Chapter 12: Gifts

Chapter 12: Gifts

That was better than our last match, Pete said. Your movements are still too predictable, though.

I not now, Pete, Bella said, looking at the ground. Her fingernails bit into her palms and she clicked her tongue in anger. Damn it. Fine. I wont talk with him, but I really need to get some air.

Go, then. Remember your future, Pete said, stepping to the side. His hammer turned back to a staff and he sighed. Im getting too old for this.

Are you okay? Chance asked Bella as she walked past them. Ive got some healing pills. It looks like you got hit really hard.

Bella stopped for a moment, squinting at him like he was trying to sell her a rug.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

Are you crazy? Yeo asked. Those are expensive! Dont just hand them out. Theyre for you to figure out how to use your urumi.

Yeah, but did you see that fight? I definitely heard something crack! Chance snapped. Thats a serious injury.

You really mean that, dont you? A flicker of emotion passed over Bellas face before she banished it, her brow creasing in either amusement or disgust Chance couldnt tell which. Keep your pills. I dont need them.

She strode off down the street without another word.

Shell warm up eventually, Pete said. Bellas a strong willed girl.

More like a brat, Yeo snorted. Cant we just get a different teammate?

No, Pete said. Youll all have to learn to work with each other.

Lovely, Yeo said. Shes going to be such a drag.

Chance just grunted, a yawn forcing its way out of his mouth. He was suddenly feeling very tired. Im sure well eventually figure a way out to work together. At least shes a really good fighter.

Thats true, Yeo said begrudgingly. I bet I could have done just as good.

Pete cocked an eyebrow. Im not too tired to take you on too, and I can make a little time before I head off.

Yeos eyes lit up and he pulled his kusarigama from his side. You should have said so earlier, gramps.

Im going to get a little rest, Chance said before they could start. I think everything is catching up to me. Ill catch you around later, okay?

Sounds good, Yeo replied, not taking his eyes off Pete.

Chance stepped into the house as the two started to spar. He headed up the stairs and into his room, flopping into bed as soon as he got it. The weariness hung around him like an anchor now, growing heavier with every passing second.

Within a few minutes, he was fast asleep.

***

Chance was in the alleys again. They stretched out all around him, their unnatural darkness draped overhead warping his vision of the sky. The corpses of several dozen small Soothounds laid around his feet, their bodies wrung out and dry.

Even as dread from the nightmarish landscape crept into his mind, Chance couldnt stop the thrill of what almost felt like excitement. He wanted to hunt again. To get stronger.

Across the alley from him, a Soothounds drained corpse in his hands and floating upside-down, was Yamish. His body rotated around his head once more, and the strange man discarded the monsters corpse.

This isnt a dream, is it? Chance asked, looking down at himself as his stomach twisted into knots.

Worry not, Yamish said. His mouth twisted into a frown, but something was off about it. The lines were wrong. After an instant, Chance realized that his mouth was somehow upside down, and he was trying to smile. I have only drawn you here temporarily. You will return when we are finished.

Chance let out a relieved sigh. Thank God. I really didnt want to get stuck here again. Wait. Whats the religion here? Is there even a real god, or is it just cultivators that just got very strong?

A question indeed, Yamish said, licking his lips. One of his eyes flicked to the side and his hand shot out. A tiny whisp of black energy slithered from it and, a moment later, a Soothounds corpse tumbled across the ground and flew into his grasp.

He brought the monster to his mouth and bit into its neck, greedily sucking the blood that emerged from the wound. The Soothounds body withered and he pulled away with a sigh, offering it to Chance. Hungry?

Very good, Yamish said, releasing Chances hand. The child did not get burnt.

Something tells this child that there are more fires to play with, Chance muttered, flicking his wrist. The urumi ripped itself from the dogs chest and snapped back into its sword shape.

Indeed, Yamish said with a raspy laugh. Onward.

Over the next several hours, Chance followed Yamish through the alleys. The strange man disappeared at random intervals, occasionally returning to correct Chances form or, on one occasion, redirect his urumi before he mistakenly took his own head off with it.

Despite Yamishs words about letting him get burnt by his mistakes, the man seemed intent on making sure he didnt kill himself. Chance wasnt about to complain about that, and he couldnt deny that it was effective.

He wouldnt go as far to say that he was comfortable with the sword whip, but every fight made it feel just a little more natural in his hands. Even so, without Yamishs help, Chance was fairly certain he would be down a few limbs at this point.

Yamish came to an abrupt stop in an alley, turning to look back at him.

Is something wrong? Chance asked.

The Old City is pleased with your progress. As am I, Yamish said. We are done for today.

Chance felt like he should have been relieved, but instead, he was just confused. How often will we do this?

Whenever it is right. Yamish shrugged. I will ensure it does not happen when others can witness it. You must remember to keep this secret.

I okay, Chance said, swallowing. Can you say why?

No.

Fair enough. Thank you for training me.

Yamish grinned. There is a saying for this, told to me by another from Earth many years ago. What comes around, goes around.

Thats very philosophical of you.

Indeed.

Something scuffed in the alley behind them. Chance spun, bringing his Urumi to bear, but nothing lunged at them. Instead, the corpse of a Soothound collapsed in front of him, its throat ripped out.

Ah. The Old City has given you a gift, Yamish said.

Chances face paled. You dont mean

This one comes with no obligation, Yamish said. Eat. You must not reject a gift.

I wont eating raw meat get me sick or something?

The Old City would not give a poor gift. Eat.

There wasnt much room for argument in Yamishs voice. Chance repressed a groan as he carefully knelt and, squeezing his eyes shut, took a bite of the monsters flesh. He chewed quickly and swallowed with a shudder, trying to pretend like the awful meat sliding down his throat was anything but what he knew it to be. Heat wrapped around his heart and stretched through his veins as the flesh slid down into his stomach.

Very good, Yamish said.

Chance opened his eyes again, but the words died on his lips. He was lying on his bed in the Whiteheart house, staring up at the ceiling.

Goddamn it, Chance muttered, rubbing his eyes. What the hell is going on?

The rancid taste in his throat was still there. It hadnt been a dream. He flung himself out of bed and dashed down the stairs to the kitchen, doubling over the sink and drinking water straight from the faucet. He gargled and spit it out, gagging and gasping for air before going back for more.

He repeated the process until the taste was just a bad memory and slumped over the sink with a groan.

Shit, I really hope that doesnt happen often. I really need to get stronger.