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 . It just had two eyes carved which only allowed to see the most minimal of things.

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.