"I have called you here to proceed with your first lesson. You better be grateful I'm teaching you something like this because I have not taught this to anybody before," The woman sighed while leaning forward. She almost seemed reluctant to teach me as she lifted up both of her hands and then sharpened them into two fingers on each side.
"Master, may I ask a question?"
"Hm? What is it?"
"Do you want to teach me? For a while now, you seem to be regretting teaching me… would you rather teach Orion? Have him as your disciple? I wouldn't mind… he's strong and good at listening while I'm still struggling to understand your words and teachings… I feel like he's a better candidate."
"That's true…" my master muttered, causing me to drift my eyes to the ground, but upon clicking her tongue, she pointed her fingers in front of me and then proceeded to lift my eyes up to her own face. "... But I chose you, didn't I? If I chose based on initial strength, I wouldn't have even bothered considering you or Orion… so be proud you're my student. I've just been a bit tired as of lately since regenerating my strength has been taking more and more energy… so please don't misunderstand and know that you're my student, and I'm proud to have a student like you."
"..."
"What's wrong?" She asked as I sat there, staring right at her with my mouth slightly open. It felt as if all of my worries had rushed out of me the second she uttered those words. It was an incredible feeling that made me feel so relieved.
"..."
"I won't abandon you. I won't leave you. I just want to help you," She smiled, causing my emotionless eyes to crumble and my head droop down. "I understand why you're feeling so anxious. Your mother abandoned you, your father was never there, and your grandpa died… I can understand where you're coming from, so don't be anxious."
"Thank you."
There was a long pause between us as I continued to stare at the ground. I felt a fountain of tears well up inside of me, yet somehow, they didn't come out. They just hung there on my eyelids, moistening them until I closed them once more.
"Now, let me teach you something for once. A technique that is used for swords and swords only."
"But, I use daggers… how would that even help me?"
"What are you talking about? Didn't those daggers turn into swords?"
"Yeah, but that only happens when I activate my throne world."
"Well, you're a smart girl. I'm sure you'll figure out how to spin it in a way that helps you… or you could always ask Orion. He's pretty smart as well," my teacher smirked, clearly trying to fire me up with a few useless taunts.
"No need… just show me," I firmed my eyes and looked at her as both hands once again curled into a fist with only the middle and pointer fingers stretching outwards. It almost looked like she had formed a blade out of her hands.
"Then pay attention."
Her hand gracefully fell down, seemingly causing the entire world to slow down with it. It was flawless, effortless… beautiful. It was flawless the way her flesh carved a sword form into the air with just her fingers. It was effortless the way the entire world seemingly adjusted to her fingers. It was beautiful the way everything came together, slicing through my vision.
I was speechless by the time she finished. Her hands fell down to her sides, and her eyes softened as if letting go of the focus she just emitted.
"Did you comprehend it?"
"I mean, I saw it. I can probably replicate it if I had a sword, but what do you mean by comprehend?"
"Let me teach you one more thing… but about the system. The system is an entity, and it communicates through your status, through your skills, and through the experience points that you use to grow. And the forms that you have: [Ghost of Ice Skills], [Apostle Blessed Skills], and even your [Rune Path]."
"So… what does that mean?"
"That means each time you look at your status, use the system, acquire new skills and XP, you are communicating with it. It's a message. Everything your status is a message, and the forms that you use are messages to you… and do you comprehend them? What they're saying?"
"You're just spewing bullshit… what do you mean comprehend them? Message?"
"Quiet and listen to me," The demon god sternly raised her voice, and as her pressure began to claw at the back of my neck, I shut my mouth and just continued to listen to her. "Now, answer me. Do you comprehend them or understand what each form is saying?"
"You just told me not to-" Her pressure raised once again. "Sorry… ummm… I don't."
"Good, then try to figure out what they're saying. Don't just use the form, but understand it down to how it moves your mana and how it appears in front of you… got it?"
"Yes, ma'am…" I sighed.
"*sigh*... You're lucky we just had a heartfelt conversation. Otherwise, your ass would be swinging your daggers until your arms fall off."
"..."
"Tsk… don't look at me with those eyes," The demon god clicked her tongue as I attempted to use the best puppy eyes I could muster. This was to make sure I wasn't gonna start swinging until my arms fell off, as I know how easily she can change her mind. "Okay, okay, I get it…."
"You're a great Master," I smiled.
The woman just scoffed before slowly getting up from her seat, and as I also stood up to follow her, she grabbed a cold cup of tea that was lying on her bedside table and handed it to me. And as I grabbed it, I already anticipated what she was going to say.
"I'll refill it with some hotter tea."
And as I began walking out of the room, I heard her say something strange.
"Be careful of Orion. An apotheosis into godhood causes horrible dissociation."
