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Linkers part 2

“Her strong emotions, the feeling of attachment to life manifested themselves in her spirit and she began her afterlife in a form different, separate of her own body.” Dr. Licht continued in a solemn voice, the image of the hospital and the systems that were attached to his wife, that clear image was created thanks to their technique that brought their story to life…

“Booooring! We know exactly how a Weapon is created! There’s no need to explain it to us like we’re toddlers!” Sora spoke with a grouchy voice and interrupted the technique, his loudness made it impossible for the teacher to continue…

They lost focus… many students turned to glare at Sora who ignored them wholeheartedly. Meanwhile Dante felt apologetic and began giving out pitiful looks towards his fellow classmates.

“I see… you all here probably have Linkers as well. So better than anyone you all know these brimming emotions, right?” Dr. Licht didn’t seem to be angry at the sudden interruption. What’s more he seemed to be welcoming it with open arms.

“Of course!” Sora remarked while leaning back with his chair. “I don’t need a pointless lecture like this one to tell me things I already know.” He continued, not minding the numerous gazes that fell onto him one after another.

“Sora, that’s enough, don’t ruin this for me…” Dante warned him with a pleading look.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Sora retorted while glaring at his friend. Dante felt a sense of panic run down his spine, he didn’t want to be kicked out of the special class just because of this…

“Dante, Sora, come to the front, I want you two to be a part of the demonstration I will do now.” Suddenly Dr. Licht called out for them and they stood up almost at the same time.

“Look what you did! Now we’re going to get scolded.” Dante remarked in a quiet whisper he was both angry and annoyed.

“He said it’s a demonstration, weren’t you listening at all?” Sora scoffed as he moved out of his seat and with his hands shoved within his pockets. Dante walked in front of him as it was customary for the master to have it’s weapon in the back to protect them…

Chapter 3: Strength (3)

***

“You two seemed to have a particular issue with each other… Your bond is strong but it seems to clash most of the time, so as your individual characters… I’ve never really seen such a peculiarity before.” Dr. Licht spoke to them about it once more.

Dante had that same eagerness he wanted to tell him why. “Right… it’s because-” He was interrupted.

“Don’t tell him! I don’t want him to butt into our business…” Sora growled almost like an angry Doberman with his ears pulled back. He was obviously weary and cautious of that teacher for some reason.

“Sora…?” Dante who hadn’t seen his friend this irritated in a while paused to look at him and call out his name, but he was ignored completely.

Dr. Licht shook his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to interrogate you two. Please summon your weapon and stand in battle position.” He requested with a hearty smile and he went to stand next to his wife who patiently waited with her own careful expression.

Dante was hesitant. “Sir, I’m not too sure about this.” After all he was quite skilled and he didn’t wish to fight here. He respected his teacher but the truth is that he didn’t look strong now which might be due to his age or the fact he’s retired now. Dante didn’t want to pause him harm.

“Do it, if he wants to fight, we’ll show him this old guy has nothing left to teach us.” Sora remarked as he grabbed his friend’s arm and locked eyes with him with a strong aura emitting from his very being.

“Overconfident aren’t you Sora?” Cassandra’s soft voice penetrated the young irritated boy’s ears. Her words which by no means wanted to make him feel bad were simply her expressing an observation she made.

“Don’t call my name, it’s disgusting hearing it from your lips.” Sora disregarded the woman and stared down the professor. Somehow he looked down on her more than him, probably because of what he’d just witnessed happening between then before class started.

“To think we have a Master weapon user who can’t even control his own weapon…” Cassandra continued in the same soft, unhurried manner that made her seem like she was in no rush whatsoever. She transformed with a quick jump in the air, and her form of a beautiful glowing woman’s curvy figure, quickly turned to an old style Japanese sword that was engraved with a dragon like figure along it’s length. A sharp blade that penetrated easily through anything it’s master desired it to.

“Fight me seriously, alright kids?” Dr. Licht asked of them not to hold back with anything. “This is going to be a real sparring session so give out all that you can at this moment…” He encouraged them.

Sora transformed into his weapon form quickly as well, unlike the elegant long sword that Cassandra was, he was but a small knife. His transformation however also allowed him to multiply, so that a hoard of small knifes could be used in battle. “You’re going to die if we get serious!” His aura that glowed in a bright purple color was different from the soft blue that radiated from Cassandra’s weapon.

“If that’s what the professor wants I will try!” Dante felt encouraged and decided to take this seriously as he took his stance. They were ready to battle, his weapon falling into his hands he held onto the multiple knifes strongly.

As the fight began, it ended almost 10 seconds later…

For Cassandra and Dr. Licht’s movements were both graceful, in synch and most of all, fluid in motion. The way they moved back and forth without a single misstep, and the way they avoided each one of the other’s attacks were as if they were expecting them. But it wasn’t that they had incredible foresight, but simply fast reaction time that allowed both of them to avoid having any injuries inflicted on themselves. And in turn they avoided fighting the kids head on, as each time Dr Licht would attack it would be with the blunt handle of the sword that Cassandra was… And the results of the battle were settled…

“Whoa…” Quiet cheers of amazement could be heard throughout the classroom.

“As for your next assignment, I want every Link pair to get in touch with another of the same size. Meaning if you are one master and one weapon, you find another duo like yourself. If you are a master with two weapons you find another one. Alright? This isn’t only for our class either, I have given the same instructions to the rest of the course, so you may choose from the other three classes besides yourself as well.” As Dr. Licht spoke, his weapon Cassandra transformed back into her human form and stood proudly next to him, although a bit bashful maybe from the fight.

“Are you kids alright?” Cassandra’s eyes slowly wandered towards Sora and Dante who had positively eaten cement laying face down on the concrete floor. She extended her hand towards them. Her longish white dress fluttering with each of her movements.

“We don’t need your help.” Sora pushed the woman’s hand aside and stood up on his own, then picked up Dante who was still in a gaze. They went back to their seats soon after…

“As for you two, the ones I sparred with. I need you to work on your teamwork when you find your other pair, alright?” Dr. Licht spoke to them last, in front of the entirety of the classroom as a finishing blow to both of their self esteem.

Dante nodded his head along eagerly, meanwhile Sora felt the weight of the events that had transpired and his own helplessness and weakness at that moment were far too apparent for his own liking…

Chapter 4: Strenght (4)

***

After suffering such a humiliating loss, anyone would feel back but both Sora and Dante, despite everything else, didn’t seem to be in too horrible of shape.

“Hey, have you decided who to partner up with already?” One of their friends from another class, Verosika spoke to them. Verosika had this soft expression on her face but her aura glowed in orange. She was wearing the white uniform which instantly separated her as a weapon, however she didn’t have a Master.

It wasn’t uncommon for those that have manifested as weapons to be without a master due to various circumstances… and since a weapon so unique existence couldn’t be ended by any normal means, such cases had no other choice but to seek a Master that may be suitable to them.

“I would offer to help you out but I still don’t have a partner myself.” Verosika had a pitiful look on her face.

“It’s alright, we can just take whoever’s left over.” Dante said without breaking a sweat and Sora nodded along.

“You two, you don’t seem too disappointed? I mean that fight was intense, wasn’t it?” Verosika asked them and tilted her head to the side with a bit of a wondering look in her eyes.

“It’s whatever… I couldn’t care less for one loss… since…” Sora glanced over at Dante who looked excited as ever. “Next time for sure, we’re going to beat them and wipe the floor with them…” He spoke overconfidently.

“Hm?” Verosika never really managed to understand this strange duo that always seemed to be able to communicate with each other without that much effort, without the need for words… what a strange bond they had.

“I heard someone here doesn’t have a partner, may I suggest myself?” Suddenly a boy dressed all in black walked towards them ever so confidently.

All thee of them stared back at him, waiting for an introduction.

“My name is James, I’d like to become your partner. Watching you two fight back there… it was quick but I saw it, I saw how you were moving, for each second passed you did about five separate movements, they were so quick that the untrained eye wouldn’t be able to see them at all!” James spoke as if he had been observing them carefully. “So what do you say?”

“No.” Sora refused instantly.

“Why not?!” James asked with an anger filled voice.

“I want a girl, not another guy, ew…” Sora continued as he stepped back not allowing the man to lay a single finger on him. All the while he still had his hands firmly planted in his pockets.

“I think it’s alright with me if Verosika wants him too…” Dante said with a cheerful voice as he glanced towards the girl.

“I’m fine, but I wonder if we’d be able to work together…” Verosika felt a bit uneasy, knowing that not all weapons and Masters were compatible.

“It’s alright! See I’m a bit special!” James remarked eagerly.

“A bit dense is what you are.” Sora remarked with a long sigh that followed. “I don’t want another guy in the team, that makes us three, it’s a sausage fest at this point…” He continued with the motivation of a cat going to the vet. That is to say he was vehemently against it. “I don’t want you here.” He repeated himself once more even more clearly than before so that there may be no misunderstanding at all.

“What I mean is… I can operate with any weapon no matter how complex! It’s my ability as a weapon user. So Ver… can I call you that? I think I will be able to work with you just fine.” James explained with a quickness of a womanizer losing his opportunity with another girl.

“If that’s the case then… let’s do it! Let’s all work together and get a good grade!” Verosika said excitedly. Meanwhile Dante only gave a complicated smile.

“I’m still against it… but I guess none of you are asking me about my opinion.” Sora said as he trusted his hands into his pockets once more. He headed down the corridor and Dante walked after him.

“Are you upset with me?” Dante asked him with a careful and gentle sounding voice.

“You were going to tell that teacher our secret, right?” Sora asked as he stopped mid hallway and turned to face his friend. “You didn’t even hesitate about it…” He spoke with a certain air of reprimand clear in his voice.

“That’s because… I thought he might be able to tell us something we don’t know… if it was someone else I wouldn’t have been so eager to-” Dante was all put stopped in his tracks as Sora moved closer to him, their faced so close to one another they could feel each other’s breath.

“If you can’t even keep your mouth shut about something so important… how am I supposed to allow you to use me as a weapon? Someone so untrustworthy should just hurry up and die, so I can go and find myself another Master…” Sora’s words were extremely cruel. He then quickly turned on his heels and walked away.

Leaving Dante with a pain struck expression standing there… “If I could do that… don’t you think I would have already?” Dante quietly murmured under his breath, the other man wasn’t able to hear him, his voice being lost and carried by the wind until it completely disappeared…

END of Linkers