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.