Chapter 10 (Dying)

  Bang!

  The loud noise startled me awake and made me jump out of bed. I could feel the floor beneath my feet, It was cold and hard. As I looked up I noticed the room was being lit dimly by a light coming from outside the room. It seeped in narrowly from beneath the door. Its light was green and rather eerie, but I began to walk towards the door out of curiosity.

  With every step that I took, I could feel my heart gradually starting to beat faster. As my body began tightening from the tension, the collar around my neck did too. And with every step that I took, it seemed as though the floor became colder and colder.

  After reaching the door I stuck out my hand and turned the handle. As I opened it the green light shone brightly, its rays illuminating everything it touched with its brightness. So bright I reflexively flinched, as the light hurt my eyes. Opening them again I was now surrounded by darkness again. the light seemingly disappeared.

  Confused, I turned around. I could now hear my own pulse beating loudly in my ear drums. Wide eyes trying to pick up the trace of anything at all I turn around to see a bucket against a stone way.

  "No… " I whimper as I turn around once more to now be met with prison bars. "NO!" I scream Desperately now, grabbing a hold of the bars. I shook them with all I had, the metal rattling and echoing through the jail.

  Joining the endless echoing of clanging metal, laughter ensues. "You can't run from us Kitty." I would hear. These voices came from everywhere just to mock me. I then began hearing the sound of metal grinding against stone. The Bars started pushing me back. I slip and fall to the ground which to my surprise results in me splashing into ice cold water.

  I start screaming for help but I feel my lungs filling with water instead. The bars and walls continue closing in on me as I continue to sink deeper and deeper. I kick and I scream, my flailing arms grasp at nothing.

  As quick as all seemed to go wrong the light comes back. It's light, bright and blinding like before. Then A hand comes down into the cold water. It reaches down and grabs my hand.

  "Ahhhhh!" I jerk awake screaming.

  "Kaliah! Kaliah?" My mind and my heart racing I look around and notice that I'm in the Inn’s room once again. Yashir is calling my name calmly and gently rocking me in his arms back and forth. So caught up in my emotions I go straight from screaming to crying. I cry into Yashir's chest as he rubs my head. "You're okay, You are okay now Kaliah."

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  The first Week was a long and strenuous one. After I pledged my loyalty to Yashir, he took my Arc Inhibitor off. Having it removed my body drew in Arc desperately. The energy I absorbed was as refreshing as drinking a cool glass of water. Having the collar removed was like gaining a piece of my old self back. I was grateful to Yashir for that. Afterwards we went downstairs into the tavern. He went up to the bar and talked to the woman behind it. I sat quietly as they talked. When they finished he told me to follow after him. That's when we finally left the city of Vectis behind.

  We began following the road leading out of the city. We walked, and walked, and walked. It became apparent to me that walking was this world's primary means of transportation. I had taken for granted those family trips where we had spent hours in the carriage. I couldn't imagine those Trips on foot, at least not until now. The first day walking we passed many travelers carrying goods to and from the city. We stopped after it got late and slept off the side of the road in the forest.

  I again woke up screaming, but Yashir treated me as kindly as he had the first time.

  With him Yashir carried a bag full of various supplies and I carried one too. I had The clothes he'd given me as well as water, some light rations, and other clothes. I now understood why he got pants for me though, anything else would have been far too uncomfortable to walk in. The next morning we didn't head back to the path but continued deeper into the forest.

  by noon we stopped and took a break from walking. My legs were sore beyond measure and I was as tired as could be.

  "Do you know what this is?" Yashir threw a hilt at me as I lay on the ground. I caught it and looked it over. It was heavier than I had expected considering it's size. That's also when I realized it was my first time ever holding one.

  It felt as though it were made of metal and solid through and through, although I knew that wasn't the case, It had a Transparent window showing it was empty on the inside. A curious sight considering all the ones I've seen have had some color glowing through them.

  "It's a Hilt, right? At least, that's what I've always called it," I said, a bit uncertain. Yashir shook his head, pulling his own hilt from his hip.

  "This is called an Arc Cell. Essentially, it's just a battery, but its ability to power personal weapons and vehicles makes it invaluable. Both of these have the emitter attachment; that's what allows you to do this." I could feel Yashir channeling his energy as he triggered his emitter. The hilt glowed with a brilliant blue energy, and a blade of light shot out from it. The energy flickered, resembling a calm flame, yet it possessed a rigid and formidable structure.

  The sight was mesmerizing; Yashir demonstrated his swordsmanship proficiency by slicing through the air, the movements flowed as smoothly as water. He then plunged his blade into a tree, the wood cutting as cleanly as paper before the heavy top fell, crashing to the forest floor.

  "Emitters turn Cells into dangerous weapons. The best way to handle these is to be taught how," he said, his tone comfortable as he approached me. "Channel Arc into your Cell," Yashir directed.

  "Reaching out to my core, I pulled energy through my hand and fed it into the cell." A hard red light filled the Cell, and after a moment, a violent blade shot out from the emitter fixed to the top of the cell.

  "Red Arc is unstable; it can make a blade even more dangerous, not only for your opponent but also for yourself." Yashir rushed in, slashing his blue blade toward my head. Panicked, I deflected it with my own, the blades clashing and screeching, the sound like that of electricity arcing from a downed powerline. Despite my successful block, I ended up on my back, covered in leaves. My arms vibrated now from the impact.

  Looking up, I saw Yashir charging down for a finishing blow. Hurriedly, I swept the vibrant red blade at his legs, forcing him to cease his attack and allowing me to roll away and scramble to my feet.

  "That was a smart move, throwing me off balance. You recovered nicely from that situation," Yashir complimented me, though I could only manage an exhausted huff in response. Holding my blade in front of me now my only reference coming from the movies I watched in my past life.

  He charged at me again, his blade striking out in sharp stabs toward my chest. I thought I had deflected his first attack, but his blue blade cut away at my left shoulder, practically erasing it. My eyes widened in fear, As I watched blue particles of my arm floating away. I dropped my blade as the pain burned away any instincts. My left arm hung limply, barely connected to the rest of my body. The forest echoed with my screams. Desperation flooded my mind as I looked up to Yashir for help, but instead, he drove his blade straight into my chest, disintegrating everything it touched.

  I couldn't comprehend why this was happening. Thoughts raced through my mind as my body fell to the ground. "He bought me, lied to me, just to lure me out into the forest and kill me. But why?"