Ethereal Madness

Chapter 29- Be Better

I swung Sophia'a blade and it clashed against Min's long hunting knife. The metals scraped against one another, creating a sound that was a mix of harmonious and chaotic.

Min aimed her foot for my chest but I pulled back. I quickly switched my blade to my left hand behind my back. The moment her foot dropped, I charged in and she entered a defensive stance. I rose my right hand up like as if I was about to impale her. She blocked high and I switched up and swung with my left. She snatched a second blade from the sheath on her leg and blocked. I tried pushing it closer to her but neither of us was gaining any leverage.

She rose up the other knife at me. I instinctually reached for Essentia but caught myself. I jumped back and she sliced air. I ran in close and saw her left hand grip the handle tighter. I anticipated her swing and by the time her knife was where I was before, my blade was poking her neck.

I for sure should've been victorious, but her apathetic expression made it feel like she was gonna flip the script somehow.

No words were shared between us. She lowered her weapons and looked at me.

"I see there is something you can do," she said.

I won..? I won, right? There's no fancy move or surprise attack I have to be wary of?

"You can lower your blade. I'm not going to attack you," she read my mind.

My shoulders eased up and my hands slowly dropped to my shoulders.

"However," she walked to my side, "your swings are too stiff." She pushed my hand a little and my arm folded slightly. "There." She navigated my arm and thrust it forward. "Like that."

Just like that Arthur, my mother's calming voice hummed like a lullaby in my ears.

...What?

A wealth of nostalgia swelled up in my chest and I felt sad, like I had suddenly lost something.

"...ur...thur. Arthur." Min's hand was on my forehead.

"Y-yes!"

"You're not sick, are you?"

"I, umm, I'm fine."

Her stare told me she didn't believe me, not that I blame her.

"Anyways, I have to go attend to a task now for Queen Tali, so I will be taking my leave," She announced.

"You really do a lot for her, don't you?"

"I do what I can," she dismissed my praise.

Having had all this time to watch her when her and her sister weren't sicking their overpowered pet beast at me, I had to admit she really does a lot. In terms of tending to her lord, she might give Mary a run for her money.

"What should I do?" The words spilled out of my mouth. It was weird asking her everything, but over the past week or so she's been kind of who to go for everything. She has connections to everyone and always has an answer when I'm lost. I see why Tali values her so much. I just wish I didn't have to bother her so much.  There's no way I haven't annoyed her by now, but she if I bug her, she hasn't showed it yet.

"You can go to Rin or Ainia. Ainia should be"—

"Where's Rin?" I frowned.

She gave me a look and I was happy to learn we had a mutual understanding concerning that overpowered demigod. Though I'd argue it was worse for Min considering she had to grow up with her.

"Rin should be"—She put on a thinking face.

"If she's busy, I can check with her later."

"No, it's fine. She should be wrapping up around now. She's most likely in the forest off to the right, past the training grounds."