Chapter 151: One more form

Chapter 151: One more form

There was a moment of silence as everyone processed Reya’s revelation. Before Arwin could say anything, Olive jumped out of her sheets and grabbed the other girl’s shoulder.

“What do you have to do?”

“Huh? It’s not really that specific,” Reya replied, flinching slightly in response to the touch. “I just have to master Wyrmhunger. Why? Do you know something?”

Olive breathed out a sigh of relief and let her hand slip off Reya’s shoulder. It took her a second to realize that everyone was staring at her. Her face paled a shade and she busied herself re-collecting the sheets she’d lost.

“Have you heard of Challenges before?” Arwin asked when it became clear that Olive wasn’t about to volunteer any more information on her own.

Olive paused halfway through bundling herself back up. Her gaze bored into the floor for nearly a second before she let out a sigh and straightened back up. “Yes. Unfortunately.”

“Unfortunately?” Rodrick asked. “It sounds like there’s a story in the making.”

“There’s no making.” Olive hopped back onto her chair and leaned against the counter. “It’s already over. Challenges are a curse.”

“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell us what you know about them?” Arwin asked. “We were all under the impression that they’re concealed or otherwise hidden from the general public. Nobody here knows anything about them.”

Olive drummed the fingers of her good hand on the table. It was a bit hard to make out her body language when she was covered with bedsheets, but Arwin was pretty sure that her back had gone stiff.

Her fingers fell still and curled in to form a fist. She let her hand slide of the counter and turned back to face them with a defeated expression. “Fine. I suppose you already shared a lot with me, so it would be wrong to refuse to repay the favor.”

“I take it you’re not a fan of Challenges?” Rodrick asked.

“Not in the slightest.” Olive let out a bitter snort. “I had one of the damn things.”

“You’ve got a Challenge?” Reya leaned in closer. “What is—”

“Had a Challenge. It’s gone now,” Olive corrected. She rubbed the stump of her missing arm and grimaced. “I hate the damn things.”

Nobody said anything. It was clear that Olive was going to say more, but she hadn’t quite mustered the will to speak yet. The seconds turned to a minute. Olive leaned back and stared up at the ceiling.

“I got it about two years ago, back when I was part of an adventuring group called the Grim Shadows.” she said finally. “And it ruined my life.”

***

Olive’s sword carved through the air in a streak of light, splitting it faster than the untrained eye could pick up. It sheared straight through the sword swinging at her shoulder and, before its wielder could so much as react, she planted her foot into his stomach.

He flew back, hitting the packed sand just moments after his sword did. The man went to rise — and froze, finding Olive’s sword just inches from his throat. He let his head fall back to the sand as a bitter laugh slipped from his lips.

“I’ll be damned. You actually got all five of us. How in the world did you manage to do that without getting a single scratch on you?”Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

“I was faster than you.”

Olive pulled her sword back and slid it into its sheath. She held a hand out to help the man to his feet, but he’d already risen by the time she’d offered it. A man and a woman sat behind her on the sandy floor of the arena, looking mildly peeved at best.

She pushed herself harder. Mediocrity wasn’t enough. There was an entire world of power stretched out before her, waiting to be claimed.

If I just try harder, I can —

Olive missed a step. It was a small mistake, but it was enough for her to trip over her own feet. She stumbled and caught herself before she could fall, her teeth gritting.

It isn’t enough. No matter how hard I try, I’m not good enough. The others don’t get it. I don’t just want to be strong enough to survive. I want to be better.

She let her eyes drift open — and froze in place. Golden letters shimmered in the air before her, patiently awaiting a response.

Challenge: [Master thy Sword] has been offered.

[Master Thy Sword] – You have sought mastery over the sword for your entire life, striving to achieve it with such intensity that all other aspects of your life have been left to fester. Here’s a chance to claim that power you so desperately desire. Rewards: Variable depending on level of success.

Milestone 1: When the time comes, restrictions will be placed upon you by the Mesh. Defeat an opponent the Mesh selects to remove the restrictions and advance upon the path of the blade.

Reward 1: ?

Milestone 2: ?

Reward 2: ?

Would you like to accept the Challenge?

Olive stared at the words floating before her, her mouth falling askew in shock. She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was around. The arena was empty. It wasn’t like it mattered. The only person that could see the Mesh’s offer was her.

What in the world is a Challenge? I’ve never heard of anything like this before.

Her confusion did nothing to change the letters. Olive didn’t know what had caused them to appear. This hadn’t been the first time she’d thought about trying to get stronger. It hadn’t been the first time she’d failed in her forms, nor had it been the first time she’d beaten the others in a fight without skills.

There was no reason the Mesh would have offered her anything. And yet, the floating words remained all the same. She swallowed and glanced over her shoulder again. Her eyes were drawn back to the Challenge almost instantly.

The Mesh offers things directly to people? That’s a bit concerning. It almost feels like making a deal with a devil. But it doesn’t lie. If this is really the Mesh... it could be the solution I’ve been trying to find.

Olive lifted a hand. It drifted in the air, not even daring to reach out and touch the glowing offer. She swallowed again, then steeled her nerves and set her jaw. She’d come this far in the pursuit of her dream.

It didn’t matter what the Challenge was. It didn’t matter why she’d gotten it. This was just another step. Nothing she’d gotten so far was easy. Power never came without cost, and if that cost was handicapping herself during a fight...

I don’t care what the handicap is. I’ll win.

“I accept,” Olive said.

The words vanished with a snap. Olive stood there for a second longer, staring at the empty air as if waiting for something else to appear. Nothing did. Her grip tightened on the handle of her sword. Then she raised it once more.

The night was young. She could always catch up with the others in the tavern a little later. Just one more form wouldn’t hurt.