Lady Reaper Reianne Rewritten [COMPLETED]

Chapter XXXII: Better Saved Than Never

Thirteen Years Ago

"What are you waiting for, Reianne? Jump."

Master Shao repeated his instructions for the tenth time that morning. My knees wobbled. My eyes kept darting from the landing spot about three meters away where Master was standing, and the pit in between, about ten feet in depth and which bottom was laden with burning coals.

"I'm...I'm scared."

"You were scared yesterday and the day before that. Each day you didn't jump, I'll widen the gap."

"Please, Master, it's impossible. I can't jump that far." My voice trembled. It was a few days ago when I woke up with no recollection at all. Granma Cerce was very kind to me. In contrast, Granpa Shao seemed abhorred by my very presence. He made it clear that I could stay only if I agreed to be trained by him. Without anywhere else to go, I consented. Hesitantly.

So, from then on, he made me call him Master Shao. We did not train right away, though. Granny Cerce would not let him. She said my injuries had not fully healed yet. I did not remember how I got them, and neither Grandma nor Master would tell me. So, for several days, I stayed inside their small hut, helping with the chores. Then a few days ago, despite Grandma's protests, Master started training me. It was simple at first--the proper stance, exercises, and stretchings, and gradually devolved to painful things, like punching the tree trunk repeatedly until my fists bled. Right now, he wanted me to jump through a burning pit.

"If you can't even jump this far, how can you jump tomorrow, when I would widen it by a meter more?"

"Please, Ma---"

"Jump!"

I started crying. My eyes darted down to the burning coals below and it was as if I could feel them burning my skin. I cringed. My knees and hands were shaking badly. There was no way I could jump through this pit. I just knew I could not. It was just too far.

"What the hell are you crying about?" Master shouted. "Stop that nonsense or I would give you something to cry about!"

My muscles tensed at Master's threat. I did not want to get whipped again. I looked at the pit once more. If I fell, it would be painful, but it wouldn't kill me, right?

"Stop looking at the pit like you're preparing to fall there, Goddamn it! Keep your eyes where you should land!" Master growled. I was really testing his patience.

"Y-yes, Master." I backed up several steps and kept my eyes on the soft spot of earth where I was supposed to plant my feet. The burning coals kept disrupting my attention with their threat of fiery pain. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I can do this. I can do this. I can do this," I muttered to myself as I dug my toes onto the earth in preparation for a sprint.

Jump!

With a burst of energy, I ran. When I reached the edge I coiled my knees and jumped with everything I got.

And came short by a few inches.

Panic struck me at the realization that my feet would not land on the other side. On instinct, my hand shot out to grab the edge and managed to clutch a handful of slippery earth and a clump of grass.

My hand was slipping fast. My fear-stricken eyes darted to the mocking coals below. With desperation, my other hand tried to get a more secure grip. I did not have the strength to pull myself up, however.