Tyson spent the walk back to his home going over the last couple of hours.
'there's no way I am a user.' He couldn't accept it. He stared at his sword.
'It has to be the sword...'
That's all that makes sense. This didn't start until he first touched the sword.
"But how did it unlock my core..." he whispered thoughtfully.
From what he knew, he had to have an opal gemstone and runes to guide the essence. He had never heard of a weapon being used to control essence.
He made it to his small home that sat in the military district. It was a tiny home, but it was his tiny home. A small square building with two windows on the front, one looking into his living space and the other into his bedroom. The door was dead center of the two windows and the oak wood used to make the building was still as magnificent as the day it was built.
He made it to his bedroom ready to crash for the night. The day had taken a lot out of him. He undressed and paused as he went to put his sword up. The brilliant black/blue sword mesmerized him.
"can't believe this is my sword." He said to himself as he took a couple swings.
It felt natural and it just fit him. He couldn't explain it, but it was like the sword had been made for him specifically. He knew that was nonsense, but he couldn't help but feel that way.
As he swung the sword, something clicked and awkward swipes turned to a beautiful dance.
His body flowed like water.
His feet in perfect rhythm.
Time seemed to slow as he moved through each form.
it all felt… 'right' he thought. Sweat poured and his muscles strained.
Every movement came like muscle memory.
'How do I know the next movement?'
It was like he was a puppet being controlled by a greater force.
The flow was smooth and only got smoother as he continued.
'What is the fighting style?'
He raked his mind, but he had never seen anything like it. Then a thought came, he pictured blood flowing like a river.
"Flowing blood," he said as his sword came down sharp and precise.
The words felt ancient. Familia, like he'd always known them.
Minutes turned to hours as night crept in, he felt a familiar pull. A presence he would never forget. The power he let fill his core tugged at him. Begged him to use it.
He gave in.
He stopped fighting the essence and let it enter his core again. His entire body lit up as his strength increased.
His movements pristine, his focus sharp.
'This is amazing.' His thoughts became physical. "Woooooooooo," he yelled out as his movement became faster.
Then, as if it never happened, his power was gone. He froze, unable to move his body.
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
***Oriana***
She watched as her second core drained rapidly, leaving her with one core.
She felt weak.
Alone. So alone.' Her despair was taking over.
Why didn't they just kill her? Being soul bound was hell. She would bet everything that hell was a better place than this. Her thoughts tried to comfort her with scenes of killing the King.
Killing the God.
Reliving the death of the judges she had ended before they damned her.
In this place she had an eternity to reflect. To relive every aspect of her life over and over. She had so many regrets. She lived a lonely life, and for what? To end up trapped. She wasn't fulfilled like she always felt she was.
"at least no one will miss me." she let out a small laugh. She was chosen by death, but death was cold. She was just another asset for him. A tool of death used for just that.
'Did He miss her?' A ping of sadness crept in; she quickly pushed it aside.
She knew that was a dumb thought. Truthfully, he probably had another chosen lined up to take her spot.
Take HER title.
She screamed into the void as anger overtook.
"I WILL GET OUT OF HERE!"
Then, a familiar power called to her.
'This can't be…'
She reached for power. She put every ounce of willpower she had left to grab onto the power. This was her chance, and she wasn't going to miss it. Her drained core longed for the essence, and she planned to drink every bit of it.
"RELEASE ME FROM THIS HELL!!"
She roared as she pulled on the death essence with everything she had.
HER death essence.
The essence gave into her. It rushed to her core and the beautiful feeling of power returned to her, then the void cracked, and light invaded. She felt herself drop and hit something hard, two loud crashes came next before the all too familiar darkness took her again, but this time it was different.
***Tyson***
All the power Tyson had filled his core with was being siphoned by the swords.
"What the hell." He said as he tried to fight back. It was no use; he would have better luck trying to outshine the sun. Then he felt it. Overwhelming hunger and need.
Another presence was pulling the power and the little grip he had on it vanished. His consciousness felt like it was on the verge of exploding. Darkness filled his vision as pain ripped through his entire being.
He let go of the power and his body gave in. He heard a loud thud and two clangs before reality slipped from him.