Dawn- An age of Darkness

"For us, no. but for gods, it should be child's play. If I remember correctly, the god of light could heal even the most injured." So, it was impossible even for demigods? "And since you possess his mana, it's possible if you should go past the demigod level, you can heal your own arm."

Alisa had said the same thing but according to her, it'd take me at least a few decades before I could achieve that level if I spent the rest of my life just practicing magic and doing nothing else. Meaning, it wasn't impossible but just not feasible. 

"He'd healed my eyes." I touched my face. "But- pass the demigod level? Is that even possible for a mortal?"

Alisa hinted that it was but- I doubted that possibility. After all, there were no records of anyone ever achieving such a feat.

"Actually, you have the relic of Anverosa, correct? Would you mind using it?" Well, she wasn't answering me. 

I touched the pendant on my belt and I glowed. A stream of new mana flowed in me and my body glowed in blue.

I had two arms now. I also used the stone of Damsel and my arm froze. I now had a solid arm. "If I use both of these together, I could move my left arm almost like normal."

"Alright, let's see how deep your technique is first and then we can start from there. Refrain from using magic as best as you can."

I guess after training for a whole week she'd finally given up on me. 

But this worked for me. I held my sword with both my arms and focused. I sometimes even fought with a knife and a sword, but- I felt the most comfortable when I was using both hands on a sword like this. 

"That's an interesting form you have there, who taught you so?" The half-elf took her stance. 

"A geezer."

"An elf? Could you give me a name?"

"No, he was human. Denkaborkarere." Probably the first and last time I spoke his name.

Why the hell did he have to have such a ridiculous name?

"I see." She closed her eyes, gathered her thoughts, and a second later, and charged at me. 

With the added mana of this pendant and the stone, my senses were sharper and I could predict her moves. This almost felt like cheating. Did my training have no value then?

I could train and train and get nowhere. But just by using these two things, I could get this strong. It really felt like cheating to me and, I was frustrated. 

Her moves weren't easy to dodge but since I already knew most of her style, I could dodge effectively. I couldn't reproduce the moves though. 

And she was coming at me faster than before too. 

For once, I could even attack her. The geezer had taught me most of his secrets but he also told me to keep practicing and improving on his technique. That's when my brute force style came in: whenever I couldn't complete a combo, I powered it through. I was still an amateur compared to the geezer though.

I took a full swing but she dodged swiftly. 

She again came at me and I dodged but this time she was faster, glowing green, and even managed to cut three strands of my hair. 

"You'll be poisoned if you sustain an injury, so think carefully."

I guess she was holding back significantly. So much for only using one-fifth of her strength. If I had to guess I'd she was holding back much more than that when we first fought. Now, however, she probably wasn't.

She came in hard and tried to pierce me from left to right. Her sword was sharp and slender and so was her figure. 

She was fast. 

I could use my full set of skills, which meant, I could block, dodge and even fight back.

I was still getting drained though. This pendant wouldn't last forever and I couldn't use it for long either. My breath was increasing and with each swing and each dodge, I was getting sluggish. 

Swords clashed, sparks flew, sweat poured. For just this once I felt like we were on equal footing. But it didn't last. My left hand started to melt.

And taking that as an advantage she disarmed me and pointed the blade at my nose. I was completely out of breath and out of time. 

But she was already sweating and panting heavily too. 

If I had an actual hand and could use Imbuition, things could have ended very differently. But I had neither. 

"Well done." She actually never praised me before. At least not during training. 

"Thanks, do you mind moving this though?" 

It was almost touching my nose and the last thing I wanted was to be poisoned. 

"Ri-right" She sheathed her blade and caught her breath: the green tint around her vanished. "I think I understand your style. It focuses on countering your opponent's attacks and surprise attacks rather than going through predetermined soft attacks: using two hands gives you a lot more flexibility and combinations. But when you're using just one hand, you lose that flow and that's why your style seemed so inefficient." She paused. "Your style is similar to an elf I once knew."

The geezer did travel all across the world and he was a pirate too. So I wouldn't have been surprised if he stol- ahem, learned from an elf and gave it his own twist.

"So, I should always use the stones, or how do you reckon I get a hand? Dive into the ocean again?"

She chuckled. "No, but- there is a certain doctor in the demon continent said to be able to restore limbs. Of course, I heard that during my time, not sure if he's still alive. Though I also heard he was a pervert so maybe you'll have to crossdress. But you have a good face, maybe you can crossdress well enough?" She was joking, giggling softly.

"Actually, I have a bracelet that can turn me into a woman but-" I most certainly didn't want to put it on. 

But if I hadn't, I'd have never got to talk to Boriosa in the forest and this elf wouldn't be here today.

Actually, hadn't Dick said the same thing about the demon continent having a perverted guy who could restore my arm?

The elf looked at me as if questioning my sanity and then- "Let's go back. You need a shower and then we should have dinner."

I actually didn't notice but it was already evening. And wait, I needed a shower?

Yeah, I didn't have to sniff myself to know that I actually smelled. 

Seeing me go through this routine they all laughed. By they- I mean the half-elf, Biteria, and Viola.

I chuckled along with them started walking back.

"Though as you process the curse of regeneration, maybe you can regrow your limb once your curse is fully acti-" She stopped. "Forgive me, I was being insensitive. For now please focus on improving your magic so you can heal your arm and regrow it one day."

She walked faster and left rather fast too. 

'What the hell was that about?' I actually didn't know how my curse worked or how it'd activate and stuff. Guess I could have just asked Alisa. She was knowledgeable in these things anyway.

Meanwhile, both Biteria and Viola stood next to me and walked me to the baths. Fortunately, they didn't come in.

I really hoped I didn't have to deal with Jori again. I actually hadn't seen him around for the last few days. I didn't have time to head to the guild- I kind of didn't want to go either. 

But seriously, where did this warm water come from?

The rest of the day went smoothly and I went to the bed before I knew it: I was too tired. I actually wanted to have a chat with Alisa regarding the curse but didn't find the appropriate time. 

Again I was made a pillow by Biteria while the spirit made a pillow of me in my dreams. 

***

The next morning my fated reunion took place. 

My jaw almost hanged. 'Why? Why!"

To Ve's scaly back again! 

'Oh no.' It was almost as though all the blood from my face had been drained. 

I really didn't want to get on her. And not to mention we'd be literally taking off from a tree branch!

Argh. 

"Just get on already!" Alisa proceeded to drag me on top of the dragon though: Biteria also got on but the rest stayed back. A minister and a guard from this place came with us as the representatives of this country. The guard was Zack by the way.

"Do we really have to travel on Ve?"

"You'd rather want to go through the forest and through the mountains and deserts and spend two whole weeks?" Alisa grinned. 

She knew there was only one answer.

"AHHH!" 'Not again!'

As usual, my screams reigned supreme.