Chapter 12 : You're back!

"W-W-Week? 7days ?" I asked, again in complete disbelief.

"That's what I just said" she replied.

"What about my notes, grades an-"

"I got some of your friends to take care of that. For your practical, you were almost able to beat me, so that'll count for the weeks' grade. Of course that was by luck. Dont go around thinking you can beat me. I'll crush you" she stated clenching her jaw.

"F-Fine" I slumped back into the bed, relaxing my body really and truly for the second time. The first was when I met Venus for the first time. There was a similarity between them that I liked. The hospitality. I guess since I lived with my mother for such a short time, I liked the feeling of being taken care of. It was so soothing, as for most of my life I was left to fend for myself.

"Why are you gazing at me?" 

I quickly turned to the side as quickly as I could, feeling embarrassed.

"You're such a, different individual. You dont act like how you look. A toned body like that at that age, such a piercing and fierce look in your eyes. Yet here you are, blushing because of a woman asked you a question. How can you become more hopeless? Tsk tsk tsk", she complained as she got back in her books.

"I say she's stating facts. If you dont pull your act together, it could really harm you in the future. I've seen a lot of great men fall, because of women. Be careful" Venus butted in.

"That's not my fault. I was trapped mining in a cave for a decade, only with old and already rotting men. And all of a sudden, I'm thrown into a world women such as yourself, a textbook example of a goddess. What am I supposed to do? I defended myself.

"Oh dear"

I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

"You're leaving next week. Dont get so comfortable", I heard her say.

I snuggled in deeper, because one week is about a thousand and eighty minutes. "I will enjoy every last one of them"

"Get up. I'll train you myself, one on one. The next test will be brutal. I dont want you failing. Not now"

"My back still hu-"

"Get up or you'll need a new set of teeth" she said as she closed her book.

Perhaps, she got annoyed, seeing as I sluggishly rose up, like I didn't care at all. She got up right next to me, as I was sitting on the bed.

THWACK

She slapped me in the face. It hurt. A lot.

"Can you throw a punch? Of course you can can, but can you see one coming? Today I will teach you how to notice attack patterns, and how to see attacks coming. By the end of the week however, you'll be taught how to block, how to properly throw a punch, how to execute an attack combination. Is that clear?!"

We went to her courtyard. Yes, she has one. She claimed she was going to train me. But from carefully examining the objectives, it seems like she just wants to beat me up. It did not seem, it in fact was.

"Why aren't you getting it?"

"Maybe because an advanced martial artists expects me to understand such complex techniques", I responded to her.

"Then how were you able to fight back in the academy? Albeit shortly", she said with a cough.

"I dont know, I just felt angry"

"Then reclaim that feeling. You know what, dont even bother. You're just a second class cadet. What did I even expect from such a lower specimen as you? You should enroll in the Manual labor Union. That's all you're good for anyway"

Now, all my life I've been used to being cursed at, spat at, and insulted. But recently however, this sudden urge to kill anyone standing up to me has become more than happenstance. Insulting my hue is one thing, insulting my abilities is another. Claiming that I'm nothing more than a slave is another ball game, completely. 

The energy around me became almost evil, rising and falling unrhythmically. It was almost like it had become corrupted. The amount of energy was too much contain. It was like my body was itching to fight.

I leaped forward, not out of my own accord. I was looking for something to overwhelm. Something to destroy. "Only then will there be peace"

"Seems like you've got it now. Just try to see my attack pattern and follow up with it"

"I cant seem to follow much right now. Its like my body is moving by itself. I apologize for any unnecessary attacks"

"Wait, your energy, its corrupted. The flow is way beyond abnormal. We'll have to stop here"

"I'm trying, I cant seem to control myself"

I hit her again, as she recoiled back. She got up rushing at me. I responded with a back kick with my left foot. It connected, but I didn't feel the softness of her belly. I kicked something hard. She caught the kick. She twisted my ankle, dropped my foot and knocked me out.

Or I thought she did. I fell backwards, using my arms for balance, and kicked her in the face. I keep surprising myself. Its as if I'm learning from the experience. 

Anne fell back, and wiped blood off her face. It looked like I was annoying her now. She breathed in, and out. She showcased a raged outlook, then recollected her calm and demure look. I could tell one thing. It was going to end quick.

"I'm going to have to use some force now. I apologize if I go to far"

I was scared for my life. The amount of energy circulating us was concerning enough. But now, the energy around her was getting hotter, and hotter. Just the blood red color of her QI was frightening enough, but the numbing effect of her aura. It was so crippling that some of the plants around her were dying.

In a flash, she charged me. She went straight for my twisted ankle in a leg sweep. I clocked it, jumping over her. I landed on my left foot breaking it even more. I turned around to face her again. Just then, a screeching sound filled my ears, and my chest beat harder than I could imagine. I fell to the earth below, as blood spilled out my ears and eyes. My heartbeat slowed down at an alarming rate scaring the already shocked Anne. My vision blurred and the outside world became grey.

I woke up and I was healed. All of my body was in perfect condition. Then I heard a familiar voice, that was soothing to my soul.

"Muna, you're back!"