[Voidknight Ascension] Chapter 277 – The Parting Glass

“What is this?” Zahif asked, indicating the wrapped present in the middle of the training hall.

“A gift,” Sam said.

Next to him, Komachi wiggled her rump with excitement. She had been instrumental in creating the perfect gift for Zahif. Sam could only hope that he liked it.

“I do not need a gift…”

“Nobody needs a gift,” Sam said. “That’s the whole point! Go on, open it.”

Zahif looked at it as if it contained venomous snakes. “You do not have to do this.”

“Says the man who trained me and hooked me up with the most famous blacksmiths in the world.”

The old man blew out his white mustaches and fell into a deep squat. He undid the wrapping with meticulous care. A swipe of his hand split the decorative paper to reveal the box beneath.

“This is an interesting custom. Where did you find this shiny paper?” Zahif asked.

“You know, that was actually the hardest part of this whole thing.” Sam laughed, remembering how difficult it was to explain wrapping paper. Apparently, the Imperials didn’t wrap their presents in colorful, thin paper. They were aware of ribbons at least.

Zahif opened the thin wooden box and stared at the wrapped item inside. Flat and rectangular, it was just big enough that he needed to use both hands to pull it out.

The thin sheet of paper fell away as he lifted it to reveal the darksilver frame painstakingly etched and engraved by hand.

It wasn’t the frame that was the present, not the true present anyway. It was what Komachi had made at Sam’s behest.

Within the frame was a shifting series of paintings that Komachi had drawn. Some from memory, others from first-hand accounts.

“Recognize that face?” Sam said with a smirk, coming over to stand behind Zahif proudly.

It was a good gift. Sam was sure of it.

There was one thing you could get somebody who had everything.

Memories.

Looking over his master’s shoulder, Sam watched as the lifelike painting of the Wavedancer and her crew moved around and made jokes.

The magic of a stilegraph invocation imparted a sense of life to the painting, while Komachi’s Path powers did the rest. The scene shifted to one where Sam and Zahif were trying to catch Komachi with a mouthful of fish. A fish larger than her entire body.

Once more the painting shifted, showing the brilliant blue sky and the glittering waves as the Wavedancer displayed the truth of its name.

The images shifted one after the other. With nearly 40 in total, it had been a massive undertaking. Many were of Sam, Zahif, and Komachi. Others were painted deeds of Zahif’s adventures. Interspersed in there were Sam and Komachi’s own deeds, so that it looked like a collection of great heroic works by three legendary heroes.

There were more recent paintings too. Those with the Scarlet Lotus. Sam and Zahif training, sharing a meal, or even just a silent moment atop the battlements surrounding the twinned city of Al Dhorna.

That was one of Sam’s favorites. It showed the gorgeous wilds beyond the Empire’s stout walls. The land was a riot of color with towering trees whose leaves were every color imaginable, from purple to blue to yellow and even several green variants.

Sam watched as a droplet of shimmering water splashed onto the painting. Zahif’s shoulders shook silently. When he spoke, his voice was strained with emotion. “It is a fine gift.”

Placing his hand on Zahif’s shoulder, Sam smiled. “This way, we will always be together. I had another one made. A twin. I’ll keep it always. That way I’ll never forget our adventures.” Sam laughed, though he felt a bit like crying at the moment. “Hearing some of the deeds you’ve performed…well, I must say, it has inspired me to be even better. Your legend will live on, Master Zahif. I’ll tell it to anybody who will listen.”

Zahif let out a long breath. “You know, they say that a person never truly dies until the final time their name is spoken.” He chuckled. “In that way, I suppose I truly will be immortal.”

“You and me both.”

“Machi too!”

“Yes, you too, Komachi,” Zahif said, pulling the cat in for a hug. He rose to his feet, still holding the cat, and embraced Sam as well. Far shorter and smaller than Sam, if he closed his eyes, Sam could tell this was the same young boy he had left aboard the Wavedancer nearly a century ago.

A century for the man, but less than a month for Sam.

“For everything you have done, there is no gift too great,” Sam told Zahif. “You have done great things, greater things than I ever dreamed of for myself, let alone a half-drowned stowaway. Be proud of yourself, Zahif. Because I am.”

The distant sound of alarm horns told them that monsters had been spotted outside the city walls.

Green eyes sparkling with tears, Zahif looked up and was about to say something. Whatever it was he was about to say died on his lips when he noticed Sam’s expression.

It was one he had seen before.

A tingling sensation stole over Sam’s whole body. He could feel the presence of another Lumanot, and it was not the one in the center of the city.

“You have to leave,” Zahif said, stepping back.

Sam felt his eyes sting with sorrow. “I had hoped for more time…”

“Don’t we all.” Zahif stroked Komachi’s smooth and silky fur. “I could stop you. You would not be able to defeat me.”

Sam didn’t doubt Zahif’s words. “No, I couldn’t.”

Komachi gently put a paw on Zahif’s arm. “It’s okay. Machi will always love you. Sam too.”

Zahif nodded and held Komachi out to Sam. “Then I have one final gift for you. A shame it is to be a parting gift, but what better way to remember me?”

Sam took Komachi and allowed her to scramble up to his shoulder. Before he could ponder what Zahif meant, the old man stepped forward and jabbed him with two fingers right between the eyes.

Technique Unlocked!

[Meteor Fist]

(Dreadfang Ability) (E-Class)

(☆ Primitive)

Of the many legends that stick to Master Zahif like scented perfume, that of his moniker, “The Meteor Fist” remains the most enigmatic. Though sources differ on precisely where he learned it, Zahif himself explains that he was gifted the technique by a wandering creature known as a koblin. This small, diminutive martial artist saw promise in the young wanderer and imparted a unique skill from an essence only she possessed.

Zahif would go on to make [Meteor Fist] his signature attack. One that struck fear into the blackest of hearts and earned him the nickname, “The Meteor Fist”. Now Zahif has unlocked the latent knowledge within you. A fitting parting gift if there ever was one. You are now the only other person to wield [Meteor Fist]. Through you, Zahif’s legend will live forever. Grants a miniscule bonus to the effects of Strength, Dexterity, Vigor, and Awareness when using [Meteor Fist].

Sam stared in awe at the Shardscript, then at Zahif. “You didn’t–”

Zahif held up a hand to forestall him with a twinkle in his eye. “A gift is one unasked for and unneeded I once heard said.”

Unable to contain himself, Sam swept up the boy he had once known and squeezed him in a tight hug. “Thank you, Zahif. For everything.”

Zahif, still reeling from the sentimentality of the gift, looked directly into Sam’s eyes and said, “But for a twist of fate, we would have been the closest of kin. In my heart of hearts, you have walked with me all throughout my long life. I hope this will grant you the same comfort you have given me.”

With a grin, Sam gathered mana into his fist. The technique sparked to life, flowing into a cloud of shrapnel laced with reddish gold lightning.

“Wait–” Zahif tried to warn him.

Sam crashed [Meteor Fist] into the nearest training dummy. The ensuing explosion whited out the entire room.

Sam found himself on his back, staring at the ceiling. Beams and rafters were ruined. Another Scarlet Lotus guild member poked his head into one of the many smoldering holes in the wall with a curious look on his furred face.

“Hey, Rhagur,” Sam said. He tried to wave, but his arm seriously stung.

“Hey, Sam…”

Zahif nodded to himself. “I should have realized what you would do as soon as you could use it. That is on me.” He helped Sam to his feet and dusted off his clothing. “Until you have mastered it sufficiently, the strength of the [Meteor Fist] will be uncontrollable. It will also harm you, so be careful not to use it too frequently.”

“Good thing I have Komachi, huh?” Sam said with a chuckle. Looking over, there was little left of the training dummy. Just a smoking pile of sticks.

Already runes were flowing across the pile, beginning to regenerate the dummy.

Zahif shook his head. “I do hope you’ll heed my words.”

Sam’s smile nearly took in his ears. “Not likely!”

That hardly seemed to surprise Zahif. “I suppose with so many monsters just outside, there isn’t much I can do to stop you.”

For a moment, Sam wasn’t sure if Zahif meant to stop him from leaving or to stop him from using [Meteor Fist].

“The least I can do is clear your path,” Zahif said, making it clear that he didn’t intend to stand in Sam’s way. “You are after the Lumanots, are you not?”

Sam looked around, wondering if anybody else had poked their head in, but they were alone again. “Why would you think that?”

“I have spent the better part of a century trying to figure out what you were doing that day,” Zahif said, sweeping by Sam and leading the way out into the outer wards of the Empire. “Do not insult my intelligence. There are many within our very order that despise the way the Empire flouts its power. There is a method to the madness–”

“Yeah, it makes the Empire stronger,” Sam told him. “Already figured that part out. Monsters come in, get annihilated, Lumanot gets stronger, spreads its blessing. Everybody benefits. It’s not a surprise you have some of the best crafters around. They’re being power leveled.”

Zahif folded his hands behind his back. “Very astute.”

“Hard to miss when you know what you’re looking for.”

“Machi got the stronk healin’ songs,” she boasted.

Zahif opened the door out into an alley. More alarms blared, signaling a greater threat. “I do not doubt that you will need them before long.” He looked at Sam as the Swordsman squeezed past him. “The Immortals will not simply allow you to take the Lumanot.”

Sam grinned. “I don’t think they’re going to have much choice in the matter.”

That piqued Zahif’s interest. “How, pray tell, do you intend to steal the most coveted and well-guarded item in the entire Empire?”

“Simple,” Sam said with a shrug of his large shoulders. “I’m not. Instead, I’m going to let the monsters besieging the city bring me theirs.” The way Zahif’s bushy white brows shot up told him that he figured Sam was going to steal the Empire’s Lumanot. Sam was so attuned to the Lumanots that he had nearly forgotten other people couldn’t feel them.

“The monsters attacking the city have a Lumanot of their own,” he explained.

At first, he thought about going out and challenging the monster holding the Lumanot, but even with all his newfound levels, he didn’t like his odds.

Besides, the number of people who would be harmed if a full-scale battle erupted with the Lumanot would be unconscionable. Sam felt confident that the monsters would sneak in the Lumanot, relying on the proximity of the Empire’s Lumanot to disguise their own.

It would only be obvious when the bearer approached the cloister holding the Empire’s Lumanot. By then, it would be too late.

“They’re going to use their Lumanot to break through the barriers guarding the Empire’s Lumanot and steal that one too,” Sam said. He could see no other reason for bringing such a valuable weapon. “With both in hand, they’ll be unstoppable. That’s where you come in. I need you to get me into the cloister that houses the Lumanot.”

“You ask much.”

“Oh, so you can’t do it then?” Sam asked.

Zahif shot him a venomous glare. “By the salt, you’re serious.”

“Cross my heart and swear on Pineapple Sam.”

The old man shut the door and sealed it with a wave of his hand. “Sure, why not add high treason to my crimes while I’m at it?” He looked Sam up and down. “What do you need from me?”