70 Chaos Realm (2/2)
His laughter died down gradually. Casually he raised a finger to wipe a tear from his eye. ”Truly that heart amazes me, William.” He spoke with a fondness that could only be reserved for a father to a son.
”I've been here with you for some time now.” Will said with a little anticipation in his voice.
”For more than a year now.” Ragnos nodded. ”You have grown much stronger, yet I fear you cannot learn any more from this old man.”
Will returned the God's warm smile. ”I will continue to improve.” He said with determination. ”I have learned a lot with your guidance.” He thought back to the few months the citizens had protested for the aura. He remembered his resolve. ”I will not be the next ruler of this world, but I will protect it.” As he said the words, they felt right. He felt no shame in abdicating the throne. He felt a sense of freedom wash over him. ”I may live in a chaotic reality, but I feel that this path is right.”
Ragnos looked at the young prince for a time. ”I will be with you, even after you return to your body. Myself and Cainus will continue to watch over you and lend our support from time to time.”
Will looked fondly at his father God. ”I will ensure that you will not have to step in much.”
The god bellowed one last laugh before Will's world turned black. I will always be here. He heard Ragnos whisper within him before finally, he felt his body once more.
Maya
As she looked at the many weilders training, Maya couldn't help but have a restless feeling wash over her. He has to return soon. She thought as she stood from a lone grassy hill overlooking the training field.
She straightened her leather training shirt before bringing herself down to the combatants. As she descended, the sparring group stopped in their tracks. They readied themselves for what they knew was coming.
Maya released her aura into her ring and produced her blade. The half black and half gold one handed sword had been used for many sparring matches. She knew the blade as if it were an extension of herself.
The group quickly formed into a circle around Maya. She could see many with the crimson flame aura, and some with the wind aspect, their hair twisting in an invisible breeze only they could feel.
A smile lit Maya's features as she prepared herself. This will be fun. She thought as she crouched into a fighting stance, her sword to her side ready to strike. ”What are you waiting for?” Her black and gold aura surrounded her as if it were setting her ablaze. ”I'm all yours.”
One weilder she recognized as Jacob stepped forward. His silver sword blunted in the sunlight as the wind from his aura played with his baggy training clothes.
In mere seconds, he readied himself and launched towards Maya, the wind propelling him forward and an astonishing pace.
Maya closed her eyes and focused on her aura. The moment she felt he was near, she raised her blade and parried his advance.
The two weilders became blurs within the battlefield. Maya relied on her aura to sense Jacob's presence and easily parried each blow, while the other moved so fast, the naked eye could not keep up.
”Why are you all standing there?” Maya announced as she blocked another blow. ”Do you need an invitation?”
Ben joined his brother in the fray. Both of them zigzagged through the training circle in a blur of motion, each trying to gain the upper hand on Maya.
Minutes felt like hours to the three of them. Ben and Jacob would attack, and Maya would dance between them, avoiding every blow.
Soon, it felt slightly one sided to the brothers until a black blur of motion joined in. ”This looks fun.” Maya heard Jake say in a carefree tone. His obsidian black blade reaching for Maya, who had to double her efforts to keep him at bay.
In the power spectrum, Jake was the only one besides Will who could be considered an even match for her. Soon, Maya had to increase her efforts in dodging and parrying. She would thrust her sword out to meet his, yet he would only jump over the blade and land behind her, only to continue his course to find an opening.
”Someone's been training.” She grimaced as she noticed Jake picking up the pace faster than the other two. Soon, she felt taps of a blade against her chest and calves.
”You did well, Maya.” Jake nodded approvingly. ”I have a slight advantage by having two affinities, even still it took everything I had just to find one opening.”
The match was done within ten minutes. Two of which Jake had been present for. The others laughed carefree with Jake and Maya. They knew that the sparring was all for improvement.
Maya couldn't believe how different Jake had become within the year and two months they had spent training. Even though she trained daily, she could see his power soar to new heights while leaving her behind.
”That was a good match.” A voice rung out from above the training group. Everyone went silent as they realized who had spoken.
As they looked up, they saw a man in blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He wore a cross around his neck, and if they looked closely, they would see the small metal beads of his dog tag chain under his shirt, his long brown hair tied in a ponytail going down his back. He wore no shoes as he crossed his arms with a carefree attitude. His muscles were much too defined to belong to someone who was bedridden for more than a year.
”Mind if I join in?” Will smiled and cracked his neck. ”Feels like I've been asleep forever.”