The Holy Weapon

One week passed as James heavily spent it on combat training with Master Lee. However, this time the number of times James got his ass whooped has reduced significantly.

James and Master Lee went to Tubal workshop to retrieve his weapon.

"Mr Tubal!"

"Shut up!"

Tubal bent down under his desk and pull up an item wrapped around in an item.

Master Lee raised his eyebrows.

"It looks a bit short."

James looked at him.

"What does that supposed to mean?"

Tubal asked the two of them to come closer to the table and he unfold the cloth. Underneath the cloth were two blades.

"A dual wield?" said Master Lee.

"A dual wield?" asked James.

"Are you sure this is the correct weapon for Jamie here?" asked Master Lee. His eyes furrowed at the weapon.

"Yes, as weird as it is, this is the weapon that I saw suitable for Jamie here."

"My name is James-Ah never mind, so this is my weapon?"

Tubal nodded his head. Master Lee shook his head. Master Lee took up the blade to give it a few slash and afterwards inspect it under the light.

"If that is the case, then I am afraid I cannot train you in sword skills, Jamie."

"Huh, why not?"

"Because this weapon is a light weapon. Earth Soul people has been wielding heavy weapon as far as I know. Never before we have an Earth Soul user wielding a light weapon as this one."

"So I am the strange one?"

"Yes, you are and you have always been a strange one," said Master Lee. His mind remembering back the time of the Combat and Soul assessment.

"So what do Earth user normally use?" asked James.

"Oh, you know, heavy polearms, extremely long double handed sword. A mace. You know those stuffs."

James nodded his head. "And I will be using this short dual blade."

The blade from its hilt to the tip of it is as tall as his entire leg. James took one of the blade into his hand and it was light, as Master Lee said, unlike what he expected.

"I guess you have to take your sword training with Master Elaine. The Air user all wield light weapons. In fact, they can even make their weapon as light as the feather by infusing their Soul with their weapon. We, Earth user focus more on delivering heavy strike, which is why our weapon are heavy by nature."

"Where do I meet Master Elaine?"

Master Lee gave him the direction and James followed. He won't get lost this time.

And he was lost.

The direction was simple and Master Lee even drew a simple map for him to navigate through. But the church complex was just too big and complicated for James to make sense of the environment around him.

"Yo!"

The voice startled James. He turned to face the person calling out to him.

"What are you doing here? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Oh, hello Lily, I haven't meet you for a long time."

"You didn't even visit me!"

"Cause I don't know where you lived?"

With that, Lily shut her mouth.

"So, where are you going this time?" asked her.

"I need to go to find Master Elaine."

"Why? You are an Earth user right?"

"Wait, how do you know?"

"Well, Master Lee told me and I have seen you coming in and out from the Earth training room."

"So you are stalking me?"

"No, I am not!"

James laughed.

"So which type of Soul are you."

"Fire," said Lily.

"Wow." James acted surprised.

"Stop it, you are annoying me now. Just follow me before you end up somewhere in Hell."

What initially was a 30-minute walk has turned into a 1 hour walk.

James realized that instead of walking to the direction of the Air training room, he has actually walked to the direction of the Fire training room. This explains why he bumped into Lily. So, James has to took a huge U-turn.

Lily finally brought him to the Air training room and left.

James gave the wooden door a knock but no one answers.

James knew someone is inside but they are not moving. James opened the door and enter it. Inside sat a woman with her eyes closed. The room was spacious with its ceiling way up high and the room extremely wide. Such a big room but there's only one person inside.

"Good morning?" said James.

The lady in sitting in a meditative pose did not response.

James looked around the room awkwardly, not sure how to behave.

"What brings you here, newcomer?" asked the lady.

"Erm, I was told to conduct my sword training here, in this room."

The lady finally opened her eyes. She looked at James up and down and stopped at the two blades beside his waist, sheathed in their scabbards.

"Hmm, this is strange indeed. An Earth user being given a weapon that is for an Air user."

As quick as the wind and as silent as it is, the lady was in front James, looking at his waist. James could not help but feel her stare was a bit inappropriate. Never before he has any woman looking at his waist so curiously.

"Perhaps you have an affinity in the Air element but even if that is the case, this is still a peculiar case….." she took a long pause."…So why are you here again?" asked the lady.

"I am here because I was told you can help me develop my sword skill. You know, before I actually start to slay demons."

"Very well, unsheathe your blade!" she announced suddenly.

"What?" James was rather clumsy in unsheathing his blade but before he pulled the blade out, a thin rapier was already at his throat, rendering him immobile or else he will be stabbed.

"Too slow," said the lady and she move the tip of the rapier aside. "Again!"

After James unsheathe both of his blade, the lady did not give him any tips or tutorial, she begans her strikes at James, poking at his body with her rather thin rapier.

"You would be dead by now, James Charter. You are too slow. Move faster."

James could not even block her attacks. It was too fast but not powerful enough to injure his body. She was literally just poking him. It was rather annoying.

"How am I going to do that if you are not going to do tell me!" said James in frustration.

"Use your Soul. Don't use your eyes. That's all I can tell you."

She thrust her blade with high speed that the naked eye could not follow. However, James instinct fired up and he managed to intercept the thurst with the body of his blade.

The lady smiled.

"Nice block,"

The lady's blade bent upwards and she swing to the other side. James eye followed the blade but did not notice a legs were aiming at his head.

It was too late. James head were being kicked by her fast kicks.

"Your body is too rigid, James. That's not how you should fight. Be flexible."

The lady went back a few steps to create some distance and allow James to recover from her attack.

James rubbed at his head to try to ease the pain.

"Oh boy, here we go again."

James took a stance and prepared himself for the next strike.

...

...

...

Steve and Lydia have returned from their mission and were on their way to report it to Father Rick.

"Father." They bowed in front of Father Rick when they met him at the chapel.

"Rise your heads children. So how's the mission?"

"It was successful, Father," reported Lydia.

"Good, any sign of the Demon Lords making a move?"

"We can't find any. The demon we exorcise was not affiliated to any of the demon lords. It acted on its own."

"I see. Very well then, go get some rest. You deserved it. Let's wait for your other brothers and sisters to return to hear their report, then we will determine if the lurking threat is true or not."

"Yes, Father," said Lydia.

"Father Rick, despite the demon lords not making any move, I will like to advise that we still be cautious. Demons are known to be manipulative and cunning after all."

"Ya, ya. I understand your concern. Don't worry Steve. "

They two of them left the altar.

"Oh, Father Rick,"

"Yes, what can I do for your, Lydia?"

"How is the newcomer, James Charter?" Lydia brushed her caramel hair behind her ears.

"Hmm, the newcomer has been promising lately. I have confidence that he will turn out to be great member of our cause and Master Lee seems to fancy him a lot."

"Master Lee? He is under the Earth sect?" asked Steve, his face broke into a grin.

"Yes, he is. Are you planning to say hi to him? If you want, I believe he is undergoing his training with Master Elion at this moment."

"Master Elion? Why is he being trained by a Master of another element?" asked Steve.

"That I afraid even I don't have the answer to it."

Lydia did an upward stretch and yawned.

"Oh god, I need some rest. Let's just go back to our quarters, Steve."

The two of them left.

After taking a hot bath, Lydia decided to visit Master Elion and told her of her recent quest.

With the aid of a lantern in her hand, she guided herself to the training room where Master Elion normally stay until late at night to practice her craft.

Lydia arrived at the door of the training room.

"Ahhhh!" came a loud scream from behind the door.

Lydia slammed opened the door.

"Oh, Lydia, you are back. Welcome back," said Master Elion nonchalantly as she was sitting on top of James back.

"Master, you are okay! Thank god," she felt her chest being lightened. "…But what are you doing, Master?"

"I am just giving James here a bit of stretching routine. His entire body is so tense and rigid."

James face was twisted with pain. He recognized Lydia.

"Oh,hi..Lydia. You…are…back…from your mission…I see."

Master Elion stood up from his back and the pain was instantly relieved. James collapsed onto the floor in front of him and remain motionless, staring up the ceiling above.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Lydia?"

"Just stopping by to say hi. We haven't meet for so long."

"Let me brew some tea and we will talk over it."

"About him?" Lydia looked at the exhausted James.

"Just leave him be. Training will resume after we talk."

The two of them sat down around a table while James was still lying down on the tatami floor, trying to regain his senses.

"So how's the mission?" asked Master Elion.

"Everything was smooth sailing. Nothing much happen. We were put into any grave danger."

"I see…"

The tea trickled down into the cup until it was half full. Master Elion passed it to Lydia. Lydia took a gentle sip.

"There's still no news about it…"

Master Elion was staring ahead into the air and then her eyes were locked towards the cup.

"Huh, what news?" she snapped out of it.

"About…the incident."

"What incident are you talking about Lydia. Don't be so vague about things. Speak up." Said Master Elion.

"Erm…well…" Lydia looked around the empty room.

Master Elion was staring blankly again.

"This is nice tea!" said Lydia.

"Oh really, my husband bought it from me…"

Lydia face grew cold.

A dawn of realization spread across Master Elion face. Her face grew dark for a moment but cheer up again.

"Alright, I guess I should resume the training now."

"Yea, sure…" said Lydia.

James who heard a part of their conversation pretend that he didn't even heard it.

"Wake up, newcomer. Time to stretch those muscles again."

"Yes,yes, my master," said James and the training resumed.

Lydia finished her cup and left.

Training was going well for James. After many torturous stretching and being poked at by Master Elion's weapon, he started to get a hang of the sword skill that were meant to be for his weapon type.

"You have to bend your body to increase your range of attack, James," said Master Elion while the two of them were sparring.

James could now able to block and dodged Master Elion rapid attacks and counter it with his own.

"You have improved a lot, James. I can see why Master Lee fancied you so much."

James was fully occupied by the Master's sword thrust and her occasion kicks.

"Okay, that will be it for today. That's all I can teach you, James."

She sheathed her blade and James gave her a bow.

"Thank you for your guidance."

"You are welcome."

James left the room and went back to his dormitory.

On the way, he was summoned by Father Rick.

Standing in that altar there was another man waiting beside Father Rick.

"So this is the newcomer?" asked the man.

"Yes, Jolly. This is James Charter. He is quite a promising lad. I believe it is time to put his talent to good use."

That man is Jolly Lancer. He has a tall stature and on his back there was a white spear.

"Nice to meet you, James."

Furthermore, Jolly has a big smile on his face.

"James Charter," said Father Rick. "Tomorrow, you will be joining Jolly here on quest to investigate on a town that we believed lurks a demon within it. Your quest is to exorcise the demon from the town. I pray for your mission success."

With that, James got his first slaying quest.