White Strings

Episode 15 - Escaping

The Quaternity test was nearing and Silk felt as if time was slipping through her fingers. She practiced with Kaon every day, but Silk knew she still stood little chance against those who have practiced since they learned how to speak. She tried her best to read books about terror beasts and energy types and basic knowledge of the temple. Despite her efforts, most of that information flew out of her brain the second it entered it. Reading was one thing, comprehending was another, not to mention she was always occupied with other thoughts.

As expected, Silk spent the day before the test tumbling around the arena like a bundle of nerves. She knew practicing when she was this agitated was not going to improve anything, but she felt like if she didn't she would end up exploding. She performed the Blade Dance moves she learned from Ash and she knew that Kaon was staring at her, probably assessing her mistakes. She didn't care, however, because it seemed like her body couldn't contain more stress than it already did.

"Where are the strings?" Kaon called out to her.

She usually had a special thread attached to each of the daggers, their ends connecting between the handle and a special wristband she made years ago. They were destroyed, however, and Silk couldn't repair them. Bluma gave her those, saying they were used especially for those kinds of daggers.

"Don't have any," she blurted between swings.

"Doesn't your style rely on throwing your daggers, though?"

Silk stopped dancing around, catching her breath. "The dance is supposed to be done by two in the first place, the strings are made for practice."

"Right, the Gowns have such incredible art techniques. Do you know what this little flute you have was used for?" Kaon stepped closer to the middle of the arena.

"My tongue flute?" Silk could almost feel it in her right pocket.

"They used it to sing, creating hallucinatory visions that you could feel. Isn't it amazing?" Kaon smiled and looked at Silk's pocket, where the flute was hidden. "The Gowns are surely extremely talented people."

Silk furrowed her brows, following Kaon with her eyes. "What are you getting at?"

"You are not a Gown," Kaon whispered.

"Yes I am," Silk hurried to answer.

Kaon stopped in front of Silk with his arms crossed, staring down at her in silence. She looked back at him shamelessly, her expression determined to outlast his stare. His little smile widened and he raised his arms to remove Vie from his head. He released the squirmish creature, who then hurried to join her siblings near the fire.

"Let's have a go," he said as he started to stretch.

"What?"

"Your moves are rigid and lazy." Kaon took a few steps back from Silk and then entered a basic stance he had taught her before. "Swinging blindly as if your opponent is some lost, dumb animal."

"You want me to fight you?" Silk asked in disbelief. "Me?"

"Afraid?" Kaon tilted his head back, fully aware of how his tone affected Silk's pride.

"I'm not falling for your tricks," Silk avoided looking at Kaon.

"Tricks?" Kaon's theatrical tone was flabbergasted by the supposedly preposterous accusation. "Me?"

"Stop it," Silk murmured as she turned around, hiding a little snicker.

Kaon started circling around her, not letting her escape. "If it was Vax, she would jump at the offer immediately, you know. She is an excellent fighter."