Karry looked at Jikki as if he were silently searching for an excuse to leave the training ground.
But Jikki already knew what he was thinking.
Jikki: "If you want to survive in this sand, you have to become stronger."
She looked at him seriously.
Jikki: "If you don't, the sand will take you."
She paused.
Jikki: "Show your worth to your master, so that I can be proud that I saved you."
Her expression became colder.
Jikki: "And don't be swayed by my kindness."
"In the end, you are a slave, and I am your master."
Karry realized that her words weren't meant to hurt him.
They were simply the truth.
The world wasn't going to leave him alone after what he had learned about the Entities.
He had to hold onto whatever small thread of life remained and use it to escape the void of truth surrounding him.
Karry lowered his head.
Was there any reason I was born...?
Before he could think any further—
Jikki: "Don't just stand there."
"It's coming."
Karry looked up.
A sudden sound filled the chamber.
WHOOSH!
Arrows began raining toward him from every direction.
Karry's eyes widened.
He didn't have his sword.
He had to dodge everything with his body alone.
But it was impossible.
The arrows moved too quickly.
Karry twisted his body, barely avoiding some of them, but several struck him.
He stumbled backward.
His body could barely keep up.
Yet whenever an arrow was about to strike a vital spot, another arrow suddenly knocked it away.
Jikki was standing on the opposite side of the room, firing arrows of her own to protect him.
Karry gritted his teeth.
His body was covered in wounds, and he could barely move.
He dropped to one knee.
Karry: "I... told you..."
Jikki calmly lowered her bow.
Jikki: "Pain is the greatest teacher."
Karry's vision began to fade.
His consciousness disappeared.
His body started falling forward—
But suddenly...
It stopped.
Karry's body remained standing in the air, completely motionless.
Jikki's expression changed.
Red markings slowly appeared across Karry's body.
Jikki: "What...?"
The markings spread further.
Then—
Karry's head slowly lifted.
One of his eyes opened.
A crimson glow filled it.
Jikki froze.
The figure standing before her looked at her.
And smiled.
[End of chapter]