*Grrr* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
Standing alone in a devastated field, fully clad in lightning a blue-haired woman was repeatedly swinging her sword without any intention to rest.
Her hands were bleeding, her legs were trembling, and her vision was hazy. But even then she didn’t stop. She didn’t want to stop nor could she allow herself to stop.
‘I am being left behind.’
She scowled and tried to discard the negative thoughts forming in her mind but to no avail. The pictures of her last fight wouldn’t leave her.
‘I lost again.’
She remembered her earlier defeat at the hands of Lilin. Something that was becoming increasingly common.
*Grrr*
She growled and swung her sword again, further destroying the field around her. But this show of power brought her no pleasure.
All the destruction around her brought her nothing but shame. It showed just how small the control she had on her power. For a swordswoman like her, this was nothing but a humiliation since it was proof of her lack of skills.
‘I…’
“Heh…You finally stopped. I was wondering just how long you would continue to make those useless swings of yours.”
More by reflex than anything, Setsuna swung her sword to the right while she moved in the opposite direction of the voice that sounded near her in order to increase the distance between her and the intruder.
“Oh my… I guess even in your current state you are still a splendid warrior. There is still hope for you.”
Setsuna became completely rigid when she felt the sword being clamped between two fingers.
“I am a little disappointed. I admit I was expecting a little more.”
Setsuna growled but did not follow with another attack for she recognized now the one that interrupted her training.
“Witch of Destruction, forgive me for the unsightly display.”
Behind her was a young girl seemingly in her teens with blazing red hair, wearing a maid uniform.
It was Kali. The Witch of Destruction. She had been sentenced to become Sol’s maid and should not have been permitted to use her witchcraft until further notice, but because of the current situation, Sol had allowed her to use her power since they never knew what could happen.
Releasing her sword, Setsuna took a few steps back and was about to bow. After all, while Kali was a ‘maid’, this only applied to Sol. There was no one aside from Milia who was crazy enough to treat Kali as a servant in the tower of Babel.
“No need to kneel. I know you feel no reverence toward me. Let’s cut to the heart of the matter. Your previous display was indeed rather underwhelming compared to what Sol told me. Tell me Setsuna…Are you wavering?”
Setsuna kept her head low but her silence was an answer all by itself.
Looking at her like this, Kali for a moment could see her figure overlap with that of Setsuna.
Her cold eyes softened a little, “It must be hard, right? Looking at all those monsters and knowing you have low chances to ever catch up to them.”
Setsuna again said nothing. But it was true. Be it Lilin or Nuwa, Setsuna could see that she was slowly being left behind.
The door of the Duke level eluded her even though she could feel it. Meanwhile, Lilin had already blasted open those doors.
As for Nuwa, the girl was as monstrously talented as Sol and already, Setsuna could feel herself struggling when facing the girl. It wouldn’t take long before she was completely overtaken.
This was frustrating, very frustrating. The understanding that she was already near her limit was maddening.
“What I don’t understand is why you don't use your lightning to become a Duke. Your mastery of wind and water is also pretty high. You are a storm wolf after all.”
Setsuna stiffened, “I…do not want to.” and muttered those words through clenched teeth.
There was a world of difference between becoming a duke by simply using an element and becoming a duke by understanding a concept.
If she were to do as said, even if she became a Duke, Lilin would be able to thrash her like no tomorrow. The distance would only continue to widen until she wouldn’t even be able to see her back.
All talk about them being rivals would become nothing but sad jokes.
“Hah…” Kali released a sigh, “I guess you are another one of those idiots who underestimate the true potential of elemental magic. Who said that you couldn’t create a concept directly out of an element?”
Setsuna raised her head in surprise.
“Then again, I guess this isn’t surprising. Only spirit and divine beasts can generally bring such concepts into reality.”
Kali mused before looking back at Setsuna.
“Let’s do it like this. Mother was the one who should have taught you but I have decided. I will do it.”
“Wait what do you–”
“Trust me. In terms of understanding of the elements. Not even a King rank divine beast can match me. I am a Witch after all.”
Kali gave a toothy grin. While she may appear boastful, there was nothing wrong with it.
Witches obtained their power through study. Knowledge was their power and books were their friends. They did not have the innate control magical beings had and they needed to always plunge into a sea of study.
This was even more so for Kali. She was different from her three sisters.
Time/Space
Life/Death
This was what the four directions should have been. The way Ambrosia had created to reach godhood.
Sadly, no matter what she did, Kali was never able to learn Death. So she gave up and learned the four elements instead. Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind.
While the power they could bring once they reached a certain level was considerable, compared to her sisters, it was so underwhelming that it wasn’t worth mentioning.
Thankfully, Kali was different from the people of this world. Her understanding of the fundamental truth was already at a level higher than normal. In the end, she achieved the impossible.
“My power of Destruction was born with my understanding of the four elements as the basis. Even though I did not study Lightning, I have the means to make your talent bloom. Do not forget this, Setsuna. You are not a swordswoman like Lilin. You are Wolf. A Storm Wolf. Do not reject the talent that was bestowed to you.”
Setsuna clenched her fists. She could feel that she was standing at the crossroad of her life. The decision she made here and now would change everything. Be it for good or for bad.
“Why do you want to help me? We are not friends.”
“You are right, we aren’t really friends or anything of the like. But you see. I owe Sol and this Kingdom. Simply being a maid or whatever isn’t enough to pay this debt.
But, if I can make you stronger, Sol will have another powerful knight on his side. You are happy. My sisters and mother are happy. I am happy. Sol is happy. Everyone is happy. Isn’t it fun?”
Setsuna frowned. She could feel that Kali wasn’t being totally forthcoming but, did she really have a choice?
Indeed she had. A choice between mediocrity and success.
She refused to become mediocre.
“Thank you for extending your hand to me.”
Setsuna bowed to express her gratitude.
What she didn’t know was that she was right in speculating that Kali didn’t give her the entire truth.
For one, Kali had a goal in mind. As a storm wolf, Setsuna was a A+ class magical being. But, Kali wondered if it was possible to make her evolve into a Disaster Wolf. The same race as Fenrir.
But there was something else. Something even more important surpassed all thoughts of experimentation.
‘I can train my own Railgun!!’
The otaku soul in Kali was literally screaming and jumping in joy.
“It’s time to train, Misaka *Ahem* I mean, Setsuna. Haha.”
What a joy it was to be alive.
VOLUME 8: THE DRAGON [Completed]
