I haven't talked to Lilly since yesterday. Is she mad at me?
-What's up, Kayle? You seem a little soft today.
-Ah. Sorry, here you go.
Jean looked at the boy who had so often accompanied him on missions outside the village and felt a little sad for him.
-I can train you a little if you like. That way, you can kill a monster or two next time.
Kayle wasn't really listening, as he was looking in Lilly's direction, but as soon as he heard the word "training" his ears perked up.
-Is this for real?
-Yeah, it is. I don't have much to teach you because you're already very good in martial arts, but I can teach you something and perfect you with what I've got.
Anyway. I've been asking them to train me for so long. I'm finally going to be able to perfect myself and become stronger, if only a little. If I get stronger than Rack, or even stronger than the old soldier, then I can leave the village.
-Great, I'll...
-That's out of the question.
Lilly had arrived at full speed and slammed her hand down on the table. No one in the bar had ever seen her so angry.
-Lilly?
-Are you crazy? You saw her puny, weak body. It's bad enough you took him on your violent hunts, now you want to kill him on the job.
Ha
-Kayle's going to stay here with me. It's easier for everyone and he's in no danger.
Ha
-Ha
-Ha
-Lilly?
Lilly turned away, tossing her hair back and raising her head, then went back to work. Her braids landed in Kayle's face and, with his mouth still open because he was shocked by her reaction, he received them right in his mouth.
-Rack. Why does she act like that?
-I don't know, Jean. It's the first time she's gotten so angry.
Kayle watched her leave and began to understand why she was so upset.
I guess she knows that if I get any stronger, I'll leave the village.
-You know you can't escape her, Kayle. Looks like my little girl's attached herself to a criminal.
-I'm not a criminal.
-I'm only kidding. But seriously, kid, don't break his heart.
Why is he looking at me like that? I feel sorry for him.
-And how am I supposed to do that?
-Don't go.
-But I have to.
-You have to? Why should I? Aren't you better off here?
-I... I...
I have to kill someone to live.
-Do you want to leave or do you have to? What's waiting for you out there, you who know nothing of this world?
-I offered her to come with me, but...
-I know. I know why she's staying. I'll try to sound her out, but you do your best too.
I don't believe it. I feel like I'm talking to my father. He can't understand me but he's trying to do it through my eyes. I've got to...
-Looks like you're still having problems, Rack.
-Well, there you go.
This is...
-I finish a long fight with some apostles. Don't I deserve something?
A sheriff's hat. A faded yellow scarf around my neck. An unshaven beard. Cowboy boots. And a flow that surpasses everyone here, except me, this guy is definitely the former soldier.
-I hear there's a young man here who's eagerly waiting for me to train him. He's easily visible.
Here he comes. One step at a time. Slow but with an aura that everyone dreaded. What's he going to do....
In less than a second, Kayle found herself flying backwards with her head to the ground.
Huh? I... How?
-You haven't got an ounce of energy, kid. You just...
The former soldier looked behind him and saw Kayle's foot coming at him at full speed. He shifted his head slightly and took the blow on his shoulder. Kayle then took a step back.
-Didn't anyone tell you I don't like being talked down to?
I think he's arrogant. He didn't even move when I kicked him. Is that Aran rotation or circular energy?
-Good. It looks like you've got resources after all. Show me and I'll show you.
The people in the bar are up again. That means they're expecting a duel. I'm sorry, Lilly, but right now I've got to give it my all.
-Come here.
-Nope. You, come here.
At these words, a smile appeared on the former soldier's face before it disappeared from Kayle's field of vision.
-Huh?
In the blink of an eye, his fist struck Kayle's face before he went flying to the back of the bar.
-Kayle.
Lilly ran to him. The former soldier looked at the hole he'd made in the room, disappointed.
-Well, is that all you were worth? Hm?
The former soldier suddenly felt a slight cut in his throat.
-He touched me. How'd he do that?
-Careful, San.
Rack jumped at the last moment to stop a dagger flying towards the former soldier's face.
-I couldn't have done it. I might be dead if... Don't tell me...
He moved towards Kayle, who was being treated by Lilly.
-How did you do it?
You see, soldier. I can get stronger.
-The first thing was to hide my blade. I knew you'd only see fire, so I decided to keep it hidden until you attacked. I wanted to pull it out at the last moment, but I couldn't anticipate such speed. After that, I confess that I don't know myself. I knew you were going to appear right in front of me, so all I had to do was raise the blade a good distance to hit you, but I don't remember my brain acting in time. As for the flying dagger, I'm sure you can imagine what happened. It worked better than expected because I don't know how I scratched you.
Don't look at me like that. I've got you. As I had and would have all the people in this world. I'd surpass you all. There's no other option left. Whether it comes from you or the others. I'll create a future for myself in this world that even Vencklerk won't be able to put in the shade. And from the look on his face, I have a feeling it starts here.
-Did you see that, San? Interesting kid, isn't he?
-He's a good strategist, but he really doesn't have any energy. How can someone be without energy?
-Don't look at me, I don't know.
-Where are you from, kid?
-I don't know.
-You don't know? Could it be that you're hiding it?
-I told you I don't know...*cough*
Damn, he hit me hard. How is that even possible? Thank God Lilly's here. It's no good if I'm this weak. Luckily, this incredible, adorable, beautiful and powerful gentleman is going to help me to...
-Sorry, kid. But if you don't have the slightest trace of energy in your body, there's nothing I can do for you.
What ?
-Do you know the basics of Aran rotation? In the north, there's an ancient people who applied this method to young children so that they could meditate and increase the amount of energy in their bodies. The first to do this was a man called Aran. A very powerful warrior from the North. I'm not going to tell you his story, but to tell you the truth, he was far more powerful than an army general. He could at least...have them all at once.
By the way, you're just weak.
-His tribe then performed this. You can't see the energy, but right now...Lilly, can you project for him?
-Yes, I can.
Projection? Like a screen? It should be....
An immense quantity of energy gathered in front of Lilly in a magnificent spectacle. The energy first manifested itself as a great nebula, then gradually took on the shape of the veins and blood vessels that run through the human body. Lilly's eyes were closed and she was floating above the ground.
-This is the energy that runs through your body...Normally. It circulates in a different circuit from blood, but its course is almost the same. The energy circulates exactly like blood. It starts at the heart and ends at the heart. Aran's rotation, however, is different. Energy circulates in a circle and is sucked into the heart like a black hole. It circulates independently of the vessels.
I can see that. But what does that change?
-It does two things: firstly, the energy is no longer trapped in the body, and mixes with the ambient energy, so when it returns to the heart, it comes back with ambient energy. And the second is that, at a certain stage, it's easier to transcend.
-Transcend?
-There's no point in you understanding that. You have no energy. So you can't learn anything. I'll be off.
-Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Shit, I didn't wait this long for nothing.
-How do you get energy then?
The former soldier slowly turned his face to look at Kayle, who had grabbed his shoulder.
-You can't. Az is natural and innate, if you don't have it. You're a dead man in this world. I'm out of here.
No, I won't allow it. I must defeat this hero and return to my world, or I die. I won't let you go for so little.
Kayle struggled to his feet, leaning on the spot where he'd been hit. Despite the pain, his eyes showed nothing but rage and a strong dose of determination. You'd have thought Kayle had given up. That it was pointless without az, but he hadn't. He put his hand firmly on the soldier's shoulder and looked him straight in the eye.
-At least teach me how to fight and survive.
The former soldier looked into Kayle's eyes. He could clearly feel the urge emanating from him. In fact, the whole room could feel it. This kid could fight. A vague memory came back to the soldier's mind.
-Gee, it's been a while since I've seen that kind of look. Well, I'm going to teach you how to fight. Don't complain if it's too hard. Meet me on the east side of the village, near the well, around sunset. I won't wait for you.
-What's your name anyway?
Is he...smiling?
-You'll get it when I say so.
Arrogant bastard. He discreetly puts his hat back on like a cowboy. Is he from the Wild West or what? For that matter, do cowboys even exist in this world?
-Kayle, you're really something.
-Sorry, Lilly.
-I told you to...
She looks really worried. I can't help it, I'll die if I'm not careful. I've got to go after the hero, so I've got to be powerful. I don't know what I'll do without energy but...
-Never mind. I'm going back to work.
-O....ok.
She's really not happy. I've never had a girlfriend. How do you do that? Besides, are we a couple? No, impossible. Me, a couple, anything.
Kayle went off to bed to recover from her injuries.