THUD!!
" Hiyori, good... luck..." As I saw him with Yoketsu's unconscious body, he looked at me with his cold gaze."Pick up the sword."
My body was unable to move as the man in front of me,had shown me, how weak I was. Inspite this, I slowly approaced Yoketsu. It seemed like the sky had darkened. Then as I was a few steps away, I stood, silently watching him as he laid there, unconscious, "Yoketsu... Thank you."
I bent down to pick up the sword. I touched the sword, my hands hesitant to grab it, The handle felt cold. I looked at Yoketsu, at his face, then the sword he was holding. I opened his palm. I held the handle, my hand shaking. Then tightened my grip till my knuckles turned white. I turned to face Gojo, pointed the wooden sword at him, my voice quiet, "... I won't lose. Yoketsu..."
I smiled slightly before I began walking, slowly, with each step closing the distance between me and him.
As I entered Gojo's striking range my legs stopped moving. My breathing was shaky. My arms felt like they could fall off at any moment. Despite it all, I looked at his cold eyes, "I won't lose." Gojo smiled slightly, like he had recalled something he had almost forgotten about, "Then show me."
'Gojo's too fast for me. And he'll strike me down the moment I charge in. But he should have a weaknes. What is it though.' I stood there, patiently waiting for Gojo to move first.
I had blinked and before I had realized it he had disappeared. And for a second, it seemed like nothing had changed. Suddenly his sword had come in contact with my back.
CRACK!!
My body hit the ground, I tried to get up, I couldn't. It was as if my body was ignoring my commands. My spine felt like it shattered into many fragments that cannot be put back by hand. A tear fell out of my eye, 'It hurts. It hurts soo much... Someone..... Anyone... Please.... Hikaru.....'
"I know you are children, but to be this weak. No wonder your father called Yoketsu a failure. And I agree. He can't do anything. He truly is a failure." Gojo walking towards me, eyes flashing blue. Emitting an aura that brought chills through my recovering spine.
"Don't talk about my brother like that! Don't put words in dad's mouth!" I tried standing up but stumbled down but I picked myself up inspite of this,"He did nothing to deserve those words!"
"Why doesn't he? What has he done in his pathetic life that it proves he isn't one!"
"....."
"That's what I thought, " For a moment Gojo felt an unsettling presence. And without warning, my kick had reached his face.
"Oww," Gojo took a steps back due to impact." She... actually broke through?" His hand gently flew to his face, to the place where I had just kicked him. He looks at me and finds I had suddenly fallen to the ground.
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"Ughh.. My head...." Her hands touch her head as she had a headache." What happened? Where am I?"
"You are in the healthcare facility next to the training grounds, Miss Hiyori" A woman with a white gown and a white hat with a red plus sign on it.
" Where's Yoketsu."
" He's over there."
"Yoketsu..." My feet had touched the ground, but as I took my first step, my head started spinning. Before I knew it, I had fallen to the bed.. " Please rest. You still don't have enough blood,"
I look at the pack full of blood and the IV tubes that stretch all the way to my arm, " Blood... What about Yoketsu?" I had gently touched my head has there was a sharp pain that refused to go away.
"He's fine. Just needs some rest"
" How about Gojo?"
" Oh that son of a bi... I mean your, instructor? He left and says he has 'important business' to take care of. But the most important thing right now is you get some rest. Oh and by the way, my name is Seraphine. It's nice to meet you, miss Hiyori."
After about an hour there was a knock on the door. " Coming," Seraphine answered.
"Hi Seraphine. How was your day?" He looked around the room and found me and Yoketsu on beds and me connected to a IV machine. " Dad" Caelan stood there, watching me as I was on the bed. He touched Seraphine on the shoulder, "was it him? "
"Yes, it was." The room went silent, the sound of the mana powered air conditioner blowing air could be heard in the background. Then Caelan broke this silence, "I left him alone hoping he wouldn't go this far. This is a mistake on my part "
" No it's not." I say." He's mine to deal with" Dad and Seraphine looked at me, clearly dumbfounded at what I had just said.
For a few moments the room was eerily quiet.I gently pulled the IV tubes and placed on the bed. My body was still feeling weak but I stood up anyway and slowly walked to the window.
" He talked bad about Yoketsu. He put words in your mouth. I plan to get stronger and make him regret his words."
Seraphine glanced at Hiyori then turned her attention to dad. He did not answer nor did he move. She whispered in his ear, " what do you think we should do?"
Caelan slightly smiled and silently said, " Is it ok for her to be standing."
"Most definitely not."
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"Some other things happened and that's it." After her long explanation on what happened, I looked away. I felt bad that I wasn't there for her, "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Let's go." Hiyori streached out her hand to me, " thanks," I stood up and began slowly walking to the dining hall where our parents were waiting.
" Oh, you're back. Well what where you talking about." Caelan had been looking down at his plate. His hand where shaking, breathing was jagged.
" So what where you talking about"
"Nothing much" I picked up my fork and knife and cut a piece of steak. 'this steak is so good' I thought to myself as this steak was well made. Hiyori had a fork and knife in hand she then pierced the met and cut it off. When the piece of steak touched her tongue, she couldn't help but say,"This steak is amazing!! Who made it?"
" It's...." he saw Lithia had turned her head to him and politely asks with a scary polite smile "Dear. Is it you who has cooked this gorgeous steak for us."
"No. It's the chef." Caelan faces the opposite direction, praying for something to not turn into a disaster. Hiyori set her fork down, " I'll go get the chef." Dad's face turned pale.
"And I'll enjoy this steak" I took yet another bite. And another. "Anyway. Enough about steak. How was your first day of training." Mom asked
As soon as she finished her sentence the dining hall was filled with nothing but silence. No one moved and no one talked. And he turned his face to his wife for just a split second and just faced back down.
" I've brought the chef" Hiyori's voice echoed around the room, breaking the long silence.
" Sir, you needed me?" The chef asks.
" Alistair. Who made this meal." Caelan looked at the chef very seriously "And don't lie," he said seriously while he winked twice. Try to tell him something. And Alistair said," Sir, it was you."
"..." Caelan had no words. After what he had just said. Chef then asked, "Is that all you needed me for sir?"
"Yes... You can leave."
' why did this have to happen now. It's ruining the food's flavor ' I finish my food place the knife and fork down.
"I'm going to bed" I drop down from the chair and walk to the door. "By the way. Hiyori has something she wants to say about training," I open the door as u am ready to leave. "She'll explain the rest." I close the door. Knowing the monster I had released in that room.
'Hiyori. Good luck.'
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My body sank into the mattress the moment I reached my room.
'i didn't have the best days today. But it made one thing clear. I was weak' I slowly closedy eyes. But before I could sleep, I remembered something , ' system. '
-----------
...
Core Parameters:
...
Endurance: H
Intelligence: +F
Charm: +F
Willpower: +E
...
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I notichedy willpower and some other stats had slightly increased. I tucked myself in bed, and tightly wrapped my arms around my pillow. ' I guess I still need more training. This isn't some anime where everything works out just because. ' I tightened my hold of my pillow, ' If I want to become stronger to protect these around me I need to earn it. So next time she doesn't have to risk her life.' My eyes slowly closed as my body slowly drifted to sleep.