Progress

A few hours before...

I was on a big bird, being guided by a soldier, while on its tail the body of Mr. Bricius was being carried. We descended to a small mountain.

"You can wait here!" I said to the soldier guiding the animal.

I entered a small cave, carrying his body in my arms wrapped in a cloth. I walked through the cave, which began to grow larger and more spacious.

"I apologize for using your burial as an excuse to come here." I put his body on the ground, took the shovel, and started digging a hole. "I also ask you to forgive me for having to bury you here. But given the circumstances and what I intend to do, I know that Mr. Bricius would understand."

I finished burying him. So I went on through the cave.

"60 steps to the right, there was a drawing of a whirlwind on the wall."

I saw it and touched it. Then I said, "O Fragarach, the sword of retaliation, answer my call."

Then, the stone shone, and a fire began to materialize above me as a flame of light which later took the form of the sword itself. Then finally, in the form of a sword, it came to my hand and I held it.

I immediately heard a voice in my mind:
"This is the Fragarach sword, one of thirteen sacred artifacts. Its powers consist of:
1 - Ability to control the winds like a normal user, but without using Numen.
2 - The Ability to cut anything when a cut is made, physically or using Numen.
3 - Paralyze any person once, when the sword is pointed at the target’s neck, at a distance of 2 meters, temporarily weakening them until they truly answer a question that the swordsman asks."

"However, as a cost for the powers granted, the user must surrender the time of his remaining life in exchange for the use of the sword. One hour of sword use is equivalent to 5 years of the swordsman's life. Do you accept these terms?"

I understand... Now it makes sense that this sword was never found and those who knew the secret of its location never dared to use it. The cost is too high.

"I accept the terms."

Then the sheath of the sword appeared before me, materializing.

"Put the sword in the scabbard and then you will officially be its bearer. Each time you unsheath your sword, the timer will be activated, and powers will be granted to you. You can only remove it from the sheath and store it once a day to activate and deactivate its operation. If you don't have the sword nearby, simply summon it mentally, and it will come to you."

I see...

Now...

There were two men in front of a large door, which seemed to be made of a reinforced material, some kind of metal, that I had never seen before.

They came at me... Both of them seemed to have an Ability of the vital energy type.

"Air Ability! Mortal blow style! Windshear!!!"

I used two cuts in the air at a distance with the sword, one on each, and the two were quickly defeated with a great impact. Both fell to the ground.

"Usually, attacks like this take a lot of energy, but, well, I have to enjoy the advantages of the sword. You two, stay down there. If you move too much, you’ll die soon."

Moves like this have a very strong cut, but executing it from that distance takes a lot of energy, and I need to be sure the opponent won’t dodge. My only concern is to control the angle of the cut, since there are still people behind that door that I want to save, although it seems to be quite resilient. Anyway, it’s not worth the risk...

I touched the wall. It seemed to have no doorknob, no secret to open.

"BRIGID, MEGAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME!" I shouted.

Apparently not. I’ll cut it.

I made an X-shaped cutting motion and cut the door. By the thickness, this one is made of a very strong material, so with all this building it’s made. Why did they do something like that in the past? Well, it doesn’t matter now.

I kicked the door, and it fell slowly. So I went in.

Brigid and Megan were hugging in fear. They saw me and were happy.

"I said he would come and try to save us," Brigid said to Megan in surprise.

"You did come," said Megan.

"I’m sorry. If I hadn’t failed at that time, you wouldn’t be in this."

"Forget that. You were arrested like all of us, and in the end you came to save us. It’s okay," Megan said.

"That," Brigid said with tears in her eyes, almost embracing me.

I looked at that place where they were. It was quite big, it didn’t seem to be a bedroom.

"It’s quite big, this one, isn’t it?" said Megan, looking at the back of the place.

There was a table in the back, with several chairs, besides the beds.

"Yes," I said.

"What about Wini?" Megan said, changing the subject desperately.

"I am going where she is now," I said, and continued. "I came here to see if you two are safe and well, but I believe I should go alone to her on the next floor. It will be safer for you to stay here."

"No way!" Megan protested. "We are coming too. You know she’s being forced to help them. If we go with you, she’ll see that we’re free and we can help her."

"Yes, let us help you save her," Brigid added.

"You are sure?" I said.

"Yes!" Brigid replied.

"Sure," said Megan.

"All right, so let’s go to the fourth floor. Follow me and stay behind me."

We reached the fourth floor, going up the stairs apprehensively. I expected there were more enemies above. Everything was empty, there was no one else. There was a large hall with only one gate at the end.

Then the gate of that great hall opened. And a voice that seemed to be modified, that seemed to come from all over that great hall, said:

"Come on in, let’s not waste any more time."

That easy? Something’s weird.

"You two, wait here. I’ll go ahead," I said to Megan and Brigid.

Then I took calm steps towards that door.

What is going on here? What’s their plan?

Then I came to the great door.

"Wait, what’s that?" I said, terrified.