My Parasite Skill System

That swordsman–I didn't like him:

He outdid me; got behind me; got his foot up–and pushed me down to the ground.

"Wha– ouch!"

"Bad, bad, bad!" that swordsman chuckled, amused.

I clicked my tongue again–I must've loved doing that–formed a ball with my fist and hit the ground, frustrated.

"No, no, no, I told you! Don't you grow impatient, youth. … After so many efforts you'd give me 'this,' huh?"

"An– and– and–" I stuttered, getting myself back up, and turning towards him, "why'd you even push me down like that, hah??–you're the bad one, sir!" I complained.

"And what was that, eh? With your hand?"

"You're the bad one!"

"Never mind that for now–you fell pretty hard: are you all right? Get up, come on."

"I'll– I'll get up even if you don't tell me!"

"Sure. Don't get up, then."

"Aah!" I then sighed.

"So you're all right. Great."

By now, I'd completely lifted myself up. As I was turned towards him, I leaned in, picked back my sword.

On my face seemed to be much frustration and irritation.

"Hey, hey … are your eyes going to kill me if not your sword…?"

"Of course not!"

"… then, you wipe that off your face. Just now, kinda was worried about you, I'll have you know."

"Aah!" and I sighed again.

My eyes aren't going to kill that person. My sword was supposed to do that. My eyes aren't even sharp like a sword–

"Your eyes … so sharp, youth!... please, don't…!"

They aren't. Again, that sword I'm holding with this weak hand of mine was the one supposed to get that done. My eyes aren't sharp, and they can't kill anyone–

"Your eyes, youth … don– don't kill me…!"

Tsk. And what is he on about, now, playing the clowns and monkeys with me??

"Haha– hah … stop that, this isn't funny."

I was frustrated–but I quickly forgot about it. Only partially, though. Still was a lot angry.

"Hehe," and that swordsman rubbed his nose, "but I see you lighten up a little, though, right?"

"No! … No fun at all."

"Hm. Well, then I'm having a problem."

And what kind of problem would that even be? I was the one who had a problem, I'll have you know, Instructor.

After all these efforts. 'This much effort,' to quote his own words–and it still wasn't enough. Argh, and though funny that man might be; I still was getting irritated by my whole affair here.

But that man's looks weren't so stern and condescending anymore. At least there was that. And he acknowledged I'd put on great efforts, just now. So that's that, too.

He was kind of like Old in these regards, that swordsman–a flipping coin.

Absolutely, a flipping coin. With two faces. One bright side, and a dark one. One warm and very much kind, against one stern, self-sufficient, and very scorning.

So … that was that. I wasn't so pissed off. This could be 'okay.'

But still: my whole affair here, what of it? From the looks of it–I am not dumb–I can't really get him to pull that skill off again in front of my eyes to see.

Irritation started to build up again from within me. And just like a container full of water that didn't stop, it spilled–I spilled.

Being thus, facing him and standing, I let myself drop on the ground at once. Going with me, my sword followed. I let it all go. Being so thick-headed won't do me no good!

"Being so thick-headed won't do me no good, YES!" I shouted, insisting.

"… Try to keep it down, though, youth. … Giving up yet?"

I shook my head. It was true I should keep it down… "But it is not true I am giving up yet."

It wasn't true at all. I rather was giving up never. "Okay?"

"… You 'okay' me? You're weird."

"Like I said, though!... me, it's true I should keep it down; doesn't Old sipping says himself, ahem: 'Unnecessarily loud voices make for unnecessary annoyance, young man;' so here you are, being right. … But it's true you should keep yourself down, too."

"… ah?"

"Do please sit, swordsman."

"Ah."

"And keep at it," I added.

"Sure."

And he sat. And he kept at it.

"You and I are sitting, now. … Yes?"

"Yes."

"Ahem. … Did I fight well?"

"Yes."

"Who wouldn't think that; yes!!!–I mean, ahem … yes?... you think so?"

"I think so."

"Heh, knew it. … And you don't think I'm being funny right now, though … obviously."

"Yes I do."

"No! … And this wasn't even a question."

"But I thought it was–"

"–Anyway, anyway; more importantly, you and I are sitting right now. … Yes we are. And … from where do we start?

"To be honest–I think you're too strong. … Only probably, though. (Still think I'm stronger). But this is that. You're too strong, swordsman. I acknowledged you. I simply must. I'd be a fool to do otherwise.

"But anyway, again, (many 'anyways,' yes)–and so, where do I really start, swordsman?"

He and I sat together. As he usually did, formally, his knees under his laps, his spine erected and straightened out like a pillar; his hands drew the bokken he yielded upon his laps–he held it dearly.

I was in front of him, only two meters from him, casually, my legs crossed, with my hands on my pointing knees.

I then spoke while he listened. As there was much to go about, explaining and asserting, I knew to take my time and speak properly:

"Your guild isn't mine. Whatever that is, actually, 'cause I'd not even go as far to say it is. Looks way too shabby and … well, without addressing that too much, like a scam of some sort.

"It isn't mine. I'm not part of this. I don't like it. Other guilds, they look enough … enough guild-like, I'd say. Yours doesn't. That's my first point."

"Hmm."

"Still–as it looks, at this point, I might as well just stick around here … 'cause I also need to learn from you, as you already know.

"Will be sticking around here for a little longer, yes. There's that skill I want to learn. … And yes, by sticking around here, I mainly mean, learning stuff from you. 'Cause, yeah, actually, I only need to learn a skill.

"That's what I need to get down to. And I could do that with just any guild. But you, you'll help me."–

❮ 'Dance with the bigger monster' Additional Quest – Training time has arrived. Let the Player train with the Guild's Instructor and learn one skill. 0/1 ❯

–"Oh, and actually, if I wanna get it all done properly, I'll have to go along with the … erm, instructions, so I might be needing you, after all.

"You'll help me. And actively. Actively helping me as in … well, let's just not only fight around like fools–you're a fool, too, yes–and rather get down to this, together–and I insist on that part: to-ge-ther–that we may at last part from each other!

"Yes sir. At first, I thought that, with you playing around with me, getting to use some skills and stuff, I could just learn from what I saw. … Truth is, it's more complicated and tricky, I think.

"And so, basically, you'll have to do as I say."

We still sat in front of each other. Although laborious explanations weren't finished, I still paused.

Before long, he tilted his expressionless head to the side.

"You're bold. And interesting. … And I will. More than you may think.. Do as you say."