagine spending so long training when there were things to do, yet he was weak. That was the reality.

  ?Two months were now done, and today was the day Blade would be leaving.

  ?“Will you come back?”

  ?Aisha asked. Though she had appreciated every moment and knew he would leave eventually, she was still feeling sad.

  ?“I… would prefer you stay… I know you must have your reasons to go… but I also want you to stay… Is that too selfish of me?”

  ?Wanting him to be here with her, Blade could not call that selfish. Yet neither could he stay, so he did what he could. Going down on a knee, he hugged her close, telling her.

  ?“I’ll come back. I promise. When I do, we can spend more time together.”

  ?“Okay… just please…”

  ?Tears were welling in her eyes, as she was unable to finish the sentence.

  ?Blade knew what she wanted to say. Please come back alive. Words he had heard before and had not been able to answer. Now he was here again, but changed. Different enough to be able to give a proper answer now.

  ?“I’ll come back, so when I do, have a hug ready for me, okay?”

  ?The best words he could give her in the situation. As she came closer, clutching at his clothes, even he could feel the sadness of going, of having to leave a loved one. It was a horrible feeling, and one he would prefer if he never had to experience again.

  ?As the moment drifted off, they both said their goodbyes. A final embrace for the parting between two who had never known true love.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  ?When he began walking, he was not quite sure where he was headed, he only knew what he was leaving behind. During the training, he had undergone one last outfit change. Losing the mask in favor of using the parts to decorate his coat at Aisha’s recommendation, and rebuilding his claws using mora to better control their sharpness.

  ?“Severance, how long would it take before the fusion is finished?”

  ?“It will take some time.”

  ?Severance echoed in his mind.

  ?Remembering back when Severance first had told him the idea. It was not a literal fusion but more so a deeper connection, as she had called it. It would allow him to better use his powers.

  ?Blade felt she had withheld information from him, but it was nothing more than a hunch and probably just a bad guess.

  ?Something that was not only a bad hunch was the feeling that crept up his spine. A feeling he felt long before he noticed the tremor on the ground. It was a feeling that had put him in greater peril than Raiden and Severance ever had, and something that had made him fear and question if he would ever live again.

  ?As he turned, he saw a village. Then he saw the crushing light. Light that erupted from the ground in the form of tentacles. They were destroying the village. No, not only destroying, but eating. As a line appeared, then a glint, and then the jaws.

  ?Blade watched in horror as the tentacles fed upon the citizens. Why were they here? The same light that had first killed him. Why were they back? No, now was not the time to be questioning it. He had to help the people there.

  ?“Where are you going?”

  ?Severance had spoken, yet was mostly ignored as Blade only responded with.

  ?“I’m going to help. I can't just stand by and watch.”

  ?He was running as fast as he could, trying to come up with ideas on how to stop that thing. So when Severance materialized in front of him, he could only ask.

  ?“Severance, please. Could you help me take care of that—”

  ?Though he was shut up when he looked in her eyes.

  ?“We aren't saving them.”

  ?Were the words that left her mouth. So simple, yet to Blade they were nothing but messed up.

  ?“What do you mean we aren't helping them? Why not?”

  ?“Why should we? Plus the fusion isn't done. If you try fighting that 'thing' as you are now, someone will have to pick up your remains from the ground. Unless that 'thing' decides to feed on you.”

  ?Blade could only stand still as he listened.

  ?“I know that, it’s why I’m asking for help. We should help them.”

  ?“We should wait.”

  ?“Didn’t you say you wanted those ideals to be important? You said you wanted to protect everyone. So now you're just going against them?”

  ?“I never said I wanted to protect everyone.”

  ?Severance answered as she created a copy of herself in her hand before pointing it at him.

  ?“My ideal is to protect. Nothing more.”

  ?She said before dashing at him, adamant at not letting him go until after the fusion was done.

  ?“What is that even supposed to mean?”

  ?Blade asked as he managed to take out his sword in time to block the first slash before dodging away from the second.

  ?“I don't understand, why won't you let me help?”

  ?“Like I said, you're not ready. Just wait—”

  ?“Wait?!”

  ?Cutting her off with his shout, half-angry and half-confused, Blade had to say.

  ?“If we wait any longer, everyone there will die, we don't have time for this.”

  ?“If it is so important, why don’t you go save them then? Aren't you the one who wanted to? This is your ideal, don't rope me in with you.”

  ?Blade could not take it anymore and ran at Severance, trying to attack her. Yet as their swords meet, blades sprout from inside Blade’s arm. They were small, yet still hurt and startled him for a moment.

  ?In the moment of panic, Severance steps over him before kicking him away.

  ?“What were your words again? A name without ideals is meaningless. Seems you are still meaningless then.”

  Barely registering a word she said as Blade was preoccupied with his arm. How had the blades emerged from there? Why had the blades sprouted from his arm? Too many questions and too few answers. That, combined with the time limit he had, as the people were continuing to die, was getting to him.

  ?He had to try again. This was not the time to give up because of simple wounds, but with each following clash, more swords emerged. It even began spreading as swords appeared not only in his arm but also along his shoulder, over his stomach, and on his legs.

  ?“Give it up.”

  ?“Shut… up…”

  ?“No more. Just give it up.”

  ?“Why are you stopping me? Do you still hate me?”

  ?Blade was unsure, but it felt like his body was slowly shutting off. Like his body was beginning to give up.

  ?“No, I never hated you.”

  ?As she said, Blade believed her. He had never felt hatred from her, yet that did not help him understand.

  ?“Then why?”

  ?“You were the one who said it. A name without ideals is meaningless. I will hold my name with pride, meaning I will prioritize my ideals over you and my promises.”

  ?“What are your ideals then? What is 'protecting' supposed to mean?”

  ?“You do not need to know.”

  ?Severance said, walking up to him and hitting him aside. More blades sprouted from his body, yet the pain that had remained fully physical began also happening mentally. It was like blades were emerging in his mind, fracturing it. Like if his body was having newly forged swords being pushed down his spine.

  ?It was nearly overwhelming, and he could only push through with his determination. The weapons had covered great parts of his body by now.

  A calm face was what she wore through it all. As ?Severance looked at his dying body, she could only question why he continued standing up against her.

  ?“Why won’t you give up? A bit more time and the people will be gone. You will have no more reason to fight.”

  ?“That’s wrong… That just means I have all the more reason to continue standing.”

  ?“It’s useless.”

  ?She said, knocking him away yet again, ragdolling on the ground as he crashed.

  ?He didn't understand it. Why was she so adamant on this? What were her ideals, and why was sadness the only thing she felt from their clashes?

  ?Blade thought back, this was not like the time when Severance had tried to kill him, and unlike with Raiden, there were feelings behind every move.

  ?That is when it hit him. If she wanted him dead, she could have killed him. If she truly wanted to stop him, she could have forced him. If Severance wanted to stand in his way, why give him the choice to refuse?

  ?Standing up one final time, he acted. Jumping into the sky as he ran away, with his body beginning to shut down completely. Severance went after him, readying her sword.

  ?As Severance charged at him, holding her sword to pierce his heart, he turned to her, and with a smile, let go. Let go of everything that could potentially stop her.

  ?He felt every part of the sword pierce his heart. Blade let out a breath as if he was drowning, yet he did not reject her, but accepted her fully, only for a singular tear to roll down her face.

  ?“Why?”