Chapter 5: Chapter 2: A Boat, An Oni, A Spell
An hour had passed since the battle outside of Tyrants Rest, the town I grew up in. No words had been spoken since we fled by a Waterborn pulled boat.
-Do I say something?-
Many thoughts had crossed my mind after the battle; Are all those warriors really the world Fiercest fighting force? If they are so strong why did they only throw a Javelin of light spell during the entire battle? How did Enda survive? Was she even human?
These thoughts had flooded my mind, but I didn't have the courage to ask any of them right now.
During the battle I froze in fear after witnessing the hole straight through Enda, only to watch blood spew from the wound burn into ash and dust before touching the ground.
I wasn't sure what she was now.
-Maybe they're right calling her a devil?-
The only thing I could say for sure is if she can take a blow like that and survive, the possibility of her founding a city 90 years ago didn't seem so strange anymore.
"Chin up kid, if you feel worried about something, then say it, I can grantee Enda and I won't take any offense, or Ru, for that matter if you want to say 'hi'"
Red had noticed my concerns, I'd been staring down at my feet the entire time, too lost in thought to even hide my emotions or body language.
I looked around, Red was sitting at the back next to me overlooking the tied up warriors in front of him, each facing a separate direction from the middle of the small boat. Only the girl with black hair had woken up.
She had fainted during the battle out of fear alone, ashamed to point of tears all she could do now is stare directly at Arisu as she slept on Enda's lap who was sitting at the front.
Enda had made a makeshift pillow by folding her cape into a ball and was brushing the dirt and grass out of Arisu's hair that accumulated over the course of the fight.
"They stopped following us"
"To throw away forces, then refuse to even attempt a rescue when you have the strength to save your allies..."
-So they've been following us through the fog anyway? Then what was the point?-
"It's not so simple, 'someone' is throwing a fit back at... where the Guild Hall used to stand"
"They destroyed it?"
"Yes, also it turns out those 3 had been on patrol in the area for training. The junior instructor, the one with blonde hair, chose to engage without informing the main unit. Looks like they sent two standard formations to stop Aris-ARGHH!"
Enda let out a large grunt in pain as small drops of blood exited out her ears, eyes, nose and mouth before burning up and disappearing.
*Hmmm* Red scratched his short crimson beard in thought as Enda spoke up again.
Muttering under his breath Red spoke with remorse.
"So the berserker fruit wasn't even needed..." *Sigh*
He was completely unphased by the outburst of blood, his attention purely on Arisu, he was treating her like his own flesh and blood, just like how Enda treats her.
"Of course 'she' saw the copy, even though my camouflage..."
"To visit in person, they must have gotten a complete file on Ari... No, not even then"
"She had another reason, I saw her take all the Guild staff into custody before setting the entire Hall on fire through my copy, Irmin's rain wasn't enough to stop the fire before it spread. The real problem is not knowing why she left her Golden Sanctuary"
"I'll get Sinclair on it, but the price for her services... argh it's gonna suck"
"Let me deal with that, I have a quiet a few bargaining chips"
"To know 'she' can see through AND kill a copy... It will cost a bit from her, but whatever"
"I said I can handle the price, even if it becomes a personal request"
Red scratched his beard once again.
*sigh* "Fine, but at least let me be there, I think I can convince Sinclair to kill two birds with one stone for their own personal gain and vested interest"
"Fine"
"So the scout stopped following because of her?"
"I would put my money on it, that Scout can see through my trickery as I sent a few hollow illusions on different paths through Irmin's fog but that single Scout kept following us, so they can see through natural weather obstruction as well"
She pointed back at her staff that was acting as a figurehead on the tiny boat. Just like when she left it at the guild door, it stood perfectly up straight like a tree without roots.
For a staff to not only have a nickname resembling the destroyed world tree and produce perfect elemental magic would make it a relic of unimaginable power.
"A blessing perhaps?"
"Most likely, if that's the case it might of been the reason 'she' came in person, that scout was a Paladin too"
I didn't understand, but it felt like I should ask instead of staying quiet.
"Uhh, I don't still don't get why 'she' would go, or who 'she' even is?"
"That 'individual' has her own blessing, while yours may be able to sense how someone feels or is trying to act, her blessing allows direct manipulation of how she is perceived. She could make a bloodthirsty berserker treat her like a harmless child to be protected, after that it's only a matter of time before that becomes worship"
"So she plans to control blessed people?"
"Yes, however blessings are a tricky thing. With the two you possess, it may been possible that you could resist her manipulation and tell exactly what her goal was."
Enda took out the letter and burnt it on the spot, as she instantly realised her mistake in talking aloud.
"There's a high chance she only knows about one if she came in person to recruit you, with both blessings you pose legitimate threat and regardless of intention she'll treat you like an enemy"
-So I'm now also a target?-
"I'd already decided after reading that letter to train you alongside Arisu, but the lessons I can give her now, well she's no longer the scared little white fox I found drowning near the docks of Dragons Mort"
"So what's going to happen to me now?"
"For now, we'll be stopping at the first outpost along the river, that will take us awhile to reach even at this speed. Right now however, I'm killing these Paladins."
There was no stutter in her speech, just a rise in bloodlust from Enda as she spoke those words and the girl who was staring at Arisu in her sleep slowly raised her head to look Enda in the eyes.
Enda could no longer look at the prisoners as human, but as animals that needed to be slaughtered in order to live.
The girl with black hair burst out crying. It's all she could do, failing her first patrol, her first fight ending in fainting, being captured by the enemy and without hope of rescue. She knew even if she went back, it would be to her execution.
That was how strict the Holy Kingdom treated their forces. To them she had disgraced herself and failed her squad. She had not fallen in battle to wounds or resisted to the bitter end refusing to give in like her squamates.
Her life was about to end, it was over for her.
Enda pulled out her wand and pointed it directly at the black haired girls forehead.
"I'm sorry, I'll make it quick and painless."
Red was silent, he knew what had to be done. I felt great sadness from Ru as she continued to swim, hearing all that was occurring in the boat.
A hand reached out to the crying girl that very moment.
It was soft and slender, its skin pale and nails clean but long and sharp. The hand had reached out and patted the girl, then moved to her in an embrace.
"Even asleep, you continue to spit in the face of destiny..."
Arisu was hugging the crying girl, even while still asleep her body had moved in order to protect someone who tried to kill her and had only saw her as less than trash.
I could feel that she was still asleep herself, her mind gave off no feelings of intent or emotions at all.
Despite that lack of consciousness she hugged and patted the girl weeping like she had never cried before. Comporting the girl and wiping away her tears and snot with a handkerchief Arisu kept in her right bracer under her robes.
"Did you teach her that?"
Enda was more than confused, in her strange and long life, not once had she seen such a thing from any mortal.
Red was just as befuddled, yet also very proud of what he witnessed.
"No, how could either of us teach her something like this when we can't even sleep ourselves? I expected her to be out cold until tomorrow morning, then to be sick afterwards, the fruits effects have always been the same for her."
-Neither of them sleep? What are these people?-
Before I could ask another question they had already began to make plans once again on 'her' and how to deal with the merchants guild.
At least I had also gotten my answer to what her copies really are, albeit indirectly.
She splits her own body in making a copy, as it shares the same body creating and destroying one would be enough to kill a normal person. From being able to make a copy of herself, she can also create 'hollow' illusions, fake images without a physical presence that is the most common type of illusion magic.
The Scout had been able to directly through all these fakes while keeping track of our position as a boat traveling upriver through the fog.
With my blessing able to see 'through the hearts of living creatures', as Enda put it, then didn't seem to strange that one blessing may be able to see only living creatures, ignoring illusions or visual obstruction.
...
As we continued upriver the fog slowly dispersed as the danger had passed.
-I forgot how busy this river usually is-
The fog had brought everything to a halt and prevented any chance of being seen or stopped by others without a blessing.
If it hadn't been early dawn the fog could of caused heavy damage, as the river and surrounding areas cleared up it was business as usual, word had yet to reach any passer-by's that a fight had occurred near Tyrants Rest.
"So what should we do with them?"
Red was asking about the prisoners now that Arisu had prevented their deaths.
"Maybe the girl can be saved?"
"That choice is up to Arisu, I think it's time she learnt to teach"
"The others?"
"We'll hand them off at the checkpoint for questioning. While that's happening I think it's best you inform D on the Merchants guild"
"Good idea, he'll be able to figure out who sold that info and what for, how did you even know yourself?"
"I was passing through the Merchants Guild Headquarters in Concordia, tracking the Waterborn slaver calling his 'slaves' prisoners of war, I was hoping to get some solid evidence of collusion. I came across a private Slate connected to our friendly neighbours"
"How the hell did they manage to setup such a huge device without anyone noticing?"
"I wish I knew, but I had to leave in a hurry with Ru after seeing that. It'll take a while for them to fix it, so at least we bought some time, I also found this..."
Red pulled out a thick navy blue piece of paper from behind his strapped on breastplate and handed it to Enda.
"Well, that's convenient"
"You know what it is?"
"Yes, I'm very familiar with this sort of illusion"
"Huh? It's an illusion? Isn't it just the trade ship blueprints used in smuggling?"
"Yes it is, you didn't sense any magic from it either?"
"No... I thought this blueprint would be helpful in searching these ships because it shows the hidden compartments"
A subtle smile crept across Enda's face.
"Not all illusions really on magic, the best way to hide a secret is to pretend it was already found"
Enda took out a sewing needle from her right legs side compartment attached to her belt and pricked her left index finger while leaving the needle in her finger allowing a constant blood flow that soon after started burning like a candle of crimson flame.
"The Phoenix flame is cold to the living, however it's heat exists for all that isn't"
Enda moved her finger under the blueprints in a zig zag pattern making sure not to set it ablaze.
-Does that mean it burn someone, but do something else instead?-
"And just like that, we have our blueprints true purpose"
Warming up the paper had revealed several hidden compartments on the Merchant Guilds river boats. The schematic had reveal that the ballast, an area of the boat dedicated to allow water intake to stop the boat from tipping, was built to allow Waterborn captives to be held within.
The schematic was now damming evidence that showed a direct connection between the Guild and Waterborn trafficking.
"I'll be dammed..."
Enda reached into a side compartment once again and pulled out a small box. Opening that she brought out a small square crystal, around the same size as a Mark coin.
Laying the blueprints on top of her cloak that was on her lap, she held the crystal in her hand by forming a circle with her thumb and index finger.
"Cover your eyes unless you want to be blinded for a moment"
Warning us as she moved her right hand in a cup behind her left hand holding the crystal above the blueprints and looked over to ensure we wouldn't be blinded in the subsequent spell out of concern.
A bright white flash emanated from her palm behind the crystal, it looked identical to the red flash Arisu used in the previous battle to cause the black haired girl to faint, albeit with a different colour.
*sizzle* Enda started to blow furiously on the crystal as it burnt her hand.
"See this is why you need something to hold it, ugh"
Red rolled his eyes to the spectacle.
"Why don't you just use the river water to cool it down?"
"Not an option kid, if she used water it could shatter the crystal when it's hot"
Continuing to blow on her left hand she passed the blueprints back to Red.
"Will the single memory crystal be enough?"
"If I present it, yes. Anyway before those other two wake up... well that one seems to of fallen asleep after crying... we should drop off those two Paladins at the border outpost and send word about all these happenings except the blueprints. They've taken the Guild Hall staff too. I can guess they'll try justify their reasoning with some nonsense so we need to make haste if we want to make all the branches aware of the Kingdoms actions"
"Right, Kid you might want to hold onto the side, we're about to pick up speed"
I grabbed hold of the right side of the boat while Enda kneeled down over the Paladins and Arisu, making sure everyone was secure.
In a jolt we sped up considerably as Ru pulled the boat with force I'd never expect to be possible.
"Huh, how come I don't feel the wind? Wait, this whole time I hadn't felt it"
"You can thank Irmin and Arisu for that one, well it was her idea but Irmin holds the field in place of the boat, making the air part before touching the boat allows us to travel at speeds not usually possible without great risk"
-A wall to push air aside... I would of never thought of using magic like that... but surely that also means the staff can talk or something? Or understand orders? Argh I have no idea what it is-
I looked behind while gripping to the side of the boat. The wind may no longer be a factor but the speed still felt like it was forceful enough to fall off if I wasn't careful.
When we had initially travelled through the fog I had noticed the boat was just slow enough to not make an obvious splashes and sounds, that was no longer the case at our current speed.
"Batter down kid, it'll be around an hour to reach home turf. Usually it'd take a whole day to ride back to the city, with Ru and Irmin, around an hour and a half."
With that I got into a more comfortable position but I could tell right then and there, I wouldn't be able to feel my arm by time we arrive at the Outpost.
...
To call what was in front of me an Outpost would give a false outlook of the word, it was a massive Fortification built on a narrow section of the river covering both sides and above the waterway itself.
To the right of the Fort a small village and trade post had also been built with a large portion being within the Forts walls.
Just as Enda described the battlements at Dragons Mort further upriver, the same applied to the forts high walls. It was lined with massive dragon scales the size of the double door at burnt down Guild Hall back in my hometown.
Each scale had a been coated with a grey substance but the prismatic energy emanating from each scale still bleed through.
"How could a such a monster wielding so much power die?"
Words escaped my mouth in utter amazement as we pulled inside the fort. Above us through the entrance to the fort was large spikes dotted with frost runes attached by quick release chains.
The battlement walls each taller than those at Tyrants Rest by twice its height, with complex ballista's mounted about ten metres apart dotting the walls just out of sight from below.
At a quick glace it was apparent the fort was setup to allow and ambush anyone using the river in wartime with the ability to funnel troops into the riverway then freeze it all together with spikes.
Defences dotted the inside and above for that very purpose while ballista's has been setup on rails for use in both ground and air defence.
"It took the world's greatest hero protected by an indestructible cloak and aided with a phoenix's flames to enter the Calamity Dragons mouth and cut outwards at its neck. In the end that was the only way the scales layered on top of each other could be cut. From the inside"
Red spoke and looked towards Enda in sadness as Ru pulled up to a small wharf that said 'Nala Range Alliance only'.
"That Hero has long since left us, he had to sacrifice his very soul and future to protect the world. I respected that man more than anybody, the world has a funny way of taking for us the greatest people we know" *sigh*
"And yet we live on in their footsteps. Come, we've arrived."
Enda lifted both male Paladins over each arm and stepped onto the docks while Red removed the girl in black hairs restraints.
"Wh- why?"
She spoke for the first time after the battle with a voice barely passing as a loud breath.
"Ari chose to let you and your buddies live, she is now responsible for your life alone. If you wish to respect your saviour I suggest getting you stay close and stay quite."
The girl with black hair stood up while Red lifted Arisu onto his back and we both stepped onto the wharf, Enda was a bit further ahead and the Girl just behind.
A loosely armoured recruit wielding a polearm ran up to Enda where the wharf connected to the forts stone floor.
"Ex *deep breath* excuse me, hah *breath*, this wharf is for military personnel only *deep breathing* only"
The boy had ran down the stairs from the overhanging battlements in a hurry.
"I need to speak to General Orth Dare, get him"
Enda towered over the solider who was leaning on the polearm breathing heavily.
"Right now, if you mind?"
"What? I can't *exhale* run and grab a General ha-ah *breath* for no reason?"
While still holding a paladin over each arm she grabbed just under the polearms head and shattered the wood with a tight grip.
The metal head of the polearm hit the ground with a loud clang. As I walked up behind Enda I could see it was a Halberd head, she had crushed the metal shaft and hardwood underneath.
"Unless you want your other polearm broken, get him now"
With a yelp the young solider ran off breathing heavily as he ran back up the stairs in fear of losing something more dear to him than his life.
"You really have a way with words don't you?"
Red and I now stood behind Enda as a different voice all together coming from a seasoned guard approaching from the opposite of the stairs the young man ran up.
It was a man wearing similar armour to Red, however it was all white with a blue symbol on both shoulders of a one handed sword. It was a simple, but unmistakeable mark to identify those in the Nala Range Alliance.
That very same picture tattered banners and flags both inside and out of the fort.
He had a sharp face and small stubble with organised brown hair tied in a small knot behind his head wearing a narrow brown leather hat with a military rank symbol on its side.
Under his strapped-on armour he wore a long duster coat of navy blue and white straight lines along the edges.
The man was both casual and confident when approaching Enda, it was clear at a quick glace both him and Red had seen conflict many times and both knew how strong they were.
"Stathon, pleasantries aside I need the breaker, Arisu is knocked out so I need someone else"
Red perked up and span to black haired girl
"Don't say anything, just don't speak. Ari is responsible for you now but I'd rather you don't get yourself killed, if you refuse I will have to gag you, ok? I cannot stress that enough"
He spoke not with a threat, but with concern for the girl, she nodded in response and kept her head down.
"Ah, I see. Well you seemed to of scared away his apprentice, but he'll be back in time. I take it these three need to go to the hold?"
"Just the two, I noticed something with the last and she heard something that makes her a liability. For now they all own their lives to our fast little friend, but I have questions for her, please get us some transport, I believe you owe her one?"
"More than one, that's for sure" *whistle*
As the whistle rang though the small private docks I heard the sound of barefoot running from the battlements above as a young girl jumped barefoot from the battlements above getting dressed mid jump landing next to Stathon.
When she landed she continued to dress herself as if it was the most normal thing in the world to show up in such a state.
-Maybe it's just a human thing-
This new girl wasn't human, she was a red Oni. I'd seen a few blue and red Oni here and there as they had a reputation for drinking and fighting, so naturally there was a few who became adventures.
One of her horns reached the height of Enda's eyes while the other horn was covered by a long bandage as it looked broken in half with the excess bandage used as a makeshift headband as she continued to dress herself.
"Captain?"
Stating her presence while slipping on leggings that fit her body perfectly. It was clear it was more important to show up at beckon call for her than worry about shame.
"You military types really have no shame"
Enda chimed in to a swift reply from Stathon whose eyes remained fixed on the paladins.
"I prefer soldiers who care more about their life than something so trivial like showing skin, but there's one problem"
"I'm not military and you're in no position to talk about shamelessness"
With a finger pointed at the visible hole in Enda's shirt and corset at her chest she pulled her plain deep purple over her arm and did up the buttons.
She gave off a military vibe due to her very visibly toned muscles and scars all over her body.
-So many wounds...-
I could feel intense hatred towards Enda from this new girl, she blamed her for something but Enda looked like she'd never met her before.
"Right. I don't have time to argue so take these two and lock them up for the breaker"
Taken back but the sudden hostility Enda responded with a challenge.
After buttoning up her shirt the Oni ran a comb quickly through her messy short hair, she had deep crimson hair unlike Enda's brighter colour with streaks of black occasionally instead of white.
With her bright purple eyes staring directly at Enda she took a Paladin in each arm mimicking how they were just being carried and walked off through a side gate that led to the small connected village and took another right down stairs that led to holding cells.
"Do you... know her teach?"
-Teach?-
"No, but she knows me. Certainly wants to kill me either way"
"She was sent here to train by Mistress Rose to train with the rest of the recruits with using a mace and shield. I saw that she almost killed a newbie during sparring and had to punish her but she seemed to not understand the point of it."
"A problem child?"
"Yes, she believes she's better than everyone here. It's not my place to fight her one on one, but I'm having trouble getting her to realise it's about growing stronger as a team, could I get you bring her down a notch in a two-stage battle if you get my drift?"
"Hmm.."
"Hey you mind taking Ari? I'll head back to Tyrants Rest for now and do a bit of scouting"
Red interjected expressing his urgency to leave.
"Yeah, but do me a favour and deliver the contents of the Trident constellation, you'll being stopping there regardless to check"
Red turned around as Enda grabbed the sleeping Kitsune and took her into her arms.
"Gottcha, when do you want to meet up next?"
"I'll get Sinclair to tell you a time, and you can leave the cloak with who the letter is addressed to, we have a history, I know she's trustworthy"
"Can they even lift the thing?"
"I wouldn't underestimate her"
"Right then, I'm off"
Jumping back into the boat Red tossed her sword back that she caught in her hand while he threw her staff that landed perfectly upright once again next to her feet.
"Catch ya later, say by to Ari for me thanks!"
Red waved back as Ru popped up from the water to do the same before swimming off pulling the boat down river.
"Well then, you certainly don't look like a Paladin, what's your name kid?"
"He doesn't have one yet, but that's the kid I was talking to you about before with the blessings"
"Ah, I see, so he accepted your offer?"
Just as the casual talk began the Oni came back.
"How's it look"
"Bran's taking a look, he said they changed the curse"
Without a care in the world the Oni passed Stathon, Enda holding Arisu and I walking behind the black haired and lifted her hair.
"Huh"
Next she ripped down the back of her under armour padded shirt with questionable strength exposing her back.
The girl in black yelped and started to cry again as she crossed her arms holding herself collapsing to her knees.
"Who broke this one's curse?"
Enda now looked at the Oni the same way she had previously looked at the very same girl now once again crying.
"Disgusting"
Staring daggers at the Oni who ignored her as she thought her statement was addressed towards the Paladin girl.
"Well that's how they are, piece-of-shit holy warriors!"
Enda walked over to Stathon and gave him Arisu to hold as she took Stathon's right glove off and threw it at the Oni's face.
"My name is Enda, I challenge you to a duel"
"Oh, so you care for this scum? I know you and your illusions, I'm not stupid enough to think I can beat you"
"I won't use magic or weapons, not even Aura, you are free to use anything, sound fair?"
"I said I know you, I've seen you lie and cheat without a care. Sign a contract with those terms and I'll pick it up"
I felt strong hate and killing intent coming from the Oni, there was no doubt she would use the duel to try kill Enda.
"I don't think you should fight her Enda..."
"Don't you worry little one, my safety should not be on the mind of anyone on this world"
Enda opened up her large left side compartment attached to her subsequent leg and pulled out thick contract paper and mana ink, mostly used for creating scrolls and magic circles.
"If I win you will give that girl your clothes and suffer the same pain she has gone through today"
She was being very specific with her words. Stathon wanted to bring her down to the level of the recruits and Enda seemed to agree now.
"I still see no reason to accept"
"I will also give you this"
Enda pulled out the large black scale that emanated the same prismatic energy of the large scales worked into the forts walls.
"How did you get that Teach?"
"What is it?"
"It's a scale from an Elder Dragon, uncorrupted from the magic absorption that plagues the scales we use in our defensive walls. It can work as a catalyst to form perfect omni elemental magics and because of its size, it can be split multiple times or even further if one was to only want a single element from a catalyst"
"In other words Otoha, it could buy a family into nobility or even rule a small nation from its value alone"
"I told you to only call me Ota. Prove to me it's real and I'll accept"
"Very well child. Little one, do you know the spell 'sparks'?"
"Yes?"
"Cast it towards the water next to the wharf please"
"Really, without a wand or something kid?"
The Oni seemed concerned for my wellbeing. I didn't expect such a sentiment while she was opening hostile to Enda.
"I can do it without, I never owned a wand before and not having one never stopped me before"
Pointing down at the water with my index and middle finger with the rest in a closed fist I casted the spell without incantation.
For a second bright sparks flew from my fingertips making a colourful refection and sizzling the water a little as the majority of the sparks didn't reach.
After casting the spell I raised my had to my mouth and blew it. I thought it was cool but judging by the reactions only the Oni thought it was interesting.
"Don't your fingers hurt?"
"Uh, No?"
"It wasn't a question, you don't need to leave it open ended, whatever, use the thing"
Enda handed me the scale and instructed how to hold it between both both fingers that I was casting from.
"Point the same way, use the same spell"
Once again I pointed the same way with the scale in-between my index and middle finger and casted again.
Sparks didn't fly out of my fingers, it was absorbed by the scale and with a extremely slight delay molten chunks of liquid fire spew out from the tip into the water making *bloop* and *sizzle* sounds as they hit the water eventually creating thin black rocks that sunk to the bottom of the clear river.
The speed and power of the spell launched the scale out of my fingers for a second as I quickly used wind magic to catch it again.
The scale didn't absorb that magic, I could only assume it was because it wasn't in contact with the source of the spell.
"My my, he certainly shows promise!"
A man wearing a large formal military coat followed by a squad of soldiers had made their way to the bottom of the stairs while I was performing the spells.
"General Da-"
"I accept your duel!"
The Oni had picked up the glove and thrown it back at Enda who caught it without looking at the Oni as she faced the General.
Stathon interjected.
"Otoha, you don't throw the glove back when accepting a duel" *sigh*
"Shut it! Write that contract and we start!"
"We will do it in the training grounds, Captain Stathon, General Dare, please act as witness to the contract and Duel"
"Sure"
"Sure, this sounds interesting"
"Also General, my copy here will discuss our situation while we fight"
A clone revealed itself from leaning against the wall next to us. This one was wearing a black cloak and mask that had illusion magic cast onto it to blend into the stone walls and ground.
"Information and entertainment? You most definitely have my attention"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Aardartem
Aardartem This chapter will be 'touched up' next, similar to the chapters before this.
When I first wrote this (2 years ago), I was just starting my writing journey and we didn't have italics that I now use to highlight things or the Main Character's thoughts.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone