[Japan: Many years ago.]
Whooosh.
A huge explosion rocked the training building as two young girls clashed their swords against each other.
One had a red aura that seemed to emit a certain heat while the other one was covered in wind and faint spark lightning.
The ground was covered in craters of varying depth and width and all around, people were observing the fight with nothing but awe in their eyes.
In the end, the red aura faltered and was completely crushed by the might of the other one.
"Ooohh! Good job young lady!"
"Show that mad mutt who is the boss!"
Cheers rang as the witnesses cheered the victory of the heiress. Clearly, they were happy to see the current result.
When the dust finally dissipated, they could see the black-haired young girl holding her sword over the throat of the crimson-haired girl.
This brought a new wave of cheer from the spectator. After all, they had all been savagely beaten by the crimson-haired girl. So seeing her heat the dust again and again only brought joy to their heart.
On the training field, the black-haired young girl, who seemed to be in her early teen gave a gentle smile as she keep the sword close to the throat of the other one.
"You are dead. Once again. 99 to 0. Should you not give up by now?"
After moving her sword away she brought her hand forward to help the crimson-haired girl stand up but her hand was ruthlessly slapped away.
"Do not look down on me."
She growled as she stood up unsteadily on her feet.
"I am Cecilia Ataegina. I am the one who will surpass even the zodiac and the gods. The only time I will give up is when I die."
Shooting a vicious look at the crowd even as she heard some snickers and began to walk away. A clear limps on her gait but with her back straight and her gaze impassive.
She ignored the mockery and laughter and simply focused on her goal.
This was all that mattered to her.
Watching the girl leave, the only one who did not laugh was Mei.
A smile formed on her lips as her eyes shone with admiration.
'She is getting stronger.'
This was unmistakable. The girl she could beat down in one strike at the start now needed her to put far more effort into the fight.
If she continued to grow at this rate Cecilia might even pose a serious threat to her own day.
'Hehehe this is fun.'
For the first time in a long while, a spark of competitiveness burned in her heart.
Fighting with Cecilia was fun.
But if Cecilia beat her own day, they would never fight again.
This was why — 'I should become stronger.'
She thought and began to walk away.
All this time, she never paid attention to the one laughing at Cecilia.
It wasn't that she didn't want to defend her 'friend'. It was just that the laugh of rabbles like this could never hurt someone she admired.
They were of no consequence and no importance. Nothing more than unnamed background characters not even worthy of her remembering their existence.
Humming to herself, she walked away, wondering how to become stronger in order to keep beating up her friend.
—-
A few minutes later,
"Fuck, fuck, fuck. It fucking hurt."
Cecilia was cursing and breathing hard in her bedroom as her sister, Theresa covered Cecilia's wounds with healing medicine.
Looking at Cecilia squirming and shouting like a pig that was about to get slaughtered, Theresa sighed as she asked,
"Aren't you gonna surpass the gods? Stop acting like a crybaby and suck it up."
"Ugh! Even gods feel pain you know?"
Theresa sighed and ignored her sisters as she applied the medicine to her naked back while slowly moving toward her swollen feet.
"So, how many times did you lose today?"
"I did not lose. I was simply unable to take her down and she beat me up."
"Isn't that losing?"
"No. You only lose when you give up or die."
Theresa fell silent before speaking softly.
"You know this is just sophistry, right?"
"I do not care."
Hearing this, Theresa stood up, outrage visible on her face, "Sister why are you always acting like this!?"
"Theresa?"
"Every day you are fighting the young miss like this and when you aren't fighting her, you hunt down the yokai and others like there is no tomorrow! Do you know how they call you outside!?"
"Mad dog. Crazy bitch and many other names."
"And do you not care!? Even in the family, everyone seems to hate you and insult you behind your back.
Also please stop fighting the Lady. She is a genius. We simply cannot match her."
This time it was Cecilia's turn to sigh as she stood up and covered her body with a cloak. Her chest was covered in bandages, hiding her budding maturity.
"Why should I care about the opinion of irrelevant people who can only speak behind my back?"
There was no arrogance in her words. Only pure and clear pride as well as endless confidence.
Her only goal was growing stronger and for that, only the strong mattered.
"Sister."
"Enough. I will take care of my wounds alone."
She began to walk away but only stopped when she reached the door.
"Theresa you know. I am not super smart like you so perhaps what I am doing seems dumb in your eyes and honestly you are most likely right. What I am doing may be dumb and stupid and useless or whatever you may call it. But you know—"
She turned around and gave a weak grin,
" —I would rather be someone dumb who continues fighting against the impossible than someone smart who gives up at the first signs of difficulty."
Taking the ointment on her way, Cecilia left a silent Theresa and continued her way.
Even though she had spoken so grandly a few moments ago, at this very instant, she looked like nothing more than a small lone wolf walking away to lick its wounds.
This content is taken from free web nov𝒆l.com