CHAPTER 59: A DEAL

"why my master was rough on me."

That...

"I see." I reply curtly, cutting him off from his monologue, "but there’s one thing you seem to forget." My voice lowers, "and that’s the fact that.." I’m peering straight into his golden eyes. And my head is light, almost dizzying. "I’m not your student." I growl, crouching low, and waiting for him to attack or something.

But his eyes widen, and the glow in them erase. "Oh!" He exclaims, "kid, you’ve got spite. How rich. Keep that, don’t let it fade from your heart. Because if the spite you carry in you is your mightiest weapon, then it’d fade the longer you stay with me." A wide grin stretches on his lips.

And then he moves his head lazily— pointing it toward the ground in front of him, "sit kid. I’m not going to repeat myself." As he speaks, my heart twirls within my chest— tightening like it’ll burst any moment from now.

Where is my mask..

My face contorts, but I don’t reply him, and I just walk gently to the spot he asked me to sit, then I sit.

"Good." He says, his smile’s still etched on his lips. "That wasn’t so hard now, was it?" He asks.

"Where are we?" I ask, "what place is this? And how far are we from the mercenary guild?"

A soft chuckle leaves his lips as he shuts his eyes for a while. Then he opens them, and he touches his forehead with his index finger, "use your head."

My brows furrow.

What is he saying?

"What do you mean ’use your head’?" I ask.

Once I find out the location of this place, I’ll escape. Maybe during the night. Yes, during the night. Night’s always the best time for me.

"You think I’m stupid, kid? I know fully well what you must be thinking. ’Run away at night,’ probably. Must be why you got the nickname ’nightmare’. Heard you run around at night like an assassin of sorts. But, that won’t work here, kid. Trust me." He suddenly speaks with a stern expression.

What?

"..."

"Now. We’re going to begin." He speaks with a weird, almost Russian accent.

"Begin what? Journey to find my stripped clothes?" My tone drips with feral sarcasm.

He lets out a small, dry laugh, "no. Your bodybuilding."

I tilt my head, my eyes narrow, "I don’t understand. Bodybuilding?"

He nods, "yes. Bodybuilding."

And I stand up immediately, "I’m going home." I say in a hurried voice, preparing to run out of here. Even though I have no idea where I am.

And surprisingly, he doesn’t stop me. And I keep walking— walking toward the small wooden entrance at the front of the courtyard.

"You don’t think you’re still in Ludia, do you?" He suddenly asks in a voice barely above a whisper.

And I halt my movement, and turn my neck slowly toward him, and my eyes locks with his. Cold sweat slides across my forehead, "what?" I turn back fully, "where the hell are we then?!"

"The body is built through various ways. Honed as a weapon to destroy enemies. And having a well built body is the first step to becoming a great weapon user. Most swordsmen or spearmen and other physical oriented warriors gloss over this body building part, and jump straight into swordsmanship. That’s why they never reach the level of a swordmaster. Some of them reach that level, but get stuck at it without advancing."

My heart drums with an otherworldly rhythm— fueling the anger boiling in my arteries right now. "Why are you telling me this?" I ask, "I clearly just asked where—"

"So, on that note, kid. You should be happy that someone— I, am willing to teach this art to you." He adds in a soft, and warm like tone.

What exactly does he want from me?

And I breathe out, easing the boiling anger in my chest, "what exactly do you stand to gain from doing this? You can’t tell me that you just want to pass time, K. So what is it? Nothing in life is ever free."

He goes silent. Just staring at me with lost eyes.

"I will reveal that to you in time to come." He speaks in a low voice.

"I see. But, I’m a mage. I do not use weapons. What use is all of this? You are only wasting your time." I ask again.

"If you’re a mage, then how do you have that blade?"

"... It was a gift." I reply.

"That kind of blade? A gift? Kid, you can’t find the steel used to craft that blade anywhere in the black market. Even the greatest weapon makers back in my hometown don’t have access to that quality of steel. It’s almost like it’s an extinct ancient steel or an artifact or something."

Well, it is an artifact crafted during ancient times or so Alexander said.

"I believe that the weapon was given to you for a reason. So, I would like for you to learn how to wield it, and find out why it was gifted to you." He speaks.

Hmmmm, I see.

"But, it all sounds like an excuse. Like you just need me for something else."

He shrugs, and shakes his head, "believe what you want. But, I have to ask you; isn’t it to your own interest? I have no idea why, but it seems you’re desperate to get stronger, right? So I think it’s to your own interest if this can make you stronger. Why are you still so wary?"

My mouth parts; hoping to say something, but I close it back. Then I stare at his hair, and white robe, and then finally, his eyes. "It’s shady. Why does K the Enigma suddenly have an interest in me, and why would he even go as far as to take me in as an ’apprentice’ even though I’m a mage."

"Don’t you have any trust?" he asks with low voice.

Trust? I lost that the moment I found myself in this world.

"In a world where the naive are preyed upon, trust is nothing more than a massive flaw." I reply.

And then he nods, "you’re right. Then, let’s agree on this. No need for trust or anything. Let’s treat it like a deal, or maybe a trade; I make you stronger, and in turn, you do just one thing for me when the time comes."

It still sounds shady. What does he actually want from me? But.. no. I’ve been looking for a training partner, and a way to break out of this first circle and into the second. So, maybe this is my chance. After all, it is said that one can’t find enlightenment; it is enlightenment that finds a person. So maybe this is my chance to encounter enlightenment.

"That’s.. a deal." I voice out. Then I head slowly toward him, and I sit down next to him on the ground.

And I outstretch my hand toward him for a handshake.

"What’s this for?" He asks in a low voice, and an amused smile is on his lips.

And I shrug, "it’s normal courtesy. We’re going to be partners now, aren’t we?"

And then a soft chuckle breaks out of his mouth as he outstretches his own hand and grabs mine with a firm grip.

Big..

His palm is large. It could cover my entire face, and maybe one more face the size of mine.

What the hell is made up of?

"Now, get ready. Your training is going to be brutal. Because I plan to take you with me, once you reach B-rank— to the location where me and the rest of the five S-ranks are going in five months time— to the Orcan War." He speaks.

And my eyes widen, and a low grin stretches on my lips.

That’s aligns with my plan.

"Very good."