"Haaah-" I gasped for breath, jolting my eyes wide open.
My heart pounded as if I'd just surfaced from deep waters.
I gripped my neck, traced my fingers for any wound, but there was none.
"What the hell!" I groaned, grasping for air. I still remember the heat of Orochi's aura katana burning my throat, the pain of being stabbed, and choking on my own blood.
Lying on the dark, rough scale, I tilted my head, looking at the huge, monstrous sleeping heads of Orochi's real form.
Everything remained the same. The valleys of ocean to the cortex of clouds.
"That's odd…" I heard a very familiar voice again, as I stood up from the ground, brushing my coat and fixing the collar of my shirt.
"You're emenant ranked, sure. But the way you move…It's just odd," Orochi walked in his human form, roaming around the edges of his scale, hands crossed, pondering about something.
"It's like, your body moves on instincts, but when intended, you lack form," he said and stopped.
"You've either lost your memories, but that is unlikely…You're not Ymir, are you?" his question was spot on.
'…'
"You're right," I replied. "Or maybe…somewhat right,"
"How so?" He tilted his head, curious for the answer.
"Ymir in front of you is someone I designed; his looks, personality and even name are based on me," I said, spreading my arms.
"You're saying that you are your own creation?" He followed with a question.
"Well, you could say that," I replied.
"Interesting, and what might be your name?" He asked.
"Ymir Krieger."
"I knew something was off about you from the moment I met you. The way you think, the way you behave, and even your perspective of the world, which I've come to perceive…is different. Not just different from the world, but it contrasts the past life of Ymir Celestie," Orochi began as he continued walking.
"A reincarnated soul was my best guess, and I was right," He continued.
"But… that still doesn't change the fact that you knew about me, but lacked the information of the ongoing war, you know how the core fundamentals of circuits, mana, but didn't know that I had a method of training which didn't require a core."
"You know the structure…but you're not aware of each and every detail, so this world used to be… either a mythology, or a story in your dimension,"
"And then it's the way you behave. You never feel dread. Not afraid of death, you read the situations, and don't mind playing a game of rebellion instead of talking to the first prince. You love the thrill, you love it when people do what you expect them to do, you love to be right, because you think you're better than everyone,"
Orochi kept walking. He was fixed ahead, trying to piece every part of the puzzle.
"It's in the small things too," He murmured.
I didn't interrupt him. I was impressed. He was perceptive. He was just as I imagined him to be. And I knew only he could think of a theory close to my situation. And I wouldn't correct him.
"The way you adapt without hesitation, like you've seen a hundred versions of this before. No real shock when I showed you my true form. Most would freeze or beg, but you just sized it up, smiled even. That's not mortal instinct; that's someone who's played out scenarios in their head long before they happen."
He paused for a beat, glancing at me sideways, "Reincarnated, sure, but from a place where this is all fiction."
"Oh, come on," I said, chuckling lightly.
"You're good at analysis, I'll give you that. Reincarnation? Spot on. I'll give you a gold star for the observation," I said, as I placed my hands in the pocket.
"And the thrill? Sure, I enjoy being right. I mean, who doesn't? But it's not about being better, it's about the integrity of the game."
"Question is…what does this all say about you? Falling for a god, trading with a mortal, just for those strings to control? What's a demon like you really afraid of?"
"From where I'm standing, its not me who's rewriting the narrative, it's you realising you might not be the author after all,"
I paused for a second, then continued with a slight smirk.
"You're not just training me because I'm interesting. You're curious. You want to see what someone who sees the world like a chessboard can actually do. You're a little excited to have someone who isn't afraid of you."
I raised an eyebrow. "So tell me… did I get at least one thing right?"
Orochi faced me with a faint, amused smile tugging his lips. "You did get most of it right. More than I expected,"
"Of course, I'm always rig-"
*Stab*
I didn't even see him move. He was still standing exactly where he was, hands tucked into his sleeves, but his katana was already buried in my windpipe.
'Fuck…' I thought.
"Let's continue with our training, shall we?" He smiled.
'Fuck…I think I pissed him off,' I felt the wet heat of my own blood. And then, darkness.
.-.-.-.-.-.
"Haahp-" I jolted awake, gasping for air again. That same sensation of heart pounding against my chest, a motor function of the body, releasing adrenaline, experiencing death.
"Not yet…" Orochi said. "You don't feel surprised at death, sure, but your body feels panic, it's not in complete control of yours."
"What do you mean not yet-"
*Stab*
.-.-.-.-.-.
"Haahp-" I gasped for air again.
"Alright, stop…this isn't traini-"
*Stab*
.-.-.-.-.-.
"FUCK!" I screamed, gasping for air again.
"What kind of training is this?" I asked him.
"One that completely removes panic from your body…"
"What?-"
*Stab*
.-.-.-.-.-.
"Haaph-"
*Stab*
.-.-.-.-.-.
"LET ME SPEA-"
*Stab*
.-.-.-.-.-.
"Haah-" I raised my hands to make him pause.
"Alright, wait a second, think it through. You said you're supposed to train my mind, not break it."
"This is training," He said, grinning.
*Stab*
.-.-.-.-.-.
"Haah- I'm not-I'm definitely not enjoying this-"
*Stab*