Chapter 228 (2/2)

But that was slowly being replaced with resentment, as Shal felt powerless and furious. If he didn’t choose to remain here, his options were…

Standing, Shal said. “I will speak with him. We will decide how to proceed then.”

*****

Randidly was slightly disconcerted when he returned and found Shal waiting for him inside of his room. He was paging idly through the diary of the Spear Phantom, but snapped the book closed and laid it back on the bed when Randidly walked into the room.

They exchanged a glance, and Randidly followed Shal up the stairs to the rooftop training area, which was completely deserted. They wasted no time, and both drew their spears.

“Show it to me…” Shal breathed, his eyes burning, his expression baleful. Then, without any further warning, he attacked, moving a hair faster than Randidly had ever seen him move, putting immense pressure on Randidly.

Still, it was quick, but it wasn’t the direct, overwhelming speed that Azriel had displayed when they had fought. Focusing, Randidly responded, using the Spear Phantom’s Embrace, moving towards his mentor. Their steps were both quick, and Randidly very swiftly had several rather dangerous cuts from Shal’s spear. Although Shal wasn’t as fast as Azriel, he was much, much, much quicker to change directions, as if momentum didn’t apply to him.

But that was what Randidly needed, and under the pressure of Shal’s attacks, Randidly remembered where this started. With the different steps of the Spear Phantom’s Footwork. Soon, he too was moving seemingly without any care for momentum. As he did so, the baleful, hopeless aura that he had struggled so long to control exploded outwards naturally.

His movements became light and floating, his eyes unfocused, but detecting changes all around him. Behind Randidly, a huge image of a faceless spectre emerged, its arms spread wide.

Shal increased his speed, which caused Randidly to falter somewhat, but he began to add feints to his strikes, mixing his offense up. It wasn’t enough to interrupt Shal’s series of attacks, but it made him slow down his relentless assault, as Shal had to respect the skill.

Randidly’s chest was heaving at this point, his eyes narrowed. His image howled and charged forward. Truthfully, his Aether was swirling the fastest he had ever seen. He had only gained 2 Skill Levels, but he felt more intimately familiar with the skill than he had ever before. Part of the reason he was having so much trouble was likely his high control. Some of this was natural, and not something that needed to be forced. The image and aura would explode when he managed the eyes, steps, and feints.

But Randidly’s Stamina was almost empty. Truly, Shal was strong. Without even using images, his base stats were on another level.

So Randidly attacked. Shal’s spear seemed to blur, weaving through Randidly’s guard, catching him in the chest and throwing him to the ground.

At this point, both of them stopped, gazing at each other. Randidly with his heaving chest, Shal with the obvious conflict in his eyes. So many strange emotions that Randidly didn’t really recognize in Shal were fighting there. Randidly blinked.

Shal sighed. “You did it. I am… surprised. Although I knew it was possible…. Perhaps you were truly the one who was meant to inherit the title of Spear Phantom from my father…”

Shal trailed off, his eyes going distant as his thoughts turned elsewhere. Seeking to fill the silence, Randidly spoke up, explaining about how it happened, the disparate skills that he combined to get the Spear Phantom’s Embrace.

Chuckling, Shal just shook his head and said nothing. The silence continued. Randidly stood, most of the wounds from Shal already scabbing over. “There is something else, Shal…. I’d like to give you a gift, something… to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

Randidly didn’t really know how to feel about his Aether Donation Skill. He had used it on Helen, but mostly due to their previous physical intimacy. It was a…. profoundly strange feeling. Even now, he could feel a new, slight Aether tether connecting them together. It was still thin and weak, nowhere near the rivers of Aether that flowed back and forth between him and the 4 that he had blessed, but…

Already, he could feel bits of meaning and life flowing into him from her, giving him small insights to flowing rivers. It was…. extremely strange. He didn’t think he could use it yet, but Randidly suspected in the future that the mostly sluggish waters of his Soul Skill would begin to quicken as that meaning inside of him became more prominent. After all, there was a strange connection between his Aether Crossroads and his Soul Skill, and his heart, as they all aligned so he could escape the trap of the Creature.

Well, as much as he really did escape its machinations…

Shaking his head to dispel these thoughts, Randidly walked forward to Shal, who was regarding him with curiosity, and used his Aether Donation skill.

“You simply need to accept it.”