Chapter 2: The Start Pt2
Immediately after I left the room and closed the door Dread was infront of me. I looked between her and the door multiple times before just accepting that none of this made sense.
"Your First lesson Nyssa is situational awareness and learning to trust your instincts" Dread said
"But that's not really stuff you can practice is it?" I asked
"You are very wrong" Dread said melting into the shadows and disappearing.
Weird very weird
I continued through my day normally studying and practicing combat. After dinner with mother and Dread I headed back to my room. Until I heard the howl of wind my body screaming at me to move but I didn't and before I could process what was happening there was the blade of a pitch black scythe at my neck.
"You got to comfortable I've been following you most of the day you didn't notice me once also I saw you trying to find a book on the tiers of magic ask your mother she can tell you" Dread announced the second the scythe was lifted I spun around.
"She's gone again I need her to teach me that shadow stuff she's doing." I said retreating to my room for the rest of the night. This same cycle repeated for a while and I gradually got better at detecting her. After nearly a year one night I woke up and I felt eyes on me I lept out of bed and spun around to face dread.
"Huh what there's no one there" i said looking around on the floor there was a boot print "Dread are you there?"
Nothing if not her then who.
I left my room more guarded than usual as I arrived to the library. I saw my chair missing and somehow the table on the ceiling. I studied on the floor. On more than one occasion my books would disappear to random shelves.
"Dread i know it's you come on let me study" as soon as i said that she appeared right infront of me with that same emotionless expression she has everytime.
"Well if you insist I guess I must" dread said
"I can detect and sense you pretty well you know alomost a years worth of practice has gotten me good at it you know"
"I've realized that and being able to sense or detect me makes you better than most people alive or dead there's a reason Vitra calls me The Shadow Scythe"
"Who's Vitra?"
"Forget that name and that I ever said it it is of no importance I will leave you to your studies Nyssa" dread said turning for the door
"Wait"
"What is it"
"Do you ever wear boots?" I asked her
"No I've only ever worn these heels" she responded leaving the room. As she left I got up and walked around the library.
All the books I've read so far all the training I've done Dread says I rank close to top one hundred of the strongest people alive or dead that makes me happy. Her and mother care for me I just wish father was the same.
I spent the rest of my day training with no interruptions from Dread. That same streak went on for a year no interruptions from her at all. In fact I never saw her once but in the middle of the night one night I felt a familiar presence. Immediately I woke up and ducked the scythe that was swung at me.
"Good job Nyssa you pass" Dread said
"I haven't seen you in a year and you swing a scythe at my neck you missed my third birthday Dread I missed you" I said barely awake
"I am touched the reason I disappeared is because I wanted to test if you grew complacent and lost your awareness but you did not therefore you pass you will meet me today you will meet me in the training hall we begin your combat training" Dread said immediately disappearing I smiled at the place where once stood. Soon after Dread woke me up I entered the training hall to see her leaning on her scythe.
"We will start with hand to hand combat wielding a weapon doesn't matter unless you can fight without one it is also my understanding that you already practiced hand to hand quite extensively the past three years so today you might be able to skip hand to hand depending on your performance" Dread said
"What's my test then?" I asked
"We will have a sparing match I will not be using my full strength or speed mainly because of the vast differences between our physical capabilities I only need to see your technique and skill with that said let us begin"
The moment she said begin i launched at her she dodged and swung at me and I twisted out of the way immediately following up with a kick to the thigh. She dropped her leg back and grabbed for my arm i twisted it out of her grip and shot at stomach landing a hit then immediately dropping back. As I did she closed the distance i moved to the side to dodge her she expected that and hit me on my side. I replied back with a feint to the chest which she fell for then hit her in the head. She rolled with my hit immediately dropping down to sweep my legs I had no choice but to jump and she knew it the second I did she shot up and grabbed my leg throwing me down and putting me into a chokehold.
"Well done it seems you are very adept at hand to hand we will begin weapon training with a few hand to hand drills every now and then to refine it" Dread said as she released me. "That said what would you like to start with?"
"Can we do the spell sword pleaseeee?". I said beaming at her with a smile it's long been a dream of mine to use a sword this is finally my chance and I won't lose it.
"The spell sword has one of the highest skill ceilings of all the weapons actually probably the highest besides the spell scythe requires a very high degree of mana control, essence control, and sword skill and the ability to use all three at once I think that's a great choice you'll learn a lot more than just how to use a sword it will help you grow as a mage and allow you to learn battle arts yes we can do that first." Dread said "however we will also need your mother to help mainly because she is the best mage in the universe and ranks fifth in terms of strength overall."
"Is she really that strong?"
"Yes there was a time I watched her rip a hole in the universe while suppressing The Crimson Queen she's also known to travel between universes freely and manipulate time and reality to her will I have many stories from the time I spent fighting by her side."
"One day I want you tell me them"
"I will now back on topic I want you to spend a few months training magic with your mother before you begin learning the spell blade that way you are able to use all of it's capabilities I will teach you how to use the blade and battle arts."
"But I can already use magic see." I said making threads of light between my hands.
"Yes you can and quite exceptionally one issue is your mana is everywhere it's not controlled if you use a spell sword without good mana control you can shatter the blade and you also defeat the purpose of the blade so go find your mother I will speak to her later when she deems you ready I will allow you to start." Dread said using her disappearing act once again as I left the room to find my mother I saw my father training in the ballroom. As I went to see him I was yanked back by an invisible force.
"Now honey you will not be talking to him anytime soon." looking behind me I see my mother talking to me. "Dread came and spoke to me about you studying magic for the spell blade i believe it best if we go to the library now." Mother said
"She said sh-."
"Shhh now follow" she released me and I followed her to the library.