Chapter 115
There arose an understanding that the freedom she once enjoyed was now limited by responsibility, principles, and the bitter experiences that clung to every layer of her being.
Each color on the necklace, each tiny shape of the pendant, reflected a glimmer of larger memories, making Aldraya realize that her life now stood at a crossroads between a past filled with freedom and a present shaped by rules and decisions that must be carried with full awareness.
In the midst of that reflection came the awareness of the day when the Almighty revealed a fraction of His Power—an unforgettable moment that shifted the course of the past into a defining point that shaped Aldraya's character and principles.
The image of the little girl she once was—free, unbound—appeared to run through light and shadow, defying the fate that had begun tying her to bonds impossible to escape.
Aldraya felt the subtle tension between the memory of freedom and the awareness of a greater force, a wide stretch of experience that made every detail of that toy feel laden with meaning, far beyond its function as a simple object.
'That day came so quickly. The day He showed His Power—just a fragment, yet enough to stop my steps.'
Fiii - fiiii!
'My heart was filled with confusion and astonishment.
But I chose to remain calm, realizing that one small mistake could make me fall back into the same pit of disappointment.'
Tiiin - tiiin!
"Move aside, child."
'They all cried that day, all twelve of my Siblings.
Their sorrowful voices still haunt my sleep, lamenting and begging me not to take all this responsibility alone.
But I insisted on my decision because I could not bear to see them suffer any longer.
And in the end, that stubbornness is what caused my downfall into this world.
I became Aldraya Kansh Que.
Something smaller and dimmer than light, yet carrying a burden heavier than sin.'
Aldraya held herself together amid the crowd of thoughts and emotions swirling within, her eyes fixed straight ahead at the car window, staring with a calmness she forged from the remnants of her experiences.
Confusion and wonder surfaced, but they did not penetrate the fortress of control she had learned to maintain long ago.
Every step she took, every small decision that arose, was weighed carefully so she would not stray or fall into the same pit of disappointment as before.
That experience taught her that personal weakness could spread to others, and she had already witnessed more than enough unnecessary tears falling from her Siblings when burdens were carried alone.
Aldraya chose to remain steady, maintaining inner balance so that every choice she made carried precision and meaning anchored to herself.
The memories surfaced clearly in her mind—those days when her twelve Siblings cried in anguish, begging her not to carry all the burdens alone.
In that moment, Aldraya learned the meaning of extreme sacrifice, when responsibility and affection clashed with the need to protect others from greater suffering.
Even humanity itself.
She decided to ignore those pleas.
Not out of coldness or indifference, but because she knew the path she chose had to be walked alone to ensure no one else would be hurt again.
That decision marked the beginning of a journey that led her into the outer world, shaping the character and principles that continued to define her to this day.
From that moment onward, Aldraya grew into someone capable of separating emotion from decision-making, merging calm with caution, and allowing every movement of her body and mind to follow the internal rhythm she crafted.
The world she encountered afterward was not merely a physical environment, but a field that tested discipline and self-control, demanding courage to act without losing integrity.
She moved through each situation with clarity of purpose, knowing that every choice, no matter how small, formed a trail that would either guide or mislead her steps in the future.
The choice to remain calm and independent became a mark etched deeply into the identity of Aldraya Kansh Que throughout her journey.
First arc, end of episode eight.
Boooom!
"Too high. If you want to hit someone shorter than you, learn to lower your center of gravity."
"Sequence of the 45 Suns and Moons!
Slice until it shrinks!!"
Buaaamm!
"You know your issue, Erietta?"
Hussssh!
"You're too busy trying to look impressive. That's why your focus scatters."
"I am focused."
Nguuuung!
"Twelve-Blood Leech!!"
Huuuuuh!
"Three slashes at once. Above. Right. Diagonal below.
Annihilate!!
Slash!
"Haven't I already told you to focus? At the very least, you would've left one small scratch on my clothes if you truly followed instructions.
Just one. So come on, prove it."
"Circuit Break!"
Wussssh!
"Your pattern is still too wide.
Are you attacking, or drawing a giant circle in the air?"
"Chant of the Comet!"
Debuuum!
"Pathetic. Imagine—a samurai who hasn't even drawn his sword, and you still can't touch him.
Train harder."
"Your words are hurtful."
"Then hurry!"
"Dance of the Seven Seasons."
Busssh!
"Your movements are improving. But inside, they're empty.
Your body moves, but your heart is noisy."
In the open field, filled with the scent of hot metal and swirling dust, Erietta Bathee moved like a well-shaped storm, each swing of her blade cutting the air with precision that demanded unbroken concentration.
Morning light seeped through the cracks in the ground, illuminating the fine dust lifted by each step, while her elongated shadow flickered across the fractured terrain.
Theo Vkytor moved with contrasting calmness, his body flexible yet controlled, evading each strike without ever drawing his sword.
He was like a living shadow, adjusting his position each time the wind of an attack approached, stepping aside with perfect awareness of distance and rhythm, as if studying the pattern behind every movement thrown at him.
Every second felt dense, filled with tension sharp enough to fracture bone, but Theo maintained a safe distance, preserving an unshakable balance between danger and movement.
The rhythm between them was not merely a physical duel, but a field of subtle and intense observation.
Erietta leaped, slashed, and spun her sword in a combination of techniques meant to dazzle, while Theo responded without touching his weapon, letting his body flow as though following the current of the wind—bending, shifting, and dipping at precise moments to remain unscathed.
His body was flexible yet controlled, every muscle acting as a sensor reading the tension in the air, predicting incoming trajectories and stepping away without losing momentum.
There was an unspoken rhythm between the tapping of their feet and the whistling of the blade, a symphony of combat understood only by those involved.
Though silent, every step Theo took conveyed sharp analysis and patience, a meticulousness that forced his opponent to realize that fighting him was not just about strength, but about understanding limits and choices.
"Descend, Sacred Mountain!!"
Wussssh – dooorr!
"Your right side is open."
Baaak!
"Gh—!"
"That… was only a palm."
"Stunning Techniques aren't for dancing.
Did you think a founder of swordsmanship like me taught you techniques just for aesthetics?"
Buuuk!
"I'm not done yet!
The Heavens Bless Me!!"
"There's still an opening."
Dussssh!
"Attack again. Show me you can think, not just rely on arm strength."
"Loyalty, Love, and Heroes Approach!!"
Ngiiing!
"Don't stop at the second momentum. You rely too much on monotony."
Busssssh!
Buaaak!
"This hurts, Master."
"I'm not even using full strength."
Fiiiih!
"Falling from just a touch like that? In any corner of the world, they'd say you're unfit to be a disciple."
"Don't… mock me, pervert!!"
"Piercing Illusion!!"
Tsuuuuf!
To be continued…