Tama

  “Again” Sensei yelled as I finished my one thousand strikes. I winced and my arms almost fell off. I managed to raise them again when a voice spoke.

  “You call that an apprentice? You gave up on all of us for that thing? She can’t even raise her wooden sword right.” The voice was mean and I turned without thinking.

  A growl on my lips. I felt a sharp pain as Sensei punished me for looking away from my enemy. I instantly turned back and raised my hands weakly again.

  “That’s what this has come too? Bullying a child Crivar? I thought I trained you better. But alas, it seems failure is all you are good for.” Sensei spoke, his words calm, yet painful.

  He always had a way with words like that.. always had..

  I snapped awake panting. I reached for Serenity, but she wasn’t there and I paled before forming a dagger. “Calm down Tama, it’s going to be okay!” Saki’s voice cut through and the dagger fell apart in my hand.

  I smiled weakly as she came into view. I couldn’t see super well, and everything hurt so much. But I survived. Still… I winced at the memory. He hadn’t just won, he had done so easily and without me even touching him.

  Saki had made a comment about how I could easily have killed Reedril back in Muosil. That wasn’t true.

  Reedril would have won, but it would have been a touch fight with him only being level sixty. I couldn’t count that high, but I had killed things at his level before.. barely.

  Crivar was different, as a Cheetakin, his natural speed was way higher than mine by default. He kept training even after Sensei left him. So he had only grown stronger. When I last saw him I was only seven. He was forty-six back then. He is seventy-two now. I never stood a chance.

  I was scared for Saki and Lyran, what if he came for them? Did he know where I was now?

  I tried to get up, but felt a strong arm on my shoulder push me down gently. I left it and looked up to see Aunt Talia.

  She looked at me with worry. “Where did he go Tama?” was all she said. I shook my head, causing pain everywhere again and I almost cried. Sensei’s training kicked in and no tears came out.

  “Tama moved away really fast using Lyran’s thingy.” I said I held back a cough.

  “Indeed she did, ran like a coward. But that’s to be expected. Probably the only wise thing she did in that fight.”

  Crivar’s voice cut through the church and I felt Aunt Talia’s hand tighten. “Oh relax Matriarch, I know better than to pick a fight in this little town of yours.”

  He emphasized the word town and Aunt Talia’s hand tightened slightly.

  “You aren’t allowed here, Crivar, you know that.” Aunt Talia spoke. Her voice was calm, but there was violence in it, like she had taken a weapon and used it as her voice.

  “So cold, it's just a little visit. I am not here to fight. Unless you want casualties? Maybe this town can become a village.” He said in a cheerful tone that made me sick.

  I tried to stand, but Talia held me still. She spoke quietly. “Don’t do it

  ? Saki, It isn’t worth it, not here.”

  “I heard she was the smart one, yet you have to tell her to stand down? Sounds like emotions rule her more than logic.” came the worthless monster's response.

  I tried to stand again, but Aunt Talia’s hand tightened hard and I winced, unable to fight it. “Anything else, or did you just come to pick on everyone around you?

  Can’t say much has changed. Same failure as always.” Aunt Talia said. I heard a growl from Crivar and I sensed Aunt Talia’s hammer appear. “Try it, Crivar, watch what happens.” was all she said.

  Silence filled the area for what felt like an eternity, then Saki spoke “I can see why Tama’s Sensei dropped you.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  It seems you can’t handle someone your own size and you enjoy bullying those weaker than you. Not very Ninja-like qualities I must say.”

  “Shut up half breed! I saw your little shape shifting Kitsune, think me blind? I don’t listen to lying tricksters. I am surprised the townspeople even give you the time of day. Oh wait, that’s probably because your pet Princess probably protects you.” Crivar snorted at the end showing his amusement. He thought himself clever. I would kill him for this, Manna, then him.

  No one threatened Saki. Lyran suddenly spoke up to my surprise. “How does it feel knowing you beat up a young girl and threatened an entire city.” He emphasized the word city and I could hear his disdain. “People like you are why people like Tama and Matriarch Talia are necessary. You might look like a person, but underneath you are nothing but a monster to be slain.”

  My water had finally healed me enough that my vision had returned. I turned my head to see Crivar standing in the middle of the church. Casually leaning against a pet and holding one of those book things.

  Aunt Talia and Saki were next to me. Saki had all nine tails out and was covering me with all of them. Aunt Talia had her hammer in one hand, and the other was on my shoulder holding me down.

  “Anyways, I don’t really have time to deal with children in the kiddie pool. I just came to see how the only graduated Ninja from the legendary swordsman held up.

  Honestly, not impressed. Maybe I was better off without him.” Crivar’s words dripped with mirth.

  The next few seconds happened all at once as I forced Aunt Talia’s hand off of me, used blink, and punched Crivar in the face hard, causing him to fly out of the church and into the city street.

  “Void below Tama!” Aunt Talia screeched at me as her hammer activated and she jumped out of the church after him.

  I tried to blink but everything suddenly felt heavy and I fell to my knees. I coughed hard and blood splattered on the church floor. “Tama!” Saki cried out as she rushed over to me and began pulling me back towards the altar.

  Multiple healers were standing behind the altar, it appeared they must have been trying to heal me when Crivar showed up. All four rushed forward and helped Saki get me back by the altar. I felt as their elements started to heal me again, slowly.

  There was a loud crash outside and I barely heard Aunt Talia’s voice as she screamed “You better fucking run!”

  Then everything went black again.

  I watched as Crivar was smashed through multiple trees only to appear next to Sensei. I wasn’t able to see most of the fight, but Sensei easily defeated Crivar with barely any effort. Crivar was thrown to the ground ragged, panting, bruised, and cut up all over. He looked at death's door.

  Sensei looked down at him and said “I would spit, but that would be wasteful. Crivar, You once had so much potential. But you have shown yourself as nothing more than a bully and a coward.

  Running away from the demon lord fight in front of the castle was pathetic. But your worst crime by far was the people you betrayed. Your death isn’t worth the blood on my blade. Tama is twice the man you will never be and she is a little girl.

  This is your last warning. Never return Crivar, or maybe next time, I’ll have Tama kill you for me.”

  Crivar growled as he stood and pulled out a bottle with red stuff in it. He drank it all quickly and Sensei snorted. “Of course, you can’t even be bothered to learn from your mistakes. A little pain and you grab a health potion.

  I wonder what your team could have done with the potions you had if you hadn’t left them to die.”

  “They were weak!” Crivar snarled at Sensei. I stepped forward, but water chains held me down. “They should have been more than able to handle it, I was scouting!”

  Sensei’s face went red, he looked very upset. “Scouting? In the wrong direction? In the middle of a large-scale war?!

  Crivar, even after all this time you truly do not see what you are. I only pray for someone with more mercy than me who eventually puts you out of your misery.”

  I strained against the water chains to hurt this man who insulted Sensei, but the chains were too strong. I pushed anyway in vain. I would not let him leave alive! Before I could free myself, Crivar the coward ran away.

  Sensei turned to me and the chains fell away. He looked at me worriedly and whispered to me “Wake up Tama. Wake up”

  I looked at him confused and asked “What?”

  He grabbed my shoulders and started to shake me violently “WAKE UP TAMA!” He yelled.

  I jerked awake at the altar in the church.

  I felt so tired. I closed my eyes to rest more as I laid back down. As I did I heard Saki’s voice and my cat ears perked up. “But why send Crivar after us if she could just do it herself?” Saki asked someone.

  Aunt Talia responded in an annoyed tone. “Because she quite literally can’t. You see, there is a trade off for all of Mantheria’s power. She is given it as the guardian of a very special shrine.

  A shrine her entire flight has protected for many millennia. Her tribe has always been a protector and a facilitator of the Goddess of Creation.”

  Chapter 124: An Ironic Twist