Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage-Chapter 574: Udara’s Acceptance and Changes II

CH574 Udara’s Acceptance and Changes II

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Udara recalled the moment Alex reached out his hand to her and pulled her from the shadows into the light beside him.

When she had first met him, she believed she would be —or rather, she was— content remaining within his shadow, protecting him from the darkness she had long grown accustomed to.

She had expected only a role... A purpose to continue living— even if that meant serving the goals of another.

But what she found instead... was a life.

Slowly, before she even realised it, the man had wormed his way into the deepest parts of her being.

Then he pulled her out from the darkness where she had hidden herself and offered her a place in the light.

A place by his side.

With that opportunity, she had built a life of her own.

And that life gradually filled with more light.

With the encouragement of the person most important to her, she met others who also became important.

People who brightened her life.

People who cared for her for who she was, rather than for the circumstances of her birth.

And with his encouragement, she also discovered a purpose that truly belonged to her.

Yes, the origin of that purpose had come from him. But the goal she chose was one she truly believed in.

It was a purpose she had willingly chosen for herself.

In essence, from the moment she accepted his hand that day, she had begun building a life of her own choosing.

Perhaps, in the eyes of others, it was far less than the life she had once possessed...

The life that had been taken from her.

But to Udara, a life she chose was far better than the false life that had once been imposed upon her.

After all, that false life had been taken away.

But the life she had chosen for herself... could never be taken again.

Even if she were to lose everything, the memories she cherished could never be lost or taken from her.

From this realisation, she began to understand something about the trial.

’This isn’t about deciding which life —the one I had before or the one I have now— is better,’ Udara mused to herself

Another exchange of attacks was halted by the doppelganger, who used her Sai to trap Udara’s shortswords.

’It is about reflecting on both lives and realising that they are both part of my life.’

’One... life.’

’Whether my past life or my current one... they are both mine.’

’This is something I must accept and come to terms with.’

’Sure, the pain, the misery, the abandonment hurt — they still hurt... But without them, I would not have become the person I am today.’

’I would not be standing where I am now, and I would not be as happy as I am today.’

Udara’s eyes began to glow with a renewed light.

Slowly, she made a decision.

Instead of continuing to suppress her past, she would accept it. She would use it as fuel to push toward a better future. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’But just because I understand this doesn’t mean it will be easy.’

She was not naïve enough to believe otherwise.

’In that case... let’s start small.’

’Take something from the past and fuse it with my present.’

’Then build a better future from it.’

With that thought, she made her choice.

She began drawing upon elements of her former fighting style —the very style her doppelganger now displayed— and slowly merged them with her current combat techniques.

The result was something entirely new.

Something that would define her future fighting style.

To others, such a change might seem insignificant. But to Udara, it was worth more than its weight in gold.

Gradually, the tide of battle began to shift.

The stalemate that had endured until now finally broke.

The doppelganger attempted to break Udara’s momentum once again by catching Udara’s blade between the prongs of her trident-like weapon.

However, Udara —who had now absorbed her past fighting style into her current one— knew exactly what her opponent intended to do.

But instead of stopping it... she allowed it.

In the next exchange, the doppelganger trapped Udara’s blades between her Sais.

Or so she believed.

[Amazonian Might]!

With a sudden surge of power and a sharp flick of her wrist, Udara not only parried the hold but also disarmed the doppelganger of her weapons.

Thrust!

Udara drove her blade forward.

Caught completely off guard, the doppelganger could do nothing as the strike came straight for her.

The realisation of the inevitable dawned upon her.

She closed her eyes and waited for the fatal blow.

But the strike never came.

Instead, she felt warm arms wrap around her.

The doppelganger opened her eyes in surprise.

Udara was hugging her gently.

"I’m sorry for pushing you down and trying to forget you," Udara whispered softly. "Thank you for coming back to push me forward."

"You can rest now."

"I finally understand and accept it... You are me, and I am you."

Suddenly, a warm light emerged from Udara’s body and wrapped itself around the doppelganger.

The light cocoon gradually shrank, condensing into a small sphere before sinking into Udara’s chest just above her heart.

Udara felt something within her change. But she could not quite identify what it was.

’It doesn’t matter,’ she thought calmly.

Indeed, it did not matter.

She knew with absolute certainty that the change was a positive one.

And that was all that mattered.

Rumble—

Shatter—

With that final realisation, the trial space trembled violently before collapsing.

A moment later, Udara found herself back before the stele.

She suddenly stood up and bowed toward the old man.

"Thank you for this opportunity," she said sincerely.

The mysterious old man, habitually stroking his long beard, shook his head with a gentle smile.

"There is no need to thank me," he replied. "The trial was born from your own Fate and Fortune. You have no one to thank but yourself."

He spoke with a genial warmth, like an elder fondly watching over a dutiful child.

Alex stepped forward and immediately noticed the change in her.

"Are you okay? You seem... different," he said, somewhat uncertain.

He could not pinpoint exactly what had changed. But he could clearly tell that something had.

Seeing him —and realising that he had noticed the change— warmed Udara’s heart.

A bright smile blossomed across her face, catching Alex slightly off guard.

"I am fine, Master," she said.

Then she added softly, "Never better."

"Alright." Alex nodded, choosing to accept her answer.

He gestured toward the stele.

"You should check the stele for your points and rewards."

Udara shook her head.

"I don’t need a reward," she said calmly. "I have already received the best thing I could... the thing I truly needed."

Alex looked even more confused. But Udara simply smiled without explaining further.

"May I attempt the other trials?" she asked.

"Of course," the old man nodded. "As long as the stele accepts you."

Udara nodded in return.

Before leaving, she stepped forward and quickly hugged Alex.

Then she walked toward another stele.

This time, somewhat surprisingly, she chose the stele representing the Grey Branch of Sorcery.

Even more surprising, the stele accepted her.

Her trial immediately began.

Alex remained standing there, stunned and confused.

It took him a moment to recover himself, his attention finally drawn away by the commotion caused by the other person who had completed their trial shortly after Udara.

***