EndGame: The Successor's Legacy-Chapter 34: Timeskip-1

After finishing her reading session on mana manipulation theories and skimming through a few books on basic politics, it was finally time for Anaerah’s physical training.

The Academy would be starting in just three months. She couldn’t afford to slack off.

She had to meet the expectations placed upon her, those of the GoldShade family. Of course, that responsibility belonged to Elizabeth, not Anaerah... but there was no point in drawing that line anymore.

It is what it is.

Pushing open the doors of the library, she was immediately met with an overly enthusiastic Cynthia waiting right outside, hands clasped behind her back, eyes shining with impatience.

Anaerah sighed. "Ugh, are you that excited to beat me?"

Cynthia froze.

Her eyes widened slightly at the unexpected question, and for a brief moment, she seemed at a loss for words, but just for a moment.

"N-no, my lady! I would never," she said quickly, then straightening her posture, she continued.

"It’s just... I find it joyful to see you grow stronger after our duels. Of course, some of them had some minor injuries, but you know one has to suffer to gain something."

Her words spilled out, sparkling with determination and genuine care.

"Hah..." Anaerah sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time.

However then, she frowned. Her hand moved to her chest as a dull ache pulsed beneath her palm.

It was like a heartbeat coming and going with intervals.

Somehow, that pain felt wrong.

"...?" Anaerah slowed her steps slightly. The ache in her chest seemed to grow heavier, spreading in quiet waves that made her breath hitch for just a second.

Cynthia noticed immediately. "My lady? Is something wrong?"

Anaerah shook her head, forcing her hand down.

"...It’s nothing," she said, though her voice lacked its usual certainty.

Yet as they continued toward the training halls, the discomfort didn’t fade. It lingered, growing heavier with time.

’What are you doing Zyrus?’ The question rang in her mind.

*****

Anaerah stepped into the training hall.

It was wide and open, sunlight filtering in from high windows, illuminating polished stone floors scarred with countless marks from past duels.

Weapon racks lined one the walls, each blade maintained to it utmost perfection. Anaerah exhaled slowly and reached for a wooden practice sword.

Focus

Cynthia did the same, taking a stance a few steps away from her. Unlike Anaerah’s relaxed posture, Cynthia stood straight and composed, feet planted firmly, sword held at a precise angle.

"Alright," Cynthia said gently. "We’ll keep it light today. No overextending."

Anaerah raised an eyebrow. "You say that every time."

"And you ignore it every time," Cynthia replied without missing a beat.

Anaerah snorted, then lifted her sword. They moved.

Cynthia attacked first with a burst of speed. Their swords meeting with a dull thud.

Anaerah slid back half a step, her arms tingling from the harsh impact. Cynthia didn’t press. Instead, she circled her calmly.

"Your grip is too tight," Cynthia said. "Relax your wrist. Let the sword move with you."

"Just because you are mage my lady. Don’t take close combat lightly." Sh spoke.

Anaerah listening to her also adjusted understanding the importance of the lesson.

They clashed again.

This time, when Cynthia redirected her blade, Anaerah didn’t stumble. Her footing held.

"Good," Cynthia said, a small smile forming.

"Now don’t chase my sword. Watch my shoulders, watch my body language how it moves...how it tends to react."

Anaerah narrowed her eyes, focusing. Cynthia feinted left. Anaerah didn’t bite. Instead, she stepped in and swung diagonally.

Thud

Cynthia blocked easily, but her smile widened.

"There you go."

They exchanged several more blows. Cynthia guided every movement sometimes stopping mid-duel to physically adjust Anaerah’s stance, other times letting her make mistakes just to show her why and where they mattered.

Anaerah’s breathing steadied. Sweat formed on her brow, muscles warming and aching, her mind clearing.

For a while...she ignored the ache in her chest.

Then Cynthia suddenly stepped in close, tapping Anaerah’s shoulder lightly with the flat of her blade.

"That would’ve been fatal," she said softly.

Anaerah clicked her tongue. "See you didn’t even hesitate, to point your sword at your Master."

"That’s the point, My lady." Cynthia replied. "In a real fight, neither will they."

Anaerah reset her stance, eyes sharper now.

"Fine...let’s do it again."

The clash continued.

Wooden swords met again and again, the dull sounds echoing through the training hall. Anaerah’s movements grew smoother under Cynthia’s guidance, her footing more stable, her strikes sharper.

However this time, the ache came back. It came back stronger than ever.

Anaerah’s breath hitched mid-swing. Her chest tightened as if an invisible hand had wrapped around her heart and slowly began to squeeze.

"Huh..."

Her sword wavered.

Cynthia noticed instantly. She stepped back instead of counterattacking. "My lady?"

Anaerah tried to straighten, to brush it off like before but the pain surged violently this time. A sharp pulse shooing through her chest, stealing the air from her lungs.

Her vision blurred as the training hall tilted.

"My lady!" Cynthia’s voice grew urgent and worried as she rushed forward.

Anaerah’s fingers loosened. The practice sword slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a hollow clack. Her knees buckled.

For a brief second, she felt herself falling weightless, powerless as darkness rushed in from the edges of her vision.

"Say..say something My lady!"

Cynthia caught her just before she hit the ground, arms wrapping around her as Anaerah’s body went limp.

The pain continued as she lost her consciousness.

*****

Calix’s mind numbed as pain tore through him, burning him from the inside out. It felt as if his body was being ripped apart and set on fire at the same time.

His vision darkened, edges blurring, yet he forced himself to raise his head just enough to look at the being who had pierced his chest.

He couldn’t turn.

Neither could he move.

Crimson poured from the wound in horrifying amounts, soaking into the sand until even the desert turned red beneath him.

"Oh?" the horrible voice spoke again, thick with amused delight. "A tenacious one, are you?"

The being laughed, a harsh screech that dug into Calix’s ears.

"Ahh... guys like you are always fun to kill."

"A-ah, f—" Calix muttered weakly, his breath shaking as his fingers began to slip from the black orb. Strength was leaving him fast. His body was screaming for him to let go.

"Hm?" The being leaned closer, as if the situation were nothing more than casual conversation. "You saying something?"

Calix’s lips trembled. As blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"F-fuck off... bitch." The words barely left him. But he didn’t stop there.

"Slash."

For a single instant, the world went silent. The sound of winds halted, while the sand seemed to be stilled.

Not a single sound reached his ears.

An invisible slash of intangible mana passed through the black orb. There was no explosion at first. But then...

Crack

Black and white sparks burst out violently, twisting together as the orb split apart, its surface collapsing inward as if something fundamental had been damaged.

Inside Calix’s mind, the system went berserk, chiming with multiple notifications. However, he was too weak, to take a look at them right now.

As the orb broke, the dungeon trembled and in an instant Calix disappeared in flash of blue light. The being’s hand remaining in the air, dripping with crimson blood. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The being blinked...then a moment later, a wild grin tore through it’s mouth, as it laughed so loudly that the plane seem to tremble from it’s presence. Wheezing, he spoke hitting his knee lightly.

"Oh, what a haha amusing human...he was, ahahah. I wanna met that guy again." The being spoke as he looked at the chains in his ankles.

A dark expression leaked through his feral visage as looked at the chains glowing with such a radiant power that it seemed to blind the world.

Though of course, only he could see them for now.

"Tch... bastards."

******

[A/N]- Hey guy’s, Cryptic here. I guess, now you all can understand how the Soul Bond works between them more efficiently.

Also with this Chapter the introduction to the story had been finished, after the next Chapter we will finally step into the main story.

I know many things have been left till yet, however they will pick up...all once the main story start, be it the time information about the world or power system of the book.

Well that’s all, in this volume. Hope you have a nice day.