Caera Denoir

A week has already passed since I moved to Scythe Seris's mansion. I've been training with a mysterious person this whole time and my skills with the sword increase rapidly. I first thought that this mysterious person is just another greedy noble but no. I know he looks cold but he easily became my friend without me realizing. He is both a teacher and a good friend to me.

Grey Vritra, that is the name of this mysterious person I am talking about. Everything about him is mysterious and the more you know him the bigger the mystery gets. Not only bearing the last name Vritra, which is like the highest honor someone could ever achieve. He also stated that he's the adopted grandson of the High Sovereign, the ruler of this continent, who is like a god and some won't even have a chance to see him in their whole lifetime. And all of this while having no horns? No one would probably believe him if he isn't acquainted with Scythe Seris.

Grey not only has this mysterious profile but also has a mysterious power. When we first sparred, I asked if he's a Striker based on his build and weapon but he said no. I asked what kind of mage he is but he only answered “I am all of them" which doesn't make any sense before but now it does.

For some reason Grey has the freedom to use any spellform he wants. He can use fire, water, earth, wind, ice and lightning whenever he wants. But all of that pales in comparison with Grey's skill with the sword. Scythe Seris said Grey is even better that her in a sword fight which turned out true. Grey is a swordmaster maybe even one of the best in the continent.

“Maybe, if it's even possible that I'll get comfortable again with someone else.”

Those words of Grey two days ago still lingers inside my head. What does he mean by that?

“Is he uncomfortable around Scythe Seris? Did someone break his trust? There's a lot of possibilities that it's already hurting my brain just thinking about it."

I thought, thinking how to help my friend. Grey is my only friend outside the Central Academy. You can even say he's my first friend. No matter what I will help Grey as that's what friends are for right?

“Caera, can you check on Grey? It's already time for breakfast yet he's still not up. He's probably sleeping like a log in his room. Please wake him up."

Scythe Seris's voice brought me back to reality. That is true Grey might be someone powerful but he's also someone you can't wake up easily. I've been doing this now for a week already and it is one of the hardest thing to do. Grey always apologizes but I always give him a pout so that he'll fix my hellish bedhair as an apology.

“I understand, I'll bring him right away."

Standing up my chair I walked up the stairs and headed toward Grey's room. Now just outside his room, I'm about to knock the door when the door opened from the inside.

“Woah, Grey waking up by himself? that's a surprise."

I thought, surprised by the sudden changes of events.

“I can't believe that y- eh?"

Because he's a lot taller than me I need to look up to see his face but the one who welcomed my sight isn't just Grey's handsome face but also two onyx horns protruding on the side of his head lowering down near his cheeks.

“Eh?" I said again not able to form any words beside of that.

“Goodmorning Caera, Looks like we have matching horns now. " Grey chuckled looking down to me while smiling.

I couldn't comprehend what is happening and just stood there frozen looking up to him.

“Caera, why are you taking so long?"
I looked at the stairs and saw Scythe Seris on her way to this floor. She saw me first then looked at Grey. She froze up like a statue, confusion drawn on her face.

“Eh?"

Looks like Scythe Seris also can't comprehend what is happening right now.

//////

“So that's what happened." Grey explained what happened and we still couldn't believe it.

Grey said he absorbed a Vritra's horn that the High Sovereign gave to him. And after he finished absorbing it he already has the horns.

“This is unbelievable but I should get used to it as common sense doesn't really apply to you." Scythe Seris said pinching the bridge of her nose.

“So it isn't normal huh? I thought it is." Grey answered and continued to eat his breakfast pancakes.

No more words are exchanged. The three of us just continued to eat our breakfast and eventually Grey finished first. Grey has always been a fast eater since I arrived here.

“Is he always like that? Why does he eat so fast?"

Grey stood up and grabbed his plate amd utensils.

“I'll bring this to the sink, and I'll go to the training yard. I wanna try something." Grey said and walked towards the kitchen.

“ Grey you haven't fix my hair yet! " I said with a loud voice but not as loud so I won't disturb Scythe Seris.

“I'll fix it in the training yard, follow me if you want!" Grey shouted back as he's already near the kitchen.

I stood up and also grabbed my plate and utensils and started to walk to Grey's location. Scythe Seris seeing our interaction just chuckled and continued on eating her breakfast which is a simple bread and a tea.

I arrived at the training yard that's basically an open field on the masions back yard. I saw Grey sitting in the wooden bench where we always rest after training.

I walked towards the bench and sat beside him. I brought out my comb in my dimensional ring and gave it to Grey which he accepted. No words were exchanged but the two of us know what to do. I closed my distance to Grey and Grey started to comb my hair. A few minutes have passed and Grey finally finished doing my hair.

“It's done Caera" Grey said giving me back my comb and I immediately put it inside my dimension ring.

“Thank you Grey." I thanked him and gave him a smile.

“So when are we gonna start training?" I asked Grey

“We will in a few minutes, but Caera can I have your time for a minute? "
Grey said standing up the wooden bench.

“Of course, what is it?" I asked still sitting on the bench.

Grey didn't say anything but brought out something from his dimension ring. I just noticed it but Grey has a dimension ring. He doesn't have a dimension ring the whole time I'm here. Did the High Sovereign also gave it to him?

Grey brought out a sword, a long sword with the length the same as my height. It has a really dark color on it's handle to the guard but has an almost transparent gem-like curved blade colored in blood red. It looks like the highest quality of sword ever made. Seeing Grey having this must mean that he got it from the High Sovereign.

(just Caera's sword in the official art but with color black handle and much brighter red blade)

“Here, it's a gift Caera. A token of friendship." Grey said smiling at me

“I-I can't accept this Grey this is too mu-"

“You are my first friend Caera so it's okay." Grey cuts my words off and continues to speak.

“I also plan to give you this as it won't even help me."

He said handing me the sword and a green ball which I don't know what or how to use? I accepted the ball but not the sword.

“That's a Beastcore of a mana beast there's a lot of mana in there thay can help you reach the silver stage. " Grey said and I immediately understood what this ball is.

A beast core, a core containing the mana of a mana beast. But this thing is so rare, because there's no dungeons here in Alacrya. Did the High Sovereign gave this to Grey too?

“Oh, I almost forgot about this." Grey said again ang brought out a black box?

Grey opened it and the box revealed a horn, a Vritra horn it produces so much ominous energy I can feel it even though I'm atleast a meter away from it.

"This is the horn I absorbed yesterday, and I plan on giving it to you." Grey said as he handed me the horn.

The horn felt ominous at first but when I held it in my hand it felt comfortable. I then asked Grey what am I suppose to do with it.

“Grey, didn't you say you absorbed the mana in it? Then why didn't it disappeared?" I questioned but Grey just sent me a smirk.

“Wait, could it be? " I said looking ay Grey and he just nodded at me

“How is that possible? isn't a will supposed to be in the core? And why are you giving this to me? You can use it to yourself" I questioned him

“I don't know either, but please accept it, I can't have that as I already have a will." Grey explained.

I want to ask Grey about his will but I didn't. Grey can tell me anything he wants when the time comes that he trusts me enough.

“I accept, thank you Grey this is a lot."
I said bowing my head to him

“Don't do that we're friends, and also when will you plan on receiving this sword?  Grey said in an annoyed tone.

I stored the horn and the core inside my dimension ring and received the sword in my hands. Holding it with two hands I observed the beauty of this sword. The blade is translucent or almost transparent as I can see through it's blood red color.

“Grey, the High Sovereign gave this to you right? Meaning this sword is special. Why did you give it to me?" I asked Grey full of curiosity.

“Ah no, he gave me a sword but not that one. I asked him that sword so I can give it to you." Grey said and I felt my face heat up

“He got it for me?"

Grey then pulled out something out of his black dimension ring and I then saw a simple yet elegant sword. It has a simple design but the blade has a gap in the middle which I don't know what the purpose is but it looked so elegant and unique because of that.

“This kind of sword is what fits me. I saw that sword in there and thought that it will fit your fighting style so I asked Agrona if I could get it and he said yes." Grey explained

“So Grey, what will you name your sword? Since it's a special sword I decided to name it." I said cheerfully as I watch Grey's face change into a face that's full of curiosity.

“I'm intrigued, what did you name it?"

“Grace, I named it because it's a blessing having such a special sword given by a special someone." I explained kind of embarrassed about what I accidentally said in the end.

“Grey? what about yours? Don't you want to name it?" I said trying to change the subject immediately so we can move on.

“How can I name it?" asked Grey.

“Well, you can name it basically whatever you want. You can name the sword by it's characteristics or maybe even it's purpose, or the emotion its giving to you."

“Purpose, Emotion huh? I think I found the perfect name for it." Grey said with a small sad smile on his face.

“What is it? " I asked curious on what Grey is thinking

“Grudge"

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1k special with 2k words thank you for the 1k reads

10-30-23