Capítulo 17: 13.Heartfelt Memories Part 3
Artoria did it..
She achieved the impossible and was given another chance to redo a past long forgotten. A chance on resolving the things that had gone wrong. Happiness wrung from every corner of her body to the point where she pinched her cheeks to see if she was in a dream. But there was clearly something wrong.
"Why?"
The callouses in her hands from sword training were gone instead replaced by a soft baby skin. Shock crept on her when she saw that not only had she de-aged but even lost the agile body of the future becoming weaker and weaker.
It hit her mind now that now she no longer had the strength of the hero Artoria Pendragon who fuelled by the belief of her people stood as a monster on the battlefield but forced into a simple powerless girl.
As two copies of Excalibur cannot exist. The blade in her hand simply dissipated in her mute confusion.
"Caster?"
After acknowledging such changes she looked around to seek the presence of Ainz and his master but to her dismay, she had not felt their presence. Dread crept in her heart thinking that if her aid had ditched her.
But her fear was soon unfounded when she had heard Ainz's voice
"Artoria." Relief flushed her mind her caster's voice. For he had yet to leave her,
"Ainz. Where are you? You had me worried for a moment"
"Apologies. It seems that time displacement in such grand order caused our locations to be displaced as well. I would come to you but such time is unknown to me. Can you see if anywhere seems familiar?"
She thought for a bit then answered,
"It seems to be the place where I was born. Bristol, in the middle of some forest to its north."
Just before ending the transmission, she heard a voice, "Artoria. You are here!! We had looked all over the place for you. "
She recognized the voice for it brought painful memories towards those who she couldn't protect. A teenage grown boy with sharp eyes and long blond hair wearing a large armor spoke to her,
"Hello, kay. Apologies for being late. Training had been gone for quite a long time" Kay accepting her reasoning simply shrugged
"But such behavior is not becoming of a squire. Not only are you late but for some reason, you seem to disappear for entire days. Sir Ector was quite worried about your sudden disappearances"
She laughed and tried to change the topic for she did not know what this body had done in the past, "Let's have a sword practice right now."
Kay was confused for there was no blade in her hands but then he simply decided to think nothing of it as he lends her a spare practice sword
"You have not been able to beat me in the past for what do you think a sudden bout would change?" Artoria engraved his words into her mind and charged.
Her body did not have the same agility, the same strength as her future self but even then she had the mentality of a war-hardened veteran. Even if the match will end in her defeat but she will be sure to make kay work for it.
She lunged forward at him. Showing various opening but the moment kay attacked from the front, instead of blocking she dodged. Artoria had not possessed the strength her future self had. So with that in mind, she went for a hit and run tactic as well as used various other swordplays which she had not used in other timelines to confuse him.
Sparks went on. Evading heavy attacks and using light ones to her own advantage.
"Brat. Don't just run like a coward attack for god sake" Seeing kay so frustrated she smiled at him which was making him more and more impatient. Finally seeing an opening between kay's armor she struck with strength and precision.
"I win"
Kay simply grunted and tried to stand but failed around that time for the sharp pain in the leg. He was astonished for her in the past had been a simple amateur but suddenly gained strength to even combat and fell him in a duel. A part of him was proud of her achievement as well as embarrassed about his own loss in the duel.
God knows what harsh training would befall had sir Ector know about such duel. After wallowing in his own despair he stood up and went close to Artoria to congratulate her for her victory.
"So the little brat finally grew some wings "
Artoria simply nodded to him. That is when she remembered that she had no time to waste. Understanding her own initial strength was done. Now it was time to think of a plan of the future as well to find Ainz and gain his help.
Thoughts like these were occupying her mind to this moment. But then she decided to leave such and enjoy this current time.
After all, nothing of interest would happen for the time being and Ainz is not here as well.
Meanwhile,
Ainz when opened his eyes saw people going roundabout to their work.
"Onii-chan"
Locating the voice he found sakura still holding his hand beside him.
Ainz hearing bits and pieces from the surroundings gathered a bit of information. The place they were currently in was what would be in the future the fabled city of Camelot. A city that reigned artoria's past and destroyed what remained of her future by forcing the crown on her head.
He held her onto his shoulders and mixed with the crowd. They both master and servant went around various different shops and stalls. Going to a new place became quite an experience for the little girl beside her as for such Ainz had insisted to show her around and provided information on what caught her eyes.
The place they both had visited was shabby and had quite a few people who were unpleasant, to say the least. But then there was a glint in Caster's eye.
He suddenly felt a different feeling. Alaya always gave a physical pressure towards those foreign of the current timeline but now for some reason Ainz felt no such pressure.
He felt euphoric at least now Ainz remains certainly off the radar. A dark plan subsequently hatched on his mind.
"Sakura. Follow me"
Both master and servant walked towards the streets crossing a nearby alley.
Ainz suddenly produced frost pain and gave it to sakura. She clearly was confused as she was alluded to what reason had a weapon given to her.
Ainz then spoke "Sakura. In a few moments, we will encounter some people ahead. They are there waiting to ambush us."
"But. Why?"
"The gaudy clothes I'm wearing as well as your pristine accessories give us an impression of being nobles. As the current timeline favors them as the top of the human food chain for such some unscrupulous bunch decided to loot of what belongs to us."
She was unsure of her decision. But that was acceptable. If she had not protested one bit it would be more weird of his master. The killing was necessary now more so than any other time for her soft personality will allow others to take advantage of her. But with this, he would not have to worry about her breaking down when she accidentally kills someone and begin to blame herself. It was more for her than Ainz for he did not want his master to be sad. For he did not want her to be used and thrown on the streets when he was not looking.
"But I do not want to kill, Ainz."
Ainz smiled and patted her head "Sakura. This current time is quite dangerous. There remains a small possibility that you may have to fight alone around some point. Having firsthand experience may indeed save your life. Besides, think of those who hurt you and your friends as true evil that needs to be vanquished and put them down. "
Ainz with his charisma skill and way of words convinced her to take their lives. For others making a little girl kill others might seem insane but to Ainz it is an acceptable outcome. He could finally impart his teachings to his new student.
Suddenly a drunk man presented himself as like he was waiting for them to be here. Ainz sensed others near beside him suddenly make their way towards the man. With a pompous smile, the man spoke,
"Hello. Might I suggest that you leave all your valuables in front of us and we will think to spare you."
As though reading an overused script. Ainz spoke,
"What of my daughter, then?"
Ainz then saw a lecherous smile make his way on the guy's face.
"Of course. She stays. A fine and beautiful girl like her will rake in a high price from other buyers"
Ainz went to her ears and whispered instructions on what to do. Finally she started walking towards the ruffians hiding frost pain behind her.
Ruffian A POV:
Arius was a man of no remarkable standing. Having lost his land and all belonging towards the foreign invaders. He had been left no choice but to seek refuge in the capital city. Going around the streets he made some friends and with them created a small group of his to rob those who had everything.
Today he smiled for he spotted a big fish. A handsome man and his daughter were going around the city and venturing different places. Seeing them go through some narrow alley he began setting a perfect ambush for them.
Life was truly shining for him. For even Arius did not want to hurt the small little girl. His heart lurched when he saw the smile of such a little girl fade after talking to his father. Arius thought them to have their final bidding.
But he was so wrong...
The little girl departed from her spot as well as made her way towards Arius and his friends.He felt sad for her, his heart even went to her, for the despair she will face in the future when sold to the nobles and used by them. But even then he did not protest or try to save her. For he was a criminal, a hand not accepted by him but forced to him.
As he was musings on these thoughts suddenly he felt gravity not affecting his body anymore and for an utterly bizarre reason instead of showing fear like others, the girl was smiling at him. Dread crept onto his heart when he finally understood what just now had happened.
The lower half of his body was missing. In his fear, Arius crawled towards where his lower section was slung off and tried his best to attach it.
"You chose the wrong path. Onii-chan"
He looked up to see what expression the little girl had who sliced him in two. But that too had might have been the wrong thing to do. There was no remorse or sadness in her eyes but plastered there was a mysterious smile which for Arius screamed danger.
A thought finally went through his mind like a shock wave. An unholy revelation towards his entire psyche,
Here he was not the predator but the prey himself....
With those final thoughts, Arius closed his eyes not before seeing his companions getting butchered and sliced in the most horrendous way possible before him by the same little girl.
But nothing and absolutely nothing scared him any more than the chuckle of the girl's father.
Empty and demented..
He cannot help but wish god to forgive him for the sin of crossing their paths...
........
Time-Stop: EX
An ability that tampers with the axis of existence. Existence itself stands as the epitome of all creations as its substance. It is which breathes life all other creations that can't be molded or changed.
This ability itself creates a mirror of existence-altering the changes in true meaning. A mirror showing an ideal which forces existence itself to adapt.
Time-Stop does not change time but alters its very existence to its root...
Manifesting an alternate world, a notion unknown to even the caster himself
....
Calm down sakura you are even making writer-san scared...
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