TBATE - Never Ending

A/N:

I left quite alot of hints this chapter and the next chapter as well.

See if you can guess them in the comments. 🤭

________

// Third Point Perspective //

It has been a tiring five months since Virion came to the Academy. He hadn't contacted his parents yet but he didn't see the need to honestly.

"It's not even been half a year yet." time was moving fast but also slow. It was paradoxical while he buried himself in books about dungeons and mana beats. It wasn't explored much in the novel and he wanted to figure out if their were any useful mana beats around.

He needs them Beast Will's.

Although Arthur had returned a while ago (the Director) and seeing as he did not come around, the tree he planted hadn't bared fruit yet much to Virion's disappointment.

But anyway, he discovered some new things while in the library, reading up on "Myths regarding Emitters". His mother didn't tell him much about her abilities. For she wasn't exactly proud of her abilities but sees them as a curse.

For one, they can't regenerate tissue that has been lost. They can only accelerate the body's natural healing factor which was disappointing.

Saving a certain someone wasn't as easy as he thought.

They also can't cure diseases, illnesses or poisoning but that he already knew. And what baffled Virion more is that people actually thought Emitters could restore a core once broken.

"People oustide of school are actually stupid." he sighed. He was rather blunt with it but in a way it was also a good thing.

The ones who didn't build their minds around the knowledge of society was more flexible in their thinking but they also lacked a common understanding and would often, more easily fall into disputes among themselves.

And nobles whom conformed around a understanding was stiff. They lacked any originality.

That was the difference between nobles and those of the lower class. Despite being so different from one another, they had one thing in common.

They thought they knew something.

But as wise man once said, "he only knows one thing and that is that he knows nothing."

Virion didn't know anything and that he knows. He doesn't know why he was here, what is his purpose here and what will become of him.

Is there a god?

Or was this just simple fate?

A coincidence perhaps?

An illusion of his mind?

Was this what he truly wanted then?

A second life?

What was he supposed to do with this second life?

He needs answers.

The truth.

Then will he know?

But where will he get this truth in the first place? By staying with his family?

Is that why he reincarnated? To live a life so differently from his previous one.

Where exactly is the happiness in a continent where soon there will be war?

So is there another purpose then?

He didn't know.

"Not now, Virion." he calmed his raging thoughts and closed the book titled "The Depths of the Beast Glades."

He never experienced such a strong desire for something.

He shakes his head to clear his mind, leaning back into the couch.

"Let's just take a little nap."

.....

"So what do you think is the greatest quality a mage should have?" the Director asked Virion.

"I would not know." Virion shrugged.

"Do you really not know?" she leaned forward in her seat across from the little boy, appraising him with scepticism.

"Isn't it something like staying inquisitive?" his words came off more as a question than an answer.

"Well, you are half right." she hummed leaning back in her seat while picking up her cup of tea before taking a sip and gently placing it down on the saucer she held in her lap. "A more definitive answer would be to seek truth."

Virion's ears perked up like a cat.

"What truth?"

"Why do you think some awaken and others don't?"

"Doesn't that just come down to genetics though?"

"But why?" she lifts her eyebrow up in amusement.

"What do you mean why?" Virion was confused. "Isn't that just part of evolution?" she chuckles a little, realizing that he was just a boy and yet she quite to often finds herself in such situations.

In the end, it left her with the same question, 'why'.

"Anyway, shouldn't I be learning magic from you?" he lazily reaches out for a biscuit in the sliver platter on the table.

"That's what I thought..." she looked dazed at the boy whom was now stuffing his mouth with the sweet treats. "But you already have a decent grasp of all the elements."

"Really?" he innocently stuffed another treat in his mouth. His lips were covered in frosting and Cynthia sighed.

"I sometimes wonder if you are actually a child." she mused before taking another sip of her tea. "Then you behave like this."

She couldn't quite grasp this anomaly in front of her. He wasn't as serious or intimidating as his brother.

He was more anxious (?) perhaps. And also quite the study for his age. He possesses a great intellect and Cynthia likes to poke at it sometimes.

There was something about him.

And it makes her wonder what will become of him.

.....

*clang

*clank

The sound of iron scrapping against metal tears through the training room, courtesy of Cynthia of course.

Virion parries the rapier to the side with his black iron staff provided by Vincent. It was nearly as tall as the little boy while also thin to reduce its weight and provide mobility.

The next jab with the blade aimed at his face. He leans out of the way (to his left). She bought her back foot forward and follows up with a horizontal slash. Virion bought his staff in between the blade and his face, struggling to hold off against her strength.

He draws from his Mana Core and augments himself pushing her blade away. As he did he twirls his staff between his fingers (vertically) with the help of wind mana. He catches the end in his other hand - pointing at her - the accumulated wind released in her direction blowing her through the air about a solid forty or so meters.

She landed on her feet and immediately lowered her center of gravity while bringing her blade to her face.

The blade seared with heat, distorting the air around it before igniting in flames with a whoom.

The flames were a beautiful red colour which somewhat resembled her also silky red hair.

Virion let down his guard (purposely) resting his staff at his side. Cratering the ground she once occupied with the force of her initial step in her sprint.

Her path towards him was straight so he prepared. Just as she reached the five meter mark he reverses the polarity (convex) from that point in a four meter radius.

Her momentum carried her through the field while it lifted her into the air almost like an invisible ramp. She grunted in frustration but maneuvered her body so that she - like an arrow - pointed in Virion's direction.

[Piston Stomp]

She stops her momentum mid air with a flash of fire beneath her soles. And then uses the spell again, focusing the blast more to a point so that she can maximize its efficiency.

And another two times to accelerate faster. She reeled her rapier back as she flew at Virion. With a thump of his staff he conjured an earth wall about six meters in length.

She brought her legs forward, stomping against the wall, and buried her flaming sword in it.

[Burst]

She channeled her mana through her blade, expelling it into the wall in huge burst and breaking it apart, she lands on her two feet again.

Virion pulls in the dust with the vacuum he generates by twirling his staff with his fingers (wind mana). It settles around the spinning staff like a belt around a planet.

She lunges, building up the tension in her muscles before sprinting at him again. He pulls his twirling staff around his back before releasing the dust in her way like whirlwind. She sidesteps it and uses the spell [Piston Stomp] again.

She skids to a stop next to Virion, and proceeds slashs at his side but he barely blocks her blade. And loses his footing due to the sheer force behind the strike. He uses wind to jump back and regain his footing. With a swing of his staff generates ice shards mid air.

Following up, he swings his staff again launching a single shard at her. And with her flaming rapier she stabs it to pieces. He proceeds to swing his staff and with each one he launches a shard at her like a nimble performer (dancer). And she just stabs one after the other to splinters like a gatling gun.

Although individually sending them at her takes a bit more mana than just bombarding her with them. This way he can generate more force behind each one.

When the barrage finished she closes the distance between with another [Piston Stump]. With to little time to cast another spell he augments himself and swung his staff at her.

*clang

Their weapons clashed.

Virion was pushed of his feet and falls on his bum. The red head stood over him with the tip of her blade directed at his chin.

"Hah."

He let out a smile of defeat. He had been using his weaker elements so that he can bring it up to par and he knew his augmenting as a conjurer was subpar.

He lost.

But his opponent was the Claire Baldeheart, niece of Kaspian Baldeheart. Her sword skills reflected that and she was just overall an excellent combatant.

She also lets a smile grace her lips and retracts her sword, stabbing it into the ground next to her. Virion lets his hand comb through his hair as he looked at her.

Strands of her scarlet coloured hair clung to her face, dull grey eyes shimmering, her lips slightly parted as she lets out little gasps for air. Her chest heaving under her white vest, Virion could almost make out the outline of her bra underneath. Her slightly toned abdomen also shun through.

His heart almost skipping a beat.

This is certainly not the first time he saw her like this, disheveled and sweaty. But he couldn't help it.

What is wrong with him?

Fawning over older women but can you honestly blame him?

"What are you staring at?" she smirked, asking the obvious. Her ragged breathing while she spoke was... alluring.

No.

Let's not go down that road.

"Just... appreciating..." he vaguely replied. Threading carefully along the rope and tried not make it obvious that he was in fact 'appreciating' her.

She probably already noticed and was trying to tease him.

"Oh?" she seemed amused?

Does she know?

Is he in danger?

"Anyway, it seems you won this time." he changed the topic.

"It seems so." she circled to his back, plotting down behind him and leaned her back against his.

"We can rest for a bit then we can go for another round." he leans his had back on her shoulder as she did the same.

"You can't be serious." she looked dumbfounded. "You're a monster honestly."

"You think so?" he halfheartedly laughed.

"Not in bad way though." she quickly dismissed the negative quotation that might have hung in the air.

"I know." I reassured in a soft tone.

"Then how about this?" she started in a suggestive whisper. "We can go for round two if you give me a message later? Mhhn?" he soft yet strong voice lingering in his ear. It was ticklish.

"Deal." he agreed without giving it a second thought. "After all, you've been through a lot because of me."

He reminisced about the following year (a year and a half since he started living here). When they first met till now.

....

// Virion Leywin //

I took a deep breath.

It feels like I'm seeing the world in a new light. The soft sensation still remanent in my hands.

"Virion." the Director called from behind his door. "May I come in?"

"Yeah." I sat upright on the edge of the bed as the Director came in, walking past me to the window.

"Your brother has returned with a little surprise for you."

Could it be?

"You will be visiting tomorrow morning." she looked back at me.

"Okay."

Well, it's not like either of us could refuse my parents' calling so I had to go.

I really hope that it's my 'labour' baring fruit. I haven't made any progress with my personal project.

So I'll be really grateful, if that is the case.

.....

Walking through the gates, the guards greeted me. I waved at them and continued to trot along the paved path to what is to be considered the 'driveway' in this era.

At the end off the path it encircled a fountain. Beyond that was a flight stairs leading up to the massive manor. I climbed up the stairs and stood before the door. I don't know why but I felt strange. Ignoring the feeling stepped forward pushing the dubble doors open.

I was immediately greeted by Ellie tackling me as if her life depended on it. It kinda starteld me a bit.

"Meanie." was all that came out of her before she let go off me.

"I didn't do anything though." I half laughed awkwardly. I was confused at her behavior.

"You left me here alone." she pouted and turned around stomping away.

"Mom and dad are in the living room with big brother." she continued her march forward like a pink pirate.

Following her through the long corridors of the manor, I unknowingly smiled to myself for some reason.

"There you are, Ellie." I heard a familiar voice, Lilia, from behind me.

"And you're also here, Virion." she greeted me, I just acknowledged her with a nod.

We were never actually very close with one another. On the other hand, Ellie doesn't seem to want to talk her at all. Did something happen between them?

Lilia, stepping closer placed a hand on my shoulder and asks, "How have you been?"

"I'm good. I could ask you the same though." my gaze drifted between the two. "Ellie seems mad at you." there is a couple of reasons I can think of based on past experiences.

"She has been training without me." Ellie chipped in.

Lilia just sweatdropped.

"Is that the reason? I would also train alone if I were her. " I deadpanned at my sister. She grew more irritated at my comment but just huffed meanwhile Lilia just snickered on the sidelines.

When we reached the door to the living room Lilia grabbed Ellie, not without a fight from her, and went off to meditate futher.

I took another breath before entering the room. Am I on edge perhaps?

I quickly scanned the room, mother and father were seated across from Arthur. All there heads turned my way, mother immediately got out from her seat and sprung at me, embracing me with all her might.

Really?

After exchanging pleasantries with them and taking a seat next to Arthur, getting comfortable.

"So why did you call me here?" I asked to no one in particular. "It couldn't be just because, right?" I futher inquired.

"Don't you miss me?" he joked, faking a hurtful expression as he clutches the cloth around his heart.

It is so... Arthur.

"Not if you act like that, no." I plainly replied. Our parents chuckled at our antics. "And your act doesn't help you with such long hair, you look like a damsel in distress."

"Huh?" he deadpanned, brushing his hair behind his ear. "Anyway I wanted to give you this." he opened his palm with a slight whoosing sound as he activated his storage ring.

In his hand appeared a greenish kinda murky orb.

So I was right.

"It has a Beast Will presumably from a cat of sorts with wind attributed mana." sounds of awe filled the room. "Sylvie discovered it and I couldn't get much out of her."

Thank you, Sylvie.

"I'm glad but..." her smile turned into a slight frown. "Isn't it dangerous?" her eyes moved over to her husband then her son, Arthur.

"Not really." my father assured her. "It is only dangerous if you don't take the proper steps to assimilate with it."

"What dad just said." Art adds on futher. "Since Virion has the Director to help him through the process there shouldn't be any issues."

Through all that, I still didn't take my eyes off of it.

It was drawing me in. The mesmerizing green shades drifting in it.

I can't wait!

"Virion?" I snapped out of it and turned my gaze to her.

"Can I have it, mother?" I gave the final push. Even using the puppy eyes.

Her only weakness.

"You can." she sighed reluctantly. "But don't make me regret it." she quickly regained her composure.

"Of course, mother." I said excitedly, smiling at them.

"And thank you, bro." I turned to him. I was really grateful to him. He could have given it Jasmine if he wanted to since it was a wind elemental.

"Don't thank me yet." he said patting my head with a stupid face that screamed, 'hehe'. What was he implying?

Did I perhaps miss something?

________

A/N:

I could've done better but I don't know where to start.

Please let me know what you think of the story so far.

Hope you enjoyed!