Chapter 23: Maki
My grip shifted along the spear as I tried getting into a comfortable resting stance. I settled for a controlling grip, though a bit looser than what Ren had done.
I was already out of her reach due to the length of the spear, hopefully the pointy end kept her from attempting to cross it.
Maki, on the other hand, looked cautious but not worried as she faced me. She stood en garde, pointing the wooden rapier at me, her hand stable around its basket hilt.
I gave her a look, then she nodded.
"Start."
I had no need to back off, since I was already out of her reach. One of the most crucial things in a fight from my experience was getting the initiative. Especially so, when you counted as the weaker opponent.
Instead, I pressed forward, thrusting my spear at her legs, seeking to break her footing.
She easily parried, deflecting by flicking her rapier to the side. Immediately, she pressed onwards, seeking to close the gap.
I already knew her plan, so I jumped backward, dropping my spear in the process. Unfortunately, even that wasn’t enough to escape her reach as she stretched, extending her sword arm and landing her blade cleanly on my neck.
"Again."
Kaito’s voice sounded from somewhere in the dojo. I couldn’t tell if he was talking to us.
Still, I sighed, walking toward my dropped spear. Maki had already taken her stance.
I turned to face her again. I was going to try something different this time.
"Begin."
I said it this time.
Though I was in no hurry to move, as I kept my spear trained on her. Seeing I was in no mood to make attacks, she moved, attempting to sidestep my spear. I quickly reoriented the spear, placing it between us.
She smiled at that.
She moved to close the gap again, my spear automatically followed her. But all of a sudden, the space in front of me was empty.
It took my brain a second to understand what happened.
’A feint.’
Unfortunately, it was too late. I felt her blade on my neck again.
"Again."
Kaito’s voice called out.
Maki backed off, already going back to her position and settling into her stance again.
I loosened my grip on the spear, pointing it toward her.
"Begin."
The moment she said it, I sprang forward, swinging the spear in a wide arc.
She stepped back, easily dodging it.
Before I could reorient myself, she’d already closed the distance, resting her blade on the back of my neck.
’Fuck.’
"Again."
"That’s enough."
---
I collapsed at Kaito’s words, sprawling on the mat below me.
’20-0’
That was the score line. I hadn’t managed to even do so much as brush her once. I knew I’d never touched nor had proper training with a weapon before, but still, I had no clue the gap was this large.
And this was just Maki, talk less of Racheal, Ayo, or Varic.
Still, I knew it was possible to catch up. Why? Because Rowan had been able to. Sure, he trained like hell and paired it with his absurd potential. But he managed.
It gave me hope of doing the same too.
Of course, that day wasn’t going to be today. Worse, my nausea was back. It wasn’t as bad as in the morning, but it had affected my performance in the last few bouts.
Thankfully, the fever remained on the mild side.
Maki rested against a nearby wall. She seemed exhausted as well. Though, she was looking at me, her face holding an open question.
’Why are you so weak?’
Killing that skinwalker back in the hospital had likely given her the wrong impression of me. Either way, I couldn’t be bothered answering her at the moment.
Unfortunately, it seemed Maki noticed my gaze on her, as she began approaching me. The moment she reached my side, the girl offered me a hand.
I groaned.
"Can’t I stay like this a little longer?"
She rolled her eyes at that.
"Class is just about done."
I sighed before taking it, using her to pull myself up. The moment I did, I took a few tentative steps, ensuring I could actually stand, before releasing her.
It was necessary procedure, something I’d learned the hard way after face-planting into my room floor this morning.
"To be paired with me, your burden must be something rather awful, huh?"
Maki’s voice rang beside me as I went to rest by the wall.
I could only offer her a wry smile in response. This shit was hell.
She nodded, taking it as affirmation before pressing on.
"Mind telling me about it?"
Normally such questions were highly taboo among the gifted. No one likes giving away their weakness after all.
But there were certain burdens that couldn’t be hidden. Mostly because they became rather obvious to anyone you fought.
Hers was so. She was likely suspecting mine was the same as well.
"I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough."
I replied rather vaguely, as I placed my back on the cool walls of the dojo. She quickly followed suit.
Given that Alice had already paired us, and the fact that Maki wasn’t an idiot, it wouldn’t really take her long to figure it out.
’I’m sure she already has her suspicions.’
Plus, just telling anyone about your burden was very risky business, regardless of how easy it could be figured out.
Maki nodded, releasing a light hum as she watched other cadets. Sneaking a glance at her, an idea came to mind.
"Would you mind telling me your burden?"
She laughed at the question. A laugh that already gave me my answer.
The girl faced me with a smirk.
"I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough."
Joke’s on her. I already knew her it.
I just wanted to see how she’d react.
’Yep, still the same old Maki.’
Smart, outspoken, but also untrusting.
While she wasn’t the most important heroine in the story, she died in the 2nd year, Maki was one of the more memorable characters I’d written.
Why? Because I’d given her a terminal illness. A glioblastoma to be exact.
Of course, the thought of a hunter even falling sick was laughable to most people. For the most part that was true, their bodies were simply strong enough to easily correct any such issues.
That’s where Maki’s burden came into play. Even low novices had vitalities superior to those of normal humans. However, due to her burden, Maki’s stats were stuck at the level of mundanity. This little loophole allowed an already present tumor time to adapt to her new body.
The tumor would stubbornly persist, regardless of if she increased her rank or stats. Well, unless she managed to reach the Paragon rank in time.
It would most certainly kill her before then.
Worst thing about it was I had no idea how to get rid of it. Sure, medicine was much more advanced in this world. But advanced enough to match the stubbornness of a mutated tumor? Not so much.
I’d mainly written the entire scenario because of my illness. Having your life ruined, your story being cut off by something so out of left field was horrible. I wanted my readers to understand that.
And they did.
I still remember the amount of hate comments, negative reviews, and colorful slurs that got thrown my way because of it. She’d been a very likable, popular character. Ending her story before it even had the chance to go anywhere was wrong, it was bad writing, it was unfair.
Contrary to what one might think, I was overjoyed with the response. Because it meant I was right, I had every right to be mad. I had every right to be bloody pissed at my father, at society, at the world.
For making me die without accomplishing anything, after everything I sacrificed to get where I was.
But regardless of what my intention had been, the consequence of my actions sat beside me. A girl with a ticking time bomb in her head. She likely wasn’t even aware of it yet, the serious symptoms only started appearing during midterms.
Sure, she’d occasionally get headaches before that, which she easily chalked up to stress.
’Should I tell her about it now?’
It likely wouldn’t do any good, except cause her worry.
There wasn’t much anyone in Bastion, aside from the Angels, could really do to help her. Even then, relying on their help wasn’t exactly a surefire method.
I’d been quite thorough in eliminating anything that could have possibly saved her life.
’I’ll try finding something still.’
If I couldn’t, then I’d tell her. She at least deserved to know, much earlier than when she’d found out in the books.
I sighed, looking forward at the few cadets still sparring.
I certainly didn’t blame myself for writing this. Who the hell knew I would be transmigrated into my own book?
Still, the thought sent me into a somber mood.