Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 104  Angels Who Died

CLANG!!!

The sound of metal clashing resonated throughout the training ground as I used both my katana and the axe-hammer to block Lauryn's simple strike.

"...That's the problem with using dual weapons, you lose most of your defense."

Gazing at me, she mumbled before pushing her palm forward, her hand touching my chest.

BOOM!!

"Arghh!!"

Before I could shift my body, she curled her hand and punched me at point-blank range, sending me flying back and crashing into the wall behind.

'...Fuck.'

Cursing silently, I managed to get back on my feet, my body aching with a sharp pain followed by a dull ache in my chest.

It left me unresponsive for a while, giving her enough time to aim her next strike at my face.

A horizontal line of silver rushed towards me.

I raised my hand carrying the axe-hammer, the axe side blocking the katana, but the collision made my hand numb.

Despite the pain, I circled around, moving away from the wall before jerking my hand to alleviate the numbness.

But once again, she disappeared from my view before a screeching sound echoed to my left.

Blindly, I threw my axe-hammer in that direction while adjusting my grip and posture.

SWISH!!

But the expected collision didn't happen as my axe-hammer only cut through the air, hitting the wall.

"... Don't just rely on only one sense." A cold voice breezed past me, making me abruptly look behind.

But before I could react, her one hand grabbed my hand while the other grabbed my collar, lifting me up.

'...This will hurt.'

The world around me turned upside down, and I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact.

BOOM!! n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Arghh... Cough... Cough..."

My body screamed in pain, hitting the ground with a force that scattered the debris like a lightning strike.

"Huff... Huff..."

I raised my hand in defeat, struggling to breathe as I looked at Lauryn standing beside me, looking at her watch.

".... Fifteen minutes and twelve seconds." She whispered, glancing at me, "...That's a new record."

"—Of you beating me? Yeah, sure." I grumbled, lifting my broken body up and sitting on the ground.

"...You still have a lot to learn." Ignoring my words, she continued, "...You waste a lot of mana on each strike, and even though your posture and balance are great, you still don't know how to properly integrate it with mana."

"...It's because it's only been two and a half months since I started using mana." I argued, looking at her, "...I don't know how to instinctively use mana like others."

"...Don't just make excuses, learn how to do that." She replied while gesturing for me to stand up.

Lamenting, I clambered to my feet before looking at her.

"Turn around, close your eyes, and relax your body."

I did as she instructed, turning around while taking deep breaths to relax my body.

"Huh?"

A startled voice escaped my mouth as I felt her soft hand touching my back.

"...It will be painful, but try to focus on the flow of mana."

"Argh." I groaned in pain, feeling the foreign mana entering me, making my body instinctively try to move away.

"...Focus."

Halting my steps, I clenched my teeth as I focused on the flow of mana running through my body.

It started from the muscles of my feet, she forced her mana into one place, and just as it reached a threshold, she made it burst, sending it all around my body before rushing it towards my hand.

She repeated it thrice before removing her hand, but I still remained still, trying to remember the mana flow.

"...It's the base of my arts." Blinking, I opened my eyes and looked at her, "...Remember how it works because it will be quite helpful."

"...But I got a problem." Frowning, I remarked, "...I can't use mana like a normal person... I can't strengthen my muscles fast enough to make it work."

"...I already know that." Nodding her head, she replied, "...But you can strengthen your bones, can't you?"

"....."

"....."

We both looked at each other silently, neither of us saying a word.

"...Are you mad?" I snapped, glaring at her, "...Do you want me to die or what?"

"...You won't die." She replied, shrugging her shoulders as she picked up my katana, "... Probably."

"...Yeah, but if I make my bones move too fast, won't I risk fracturing them?" I reasoned, looking into her mahogany eyes. "...Worse, if I'm not careful, I could dislocate most of my bones and rupture all my muscles."

"...But if you can pull this off, each strike can exert twice the force than normal." Taking the katana, she lowered her body, throwing her left leg behind. "...Remember my posture."

Swish!!

Her hands blurred, but the katana remained the same, and all I saw was just a straight silver lining around the katana.

"...See?" She said with a smirk, gesturing towards the wall.

"....."

My mouth remained agape as I looked at the deep cut running through the wall.

...And I didn't see that happening, nor did I hear anything.

"...That's cool, but who's going to pay for the damage?" I asked, glancing at her.

"....."

She remained silent before she passed the katana to me, which I took.

"...Anyway, you need to learn how to use mana flow before we proceed with the actual arts." Ignoring my comment, she informed, looking at me, "...It would have been better if you had sturdier muscles as well."

"...Yeah." I mumbled, nodding.

Sowilo, and Isa... I need to engrave those two runes on my body as soon as possible.

... I want to do that now, but I can't just take ten days leave, not when the clubhouse competition is nearing.

"...Still, if you can use my arts properly, then your speed will be faster than mine, and like I already told you..." I shifted my focus towards her as she mumbled, "...Strength didn't kill Gabriel; swiftness did."

"...What do you mean by that?" I asked, slowly sitting on the ground.

"...It's a saying that was passed down for a long time." She replied, looking down at me, "...One of the strongest archangels, just below the gods, died in a fraction of a second."

"...How?" Frowning, I asked, my voice filled with confusion, "...Aren't they the strongest in the Lower Heavens? How could he just die?"

"...No idea." She shrugged in reply, "...There is nothing written about how he actually died... it's like someone didn't want it to be known."

"...Then who killed him?" I probed further, squinting my eyes. "....Let me guess, unknown?"

"...The only thing known is that..." Nodding her head softly, she informed solemnly, walking towards her water bottle, "...Out of thirteen archangels, only seven are still alive."

"....."

I lowered my head, trying to process this information.

....Seven, huh?

There wasn't much told about archangels in the game, so I don't know who they might be.

'Any idea, El?'

I questioned him, still looking at the ground.

[...I don't know, but when I was alive, I had a great friend who was an Archangel.]

'...Huh? Seriously?' [...Yeah... He was a great guy.]

...Why does he sound sad?

'...But how did you become friends with one?'

[....Can't a god be friends with an angel?]

'...I mean, yeah, why not?'

....Hmm, but still, the only Archangel I for sure know who is alive is Metatron.

[...How?]

'...When Inder was the dominant one controlling my body... He tried to kill him... He tried to kill me.'

[.....]

'I still don't understand why he even did that.'

[...It might be because he saw you as a threat?]

'...Threat to what?'

...What can I even do?

'...And not to mention, he tried to kill someone related to him.'

[...Huh? What do you mean?]

'...Well, the Aljanah bloodline originated from someone close to him.'

"...You can go now, Azariah." My trail of thoughts stopped as I looked at Lauryn, "...There are no classes today, so do whatever you want now."

"...Okay."

I replied, standing up from the ground while brushing off my pants.

"...And one more thing." I looked at her as she stopped me again, "...I won't be available next week."

"....Why?" Frowning, I asked, tilting my head.

"....."

She remained silent, her eyes now glaring at me.

For a while, I felt confused, but it didn't take long before it clicked in my mind.

....Her family died around this time a few years ago.

"...I see." I whispered softly, nodding my head.

"....You remember it now?" She asked, her voice detached from any emotions.

"...Yeah." I replied, looking into her eyes.

"...Just go." She replied, averting her gaze, "..I don't want to see your face."

I silently turned around before walking out of the training ground.

[...You should clear the misunderstanding between—]

'....That won't change anything, El.'

[....]

It was still early in the morning, but I didn't wait to enjoy nature's beauty.

Walking faster than my normal speed, I made my way towards the boys' dormitory room.

....It's time to check on Oliver.