Chapter 20: Chapter 20 – Cause I’ve Got Issues, But You’ve Got Them Too

The rest of our shopping trip was uneventful. We went to some smithies and bought a variety of weapons. I had no idea what I wanted to use, so I decided to save money by getting items of low to middling quality. Then, after a brief meal, we returned to the hotel.

At this point, Lydia’s battle mania could no longer be suppressed, so we went to the hotel's training facilities. They were an impressive sight: several large gymnasiums full of people exercising, running obstacle courses and sparring. I could feel power surging and receding with the movements of those in the rooms. It had a beauty all of its own.

Unfortunately, they were not our destination. We continued past those halls to a null damage room. It cost a great deal, but we needed both the privacy of a separate space and a safety cushion in the event, or likelihood, that I did something stupid. An attendant came with us to explain the room's features and how to select and generate various lesser cored monsters. When he was sure we understood the room’s mechanics, he left.

Lydia and I quickly fell into a rhythm. I’d select a weapon, fight enough to generate the skill, and use Autodidact to raise it to level 5. Then, I’d train Lydia to level one in the skill, so she could determine how she felt about it. We practiced this way for hours. I had initially worried about Lydia's stamina, but she only seemed to grow more enthusiastic with each skill. Eventually, something unexpected occurred. After I raised my 6th variety of sword (the katana) to level 5, a notification flashed in my field of view.

Congratulations, You have unlocked the Skill: Bladed Weapon Mastery.

Bladed Weapon Mastery: Skill governing the understanding of the principles underlying the use and development of bladed weapons. (1/10).

Skill detected, “Autodidact,” would you like to transfer 2000 experience points to level Bladed Weapon Mastery? Y/N.

That was… far more expensive to level than other skills that I had learned, but I needed to know what it did, so I raised it to level five. The rush of knowledge was tremendous, far in excess of what I had ever experienced before, even when raising other skills to level 10. It was a truly fascinating ability. I now understood the intention behind different varieties of bladed weapons at a theoretical level. For example, how a weapon's weight and center of balance would change the most effective combat stance or how the best angle of attack changed with the degree of blade’s curve. In effect, I had just gained proficiency in every bladed weapon. It didn't provide better technique with any individual one than the specific skill did, but it greatly supplemented them, creating a more cohesive style. While I was trying to be less impulsive with my learning binges (a level 5 understanding was enough for most skills), I decided that this was a skill worth mastering.

I raised it to ten and learned a simple truth: none of these weapons were acceptable. They failed to take into account my strengths, my weaknesses, and my predilections. None of them could unleash my potential. Any attempt to use my true power would destroy the weapon outright. I knew there was a sword design (shape, materials, and forging technique) that could suit my needs, but I could not grasp its design. Likely, my lack of knowledge on material science, forging, physics, and magic made me inadequate for the task.

I set the bladed weapons aside, having learned what I was going to learn about them. They were not a proper fit for me, at least not for now. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, they did not resonate with me. I needed to forge my own path, and they were not it. However, I wondered if I could teach Bladed Weapon Mastery to others directly, skipping the prerequisites. Also, if I could do that, would I run the risk of accidentally teaching it by merely discussing sword fighting? Needing to run an experiment, I asked Lydia to sit and listen but did not explain what I was doing so as to not taint the results. She did not take it well.

“Seriously? We’re on such a roll! I’m learning so fast! Can’t you feel we’re on the cusp of something! Lydia's voice brimmed with energy. She was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, and her eyes were as bright as I’d ever seen. It was actually a bit unnerving.

“Aren’t you the one who wanted to be my disciple?”

“I said student.”

“What's the difference?”

Lydia's expression morphed from enthusiasm to annoyance. “Disciples are supposed to follow their master's commands and emulate their life principles. Do you seriously think you have your shit together enough for that?” Her tone was far more barbed than normal for our banter.

“One, ouch. Two, fair. And three, I didn’t know that. But kindly shut up and listen. I promise it will be worth your time.”

“Fine.” Lydia growled before sitting.

I spent the next hour explaining my insight into the sword, but consciously trying to repress Great Teacher. Even without a skill generating, Lydia lost her look of frustration and paid rapt attention. At the conclusion of that hour, I stopped repressing the ability and began a new lecture. About an hour later, I had nearly given up when her whole body dropped and began to convulse. She shook wildly, yet regained her blissful smile from earlier. I rushed over, but it stopped as suddenly as it had started. She was lying on her back, glassy eyed, and grinning. “What the fuck was that?” she asked.

“I take it you just learned Bladed Weapon Mastery?”

“Yes, that was… unlike anything I ever felt.” She shot to a sitting position. “I NEED more.” Lydia fidgeted, as though unable to contain something inside her. Her eyes turned manic, and her smile descended into hunger.

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“I think… maybe… we should hold off until tomorrow. You seem unwell.”

“I’m fine! We can’t stop!” Lydia shouted in my face. “I’ll know when I’ve had enough so maybe you should shut the fu- ''

She paused, suddenly trembling. Her head slumped, and she sat silently. The quiet spoke volumes. After what felt like an eternity, she whispered, “I’m so sorry. I don’t know where that came from. I think you're right.”

I hugged her as reassuringly as I could. “It’s okay. Let’s get you back to the room.”

Lydia stood on her own, but was unsteady, so I helped her walk. She continued to apologize profusely, clearly shaken. I told her not to worry and that she just needed some rest. We got her to her bed, and she passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow.

I moved to the living room and sank into the couch.

‘So… what the fuck? I’ve never seen Lydia behave like that. Maybe she’s sick. We have gone to some fairly disgusting places recently. I should get her looked at tomorrow. Although, that almost felt like… looking at a junkie. I wonder… she did learn a lot of skills very fast. Probably more than anyone has ever learned in that short a time in the world. Well, other than me, but I hardly count. There’s leveling sickness, is there skill sickness? I’ll have to look into it. Regardless, no more skill training for her for the foreseeable future.’

That decided, there were still several hours left for training in the null damage room, so I decided to go back and continue. As I headed for the door, I turned to look at her room.

‘Huh, it feels so strange. This will actually be the first time I’ve been apart from Lydia since I came to this world.’

I headed to the exit, but I noticed my heart rate increase.

‘That’s unusual, did my heart always beat that way? Is there something wrong with it? Probably not. It’s only a minor deviation.’

I put my hand on the door knob and felt my pulse begin to race.

‘Okay, that's definitely not normal. Fuck, am I sick? I skilled up far more than her. Maybe It's more side effects?”

I gently put my head against the door, taking slow heavy breaths.

I probably just need some rest. Besides, I definitely should not leave Lydia alone in her condition. What if something happens? ‘I’ll stay. Training can wait for the morning.’

With the decision made and my steady breathing, I felt my pulse begin to ease and return to normal. I touched my hand to my head. It was moist.

‘When did that happen? Whatever.’

I felt more and more relief as I walked away from the door. Reaching the bed, exhaustion caught up with me, and It was not long before I was asleep as well.

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