1267 Should we continue, Lady Rune?
"Haah... Haahh... Haahh...
I still cannot defeat you..."
Thyra muttered, there were bruises all over her body, there were also some deep cuts, one on her right shoulder, one on the waist, and the last one on her forehead, very close to the two eyebrows, due to that, her entire face was covered with blood and she could barely open her eyes.
Normally, if Nux ever saw his wife in such a condition, controlling him would be impossible and the man would destroy the one responsible for this.
A certain woman, however, was an exception to this rule.
Thyra's teaching and sparring partner, Rune.
As assassins, most of their sparring sessions were this bloody, the two always aim for the vital parts and a scene like this was extremely common, to the point where Nux, as much as his heart ached every time he saw it, had gotten used to it.
Not to mention that with the Elven Queen with them, getting the best healers in case of an accident wasn't very difficult.
"It is annoying how you try to defeat me and actually believe that it is possible."
Rune spoke with a cold look on her face.
Let alone bruises, she wasn't even sweating. It was clear that despite Thyra giving her all in the spar, she was still holding back.
"Complete or not, you are still a Great Sage, I am a Saint, you believing that you can defeat me if you try hard enough hurts my pride."
Rune was honest.
"Heh..."
Thyra snorted.
She knew that Rune joining them and 'becoming a monster' like that wasn't far. Nux was already doing whatever he could, the ball was in Rune's court. Thyra knew Nux the best, that man would flirt, tease, and make countless moves on Rune, however, unless Rune gives her consent, he won't advance.
Thinking about it, Thyra just shook her head. Then, as if she recalled something, she spoke up, "Right, someone else would be joining us as well."
"Is it Skyla?" Rune questioned.
The adorable maid had trained together with them frequently, she was actually looking forward to spending some time with her. She felt comfortable around her.
Thyra, however, shook her head,
"It is my Teacher."
Thyra spoke with a mysterious smile.
"Your Teacher...?" Rune narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, the person who raised me as an assassin ever since I was a child," Thyra revealed and Rune frowned.
"That's cruel. Children shouldn't be exposed to such things."
"She is one cruel bitch, I agree." Thyra nodded. Then, she glanced at Rune and, "You have actually met her before."
Thyra spoke and Rune frowned in confusion, "I have?"
"Mhm. You actually seem to have a good relationship with her."
"There is no way I would have a good relationship with someone who puts children through something so cruel." Rune was quick to retort.
Although there were no visible changes in her expression, from her tone, Thyra could tell that she was visibly disgusted.
"Oh, that woman has tamed down a lot.
It is as if she is a completely different person now."
Thyra chuckled.
"Now I am actually curious to know who she is."
"You will meet her soon,"
Thyra smiled.
Then suddenly, a voice was heard,
"Who are you guys talking about?"
Thyra's smile widened, "There she is." She turned around, however, the moment her eyes fell on the woman walking towards them, she froze and her heart skipped a beat.
Involuntarily, her body started trembling, her first instinct was to kneel down, however, the moment she realized that, she quickly came out of her reverie and continuously shook her head to return to reality.
In front of her wasn't the mother who craved her daughter's attention and wanted to mend things, it was her Master.
Wearing skintight Black clothes, with half of her face covered with a mask and daggers in both her hands, Riona walked towards the two of them, her feet light, making no sounds, her body balance was on an entirely different level.
Just one look at her was enough for Rune to narrow her eyes.
Her instincts warned her.
That woman was dangerous.
Rune narrowed her eyes.
The woman in front of her was a Great Sage, other than the bunch of monsters around Nux, she didn't know any other Great Sages on this level.
"Who are you?" Rune questioned.
"Lady Rune, can you really not recognize me just because of a mask? That hurts." Riona spoke playfully and in an instant, Rune widened her eyes in surprise.
"Riona!"
She recognized.
"It has been a while, Lady Rune.
Ah, no, I don't think it has been that long for you."
Riona muttered.
"H-How..."
Rune, on the other hand, couldn't believe what she was seeing.
She saw this woman just a few weeks ago and she, with her Potential used up, was only waiting for her impending death.
T-Then...
How in the hell did someone like her become a Great Sage with such a strong Aura!?
I-It was as if she was reborn!
While Rune was shocked, Riona walked towards Thyra and,
"Why are you looking at me like that, Thyra? Is there something on my face? Well, I was out there hunting for the past few weeks, you know, just to get back into the zone.
Wait, is there blood on my face?
That shouldn't be though..."
Riona frowned as she touched her face.
"W-What's with the getup?" Thyra questioned.
"Didn't you say we were going to train? This is what I wear when I spar, remember?"
"..."
Thyra couldn't say anything. Her head was suddenly overwhelmed with past memories. She then closed her eyes to calm down, she was not 'One' anymore.
She was Thyra Leander.
And the woman in front of her wasn't her Master, but her Sister, Junior Sister, if she might add. Since she joined late.
Thinking about it, Thyra couldn't help but smile again,
"You really did change, didn't you, Riona?" Thyra questioned.
Riona frowned, Thyra however, walked towards her and copying Nux, she placed her hand over Riona's shoulder and, "Was the time you spent with Nux really that good? It is as if you are a completely different person.
Why don't you share some details with me?"
Thyra questioned and in an instant, Riona's expression changed and her heartbeat rose up.
As a trained assassin, Thyra didn't miss that detail either. Her smile widened... Teasing her Master... it might be much more euphoric than she expected... "Hey Hey, don't be silent, share some details, will you?"
"I-I am here to train, so get to it." Riona spoke, her previous, authoritative tone was back.
"We can train la-" Thyra wanted to continue teasing, however, "Thyra."
Riona looked right into her eyes and,
"It is time to train.
Stop lazing around."
Thyra froze again.
Riona, on the other hand, freeing herself from Thyra's clutches, glanced at Rune and, "Lady Rune, you were the hidden Master of an Assassin Hall, weren't you? How about the two of us spar? I request you to go easy on me though. I am not exactly in my best shape, you see."
Riona spoke as she pointed one of her daggers at Rune.
Rune's expression changed as well.
Staying still with this stupid look on her face wasn't her style either, copying Riona, she pointed her dagger at her as well.
Riona smiled, then, she disappeared.
Clank
Their daggers clashed, Rune blocked Riona's attack quite easily. Riona, however, wasn't shocked, with a swift moment, she shifted her weight on her dagger, forcing Rune to momentarily carry her, wanting to get into her blind spot.
Rune understood what she was trying to do and was quick to move her dagger away, ruining Riona's balance, she however, was too late.
Riona had already jumped away and was standing right behind her, aiming at her neck.
Rune crouched.
As a Catkin, her body was much more flexible than others, the lengths at which she could push her body wasn't something Riona, who never faced people from other races expected.
Her balance was thrown away due to Rune's strange movements.
Rune came at her from an angle she never expected her to, Riona realized it a little too late, and even though she saved her abdomen, a deep cut appeared on her waist.
Riona quickly jumped away, creating the distance between the two.
She glanced at Rune with a shocked look on her face as she realized something.
She didn't lose because Rune was stronger than her. The Cat woman defeated her after limiting her power to her level. She won based on her superior technique alone.
Rune was impressed,
"I admit my loss, Lady Rune. You are even better than I expected you to be."
"You are the one who actually surprised me," Rune replied and she wasn't just being polite.
Objectively, Thyra was stronger than Riona.
However, Rune could tell that it was only a matter of time before that changed.
Thyra's movements were extremely similar to Riona's, well, it can be said that Riona's movements were a much more refined version.
Riona simply wasn't used to her new strength, given more time to train... that woman might surpass Thyra despite Thyra becoming a Catkin to increase her strength.
"Should we continue, Lady Rune?" Riona questioned.
And with a smile on her face, Rune nodded.
