Chapter 40: Thought's After Defeat, Merely A Caretaker
Time passed quickly at it was nearing 7 PM, Nero who had lost consciousness, had awoken in a garden. Here, one would see a fountain of pure water with structures of humanoid creatures holding bowls to pour it. Looking further around, one would see chairs and benches made of wood, artfully arranged at different locations with a scanty number of Digitizers and locals chatting in a lively manner as they rested.
"I must say, the talents that made an appearance today are something else. I didn't think so many hidden talents had awakened during this recent Ring Resonance," One man said.
"Indeed, I had a feeling that the young miss from that Balkras Family would awaken around this time, though it was a bit later than that sword boy from the Mendez Family. Even characters such as this rising Poison Boy and his sister, along with that child Weizer, were quite stunning," A woman replied with a smile.
The man nodded in agreement, but as he thought for a bit recalling something, he spoke, "Hmm, well, I can understand it being them, along with that Thunder's Daughter and Crazy Blade, but what about that new brat called Silver Boy?"
The woman paused for a bit before she replied with flashing eyes, "Silver Boy? He is quite handsome, but a bit too young, did you not see who he fought against a few moments ago?"
The man scratched his head and spoke, "Huh? Wasn't he some random guy in a low position on the list?"
The woman scoffed and replied, "Humph! You dummy, it was Grass-Root Sword Child, Avollo Mendez, no matter how handsome and talented Silver Boy is, his strength is limited due to him arriving a few days later. Maybe, if that boy given another week or so, he might be able to narrow the distance, but I think by that time he'll only arrive at the level of Poison Boy, or if he's lucky that Balkras girl."
"I see... it makes sense, he's not up against ordinary fellows," The man said with understanding.
By now, Nero had recalled his previous battle. He held his chest, but much to his surprise, he didn't even see so much of a scar.
'Ouch, the wound is gone, but the pain has yet to fade, tch! That bastard Avollo, he really is a sneaky one, hiding his identity like that to teach me such a lesson...' Nero thought with an angry and helpless look on his face, as he recalled the shame he couldn't help but feel bitter, causing him to grip his fist tightly.
Soon though, he calmed down as the details became clearer; he didn't ponder the bits about him not suited for the swords as he already knew that from his older self. Instead, Nero considered how Avollo had used his weapon.
'It was like an extension of himself; his technique seemed bizarre at first but also fitting. He loosened the weight on the right side of his body, allowing part of him to shift into an ultra-relaxed state; this, in turn, increased the speed and flexibility of which he used his sword. In fact, the power behind that technique was even weaker than my flash-cut, but because of his superior control and mastery, he could use it at a much faster speed. I lost not only due to talent but to technique...' Nero thought with self-reflective eyes.
Adult Nero nodded at this time and spoke, "Precisely, what you need to do now, is not only focus on improving your mastery of the remaining techniques but gain a deeper comprehension of how to utilize them. It would be best if you also acquired a weapon that is suited to your gene, I could impart it onto you, but that would ruin the fun. Instead, you shall do it before you head off to accomplish your current quest."
When Nero heard those words, he was a bit curious, he asked inwardly, 'A weapon? What kind?'
Adult Nero chuckled and replied, "The kind that only a reaper could use..."
Nero felt a tinge of anticipation at those words, but right at this time, a slight noise was heard behind him, as a cheeky voice sounded, "So how is it? Have you learned anything? Or are you still bearing a grudge over that defeat?"
Nero didn't even need to look around to know who it was; he clicked his teeth and replied, "Tsk! Like I'd ever feel upset over such a simple thing, what is this, wuxia? I'm not some protagonist that gets angry and swears revenge over pointless things..."
Avollo, hearing this laughed out loud, "Hahaha!"
After falling on his back and holding his belly, he wiped his eye corner and replied, "You... ha... Nero, did anyone ever told you that you're a funny guy?"
Nero rolled his eyes at those words, and stared off into the distance, gazing at the colorful starry night sky as he answered, "Yes, only one person,"
Avollo felt something odd about Nero's expression; he asked, "Oh, and who was it?"
He then jumped onto the chair and leaned back; his straw hat covered his face as he felt that the cool night breeze was a rather soothing atmosphere.
Nero thought for a bit as he recalled the scene of his mother laughing at his poor attempts at making a joke, he felt a bit teary-eyed, but as Avollo was next to him, his expression turned a bit mysterious as he spoke, "You don't know? I guess she didn't tell you, well, I guess she might have been shy, it was after all your mother."
When Nero said this, he made a victorious look, but Avollo's eyes widen into surprise as he looked at Nero deeply. He spoke in an odd tone, "It looks like you're still a bit lacking in training, how about it? Shall we do a rematch?"
Nero's face turned ugly at those words; he looked away from Avollo pretending not to hear anything as he thought, 'Tsk, like I'd let that happened again, just you wait, I'll get back at you real soon..."
While Nero claimed he didn't hold a grudge, it seemed that his youthful instincts would always get the better of him, there was no youth that would always want to feel inferior and ashamed of their peers.
Avollo chuckled, saying nothing more and two rested in silence, relaxing in the cool night atmosphere, a few colorful and adorable world spirits flew towards them nestling themself into Nero's hair as he at this time, felt extremely comfortable
Avollo stayed quiet for a while and spoke, "Hey, I've wanted to ask you something? I heard that the little miss from Balkras had transferred to my school, you know, but just now she had said you were her classmate, are you from her previous school? Or are you attending the same school?"
Avollo waited patiently for an answer, but no matter how long he waited, he didn't hear a reply. He frowned and lifted his hat with his finger, glancing at Nero, but as he did, he couldn't help but curse out loud, "You've got to be kidding me? Did this bastard fell asleep? Che! Darn!"
As he cursed, Nero's snore soon became audible, causing him not to know whether to laugh or cry. He shook his head no longer caring about anything, prepared to sleep too.
However, right at this time, as if Avollo felt something, his eyes widen in shock as he turned around and looked behind him. There, he saw an Asian youth with blond hair, leaning back against the wall as he looked at them silently.
Avollo was shocked, but his eyes shone with battle lust as he spoke, "You are that Chasing Arrow! What's wrong, did you come to fight me?"
As Avollo said this, his dreads rose above his head, as a ripple of towering sword energies had erupted from his body, startling a few of the others.
Ryo looked an Avollo indifferently before he pointed at Nero and spoke, "Fighting you? Hmph! I have no time for such things; I am merely his caretaker..."
"You are what?" Avollo called out in alarm, never would he have thought to hear such a thing, from this kind of character.
Ryo smirked as he turned around, walking away, his voice drifting in the wind as it reached Avollo's ears, "You heard me, huhu... just a caretaker. However, now that he's all tired, what I came here for can't be done today, I'll have to meet with him another day, I'll warn you, don't try anything funny now..."
As Ryo's words resounded in Avollo's mind, his figure soon vanished from his location, as if he faded into the wind.
Avollo looked at that direction for a while before he looked at the sleeping Nero, clueless to all around him as he slept in peace. He shook his head and spoke, "You, my friend, are far from the norm..."
The scene here returning to normal as the night only pressed onwards to the peak, bringing an end to this day's adventure. Yet, though the events had ended here, another was only moments from occurring elsewhere.
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