New Beginning

Cid woke up in a candle-lit chamber. Smells like blood and herbs.

"You sleep like the dead, you know that?"

Cid tensed.

Yami.

Cid tried to move but failed.

Yami sat in the corner. Hand bandaged and three fingers gone.

Smiling like nothing happened.

"Don't move, you lost a lot of blood."

Cid's throat was dry.

"Why... am i still alive?"

Yami stood, walked over and dropped a metal cup on the table.

"Because someone wants you breathing."

He helped Cid sit up and held the cup to his lips.

Cid stared.

"Drink up, it's not poisoned. I promise."

Cid drank. Cold and clean.

He coughed.

"You tortured me."

Yami didn't flinch.

"I did."

"But you bit off my fingers, so i think we are even."

Silence for a while.

Cid looked down.

"Why pretend to care now?"

Yami leaned in. Calm and serious.

"I don't."

Cid gritted his teeth. He wanted to punch Yami or at least scream. But all he had was silence and the ache of something missing. Marla. Gone.

The door opened.

The old man entered.

No sound, just presence.

"How long until he..."

Yami stood straighter.

"Soon, about two-three years."

The old man studied Cid, cold eyes. No warmth.

"Then it's time."

"Take him west."

Yami blinked.

"Now?"

"You'll train him on the way. Shape him."

"Don't let him die."

Cid rasped.

"Why...?"

The old man stepped closer.

"Fire is brewing in this kingdom."

"There are too many unknown variables. You can't survive it. You are just a kid."

Cid rasped again.

"But i've to avenge her," he said. Clenched his teeth.

"Do you know who killed her?"

Cid sighed.

"But I still..""Not yet."

"You are a special being in this world. It's too dangerous for you to survive without gaining crazy strength."

"And Marla won't like for you to die."

Cid groaned.

Silence.

Next day.

Wagon wheels on dirt and forest on both sides.

Cid sat in the back, hooded and blank.

He stared at the road ahead. It didn't look like revenge. It just looked long.

Yami held the reins and didn't speak for a while.

Then..

"I know you hate me."

"But you'll thank me one day."

Cid didn't reply.

The road stretched ahead, and the sky was grey.

After awhile they stopped to camp.

Yami walked beside the cart.

"Let's talk Power Attributes."

Cid stared at the trees. Silent.

"Everyone's born with the ability to circulate Power. Strengthen their body. Sharpen their senses."

"But Power Attributes? Different game. You don't get them just because you want one."

He raised three fingers.

"One: Your body hits its limit. Two: One of your emotions spike. Three: You make a choice."

"Live… or change."

Cid didn't move.

"...Mine?"

Yami snorted. "Could be biting."

He grinned.

"Want to know mine?"

Cid stayed silent.

Yami took the huge black sword on his hand.

"Aftercut."

"When i cut an enemy once, i can cut him 3 times without touching him again."

Cid lowered his head.

"...Why are you telling me this?"

Yami looked up at the sky.

"To stop being prey."

It was after three months on their way, Yami decided to start training him. Yami gave him time to heal.

Rain, enough to make everything colder.

Cid stood in the clearing, drenched.

Shivering.

Yami sat on a log, black sword across his lap.

"First lesson," he said.

"Pain isn't your enemy."

Cid didn't speak.

His body still ached. His mind, worse.

Yami stood, drew a small dagger from his belt and tossed it at Cid's feet.

"Pick it up."

Cid stared at it.

"You want me to stab you."

Yami grinned.

"Nah, yourself."

Cid bent down, grabbed the dagger. 

His hand trembled.

"If you don't," Yami said, voice colder now, "I will."

He stared at the blade. Then at his leg.Marla's voice echoed

"Don't ever flinch, even if it hurts."

Then:

He drove the dagger in.

AHHH

Cid collapsed, gasping in pain.

Yami leaned down.

His voice stayed flat.

"If you can't hurt yourself, you'll never survive someone else hurting you."

"Again," he said. "But this time, focus your Power on your leg before stabbing."

He gritted his teeth. Focused. The second stab didn't bleed as much.

Blood down his thighs. Dagger slick.

His vision blurred, his body shook…

But on the tenth? Nothing.

No scream. No tears. Just breathing.

Cold and steady.

Yami grinned.

"There you are."

"We're done for today. Sit, and circulate your Power toward your heart."

"You'll heal in three or four days."

They trained while moving.

By the next month,

Cid was silent, emotionless when stabbing himself.

He mastered pain.

Yami made Cid fight him everyday after that.

Three days later.

Yami threw a punch at Cid's face.

Cid ducked, not clean, but faster.

Then swung the training knife in return.

Yami leaned back, laughing.

"Finally."

"You're not a sack of grief anymore."

Cid was panting. Covered in sweat and cuts.

"Shut up, Aftercut." he muttered

Yami blinked. The smile slipped… just for a second.Then it came back, wider.

"Good."

"That's fuel."