Sparks flew in all directions as wood clashed against wood. It would normally be impossible for sparks to fly out of wood, but the situation changed when two sword masters clashed.
The professor pivoted her foot and twisted her torso. Like a perfect machine, without giving a single hint about her next action, she changed the grip on her sword and brought it to my face.
I leaned back and slammed my foot on the ground. A small stone flew up and smashed against her sword.
She was thrown off balance and hesitated.
Chance.
Returning the favor in the same way as her, I switched up my grip and swung the blade toward her face.
Precise form sacrificed practicality.
The professor's muscles tensed as she noticed the blade coming her way, in the blink of an eye, she held the flat end of my sword with her fingers and re-angled it.
"Woah!" I yelped as I twisted and fell to the ground.
"Haah, are you alright?"
"That was a very cool trick, prof. I didn't even know that could be done."
It was easily avoidable, but the precision and understanding of someone else's swordsmanship it would require to redirect with a single finger was something even beyond myself right now.
"You could have easily avoided it," the professor said, staring down at me on the ground. "You're too tired, aren't you?"
Even her interrogations were monotonous.
"There's nothing like that."
"I've been teaching you for three weeks. I know already."
My mouth shut on its own at her words. Did she figure out I was hiding things—
Before I could even say a word, her hand landed on the top of my head. It was rough and full of calluses, awkwardly, the professor tapped my head as if trying to slap a broken TV.
"You should rest more. Go back for today, and sleep a bit."
"I'm fine—"
The professor started rustling my hair. It was awkward, but her emotions were clear.
"I wish students in my class were as dedicated as you," she muttered. "Relax. Go back. I'm here to teach you any time you want."
Anytime…
Already…?
"Why?" I asked.
"Hm? Because you're my student?"
I bit my lips. The professor gave me a hand and pulled me up.
"I'll see you tomorrow. If I stay around you'll just want to practice more."
Leaving those words, the professor walked away.
Tomorrow…
It wasn't going to happen…
I finished my morning training by myself and went back to my room. The same usual routine of puking everything I had eaten on the last day continued.
Classes passed.
The others didn't bother with asking me things anymore.
Dazed, I didn't know when the bells rang and when I had made my way to the library.
"My Lord Eugene, are you alright?"
"Hm? Of course, why?"
"That… you made a line over the entire page."
I looked down at the page I was writing on. It seemed I had lost control of my mind for a second.
"It's alright—"
"My Lord Eugene," that guy said. "If you're not feeling well, you should rest! The bags under your eyes are crazy. You can leave this to me, it won't be as good, but I can help."
Help…
I didn't even know his name…
"Thanks," I said and got back to work. I had already taken most of what the East had to offer.
This wasn't going to last any longer.
"Here are the batches, and also the last batch of forbidden love stories. It's a weird taste, My Lord Eugene, but I support it!"
"Sure, sure."
I took all the books that he had brought over and sent them to my spatial dimension.
"Tomorrow then, My Lord Eugene…"
I didn't say anything back and left.
I found myself moving toward the Island with the club rooms.
Wearing a dignified smile, stood Seeck Mohawk.
"You're alone today?"
I nodded.
Today was something that Dawn didn't need to see.
I snapped my fingers, and a small device landed in my hands.
"Here, as we discussed,"
Seeck Mohawk grabbed the device from my hands and nodded.
"With this…"
With this.
"The summoning can be stopped. They won't be able to bring out the generals of Agares' army."
I nodded and patted Seeck Mohawk's shoulders.
"No matter what, don't get caught. And tomorrow, don't leave your dorm."
Seeck Mohawk nodded.
Instead of leaving any words, he turned on his heels and walked away.
This was his final mission.
I watched him go and turned back.
My slow steps hastened, from a walk to a strut, and before I knew it, I was running back.
I crossed all islands and returned to the empty one.
Rushing to my room, I pushed the door open.
Sitting there, on my bed, was a black cat gently waving its tail.
"It's done…" The cat muttered.
She jumped off the bed, and instead of a cat, her lustrous demonic form took rise. The same black dress, small black wings and horns, and a playful black tail. and started walking toward me.
"Exactly how you wished for it."
Her stride was sultry and her gaze was full of lust.
Slowly, she wrapped her arms around me.
I grabbed her sides and stroked her hair, its texture just as alluring as its shade.
"With that talisman from hell…"
Dantalian gazed up at me.
Her lips puckered, and her voice lowered.
I could feel her legs around mine as she traced a line on my face.
"The energy that would have only summoned a general would now bring Agares himself."
She blew in my ears and licked my neck.
"From now…"
Dantalian pulled back and stared me straight in the eye. My grip on her back tightened.
My head was blanking out.
All the tiredness of the last few weeks came crashing into me at once. Fatigue filled me.
"… There will be no tomorrow."
I leaned in and sealed my lips with Dantalian's.
Everything was melting away.
All my thoughts, all my ideals, everything slowly started going away.
Dantalian's tongue wrapped around mine. Like honey, her saliva drizzled into my mouth.
Strongest?
I was her master anyway. It has already proved enough.
Our tongues tussled together as Dantalian passionately kissed me. Her legs wrapped around my back as if she were a sloth hugging a tree.
Yeah…
I could be the strongest this way.
It was…
Too tiring to bother with other stuff…
Just Dantalian and I. Just us trash.
I could be the strongest that way...
—CRASH
A crashing sound rang out.
Dantalian and I separated our lips and turned back. The door was still open, and standing there…
"Dusk… you… that's a demon…"
A bottle of wine was on the ground. The person standing there trembled.
"Haah," a tired sigh spilled out of Dantalian's lips. "Just when I had him in my palms. I knew I should have killed this bitch before."
My eyes widened.
A spear of black, demonic energy formed mid-air.
Before anyone could move, before anyone could even blink.
The spear sped ahead.
A pool of blood, and a hole straight through the stomach.
"Ah… D… DAWN!!"
***
A/N: Stick around for two more chapters y'all
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