by Virlyce
My womb? That’s where that’s supposed to be, right? So energy comes from there? Why couldn’t he be more straightforward about it and call it what it is instead of a dantian? “Is it possible to run out of qi?”
“If you’re dead, yes.”
…Maybe I shouldn’t be expending it like this. But it feels so relaxing. “How do I get more of it?”
“There’s some breathing exercises you can do. But somehow, you seem to absorb large amounts of it when you sleep. Some people meditate with those breathing exercises all night instead of sleeping to get half the amount of qi you do.”
Wow. I’m amazing. “That means I should just go to sleep, right?”
“Try sleeping in that horse stance.”
That’s impossible! Who the heck can sleep while standing? A few birds maybe, but I’m a squirrel! Ah, I really wish I was born part crow. Wait. What are you doing? “D-Durandal?”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t care how hard you had to work?” Durandal asked with a smile. He slid a few spikes underneath me, propping them up on the ground. “Don’t tell me that was all talk.”
No, no. There’s a difference between what I’m capable of doing and impossible. “But how am I supposed to circulate my qi if I fall asleep!? It’s impossible.”
“It’s only impossible because of that attitude. The Godking could do it.” Durandal smiled and raised his head, staring at the sky and away from my plight.
I’m not the Godking! But at least I know it’s possible. Then I could at least try, yeah? Durandal’s right—my attitude is holding me back. Believe in yourself, Lucia. “I’ll do it!” …How does this work? “Uh, do I just try to fall asleep now?”
“She’s going to turn into a pincushion, you stupid sword spirit,” Bouncykins said. When did he get here? Did he want to watch my suffering too?
“Wow, Lucia,” Snow said while sitting up. “You’re very serious about your training. I was a little jealous of you since you had Durandal, but now I think I’m the lucky one.”
Don’t snicker at my suffering. I’ll smack you. I really will. Wait, what was that bit about being jealous? Wasn’t he supposed to be a trusted ally? He wouldn’t backstab me in the future, would he? Now that I think about it, Durandal is manipulating Snow a teensy bit. It would make sense for him to be bitter, no? Plus, he’s a gang leader with no morals…. This just gets worse and worse! I’ll have to keep my eye on him; who knows what he’ll do? “G-go back to sleep, Snow.”
“She’s trembling so hard that she’s starting to stutter,” Bouncykins said to Durandal as he also snacked on the poisonous mushrooms. “Are you sure she’ll be alright?”
I’ll be fine! This much is nothing. All I have to do is maintain vigilance and keep up this qi output until the night’s over. Who needs sleep? I’d rather have a non-pincushioned body than a good night’s rest. Wait. Why did I need to sleep again? To replenish … my … qi. Ah, I feel dizzy. When did my arms become so heavy? Please stay standing, body! My chastity depends on it.
And I fainted.
***
Lucia has surpassed my expectations. It seems like she was serious about not slacking off anymore. She actually forsook sleep to stand in a horse stance. Even though she doesn’t know anything about qi or where it came from, that doesn’t matter. It’s easier to educate someone than to motivate them and keep them disciplined. Hundreds of that bastard’s subordinates were like that, riding on the Godking’s coattails and doing nothing to improve themselves. Roland’s personality was horrible, but I have to admit he was a very determined person.
Well, let’s add on to her determination. “D-Durandal?”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t care how hard you had to work?” It’s just a few spikes. As long as you don’t fall, it’ll be fine, Lucia. “Don’t tell me that was all talk.”
“But how am I supposed to circulate my qi if I fall asleep!? It’s impossible.” Ah, that frantic expression of hers really is cute. Cute? Maybe a better term would be Lucia-like.
“It’s only impossible because of that attitude. The Godking could do it.” Actually, Roland couldn’t. I’ve never met anyone capable of circulating their qi while they were asleep. Wouldn’t that be too easy? But Lucia was the first person I’ve ever met who was able to replenish her qi to the fullest just by sleeping. Maybe she’ll be able to. Of course, I’m not that cruel. I’ll remove the spikes if she shows any signs of falling.
“I’ll do it!” That determined face of hers is also very Lucia-like. …Shouldn’t every expression she makes be that way? Hmm. Roland’s expressions weren’t always ‘Roland-like’. What’s the difference? “Uh, do I just try to fall asleep now?”
Don’t ask me. I’m just a leech. I can’t generate any of my own qi. “She’s going to turn into a pincushion, you stupid sword spirit.” When did Bouncykins get here? Did he want to watch Lucia’s suffering—err, training too?
Snow said something that was too far away to hear over the crackling of the fire. His voice is really soft like Cottontail’s. It’d be nice if Snow could accompany Lucia like Cottontail accompanied Roland. That fluffy beastkin was a good person even if she was a bit … clingy. Maybe she’s the reason why I didn’t want to form a bond with a human? Beastkin are honest and upright while humans are dirty and manipulative—Cottontail and Roland showed me that.
“She’s trembling so hard that she’s starting to stutter.” Hey, you stupid rabbit, why are you stealing my mushrooms? “Are you sure she’ll be alright?”
Lucia looks fine. See? She just closed her eyes to concentrate a bit harder. “Lucia will be fine. I’ll remove the spikes from underneath her at the first signs of her falling asleep.” Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have a problem? “What?”
“…She’s asleep. You didn’t notice?”
What? No way. She’s … really asleep? How is she still standing? That’s amazing. “Do you think her qi is circulating?”
“How would I know anything about your abnormal master?” Bouncykins asked. I think he’s still bitter that Lucia can catch him so easily. Now that I think about it, there’s many strange things about Lucia. If only Vera were here, she’d know.
“Should I just leave her like this…?” Well, I’ll remove the spikes just in case she does fall over. Let’s try taking some of her qi. Warmth flowed through my body as I tuned myself towards Lucia’s energy. “She’s overflowing with qi. Where is it coming from?”
“So … she can hold that monstrously heavy sword while sleeping?” Snow asked. “It still weighs over eight hundred pounds, right? Is there any way for her to decrease its weight?”
“There is, but I’m not letting her use that function right now. I’m in sole control. She’d cheat if she could.” Would she still cheat with her newfound determination? Maybe not for a day or two, but motivation is very fickle. I’ll withhold the ability to manipulate mini-DalDal’s weight until she reaches a ton.
“I see,” Snow said. His head and ears lowered. Cottontail used to do that when she was deep in thought. I still can’t believe how similar the two are. If Snow wasn’t a male, I’d think he really was Cottontail.
“Are you going to teach her the steady sword?” Bouncykins asked. His ears twitched a few times as they swatted a fly away. “I can’t think of a better suited technique for her: It’s as simple as she is. And she’s like an unmoving mountain right now.”
Steady sword…. “That really is a good fit.” I wanted to teach her the berserk blade though. Her qi is extremely explosive…. Wait. What? How can her qi be explosive and calm at the same time? “Hey, Bouncybounce.”
“That’s an even worse name!”
“Lucia’s qi and water test caused the cup to explode. Doesn’t that make her a brute?”
“Huh? Really?” Bouncykins tilted his head. “Are you sure you did it right?”
“Yeah. Put the water in the cup; put the cup in her hand; let her send qi into it.”
“And it exploded? Does the curre
nt sleeping her look like someone who’d have explosive qi? How peculiar.”
“Maybe she’s a dual type?” Snow asked. “You didn’t test her before you became her spirit?”
Should I have? “I didn’t.”
“…Really?” Snow’s tail inflated. Wasn’t that Cottontail’s sign of being mad? “I see. Whatever. I’m going to sleep.”
I glanced at Bouncykins. He stood up on his hind legs and shrugged before falling back onto all fours. Anyways…, dual type? Maybe I’ll teach her both techniques and see which one is the better fit. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. With this, it looks like Lucia’s future training regimen has been set.
“Why don’t you teach Lucia magic?” Bouncykins was staring at my master with a strange look in his eyes. Hey. She’s mine; back off. “Well, not you. I already know you’re incapable of that. But if you could find someone to teach her lightning or even fire spells, think of how strong she’ll be. How the heck can she even lift a sword that heavy anyways? Even with qi, Snow’s limit is three hundred pounds.” Was that bitterness on Bouncykins’ face? It’s hard for me to tell with a normal person, but it’s way harder to tell on a rabbit’s face. “You chose a good master.”
Did I? Lucia would be happy to hear that. Too bad she’s asleep. And I doubt she’d ever be able to cast spells with her nonexistent amounts of mana. Thankfully, that’s what magic tools are for, right? Lucia’s right. I promised I’d make her into a legend, and if I have to throw away some of my pride and employ magic tools, then I’ll do it. “You said you had a cache of magic tools lying around somewhere that you had to recover, right?”
“Yeah, but it was confiscated by those imperial guards,” Bouncykins said. “Those dirty bastards. I, King of the World, Lucifer, the All-consuming Devourer of Gods and Planets, the Mighty Unstoppable Force of Nature, the Terror of the Eigh—mmph!“
“Yeah, yeah. You’re going to get revenge on them, right?” Ow. Don’t bite me. “If I help you recover them, give me a cut?”
“…Two. I’ll give you two tools.”
“L-Lucifer!”
“Sorry, Snow. I actually owe Durandal, no matter how much I hate admitting it. Besides, we lost the hoard even with your gang behind us. How are you going to reclaim it without Durandal’s help?”
“Two tools, but I get to decide.” I wonder what kind of tools they have. Hopefully, they’ll be able to help Lucia. …What, you think I’m getting ahead of myself? Do you think a measly group of guards could stop me?
Snow looks upset. “So we’re redirecting our course to chase after my cache?”
I nodded.
***
“Lucia…”
“…Durandal? Is that you?” Where am I? The heck? Why’s everything so dark?
“Lucia…”
“Quit playing around, Durandal.” It’s so dark I can’t even see my hands. What’s going on? What was I doing a few minutes ago? Was—. Ah! That’s bright.
A light flashed, illuminating the room I was in. It was white and cubical. That was it: there was no furniture or windows or doors or anything to differentiate the floor from the ceiling. However, there was a figure standing in a horse stance, meditating in the center of the room, floating in space. Was that me? Then what was I? I lowered my head, well, I tried to lower my head, but I didn’t have one. My gaze still shifted downwards and landed on the floor. Out of body experience?
“Lucia…”
The walls of the room cracked, little bits of white stone falling away from the cube. The inside was exposed to the outside, and my vision was engulfed in darkness. When I could finally see again, I was standing in the middle of a field, sun shining down on my perspiring body. Mini-DalDal was in my arms which were held in front of me. I was standing in a horse stance?
“Lucia.”
My head turned. “Durandal?”
“Finally awake?” Why was his expression so strange? Did I do something wrong? Maybe I drooled on myself while I was sleeping. Wait, sleeping? In a horse stance?
“I did it!” And I promptly fell over due to my excitement. “I fell asleep while holding it!”
“That’s right, Lucia, you did,” Durandal said and ran his fingers through my hair. Play with my ears, please! Ah, that’s the spot. I feel great! All the soreness that accumulated over the past few nights has finally gone away. And Durandal’s nice enough to keep mini-DalDal at its base weight. “I’m proud of you.”
I could feel my face turning red. “C-can you say that again?”
“I’m proud of you, Lucia.”
“Yes!” Ah, if I died now, I’d die happy.
“Perverts.”
Shut up, Bouncykins. Don’t ruin the moment.
“Perverts.”
Don’t agree with him, Snow! You’re the pervert! At least I don’t cross-dress!
“Gah! Lucia!”
An explosion resounded as mini-DalDal whistled past Snow’s head and collided against a boulder. The rock shattered and fell apart like a broken cookie. Wait. Wasn’t mini-DalDal super light?
“Are you trying to kill me, Lucia!?”
“Uh, no. I just wanted to hurt you a little.” Just enough to wipe that annoying expression off your face, I swear. I bit my lower lip and tilted my head. “Sorry?”
“Generally, when you throw a one-ton sword at someone, they die if they get hit,” Durandal said while continuing to pat my head. Who cares if Snow’s angry as long as Durandal’s not? Wait, did he say one-ton? My expression must’ve betrayed me because Durandal said, “You heard right. While you were sleeping, I planned on increasing the weight until you couldn’t handle it anymore, but somehow, you made it to a ton.”
I’m that amazing? I should sleep more often! But my stomach really hurts for some reason.
“Also, it’s been over a week, and you haven’t eaten anything. And you’re not at the point where you can supplement meals with qi, which is why I woke you up.”
That explains it! How embarrassing would it be if Durandal’s newest owner died from starvation? But … he knows I’m part squirrel, right? “You know, you didn’t have to wake me…. Squirrels can hibernate.” Eh? Why did his expression freeze?
“Go back to sleep, right now.”
No! My food! “S-since you woke me, I have to eat now.” Believe me, please. If you don’t let me eat, I’ll be skinnier than Snow by tomorrow.
Durandal sighed. Hey. I thought he was supposed to sigh less now. Was he still feeling down? Haven’t I shown a lot of potential in the week I was sleeping? I did, didn’t I? I can wield a one-ton mini-DalDal like it’s nothing now.
“Snow! Make me food, please.” Why was he glaring at me like that? Oh, right. I threw a sword at him. I should probably pick mini-DalDal up too. Sorry about that, mini-DalDal. Wow, Snow seems grumpier than usual. Well, his food always tastes delicious regardless of his mood. I whispered to Durandal and Bouncykins, “You two didn’t bully Snow while I was asleep, did you?”
“No,” Durandal said. “Snow’s a bit impatient. We decided to change our course to recover his magic tool hoard, and he’s upset at giving the people who took it a chance to get further away.”
“Oh. Sorry, Snow.” The beautiful bunnykin didn’t even look up. Rude. “Anyways, I reached one ton, didn’t I? You can teach me sword techniques now.”
“Yes. Your foundation is passable now.”
Just passable? Fine. Maybe compared to the Godking, it really is only just passable. But I’m definitely on the level of a high-ranking general in the Ravenwood army now. Ah, that reminds me. Has no one come after me yet? Did people not realize Bryant was dead?
“…Lucia.”
“Yes?” Was he mad?
“Did you hear any of what I said just now?”
“I heard everything. My foundation is passable now.” Right?
“So you heard nothing.” Durandal sighed. “I’m no longer giving you a choice. I’ll be choosing the first technique you learn.”
Wait! I like choices! But … I
probably won’t get any with the way Durandal’s looking at me. “Okay…”
“Pay attention.” Durandal picked up his spear and raised it over his head. Spear? Why a spear? Then he brought it vertically downwards while shouting, “Break!”
A flood of dizziness assaulted my senses. I wanted to vomit. When I recovered my normalness, I raised my head. The land in front of Durandal was devastated like a typhoon had passed through. “Did you see?”
“I did. I think? But why a spear?”
“Because I don’t have a sword. It doesn’t matter; it’s the same concept.” Durandal nodded at his destructive handiwork. “It’s a simple technique called Breaking Blade. You simply focus all your qi into your weapon and swing it.”
“…That’s it?” Seriously? The fuck? I had to wait until I could hold a ton for this? I feel cheated. An icy chill ran down my spine before I could curse Durandal more.
“Are you unsatisfied?” Durandal’s eyes were narrowed like a snake’s.
“N-no. I’m very satisfied.” Yes. Very…. At least something’s better than nothing, right?
“That’s what I thought. From today onwards, you’ll perform the Breaking Blade one hundred times a day.”
“One hundred…? I felt dizzy and almost fainted when you borrowed my qi to use it one time! I’ll die if I do that a hundred times!”
“The Godking used to have a favorite saying. Do you know what it was?”
…I’m not going to like it, am I? “No.”
“On the road to the top, there are only two outcomes: death or glory.”
“But the Godking died after achieving glory…”
Durandal held up two fingers. “Then death or glorious death. Those are your only options.”
I don’t like either! What kind of shitty choices are those!? Where’s the option to live peacefully in a meadow of flowers with all you can eat buffets served to you by hot waiters!?
“Now that you know, you should start practicing.” Durandal smiled his I’m-going-to-make-you-cry-with-my-next-words smile. “Any Breaking Blades you haven’t performed by the end of the day will be converted into an appropriate punishment.”
