The Severed Point Forward

  ”Are you Severance?”

  ?Blade did not care if he was repeating himself. After everything she had done for him, was this the last? He could not let it end where it had, not yet at least.

  ?“Severance is my name, yes…”

  ?Those words suddenly made Blade feel light, though his smile was wiped away at her next words.

  ?“Yet I am not the same Severance as you have known. Not fully.”

  ?His smile vanished, his mind blurring with thought.

  ?“What do you mean you are not the same?”

  ?“Though my memories and personality might be the same, am I fully yours?”

  ?“I don't understand. What do you mean, ‘fully mine’?”

  ?Blade was lost, yet again he had come close only to lose it all. Now, though, it made less sense than ever. Was this individual meaning that Severance had not been his? Then who did she belong to, and what was he supposed to do now?

  ?He did not notice as his knees went out beneath him and barely managed to catch himself as he fell on his knees.

  ?“Master.”

  ?"Severance," she said, rushing over to his side and kneeling down to steady him.

  ?“Who are you then? If you aren't Severance, then who are you?”

  ?Blade had to ask. At this point, he just wanted the truth and did not care how much it could hurt him. Yet she did not. Hugging him close to her chest, Severance said.

  ?“Didn’t I tell you a name is important? Have you still not learned?”

  ?Blade could not help but cry. He had bottled up a lot so far, and just being in the arms of someone he could trust so wholeheartedly, even if he was unsure of who she truly was, was soothing, and the last push he needed.

  ?As the tears fell, he thought about how he had not cried since he was a baby, yet here he was again, after so long, crying. She was right, though, names meant a lot for Absolute Authority. Severance had practically been one. If the person holding him now and Severance shared the same name, then this truly was her. It was just finding out how she was different.

  ?After calming down fully, he looked up at the woman who continued to hold him close, noting their similarity in eyes. He finally asked.

  ?“Explain, explain everything, please. I'm tired of being held in the dark.”

  ?“Ok. You already know how an Origin reincarnates after death. It isn't that simple, though we can take that another time. The main point is that there could be cases where the reincarnation differs from the previous one.”

  ?Blade nods. Iris had told him something similar when talking about it.

  ?“Well, that is similar to what happened to me, yet it is not because I reincarnated. I am simply the spirit of the source of all weapons, Severance. All weapons have spirits, even the most mundane. Yet not all can manifest, due to various reasons. That would make me part of your Absolute Authority. The reason it was going berserk before was because I was recognized as a completely separate entity.”

  ?“I see, so then by fusing yourself within me, I would gain the full authority.”

  ?“Correct.”

  ?She says with a small smile, glad he understands.

  ?“Yet you are not the first to have this authority, and therefore not my rightful master. That is where my selfishness began. You are my ideal master and the only one I wanted to protect, yet if I stayed like I was, that could never happen. So I took advantage of your awakening, using it to remodel my own core.”

  ?She said before placing a hand on Blade’s chest.

  ?“We share a core, and while I'm manifested, you lack half your strength, yet it also means that you cannot die unless I'm killed with you.”

  ?“So when you are here, I lose half my power for an extra life. Could come in handy.”

  ?“Yes. This was what my desires led to, and I'm sorry for everything they have caused you.”

  ?She had a content smile on her face, even if there were hints of sadness there too. Severance was happy with the result, yet it had cost her master much, too much.

  ?Blade did not really know what to tell her. He did not want to lie by saying everything was fine, the truth was it was not. Yet after evaluating his own greed and how it almost caused a fraction between him and Aisha, he realized he was not much better.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  ?Thinking about what to answer, he decided to say what he had been thinking about.

  ?“It’s a bit hard for me… to simply forgive you.”

  ?“I can understand. Your sentiments are not unreasonable.”

  ?“But after everything you did for me, I cannot be mad either. I would have died a long time ago, if it wasn't for you… I would have died countless times, really… Can I be honest with you?”

  ?“I’m always willing to listen.”

  ?She said, letting his head rest in her lap so he could relax more.

  ?Blade takes a breath before talking.

  ?“After parting with you, even if it was only for a short amount of time, I realized how dependent I am on others.”

  ?“What do you mean? You seem to be fine yourself.”

  ?“I'm not talking on a physical level. Emotionally, mentally. I lack in both those aspects, and so when alone, I truly realized how dependent I was. Without you, Indra, Iris, or Aisha, I didn't know anymore. Then I got power, and suddenly I felt I could do anything, yet when that high ended, I was lost again. I was unsure what to do, how to move forward. I became obsessive at whatever I could grasp at that aligned with my ideals, and in that moment that was seeing Aisha hurt. I ended up hurting her more, fracturing our relationship, and it devastated me. A feeling I have never felt before, and I never want to feel again.”

  ?Blade did not really realize how much he was truly saying or how much emotion he put in it. Talking without pause or rest until his throat felt soar. He was rambling until he was unsure what he was saying, still he cared little.

  ?“I was honestly scared. Scared I was never going to get any of you back. Scared I would fall back to a state before I met any of you. I had taken my connections for granted, so when I first lost them, I truly felt the loneliness crashing down at me.”

  ?The confessions felt a bit hard to swallow. He had opened up more than ever, more than he ever thought he would on such a journey, yet it did not feel bad. Unsettling maybe, but not in a bad way.

  ?Severance caressed him as she digested everything he had said, looking simultaneously content that he was confiding in her and sad at hearing her master's troubles.

  ?“Master… Have you given up?”

  ?“What, no!”

  ?Blade said, getting up quicker than he realized, as he found himself looking at Severance.

  ?“Then tell me, master… What is your plan moving forward?”

  ?“My plan for the future?”

  ?As he said it himself, he realized he had no plan anymore. After losing Severance, he had lost sight of his goal.

  ?“I… don’t know.”

  ?Severance was quiet for a moment before standing up.

  ?“So you do not want to protect?”

  ?“What? No! Of course I want to protect others!”

  ?He sputtered before stopping as she saw her hand.

  ?“Then isn't it time we begin?”

  ?Blade was lost for words, but looking at Severance, he understood what she meant.

  ?“I will protect.”

  ?He said firmly as he took her hand, getting up. Severance smiled, continuing to hold his hand as she said.

  ?“A much better response.”

  ?Before turning and saying.

  ?“Now how long are you planning to lie there? I doubt you need more rest.”

  ?At her words, Blade looked confused as his eyes landed on Aisha. It was then he saw her get up, a bit hurt but otherwise fine.

  ?“Aisha, are you okay?”

  ?“Mostly, I think…”

  ?She said, coughing up some residue blood, before rushing to them, stumbling a bit, yet reaching them.

  ?“What do you mean mostly?”

  ?Blade asked, looking to see if there was any damage. After he made sure she really was fine, he let out a sigh he did not know he was holding in.

  ?“I’m glad you’re okay.”

  ?Blade says, patting her head, making a small smile from Aisha. Before she hugged Severance.

  ?“Aisha, you know she isn't the same—”

  ?“I know.”

  ?“Huh?”

  ?“I said I know.”

  ?Blade had to hear it twice, and it still sounded unbelievable.

  ?“How did you—”

  ?“You seem quite behind, master.”

  ?Severance comments at his continued perplexed face.

  ?“I thought you said you wouldn't hide anything from me.”

  ?Blade said, looking at Severance, only for her to deflect with.

  ?“How could I lie when you never asked?”

  ?He wanted to argue but decided against it. That and the fact he now saw more of what Severance was like. She seemed more human, though that might also be because this is the first time they have properly talked that did not involve them being in a fighting or training situation.

  ?“Well, can you at least tell me how you know?”

  ?He asked Aisha.

  ?“I was resting, not unconscious, you know.”

  ?Blade blinked before wanting to hit himself at the simple logic. She had been hurt, but she had managed to stay conscious through it, meaning there was no reason for her not to hear anything they were talking about.

  ?“Then why did you stay quiet?”

  ?At the question, a small blush creeps up her face, though it is quickly hidden as she looks aside.

  ?“Well, I didn't want to ruin the moment… and I didn't want you to leave…”

  ?She says the last part quietly, but just loud enough so that Blade could pick it up.

  ?“Leave you?”

  ?“Weren’t you going to send me back afterwards?”

  ?The thought had crossed his mind. If possible, he would prefer minimizing the amount of danger Aisha could be put in, yet after the situation, that was no longer a possibility. He had realized she was not an outsider nor a stranger looking in, but a part of this. Just as much a part as Severance and him.

  ?“You are right. I was going to, but not anymore. If you want to join, you can. I won't let my ideals stop yours."

  ?Aisha looked up with a glimmer in her eyes as she threw her hand around his neck in a warm embrace. The hug surprised Blade, yet the warmth made him unconsciously replicate the hug.

  ?Severance looked at them, a true smile spreading on her face as she observed the little family they made.

  ?After a while, the hug ended, as Blade let Aisha sit on his arm.

  ?“What's the plan then, master?"

  ?“Well, the ideal would be getting information about where to go next. The goal would be finding out where Raiden is.”

  ?“I can use my familiars to scout the area.”

  ?Aisha offered, though she was shot down by Blade as he said.

  ?“I don't want to exhaust your mora, and I doubt she would be nearby.”

  ?“Would she not most likely be with the overseer?”

  ?At the words, both Blade and Aisha looked at Severance, who continued explaining.

  ?“Remember? Aisha said the overseer offered Raiden to work for her. And we can guess she had accepted, even if it was against her will, by how she took Aisha's voice. Therefore, wouldn't the place she would stay most likely be by the overseer’s side?”

  ?It made sense, though they did not have much more time to think. Glowing light, only rivaled by the light that had signaled Iris’ death, shot down like a beam from the sky. From it stepped glowing white guards out, surrounding them quickly after.

  ?“Stop! You are all arrested on the suspicion of killing the selector.”