162 Learning a New Technique

After Jayde was sure she wouldn't burst out laughing at the disgruntled little fox, she placed her sword back into her spatial ring, before looking down at the small fox.

"So what now?" she asked, "do I have to do any strange blood ritual to seal the deal?"

"Blood? Why would we need blood?" the fox yelped. Did this crazy mage still want to hurt him, he thought wildly, only breathing out a sigh of relief when she saw that Jayde had put away her sword.

"No, there is nothing to do with blood, follow me," the foxed said as he turned around and walked off.

Shrugging Jayde followed the little fox.

"So what is your name?" Jayde asked.

"Name?" the fox asked perplexed.

"Yes, what do I call you? My name is Jayde by the way."

"Oh, I don't have a name, my previous master just called me Sword," the fox said, sad that his previous master had never given him a name.

"Hmm," Jayde said, "well we need to give you a proper name, let me think about it."

Thinking about the character of the little fox and taking into account that it was actually a sword, Jayde thought about what to call the sword.

"I know, how about Thorn, Blade of Fury," she said.

"Thorn, Blade of Fury," the fox repeated, his small blue eyes gleamed as he repeated the name.

"I love it!" he gushed.

Smiling Jayde nodded. Yep, Thorn suited the quarrelsome little devil, she thought.

"So where are we going, Thorn?"

"To my special place," Thorn answered.

A special place, Jayde wondered, but no matter how many times she asked for more details Thorn refused to divulge anything, just telling Jayde that she would see it when they got there.

Shortly Jayde and Thorn arrived in front of a towering monolith stone. The monolith was pure black, the surface of the stone was polished that Jayde could actually see her reflection staring back her.

"This is my special place," Thorn said running up to the monolith. "You need to infuse your magic into this stone to bond with me."

"That's all?" Jayde asked, pleasantly surprised that for once she didn't have to cut herself.

"Huh huh."

"Okay," Jayde said strolling up to the giant monolith. Place both her hands against the black surface of the stone monolith, calling her fire and earth magic, Jayde then directed it into the monolith, as Jayde magic was absorbed by the monolith, strange symbols and runes started to appear on the stone surface.

As Jayde stared at the symbols and runes, they started to move across the surface, Jayde tried to make sense of what she was seeing. The next thing Jayde found herself standing in a black space, with small balls of lights in a staggering array of colors swizzling around her.

Looking around her Jayde tried to make sense of where she was and what had happened.

"Choose," a deep voice echoed through space.

Startled Jayde looked around, but could see nothing but those swirling color balls.

"Choose what?" Jayde asked.

Dead silence answered her. What the fuck am I suppose to choose, Jayde thought, scratching her head, the only thing here are these lights, maybe I am supposed to take one of these balls of lights.

Realizing that she really had no choice but to try, Jayde reached out and grabbed the closest ball of light to her, as Jayde hand touched the ball of light, the light sunk into the flesh of her hand. Jayde eyes widen at the astounding sight, before she had time to panic, information started to appear in her mind.

Analyzing the data, Jayde realized that it was a magical technique — the art of sword flying.

Oh my god, Jayde thought. This is so damn amazing, without knowing how but Jayde all of a sudden comprehended just how to make her sword soar through the skies.

Each of those balls of light must contain some sort of technique, Jayde thought in awe.

Just as Jayde was wondering if she could take another ball, she found herself back in front of the stone monolith. While she was slightly disappointed that she didn't get another chance at selecting another ball, she nevertheless was ecstatic that she had just been given such a high-grade technique.

"So what skill did you choose?" Thorn asked excitedly as Jayde appeared in front of him.

"Huh, oh. The art of sword flying," Jayde answered distractedly, then realizing what Thorn had said she looked down at the small fox.

"Hey! You could have warned me," Jayde said.

Shrugging his tiny shoulders, Thorn said: "I didn't know that you would be allowed into my special place, my previous master never could access it."

"But why did you choose such a dumb technique?" Thorn complained.

"Well, it's not like those balls of light had titles written on them."

"Well of course not, you need to use your magical senses to read what they contain," Thorn said scornfully.

Jayde sighed, rolling her eyes. "Well if somebody had warned me, I wouldn't have been caught unaware."

"Well next time choose a better technique."

"Next time? You mean I will be able to go back in?"

"Of course, every time I upgrade you can choose a new technique."

"Really, that is great!" Jayde exclaimed.

"So how do you upgrade?" Jayde asked, excited to get a chance at gaining another high-grade technique.

"Humph, fighting of course!"

Looking down at the cheeky little fox, Jayde wondered what would happen if she strangled the little brat. Just as Jayde was about to try it out and see what would happen, she found herself back in the dojo.

"Congratulations," White said as Jayde opened her eyes.

Jayde found herself standing in the exact same spot as she had been before she 'left' still clasping the fire sword against her left palm, only the gash was now healed.

"Thanks," Jayde mumbled distractedly.

Did I actually leave here, or was everything an illusion, she wondered.

"Well now that you have a decent sword, I think you are ready for the Tower of Blood," White remarked.

"Huh?" Jayde said looking at White sharply.

"What is the Tower of Blood?"

Smiling mysteriously White said: "You will see," as he waved his hand. The next thing Jayde found herself standing in front of a massive tower, it was over a five hundred feet high. Looking at the skyscraper tower in front of her, Jayde estimated that it must be nearly fifty stories high.

"What the hell, White?" Jayde demanded.

"This is one of the wonders left by the Proteus to train young protegees. There are fifty levels, each level is more difficult than the last. Once you beat each level, you will be award with a special treasure. No one had ever made it past the thirtieth floor."

"Not even you?" Jayde asked.

Smiling sadly White shook his head, "I was never given the opportunity to enter," he said.

"Enter, from now onwards you will train here every day," White instructed.

Seeing that Jayde was still hesitating, White gave her a gentle push. "Trust me the rewards are worth it," he said.

"What about school?" Jayde asked. The last thing she needed was to disappear from her cottage, she had to think about Lucia and Takara.

"Don't worry I will collect you in four days, which will give you more than enough time to return to your school."

Having White assurance that he would make sure that she would be able to return to the cottage at the school, Jayde walked up the stairs to the large golden doors. As she neared the doors, they swung open automatically.

Taking a deep breath and holding Thorn in her right hand Jayde entered The Tower of Blood.

✽✽✽