Interlude | Setting the Parameters

Erena couldn't help but feel the pressure of her blows, the heat that leaked off from them every time they made contact with her body. It felt closer to the pain of a high-speed train ramming into her bones as Nabi hit her, yet for some reason she could still stand.

It had been two weeks since the two of them trained together and this time it took more than two "full power" blows from Nabi to bring her to her knees. She gasped out in pain at the sound of another crack as Nabi relented.

"You're better," she coldly remarked, letting out a calm sigh as she allowed the symbols on her body to dissipate into the air like hollow mist, closer to the steam that surrounded the two.

A bead of sweat dripped from Erena's skin at the sight, her eyes capturing the symbol's shape moments before it left Nabi: a lily.

"Hey, Nabi. Why are the markings for your Curse Series like that? I've seen practitioners of the Ira Codex have symbols like that on their body before, but yours just seems weird," Erena asked

Her eyes carefully watched as Nabi approached, unable to stop herself from flinching at the sight of Nabi putting her hands near her only to feel a cold sensation fill her body. Even though Enhancement was said to be the specialty of Curse Series Ira, Enhancement could also mean that of another, enhancing someone's cell's ability to repair themselves or the Art of Healing.

"When using Curse Series Ira…the reiju that forms the Symbol of Enhancement on the user is dictated by their mental state when using it," Nabi muttered towards the girl, her hands guided crimson reiju to the point of impact before letting it flow into Erena.

The girl winced at the sensation, healing the injury it didn't dull the pain of it. Erena kept a contained gaze, but still had to fight her hardest to avoid crying out. Nabi tilted her head at her reaction.

"You can scream if you want," Nabi said.

Erena shook her head.

"If I scream⸺-that means I lost control of my emotions."

Nabi's confusion changed to annoyance as she flicked Erena. Guisei and her were so similar but realizing that only made her remember the girl's goal. Erena tried to rub her head, but Nabi stopped her with words.

"There's a difference."

As Erena got control of her arm again her head lowered. A thought took her mind over before she pushed it into the back of her mind where things that made her feel off belonged. She raised her head to the sight of Nabi opening a door and allowing light to pour into the room they trained within.

"So, you said I got better?!" Erena shouted.

Nabi turned back towards her, motioning for her to follow her before she was enveloped in the daylight.

"You're improving, but you still aren't ready."

The words left her like a whisper, and she disappeared into the light. Erena couldn't help but remember such a scene so familiar that it cracked in her mind like her bones had done earlier, bringing forth only pain.

"Hands together, body tight. Let the reiju in your body flood out and look forward like you're facing the enemy. Then you just⸻there you go!"

In a young Erena's hands, she held fire, the first flame she was able to produce in her whole life, it swirled around giving form to different colored flames. Her eyes sparkled at the sight.

"Here, a mantra is the key."

"What?" Erena was more focused on the flames, contemplating how fast it would disappear if she let go or melt the snow beneath her feet at least through the ramblings of a girl next to her playing in the snow. Her blonde hair burned like the sun above and her face almost appeared soft to the touch despite never doing so before.

"The girl who conquered herself conquered the Invidian Empire, Era⸺Setting the parameters… that's the key to it."

The girl's feet were bare, but she seemed to not mind the cold, revealing a smile to Erena before going back to what she was doing. She was at peace; her movements were like a dance and the winter winds swirled around her.

"Is that some kind of game that you guys came up with?" Erena asked.

The girl stopped short.

"It's Anima⸺that's how we'll become gods!"