The Way Ahead

Chapter 100b: Fight or Flight

Chapter 100b: Fight or Flight

Strike! Lefi called out, as his stick snapped into position on Edwins torso, sending him sprawling.

Edwin got to his feet, wincing slightly. As it turned out, running wasnt as easy as Lefi liked to make it sound. The guy was wickedly fast and incredibly accurate with all of his weapons. Right now, Lefi was trying to teach Edwin the proper ways to disengage, and while he appreciated the lesson in theory, he wasnt sure he was actually learning anything other than the fact Lefi was somehow able to strike him from behind while in front of him.

Stand!

After a few tests to make sure that Edwin knew how to run away properly- he did- Lefi had pivoted their lessons to making sure that Edwin was ready to either fight or run at a moments notice. Threat assessment, he called it.

In practice, it meant that now Edwin was getting a few moments of reprieve between half of his times being beaten into the ground. Because of course Lefi wasnt going to just let Edwin run away, no. He now needed to learn a fighting withdraw against even Lefi.

Block, block, step back

Strike! the stick connected with Edwins wrist that time, making him drop his own weapon. He winced, but retrieved the rod and took his stance once more.

Run!

Step back, step back. Use Flight to pull, drop marble, block, and-

Strike!

Gah, the wrist again. Without saying a word, Lefi returned to his starting position, and Edwin followed.

Stand!

Block, block instead of stepping back, Edwin tried blocking again this time.

Strike!

His wrist was really starting to hurt, and would probably need a potion by the time they were done. What the heck was he doing that constantly provoked the attack?

What am I doing wrong? he asked.

Hm? Youll get it!

Couldnt you just tell me, so I can figure it out sooner?

Run!

Step back, use Flight to suddenly veer off to the side

Strike!

Okay, what did Lefi have against his wrist?

Strike! that one hurt, clipping the side of his head and directly hitting his ear.

Gah! Edwin felt a bubble of frustration envelop him. He fought it, trying to force it down, force it into line, but it pushed back even harder. He threw down his stick in frustration, sending it clattering across the stone as he cradled his ear. Was it bleeding? Im done!

Lefi lowered his stance, What do you mean? Youre performing remarkably.

Edwin tried desperately to wrestle his emotions back in line, to no avail, Im not improving! All thats happening is youre having me try again and again to hit you and I keep failing time and time again. I have better things to do with my time, you know. Im not getting anything from this training now that youve told me to just run away, or when you tell me to stand and fight! Youre not teaching me anything, and Im not getting any better on my own!

Nonsense! While it may take a while, your skills will surely prevail shortly! It will just be a bit longer, then you will become a master!

Oh, shut up! he snapped, his emotional restraints snapping, I dont have a combat Skill, Lefi! Other than Throwing Weapons, which doesnt apply at all here. I want to learn how to use my Skills to fight, not the other way around. The only way Im going to get better is if you teach me to get better, you cant just let the System do all the work for you again! Honestly, do you ever do anything for yourself, or do you just coast on your hundreds of Skills?

Lefi seemed struck speechless by Edwins sudden outburst. Before the adventurer could formulate a response, Edwins brain caught up with his mouth and was instantly mortified.

Gah! No! I didnt He could practically feel all the goodwill hed built up with Lefi fading away in a single calamitous moment, where his emotions finally managed to break free in the very worst way. He wanted to collapse into a ball, but instead pulled on every Skill he could manage to just flee.

Next thing Edwin could properly remember, he was in his room, curled up on his bed with his head between his hands. His emotions were in shambles, his control over all of them breaking and refusing to behave as he tried to shove them back in their boxes. Regret and sorrow mixed with anger, primarily aimed at himself. If only hed been able to keep a better control over his anger, this could have all been avoided. Why did his control right then, when the adventurer was trying to help him?

Its Lefi, I suppose? He wants me to be good at fighting but hes also trying to teach me how to avoid fights, and he just sort of assumes that everyone will think like him and that of course its super important for me to learn how to fight!

Hes not wrong. I want to be able to protect myself, and take care of myself without relying purely on the goodwill of others. Heck, before all of this, I probably would have agreed with him too that I needed to be good at and would benefit from fighting and learning to fight. But after two months of being beaten into the dirt time and time again? I like to think Im resilient, but its a bit much. Not to mention it doesnt actually feel like Im improving. He says I am, but what does that really compare to? Im no closer to measuring up to him than I was a month and a half ago.

He does tend to do that, doesnt he? He just doesnt understand that without a Skill to guide you, no amount of throwing you around will actually make you better at fighting, not truly.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

So, she pivoted to another topic, Why do you feel so strongly that you need to control your life? Its not that often I come across such a similar desire to my own.

Well, I actually, why am I telling you all this? Im sure that Im just tremendously boring, Im so sorry. I didnt want to drag you into all my emotional insecurities.

Come on, poke and prod just a bit, a tiny corner of him rooted, Please, show more than cursory interest in me. If you actually care about me, and arent just trying to cheer me up, surely

Are you sure? she asked. Not an outright prod, but it was prod-adjacent. Hed let it slide.

Yeah, I mean yeah. I dont want to spiral down in that direction, which talking about that sort of thing would probably do, he admitted. Still room for a prod, now it was back to her

Well, she settled on, Okay. But youll tell me sometime!

Edwin shrugged. He could commit to the vague future-that-is-never about that suite of emotional vulnerability no problem. It would be easy enough to deflect, and never actually have to dig into his core any time soon.

A thought seemed to cross her mind, I know just the thing that youll really like.

Oh? Edwin asked, interest piqued, And what might that be?

There was a sudden gust in the room as her autumnal wings twisted into existence, the skin of her back flowing like water and flickering like an illusion into creating the wings.

Lets go flying!

Did I mention I dont like heights? Edwin hazarded, cautiously peering over the edge of the towers roof, fighting back a bit of vertigo.

You dont? How on Joriah did you ever get the Flight skill then?

Brute force and scientific understanding, he absently replied, Though saying I dislike falling might be more accurate.

You can fly! Rillah laughed, hovering in front of him. She didnt actually need to flap her wings to float, apparently, and they were mainly used to help her maneuverability or so she claimed, Youll have no problem catching yourself. I know, its pretty intimidating the first few times, but Im sure youll manage it!

I can only extend two meters from my anchor point, though, he protested, any further than that and Ill actually just fall.

Youll be fine! Come on, you can attach to me.

Are you sure?

Yes, yes. Dont worry, my wings are really strong. You explained how your Skill works, and its at least worth a try, she held out a hand and assumed a pleading expression, Do it for me? she asked.

Well, when she put it like that

He took a deep breath and steeled himself. She was asking him to trust his life into her hands, so to speak. Hed just met her yesterday. She was still almost a complete stranger Could he trust her? What would he get out of it? Maybe a bit of fun? And what did he risk? Almost everything.

Please? she asked, wiggling her fingers in a clear invitation to grab on.

It would always be risky, wouldnt it? Hed forever have reasons to not jump off the roof, and it would be good for his skills.

Yes! It would be good for his Flight skill. The sooner he could evolve that, the sooner he could take Stamina Manipulation and explore his abilities all the more.

It was still a risk, though.

It will always be a risk.

Edwin took her hand.