Lady of the Pond

We are travelling at the endpoint of the journey . We are heading towards the bright yellow light I saw often while flying .

I thought it'll be easier flying . But Era suggested since it'll be out last trip together why not enjoy it . So I did . I brought our my Hermes boots and they were confiscated very quickly .

During our trip we walked through thick lush forests , deserts , refilled out food supplies at the town .

Took a ride from there . Instead of offering money we defended their cart till the next day in the town .

Jay :

Hey Era there is something I want to know .

Era :

I know just hold on . We are almost there .

After 2 hours of walking through thick forest we came across a small pond .

Era :

Throw some of your property in the pond .

As Era asked I threw the unused Scizzor blades in the pond . And the pond gleamed with lights of gold .

A lady with her eyes covered with red cloth emerged from the pond .

Lady :

I commend you for sacrificing your greed . I am the Lady of the Pond .

She takes the cloth off and it revealed that she had no eyes at all .

Lady :

My my look at you such lost sould are you . Unaware that you're past was sealed .

McElroy:

Our past , oh yeah we know .

Lady :

I see this small child bought you here for this purpose . You're really sweet .

Jay :

We know that our past was sealed . After the parade of a 100

Demons . And we had friends who were taken away from us .

Lady :

I sense

There is another small memory that has been sealed .

Jay :

That's not possible, we have another memory sealed .

When did this happen .

The Lady of the pond approached Jay and touched his head and something awoke in hinself .

Lady :

You yourself are something else . You seem to be in pieces .

Like a broken mirror . Your truth is much farther away from your friend .

McElroy:

I don't understand?

Lady :

I know , you don't right now. But in the coming future all will be laid before you . If you manage to survive the War .

McElroy :

War with the demons .

Lady :

Now before we go ahead . Let me recover the piece taken from you and sealed .

The Lady touched McElroy the same way and he saw the memory that was missing .

This memory belonged way back when McElroy and Jay first started travelling together . Before they crossed the desert and before signing up at the guild .

Just 2 days after travelling. They were captured by bandits .

This is what causes their hatred for bandits to run deep .

They were tied and then thrown in a cell . Which was in a cave. The same cave where Jay met Asla .

Jay was cursing himself for accepting the offer . While McElroy was looking around to do something.

McElroy:

Hey Jay , you know fire magic right .

Jay :

Yeah .

McElroy:

Can you burn my ropes.

Jay :

I don't have that much mana To burn them .

McElroy:

These are very cheap ropes. Just a small flame is enough .

They say with their back turned against each other .

Jay used his fire magic it lasted for around 5 seconds . He had mana but he didn't yet figure out how to control it and use it effectively.

McElroy's ropes were burnt . But now the question was how to escape the cage. McElroy novice in using water . Could just conjure up a small ball of water and he encased it around the lock .

He tried to use friction from forming rapid currents inside the ball and tried to cut the lock .

Jay :

That iron can take many hits , there must be mechanism to make it work .

I have metal bending make I can make it work .

At that time he couldn't produce the amount of iron he can now . But he was efficient in its use .

He produced a small key from impure iron which took less mana to create and manipulated it's shape in the form of the lock but it still wouldn't open .

He allowed McElroy to countinue and after enough beatings the lock finally snapped and we were able to sneak out of the cage .

They sneaked to the entrance and found out two bandits were guarding the exit .

Jay :

McElroy, take the left one I'll take the right one .

McElroy:

Got it .

Thats when the bandits shouted . We turned to see that the blood was splattered in the walls . By a man with a katana which was gleaming in green colour .

His face was covered by a mask . The mask had no face ,

It was just a plain black mask .

He basically slaughtered everyone inside the cave and then started to check the cages one by one .

We tried to slip past him . And ran for the entrance thats when he showed up with lightning fst speed . As if there was lightning in his boots .

He grabbed us and took us somewhere deep in the woods and we couldn't even retaliate.

? : Your name .

From his voice it felt like he was using a voice modulator to alter his voice .

Jay :

Jay Garrick .

McElroy:

McElroy.

? :

Try to land a blow on me both of you.As hard as you can .

We couldn't understand his intentions . So we didn't budge .

? :

Do as I say or it will not end well for you .

First McElroy punched him with all his might but he didn't even move a little bit .

? : (Pointing towards Jay)

Now you.

Jay punched with all his might but still no results .

? :

Hmmm , now show me your magic .

McElroy made a ball of water which he maintained for a total of 13 seconds because he couldn't control the turbulent nature .

While Jay created a flame , and at that time he didn't know how did the fire element worked very well . So he created a flame . And it extinguished and Jay was exhausted .

? :

It seems you are not the one .

Jay :

Who are you ?

? :

None of your concern . Now leave .

McElroy:

What magic did you use to run so fast like that .

? :

It was a part of Lightning Magic .

McElroy:

The way you fought with the bandits , we couldn't even have laid a hit in them if we had fought . Please teach us how to fight .

I beg you .

Jay :

Please teach us how to become strong like you .

He that day taught us how to fight . He didn't teach us any forms but taught us how to make up our own ways to fight .

Our own technique, test them , improve them , test them , improve them , master them .

He started sparring with us the whole day . Correcting our forms .

It countinued for a week . Fighting , teaching , sleeping

And on the last day he told us something.

? :

Today will be the final day I will teach you . I have nothing more to teach you . Except for one important style .

The use of magic while fighting .

And once again the sparring countinued . He corrected

our forms. But during these time he never uttered a single word .

And that night he made us wear something.

McElroy: (Present)

I remember he made us wear the silencers . And that's why we don't remember anything .

Jay : (Present)

The why do we remember what he taught us .

McElroy: (present)

It was because he ingrained it within us . Via muscle memory .

Jay : (Present)

And to think we suddenly got stronger .But why did you beg to teach him weren't you strong enough then .

McElroy:

Oh that was just a stroke of luck nothing else .

Jay :

You mean to say that all this time. I misunderstood you as a

Experienced warrior .

McElroy:

Aww , I never thought you think of me that way .

Jay :

Are there any more sealed memories left to recover .

Lady :

All Your memories have been unleashed my child . But I'm afraid that is not the case for this child .

But time will recover them one by one for you .

Lady :

It is time that I return to my pond . I hope your journey will be full of happiness and blessings.

Saying this the Lady of the pond went back into the pond and disappeared.

Jay :

I have a lot of questions .

Era :

Prohibited to answer , no and I'll take something light for dinner like soup .

Jay :

I have no questions.

McElroy, any questions

McElroy:

Who was the man who taught us how to fight .

Era :

I wish I could tell you . But you have to see it for yourself .

And then entire day passed . As they head towards their Final destination.