An hour after the introductory combat lesson given by Awakened Rock ended. Dein found himself on the shower, massaging his nose.
"Damn… that girl…" he said to no one in particular but instead, someone beside him spoke. It was Arthe. Currently, only the two of them are left in the shower. The others already gone to the locker room.
"Indeed, that girl. I mean, did you notice? She beat you all with pure skill. Her Aspect are still very much unknown."
Arthe said in a contemplative tone to which Dein nodded.
"Yeah, she was a monster wasn't she? I didn't even notice when she defeated me, only after."
Dein almost felt the pain of having his nose slammed into an elbow again. It was definitely one of the most painful. What more, Dein is bewildered by the fact that, at that time, his attribute did not warn him of what was going to happen.
Was it because the attack wasn't directly and Dein was the one who slammed into it? That could be it, but if so, then his attribute [Dreadful Trepidation] might've more flaws than Dein expected.
[Or… it perceived it, but you weren't able to process it because your brain is getting overstimulated with that barrage of attacks]
In Dein's mind, Serious gave him a very plausible explaination as well. In fact, his theory is probably much more closer to the truth. After all, back then, Dein was having a hard time splitting his mind to both focus on defensive and guess which part of his body that's being burn by his attribute is going to be attacked first.
At the same time, he's also trying to predict what Changing Star will do next while also trying to control his Aspect ability to unleash that punch, which failed to hit in the end.
Dein can't help but sighed remembering that. Really, he should've just accepted his defeat the moment he got punch in the gut. But instead, all that's in Dein's mind that time was winning, he was even confident that he would when he caught Changing Star.
Sigh… but alas, the result of his failure is this…
Soul Fragments: [6/250] [0/250] [0/250][0/250]
Dein grimaced when he read his runes. He loset two more soul fragments. He really can't use that ability anymore. If he does, he'll end up much weaker than he already is.
'It can't be helped, I'm not using that ability anymore.'
And so he decided. As much as he wants to experiment with it, an ability that would make him weak in the long run isn't worth using right now. What Dein has to focus right now is…
Dein closed his eyes for a bit. He remembers it vividly, the way Changing Star moved, her attacks that seems to come from every direction. That flowing motion of her body as she transition between offense and defense… how she seem to be able to read everything her enemy does.
Dein can remember it all and yet… he couldn't understand it.
Just then, Arthe spoke again, chuckling as he pulled Dein out of his thoughts.
"Anyway, True name really is wonderful huh?"
"True name? What of it?"
Dein walked out of the shower as he asked this. Pulling a towel to cover his lower half. Meanwhile, Arthe did the same as he spoke.
"Well, y'know. I wonder what true names are for? What are their significance in the grand scheme of things? What makes people with True Names special?"
He asked all that, but Dein could only shrugged.
"It's probably just how the Spell identifies talented awakened? To be honest I think it's just a title at best."
The two of them converse as they walked towards the boy's lockers. Where Caster is currently being praised over and over by his newly converted followers.
That said, he doesn't look at all delighted about it. His face getting darker each praise her received.
"Caster, that was incredible!"
"Your Aspect is overpowered, am I right?"
"That Nephis girl stood no chance at all!"
Unfortunately, Dein and Arthe walked in on that kind of weird conversation. This people, they all lost to Changing Star and yet they still have the courage to belittle her. Even though Dein knew they're probably trying to save their pride by sucking up to Caster, the only one who defeated her, Dein still felt the need to smack this people in the head.
Grumbling, Dein studied the new surroundings for a bit, walking towards their locker before Arthe spoke to him again.
"Sigh, even if it's just a title. Isn't it interesting to get a true name? You can even boast about it like that girl, Nephis."
Hearing that, Dein rolled his eyes.
"Come on, a True name? Who needs that. I don't. Nephis is just a wanna-be!"
Dein boasted with a laugh, it was supposed to be a joke of course, but instead, Caster overheard it. He raised his head and pierce Dein with a cold glare. When Dein noticed his reaction to him, he immediately frowned.
'tsk, this is bad…'
He thought as Caster walked towards him angrily.
"What was that?"
Caster gritted his teeth.
"I might have expected that behavior from them, but you, Dein, you should know better!"
Dein clicked his tongue, staring back at him with an annoyed look.
"Huh?"
But before a fight could break out between the two, another Legacy raised an eyebrow as he arrogantly scoffed. The Legacy in question, was Shawn.
"Heh, why? Is there anything special about that peasant girl?"
This time, Caster turned to Shawn. His eyes turning from anger to complete irritation at the obliviousness of the Legacies around him.
"Peasant… peasant girl? Do you really not know who she is?"
Instead of answering, Shawn simply shrugged as if it's none of his business, only to regret it later. Caster meanwhile, opened his mouth and closed it again, not sure whether he's getting played or these people in front of him are just actually dumb.
After a while, he stared at them seriously and explained.
"She is Nephis of the Immortal Flame clan."
Everyone, including Dein, turned pale hearing that. Unsure if to believe it. However, Caster simply continued.
"I trust that I don't need to tell you about her grandfather? Her parents were Smile of Heaven and Broken Sword."
Still, Shawn couldn't believe it. No, not that. He couldn't accept it. Even Dein is speechless along with Arthe. That said, Arthe doesn't seem surprised.
In this world, there's no one alive in the age of the nightmare spell who do not know those names. The grandfather: Immortal Flame. The first Ascended in history, and the father: Broken Sword, the first Transcended in history as well. Along with Smile of Heaven.
To be honest, Dein somehow understood why Caster snapped at him earlier. All his life he's been learning the history of nightmare spell. Of all people, he should be the one to know a lot about Changing Star's family. After all…
Shawn, who still cannot believe it. Spoke in a trembling voice.
"Then why… why is she so…"
Caster sighed.
"Because they're all dead. The Immortal Flame Clan is long gone."
Silence enveloped the entire locker room when Caster's voice echoed. Everyone seems to find a newfound clarity. Caster looked down, meanwhile Dein couldn't help but whisper to himself.
"She's the only one left…"
Indeed. Changing Star, Nephis of the Immortal Flame. Is the last living member of the legendary clan that pushed humanity out of total collapse at the hands of the nightmares spell.
And she was also… one of the main the reason why Dein's clan is currently on the verge of collapse and is being treated as a fake Legacy clan. Realizing that, stood there silently, the seed of envy in his heart had fully bloomed and amidst all of it, a new emotion arose.
'Nephis…' he grinded his teeth.